Mistoline's return
including: "Mistoline's song of return"
*Note: Several sections of the story are written in Mistoline's point of view. Please bear this in mind as you read. The waved lines (~~~~) note the changes between Mistoline's point of view and the third person's point of view.
Tumblebrutus knocked on the side of Luna's barrel, waking her from peaceful slumber. Who has the audacity to disturb my sleep? She sleepily peeked out of her barrel and forgot to be angry when she saw Tumble' s smiling face.
"Good evening, fair and beautiful Luna," he said with an enchanting smile.
Luna blushed. "Hello, Tumble. How are you tonight?"
"I could not be better for the brightest star is not in the night sky, but here in the Jellicle yard, of all places."
Luna blushed even more deeply and her fur sparkled brightly. What a charmer!
"But I forget my promise to you," Tumble smiled.
"Promise?" Luna looked at him not understanding.
"To take you to meet Old Deuteronomy. There is a Jellicle Ball tonight and all of the Jellicles will be there. I hope you still want to go." Tumble looked at Luna in hopes that she would.
Silly goose, how could you forget such a thing! Luna hid her embarrassment from Tumble and replied, "Oh, of course, I'm coming. I'm very interested in meeting Old Deute...?"
"Old Deuteronomy," Tumble smiled again. "Come, my lady. Your ball awaits.
Luna hopped out of her barrel and landed next to Tumble. He took her paw and together they went to the Jellicle Ball.
It was a magical, musical festivity that Luna saw before her. Dozens of cats and kittens sang, danced, and played. Merriment was the rule here. Luna felt like dancing herself. Then she noticed a large, older cat watching the whole display with a great smile of happiness. He had long fur that was mottled with grays, browns, and black; rather plain looking really. But when she caught sight of his eyes, she knew he was no ordinary cat. Tumble led her to him and said, "Deuteronomy, may I present Luna. She is new here and I believe that she would make an excellent Jellicle."
Tumble nudged Luna into saying some thing. "Hello," she said nervously, "I am Luna. My human family abandoned me a week ago. I came here..." she remembered the moths and continued, "and met Mistoffelees. He was very kind to me and I decided to stay here. I have met other cats as well. They all been generous to me," (except maybe Rumpleteazer, another story). She hesitated and then continued, "I would like, if you will have me, to become a Jellicle and be part of your tribe. Please." Luna was very much intimidated by this wise old cat.
Old Deuteronomy looked thoughtful a moment and called upon the cats whom Luna had met and become friends with. Mistoffelees, Rumpleteazer, Tugger, Tumblebrutus, and a few others all came forth making their claims of Luna's worthiness. Mistoffelees then whispered in Deuteronomy's ear and his eyes widened slightly. "You're sure?" he said to Mistoffelees. Mistoffelees nodded and went back to his place.
Old Deuteronomy looked at Luna once more. "Well you have been highly esteemed by these cats before me, but I would like to know what led you here."
Luna thought a moment and then began. " As I said my human family abandoned me. So I was on the street on my own. I was frightened at first, but then a group of moths decided to annoy me. I batted at them, but they insisted. So I ended up chasing them all through the city. I stopped when I discovered this old junkyard. I got curious and ended up in a little trouble, but Mistoffelees rescued me." She turned to Mistoffelees and offered him a sheepish smile. He smiled back remembering the experience. Luna continued her story, "I liked it here and decided to stay. I hope that is all right." Luna finished humbly.
Old Deuteronomy smiled and laughed. "I must hear of this adventure that required Mistoffelees assistance sometime." He smiled again. "I have heard all I need. Luna, you have proven to be worthy of the Jellicle tribe. Lunastar will be your Jellicle name, for you sparkle as much as the stars in the night sky. Welcome to the Jellicle layer."
A cheer rose from every cat in the yard. Tumble picked Lunastar up and spun her in the air. She laughed and smiled. "Thank you so much," she bowed in gratitude before the old cat. He smiled back and said, "Go forth and meet the other Jellicles. They are all eager to greet and welcome you."
Tumblebrutus, being a gentleman, led her around the yard to greet the other Jellicle cats. She met Munkustrap, who gave her a deep bow and a wink. Then Bombalurina, who smiled and nuzzled her. When she came to Mistoffelees, she bowed before him. He smiled, congratulated her, and bowed in return. She knew he was honest in his congratulations, but she could see a deep sorrow in his eyes. What would cause him to look this way? Before she could ask, Tumble had swept her away to meet some other cats.
After Lunastar had met everyone, all the cats became solemn and quiet. Mistoffelees started to sing...
It was quite interesting to see Lunastar who's name I did not know yet talking with Old Deuteronomy. I, Mistoline the banished magician, felt there was something more about her. Just before I could ponder about this strange feeling it hit me like a blow: Mistoffelees started my song.
"There once was a cat, her fur was white and black"
Lunastar looked questioning at Tumble and at Mistoffelees and Munkustrap started to declare the situation:
"Apprenticed to the magical Mr. Mistoffelees
But Mistoline, she was with Macavity..."
Mistoffelees stood in a corner and I liked to leave my hiding place but I just had to see my misery. Demeter took the next part
"And he's mourning, the magical Mr. Mistoffelees..."
When Jemima finally stood on the car I nearly broke into tears. She had been my friend and now was part of that horrible song.
"Hardly matured she started to betray"
Just now I looked down on Mistoffelees who shook his head painfully. Tugger saw it and patted him softly on his shoulder. Than sent him to the center of the yard. He knew that Mistoffelees wanted to say something and gave the final wink:
"So listen to what Mistoffelees wants to say!"
Mistoffelees hesitated but Old Deuteronomy nodded and the magician turned the lights to a spot on him. I had the will to leave, I was not discovered yet, but I knew that my chance to come back was tonight.
"We all liked Mistoline, the young queen
We loved the rebel she had been!
Fooling around but making a lot of fun,
She makes you do the step into the sun!"
He had seen me! Of course, Mistoffelees had sensed me and so he looked at me from the corner of his eyes. Tantomile and Coricopat looked at me, too. I know they felt me. Fortunately, nobody noticed Mistoffelees' and the twins' reaction. Lunastar, the new one, looked at me. How could she know I was here? Maybe she had similar powers to the twins? I rushed down from my hiding place to the twins and begged Tantomile to do something. Now a lot of Jellicles must have seen me. Tantomile hissed at me, but quiet enough to let me leave before everyone stared at me. She had understood what I wanted, and so she tried to help me:
"Betrayed like a rat"
Coricopat supported Tantomile's thoughts and sang along with her.
"A magical cat
And she's mourning, the young magician Mistoline."
I took the chance, Tantomile and Coricopat had opened a door for me. Maybe they would understand me if I sang my lines. And so I, frightened, stepped to the twins who backed away, but they had a look of friendship in their eyes. Mistoffelees looked at me shocked when I sang my lines which were not expected:
"I want to come back - a Jellicle cat.
No forgiving for the young magician Mistoline"
My voice sounded sad and showed the pain in my heart. I never had thought my voice could sound like that, but I could not prevent it. Mistoffelees' shock turned to a mourning look. Lunastar, at his side, stared at me as if she could not believe my misery. Mistoffelees sang his verse "We all liked Mistoline the young queen..." again and looked at me and took a step forward to my direction. I "turned" the light brighter. I did not want to be seen in darkness. Munkustrap gave him an angry glare which frightened the black cat from moving closer to me. I thought I had failed, but my friends Jemima and Etcetera saw the friend in me I once had been. They took the sparkling cat's paw and pointed to me.
"Lunastar," Tantomile whispered.
"She makes you do the step into the sun!" Etcetera and Jemima sang to me and it encouraged me to sing more about my feelings.
"I loved the tribe and I loved my way
I would have liked to stay"
Lunastar, Jemima and Etcetera sighed for me. There was forgiveness. Lunastar did not even know me, but she forgave
me without knowing my story. Mistoffelees had forgiven me long time ago and had suffered with me. Now he had
enough courage to show it and sang the next line along with me:
"Fooling around but making a lot of fun"
Mistoffelees opened his arms and smiled and my eyes began to water. Munkustrap still had not forgiven me. Mistoffelees seeing Munkustrap angry looks could not move. Jemima looked at Munkustrap who sighed and turned around to Old Deuteronomy. To my fortune, the old leader had forgiven me. With Deuteronomy's agreement, Jemima walked toward my direction. I was afraid and happy at the same time. Etcetera and Demeter followed Jemima. Lunastar joined the three cats, although she did not even know me. Together they sang the line of forgiveness:
"She makes you do the step into the sun!"
Lunastar's fur sparkled and I felt a warm familiar feeling when she touched me. I broke down in front of Jemima and hugged my old and new friends. I stood up and saw Mistoffelees smiling. I wanted to go an thank him but I felt something as he did, and that made me hesitate. Demeter suddenly cried out:
"Macavity!" when a police siren howled up and within a moment, Mistoffelees had disappeared. Lunastar's, Demeter's and my whiskers began to vibrate when we saw the ginger creature appear with his evil laughter:
"Nice to see you back, Mistoline. Did you forget our little agreement?"
Jennyanydots and Jellylorum shoveled the kittens away. I was unprepared for the situation. I was used to being protected by Mistoffelees. Now we stood there, Munkustrap, Demeter, Tumble, Alonzo, Lunastar and me. Munkustrap took a protective pose and tried to help me even though he had banished me. I was now a Jellicle again.
"Who is he?" Lunastar asked confused.
"Macavity, one of the most evil forces you'll find around," I hissed.
The Hidden Paw walked over to Munkustrap, glaring into his eyes and growling. They circled each other. Then suddenly, without anyone expecting it, he hit Munkustrap. The gray cat was tossed aside to rest unconscious on the floor.
"Noooo!" I cried in anger and while Demeter ran over to Munkustrap I attacked Macavity. Of course, I had no chance against him. He grabbed me and held me tight that I could not escape.
"Mistoline!" Alonzo growled and tried to attack Macavity, but Tumble held the black and white tomcat back. For Alonzo there was no chance against Macavity as long as he was on his own. I never had thought Alonzo would fight for me, but there was a lot of anger and anxiety in his eyes.
"Now I've got what I want!" Macavity yelled and turned around. Lying on his shoulder, I could remark something which he could not see. Lunastar's fur gleamed with a fiery light and she growled angrily. She held her paws together and formed a ball of fire. The ball left her paws and set Macavity's tail on fire. He could not have seen her, so he was surprised about the sudden pain and dropped me. Alonzo ran over and pulled me away to safety. I was very thankful for it. Lunastar was amazed and frightened at what she had just done. Now she had gained Macavity's interest which was certainly not a good thing. Macavity snuffed out the fire and went over to Lunastar and Tumblebrutus.
"So, kitten. You want to make Macavity your enemy?"
"Anyone who treats a Jellicle like you do is my enemy!" Lunastar hissed back.
"Aha. Maybe I'll take you, too. You're as interesting as the little magician." Macavity smiled mischievously and pressed forward.
"Before you take anyone you've to deal with me!" Tumblebrutus protected Lunastar, but with evil laughter, a group of rats appeared and grabbed Tumblebrutus. This was distraction enough for Macavity, and he had no problems snatching Lunastar. She hissed and howled. She did not want to let him defeat her, but she was a tiny creature compared to the ginger tom.
"Tallfall!" yelled Macavity, and it hurt my heart. Tallfall, the handsome tom, was here with Macavity. He was his henchcat but he had been friendly to me. He was not truly evil. But now he was here with Macavity. Tallfall appeared next to me and Alonzo as Macavity ordered him:
"Take that black and white tom away. He's a nuisance!"
Tallfall nodded and attacked Alonzo. I saw in his eyes that he did not want any fight. 'Oh Tallfall, why are you working for Macavity?' I asked myself. The last I saw were some black rats grabbing me, and Macavity disappearing with Lunastar on his shoulder.