A/N: This was my first real fanfiction ever. Constructive criticism would be nice.
Disclaimer: I do not own CATS. If I did, I wouldn't be writing a fanfiction, now, would I?
Enjoy!
Cornelia danced with the other cats as though nothing in the world had happened. So Munkustrap had a mate...and a daughter. Big deal! She wouldn't stop loving him. Thus, she was thrilled when he danced with in one part of the ball. He walked over to her, smiled, held out a hand and then led her to the dance floor. He put her up on his shoulders, spun her around, and set her back down again. It was a short time, but she adored every second of it.
At last, it was time for the queens-to-be to dance with the toms of their choices. All of the cats (except for Cornelia, of course) to lay down with the cat that they liked most at the moment. When Cornelia looked around, she saw that neither Mistoffelees nor Victoria were there and she wondered why.
Jemima yawned--the third time this evening--and sleepily watched as Electra danced with a newcomer who called himself Pyro and Etcetera danced with Tumblebrutus. She couldn't help but wonder where Tori and Misto were. However, she didn't let it concern her and she lay down with Pouncival and went to sleep with the others.
As it neared time for the mating dance, Victoria realized that she just couldn't take this anymore and subtly disappeared. With the Jellicle music still playing in her head, she sat down in a little clearing and began to sob.
Why had Plato left her? She had thought that he loved her. What was worse was when she began questioning her love for him.
As she mourned, she heard a quiet voice. "Victoria?" it said. Victoria quickly dried her tears and turned to face the voice's owner.
"Hey, Mistoffelees," she said, trying not to seem sad.
"Are you all right?" Mistoffelees was trying to keep his distance. He peered at her with his large, expressive black eyes.
"No," Victoria admitted. "I'm not. Not at all. As a matter of fact, I'm feeling horrible."
"Can I help?" Mistoffelees asked, coming a bit closer.
"I don't know," Victoria said, her tears flowing yet again.
Mistoffelees slowly closed the distance between them and timidly nuzzled her--the first step in the mating dance.
Victoria was shocked. She hadn't known that he harbored those kinds of feelings for her. However, her instincts urged her onward, so she hesitantly nuzzled him back.
Purring happily, Mistoffelees ran his hands down her back and lifted her onto his shoulders. When he did this, Victoria surprised even herself. She accepted for the first time that she was, indeed, in love with the Magical Mr. Mistoffelees.
He ran one hand down her leg and she twitched with pleasure. Although the next step was for her to sniff another cat, they performed it as if there were others there. While, usually, the tom would lay the queen down on another tom, Mistoffelees improvised with a hollow pipe. He stroked the length of her body and she moaned contendedly.
Finally, and happily, the two star-crossed cats fell asleep.
Jemima and the other cats woke from their slumber and began dancing again. This time, it was much more fast-paced and tiring. After around another hour or so, they left to take cat-naps once more. While everyone else disappeared, Jemima stayed behind with Old Deuteronomy and Grizabella.
"Old Deuteronomy," she said, bowing her head, "Grizabella. I was just wondering....Well, both Tori and Misto are, I guess you could say, uh, missing. Have you seen either of them?"
"No, dear Jemima," said Deut. "I'm afraid that we haven't."
"Oh, that's okay," Jemima shrugged. "I was just wondering, is all. I can go ask Munkustrap where they are."
"I think that's a good idea, Jemima," said Grizabella. "Meanwhile, we'll ask others to look. It's not the best to let cats be by themselves without them saying where they are going, despite the improvements to the security system."
"Thank you," said Jemima. Then she hurried away to find her dad.
Munkustrap sat protectively in front of Demeter's sleeping form. He was just beginning to doze off himself when Jemima quietly stole up. "Dad?"
"Yes, Jemima?" said Munkustrap.
"Dad," Jemima said, "I haven't seen Victoria or Mistoffelees since before the mating dance. Do you know where they are?"
"Oh, no," Munkustrap found himself muttering. "Jemima," he promised, "we will find them."
"Okay," Jemima said. "I'm really worried for them."
"I am, too," Munkustrap said without even really realizing it.
Mistoffelees shook his head blearily. This ground was not comfortable. Where am I? he wondered. He opened his eyes and looked around. The first thing that caught his eye was the sleeping Victoria. He smiled a little and proceeded to investigate. He saw bars. Solid iron bars, all around them.
They were in a cage.
He started to panic. They just couldn't be in a cage! Unless...oh, no. Macavity's magic surpassed mine, he realized with a start.
Victoria unwillingly awoke. "Misto?" she murmured.
"Victoria," Mistoffelees said. "We're not exactly in the best situation right now, but I promise that I will get us out."
Victoria looked around and gasped. "Misto, why are we in a cage?"
Another tom answered her question. "Probably because I put you in there," said the tall, thin ginger cat.
Mistoffelees turned to face their captor. "Let us go, Macavity," the gentle conjuror demanded as fiercely as he could.
Macavity made a tsking noise. "Now, now, little Misto," he scolded, "is that any way to speak to your father?"
Mistoffelees looked at Victoria. Her face was a mask of horror and her thoughts reflected that.
"I'm sorry, Victoria," Misto whispered.