Alternate Ending to the Jellicle Ball Lilliefors sat quietly in the darkness of the junkyard, watching the Jellicles dance and sing. The other cats did not see her. She was all black with bits of gray on her ears and tail. She had piercing blue eyes, and her fur was long and soft. Her beauty was unimaginable. Suddenly the cats stopped rejoicing, seeing Lilliefors. Bombalurina began to walk towards her, but turned back fearfully. "Who are you?" "My name is Lilliefors. Is this the Jellicle Ball?" She took a few steps forward and a few cats stood behind Munkustrap. Old Deuteronomy rose, curios. "Why? Are you a Jellicle cat?" Alonzo whispered hoarsely, concealing his fear. "Quiz me." Lilliefors gained confidence in seeing the other cat's fear. "The naming of cats is a difficult..." "Oh, any cat could know that!" Victoria grumbled. "No! She's telling the truth. I can't tell you why, because I'm not sure myself. You'll just have to believe me." Old Deuteronomy took her hand and led her to the Jellicles. The cats scattered and continued their rejoicing. "Hey, Lilliefors, welcome! I'm Rumpleteazer." Rumpleteazer smiled. "Thanks. I'm kind of lost here, but I plan on staying here a while. Do you think maybe you could show me around a bit?" Lilliefors asked. "Sure! Well, over there is the Rum Tum Tugger." Rumpleteazer pointed then caught herself before she was seen swooning. But she soon noticed that Lilliefors was amused as well. "Do you think I could go meet him?" Lilliefors stared. "Honey, it's a waste of time." Rumpleteazer broke her gaze and looked at Lilliefors, shaking her head. "He's already got a girlfriend?" She turned towards Rumpleteazer, then looked back at the Rum Tum Tugger. "More like ten, but he's only in love with himself. It's an exclusive relationship. You don't have a chance. None of us do." Rumpleteaser grabbed Lilliefors hand and led her away from the Rum Tum Tugger. "That's encouraging." Lilliefors smiled sarcastically. "And that's Mr. Mistoffelees. He can do magic. He's really nice, too." Rumpleteazer pulled Lilliefors over to Mistoffelees. Mistoffelees smiled. "Hi, Lilliefors!" He looked over at the Rum Tum Tugger. "You haven't met the Rum Tum Tugger yet have you?" "He sounds like a jerk to me." "Oh good. I mean... You're right. Beauty is only skin deep. It's talent that comes in after that. He thinks he's so great with the females. You know, I can produce seven kittens right out of a..." "We get the point, Mr. Mistoffelees!" Rumpleteazer pulled Lilliefors away. "Oh! Here's Mungojerri!" "Hi, Rumpleteazer, Lilliefors. How are you all?" Mungojerri's gaze stayed constantly on Lilliefors. Rumpleteazer took this into account, glancing at the two of them. First Mungojerri, them Lilliefors. "Hi!" Lilliefors flirted. She twitched her tail. "Unh-Uh. It ain't gonna happen sister." Rumpleteazer nudged Mungojerri's shoulder affectionately. "Oh. I see." Lilliefors shrugged. "I'm not really here to guy hunt anyway. I have more important things to do. Maybe you can help me." "Sure. What do you need help with?" Rumpleteazer asked. "Well, you see, I came here looking for my mother." Lilliefors began. Grizzabella approached and the happy crowds parted; all but Lilliefors. "Mom?" Grizzabella turned her head, staring deeply into the young cat's eyes. "Lilliefors? Is that you?" "Mom!" She leaped into Grizzabella's arms. "I thought I'd lost you forever!" "Me, too, dear. Me, too. You don't know what this means to me, Lilliefors. All I've had since you ran away was my memory, and now..." "Wait, Lilliefors ran from the tribe, too?" Munkustrap was confused. "Not this tribe. The one my mother ran too. Everyone in our family had run to and from different tribes, all at the age of four. It's some defective gene we've got or something." Lilliefors shrugged. "So Grizzabella, you DIDN'T think you were to good for us?" Cassandra questioned. "No. In fact, I was upset about leaving. But the instinct drove me. I had to go." Grizzabella smiled, hugging Lilliefors. "It is almost dawn. It's time." Old Deuteronomy interrupted. When the crown fell quiet, he continued. "I have thought long about who should be reborn. I believe I have made a wise decision. Grizzabella…" "I can not go, though. Not this year." Grizzabella pulled her hand away from Old Deuteronomy. "But, I thought you... Didn't you… Didn't she?" Old Deuteronomy asked with a puzzled look on his face. "I have something to live for now. I can't bear to part with my daughter before I even meet her. My life now has purpose. I must refuse this opportunity." Seeing the confused looks of the cats she continued. "I haven't seen my own daughter in years. Now I see her all grown up, so beautiful. I can't describe the joy it brings to my life. It's as if the world was dark for years, and now it shines like the Jellicle moon. It's an immeasurable happiness. If I part with my daughter now, I will have missed out on her life. You couldn't possibly understand." "I could." The Rum Tum Tugger began, "I don't even know how many children I have." "Ha! What difference does it make to you?!" Lilliefors hissed. "You know, when I said all that, I didn't expect you to actually tell him I said that. I mean we all have our own opinions." Rumpleteazer whispered. Before she could say a word more, Old Deuteronomy silenced her, and began to climb the staircase. "I must go. It is clear now that Grizzabella needs to stay with her daughter." He took the final step to the Heaviside Layer. All was silent. The kittens began to weep "Nice job, Grizzabella!" The Rum Tum Tugger frowned. Bombalurina and Cassandra, who were hanging off of him, hissed. "Yeah Grizzabella, now he only has two lives left!" Jennyanydots growled. "Couldn't you have just gone?!" Demeter yelled. "It's not her fault! She didn't do anything!" Lilliefors's screams and protests were not heard over the loud yelling and bickering. In the corner where the kittens cried, Jemima stood. She sang. Her eyes were wide and terrified, but she still sang. "The mystical divinity of unashamed felinity." The crowd gradually stopped fighting to listen. The other kittens joined in, their eyes still wet with tears, their voices shaky. "Round the cathedral," A few more cats joined in. "Rang, Vivat!" The other cats began singing as well. "Life to the everlasting cat!" Then all was silent. No one said a thing. Then, one by one, the cats lined up and bowed to Grizzabella. After each cat had taken a bow, Lilliefors bowed as well, and led her to the tire. "Welcome, Grizzabella, the new Jellicle leader." Lilliefors smiled.
