Author’s note: This story starts about three days after the last one finished, give or take a few hours.

“C’mon Starflower, it’s Friday and I really need to talk to Kyle and Sabrina. This is the only day that they’re at the Junkyard in a normal week. It’s getting late, if we don’t hurry we’ll miss them, and you haven’t seemed to want to let me out of your sight.” Mistoffelees was a little worried as he really needed to see those two Jellicles, but for different reasons, and due to last night’s indulgence, they had overslept.

“Yeah I’m coming. I’m a little sore though. What in the name of Bastet happened last night? I’m aching in places I don’t remember having”

Mistoffelees sang in his very best John Farnham imitation “Please don’t ask me… I don’t actually know all of what happened. When our human fed us the cream at supper, we both had enough to get tipsy, but then she gave us catnip toys as well. We’re were nipped as well as drunk. I don’t think we really want to know what happened.”

Starflower shook her head slightly at this, “I think we’re going to have to educate her a little bit. Does she give treats often?”

“Once a fortnight, after the Esbat rituals and the dark moon rituals that I help with usually. I think it’s supposed to be a reward.”

“We’ll have to see if we can get her to separate the two of them. Catnip after one and cream after the other. Mixing them like that will get us addicted, and that’s not a good idea. Are you sure you don’t remember what happened last night? My left forepaw is a little sore… And I don’t recall doing anything”

“I think you may have cut it on a crystal. I seem to remember playing on her altars. I know it’s frustrating, but I know how you feel, I’m sore in some strange places as well.”

The two cats had been walking toward the Junkyard as they talked, and they were on the block that held the house that they called the junkyard. The lady who owned it was a witch who loved cats, so all Jellicles, which were the only tribe in the area, really, knew that they could crash there if they were in trouble. She’d even feed them.

“We’d best slow down a bit, Alonzo can’t seem to see us for some reason. He says we blend in to the shadows. I think he’s just getting old and doesn’t want to admit that his sight is failing”

“Ok. I have a couple of questions though, one, who are Kyle and Sabrina, and two, why do you need to see them?” Starflower asked this a little jealously.

“I need to see Kyle about the dance we’re supposed to be doing at the next Jellicle Ball, it’s a little over a month away and we haven’t started practicing for it yet. I’m a little worried about it. I also want to see if he’d mind having a third dancer in the dance. The one thing I do remember about last night was seeing you dance. You’re magnificent.”

“Thanks Misto, but you still haven’t told me who Sabrina is or why you need to talk to her.”

“Sabrina is the queen who interrupted the dance Kyle and I were doing at the last ball. I need to make sure she doesn’t do it again. We were doing a ballet and she basically brought the level down to a mating ritual, and it wasn’t time for that yet. She totally stuffed us up”

Starflower thought this over as they approached the guards.

“Hold it! Who are you and what are you doing here?” This came from a black and white tom on top of a fence post.

“Alonzo, open your eyes you old fool.”

“Oh, hi Tux, who’s the pretty queen?”

“Alonzo, Snow. Snow, Alonzo” Misto took a good hard look at the pair in front of him. And then remembered something that Old Deuteronomy had said last time they spoke.

“Hey Snow, did your mother ever have any other kit’s before you?”

“Yeah. She told me that before she had Sooty and me she’d had another set of mirror twins. A white male with black patches and a black female with white patches. She said the female died soon after birth but she named the male… umm… Santheocles Patch I think it was.”

At this Alonzo sat down rather quickly, as he hadn’t heard that name for a long time. The Jellicles tended to call him by his family name, as it was easier to pronounce. “Excuse me,” he said rather faintly “But did you say you had an older brother named Santheocles Patch?”

“Yeah, why? I’ve never met him though. Mum found him a home with a nice human before I was born.”

Alonzo started to advance on Mistoffelees at this. “Tux, I’m going to beat you to a pulp. Where did you two meet? How long have you known her and how long have you known that little bit of information?”

Starflower was a bit confused at this, as she’d never met Alonzo for very long before. She and Mistoffelees usually zapped into the junkyard, rather than walking in. “Ah, Alonzo… What’s going on? Why all the questions?”

Mistoffelees was laughing uncontrollably by now at the expression on Alonzo’s face. “Alonzo, you’ve been at the junkyard since before I was born. Were you born here in the junkyard or somewhere else?”

“Feeling clever today are we Tux?” Alonzo was snarling by now. He didn’t like shocks “I wasn’t born at the junkyard, I was born in the home of a very nice witch, and my mother placed me with another witch when I was old enough to leave and be on my own. Your mother Snowflake brought me to the junkyard. She was the other cat in the house. I was blamed for you and Jemima you know.”

“Tux honey, I’m confused. What are you trying to get at? Why is Alonzo pissed at you? Be gentle with me, I’m still a little out of it.”

“Snow, Alonzo, I’m going to reintroduce you. Please don’t get pissed at me for using your proper names, but I think you’ll find it was worth it for this. Starflower Light-Eyes, meet your long lost brother, Santheocles Patch.”

“Santheocles Patch!!!”

“Starflower Light-Eyes! That sounds like a name that my mother would give a kit. She said if she ever had another girl that’s what she’d be called.”

“Magickal Mister Mistoffelees you’d better not be kidding me about this. I’ve wanted to meet my older brother for a long time. If you’re wrong………”

“I’m not wrong” Misto said gleefully “Old Deuteronomy told me last time I talked with him. He told me to be sure to introduce you to Alonzo. Now I know why. I only just figured it out. And to answer your other questions Alonzo, we’re housemates, and have been for about a week and a half. Don’t worry about letting her in. I’ve had her checked out by both Tom and Old Deuteronomy, she’s a Jellicle – By birth according to Old Deuteronomy, just like you.” Misto by this time was laughing uncontrollably.

Shaking her head, Starflower said to the little tuxedo cat “Didn’t you want to talk to some cats today? Alonzo, I’ll talk to you later. We have a lot to catch up on. Coming Misto? I don’t know these cats remember.”

Mistoffelees and Starflower walked into the proper, with Mistoffelees looking around for Sabrina and Kyle. As luck would have it he saw Sabrina first. “Sabrina! I want a word with you. Right now!”

Sabrina sauntered over, “Well if it isn’t out resident magickal cat. Hiya honey. And who’s the queen? Get lost sweetheart, the toms here are all mine. Go find your own”

Starflower’s fur started to stand on end.

“Down Sabrina, or I’ll tell Asparagus that you’re flirting with me again. And if you’re not really nice, I’ll tell Alonzo that you’re picking on his little sister. This is Snow, Snow, Sabrina.”

The two queens looked at each other with animosity.

Mistoffelees continued oblivious to the undercurrents “Sabrina I want to know why exactly you felt that you had to but in on the dance that Kyle and I were doing at the last Jellicle Ball. It wasn’t very nice and you’d better have a good reason for it.”

“Honeychile, I butted in on your dance because it was boring and I thought it was high time we spiced things up a bit.”

“It wasn’t boring at all. Just because Kyle and I decided to do something special for his first ball you decided that you were going to be the big hero and turn the whole thing into a mating fest. You were too soon for that. You know that that comes later in the night. Don’t do it again, you don’t want to get a magick cat mad believe me.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t get your tail in a twist. Shall we discuss this further in my lair? Ditch the queen and we’ll talk.”

At this Starflower began to hiss and spit. She stepped between Mistoffelees and Sabrina. Electricity was sparking between her ears, she wasn’t a happy kitty. “Go and find yourself another tom to flirt with. This one is mine.”

Now Mistoffelees didn’t have a clue what Starflower meant by all of this, so he was a little confused. Starflower was the mind reader, not him, so he didn’t know what was going on. He wasn’t interested in Bombalurina, never had been, and he didn’t know why she was flirting with him, or why Starflower was reacting the way she was. But he wasn’t objecting.

Author’s note: I’ve made Mistoffelees purposely… well… stupid I guess for this story. Mainly because without a little mystery guys would all know what was going on. Have you guessed what’s wrong with Starflower yet?

Now Bombalurina wasn’t quite as clueless to what was going on with this little black queen. She knew what state she was in when she first spotted her. She also knew the signs of a mad magickal cat, so she gave a flirtatious bat of her eyes and stalked off.

Mistoffelees stepped in front of his little housemate, wary of annoying her further, he didn’t want to get zapped! “Starflower? Are you feeling okay? Look, don’t worry about Sabrina, she’s just a flirt. I know she’s mated, and very happy with her mate, she just likes to stir up trouble. I’m not interested in her, even if she was available. You and I need to talk really soon though”

Starflower just curled up in the sun. She didn’t feel like talking right at that moment. Mistoffelees shrugged and lay down beside her to watch for Tumblebrutus to show up. Starflower thought she’d better help, and watched the proper intently for a while, until she remembered that she had no idea what this “Kyle” looked like anyway, so she fell to watching Mistoffelees instead.

“Uh… Starflower? What are you so intent on? Do I have something on my nose or something?”

“Nope, just watching”

As I’ve said before, Mistoffelees wasn’t really sure what was going on with the little black magickal cat. But he wasn’t sure that it upset him all that much either. She’d been very possessive of him lately, and at the same time flirtatious to all other toms that had crossed her path, except Alonzo, and hissing at every other queen she saw as well. Very Strange.

Tumblebrutus chose this moment to wander into the proper. Mistoffelees noticed and bounded to his feet. “Kyle! So good to see you at long last. What are we going to do for the next ball? What do you think about adding another dancer to the ballet? My housemate is a brilliant dancer, and let’s face it, we really need to replace Dad in the ones that he does with us, he’s getting a little old for this. It would also make things a little more interesting and maybe Bomba wouldn’t but in this time. What do you say?”

Tumblebrutus laughed at this. “Misto, calm down. I thought I was supposed to be the giddy kitten here! What is with you?”

Mistoffelees flushed at this “My housemate’s made me just a little jumpy today. I don’t know what is with her.”

“Ok, well before we decide anything about the ball, you need to introduce me to her. If we don’t get along with each other it’s a moot point for us to try and dance with each other now isn’t it?”

So Mistoffelees took Tumblebrutus over to where Starflower lay watching them in the sun. She got up and nuzzled at Mistoffelees’ neck, then peeped flirtatiously at Tumblebrutus. “You must be Kyle” she purred “What a handsome tom you are” The purring just got louder

“Uh... Misto… I need to talk to you… Alone…. RIGHT NOW!”

Tumblebrutus dragged Mistoffelees away from Starflower, just out of earshot. Mistoffelees was a bit startled by this, but he wanted to know what was on Tumble’s mind.

“What’s up Tumble? Can’t you dance with her?”

“Misto, I’m going to be very blunt about this. Don’t take offence at it, I know I’m just a kit and I’m not supposed to know about this kind of thing, but are you planning on becoming her mate?”

Mistoffelees was a little flustered by this, “Well I was planning on asking her at the next Jellicle Ball, Why?”

“Misto, if you wait for the next ball you’ll be too late. By the way she’s acting, she’s about to go into heat. I saw the way Cassandra went before Quaxo took her into seclusion. She’s having kittens soon. Take her home, and don’t let her out until you’re her mate, or it won’t happen at all, she’ll mate with the first tom she comes across, and I’d love to dance with you both, but I don’t want to be the father of kits yet. That’s how soon she’s likely to go into heat, within a week at the latest.”

Okay then, I’ll catch up with you later tumble. If all else fails and I don’t see you before the ball, we’ll just split the dancing and I’ll dance with her, you dance with Pouncevil, he’s pretty good, and I can practice with her in seclusion as well. Do you mind?”

“No I don’t mind, no GO!”

Mistoffelees wasn’t quite sure how he could get Starflower up and walking home without her objecting strenuously, so he walked very slowly towards her, lost in thought just a little bit.

“Misto” Starflower purred “Why did Kyle leave in such a hurry? He was cute…”

“We…umm…. We thought we’d work on our dance for the ball later. Do you want to go home?”

“Why? It’s nice here, lots of toms around for me to talk to…”

‘That’s it’ Mistoffelees thought ‘If I don’t get her home soon I’m going to loose the best chance I have with her.’ Aloud “I just thought it would be nice to go and see if our human is home. I’m a little hungry.”

“I don’t feel like going home, but you go ahead.”

Mistoffelees wasn’t about to leave a queen on the edge of going into heat alone. Thinking quick, he wrapped his tail around hers, kissed her gently and clapped three times. They were home when Starflower opened her eyes again.

“Sorry about that Star, but I’m not planning on sharing you with the other toms right now. You don’t want me to be anywhere near other queens, I don’t want other toms around you either. Do you want something to eat?”

“Not right now, maybe later. Do you love me?”

Mistoffelees groaned “Yes I love you, which is why I don’t want to share you” and he gently nipped her on the ear.

Author’s note: Due to this story possibly falling into the hands of kits, I’m going to leave those two there for the moment. Alone

Starflower and Mistoffelees were sitting in the proper, curled up with each other when Alonzo bounced over.

“Hi Star, Hi Misto. Haven’t seen you two for a week. Why? Did you decide that you didn’t want to know me after all?”

Starflower looked at Alonzo shyly. “No Alonzo, that’s not the reason. It was something else. I’d like you to be the first to know though, being my only brother I can reach at the moment. In about two months, you’re going to be an uncle.”

Author’s note: The gestational period for a cat is approximately 63 days from conception to birth. I decided to keep it as close to reality as I could. Besides, with a Jellicle Ball looming it should make future stories more fun. Okay, back to the story

“An uncle? I’m going to be an uncle? How – You’re having kits? Great! Can I tell everyone? Do I have to keep this quiet? Please don’t make me do that……”

Mistoffelees started laughing at this. “No Alonzo, you don’t have to keep it a secret. All you have to do right now is not tell anyone until we’ve told my parents and sibs. And that’s why we’re here so you can come and help me look if you like. Star’s going to stay here, she want’s to get in touch with her twin, it’s easier for her if I’m not around. Honey? Will you be okay if I leave you here and go and start looking?”

“Mist, I’ll be fine. I’m only a week along, and I’m going to go look for Mar on the trails. Don’t let anyone wake me until everyone’s here, just in case it takes me a while to find him please?”

“Sure.” Misto knew that the only contact Starflower had with her mirror twin was when she was asleep, but he still couldn’t control his dreams yet, so he hadn’t met him.

While Starflower curled up and went to sleep, Mistoffelees took Alonzo and together they raced off looking for Mistoffelees’ mum first. They found her watching the kittens and teaching the mice how to crochet. His little sister was with her, as all the kittens went to daycare with Jennyanydots and Jellylorum.

“Mum! Jemima! Great you’re both here together.”

Jennyanydots looked up at her youngest son. “Mistoffelees how many times do I need to tell you not to shout. You’ll wake the baby kits. How are you Alonzo?”

“Sorry Mum. I’ll try not to do it again”

“I’m ecstatically happy Jenny, my sis-“

Mistoffelees clapped a paw across Alonzo’s mouth “Not now Alonzo. We’re telling them all together, in the proper okay? Keep a lid on it a little while longer ok?"

Alonzo nodded so Mistoffelees took his paw away.

“Young kit, that’s not a nice thing to do to an older cat.”

“I’ll explain it later Mum. Could you and Jemima go out into the proper in about five minutes please? I want you to meet someone out there. It’s important. Please?”

“Alright, I suppose Jelly could spare us for a little while. We’ll be there”

“Great. Do you know where Dad Quaxo and the twins are? I’m going to need them as well”

Your father and Quaxo are with Munkustrap at the car, The twins are supposed to be with Tugger, Coricopat and Tantomile. Heaviside knows where though”

“Thanks mum. Oh yeah, there’s a black queen asleep in the proper, if I’m not back before you get there, please don’t wake her up. I’ll explain when everyone’s there.”

Jenny and Jemima exchanged a bemused look and shrugged while Mistoffelees and Alonzo ran off to find Mistoffelees’ Dad and siblings.

Mistoffelees found his father with Munkustrap, as his mother had told him, by the old car. Quaxo was with them.

“Ah Mistoffelees, what can I do for you today?”

“Hi Munkustrap. I’m actually looking for Dad and Quaxo. Dad I need you in the proper in about five minutes. Could you and Quaxo be there please? It’s important. I have someone I’d like to introduce to you.”

Skimbleshanks was a little confused by this. “Who do you want to introduce to us son? We know all of the Jellicle’s and I find it hard to believe that Alonzo here would have let you in with a strange cat and not bring you to Munkustrap here.”

“Please Dad, I’ll explain later. I have to go and find the twins. Munku already knows the cat I want to introduce to you. Will you be there?”

“Yes son we’ll be there.”

“There’s a black queen asleep in the middle of the proper, please don’t wake her up until I get there. Do you know where I could find the twins?”

“They were with Coricopat, Tantomile and Tugger last time I saw them, but I don’t know where they are now.”

“Thanks Dad. See you later. Come on Alonzo”

Skimbleshanks, Quaxo and Munkustrap looked at each other, Skimble and Quaxo a little confused, but Munkustrap was wondering what had happened that it was such an urgency for Mistoffelees to need to introduce his father and brother to Snow. He decided to tag along.

Meanwhile, Mistoffelees and Alonzo were having a hard time trying to find the twins. “This is no use Misto. We’re not going to find them in the next five hours let alone five minutes.”

“Yes we will Alonzo. Close your eyes for a minute, and don’t get jumpy on me. We’ll go straight to them. Why didn’t I think of this before?”

Mistoffelees twisted the tip of his tail around Alonzo’s and clapped three times. They were instantaneously translocated to Tugger’s side.

“Cor blimey Misto! Don’ scare u’ li’ tha’. We coulda bee’ i’ the middle of a ‘eist y’ know.”

“Teaser, drop the cockney. I know it’s a put on, remember? I’m the one who taught it to you.”

“Sorry Misto but it’s a lot of fun. What’s up little brother?”

“I need you and Jerrie in the proper right now. Mum, Dad and Quaxo are there too. Look, hold onto Alonzo’s paw, and grab Jerrie’s tail will you. We’ll explain it to him later. He’s not going to be much use this close to Tanto.

“Okay, but why?”

“Please don’t ask me stupid questions right now. Look I’m not going to hurt anyone, I just need you all there right now and we don’t have time to walk until we get there. Besides, getting Jerrie away from Tanto would take longer than we have. See you later Tugger, Cori, apologise to Tanto for me will you?”

“Sure thing Misto”

Mistoffelees twisted his tail around Alonzo’s again and clapped quickly. The four of them were quickly translocated to the proper, into the presence of Jennyanydots, Skimbleshanks, Jemima, Quaxo, Munkustrap and a sleeping black queen.

“Wha’ ‘appened? Where di’ Tanto go?”

“Sorry Jerrie, I needed you here, and we didn’t have time to let you say goodbye to Tanto. We only had two minutes, not three hours.”

“Okay son, what’s all this about, and who on earth is that?” Skimbleshanks asked, pointing at the sleeping black queen

“That, dear father, is who I want to introduce you to. Excuse me for just a moment.” Mistoffelees padded over to where his mate lay sleeping and gently licked her nose. “Star honey, wake up. Everyone’s here and Dad’s not too happy with me. I dragged him away from a meeting.”

Starflower woke up and stretched languorously. “You managed to find everyone then?”

“Yup, and they’re getting impatient with me. I can’t stop Alonzo bouncing, but at least I got him to stop trying to tell everyone.”

Starflower looked over at her brother and sure enough he was bouncing up and down on the spot. “How’d you manage to keep him quiet?”

Mistoffelees had the grace to look embarrassed. “Actually I gagged him magickally. It was the only way to stop him from telling everyone the good news before I could introduce you.”

“Okay sweetheart. Take me to your mother.”

Together they walked to where the little group was waiting impatiently.

“Mum, Dad, Quax, Jer, Teaser, Jem. I know you don’t like me to use your particular names in introductions without running it by you first, but this adorable lady is going to be around for a long time. I’d like you to meet –“

Alonzo broke the magickal gag Mistoffelees had placed on him. “Misto please let me tell them who she is. Please! You’ve got other news, but this bit is mine”

“Okay Alonzo, go right ahead”

Starflower Light-Eyes, I’d like you to meet Skimbleshanks the Railway cat, Misto’s dad, Jennyanydots the Gumbie cat, Misto’s mum, Misto’s older brother Quaxo, the twins Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser, and his younger sister Jemima. I can’t remember her particular name, she doesn’t like it. This is my sister Starflower Light-Eyes.”

Well everyone was a little dumbfounded at this. Alonzo had a little sister? But the shocks hadn’t finished yet.

“Mum, Dad, Quax, Jer, Teaser, Jem, Star and I have some very special news for you. We’re going to be parents in a couple of months. We thought you’d prefer to hear it from us rather than having to wait and hear it on the grapevine, where you wouldn’t get all of the information. Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy met Starflower a week and a half ago and she’s a Jellicle, so you don’t have to worry on that score. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner but… well… it happened kinda quickly. Please don’t be mad.”

That was a very big speech for the little cat. But he felt that it needed to get out completely before his parents could bombard them with questions. Quaxo knew why his very shy but very famous little brother had rushed through all of that, and stepped up to Starflower started speaking in his soft, slow baritone voice.

“My lady, I am honoured to be the first to welcome you to the family with open arms. Please allow me to offer my congratulations on this happy occasion. My parents will recover the use of their vocal cords in a moment. Now I know our names are a lot to take in, and Alonzo didn’t exactly go through them very slowly for you. I’ll clear it up for you. You look confused. Skimbleshanks is our father. He takes care of the Midnight Mail train, Jennyanydots is our mother, and she teaches mice to crochet and cockroaches to tap-dance, the twins’ well they’re the bane of our lives, but we wouldn’t swap them for anything. They’re thieves, well they like to think so. Rumpleteaser is the one wearing pearls. Needless to say, her humans named her Pearl. Mungojerrie is the tortoiseshell next to her. Don’t mind him, I think Misto may have pulled him away from Tantomile. Don’t be confused by their cockney accent. It’s fake, just let them know that you know and they’ll drop it. The little calico kit is Sepherina, but she prefers her family name, which is Jemima. She has a very sweet soprano voice. My name is Quaxo. As you can see, Mistoffelees gets his good looks from me.”

Quaxo had said this as while Mistoffelees has a white chest, face and tip of his tail, Quaxo also has three white socks, on his hind and right fore legs.

“I see my mother has regained the use of her tongue. Brace yourself”

Jennyanydots shot her eldest son a dirty look for this before turning to her youngest boy’s mate.

“My dear. Welcome to the family. I only wonder at the reason my erstwhile son took so long to introduce you to the family. Congratulations. I suppose it’s a bit early to know how many kits there will be. Oh well I will get the mice to start crocheting you some blankets, and I’ll send the cockroaches around to do some cleaning for you.”

Starflower was a little overwhelmed by this, but she bravely spoke up, knowing that she had to get to know her mate’s mother some time “Actually ma’am, Misto didn’t introduce us due to the fact that I went into heat only a few days after I was accepted as a Jellicle, and those few days we were busy helping our respective witches. Understandably, when I went into heat, I really wasn’t looking for company other than your son, or we would have been introduced earlier.”

“First of all missy, it’s not Ma’am, it’s Jenny, or Mum. Secondly, thank you for explaining that, I would not have got anything more than I did out of Mistoffelees.”

“That’s alright Mum”

Meanwhile, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser were giving Mistoffelees the bombardment he had feared from his parents. Jemima soon joined in.

“When did you meet”

“Where did you meet?”

“How many kits are you expecting?”

“What are you going to name them?”

“Why did it take so long for you to tell us really?”

“Can I kitten-sit them?”

This last came from Jemima, and put a stop to the questions from the other two.

Mistoffelees was laughing by now. “Slow down and let me answer guys. We met when my human brought her home and introduced us, it’s too early to know how many kits there are, we haven’t thought of names yet, she went into heat two days after she was made Jellicle, and Jemima, we would love to have you kitten-sit for them when they are born and old enough to be out of the house.”

“Okay, fair enough then.”

By now the sun was starting to set, so Mistoffelees decided it was time to take his mate home. He snuck up behind her and wrapped his forepaws around her middle. “It’s getting late. Are you ready to go home now honey?’

Starflower grinned tiredly at Mistoffelees, “I sure am. I’m starting to get cold. Sye Mum, Dad, Quax.”

“Okay, we’ve gotta go now twins, Jem, Star’s getting cold and our human worries if we’re not in for dinner. Bye”

“See you tomorrow Mistoffelees, nice to meet you Starflower. Congratulations.” The group chorused

What happened next is another story, for another time.

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