Part 15
"Don't you ever do that to me again", Exotica yelled and hugged her mate close and cried.
"What did I do", Alonzo asked and rubbed her back.
"Y-you made me think y-you were dead!"
"As if that old rug would be able to kill me."
Exotica chuckled. "Yeah silly me."
He smiled, dried her tears and kissed her softly.
"Come on fellow s", Alonzo waved to Admetus and Coricopat. "Help me up." They grabbed his arms and pulled him up.
"Alonzo", a voice said in the dark and they saw Munkustrap walk towards them.
"Yeah Munk", Alonzo asked as he let Admetus and Coricopat keep him upright.
"Thank you", Munkustrap said. "Thank you for saving Demeter and myself."
Alonzo grinned. "Aw Munkie I'm touched really."
"Shut up", Munkustrap grinned and took Alonzo's paw. "Can't you take a compliment without making fun of it?"
"What's the fun in that?"
Munk laughed. "It's always about the fun isn't it?"
"You're words mate not mine."
"You haven't changed at all", Munkustrap laughed and hugged Alonzo. The Stray leader didn't return at first but then he grinned and wriggled his arms out of Admetus and Coricopat's grip and hugged the Jellicle protector.
"Something I'm very glad for", Demeter said and walked up to them. "But what about Deuteronomy?"
"We must find Old Deuteronomy?" The Jellicles sang and Munkustrap let go of Alonzo. The later had gotten an idea.
"Hey Mio", he mumbled.
"Yeah Zo?" the little conjurer asked.
"Get ready for a big entry Mio", Alonzo grinned. "It's show-time."
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna tell them about you. Just don't come out to begin with."
"We must find Old Deuteronomy", Munkustrap told his tribe. "He can't be too far away and Macavity is injured thanks to me and Lonz."
"But how are we going to get him back", Tugger asked. "Without the help of the Strays."
"It's nothing wrong with the Strays", Jemima said to him. "They've helped us."
"Alonzo scares me", Pouncival said and shuddered.
"Us too", Plato said and motioned for him and Tumblebrutus.
"Why", Cassandra asked.
"He threatened us", Tumble yelled.
"What", Jelly and Jenny yelled.
"How", Asparagus asked. "When?"
"After that shaggy cat in their tribe tried to interfere with us again", Tumblebrutus said.
"After you pushed her", Skimble said to Pouncival.
"Yeah!"
"Then it was his right to do so."
"You can't support that Skimble" Cassandra shrieked. "He threatened one of our kittens!"
"Who treated one of his tribe bad… Cassie Alonzo got the right to do that."
"I think we've lost focus", Munkustrap said. "Does anyone know how to get Deuteronomy back?"
"You ought to ask magical Mr. Mistofelees", a voice said behind them and Pouncival turned his light to Alonzo. He was standing on his own, but on swaying paws. "The original conjuring cat-"
"There can be no doubt about that", Coricopat cut in.
"Please listen to me", Alonzo went on. "And don't scoff. All his inventions are of his own bat."
"There's no such cat in the Metropolis who holds all the patent monopolies", Admetus piped up
"For performing surprising illusions and creating eccentric confusions!" Tantomile cut him off.
Alonzo: The greatest magicians have something to learn
From Mister Mistofelees Conjuring Turn
And we all say
'Oh! Well I never was there ever
A cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistofelees?' – Alonzo hurried to the center of the clearing and everyone sat down around him.
Alonzo: He is quiet, he is small he is black
From his ears to the tip of his tail
He can creep through the tiniest crack
He can walk on the narrowest rail – Here Asparagus remembered what he'd seen Misto do at the Strays' yard.
He can pick any card from a pack – Quaxo gave Alonzo a card who the patched tom crunched up in his fist
He is equally cunning with dice – Alonzo threw the card over the ground and it had turned into a dice.
He is always deceiving you into believing
That he's only hunting for mice
He can play any trick with a cork – Admetus covered his head with his paws as he remembered the cork incident.
Or a spoon and a bit of fish paste - Quaxo remembered the first trick they'd shown Alonzo.
If you look for a knife for a fork
And you think it merely misplaced
You have seen it one moment and then it is gone!
But you find it next week lying out on the lawn
And we all say
Oh! Well I never was there ever – Misto came down from the sky in a rope and his coat was shining with bright lights.
A cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistofelees
Misto: Presto! – The lights came back on and the Jellicles looked at the conjurer in awe.
Strays: Oh! Well I never was there ever
A cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistofelees – Misto threw lightning bolts and every time he did the Jellicles jumped. "Show off", Cori whispered to the amused Grizabella.
Strays: Oh! Well I never was there ever
A cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistofelees
Alonzo: His manner is vague and aloof
And you would think there is nobody shyer – the Queen Strays nodded in agreement.
But his voice has been heard on the roof
When he was curled up by the fire – Pouncival and Tumble remembered that and nodded in agreement.
And he's sometimes been heard by the fire
While he was about on the roof
At least we all heard that somebody purred
Which is uncontestable proof of his singular magical powers
And I've known the family to call me in from the garden for hours
While I was asleep in the HAL – "Don't talk about it", Admetus grumbled.
And not long ago this phenomenal cat
Produced seven kittens right out of a hat – The Jellicles stared in shock.
Alonzo: And we all say
Strays: Oh! Well I never was there ever
A cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistofelees – Misto did his dance and everyone looked at him in awe.
Alonzo: Magical! – Misto got out the red blanket.
Alonzo: And not long ago this phenomenal cat
Produced seven kittens right out of a hat – Then he chose Exotica to assist him and with help from Alonzo, Admetus and Coricopat they covered her and pulled the blanket out in the clearing. Misto grinned at Alonzo who nodded. Misto went around the blanket and waved his paws and blew some twinkle over it and when he pulled it off everyone gasped because there stood Old Deuteronomy!
Alonzo: And we all say – Alonzo took Deuteronomy's paws and turned him towards Misto.
Oh! Well I never was there ever
A cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistofelees – Misto hugged the Jellicle leader happily.
All: Oh! Well I never was there ever
A cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistofelees
Oh! Well I never was there ever
A cat so clever as Magical (Alonzo: Mystical!)Mr. Mistofelees – They all took each other paws and Tugger grabbed Alonzo's without hesitation.
Oh! Well I never was there ever
A cat so clever as Magical (Alonzo: Magical! Mystical!)Mr. Mistofelees – Misto hurried to the other side of the clearing and met up with Exotica and they did a little dance before they bowed to the audience.
Alonzo: Whoa oh oh
All: Oh! Well I never was there ever
A cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistofelees
Alonzo: I give you the Magical, the marvelous Mr. Mistofelees!
Misto jumped and teleported away and appeared beside Grizabella and everyone cheered and greeted the Jellicle leader happily.
"Well done Mio", Alonzo grinned as he and his tribe hugged the little conjurer.
"Magical Mr. Mistofelees", Misto asked as he returned the hug.
"Hey it sounded good!"
"Where ever did you come up with those words", Exotica asked her mate.
"I've told you before", Alonzo grinned. "One of my talents is improvising."
"You made that up just now", Quaxo asked in awe.
"Well duh! Have you heard me sing that before?"
"No but-"
Jemima: Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses wither away
Like the sunflower I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day
"Hey that's Bella's melody", Admetus growled.
"Oh let her at it", Grizabella said with a sigh. "I made an impression on her."
Alonzo shrugged and turned to his tribe. "Let's head home."
"Yeah", Exotica said. "We don't need to see who's chosen."
Alonzo took a step forward and groaned in pain so Cori and Admetus hurried up to help him.
"Now Old Deuteronomy, just before dawn", Munkustrap said. "Through a silence you feel you could cut with a knife announces the cat who can now be reborn and come back to a different Jellicle life."
"Wait", Grizabella said.
"What is it Bella", Tantomile asked.
"I want to try to sing to them again. Please."
Alonzo looked at her and nodded and she stumbled towards the Jellicles who all gave her the cold shoulder except for Deuteronomy who motioned for her to sing.
Grizabella: Memory, turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, enter in
If you find there the meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life will begin
Memory, all alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The street lamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning
Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin – Grizabella sunk to the ground and Alonzo started towards her but Exotica put a paw in his chest and shook her head. Then she took a step forward.
Exotica: Sunlight, through the trees in summer
Endless masquerading – Grizabella raised her head.
Grizabella and Exotica: Like a flower as the dawn is breaking
Grizabella: The memory is fading – She rose to her feet and Alonzo slowly walked towards her.
Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me you'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun – Alonzo reached out his arms and Grizabella went straight into his embrace and they looked at the Jellicles' faces before they all started to walk. MQ helped Alonzo and Tantomile and Admetus helped Grizabella.
"Alonzo", Munkustrap yelled. "Wait Alonzo!"
"Yes", the Stray leader asked and turned to him.
"Please don't go."
Alonzo's eyes went wide. "What?"
"Stay with us. Come on Alonzo this raft should be overbuilt and repaired. These things should never have happened. We were wrong!"
"Let me get this straight", Coricopat asked. "The Jellicles, the all-mighty, know it all, can never do wrong Jellicles are apologizing to us?"
"Yes Coricopat", Munkustrap said. "We were wrong about you."
"It's not us you were wrong about Munkustrap", Alonzo said darkly. "We are still the same as we were when we were kittens."
"Only bigger, stronger and wiser", Admetus cut in.
"Not in your case", Exotica teased. "You're just bigger and stronger."
"Ha ha ha if I weren't helping Bella you would have to run."
"Aw did I hurt your feelings?"
"I'll hurt more than that if-"
"Ad, Exy", Alonzo said. "Shut it. Munk do you understand what I mean?"
Munkustrap looked at his face and then his gaze trailed to the two young toms under Alonzo's arms. He sighed.
"Yeah Alonzo I know what you mean", he said and walked over and sank down on a knee and put his paws on their shoulders. "Quaxo, Mistofelees we- I am so sorry for what we did to you. I'm sorry for trying to hurt and kill you."
The kittens looked at him and then up at Alonzo who smiled softly.
"It's okay", Quaxo grinned. "Everybody makes mistakes."
"Jellicles more than others", Misto grinned and the Stays laughed.
"Hey", Munkustrap laughed. "What is it with your tribe and insults?"
"It's the one thing their good at", Tugger spat.
"Tugger", Jenny scolded him. "Apologize!"
"No I will never apologize to dirty strays and especially not those two servants of the devil", he pointed at MQ and Alonzo hissed angrily.
"Tugger", Munk yelled. "Shut your trap. Alonzo please don't listen to him. Stay here with us."
Alonzo let his head drop. "I'm sorry Munkustrap. I can't it wouldn't be safe for Tugger." He let go of his kittens and started to walk away. He stopped after a few steps and turned around again.
"But if my tribe wants to stay", he said and smiled softly. "They can do that." Exotica hurried over and put his arm around her shoulders so she could help lead him.
"You are my mate Alonzo and I love you very much", she said. "Where you go I go."
"You've led us to victory and we've survived thanks to you", Coricopat said. "I'm going with you Zo. The Strays are my family and I'll never abandon my family." He put a paw on Alonzo's shoulder. "Mil? Ad?"
Tantomile walked over to Jelly and stood beside her.
"When you are ready I'll be here", she said and smiled. "Waiting for you."
Admetus stared at her but walked over to stand beside Coricopat.
"Don't feel bad Mil", Alonzo reassured her. "We need some more time. MQ… do you wish to stay?"
The kittens looked at him and then at Tantomile and the Jellicles.
"I-I wish to stay", Misto said and stood beside Tantomile.
"Me too", Quaxo said.
Alonzo smiled softly. "Bella?"
"You accepted me when no one else would", she said. "I'll go with you."
"Alonzo", Munkustrap begged. "Don't do this."
"Munk I'm not ready yet and you are not ready yet."
"What do you mean?"
"You have to figure that out by yourself." And with that the five Strays disappeared into the early morning light.
Gus was the cat chosen to go to Heaviside and now Tantomile and MQ was watching the sun rise over their new home. Tears fell from Tantomile's eyes.
"Don't cry Mil", Quaxo comforted her. "They'll come one day."
"I know… I-I just… I've never been without my brother you see. I can't feel him when he's too far away."
"We know the feeling", MQ said.
"I know you do little ones."
"Tantomile, MQ", Munkustrap said and sat down beside them.
"Hi Munk", they said.
"What's wrong?"
"We just miss them is all…" Tantomile said.
"I miss them too… I-is he mad at me? Alonzo I mean."
"No", Tantomile said. "He's just sad."
"Sad? What for?"
"Look at your markings and you'll understand."
With that the three former Strays went to find somewhere to sleep.
TBC Hope you liked it:)