Misto was nervous about going on his own into the Junkyard. Tugger wasn't sure what to do to preoccupy his mind. He ended up just going out and hunting for mice, not really in the mood to flirt around. As he did that, Misto went out and took a stroll. He didn't come by many cats, but when he did he simply said hi and kept walking. Then his sister and friends approached him and he was relieved.

"Hi Mistoffelees!" cheered Etcetera.

"Oh hello," he replied shyly.

"How do you like living here bubby?" Vicky asked.

"It's wonderful. It's just like living at home but with more people."

"Would you like to play with us?" Jemima asked.

"Oh I don't know. Tugger might go into fits if he sees me goofing off."

"Aw," they groaned.

"Well, sorry, but...how about I put on a show for you?"

"What type of show?" Electra asked.

"A magic show," Misto said, sparkles coming from his finger tips as he said magic.

The kittens stared with amazement and anticipation.

"Hm, what to do what to do? Ah, I know." He did a flick of his wrist and a white rose appeared. He handed it to his sister and spun around. He danced and did parlor tricks for the kittens. Plato, Tumblebrutus, and Pouncival come over soon to watch.

"Wow, Mist, how'd you do that?" asked Tumble, amazed.

"I don't know," Misto replied. "I was born with it. They say if you're born at midnight then you aquire magical powers."

He did a flip and let sparkles fly over them, making them laugh.

"What's all dis?" asked Teazer, coming up with Jerrie.

"Mistoffelees is a conjurer!" cheered Pouncival.

"Oooh!" they said together.

"Well go a'ead an' do summtin' fer us Mist!" said Jerrie, excited.

"Alright." He flipped a few times and then opened his hands to let butterflies fly out over them. The kittens chased them, giggling all the while, and when they caught one, it burst into sparkles all over them, making them go into hysterics.

"What is going on here?"

They all turned to see Jenny, Jelly and various other older cats standing there, having many expressions on their faces.

"Mistoffelees is a magician," mumbled Plato, feeling like he was going to get in trouble.

"Does Old Deuteronomy know about this?"

"Well, I assume he would," said Misto, feeling mortified. "I mean, Tugger might've told him I could do magic."

"What? He knew you were a conjurer and he brought you here?"

Misto shrank back, really hoping someone would defend him, but none of these cats knew him. Sure there was his sister, but she hardly ever said anything ever. They were only amazed by what he could do, nothing more. He only felt worse when other cats came out to see what was going on by all the yelling.

"Mistoffelees," said Munkustrap, approaching him, but Misto was already on his feet.

He turned to run but ended up bumping into Tugger. Relief overwhelmed him.

"What's going on here?" Tugger asked. He could see Misto was being berated by these cats, but he wasn't sure why. Whatever it was, he was pissed.

"Why didn't you tell us Mistoffelees could do magic?"

"I figured it was up to Misto to tell people," Tugger said coldly.

"Remembered what happened last time? With your brother?"

Tugger stiffened.

"That has nothing to do with Misto," said Munkustrap, stepping in. "Macavity's powers were suppressed and look where that led him. We should be thankful we have Mistoffelees here and that he's a magician. We need to encourage his magic."

"That's right," snapped Tugger. "He was sick for awhile because all his magic was bottled up. That happened with Macavity - remember?"

"And we all remember why Macavity snapped, too, and that least likely happened with Mistoffelees," Munk added. "This treatment is completely unnecessary. If you isolate him like this then who knows what'll happen."

"Who knows what'll happen in the first place?"

"I do," said Tugger. "I've known Misto for a long time, and I know him more than anyone." He looked down at his terrified friend. "We're going home. When you decide to be courteous, then we'll return."

"Don't go," mumbled Vicky.

"Oh, yes, do please stay?" said Ettcy.

"It's not fair. It's just them who's being mean," said Electra.

Tugger smirked. "We'll be back before you know it." He looked at the cats that hurt his friend with a frown. Then he led Misto away.

"Who's Macavity?" Misto asked once they were back at Janelle's.

He sighed. "He's my brother," Tugger began. "He's my oldest brother. When he lived in the Junkyard, he was always the outcast. It's not that people didn't like him, he just didn't want to socialize. In fact, everyone adored him. They always found him...superior. When he was a kitten, he was sick, because his magic was bottled up, much longer than your magic, but one day, he came out of the den and he was hopping and dancing around. None of us knew it then, but that's when he had finally unleashed his magic, so he was better. People were even more amazed by him. They said it was a miracle, and so people started to come to him to help them, looking for a miracle. He helped them, with his magic. Though he never really liked many of the cats, if any. He hated Munkustrap. I think he liked me. I really looked up to him, before..."

"Before what?"

"Well, you see, he witnessed...our mother be murdered. That's when he snapped. He was in his den when Demeter came in-"

"Demeter?"

"Yeah, he knew Munk had a thing for Demeter, and so he led Deme on just to make Munk mad. And well, he..." Tugger knew he didn't have a good way to say it, so he just said it. "He raped her. She ran out of the den, crying and he followed her, threatening to kill her. He killed the first cat he saw, which happened to be one of Jenny's kittens, only two months old. It went downhill from there. He terrorized everyone, threatening them all. He comes and goes every now and then. He hasn't killed anyone else, but he's come close." Tugger stared off, remembering all the good times with his brother. "He never actually threatened me...he, uh, you know, it just comes and goes."

"What does?"

"His insanity. He came to me one night, and he was sane, but horribly depressed. He left before his insanity got to him." Tugger bit his lip and sighed. "It's really depressing. That's why people didn't like that you're a magician, because Macavity was. Munk is right, though, everyone needs to encourage your magic. Then we can have one magician against another." Tugger sat up at that. "Screw that. You're never going back to the Junkyard again. I know that's what Munk was thinking, to use you against Macavity, but no way. You could die!"

Misto frowned. "I don't want to die, but it's not like none of you would just sit back and let me handle it by myself."

"Of course not!"

"Tugger, calm down. You're going to start pulling out your fur."

Tugger pouted. "I'd appreciate it if you not do that."

"Do what?"

"Stop acting like such a nagging housewife."

Misto blushed. Housewife? Is that what he thought of me? "Hey, that means you're saying I'm a queen."

"Well, duh, you're incredibly girly."

"Uh!" Misto exclaimed, like a girl. "That's not true! You're the one who pampers himself constantly."

"Well you have the emotions of a queen. Plus, you're small like one. Vicky is bigger than you."

"Jerk!"

"Oh, now you're in for it." Tugger chased him all around the house until the almost made Janelle trip.

"Cats! Ugh, you are so annoying. You decide to have me worry when you're gone and then nearly kill me. Well, hate you, too then."

Tugger rolled his eyes. "She's a drama queen, just like you."

Misto hissed.

"Come on, Misty, let's get some sleep."

"No," he said indignantly.

"Yes."

"No."

Tugger sighed. He picked up Misto and carried him to bed, which Misto didn't mind.

"You can be so annoying, you know that?" Misto teased.

"Look who's talking...Quaxo."

Misto swatted Tugger, no claws, though. "Don't call me that!" Misto hissed. He absolutely hated his other name. He was thankful Mistoffelees was the name most commonly used to go by.

Tugger smiled and curled up with Misto. "Hey, at least Socks is a normal name, unlike Cheeto."

Misto giggled. Sheesh, I am really girly is I giggle. Oh well, as along as Tugger likes it.