Hello, just to tell you in advance, the italics represents Jemima's dream
Disclaimer: I don't own Cats
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Growing up isn't all fun and games- chapter 3
Jemima was in the Junkyard. In front of her was Misto and Pounce, who both wanted to know which cat she was taking to the Jellicle ball. They kept on asking her, but each time she told them she didn't know. They both pleaded and begged with her but her answer would not change.
Finally they both gave up convincing her who was better. Instead, they decided the only solution was to fight until one of them was eliminated. Despite Jemima's protests, Poucival crouched into fighting position while Misto got his magic ready. Before Jemima could get in between them and stop the fight, Misto cast a spell that paralyzed her, making it impossible for her to move.
Jemima watched in horror as Pouncival ran towards Misto with his claws unsheathed. However, just as he raked his claws across Misto's throat, Misto shot a bolt of lightning towards Pounce which knocked him dead, before falling himself. Since Misto was dead, the spell was lifted off Jemima and while screaming and crying, she ran towards to the two dead bodies of the toms that fought for her affection.
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Jemima bolted straight out of the bed she shared with her mother, which instantly woke Demeter.
"What happened?" Demeter asked in alarm.
"I had a nightmare," Jemima panted.
Demeter wrapped her arms around Jemima until the little queen kit calmed down enough to breathe normally. "Does this nightmare have anything to do with what you didn't want to tell me yesterday?" Demeter asked gently.
Jemima gulped and nodded but said nothing more. "You know you can trust me right? I'll help you in any way I can," Demeter coaxed gently.
Jemima nodded again but replied with, "I know, but I think it would be better if I solved this problem on my own."
Demeter smiled sadly and said, "You used to tell me everything, but I guess you're growing up. Very well, but remember, I'll always be there for you."
Jemima looked at her mother with wide eyes, "You're not making me tell you?"
Demeter laughed at her daughter's expression and said, "No, I think you're old enough to solve your own problems now."
"Thanks mom!"
Jemima smiled uncertainly at her mother before bolting out of the house at an alarming rate. Demeter heard a quick "bye!" and shook her head, amused at her daughter's impatience. She normally would have made Jemima tell her but she had a feeling of what was on her daughter's mind.
Demeter had been speaking with Jenny the night before and had been told what game the kittens were playing. Demeter had a guess that a tom or maybe even two occupied her daughter's mind. She desperately hoped that it was only one tom her daughter loved, for she remembered the days when she was often forced to pick between Macavity and Munkustrap. The last thing she wanted was for Jemima to have the same experience with toms as she did. She decided that she would quietly follow her daughter without her noticing.
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When Jemima arrived at the Junkyard, all the kittens were waiting for her so they could continue their game of Truth or Dare. When she joined them, she noticed that Misto and Pounce were as far away from each other as possible. Neither of them would look at her.
No one made a sound until Etcetera finally told Pounce it was his turn to pick a kitten. He brought his eyes up from the ground to look at Jemima, who lightly blushed and looked away. Pounce cleared his throat and said, "Jemima, Truth or Dare?"
Victoria glared at him for she knew his intentions and gave Jemima a sympathetic look. Since Jemima was not in the mood for moving, she replied with, "Truth."
Pounce gave her a half apologetic look and said, "Which tom kit do you like the most?"
Poor Jemima looked so confused as she looked back and forth between Misto and Pounce. She shakily replied, "I…I don't know."
Pounce was not satisfied with her answer so he said gently but firmly, "That's not a good enough answer."
Victoria, who looked extremely angry how the question affected Jemima, said quietly, "Pounce, just let it go."
Pounce shook his stubbornly and said, "She has to answer it property, or else it's against the rules."
He looked directly at Jemima, who couldn't handle the stress anymore and burst in to tears. Victoria glared at Pounce, who looked shocked, and quietly embraced her best friend.
Misto also glared at Pounce and said, "Now look what you've done! You've made her cry!"
He made his way over to his sister and Jemima but was stopped by Pounce, who said, "Don't touch her! You're the one who started this problem!"
At this point, Pounce was past all common sense. He only cared about the one who was preventing him from mating with his only love. However, Misto would not have that and growled, "My fault?! Who kissed her AFTER I did? Who tried to force her to answer your selfish question?! It's your fault not mine! Plus you knew I loved her yet you still kissed her! You're a selfish kitten and a lousy friend! You'd just make Jemima unhappy!"
No one had ever seen Misto so mad. Even when Pounce accidentally lost Misto's favorite kitten toy he was quickly forgiven by Misto and they stayed the best of friends. Now Misto's eyes were as cold as ice.
By this point, Jemima had stopped crying and looked fearfully at the two tom kits who looked like they were about to fight, just like in her nightmare. Before either of them could lift a claw though, it was Jenny not Jemima, that stopped them.
"What do you think you two are doing?! Stop this madness or you'll have Munkustrap to answer to."
The two tom kit's eyes widened at the mention of the tribe protector's name and they quickly mumbled their apologies to Jenny. She muttered "toms", and went back to the old TSE 1 that supported a fair chunk of the Junkyard to teach her mice how to tie knots.
"I'm sorry I caused all of this," Jemima whispered, before running off yet again to a nearby park, this time with Victoria following.
Pounce and Misto glared at each other again. "I'll be fighting twice as hard for Jemima than you" Pounce spat at Misto.
"Just you wait," Misto growled back.
They both left in opposite directions, leaving Electra, Etcetera, Tumble and Plato to look at each other in utter disbelief over what had just happened. They knew that this problem was out of their paws so they decided to let fate run its course…with a little of their help! They split up so Tumble went to find Pounce, Plato went to find Misto, and the two queen kits left to find Victoria and Jemima.
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Demeter stepped out of an old pipe that smelled faintly of Mistoffelees. She had witnessed the whole scene but luckily hadn't been seen. She blinked in incredulousness over what had just occurred to her daughter and quietly cursed to herself. She told herself that she would let Jemima solve this on her own but the thought depressed her. She sighed as she anticipated the pain Jemima would have to endure.
Demeter decided that her best choice was to leave her daughter alone. Since the moon was still young and bright, she decided to spend the rest of her night with Jenny.
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And there you go! I realized that in chapter 1 I had said "Jemima woke on an early autumn day." I have changed it now but it's suppose to be night. So to clarify things, they wake up at dust (evening) and go to sleep at dawn (morning).
I'll apologize in advance but my next update won't be so fast due to the amount of homework I have.
DNDK 38
