The young Deuteronomy (well, younger) sat on the tire looking down at the young Munkustrap, "You understand now, why we don't hit Tugger?"

"But he's such a git!" Munkustrap protested, "Tugger doesn't care about anyone but himself!"

Deuteronomy smiled. "Yes but Tugger is still young. As are you. There's no need for you to be worrying."

Munkustrap nodded, and looked shamefully at the ground, "Sorry."

"It's fine. Now go along and play." He patted his head gently before Munkustrap pounced away.

"Trouble with the kittens?" The young but still quite mature Jennyanydots asked.

"No no," He turned to her, "Just a misunderstanding."

"Is it that Tugger again? I'll wap him one if he misbehaves one more time!" She growled with a displeased look on her face.

"I just spoke to Munkustrap about the 'no hitting rule'. Do I need to tell you why we don't hit?"

Jenny laughed, "Please, I think I'm old enough to know better. I am almost 30 in human years."

"You're never to old to make a mistake." He chuckled, "Something you needed?"

"Yes, I was looking for Jellylorum. Have you seen her?"

"Sorry," Deuteronomy shrugged his furry shoulders, "I don't. She may be off with Gus at the theatre. You know how she loves going there."

"I bet you someday she'll be telling stories of Gus when she's older." Jenny smiled, "Gus may be older then me, but he's still got lots of energy in him to be bouncy around on stage."

"Stop it!" Munkustrap hissed running after Tugger who was grinning with delight as he darted behind Deuteronomy for protection. Tugger was still young himself, and his mane hadn't even started to grow yet.

"What's going on?" Deuteronomy asked looking at Munkustrap knowing he would be more honest then Tugger would.

Munkustrap took a breath calming himself down, "Tugger was really annoying me..." He growled.

"Then Munkustrap came at me like a rapid bull!" Tugger added looking up at Deuteronomy.

"Tugger shouldn't have been tugging on my tail!" Munkustrap hissed glaring at Tugger who was cowering behind Deuteronomy still.

"Knock it off," Jenny pulled Tugger out from behind the Jellicle Leader, "Tugger, why do you insist on being a nuisance?"

Tugger shrugged his shoulders bluntly.

"If you can't even think of a good excuse then you might as well stop." Jenny growled.

Tugger nodded still being held by Jenny, "I won't do it again. Honest."

Munkustrap rolled his emerald eyes. Tugger always said he wouldn't do it again, but he always did. Tugger was just born like that. It wouldn't have surprised him if Tugger had bee dropped on his head several times before.

"Alright," Jenny forced a smile to hide her disappointment and anger towards Tugger, "Off you go then." Jenny released Tugger.

Tugger dusted his arms off and looked at Munkustrap. He stuck his tongue out at him and ran off.

Munkustrap clenched his teeth letting out a low growl.

"Leave it." Deuteronomy sighed, "Tugger will grow out of it, hopefully."

Grizabella walked passed Bombalurina and Cassandra. Both young queens got up and scampered after her. "Hey Griz!" Bomba smiled catching up to her.

"I've told you a thousand times; don't call me Griz!" She hissed stopping to turn to them.

"Sorry Bella." Bomba frowned.

"Where are you going?" Cassandra asked trying to get Bomba out of trouble.

"I'm off to tell Deuteronomy I'm leaving." She brought up her nose and continued walking.

The two kittens looked at one another with curiosity, "She's leaving?" Cassandra asked.

"That's what she said," Bomba looked off into the direction in which Grizabella had gone. Cassandra and Bombalurina darted off after her.

"Tell me another story, please?" Jellylorum pleaded looking up at Gus with big curious eyes.

Gus laughed, "M'dear I think that can wait. I've told you so many stories already today. Plus the theatre has tuckered me out."

Jellylorum frowned, "But... but..."

"No buts M’dear," He patted her head, "Come lets go see Deuteronomy."

"Ok." Jellylorum smiled at him respectively.

"So, how does one become leader?" Munkustrap asked softly sitting on the steps leading up to the tire.

Deuteronomy sighed, "Munkustrap, I know you mean well but not just anyone can become leader."

"But I could do it." Munkustrap exclaimed standing to his feet. The way he stood showed how natural his power to protect was.

"You are to be future protector," Deuteronomy explained, "It's what you're ment to be."

Munkustrap looked down to his feet with a frown.

"When I die," Deuteronomy began, "You may have a chance to become leader. Mind you, many others will want to take my place, and many others will seem fit to take my place. But if you become protector first, the tribe will see and know you as a good choice for the tribe."

Munkustrap looked back at him, "You think so?"

Deuteronomy nodded. "I wouldn't lie to you."

"Good-day," Gus greeted, Jellylorum clutched to Gus' hand as usual.

"Morning Gus, good day at the theatre?" Deuteronomy replied with a smile.

"It was marvelous!" Jellylorum voice exploded with excitement, "You should has see Gus! He made the audience cry! Even those with the hardest of hearts!"

Gus chuckled, "I wouldn't exactly say that."

"But it's true. You made all the men cry." Jelly patted Gus' arm.

"Come back!" Tugger called, his voice heard by all the cats at the tire.

"Tugger, knock it off!" Asparagus called after him. Asparagus was younger to, around Jenny's age, but the tom was determined to help out as much as she did. With a lack of parental figures in the Junkyard, the tom was always looking for ways to lend a hand.

Bomba and Cass darted behind Gus hiding from Tugger. Tugger ran at Gus after the queens. Asparagus caught Tugger and grabbed him. "Stop chasing the queens Tugger!" He snarled.

"Hey! I was just having a little fun!" Tugger struggled in Asparagus' grip.

The young Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer rolled into view followed by the young Alonzo.

"Wow it's getting loud around here!" Jenny smiled at the kittens running around after one another. By now Bomba, Cass and Jelly had joined in the game of tag.

"Hey Jenny, wanna see our new trick?" Mungojerrie asked looking up at her with his big kitten eyes, "We've worked real hard on it!"

"Yeah!" Teazer jumped on his back, "Please?"

"Alright," Jenny smiled, "Lets see it then."

Mungojerrie ran off into a clear area where they had space. Teazer jumped off his back and back away to get some speed. She ran at him and grabbed his legs. Mungojerrie pulled her up and over in a cartwheel motion, but dropped her as she almost landed. Both kittens fell onto the ground.

Jenny laughed. "Keep practicing and you'll have that double cartwheel down in no time!"

The kittens got to their feet and returned to the game of tag. Munkustrap stayed at Deuteronomy's feet. He had matured quicker then they had (or so he wanted it to appear so) but occasionally joined the games.

Skimbleshanks jumped up next to Jenny, "Morning Jen!" he smiled.

"Oh, good morning Skimble. How was the train?" She asked knowing her had supervised the train that morning.

"Busy, as usual." He replied holding his smile.

Gus sat next to Munkustrap letting out an exhausted breath. He looked over at Munkustrap, "How are you my boy?"

Munkustrap moved next to Gus respectively, "I'm ok."

"Why don't you go play with the other kittens?" He asked, "I'm sure they'd love you to play."

"Yeah but I'm future protector- I have more important things to do then play." He looked away.

"You may be future protector, but even the previous protectors had played as kittens. It's not immature to play. Even I wrestle every now and then, and I'm old!" Gus laughed.

Munkustrap looked at him in shock, "You do?"

"Of course," Gus smiled, "Keeps me in some kind of shape, whatever shape you'd call it." He poked himself in the stomach jokingly.

Munkustrap laughed softly, "Thanks Gus."

"Anytime m'boy. Now why don't you go play?"

Munkustrap nodded with a hidden anxious smile and jumped off the tire joining the game with the other kittens. Munkustrap did a back flip away from Tugger and nearly bumped into Grizabella when he landed. He gazed up at her in fear, waiting for the grumpy glamour cat to snap at him. Her glare was enough to send him off towards Deuteronomy and sit on the steps again trying his best to hide his fear.

The kittens rushed over to the pipe behind Asparagus for protection. Grizabella wasn't the friendliest cat around and wasn't fond of kittens. The kittens tried their best to be nice, but after Griz had snapped at Munkustrap the one day for bumping into her, they had avoided her at every chance.

"What do you need Grizabella?" Deuteronomy asked staying in place on the tire.

"It seems my years of glamour has finally paid off. I'm going to America to hit the big screen." She set her hands on her hips, "I'm leaving this dump, and all the miserable felines within it."

"Excuse me?" Jenny growled, "Miserable?" She stood up feeling very offended by Grizabella's comment. Skimble grabbed her arm to calm her down.

"So you’re leaving then?" Deuteronomy could sense the anger building in the other cats, even some of the kittens.

"That's what I said isn't it?" Grizabella snorted, "Better then staying with you ridiculous tribe."

"This is not a miserable tribe," Munkustrap stood to his feet, "How dare you say such a thin about us!"

Grizabella shot Munkustrap a nasty glare, "Hold your tongue kit!"

Deuteronomy stood up, "Grizabella, if you leave, I can't guarantee the tribe would accept or even want you back."

"Who said anything about me coming back?" She snorted again. With that the glamour cat left the Junkyard not glancing back at any of them.

A few years later...

The now fully-grown Munkustrap sat on the car watching the others dance and sing. He sat next to Coricopat and Tantomile. He could see an odd expression on Coricopat face. Munkustrap tapped him on the shoulder, "Something wrong Cori?"

Coricopat looked at him, "Just feeling strange."

Munkustrap nodded although he didn't really understand. It was the Jellicle Ball, it was usually now that Jellicles were most happy and had high spirits.

Old Deuteronomy hadn't arrived yet as he usually came later just before the ball. Suddenly, the music went from upbeat and joyful to slow and depressing.

A rugged old cat stumbled into view. Quaxo approached the cat curiously. There had been no previous threat to the Junkyard (other then a few Pollicles and Pekes), but none that took the body of a cat.

Munkustrap slightly recognized the cat, but after so many years of faded memories and the hate and feeling of betrayed had altered the image of the once beautiful glamour cat before him. It was Grizabella, no doubt. Still holding the grudge against the glamour cat and remembering her violent and nasty ways Munkustrap reacted in the only way he saw fit. He leapt down in front of Quaxo giving him a warning to stay away.

The new generation of kittens wouldn't know or recognize Grizabella, since the now adults were but kittens when she left. The kittens were filled with confusion and curiosity while the adults were filled with rage and hate.

"I dare you to scratch her!" Pouncival whispered to Plato.

"No way, you scratch her!" Plato whispered back.

"You do it if you’re so brave!" Tumblebrutus jabbed Pouncival in the ribs.

"Fine I will!" Pouncival grunted standing to his feet and reaching out to Grizabella. When she reached back for reassurance, Pouncival swiftly swatted her arm. As Grizabella pulled away, Pouncival darted into the pipe.

Remembering Grizabella, Bombalurina walked passed her with an ashamed expression, and slight pity for her.

Demeter, having only been a baby when Grizabella left, tried to reach out and touch her, but felt a strong feeling of hate and betrayal fall upon her. She dodged passed the Glamour Cat and ran to Bombalurina for support.

Munkustrap kept a defensive stance watching Grizabella cautiously.

Grizabella looked at him sadly. "...Don't you remember me?" Her voice was low and shattered. Her once beautiful figure lost forever in a past of regret and remorse.

"I remember you fine." Munkustrap said sternly narrowing his green eyes at her, "I also remember you saying you wouldn't be coming back, and that's exactly how we're going to keep it."

Grizabella frowned, her eyes seeming to show how broken she was. She limped passed the silver tom, making her way out.

Demeter broke away from Bombalurina and stood a fair distance behind Grizabella. "Is she the one who was floating around totmen court?" She asked. When a nod was returned Demeter watched the old Glamour cat leave.

After that, the ball continued and soon Old Deuteronomy arrived. The kittens were thrilled to see him again and crowded around him as he made his way to the tire. In his old age the tom had difficulty come to and from the Junkyard regularly. Now, he only came during the ball.

"Jellicle cats meet once a year, on the night we make the Jellicle choice. And now that the Jellicles Leader is here, Jellicle cats can call rejoice!" Munkustrap declared. When he was elected Protector, they had decided it easier to assign him the duty of storyteller as well. Originally the job was Gus's, but he to found it difficult to get to the Junkyard.

And so the ball began, with it's quick moving and fast music. The dances started off slow but quickly turned to fast hip swaying, leg kicking, back flipping dances. As they rested, Grizabella returned. Enraged by her, they got up and danced again.

After the dancing, she returned. Furious with her, they all left, to leave her alone in the moonlight. Hoping for sympathy from Old Deuteronomy. Knowing it was in the tribe’s best interest, he refused to allow himself to accept her back. If killed him to ignore the pain she was feeling.

Pouncival pounced back into the Junkyard, followed by the others. Old Deuteronomy then tried to explain how broken and alone Grizabella was. Only Jemima (one of the youngest kittens) seemed to understand, and after she explained to everyone. They then began to understand the tragedy of Grizabella's life and how desperately she needed to be loved- truly.

Shortly after the capture of Deuteronomy, Mistoffelees saved him. Once again, Grizabella returned. The tribe lost their patience with her and turned their backs to her, offended that she would return even after they had thrown her out.

Grizabella then explained how her glamorous days had quickly turned against her and driven her to do some things she regretted more then anything.

The kitten Victoria saw the good in the broken glamour cat and was the first to open up to her once she had accepted and forgiven. It was easier for the others to forgive and forget now that the new generation had decided what was best for the tribe.

Grizabella was then sent to the Heaviside Layer where she was to be born into a new life. Her pain and suffering would end, and she had the Jellicles to thank.