AN: Thank you SO MUCH again to all my reviewers! Each and every one of you made my day and you make it all worth it!

I'm so glad you guys are liking things so far. Of course, since I am such a neurotic perfectionist, I went back and polished up quite a bit of the first chapter. Probably won't make too much of a difference to those who read thus far, but if you wanna look back, I think the nightmare scene especially is really cleaned up a whole lot better.

Oh, and if there are any readers who actually passed physics class and would say a certain element in this chapter is scientifically impossible, I'm sorry. I totally fail in that department. Let's just say it's magic! :D

On with the story!

Last Revised: 11/7/14

Chapter Two

With a soft yawn, Jemima stretched out her limbs and padded her way out from under the porch. It was mid-afternoon outside and she felt wonderfully refreshed after her nice, long nap. Her mind was in that profoundly dazed yet rested state that can only come from waking out of a deep dream.

Although … for the life of her, she couldn't quite remember what the dream was.

The calico queen glanced back over the shoulder. Her parents still fast asleep, their bodies curled around each other on the leaf bed. She smiled to herself. Those two deserve to rest a little while longer. Turning her face to greet the sun, she set off toward the Junkyard.

All across the property Jellicles old and young were lounging about, still exhausted after last night's rigorous festivities. Upon sight of Jemima, several of the older cats smiled and waved at her from their perches high on top of the junk pile. The young queen was a favorite among her many Jellicle aunts.

"Good morning, Jemima!" Jennyanydots called down to her, waving one knitting needle in the air. "Did you get enough sleep, honey?"

Jemima smiled and waved back. "Yes, Aunt Jenny. Good morning to you too! I'm looking for Victoria. Is she around?"

"Oh." Her aunt's eyes shifted to the side and she started nudging some of the other giggling queens who were seated around her. "Oh Jemima. She's not here. And I don't expect we'll be seeing her or Plato anytime soon."

The older queens broke out into belly laughs, reveling in their private joke. Jemima frowned at them, confused. Bast, I hate it when they do this.

"Well, how about Quaxo?" the young queen asked. "Have you seen him around today?"

The queens stopped laughing and looked each other.

"Hmm. I thought I saw him earlier," Jellylorum replied. "But I am not sure where he is now, dear."

"Oh," Jemima said, somewhat disappointed. "Okay then, I guess I'll …"

"Squeeeeeeeeeeeee, Jemima!"

The calico queen barely had time to turn around before she was suddenly tackled to the ground by a squealing blur of white and brown fur. Before she could even catch her breath, the tiny body on top of hers started bouncing up and down on her chest, shrieking with glee.

"Jemima!" Etcetera squealed. "Good morning! How are you? You sounded awesome last night! Really, really awesome! I didn't know you could sing like that! It's so good to see you! Hi!"

"Ergh, Cettie," Jemima laughed as she lifted herself up off the ground. "It's good to see you too. What's up?"

"Ooh! Electra and I are playing tag! But it's no fun with just two kittens." Her eyes grew big. "You wanna play tag with us, Jemima? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?"

"Um … not right now, Cettie. I'm actually looking for Quaxo. Have you seen him?"

The young kitten blinked, tilted her head. "Quaxo? Uh, no, I haven't seen him. Ooh! But we should find him! We should find him so that we can all play tag together! Then we can have four kittens and that would be so much fun. Ooh! Maybe we should also find Pouncival or Tumblebrutus or … AH! Squeeeeeeeeeeee TUGGER!"

And just like that Etcetera shot off toward the flamboyant Maine Coon who had swaggered onto the scene. Upon catching sight of his biggest fan, Tugger grinned and sent a powerful pelvic thrust in her direction. As expected, Etcetera swooned straight to the ground with no conveniently-placed Plato to catch her.

"Hey, Jem!" the Maine Coon called, winking at the calico queen. "How you doing, kitten?"

Jemima smiled sweetly. "I'm doing fine, Tugger. How are you, today?"

"Not bad, sweetheart. Not bad. Why don't you come on over here and dance with me, kitten?"

Jemima let out a chuckle as she made her way over to the waiting Maine Coon, her hips swinging playfully as usual. But to her surprise, the action felt forced. Somehow she felt less enthused about flirting with the infamous Rum Tum Tugger than she had last night.

Huh … maybe I'm still tired.

Tugger, however, didn't seem to notice. He gave the pretty little queen a once-over before reaching forward to tickle her under her chin. "You sang pretty sweet last night, kitten. How come you never sang for me like that before?"

But the moment his finger made contact with her skin, Jemima flinched, jerking back with a squeak at his touch. "Oh!" Jemima's eyes widened as she took a step back. "I … sorry, um … please don't do that, Tugger."

The Maine Coon frowned at her. "Huh? What's the matter, kitten? You turning into a little prude on me or something?"

Jemima's expression of surprise suddenly turned to one of insult. "No Tugger, I just … would prefer that you not touch me like that. Please."

Tugger's expression grew more astounded. Jemima's mind was whirling. Bast, what's going on? Before last night I wouldn't have thought twice about flirting with him. But now …

Taking in a deep breath, Jemima pulled the corners of her mouth up into a half smile. "I was actually looking for Quaxo. Have you seen him around?"

"Quaxo? Oh, so you prefer that tuxedoed conjurer over me now, do you, kitten?"

The question sent a jolt through Jemima's system. "I …" All at once the face of the Maine Coon faded from her vision and the face of the handsome calico tom materialized in its place.

Jemima's cheeks grew warm as she recalled Quaxo's performance last night. That ecstatic look in his eyes as he unleashed magic out of his paws. The way his fur sparkled from head to toe as he spun about across the floor. She'd never seen anything like it. She found it absolutely enthralling. That dynamism. That passion. That heart. It was like seeing her friend anew after having known him for so long.

And as for Tugger … she hadn't realized it then, but by the end of the night she had lost quite a bit of respect for the wild Maine Coon. Seeing the cruel way he treated Grizabella had really turned her off to him, while Quaxo, even at the beginning, felt inclined to show the miserable outcast some compassion.

"Sorry Tugger," she continued. "I just really need to talk to Quaxo about something. Do you know where I can find him?"

Tugger just stared at her with an odd expression for a moment. Then he pointed. "He's over at the north end of the Junkyard. Practicing."

"Thanks." And without another word, she turned from Tugger and sauntered on her way.

Jemima couldn't believe it. Her she was walking away from the tom she once believed she was madly in love with. And it felt good. She suddenly thought of Quaxo and she quickened her pace, skipping her way toward the north end of the Junkyard.

Bast, how could so much have changed in a single night?

XXXXXXXXX

"Oooh, now would you look at that?"

Tugger felt the fur on the back of his neck stick up as he wrenched his gaze away from Jemima's retreating figure. Sure enough, there was the scarlet queen Bombalurina herself reclining lazily on top of the old stove behind him.

"Looks like my little niece just outgrew you, Tugger," the queen crooned. "So counting her and Victoria, it looks like your fan club's lost its two prettiest queens in the span of twelve hours."

The Tugger sniffed. "Why don't you go take a powder, hussy?"

"I don't need a powder, Casanova."

The Main Coon rolled his eyes and turned back toward the direction where Jemima had disappeared. He would never admit it, but he was a just little bit disappointed. He'd always had a soft spot for that pretty little calico kitten. He never had any real romantic feelings before her, but her sweetness and innocence had endeared her to him.

He smiled ruefully. "Ah well. It's about time she grew up, I guess. She's a special queen, that one."

From her perch on the stove, the scarlet queen smiled knowingly. "Yes, she most certainly is."

XXXXXXXXX

"Presto!"

With a dramatic spin, the tuxedo tom flung out his paw and aimed a lightning bolt straight at the tuna can on top of the box pile.

That is … he meant to aim a lightning bolt straight at the tuna can on top of the box pile. Instead, it hit the boxes directly below it, which promptly burst into flames.

"Oh, SHOOT!" Quaxo cried, quickly grabbing the bucket of water he had set aside in case of an emergency. Throwing his arms forward, he doused out the fire and coughed as the smoke exploded in his face.

Gah … ugh, okay. Definitely still gotta work on my aim.

"Uh-oh," a syrupy voice purred behind him. "Well, good thing you weren't so sloppy when you were playing tricks with me last night, hm?"

The tuxedo tom bristled. Bast. He turned around and there she was – his least favorite Abyssinian queen in the Junkyard, winking at him and licking her paw seductively.

"What do you want, Cassandra?" he grumbled.

"Awwww." The queen came right up to him and began rubbing her head against his shoulder. "Don't be so cold, Mister Mistoffelees."

Quaxo cleared his throat. "What's wrong, Cass? Ran out of other toms you could toy with to try to get my brother to come crawling back to you?"

The queen stiffened, her blue eyes widening as she hissed dangerously under her breath. If there was one button Quaxo knew he could always push with Cassandra, it was her tempestuous on-again-off-again relationship with Alonzo.

"Hmmm," she murmured, and Quaxo shuddered as she stroked a paw along his arm. "You can't dislike me all thatmuch. After all, you picked me as your assistant last night over that scrawny little kitten who's always nipping at your heels."

Quaxo bit back the urge to scream at her for that jab against Jemima. Au contraire, Cassandra my dear, I picked you because I could never forgive myself if the trick went wrong and I made Jemima disappear and couldn't get her back. As for you, I couldn't care less if you went 'poof,' gone, and couldn't ever come back. Except for the fact that my brother would totally murder me for it.

"Oh ... uh, Quaxo?"

Cassandra's eyes narrowed into slits. "Well, speak of the devil," she hissed, turning to glare at the perplexed Jemima who had just come around the corner. "Well, well, well," the queen sneered, wrapping an arm around a spluttering Quaxo. "Pretty scarf, kitten. Where'd you get that?"

"I …" Jemima gulped, stroking the sparkling fabric. "It's a gift, Cassandra." And then, more bravely, she added, "Quaxo gave it to me."

Cassandra's eyebrows rose. "Quaxo?" She turned to face the tuxedo tom. "Well, I certainly haven't gotten any gifts for my assistance last night. Unless …" She licked her lips suggestively. "You've got more exciting plans on how to thank me later."

Ugh! SCREW courtesy,Quaxo thought as he wriggled out of her grasp. "Cassandra, just leave. I can't concentrate on my magic with your cheap perfume stinking up the place."

Cassandra choked at that pointed jab at her vanity. With a snarl, she spun around and stepped forward to tower over the much smaller calico queen. "I suppose you think you're all grown up now, getting your own solo at the Ball and all. Well, don't get a swollen head just because you can hit a few pretty high notes, kitten. That's still nothing compared to the abilities of those of us who have real magic flowing in our veins."

"Cassandra! Leave her alone!"

The Abyssinian queen rolled her eyes once and then ambled off, swinging her tail sensuously behind her. Jemima stared at the ground, wringing her paws. Bast, what wasthat all about? Cassandra has never been that nasty to me before.

"Jemima," Quaxo said, inching closer to his friend. "I … I wasn't doing anything with Cassandra, okay?"

The queen glanced up at him and then back down at the ground. "Oh. Okay."

Quaxo grit his teeth, frustrated. "Seriously, Jemima. We weren't doing anything. Stupid Cassandra was just being stupid Cassandra again, trying to make Alonzo jealous, and I was trying so hard to get her to just get her off my back…"

"Okay!" Jemima squeaked, holding up her paws. "I believe you, Quaxo. You don't have to try to convince me."

"Yes, I …" Wait. Why did Quaxo feel so hard pressed to convince Jemima that he and wasn't fooling around with Cassandra? It's not like he and Jemima were … they're not … she's not …

"Ahem, so ..." Jemima said, ready to change the subject. "How's practice going, Quaxo?"

"Um." The tom glanced toward the charred remains of the boxes. "I'm getting better. I think."

Jemima giggled. "Well, it does look like that was smaller fire than the last one."

They both laughed. Quaxo plopped down onto the ground and patted the empty space beside him. Jemima smiled and took her seat.

"So ... how's Vicky?" Jemima asked. "Is she coming back to the Junkyard anytime soon?"

"Oh..." The tuxedo tom looked to the side. "I actually don't know, Jem. I haven't seen Vicky since last night."

Jemima's eyes widened. "She didn't come back to the mansion?"

"No, she didn't. I think she and Plato have decided to go, uh ..." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Honeymooning."

"... Oh."

Quaxo glanced over at his friend, frowning at the sad look on her face. "Jem? You okay?"

The calico queen looked up, blinking, and gave him a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. I guess ... it's just a lot to take in. Knowing that Victoria actually has a mate now."

Quaxo let out laugh. "You're telling me! I'm her brother, how do you think I feel about all this?"

Jemima giggled. "Yeah! I can imagine. It's just ..." She paused, trying to find the words. "It's just that Vicky's been my best friend for so long and now all of a sudden she's an adult and she has a mate and ..." She sighed heavily, staring down at the ground. "Now she's going to have her own life. She probably won't have much time for me anymore."

"Hey," Quaxo said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Don't feel like that. Sure, things are probably going to be a little different now. But I know Victoria and I know she still loves you and I know she's not the kind of queen to just throw away her friendship with you just because she's found a mate."

Jemima looked up at him and smiled, her eyes glistening. "Yeah ... yeah, you're right. Thank you, Quaxo." And then, after a moment's hesitation, she leaned over and rested her head against his shoulder.

The tuxedo tom stiffened. Jem? The queen merely snuggled closer and he fought against the urge to shiver with pleasure at the feel of her fur against his face.

"Um …" Jemima whispered shyly. "I also forgot to thank you last night."

Quaxo gulped, feeling warm all over. "F-For what? For the scarf? Oh, th-that was nothing."

"No, not the scarf," the queen replied, lifting her head and looked him in the eye. "I wanted to thank you for saving my grandfather. For bringing him back to us. Quaxo, I … I couldn't possibly thank you enough for that."

Jemima swallowed, hesitant, and then her eyes fluttered closed. Quaxo could scarcely breathe as she leaned forward. He stifled a gasp as he felt her lips press against his cheek. So soft. So warm. And then, just as quickly, Jemima pulled away.

"Thank you, Quaxo," she stammered breathlessly, pink tinging her cheeks. "Thank you so much."

"Uh …" Quaxo stared down at his paws, feeling the heat explode across his face from where her lips had met his skin. "Y-you're welcome, Jem. I ..." He glanced over at her. "I have to thank you as well."

Jemima blinked, confused. "For what?"

"For what you did for Grizabella. And for all of us. With your song."

"Oh, I-I didn't really do much."

"Yes, Jem. You did," Quaxo insisted. "If it weren't for you, we never would have realized just how blind we all were. It was you who guided us all toward the compassion that we failed to give to the one who needed it most. That is a gift beyond measure, Jemima."

Jemima lowered her eyes, her lips trembling. "I … thank you, Quaxo. That means so much to me."

"Jem, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What?"

"That song … where did it come from? When you were singing, your eyes looked so far away. It was like the words were coming from a different realm."

"I … I'm not entirely sure." Jemima looked down at her paws, thinking. "I've never experienced anything like that before. But when Grandfather was singing, I could suddenly feel the words echoing in my heart. I didn't know where they were coming from, and they were so soft and faint that I could scarcely make them out. But then when Cori and Tanto took my paws, the words suddenly became crystal clear. And then the song just … poured out of me, I guess. I really don't know how else to explain it."

"No. That beautiful." Quaxo smiled at her. "You have an amazing gift, Jemima."

She smiled back. "Thanks. Although I'm not entirely sure I understand it just yet."

"Hey! You don't have to understand it all right away. Just go with it. You can figure out all the rest later."

Jemima smirked. "Is that your philosophy when it comes to magic, Quaxo?"

"Yep, pretty much."

"No matter how many innocent boxes and tuna cans you happen to massacre along the way."

That quip sent the both of them rolling across the ground laughing.

"Oh!" Quaxo cried, leaping to his feet. "Jem, do you want me to show you my latest trick?"

Jemima's eyes lit up in excitement. "Yes, please!"

"Great! Just sit right there."

Jemima's eyes followed after the tuxedo tom as he darted behind a large pile of junk. When he came around the other side, she broke into a grin. Quaxo was dressed once again in full magician's attire, his tuxedo-fur sparkling from head to toe.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Quaxo declared theatrically. "For the Magical Mister Mistoffelees' next trick, I'm going to need a volunteer from the audience."

Rolling her eyes, Jemima looked to the left and to the right before raising her paw with bogus reluctance.

"Ah, it looks like we have our volunteer, ladies and gentlemen!" Quaxo cried, extending a paw. "And what's your name, pretty lady?"

"… Jemima."

"Welcome Jemima! We're so glad to have you tonight!"

"Quaxo, cut that out. Just get to the magic."

"Ah, this one's eager, I see. Now, for the first part of a trick, I shall pull a magical object straight out of this perfectly ordinary … top hat!"

Of course, said top hat appeared out of thin air right on top of Quaxo's paw. He proceeded to swing it around to show the imaginary audience that the hat was thoroughly empty. Then, with true dramatic flair, he waved his hands, reached in deep into the hat and pulled out what appeared to be a long silver handle.

Jemima squeaked aloud as the full object came into view. "Holy Bast! Is that Bustopher Jones' spoon?"

"Hahaha, yeah," Quaxo sniggered, breaking character for just a moment. "And knowing that stuffy old clown, he's probably running all over the mansion looking for it right now."

"Quaxo, that's so bad!"

"Ahem, and NOW!" Quaxo declared, waving the spoon about with a flourish before planting it upright into the ground. "I shall ask you, my lovely volunteer, to stand right about … here for me."

Jemima kept her eyes on Quaxo's as he positioned her in front of the spoon. The top of the handle still extended a good three inches above her head before forming the shining ladle.

"And NOW ladies and gentlemen! I, the Magical Mister Mistoffelees, shall fire a bolt of lightning straight out of my paw and ignite this mystical spoon before your very eyes. What you are about to see is a dazzling lightning display unlike anything you've ever seen before! But …" He wagged one finger and pointed to Jemima. "The lightning shall not touch a single hair on Jemima's head."

Okay, great. Jem looks just about ready to kill me. We are off to a fantastic start.

"And now ladies and gentlemen! Prepare to be amazed!"

"Quaxo Mistoffelees," Jemima ground out. "You had betterknow what the heck you're doing!"

Yeah, no kidding, Quaxo thought as he stared down at the sparks already dancing along his paw. "Don't be afraid, my lovely volunteer!" he said aloud. "The Magical Mister Mistoffelees shall not allow any harm to come to you."

But when the tuxedo tom lifted his gaze, what he saw was not a queen cowering in fear. Jemima was standing completely still and relaxed, her wide eyes fixed on his. Waiting. Expecting.

Sucking in a shaky breath, the tom fixed his eyes on the ladle above her and clenched the sparks in his palm. Quaxo, you fool, don't you DARE screw this up!

He fired the lightning bolt.

Jemima could not help but flinch as the electricity surged straight over her head. With a defeaning crash something exploded behind her and every strand of fur on her body suddenly stood up on end. At first she remained frozen, almost afraid to look, unsure of what she would see. But when she finally turned her head around, the sight that met her eyes made her catch her breath in amazement.

Quaxo, in all of his conjuring power, had transformed the spoon into a tree of lightning. The handle glowed like a pillar of light and the lightning branched out in all directions, sending a rainbow of sparks showering down over her head. Every beat of Jemima's heart reverberated through her as the electricity sang along her skin and crackled through the air. But, just as Quaxo promised, not a single bolt touched her where she stood.

"Woah!" Jemima spun around. "Quaxo, that … that's amazing!"

A few feet away, the tuxedo tom stood stock still, his paw still firing off a steady stream of lightning to keep the spoon alight. Jemima saw that his eyes were wide and panicked as if in disbelief that the trick actually worked. But when his gaze met hers, the alarm immediately melted away in place of a giddy smile.

I did it … I really did it!

Quaxo laughed aloud. It was all he could do not to break into a victory jig. He watched the scene in awe, mesmerized by the wonder shining in Jemima's eyes, her face glowing in the light that he himself had created.

He did not realize that one of the bolts had struck a tower of heavy paint cans nearby. Not until he heard the tiny crash, followed by a foreboding creak. Quaxo glanced up and the blood drained instantly from his face. For a moment, the mountain of junk just swayed from side to side, and then it finally toppled … falling straight toward the calico queen who stood oblivious below.

"JEMIMA! NO!"

What happened next would be forever seared into Quaxo's memory. One moment Jemima had lifted her head too late and her brown eyes grew wide in terror. The next, the outline of her body flickered, faded, and then vanished completely … right before the avalanche of debris crashed down upon the empty space where she once stood.

XXXXXXXXX

"Oof!"

Jemima cried out as she fell onto the soft earth, struck by the unmistakable sound and feel of leaves crunching beneath her body. Her eyes blinked open, spots dancing before her vision before clearing to reveal the blue sky above.

The calico queen stood shakily to her feet, her head twisting about as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. To her astonishment, the only thing she could see were trees all around her and a leaf-covered ground rising before her in an upward slope.

No sign of the Junkyard. No sign of …

"Quaxo?" she called. "Quaxo?"

No answer. Panic gripped her fiercely. She bolted forward and tried to stumble up the hill only to slip and fall backwards onto the leaves.

"Quaxo!" she screamed. "Somebody. Please! Answer me!"

And then, in the distance, someone called her name.

"Jem!" the voice cried. "Jem, is that you?"

"Quaxo!" she called back, her voice shaking with relief. "Quaxo, I'm down here!"

Footsteps. Paws racing frantically, crunching over the leaves. And then suddenly a small body came slipping, tumbling down the hill.

"Quaxo!" Jemima cried, racing to catch the falling tom as he regained himself and slid down to where she lay. "Quaxo, are you okay?"

Two panic-stricken eyes met hers. "Jem …" And then the breath left both of their bodies as Quaxo crushed Jemima to him. "Oh, thank Bast. You're alright … you're alright."

"Quaxo …" Jemima shivered against him, wrapping her own arms about her friend. Her eyes blinked about in confusion "Where …" Then the realization dawned on her. "We're in the woods?"

On the far outskirts of the Junkyard lay a small stretch of wood at the bottom of a hill. She and the other kittens sometimes liked to venture out and play there, but their parents always advised against it since it was so far. It was a good hundred yards from where she and Quaxo had been standing just moments before.

"Quaxo," Jemima murmured, wincing at the sudden twinge of pain in her skull. "Quaxo, what happened? How did I get out here?"

The tuxedo tom pulled away, his eyes tentatively searching her face. "That's what I was going to ask you. That tower was about to fall on you and then you just … vanished."

Jemima rubbed a hand over her forehead as it began to throb. "Vanished?"

"Yeah. I mean, one second you were there, and then … you weren't."

Quaxo stared down at his paws, unaware that his friend was clutching her head as the slicing pain increased twofold. "Maybe I teleported you?" he wondered aloud. "I mean, I've done something like it before when I made Cassandra disappear. But I didn't think I could do something like …"

"No …" Jemima moaned, her eyes clenched shut. "No, I … I think that I did this, Quaxo."

The tuxedo tom glanced up at her. "What?"

"I …" Jemima swayed on her feet. "I …"

Quaxo barely moved in time to catch her before she fell into his arms, unconscious.