Rough times

For Jemidancer2011

"This too shall pass… It might pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass," Tugger said as he tightly held onto his brother Munkustrap's hand. "Blood will be spilled, there is no doubt, but we have to stay strong. If we let despair take over, all hope will be lost. We must believe… Believe in a better time. The times we see in dreams. The same dreams where we see the loved ones who went before us. But their hearts are not filled with grief. They encourage us to remain hopeful throughout these dark times. And as long as we stay together, no mountain, no sea, no evil cat can stop us from reaching out towards the ones we care about, for we will not abandon them, and neither would they. And in times like this, I need your help, dear brother, to reach out to me. To encompass me, and to promise me that in the end all will turn out fine. Maybe not for me, but I believe in you, brother, to lead the tribe to the light."

Munkustrap looked away from Tugger's closed eyes and gave their aunt Jennyanydots a questioning look. "Have you given him some form of painkiller?"

"Of course not. I'm only pulling a thorn out of his stupid paw."

The Jellicle Protector went back to his brother, lying on a blanket on the floor. "Are you okay, Tug? You seem to be a bit confused… You do know you're not even close to dying, right?"

"Munkustrap!" Tugger spoke as his eyes flew open, almost scaring the life out of his brother. "Tell father… he was right. I didn't listen then… but now I realize how wise his words were."

"What are you even talking about? Are you just putting up a big drama here?"

"My collar… I want you to have it. Cherish it, and every time you see it, remember our days in the sun."

"Okay, that's enough. Just relax, it's gonna be over before you know it."

"No… it's too late. I want this. Go on without me. Macavity… must… be… stopped…" His eyes started to close.

"Now you're just going through all the clichés."

"The fire!" Tugger spoke with seemingly renewed energy. "It will rise! They cannot stop the fire that burns so strongly in our hearts!"

"Oh right, the 'motivational speech about fire'-cliché. Gonna include blades as well?"

"The fire will melt their blades, and with them, we shall forge a new world! Their blade will not taste another drop of Jellicle blood!"

"Thought so."

"Their king has been captured. Now we must take their pawns!"

"Oh, so now you're going with the chess metaphors? Nice going, Professor Moriarty."

"Even if we must sacrifice our queen…"

"That sounds a bit wrong in our case."

"… our enemy's pawns will fall to the fiery blades!"

"Ooh, triple combo."

There was a short silence. "… Tomorrow… as the dew settles on the morning grass… so will the blood of our enemies…"

"Oh, Everlasting Cat, this one again."

"At dawn… we ride!"

"Tug…"

"And from the ruins of our past he will step forward to rid the world of the eternal darkness…"

"STOP IT! YOU ARE NOT DOING THE 'CHOSEN ONE' ROUTINE!"

"Look Munk," Tugger said in a normal voice as he turned his head to his brother, "You can interrupt when it's done, okay? But right now, let me have my fun."

"It's already done, Tug. The thorn's been out since you started about the fire."

"Huh?" Tugger looked at his paw that wasn't cutting off the blood transport to Munkustrap's paw. The thorn seemed to be gone. "But… it didn't hurt… and no blood has been spilled…"

"I happen to be good at this," Jennyanydots said.

Tugger got up. "I cannot thank you enough, my dear aunt. You have given me back my paw, my life, my freedom! And freedom, that is what it's all about, for freedom is a state much prized within the realm of civilized society. It is a bond wherewith the savage man may charm the outward hatchments of his soul, and soothe the troubled breast into a magnitude of quiet. It is most precious as a blessed balm, the savior of princes, the harbinger of happiness, yay! The very stuff and pith of all we hold most dear. What frees the prisoner in his lonely cell, chained within the bondage of rude walls, far from the owl of Thebes? What fires and stirs the woodcock in his springe or wakes the drowsy apricot betides? What goddess doth the storm tossed mariner offer her most tempestuous prayers to? Freedom! So I ask you, who will join me?"

Tugger looked down, his paws lifted up in the air. Apparently he had climbed onto a chair during his speech. But Munkustrap and Jennyanydots, they were gone.

"And I didn't even get to scream things about bravery and honor in front of a huge army that can't even hear what I'm saying…"

The End

oo0O0oo

A/N: That last part about freedom wasn't written by me. Look up 'Monty Python court scene'. Also, sorry this took so long to write.