There was another crash and they all scurried away, except for Misto and Munk and Deuteronomy. Misto wanted to make sure Deuteronomy was alright, but he told him to go and be safe, so Misto did. He peeked between some junk and saw Vicki go out, to help Munkustrap. Old Deuteronomy started to call the Jellicles back, but Misto wanted to wait for Tugger. He saw Alonzo go out, and flirt around with Jemima, right in front of Munk, since Munk saw Jemima in a daughterly way. He sighed and rolled his eyes, glad that his and Tugger's relationship wasn't that complicated. Then he saw Skimble go out and decided to join in, too.
"We like to practice our airs and graces," he sang, dancing over to Skimble and Tumbles.
"Jellicle Cats develop slowly," sang Munk, Addie, and Plato, completely mocking Misto, Skimble, and Tumbles.
"Jellicle Cats are not too big," said Tumbles, defensively.
Then Asparagus decided to tease them and sang "Jellicle Cats are roly poly."
"We know how to dance a gavotte and a jig," sang Skimble and Misto, demonstrating for Asparagus.
They kept on teasing them, but then when Addie, Munk, and Plato sang, "If it happens to be a stormy night," Misto, Skimble, and Tumbles replied with, "We will practice a caper or two in the hall." They capered over, Misto looking down, not paying attention. Then he came face to face with Tugger. He looked up at Tugger's displeased face.
"Terrible bore, am I?" Tugger whispered.
Misto looked down, but Tugger chimed in, singing his part and played with the kittens.
Then they all danced together in the Jellicle Ball Dance. Then Misto had a little solo in which Alonzo and Pouncival eventually joined him, dancing ferociously. Tumbles came out and they bantered back and forth until Cassie came out and Alonzo danced with her (which, ultimately, broke Jemima's heart since he had been all over her a little while ago) and Tumbles, Pounce, and Misto dance together. Pounce broke off the let Misto and Tumbles do a duet, but then Bomba decided to completely cut them off.
Tugger saw this, and he saw Misto's hurt face, so he gathered some toms up and they danced their way over to get Bomba out of the way. He couldn't just pull her off, so he had to improv. He carried her off and Misto and Tumbles resumed their dancing.
"I can't believe you did that to Misto," Tugger hissed to Bomba.
"Did what?" she snapped.
"You completely interrupted him. Him and Tumbles were gonna do a duet, which they're doing now, thanks to me."
Bomba gasped. "Oh! I totally didn't see them!"
Tugger rolled his eyes and then sat on the TSE1, watching his best friend dance magestically. He's so wonderful, Tugger though. I love him so much. He smiled and climbed off and joined them as his father told them to relax. It was time for the mating ritual. This year, Plato was asking Victoria to be his mate, and as they danced, Tugger and Misto caught eyes.
Niether of them were sitting next to anyone who could possibly be their mate. Jemima and Electra were sitting next to Misto, and they'd nuzzle him, but they both had their eyes set on other toms. Tugger wasn't really sitting next to anyone, close to Jenny but yeah right. Misto and Tugger just looked at each other.
I should tell him, Tugger thought. Tonight.
I want to tell him. Misto thought. But how?
Tanto and Cori sat up, sensing something. Misto sat up, too, also sensing it. Skimble jumped up and sniffed the air. Then Skimble said he smelt something and pointed in a direction, where Misto saw Grizabella. He pointed at her and used his magic to turn on the Christmas lights where she was. He didn't mean to frighten her, he just wanted people to look at her, to see what he saw; that she's just a broken-down queen, but then Alonzo chased her away, and they all started to dance.
They all danced ferociously, all on an adrenaline high. Misto had a little duet with Tumbles again. Tugger walked to his father and pointed to the cats, saying, "Isn't this great? Gosh, Dad, I love the ball."
His father smiled. "Believe me, Tugger, I know, and I love it, too."
Then Tugger had a big dance number with Plato, Alonzo, Addie, and Jerrie, more joining in along the way, as Tugger was getting increasingly eager. Misto looked from the side, impressed that he could dance so well.
Then Grizabella came out, and they all completely rejected her. Misto was still confused, and Tugger was still upset with her for interrupted his swagger, so he stalked by her, but deep down he didn't care.
Deuteronomy was just as confused, and heartbroken as he heard Grizabella sing. He sang about happiness once he left, conflicted. Jemima joined in, too, to sing about the better parts of life, the ones Grizabella couldn't relate to.
Jelly brought out her father, Gus, and they all listened intently to his story. After him, they sang about Skimbleshanks, and this is when things got scary. They heard a loud crashing sound, and Misto ran off with Tugger.
"What was that?" Misto asked.
"Macavity," Tugger said, holding Misto protectively. "He comes at every ball, but we generally get him early on."
They scurried out once they heard the laugh, ready to fight. Some hench cats brought out Deuteronomy, but Misto was still feeling uneasy. They stood by, watching as Demeter revealed that Macavity was disguised as Deuteronomy. Tugger shoved Misto back.
"Misto! Get back!"
"Tugger! No, I can't just hide!"
Macavity grabbed Demeter, and Munk and him fought over her until Alonzo stepped in. Despite the fact that Munk didn't share the same feeling, he was still his best friend and he loved Demeter, so Demeter was important to Alonzo, too. He came in and grabbed her. They could all tell that Munk would handle it. A tom against tom fight. Macavity eventually escaped, turning out all the lights with his magic.
The cats asked what to do, and this is where Tugger stepped in.
"You ought to ask magical Mr. Mistoffelees, the original Conjuring Cat," he said. "There can be no doubt about that. Please, listen to me." Some of the other cats were unsure, and still not trusting of Misto, especially after just having been attacked by Macavity. "And don't scoff. All his inventions are off his own bat." He stood up. "There's no such cat, in the metropolis. He holds all the painted monopalies for performing surprising illusions, and creating eccentric confusiong."
"The greatest magicians have something to learn from Mr. Mistoffelees's conjuring turn," he started to sing.
"And we all say: Oh! Well I never! Was there ever a cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!" He strutted in front of them.
"He is quiet and small. He is black from the ears to the tip of his tail. He can creep through the tiniest crack. He can walk on the narrowest rail. He can pick any card from a pack. He is equally cunning with dice. He is always decieving you into believing. That he's only hunting for mice. He can play any trick with a cork. Or a spoon and a bit of fish paste. If you look for a knife or a fork and you think it was merely misplaced. You have seen it one moment, and then it is gone! But you find it next week lying out on the lawn!" He pointed upward as Misto came from a rope above.
"And we all say," he continued. "Oh! Well I never! Was there ever a cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"
"Presto!" exclaimed Misto, turning the lights back on.
"Oh! Well I never! Was there ever a cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees!"
Tugger continues singing, admiring his true love so much more than he ever had. He stared on with loving eyes, just wanting to confess his undying love right there, but he didn't. He kept on singing his heart out, feeling more in love with Misto than ever before.
Then it was time for Misto's final surprise, something Tugger didn't even know about. He encouraged him on, though, nodding when Misto chose Cassie as his assistant. He threw the sheet over her, everyone staring intently. He blew some magic, waved his hands, and then he unfurled the sheet to reveal the real Deuteronomy.
Everyone stared, amazed. Tugger started to sing, looking at Misto with so much gratitude and love. He took his father's hand and pointed at Misto, who was so completely eager about doing such an amazing trick. He hopped into Deuteronomy's arms and nuzzled him. He looked for Tugger but instead saw everyone gathering around him, grateful for his magic.
"Thanks, Tugger," Misto whispered.
"No problem."
For the remainder of the ball, the two kept looking at each other. When Grizabella sang, when she was taken to the Heaviside Layer. They had never been more in love with each other in all their life.
After, the two hugged. "Oh, Tugger, this night has been so wonderful," Misto said. "I wouldn't want anything else to ever ruin it."
Tugger's smile faltered. Oh no, he thought. Should I kiss him? What if he doesn't react the way I want him? Then that would just ruin his night. Tugger looked down at Misto intensely. Misto stared up with his big blue eyes, waiting. He wants me to kiss him, Tugger thought. Tugger leaned down, and locked lips with the small cat in his arms. He was overwhelmed with joy when Misto kissed back. The two clung to each other, arms around on another, lips never departing.
"Oh Misto, I love you so much," Tugger said in between kisses.
Misto smiled. "I've been waiting so long for you to say that," Misto said, and the two continued to kiss, in a lover's embrace.