CATALINA: THE JELLICLE MAGIC WITHIN

EPISODE ONE: FLYING HIGH AND FAR

PART TWO: OVERCOME AND OVERPOWER

The night before the Jellicle Ball, everyone was excited. Jemima and Etcetera chattered constantly about their first Ball, which had been only last year. But Catalina was more nervous than thrilled. She still wasn't whether she qualified to become a Jellicle, because of her secret, not-so-pleasant past. She only wished someone would listen to her, then she could just let it go. Nevertheless, Catalina put on an act that she was enthusiastic and optimistic about the whole event.

Just hours before the festivities, Catalina was sitting in her and Mistoffelees' now-enlarged top hat when she heard a soft knock. "Come in," she said automatically, thinking it might be Misto or one of the kittens. She turned around, and to her surprise saw Demeter slowly walking through the doorway.

"I need to talk to you about something," whispered Demeter, and then added, "Alone." Catalina nodded and pulled the curtain over the opening of the hat closed, leaving them in total darkness.

"Luminius," she murmured, and an orb of light shimmered in her palm. She carried it over and set it down between herself and Demeter. Demeter seemed to give this no heed, as if it were as normal as setting down a saucer of milk, which surprised Catalina, because she had only performed the trick for Mistoffelees.

Demeter took a deep breath and said, "I know you didn't just learn this magic yourself. Who taught you?" Catalina sat in a stunned silence. She had always thought that someone suspected it, just not Misto who, thought Catalina hated to say it, could sometimes be a bit naive. She caught her breath quickly, and prepared herself to answer Demeter's question.

"Macavity," Cataline finally said, in a hushed voice. "Macavity taught me. How else do you think he got the infamous line 'Macavity's not there?' He would carry out the crime, and then use his magical powers to vanish into thin air. He laso has the power to not leave footprints, so the police can never find him. Macavity tried to train me as an accomplice, and when I caught on and refused, he hit me with a laser beam, making my white star around my eye. He said that he could always find me, because a cat with my markings couldn't have a patch of white anywhere."

Demeter sat and listened silently, and then said, "You still have one more thing to tell me. And don't deny it, I can tell by your eyes, even though they're masked by tears."

Catalina wiped her eyes, then sobbed, "I'm his daughter!" Demeter took Catalina in her arms and tried to comfort her. "How did you know all this?" asked Catalina.

"I was his girlfriend," whispered Demeter, and told Catalina all about her experience. Catalina listened, about how Demeter had seen Macavity perform several of the same tricks that Catalina was so used to doing, and how it had given her a clue. She had suspected it from the moment Catalina had first walked into the junkyard, and knew that she was lying when she said that she had belonged to a magician's assistant, that it was only to cover up her true past.

"But what will I do if he finds me?" asked Catalina worriedly.

"We'll fight him together, eye to eye, claw to claw," said Demeter, dreading the day herself. "We can do it, you know we can. Now go get ready for the Ball."

Catalina extinguished the light, and opened the curtain. The Jellicle Moon was already glimmering in the black, velvety sky. Cats ran everywhere, getting prepared. The Jellicle Ball was about to begin.

Munkustrap suddenly stood up and sang in his wonderful voice, "Are you blind when you're born?"

The Ball had begun. When it came time for Catalina's line, she crept out silently, then when she sang it, her sweet voice echoed all around the junkyard.

"Can you fly far and wide with a single swift bound?" she sang out, and it bounced all around the junkyard. Can you see in the dark? Are you tense when you sense there'a storm in the air? Can you find your way blind when you're lsot in the street? Were you Whittington's friend? Have you been an alumnus of heaven and hell? Are you mean like a minx? Are you lean like a lynx? Were you there when the Pharoahs commisioned the Sphinx? Do you know how to go to the Heaviside Layer? All were marks of their unashamed felinity, and as they rejoiced and celebrated, Cataline could feel the joy rising in her blood. And after the Naming, she was truly a Jellicle. She was fearless, faithful, and true. She could handle anything. She felt ready to take on the world. Cataline was a Jellicle cat.

But then, a deep, evil laugh echoed around the junkyard, and for a brief moment, Catalina's heart stopped beating. She knew that laugh. Suddenly, years of terrible memories flooded her mind, only made worse when Demeter yelled, "Macavity!"

Catalia felt powerless, useless, the little kitten that Macavity would fight to make evil. But then she realized that she was strong, stronger than Macavity had ever been. She had had the power to overcome evil once, and she could do it again. She whirled around and hissed at the apparition that hovered above them. Macavity leapt down as everyone yelled, "MACAVITY!!!" Catalina's head swirled, filled with images of power and fear and strength and weakness and....

She felt a claw drag across her face, throwing her back. She saw Macavity grab Demeter, and felt the anger bubble up inside her, then anger she had held back her enitre life. And there was Munkustrap, trying desperately to free Demeter, but to no avail. Catalina could see the fear in Demeter's eyes, and without even thinking, ran out and leapt onto Macavity's neck and dug her claws into his eyes....

It all happened in a blur. She saw Macavity throw Demeter, and clutch at his left eye. Catalina quickly leapt off, pointed her hands at Macavity, and yelled, "LEVIASATUS!"

The same laser beam that had scarred Catalina's face now hit Macavity full-force in the chest. He stumbled backward, and slashed at Catalina with his claws. He hit her on the side, and intense pain spread throughout Catalina's body. In one final attempt, she stretched out her aching arms and screamed, "SIALATIA!" It took only a second. Beams of blue lightning shot from Catalina's fingertips and encircled Macavity. The electrical field surrounded him, and lifted him off the ground. Catalina felt herself growing weaker and weaker and weaker....

She reached her arms above her head, and threw them out. Macavity was launched into the sky, surrounded by the blue beams that he had almost killed Catalina with. He flew through the night, held there by her hate and anger that had at long last escaped her and entered him, letting him feel how she felt about him. Catalina fell to the ground, weakened desperately by her feat. Before she slid into complete blackness, she heard Demeter's voice echo, "You did it, Catalina, you did it."

Catalina awoke lying on a makeshift bed of old clothes, all her wounds carefully cared for and bandaged. She jumped up and cried, "Demeter! Where's Demeter?"

"I'm right here," said the soft voice. Looking up, Catalina saw Demeter enter the room, one arm in bandages. "Don't worry, I'll be alright, and so will you," said Demeter.

There was a difference in Demeter's eyes. They no longer had the glint of fear in them, but were now filled with the shine of triumph. No more worrying about Macavity, no more scares, no more injuries. Catalina lay back down on her bed.

"There's a good girl," said Demeter. "You have to stay like that for a while, Macavity broke one of your ribs when he hit you."

"Is he dead?" Catalina asked curiously.

Demeter shrugged. "We have no idea how far he flew, or where he landed, or if he survived or not. One thing's for sure, he won't come here again," she answered. The two queens gazed into each other's eyes, both sharing the same feelings even though they were toally different. Demeter smiled and turned to leave.

"Wait! Demeter!" called Catalina after her.

"What is it?" asked Demeter, coming back to her.

Catalina smiled and said, "So, it was some Ball this year, wasn't it?"

END OF EPISODE ONE