I don't own nor Cats nor its characters. Just Helena. Please read and Review you'll make me very happy! Thx a lot!
"It all happened one moonless night almost six months ago. You know Uncle that we are part, or at least we were, of another tribe of cats right? Well on that night we were just out performing magic as was our custom. You see" he said, this time at the Jellicles who obviously didn't have a clue about what he was talking about "our tribe was a magical tribe for the most part. I think you must have heard about us, almost every cat in the tribe was magical: I definitely am an anomaly and so is our Uncle, which is why he chose to become a Jellicle, where, in reverse, magical cats are the exception. But back to the story on the moonless nights we used to get out and perform magic, who could, or simply dance in the night. You could say we were a talented bunch but two of us were more talented than anybody else. Those two were Mistoffelees and Heleiana. The were to small twin tuxedo cats, and their birth had been prophesized many years ago. All the tribe knew they were coming and also was aware of the fact that these two magicians had to be protected at all costs. You see they were the reincarnations of two very powerful magical cats of the ancient times, when our two tribes were united. They were the heroes who helped the world in getting rid of the most evil cat in existence and when they died they vowed to each other and to the rest of the world that they would come back again if the evil decided to reincarnate. Apparently it had reincarnated so Misto and Lena were born. They were extremely powerful and we were so proud to be able to see them. They were shy, Mistoffelees didn't even talk if not spoken to and Helena was, well…"
"…she was something special, ethereal maybe!" Quaxo had gotten himself up from behind Lenny and, putting a paw on his shoulder, took over the narration of the story with a small, sad smile. "They were always together, doing mischief or who knew what else. We were…their favorite cousins they said, we were older and stronger and my magic was very similar to Misto's one, though a lot less potent, so I taught him how to use part of his. We were their mentors and protectors…"
"But, if you were their protectors and your job was to keep them alive, how is it possible you are here and they're not?"
"Tumblebrutus! That was totally uncalled for! Apologize NOW!"
"Jenny, stop! There is no need for him to make him apologize for a perfectly legitimate question. He is right. Quaxo said we were their protectors and I told you that our tribe had sworn to keep them alive. The truth is, Tumble, that we failed…we couldn't protect them."
And with that admission the black cat collapsed onto the floor, paws on his face and hot running tears on his cheeks. The small brown patched tom advanced toward the broken cat in front of him, and nuzzled him affectionately. "I'm sure you had done even the impossible to save them, it was uncalled to doubt your goodwill and definitely not my intention! Please go on with your story if you want to…"
Smiling back a bit, the baritone cat resumed his narration.
"We were their mentors and protectors and, for a while things went on smoothly. They were younger than us but so much more wiser and stronger. On that fateful night we were playing together when, favored by the blackness of the sky, Macavity and his henchcats just appeared out of nowhere and started attacking. Our uncle, the tribe leader and Misto and Lena's father, lounged at Macavity and started a duel with him. He didn't last five minutes against the dirty tricks of the Hidden Paw. After that things got bloody. We fought and fought against henchcats of various level of abilities, trying to steer them away from the twins, but what we didn't realize was that we were getting away from them as well. By the time we realized it I turned to search for them and I saw them fighting. They were so graceful yet deadly. Helena, the smallest, being the front, the brute force of the attack, while Mistoffelees, shy as always in the rear covering his twin's back. I yelled for Quaxo to help them, since I don't have any magic and I couldn't extricate me from my enemies enough to go over to them, and I saw him teleport next to the twins, just in time to block an attack from Macavity."
"I fought with him at the best of my powers, but what I have isn't a match for what he's got, and my inexperience was my undoing. I really tried to fend him off but I was brutally and ruthlessly mangled by him. He managed to send me flying, thus leaving the twins unprotected, but before the Hidden Paw could make his move…"
"I slammed into him, in a desperate attempt to keep him away from the twins. I don't have magical powers which means I don't have magical defenses so his attacks hit me worst than they had Quaxo. I tried everything I could think off but I, too, was sent flying. We tried to get up, but his magic was keeping us down so we…have only been able…to watch…as…as he…k-killed…th-them…". Apparently with that the black cat had reached his limit and broke down, sobbing pitifully. Before his brother could think about consoling him a maned tom had dashed across the clearing and had gathered the smaller feline in his lap, murmuring soft nothings in his ears, while grooming his fur. Even though the situation was far from cheerful the magician couldn't help but smile at the sight in front of him…Good for you little sister, I know he can come off as a cocky and arrogant bastard, but I'm very sure he loves you with every fiber of his being.
The scene hadn't gone unnoticed to the other Jellicles who, recovering quickly from every wrong assumption they had made till that very moment, simply watched the two cats in front of them, happy that at least some happiness had come from all that devastation.
"Now you know the full story Uncle…you sure you never even heard it?"
But Bustopher wasn't listening anymore. Sure he was an uppity cat, but underneath the snobbism and all that fat he had a heart and he had loved dearly his sister, the twins' mother. The fact that he hadn't even heard of her demise, along with everybody else's death had his heart cracked in two. Without a word or a backward glance he staggered out of the Junkyard, to mourn alone the many, too many, deaths, that were revealed to him.
"Admetus, please go and tell Old Deuteronomy this story would you? Ask him if he knew about he existence of this other tribe…"
"There is no need to send Ad to tell him the story Munk. He actually was the only one who knew. When we were accepted a Jellicles we told him the entire story, asking him to keep it quite till we were ready to tell you ourselves. I'm sorry it took us so long, but some things just take time to be properly revealed."
"There is no need for you to be sorry about anything Quaxo! I'm actually relieved that my father knew the whole story, even if you hadn't told us. At least I know that someone knew what you had been going through and helped you some. If you need any of us we are here for you, even though I think my brother has already acted on this thought!"
The Silver Protector shared a knowing glance and a wink with the small magician, while the rest of the Tribe scattered and went back to what they were doing before. Knowing his brother was in safe hands the tux teleported himself on top of a pipe trying to disentangle his thoughts from the mess they has become in the past weeks.
"May I sit with you?"
The question had been so unexpected that Quaxo literally jumped a foot in the air and crash-landed in the pile of junk nearby with a terrified screech.
"Oh Bast! Quaxo! Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you! I thought you had heard me coming…sorry, sorry…are you hurt? Should I call Jenny or Jelly or maybe both?"
"JEMIMA!"
The powerful yell had the red queen-kit frozen mid-rant. She turned her head to look at the source of the yell and when she found Quaxo's eyes, she smiled though a bit sheepishly.
"Jem, stop bubbling! I'm relatively unharmed, you just scared me, quite literally out of my fur! There is no need to panic! No blood no harm done!"
"Yeah…well…sorry! I just wanted to know if you were ok, I mean your brother just awoke from weeks of coma and then you have to relive what happened before you came here, just because that Bustopher had to insult you! And now Lenny has gone, who knows where with Tugger and nobody seemed to be paying attention to you…I mean in my opinion you're the one that has suffered the most and everybody seems to be focused on Lenny and…oh sorry I'm ranting again aren't I?"
"It's quite all right Jemima! I don't mind the people fussing over Lenny. The Everlasting Cat only knows how much he has suffered till now, you know, not being magical and all. I get the attention more that he ever does, so I'm really not jealous. Plus it is of no consequence that nobody has come to check on me. After the, tiring, events lately, I kind of enjoy the solitude!"
"Oh…if that's what you feel than forgive me! I'll be on my way…"
"NO! Jemima don't go! Sorry, that came out completely wrong! I…don't want you to leave. I meant to say that I am not angry that the Tribe hasn't checked on me, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate some company! Stay…if you want…"
The young almost queen didn't bother to answer to the magician and simply nodded, jumping onto the pile on top of which the tuxedo had repositioned himself and curled around him.
In the meantime the young tux's mind was reeling, going a mile a minute. Yes he was never one to enjoy the spotlight, so he really was ok with the fact that his sister, or brother in that particular moment – he internally smacked himself, things were so complicated – was cuddled and prodded and everything by the Tribe. He was a very solitary cat. Only Helena had access to his innermost thought and he thought that no queen could ever compare to his beautiful and smart sister. So he never felt any pull toward any of them. Not that his beloved sister hadn't pushed him: when she had discovered that she was the model to which every single queen would have been measured against she had, well quite literally, burnt him to crisp and then she had set out to find him a suitable date.
Of course, the Macavity situation had everything stalled and while he was very happy that Tugger had caught his twin's eye, and he knew he would have fought till his last breath for their future and happiness, yet no queen had actually managed to rise his interest.
But know Jemima was there and he had actually let her come closer than anybody before, with the exception of his sister and Tugger, and he wasn't bothered in the slightest by the proximity.
He had observed her, of course. She was timid, yet with an underlying authority that probably came from his father. Yes she was the only daughter, the princess, of Munkunstrap and Demeter. She had the uncanny talent to quite people. She managed to get Etcetera to stop screeching for his Tugsie.
She was beautiful, in a sense. Not the most obvious kind of beauty, too many odd colors for that, but she had an inner light that shone brighter than anything else. And her voice: oh her soft angelic voice. No wonder she was the most coveted singer in the entire Yard.
There is nothing against you falling in love, big brother!
Falling in love? Who even said anything about that? Yes Jemima was beautiful, smart, perfect but…
Stop trying to find me in them! Mistoffelees, I'll always be with you, no matter what! I'm your sister and I'm old enough to take care of me myself! Go and live your life to the fullest my handsome brother. If you like her I can tell you she'll make a fine mate!
I suppose you're right. She is amazing, but she is still too young and my…feelings, if you can call them this, are confused at best.
I never said you had to mate her tomorrow. Just think about the issue. I know I was the first to say that, with Macavity on the loose, and us undercover, love was the last thing we had to have in mind. But you can't control who you'll fall for and you can't stop falling if you started.
What if they'll hate us when they'll discover the truth?
We'll be dead when they'll discover the truth.
Oh yes. He had forgotten that small detail. By the time they were revealed to the world as the dead Helena and Misto, well their life was to be over.
I'll think about it sis. But I make no promises.
I'm not expecting one. I love you Misto. And I missed you terribly! See you later in our den? I really miss being able to be Helena!
I love you too Lena and missed you more than you could ever imagine. I'll see you tonight, we have so much to catch up with!
With a sight the tux refocused himself on his surroundings and proceeded to join the small queen in a much deserved catnap. Yes life was about to become so much more difficult and complicated, but he knew that with his sister and his friends by his side, nothing could ever stop him.
Macavity studied the enchanted mirror in front of him. He was studying the Junkyard once again. He had sworn them off the second they had banished him and yet a day could not pass that he didn't stare at the damn mirror, wishing he could go back.
Why would I want to go back? They have been nothing but unkind towards me. Father banished me, Mother didn't stand up for me, and neither did my brothers. Every other cat in the Tribe took their side and never even listened to MY version of what had happened! And now mother's dead, so why should I go back? But since it has been so long from the last time, I think I'll pay them a visit, just to see again some old faces. Plus they've got a couple of new additions that I want to know…the little tux looks terribly alike to one of the kittens I need…well why not then? The Jellicle Ball approaches, what a perfect occasion to make an appearance! You'll see Father, what has become of your first born, you'll see it and you'll never forget it!
