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Old Deuteronomy blinks. One moment, he was at the junkyard, surrounded by family and his fellow Jellicles. Now he stands in an expansive room with rusty metal walls and a damp concrete floor. The air smells heavily of fish. But he’s not alone in this room. Cats bustle around him, mostly keeping to the sides of the room, and he can definitely hear them moving behind him. But these aren’t the Jellicles he knows and loves, or even house cats and street cats that he greets as they pass by his sunning spot on the wall of the abbey. These henchcats work for-
A flash of light in the center of the room, directly in front of Old Deuteronomy, catches every cat’s attention, confirming the old cat’s worst fears. The henchcats avert their gazes, trying to focus on their work.
“Father,” His disgraced son Macavity drawls. “How lovely to see that you made it to my layer. I was afraid that I got the magic wrong by a few meters and you’d be at the bottom of the Thames.”
“Macavity,” Old Deuteronomy nods his head in acknowledgment. Never one to lay all his cards on the table, he puts on his best poker face. “I was expecting something big this year. I always knew that you’ve had potential beyond property damage but this is impressive.”
“Quiet, old man!” Macavity snarls, the scent of ozone filling the air. Electricity crackles around Macavities paws. “I have no time for your act. This is big for me, for all of us here!”
“Pray tell, what have you got going on tonight?” Old Deuteronomy ponders aloud, scanning the room. If Macavity meant to hurt him, it would have happened already, so he just had to stall for time. “You went through all the trouble to bring me here, after all.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Macavity sneers. “Though I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. You won’t be here much longer anyway.”
Simply raising his eyebrow, Deuteronomy says: “Oh?”
“Now that I have you, the Jellicle leader, I have the heart and soul of the Jellicle Tribe,” Macavity says, before dramatically and evilly laughing. “They will do anything for you! I will offer to give you back, lure the best fighters here, and pick them off too!”
Old Deuteronomy represses a shudder. “Is that so?”
“Quiet!” Macavity responds harshly before continuing. “With them gone, I have no need for you and I can take you out too!”
“What makes you think the Jellicle Cats would take such a risk?”
“We both know that Munkustrap is such a golden boy, he’d do anything to save you,” Macavity paces forward until he’s directly in front of his father. He extends one claw to point at his father’s chest. “Your children know you choose favorites. Everlasting, you even liked his mother more! But none of that will matter when I finally-”
Old Deuteronomy feels a pulling in his chest, though not from his son’s claw. It’s much more magical than that. A blinding light surrounds him and he knows that he is no longer in the cold and damp lair anymore. When he blinks again, he is standing under a red satin sheet, which he promptly shakes off. He finds himself surrounded by his fellow Jellicles, who after a moment of bated breath rejoice loudly.
His dear son the Rum Tum Tugger, usually a boisterous cat, has a sentimental grin on his face as he looks to Mr. Mistoffelees who stands poised, marveling at his own hands. The Rum Tum Tugger softly sings.
“Oh, well, there never was there ever a cat so clever as Magical Mister Mistoffelees!”
***
“- end… the Jellicles?” Macavity’s confident monologue trails off in confusion as his father is simply not there. Instead, strong magic hangs in the air.
“Curse the Jellicles and their tricks!” Macavity shrieks, ignoring how his henchcats startle and scatter out of the room.
This will be the last time that he underestimates his old tribe. But, a magical cat that might be as powerful as himself? That is new, and he can definitely use that. While they may have bettered him this time, this will not be the end of Macavity the Mystery Cat! He will destroy the Jellicles, even if it is the last thing he does!