-1How Long is Forever?
by
Draco's Daughter
Disclaimer: If I told you once, I told you a thousand times: I DON'T OWN CATS! I do, however, own the original characters and one, sweet, black cat named Dante.
A/N: Hehe, my cat's napping with his favorite toy and he's also looking at me like "you're a freak." This is the LAST, I repeat, LAST chapter of "How Long is Forever?" This is the third fic I've ever completed (shocking, isn't it?) and I'm very proud of this story. I'd like to thank all of my reviewers for their love and support and their nagging for me to continue with this story. If it wasn't for you I'd don't know what I'd do. Any and all reviews for this chapter will be receiving personal e-mails from me (not that Private Message system is trying to appease us with, a real legit e-mail) so please post your e-mail address if you're reviewing anonymously so I can properly thank you. Once again I thank everyone for the continued support of my story, please enjoy the conclusion to "How Long is Forever?"
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Last Time
"You miss the Junkyard Tribe, don't you?" Capitan asked, leaping up next to Munkustrap on the Windowsill. Munkustrap only nodded a firm yes.
"I need to know if they're okay. I've been making sure they're alright for the past few years and I can't help myself worrying about them when I've been away for so long," Munkustrap replied.
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"Munku, things aren't okay in the Junkyard. Macavity's made a takeover! I just escaped to get some help from old Coldwater's tribe." Munkustrap was taken aback. Macavity in control? What horrors had been realized when this happened?
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"What's the plan?" Tugger asked, tail swishing in anticipation...
"Macavity thinks I'm dead, right?" Munkustrap asked, a genius idea forming.
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Macavity lay on the large tire, surveying the Junkyard before him. His hench cats and rats kept the Junkyard tribe in line. Macavity had all he wanted: The Junkyard under his control, Demeter to himself, and his brother defeated. Now all he had to do was eliminate Mistoffelees and Rum Tum Tugger and there would be no one able to stand in his way. Indeed the Napoleon of Crime was over confident in his current position.
Everything was going swimmingly until a very familiar silver tabby came walking into the Junkyard. Macavity hissed, how could that obstacle still be in his way!
"Hello brother," Munkustrap said sitting down a leap's length away from the tire. "Did you miss me?"
"You're supposed to be dead! Now you've elected a very painful way to die," Macavity retorted, fuming and enraged. Honestly, why can't humans learn how to let cats who were hit by cars simply die? Macavity leapt at Munkustrap but before Macavity's body crashed into his brother's, Munkustrap's body disappeared. Macavity hit the ground and tumbled over. He stood again and shook his head. Was he dealing with a ghost?
"That appeared to have hurt," Munkustrap stated, sitting atop the trunk of the TSE1, washing his front paws. Macavity let out a growl and half-leapt/half-levitated towards the silver tabby. Again, Munkustrap disappeared into thin air, causing Macavity to crash into the back window of the car. Upon close examination one can see the small cracks left by the impact.
"Will you ever lean, Macavity?" Munkustrap asked, now sitting atop a pipe. Macavity, enraged and how half-insane, leapt again. The same trick was performed and Macavity crashed into the pipe, misjudging the distance.
"This farce has gone on long enough! Stand and fight you coward!" Macavity yelled, looking around for the Silver Tabby that was causing him so much trouble.
"Fine, Macavity, are you ready to fight me, one on one?" Munkustrap asked, sitting on the tire. Macavity weighed the consequences. If he leapt at Munkustrap, then Munkustrap might disappear. If he didn't leap at Munkustrap could deal a crushing blow, coming from the high ground. Macavity tried his luck by leaping. Instead of disappearing, Munkustrap casually dodged the blow. Macavity flopped down with Munkustrap held the larger cat down.
"Now that I've got you where I want you, I have something very important to tell you. You've got the wrong Munku!" Mistoffelees said, changing from Munkustrap's silver to his own, jet black. Macavity growled and shoved Mistoffelees off him and off of the tire. He was about to pounce and finish that meddling magician off when the real Munkustrap leapt at him. The brothers tumbled down the other side of the tire. The cats landed apart from each other and Munkustrap was immediately on the attack. The silver tabby went for Macavity's throat, scratching Macavity's back and face with his front claws while digging repeatively into Macavity's stomach with his hind claws. Macavity tumbled and tossed Munkustrap off. The Silver Tabby knocked into a pile of junk and he groaned, injuries from when he was hit by the car acting up. Macavity circled around his younger brother.
"I shouldn't have trusted you to die and stay dead on your own. I tried to give you a quick and virtually painless death bout you have elected to do battle. You can't even fight well. You get magician cats to create illusions for you. Sad," Macavity stated as he lifted up Munkustrap by the Silver Tabby's neck. The ginger cat pulled back his paw, unsheathing powerful claws and readying for the killing blow. "Farewell, Munkustrap." But before Macavity could plunge deep into Munkustrap's body, a gray and white blur struck. Munkustrap was released from Macavity's grip and fell. Captain was standing over Macavity, clearly unafraid of the Napoleon of Crime.
"You see, Macavity, I've learned that it doesn't matter if I'm stronger than you or not, I've learned that true friends are what matter," Munkustrap said, getting up and rubbing his neck.
"Do you want to finish him?" Captain asked. Munkustrap shook his head.
"I want him to live with the knowledge that I hold myself above such actions. Get out of here and never show your face in the Junkyard again, Macavity," Munkustrap commanded. Macavity scowled and disappeared. His hench cats and rats also fled the scene. Munkustrap let out a low groan.
"You okay?" Mistoffelees asked from atop the tire. Coricopat and Tantomile also sat with him.
"I'm fine. Just a bit sore from the efforts. Thanks you three, I appreciate your help," Munkustrap answered, smiling at his three doppelgangers.
"Come on, Munku, there's a queen you need to pay a "quick" visit to," Tugger said. Munkustrap nodded and climbed up the junk pile, Captain following close behind.
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Munkustrap paused a moment as he stood in front of his and Demeter's den. Rum Tum Tugger had pulled Bombalurina away from her sister so Munkustrap could reassure his mate privately.
"Well? She's your mate, aren't you going to prove to her that you're alive?" Tugger asked. Munkustrap took a deep breath and entered. Demeter sat, staring forward. It was exactly like when she had been abducted by Macavity. Munkustrap crept over to her side.
"Demeter?" He asked quietly, trying to get her attention. She turned slowly to the sound of his voice.
"Are you real?" She asked, barely believing the visage before her.
"As real as you are, my dearest Demeter," Munkustrap replied. Demeter smiled before collapsing into Munkustrap's chest.
"They said you had been hit by a car, they said they didn't know if you'd live or die. I gave up hope," Demeter explained. Munkustrap gently shushed her.
"It's over now, I'm here, everything's going to be fine now."
And it was.
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Epilogue:
In the days after Munkustrap's triumphant return, Demeter refused to let him out of her sight and Jennyanydots refused to let him out of her healing ward. The guardian felt like a kitten again, being constantly fussed over by either Jenny or Demeter and occasionally both. Only when Jenny deemed him fit was he allowed to leave her care. Demeter still wouldn't let him get far away from her, though.
Captain had become honorary Guardian while Munkustrap was in Jennyanydots care and while Alonzo was healing as well. Now that Munkustrap was again Guardian, Captain stepped down and became just another Jellicle cat. He and Treasure both came by nearly everyday while Nick and Susan were away at work. A few days after Munkustrap's return, the Guardian, Captain, and Rum Tum Tugger lay stretched out on the tire. They watched Treasure and the other kittens play while Demeter matched both them and Munkustrap.
"I'd never thought I'd ever return here. It's runny really, how life that death are only a breath's width between one another," Munkustrap mused. Captain cracked open one eye as he sunned himself.
"Aw, don't be so gloomy, Munku. It's a nice day, a good day to be alive," Tugger countered, tossing his mane back.
"Any day is a good day to be alive," Munkustrap retorted. "In any case, what do you think of the Tribe, Captain?"
"I've made a complete 180 on the situation. I think you need some better management of security while you're away from homed. Otherwise this tribe is a model society for all cats."
"Well, I do have an opening for a second general, so to speak. Would you be interested in filling the position?" Munkustrap inquired.
"I'd like that, I'd like that very much," Captain replied.
They say the Everlasting Cats works in mysterious ways, some more mysterious than others. In the end the only question you have to answer is: how long is forever? I'd like to think that there is an answer, but eternity is a strange beast and forever hates to be measured. But if the world holds no more mysteries then the world is a very uninteresting place indeed.
It's only forever,
Not long at all.
-David Bowie, "Underground"
Special Preview!
Exert from: Uptown Cats
Chapter One: Who Am I?
Mistoffelees loved being part of the Junkyard Tribe. True, food was occasionally hard to find and Macavity was a nuisance but being around such awe inspiring cats like the noble Munkustrap, knowledgeable Old Deuteronomy, and the "Casanova cat" himself, Rum Tug Tugger, definitely made up for it. Indeed, from the mansions of uptown to the fish-smelling Shipyards you couldn't find a better group of cats. This was where Mistoffelees felt at home, he had lived with these cats since he was only a week old. As a kitten he had been separated from his real parents under mysterious circumstances and had been raised by an Egyptian Mau, named Isis. He did remember his birth mother's scent but beyond that he hadn't a clue as to who he really was. But here, in the Junkyard, he knew he was Magical Mister Mistoffelees, the original conjuring cat, of which there was no doubt. But outside of that, he didn't know if he was uptown or downtown, pure-breed or alley, but it didn't matter. Who would ever question him about that?
The day Mistoffelees would get his answer started like any other. He woke up, stretched, gave his coat a few licks, and rubbed his sleeping mistress's hand. She moaned and rolled over. Mistoffelees wasn't about to give up on her, he was her alarm clock. Mistoffelees's owner, Sarah, was a stage magician who was known as Dezeree and the night before she had a performance that ran late thanks to the call for one last Magic Trick. She had done her signature trick, transforming little Mistoffelees into her boyfriend's black panther, Maquic Noir. Mistoffelees loved being included in Sarah's act. It meant that he just wasn't a pet, he was an assistant. People loved watching Mistoffelees turn into Maquic Noir and, on rare occasion, back again. Even though Sarah had performed late into the night, Mistoffelees wasn't about ot allow her to stay in bed all day, so he began playing with her brown hair.
'Bleck! Hair Spray!' Mistoffelees thought. The one thing that stunk about Sarah being a stage magician was that she had to style her hair just right and that involved a lot of bobby pins, gel, and hair spray. This made the fun of playing with Sarah's hair have a very sticky and bitter taste. Sarah, annoyed at the tugging on her hair, woke up this time.
"Atreyu, why do you torture me this way?" She asked her black companion. Mistoffelees purred in response. Sarah sighed, looked over at the clock, and got out of bed. Mistoffelees loved Sarah, she was a sweet girl and one he could relate to. Sarah had been abandoned when she was a baby because her mother hadn't wanted a child but was too caring to have an abortion. Sarah had grown up not knowing who her real parents were and, thanks to her love of Stage Magic, had been shuffled from one foster family to the next. When she turned eighteen she left foster care and began making her career as a stage magician. Sarah felt that she belonged with the Stage Magic crowd and Mistoffelees knew why, they had become her family like the Junkyard cats became his. She gave Mistoffelees a scratch between the ears before she headed to the kitchen of her two-story condo. The second story had two bedrooms, one for her and the other for her office and costume storage. Down stairs held the kitchen, utility, and den. The den was covered in Mistoffelees's cat toys and her stuff from last night. Sarah stepped into the kitchen and poured out Mistoffelees's dry food before refilling his water dish. Mistoffelees ate greedily, he was hungry. Sarah then went back upstairs to take a shower and wash all the crap out of her hair.
Once he was finished, Mistoffelees licked his whiskers and headed through the cat door. He wanted to get back to the Junkyard to see everyone, especially Munkustrap and Rum Tug Tugger. They were like family to him. The cats he wasn't looking forward to seeing where his fan club: Jemima, Electra, and Etcetra. They were the worst, always asking for him to do some magic or conjure something up for them. The one kitten he didn't mind was Victoria. She was from Uptown and very shy. She never asked anything of him concerning his magic and was always the one he had to seek out instead of waiting for her to come to him. It was not wonder to Mistoffelees why she was shy, she had only joined the tribe a few weeks before the ball. Mistoffelees had never asked why she became part of the tribe but Munkustrap had once said something about "she felt as if she didn't belong among the social circles of Uptown." That was perfectly fine with Mistoffelees. Uptown cats were very prissy and snobbish. He had seen enough from Bustopher Jones's visits to prove his accusations.
As Mistoffelees reached the Junkyard, he noticed Bustopher Jones having a chat with Coricopat and Tantomile. The Clairvoyant twins didn't look to happy about having Bustopher disturb that usual morning meditation but they humored him anyways. Mistoffelees understood that they weren't overly fond of the St. James's Street cat but Misto was curious about what Bustopher was doing here so early and so unannounced.
"Ah! Mistoffelees, just the cat I wanted to see," Bustopher called, ending his conversation with the twins. Mistoffelees froze, Bustopher wanted to talk to him? As dictated by Jellicle law, Mistoffelees has to acknowledge Bustopher's greeting and see what he wanted.
"What can I do for you, sir?" Mistoffelees asked, trotting over with his tail held high in a friendly greeting.
"We will leave you to your conversation," Coricopat and Tantomile said before slinking away. Coricopat mouthed a silent "thank you" to Mistoffelees as he left.
"Well, then, I have a special favor to ask of you, Mistoffelees, my mate has shown a keen interest in your, uh, talents and she would like a private exhibition of your gifts, if it's not too much trouble," Bustopher inquired. Mistoffelees thought for a moment. A performance in Uptown was a true accomplishment. Street magicians weren't allowed un Uptown and many there didn't want to acknowledge the existence of Magicians, human or otherwise. A private performance was a double accomplishment and for the mate of such an important cat was triplely good. How could Mistoffelees refuse?
Well, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed over the last six chapters: Shadowheart333, Bombalurinasarah, Puddycat, AutumStarr, CrazyLittleFeline, and Madamwolf. I hope to see you all again once "Uptown Cats" is up and running! Love ya'll!
-Draco's Daughter, Carpe Noctem