Hey! Me again, I worked nearly all day to get this done, it's a lot harder than one would think :(

Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter :) It was a pain to write so here's hoping the next one comes around quicker and easier than this one did!

Enjoy


"I just don't understand why he would suddenly get so... Hostile," Munkustrap sighed after many long moments of inner contemplation. Despite his intuitive problem solving and analytical skills, he could not find any plausible explanations for the uncharacteristic bout of emotion.

Tugger simply shrugged, hoping silently that the tux would get a hold of himself before the day was over to save the tabby all this grief. He looked to his older brother; he sure liked to think things over, quite sulky in fact. "I don't know," he sighed. "He's probably still freaked about Macavity's visit last night; he went ape."

The other gave an exasperated sigh and they were soon enveloped in silence, only the distant sounds of screaming kittens and chatting cats played in the background. Then there came a stream of light, eager thuds.

The two toms' heads snapped around curiously, the strange sound continued. As they drew near, the soft thudding became a hollow, metal heartbeat. A muffled voice soon became distinguishable over the low noise. Munkustrap immediately set to finding the creature with frantic ears and determination blocking off any possible form of distraction from his now crystal clear mind. "Over here!" he called when he found the origin of the frantic knocking: an old, rusty microwave.

First thing he did was try the locking mechanism below the 'start' press. It was jammed. He and Tugger began to take turns kicking the button but no luck came from it. Fed up, the silver tabby decided to take more drastic measures. While Tugger furtively tried to talk to the cat on the other side, Munkustrap busied himself with unjamming a crowbar from a severed stump.

"Who do you think it could be?" Tugger asked curiously as he stepped back to allow the tabby room to pry the door.

"It could be someone who needs our help," Munkustrap retorted sarcastically with a slightly playful air. A few minutes of taking turns and countless swear words later; the door gave way and swung open and out fell a young, snowy queen. "Victoria?" Tugger's expression perplexed and stupidly twisted by confusion, plainly showing the cogs of his mind working at full till.

The tabby quickly knelt in front of the bewildered cat, putting a strong, paternal arm comfortingly around her."What happened?" Munkustrap's voice was smooth and calming, the authoritative undertone still strong; provoking a sobering calm to soothe the queen. She stared blankly for a moment before her mouth started to sputter out the proper response. "Macavity!" she croaked fearfully as she jerked forward and buried her head in the soft, silvery fur.

Tugger mulled over the situation, quickly coming to a terrifying realization that the tux was no where to be seen. "What happened to Quaxo?" he prompted. The young queen looked up at him through damp eyelashes, clearly confused. "Wha-?"

"What happened to him when Macavity got you?" he pressed. She looked between the two clearly unaware of the responsibility that had been bestowed on her.

"Victoria," Munkustrap caught her attention, holding her bewildered gaze with his concerned and hard stare. "When did Macavity attack you?" They watched as she ran her paw through her well-groomed headfur. "Uhh, about an hour or so?"

Tugger pulled at his headfur anxiously. "I left him with her just over half and hour ago... There's no way Macavity could have-" The three were interrupted by the sounds of great smashing glass and terrified screams. Chaos radiated from the junkyard's heart and spread through the inhabitants of the lot like wildfire. In the sounds of frantic cries; the three could clearly hear Demeter holler Macavity's name.

Munkustrap bolted from his seated position and stormed down the nearest path to the clearing. Slowly, reluctantly, Tugger collected the queen and followed suit. The clearing wasn't the safest place to be with Macavity visiting, but at least there would be other people to protect them. She whimpered softly as the sounds of her frightened peers grew louder, the magic cat's cackling driving more fear into their hearts as it grew hysteric and insane.

They soon burst into the clearing to the typical sight that comes with his brother's theatrical entrances, the cats lined the side of the clearing and watched as he tore apart their home. It didn't take long for Tugger to spot Munkustrap and Alonzo circling him as he floated to the tire. He looked to his brother but could only find a cold, hard shell of a silver tabby trying not to let on how terrified really he was. He wondered why they hadn't attacked yet until Macavity reached the tire where Old Deuteronomy usually sat. He quickly glanced around to figure that the old tom hadn't dropped in today.

Soft thudding came the sound of the Napoleon dragging a small, lame body up the steps. Upon further inspection, Tugger could easily identify the cat as Quaxo, Macavity's mis-fortunate son. The breath caught in his throat and his body tensed, the little tom looked so still save for the odd twitch or the silent words that he tried to voice. He didn't realize he was squishing the queen in his arms until she began to protest and squirm in his grasp. He let her down and she immediately bolted for Jellylorum for comfort and support.

Macavity's gaze swept the crowd, he smiled when he saw that all of Deuteronomy's followers were present and attentive; though slightly peeved his father couldn't make it to the show. He raised his kin up for the tribe to see, small gasps and whispering floated around the clustered circle of cats. His head hung low and his body swayed limply, imitating the freshly dead corpse of a hung man. Tugger's stomach knotted with a twist of nausea, he winced painfully but continued to watch as his friend's fate was being weighed.

"Unfortunately," Macavity began. His eyes once again swept the clearing, more than excited to have both his son's power at his feet and the whole Jellicle tribe groveling before him. Macavity allowed the dramatic silence to sit before continuing. "My father could not be here to see this new movement, but we'll have to make due without him." He smiled fondly at the tired body in his grasp. "So as of now, I declare the Jellicle tribe as being under new management. I honestly don't care much for protests; so I'll tell you right now that any form of insubordination will be seen as rebellion and you will be killed. It just makes my job that much easier and I find that it sets the foundation for good master-slave communication." His smile was smug and he carried himself proudly as he addressed the tribe. He was going to be a fine leader.

Munkustrap bent lower into his crouch, bothered and ready to pounce at a moment's notice. "You're only humiliating yourself-" Macavity cackled wickedly, holding his side with his one free hand to prevent himself from falling over in his hysterical excitement. "Oh, you are the one who'll be greatly humiliated! There is nothing keeping me from my right as Jellicle leader-"

"No one except the real Jellicle leader," snapped Alonzo who stood in a stance that greatly imitated his mentor's. Many of the surrounding cats nodded and shouted their agreement.

"Not even!" the magic cat snorted. He raised a menacing paw at the black spotted tom and had him flying across the clearing. His body was flung like a rag doll where he landed roughly in a box of discarded computer monitors. Munkustrap, after giving his partner a last glance, coiled up to launch himself at the Napoleon. Macavity saw this action and caught him mid air, slamming him to the ground. Hard.

A dirty, toothy grin cracked his face from ear to ear. "I wouldn't do that. You haven't even heard my generous trade off." The tabby stared up at him from his place on the ground. He breathed heavily as he regained his composure, daring the ginger cat to continue. "In my hand lies the last piece of the limitless and unmeasured power of Mistoffelees. This causes a problem for you because not only can I use this power to its full potential, but harvesting it would require me to waste this poor little tom," he finished with mocking sadness, dragging a claw down the tux's side.

Quaxo forced his eyes open when he felt his father draw him closer to his dirty body. Ghosted memories of pain and fear cropped up and made him squirm, his heart raced when a strong arm slinked around his waist to hold him close and an equally strong arm held itself against his chest for support; gripping his chin to turn it towards the older cat's face. His eyes slid closed and sealed shut when a set of dry, cracked lips rested heavily on the corner of his slightly agape mouth. A teasing tongue flicked out to evict a shudder from the tux and a reaction from his peers. Quaxo could hear distant sounds of distaste and contempt but he couldn't open his eyes to see who they came from.

Munkustrap, stared up angrily at his brother who glared back playfully."I do believe that he has grown sentimental relationships with a few of you," he said with more of an inquisitive tone, eying Munkustrap specifically but tossing a glare at Tugger as well. "It would be a shame if he were to die because of your unwillingness to cooperate. So what'll it be, Munkus? The overpowering of the tribe and the death of several Jellicles, yourself and your 'son' included; or the easy path through quiet submission?"

The tabby stared past him in thought; he didn't want to put any of his followers in danger, but he also didn't want to give them up to a life of slavery without a fight. But, if he fought, he'd lose Quaxo. He looked around in hopes of finding any answers in the faces of the petrified cats around him. His gaze rested on the blank stares of the mystic twins who sat huddled together in the open oven. Don't believe him, their united, calming voices echoed in the back of his mind, he can't use the power of Mistoffelees without Quaxo. His power is weakened until their magic fully merges: just make sure you get the tux away from him and you'll have a chance. He nodded in understanding; great, now there's the issue of how I'm going to pull this off.

Macavity grunted unhappily. "I don't have all day," he drawled. The tabby raised his eyes to meet his older brother's, trying his best to put forth a believable look of defeat and sacrifice. "Okay," he croaked sadly. "You win." He could feel every heavy glare on him, shooting daggers for his betrayal.

Macavity watched him suspiciously, his eyes narrowing as he gaged his expression carefully. Quaxo blinked at him through half closed, heavy lids; silent tears trickled down his face slowly. After a moment of heavy silence (save for the nearly undetectable whispers among the crowd), Macavity smiled satisfactorily. "Now, that wasn't so hard." He turned to address his new subjects. "Let us celebrate our newfound freedom!"

Upon dismissal; Cassandra, Jennyanydots, and Bombalurina ran over to retrieve Alonzo who hadn't emerged from from the box. Many of the toms glared angrily at the gloating ginger cat, and the younger cats and kits were crying softly. Munkustrap humbly approached the base of the tire, holding out his arms with his head bowed in shame. "Please... give me back my son." Tugger came up to the tire to stand by the tabby quietly, staring at the lethargic tux sadly.

The magic cat looked between the two slowly, shifting the tux in his grasp so that he was dangling from his hold on his upper arm. A strained squeak that could have been an attempt at a plea hissed past his lips. Macavity thought intently, looking at the young magician in his grasp before his claws dug into the tender flesh mercilessly. The two toms below reached out to grab the young tom but were tossed back in a burst of searing light.

The blood in his veins rushed through his body and the screaming in his brain intensified. He licked his lips hungrily and quickly took to harvesting the dwindling energy source. Despite his lack of energy, Quaxo screamed hoarsely as he felt his innards contract and collapse into themselves. Bright blue and green mist escaped his lips in ribbons; floating up to disappear into his father's chest, making his fur shine brightly with power.

Quaxo's body jerked desperately as the last ounce of life was drawn from his body. Munkustrap screamed from his place on the junkyard floor as he watched his son's body dissipate into thin air; Tugger caught his shoulders from behind and held him back, trying to keep his brother from a similar fate... or worse. Soon enough, Quaxo had disappeared and Macavity was left alone on the tire.

His coat shimmered as Mistoffelees's had; his eyes contained that playful gleam they knew all too well; his voice deepened to a new level of dark... just as Mistoffelees had so many times before. Macavity grinned manically, his eyes glowing bright red with the deep undertones of a black soul.

"You low-life pollicle! You lied!" Munkustrap shrieked. This wasn't the plan! Not only were they doomed, but now Quaxo was gone. He was easily ignored for the awesome changes in Macavity's body were far too great to let anyone ruin his buzz. He watched his paws as they began to glow a hot, fiery blue. It wasn't a magic that belonged to him, but it was one he could easily control with the influence of Mistoffelees and Quaxo. The sorrowful cries of the young tux and his alter ego chimed in the back of his mind like a chorus of triangles.

The flow of new energy rushed to his head, turning his world crystal clear. He threw his head back in the pure ecstasy of the sensation. Every pore and sense re-energized and heightened to unimaginable measures. He felt beyond indestructible. "Perfect!"


Xo Oh noes! What's going to happen now! *Set things right?* Maybe!... Maybe not O_O You think you know me well enough to guess? Perhaps... perhaps not!

Please Review :D They are so very nice :3