The Jellicle Ball was approaching. Munkunstrap knew and was also aware of the major headache that was surely on its way. The silver tabby had been ecstatic the first time his father had given him the responsibility to organize the major event of the Jellicle year. It was a great responsibility for the Protector, one he certainly didn't shy away from, but after some years he didn't have the naivety of the first time, but definitely a more pronounced ulcer. Sure every Jellicle came and went as they pleased, but they were sure to come all during the Jellicle Ball, if nothing out of curiosity. Everybody seemed very eager to know the Jellicle choice: that year everybody was banking on Gus, the Theater Cat. He was so old they half the Tribe wondered how was he even alive.
That year the Ball was special for many a reasons: practically all of the kittens were going to become of age, including his beloved daughter Jemima and all of her friends. That thought alone was the most disturbing thought for the striped grey tabby: his little princess was becoming of age so he had to be on the lookout for any possible suitor. If he could have had his way he would have locked her away to preserve her but his mate, the fiery Queen Demeter, had been against him from the beginning, literally sending him to sleep in the dog-house. That had been the scariest night of his entire life: thank the Everlasting Cat Quaxo and his brother had been wondering around that night and were able to get him out of the sticky situation before Demeter had to be noticed she was a widow. The fact that they saved his life had been the only thing that stopped him from scolding and punishing them for being out that late. While grooming his fur back in the proper place the protector had missed the glance the two brothers had shared. If he had caught them in the act he would have been puzzled by the look of sheer relief that followed a deep fear on both their faces.
Aside from his daughter basically every other Queen-kit in the Yard was becoming of age: the simple thought of THAT made his stomach churn. His brother was a flirt but, even he knew where to draw the line and the kittens were all right for some innocent flirting but nothing more. Now the kittens were changing into Queens and nothing was going to stop the Rum Tum Tugger from breaking every single heart. Or maybe, just maybe, what he had witnessed in the last weeks was the beginning of a change. From the day that Lenny had fallen against the Pollicle the resident playboy had simply stopped being the resident playboy. When Lenny had rejoined the living the swagger had returned but somehow Munkus had sensed it was more scenery than anything else. The black cat was still a kit though, so his brother had still six months to go in order to sort out his feelings for the smaller cat. He really hoped that Tugger's idea of being a Queens' Tom, and his fear of being rejected if he did something truly out of the schemes, didn't ruin every change he had at being happy. Thought same sex couples weren't that common, at least not officially, Munkus knew that Old Deuteronomy was going to say yes if he sensed true love between the two cats. And the same was going to happen with every other Jellicle in the Tribe. He only hoped that his little brother knew that.
Speaking of the black cat he knew he had to talk with his magic brother. If he recalled correctly Quaxo was turning into a Tom, more or less, during the Ball and Munkunstrap wanted the small tuxedo cat to open the Jellicle Ball along with Victoria. He was a splendid dancer and he had the perfect voice to sing the Invitation to the Ball. With that thought in mind he checked the sun, it was relatively early but he supposed he could disturb the two brothers, and set out for the broken wardrobe to talk to the small magician.
Mistoffelees and Helena were exhausted. It had been a week since the smaller of the two tuxedos had woken from the encounter with the Pollicle, and from that day the two brothers had duplicated their daily training. The first steps of the prophecy, under which they were born, were already coming to pass and they knew that their first big obstacle was fast approaching. They had always known of the deaths of their entire tribe and the subsequent joining of the Jellicle's Tribe. It had all been written in the stars before they were born. They were also aware of the fact that something was destined to trigger Helena's power, in the worst possible way, and apparently a rabid dog's attack had been the chosen way. The she-tux power were enormous, they both knew that, but they were hidden for the most part. The fight she had undergone in order to save Tugger's life had her all her powers resurfacing. The next step in the prophecy for Misto was a complete mystery. It talked about and old ally that had become an enemy. For his fur the young conjurer could not pinpoint who this former ally was. Partially because one of the characteristics of this mysterious cat was the fact that the key had been corrupted by him but had managed to escape his clutches and that connection was going to be the only way of bringing this ally back.
He had discussed this, at length and in depth, with his sister, trying to find out who could be the mystery cat that was going to help them defeat Macavity. Nothing had come out of it, if not a growing frustration for hidden answers. But Helena, while negating any insight on the matter, inside was berating herself: she knew the true meaning of that particular line of the prophecy but she couldn't tell his brother, not until the moment was right. And she hated herself for that!
Sis, revert back to your other form! Someone's approaching!
"Oh, hello Munkunstrap! How are you?"
"Quaxo, Lenny! What are you doing here so early in the morning? Shouldn't you be in bed? Like every other kitten maybe?"
"Munk cut it! You have me on patrol and Quaxo on magic alert for every possible danger for the Tribe, so don't consider us kittens whenever you find it amusing. And anyhow the curfew is lifted at dawn and we are way past that."
"Whoa Lenny, there's no need to get your fur in a knot! I was merely teasing you, no harm or pun was intended!"
"It's all right Munkunstrap! No harm done. Just don't mind and excuse my brother this morning, he has been cranky since we got up."
Heleiana can it! I know he has interrupted our practice, but there is no need to unleash your frustration on him. We don't want to make them suspicious!
Yes brother…
The conjurer knew his sister was beyond pissed off, but Munkus was clearly saying something and he knew he had to pay attention, so he pushed his twin's behavior from his mind and focused on the protector: "…and so I was wondering if I could talk to you Quaxo."
"Ehm…yes?"
"Well gentleman, since you do not need me to stick around I'll go and clear my head around, before I, apparently, get too cranky!"
And with a withering glare to his brother the lean black cat disappeared from view, leaving two utterly confused felines behind.
"Oh…that went well, I suppose! He could have killed us! I guess I'll talk to him later, and try to figure out what is wrong. Now what was that you needed so badly to talk to me about, that my brother couldn't hear?"
The Silver Protector had at least the decency to look taken aback. He had absolutely no intention of offending the brothers, but he hadn't been able to restrain himself with the kittens' joke. And he definitely didn't need to send Lenny away. After all it wasn't like he was preferring one brother over the other one with his choice. But that's exactly what you are doing…you are preferring Quaxo over Lenny. That stupid voice of his conscience! He absolutely hated it when his conscience was right! Technically he could have asked either brother to dance and sing the solo and the Invitation. After all not every kitten had been born during the Ball, but as tradition they all became Queens or Toms during the Ball. So Lenny was as good as Quaxo as a choice, but Munkunstrap didn't think the black cat had it in him to be a dancer or a singer. He looked more like a fighter, with no time for social finesses. That was why he had chosen the magician but he had been a coward and he had sent the bulky cat away, afraid of facing him for a choice that, he knew, was well placed. Oh well! There was no use to cry on spilt milk, so he squared his shoulders and proceeded to ask the small cat what he wanted.
"Quaxo, since the Jellicle Ball is approaching and you're coming of age, I was wondering if you would want to dance the opening solo, alongside Victoria and if you would like to sing the subsequent Invitation to the Ball. I mean it's a great honor that I think you deserve, but if you don't want to do it, it's fine! Just tell me!"
The black and white cat focused all his attention on the older cat in front of him. All of his demeanor spoke of a hidden shame and, suddenly Quaxo was struck by the answer for the strange behavior of the protector. The Invitation and the solo were the highlights of the Ball, and the most coveted parts. Apparently Munkunstrap hadn't even considered his brother for the part and now was ashamed by it and that was why he had sent him away. The magician knew that nobody thought that Lenny was an artistic cat so to speak, and he secretly agreed to that. The black cat was far too bulky and muscular to be light on his feet and his deep baritone voice didn't allow many songs to be sung, and definitely NOT the Invitation. He knew that Helena herself was of the same opinion: Lenny wasn't neither a dancer nor a singer and Quaxo didn't think she would have minded much Munkunstrap's choice.
The tux only hoped that, one day, their true selves could be revealed because if Lenny wasn't a dancer, well Helena definitely was. She was light as a feather and ethereal in her dancing and her voice, soft as a feather but rich as honey was one of the best things Mistoffelees had ever heard.
"Ehm…Quaxo? What do you say?"
The tabby's hesitant question jerked the younger cat out of his musings. Smiling lightly he answered:
"I'd be honored Munkus! I just hope I can fulfill your expectations. And, by the way, Lenny could have stayed here. He wasn't going to rip your head off for saying he can't dance. He knows it's the truth. But he might kill you if you refer to him as a small kitten again!"
A suspicious blush crept along the grey cat's face who answered the light reprimand with a stiff nod.
"Well, I guess I have to find your brother and apologize! And then I really have to go and organize every single entrance and song for the Ball…it has to be perfect!"
"And it will be Munkus! Try not to stress yourself too much! And as for my brother, try to talk to him tonight. Let him cool off a bit first. He is totally pissed and you really don't want to face him now!"
True to his brother prediction Lenny was beyond pissed. Not at all for the reason Munkunstrap feared, that wasn't even an issue: Helena simply knew that, in Lenny's body, her dancing skills were definitely under the beginners' level and she definitely wasn't willing to embarrass herself in front of all the Tribe, and especially in front of Tugger.
No, she was pissed because once again her brother had wanted to analyze the only part of the prophecy she knew she simply could not tell him. He was totally convinced that they were to look for a former ally of their tribe who had fallen apart and that now wanted to rejoin the "good cause", but she simply knew better than that. But her parents had gone too far in order to protect his brother's life. He always thought he was the less important of the two, but Helena had a different opinion. Mistoffelees' power was greater than her own, he simply needed the right catalyzer.
She stopped her run in the middle of a clearing in the nearby park, she would never understand the humans who thought that a park next to a Junkyard was the most intelligent choice of all. She thought she had put enough miles between herself and the rest of the people she knew so the small queen to be decided to let the disguise fall.
Finally. It's nice and all being a tom, but sometime I feel like I'm losing myself in Lenny's body. And Tugger might not say it, but I know that he has doubts about us. Not because he doesn't love me, but because I know that deep down he wants kits of his own and, as Lenny, I will never be able to bear them for him.
The small tux was pacing back and forth in the small clearing, and while she was trying to blow off some steam the wind started to pick up. Like nothing was happening she kept pacing and, in a sense, nothing out of the ordinary was happening around the black and white queen. Oblivious to her surroundings she never noticed the maned tom that was walking nearby and in her furious pacing, she brutally collided with his lithe form.
"Oh, I'm really sorry sir…I wasn't looking where I was going…I'm really s…"
Tugger? Oh no!
Fully prepared of having her most protected secret out in the open, she only managed to stare at the older tom, expecting any kind of reaction. Or at least any reaction in the book apart from the one that was about to arrive.
"It's all right miss! It's partially my fault! Are you…hurt?"
Tugger's caramel eyes lowered to the ground to have a better look at the idiotic queen who had bumped into him! He wanted to stay alone, to think about his relationship with Lenny and he fully expected every other cat to make way for the Rum Tum Tugger. But the instant his caramel eyes met the bright lilac of the other cat, the Maine coon was lost.
Gulping and fluffing his mane in a pathetic attempt to buy himself sometime to think about something that didn't imply mating then and there, Tugger simply looked at the tiny cat in front of him.
She was a tuxedo, very similar to Quaxo but every tux is the same as the next Tugger thought. After all their only colors are black and white. She definitely wasn't a kitten, or at least not for long. She was absolutely small and petite though! Tugger was a vey tall cat but this queen didn't even manage to get past his mane.
Her eyes were the most prominent feature: bright lilac, similar to Lenny's but sunnier in a way. Fixing his gaze into the colored pools of the petite cat he saw a weariness in them that, he was sure, didn't belong to those oceans of beauty. And he definitely wanted to make it vanish.
"Well hello there! How you doing?" And with that he stopped himself in his typical pose, with both hands in the belt and half cocked to a side.
Is he hitting on me? Seriously? He didn't recognize me? Oh well…all the more reasons to have some fun.
She smirked lightly and didn't answer his question but sashayed her way to the taller tom, who could not take his eyes off her. Too busy trying not to drool, the maned cat never saw what was happening and before he could even blink he found himself on the floor pinned underneath the small figure of a queen he thought too little to do some real damage.
"I'm not that easy stud! So you better come up with a new pick up line! That one seems to worn out!"
And with that she pushed herself onto her feet and started going away, leaving a flabbergasted and gaping Tugger behind.
"WAIT! Will I see you again?"
She knew she shouldn't see him again, for his sake rather than hers, but she couldn't stop the words that came tumbling out of her mouth.
"Tomorrow, same time, same place. Don't tell ANYBODY about this. See you lion!"
And with that she was gone.
