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HFM: Chapter 12

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Chapter 12: The Truth Revealed

The room was silent. Nobody said anything. Munkustrap stared at the two detectives, slack-jawed. Mistoffelees and Tugger stiffened. Demeter and the kittens froze as they listened in. The two crooks looked at each other in surprise. Even Jazz seemed frozen by the accusation she didn’t see coming. Only the gentle blowing of the wind outside the den could be heard.

“Wait a minute!” Munkustrap said, breaking the spell. “Hold everything! You think the Rum Tum Tugger… my brother is Macavity?”

“I don’t think anything,” Bageera said. “I know he’s Macavity.”

“That’s absurd,” Tugger said. “What on Earth makes you think that?”

“I got a good look at Macavity when he destroyed my tribe,” Bageera snarled. “Your facial structure look just like his.”

“That doesn’t prove anything,” Tugger said. “How long ago was your tribe destroyed? You can’t possibly remember what he looks like.”

“I've asked these Jellicles, and no one remembers seeing you when Macavity struck,” Bageera continued. “You weren’t anywhere near there.”

“I was going for help,” Tugger said, anger seeping into his voice. “I knew we would need help-”

“From Quaxo,” Bageera finished. “Who you just happened to know was Mistoffelees and a grimalkin!”

A gasp came from the sleeping area where the kittens and Demeter were still waiting. They didn’t know about the magician’s pedigree until now. Nobody noticed their gasps, except for Bageera who let it pass.

“That would imply that you were present when he first struck,” Bageera said. “But you weren’t. Not one of the kittens I’ve spoken to remembers seeing you since before Gus gave his Recognition. And if anyone was going to notice you, it would have been them. Some were even looking for you." He turned to Munkustrap. "Do you remember seeing him at all before Macavity struck?"

Munkustrap was silent for a moment. "No. I don't think so."

“You’re also injured in the same place that Macavity was at the Ball,” Bageera continued before Tugger could cut him off. “When we first met, you said your left side was injured. That’s the same place Alonzo hurt Macavity, isn’t it?”

“Tugger was attacked when we were running back to the fight,” Mistoffelees said, jumping in to protect the suspected tom. “I saw it.”

“What?” Munkustrap asked. “You were injured? Why didn’t you say anything.”

“Because,” Bageera said. “He didn’t want anybody to realize that the injury was identical to Macavity’s. He was hoping nobody would notice at all.”

“He’s talking crazy,” Tugger said to his brother. “He must be sick with something. They both must be.” Fury began to rise in Bageera’s chest. “They should be turned away, not let near the other Jellicles.”

Bageera let out a menacing growl. “That’s exactly what you said to get us away from our old tribe before you killed them all!”

“I don’t know what happened to your old tribe,” Tugger said, his voice dripping with insincere sincerity. “But whatever happened must have driven you mad. You’re a danger to those around you.”

“I’ll show you danger!”

Bageera was about to spring, but Jazz and Munkustrap quickly got in his way. It took both of them to hold Bageera back. When he finally stopped trying to kill Tugger and relaxed a little, Jazz pushed him away.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Munkustrap demanded.

“He’s gone mad,” Tugger repeated. “Just like I’ve said. He should be turned away if not put down all together.”

“Quiet,” Munkustrap said to Tugger. He turned to Bageera, who was breathing hard with barely restrained rage. “Why do you think he is Macavity.”

“Oh come on,” Tugger said. “You aren’t seriously going to-”

“Quiet,” Munkustrap said more firmly. “Well? I can think of several more likely scenarios to explain everything you've just said. I'm sure can, too. You must believe you have something more than wild speculations to make such a claim. I would like to see it.”

“You already have,” Bageera said. “You just didn’t know what you were looking at.”

With that, he turned and went into the sleeping area.

“What is he talking about?” Munkustrap asked Jazz.

Jazz looked just as confused as the toms. “I don’t know. He hasn’t told me anything.”

When Bageera returned, he had Mungojerrie by the scruff of the neck with Jemima and the other kittens trailing him. Demeter followed but stopped at the doorway.

“Jemima?” Bageera asked. “Tell us where Mungojerrie got those scratches on his face.”

Jemima looked scared. She had listened to everything that had been said and done. And it had terrified her. Pouncival and Victoria were close behind, urging her on.

“Macavity,” Jemima squeaked. “During the Ball, Macavity scratched him on the face before he ran away.”

“It’s true,” Pouncival said. “I saw it.”

“Me, too,” Victoria said.

“Yes,” Mungojerrie said, looking at Tugger with a new eye. “I was trying to fight him off, but he got a lucky shot.”

“Now,” Bageera continued. “Look at the scratches on my face and compare them to the ones on Mungojerrie’s.”

Munkustrap leaned in, and, in the dim light of the den, he made out the fresh marks on Bageera’s face and the scarred, healing ones on Mungojerrie’s. He squinted and tilted their heads from side to side, looking at the scratches at different angles. Then his eyes widened as he realized what he was seeing.

“They’re identical!” he exclaimed.

Bageera nodded, a smile of triumph on his face.

“They were made by the same Jellicle,” he said at last. “They were made by the Rum Tum Tugger.”

“Wait a minute,” Tugger said as all eyes were aimed in his direction. “You have no proof that I made the scratches on your face. They could have been made by any Jellicle.” He let out a quick laugh. “You could have made them yourself. You seem to be able to remember every little detail.”

“That’s right,” Bageera said. “I remember. I remember you attacking me in Mistoffelees’ den. I remember the force with which you struck. I remember you tying us up and leaving us for dead.” His paw whipped out and grabbed onto Tugger’s right wrist. “I remember seeing blood on your claws when you woke us up.”

Bageera pulled Tugger to Munkustrap and showed the small blood spots that Tugger had missed when cleaning up. Munkustrap frowned at the evidence right before his eyes. Tugger quickly pulled his paw back, away from the Protector’s careful gaze.

“This is crazy,” the Tugger said. “Why would I try and catnap my own father?”

“For his sake,” Bageera said, looking right at Mistoffelees. “At least that’s what you told him.”

Munkustrap turned to face the magician, eyes wide in shock. “What does he mean?”

Mistoffelees was silent. The look he gave Tugger was pleading, looking for a solution that wasn’t there.

“It’s over,” Bageera said. “Whatever happens now, whether I tell them or you do, they’ll know what you did.”

“But- But I-” Mistoffelees stammered.

“The least you can do is take him down as well.”

Mistoffelees looked from Bageera to Tugger and back again. The illusion of his calm was gone. His true emotions were showing through for once. And it didn’t take much for Bageera to know that he was scared beyond all belief.

“Well?” Munkustrap said. “What’s going on?”

“I… I…” Mistoffelees began. Then he couldn’t hold it in any more. The whole story began spilling out. “I just wanted to be part of the tribe. That’s all. When I was rejected for my heritage, for being grimalkin I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t want it to be that way. I swear. I never wanted anyone to be hurt.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Munkustrap said. “Slow down. What did you do?”

“You don’t actually believe this?” Tugger said. “Are you actually going to take the word of a grimalkin and a rogue over the word of your own brother?”

Mistoffelees shot Tugger a look that mixed shock and anger. Bageera mused that it was for how quickly the Napoleon of Crime had dismissed him. Munkustrap held up his paw for silence.

“Was it Tugger who put those scratches on Bageera’s face?” he asked Mistoffelees.

Mistoffelees nodded. “Yesterday, the two detectives came to my den and confronted me about what I did. ‘Quaxo’ was his idea,” he said gesturing towards Tugger. “He said if I posed as Quaxo, he would get me into the tribe.”

“I don’t believe this,” Tugger said. “How can three Jellicles orchestrate such lies?”

“Then we would do what we did at the Ball and put Old Deuteronomy in my debt, forcing him to let me in as myself.”

“Lies,” Tugger said. “All of it, lies.”

“I didn’t want anything to do with it,” Mistoffelees continued.

“Shut up,” Tugger said.

“But I was so angry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Shut up,” Tugger said again, louder.

“I just thought he worked for Macavity. I never realized they were the same Jellicle.”

“Shut up!” the Tugger shouted before lashing out.

His claws raked down Mistoffelees’ back. Bageera launched himself forward. He grabbed Tugger and pinned him to the wall. Jazz went over to Mistoffelees and began to examine the claw marks.

“Don’t!” Bageera shouted. Jazz froze. “Munkustrap, compare those marks to Mungojerrie’s face. They should be the same.”

Munkustrap did as he was instructed. And to his utter shock, they were the same. Everything he had just heard was true. The Rum Tum Tugger had left the marks on Mungojerrie’s faces. And he knew for a fact that those made on Mungojerrie’s face were made by Macavity. There could be no other explanation. The Rum Tum Tugger and Macavity were the same Jellicle.

Slowly, he turned to his brother.

“How?” he asked. “Why? Why did you do this?” He took a sharp breath of shock. “And what about their tribe?” he asked, looking at Bageera and Jazz. “Did you really kill them all?”

Tugger stopped struggling. Bageera lightened his hold enough for Tugger to push him back. He turned his full attention on Munkustrap. Hate seemed to have flared up in his eyes, making them glow with rage and fury.

“Yeah,” he said. “I killed them. I needed to test a theory. And I took Father as well. It’s all true. I am Macavity.”

“But why?” Munkustrap asked. “Why do you need to be Macavity and do such evil things?”

Tugger let out a mirthless laugh. “Why?” he asked. “Why? Because of you. Because you were chosen over me.”

Munkustrap frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“I should have been made Protector!” Tugger shouted. “I am three years older than you! Father should have appointed me!” His voice lowered, but his fur rose along his spine. “But no. He chose you instead. He favored you. He had more respect, more faith in you. He never thought I could protect the whole tribe, or lead it when he finally passed on to the Heaviside Layer. No. Instead, he appointed me as the Rum Tum. He gave me a token position because he had to.” He shook his head in anger. “If anyone should have been made the Rum Tum it should have been you.”

“Tugger,” Munkustrap said. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I knew you felt the same way,” Tugger said. “Why else would you have chosen Alonzo over me to be your second?”

“Alonzo had more experience,” Munkustrap said. “He had faced real combat before. He has the scars to prove it. You had never been in a real combat situation. I had to do what I thought was best for the Tribe, didn’t I? I couldn’t let my better judgment be compromised.”

“I’m your brother!” Tugger shouted. “Family should always come first! You should have chosen me!” Tugger let his eyes drop to the floor.

“Eventually, I realized that I would never earn Father’s approval,” he continued. “I would never get him to choose me over you. So I decided to take matters into my own paws. That’s why, years ago, I came up with Macavity. I would use him to get what was rightfully mine.”

“You’ve done so much evil just to be Protector?” Munkustrap asked, bewildered.

“Of course not,” Tugger said. “I wanted to be Jellicle Leader. That is my rightful place. As Father’s eldest son, it should be me who succeeds him. Not you.”

He looked up at Mistoffelees, who was hanging near the back.

“And I thought I had it with you,” he said to the magician. “I thought that with you on my side, I could work my way to the position that was mine by birth.”

Mistoffelees flinched as if he had been physically struck by the words he had used himself to justify his own actions. “You would have me help you get rid of your own brother?”

“Of course,” Tugger said. “He wasn’t my brother anymore. Not after the betrayal. And I knew you would be sympathetic. You, too, knew what it was like to be stripped of what was yours by right.”

“But I would never have killed to get it,” Mistoffelees said. “I would have worked for years to gain Old Deuteronomy’s trust if I had to.”

“But you didn’t,” Munkustrap said. “You decided to side with that… that murderer.”

“I had no idea,” Mistoffelees said. “I didn’t know what Macavity had done. I swear. I never wanted any of this.”

“But you got it,” Munkustrap said. He looked back at his brother and shook his head. “I don’t know what to do with you,” he said sadly. “I honestly have no clue. I’m going to have to take you to Father. He has to know.”

“Fine,” Tugger said. “If he has to know, tell him.” Then, with speed that seemed to be amplified by the stillness of the room, Tugger leapt across the small sitting area and grabbed a hold of Jemima. He grabbed her from behind and held her throat with his claws. “But you are going to have to tell him without me.”

The room froze. Nobody moved a muscle. Everyone watched Tugger as he moved towards the door. The Jellicles in his way quickly moved to the side.

“Father has always liked you better,” Tugger said to Munkustrap. “He never truly appreciated me. He would have me contained if not killed outright. I can’t let that happen.”

“What are you going to do?” Munkustrap asked, moving to block Tugger’s escape. “Are you really going to kill a defenseless kitten?”

“If I must,” Tugger said. “That was my plan to begin with. I knew I couldn’t kill you and Alonzo outright. It would be too obvious that I was at the heart of it when I became Protector, then Leader. So I figured if I killed those close to you two I could get you to resign of your own accord.”

“That’s why you tried to take Demeter,” Munkustrap said, realization striking him like a claw. “You honestly would have murdered her?”

Tugger’s voice was cold. “If it came to that, yes.”

“You really are a monster,” Munkustrap snapped.

“Perhaps,” Tugger said. “Now if you’ll be so kind as to step to one side, brother.”

He made the word sound like a curse. Munkustrap looked at his brother’s face, then down at Jemima who was trembling in his paws. He sighed an angry sigh of defeat and stepped away from the door. Tugger smiled smugly as he began to make his getaway.

“Wait a minute,” Mistoffelees said, stepping forward. “You can’t do this. I won’t let you.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Tugger said. “Even if you were willing to kill with your lightning, you’d never risk hurting this precious little queen, would you?”

Mistoffelees looked at Jemima, then up at Tugger.

“You’re right,” he said. “I can’t kill you. But I can do more than that.”

His paws shot open and an incredibly bright light filled the small cupboard. Everyone was forced to shield their eyes. Jazz and Bageera, who had remained silent during this interlude, were somewhat immune to the burst thanks to their own grimalkin blood. Though still reeling from the effects, they could see Mistoffelees as he bolted across the room, grabbed Jemima in his arms and jumped back. He ran to the other kittens and wrapped his tail around them, which seemed to have grown longer. Then, grabbing onto Demeter, they all vanished in a puff of smoke.

Realizing that the magician had just removed all of the innocents in the room, Bageera got to his feet and ran through the light and tackled Tugger. They went flying through the door and out into the junkyard.

The light faded and the rest of the Jellicles in the cupboard, Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer included, ran out to see what was going to happen now.
This is a submission by  :icongen-kavik:



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