This Is It! - A Touch Of Magic

I told him to?!?

I spun around, my eyes darting quicker that a bee changing direction to flee a fly swot. I knew that voice!

Out from underneath the tree where I thought I'd seen a pair of eyes, a shadow moved forward into the skirt of the moons beam. My heart pounded furiously in my chest, my hearing felt muffled, cats were gasping and whispering changing positions but I couldn’t tell what they were saying, I felt faint, the evening had been a massive drain on me and blimey I was not expecting this on top of everything else.

Hello everyone, nodded Troy

Taking off his velvet purple hat he tossed it high into the tree where it exploded into a thousand glitter droplets, each drop a tiny neon light dancing and buzzing around,  firecrackers out of control, laughing and giggling to themselves as they fell.

MAGIC! Troy announced and looked me right in the eye!

MAGIC! I’ll give him MAGIC!

I could feel my muscles tensing, a sensation I’d not felt for a while. I was distracted by the force growing inside of me, originating in my chest, hot, like a magnet pulling me forward beyond my will. I could feel my body getting ready to stand up but before I could Troy pulled away from looking at me and turned to face George a smile spreading widely across his face.

George, he spoke quiet softly.

George nodded and smiled back, resting back slightly, getting ready to find his spot to settle, a warm smile shared between old friends, both ladies men, the scent of MAN shared between the two of them.

Doublay! A hurrah and a cheer in his voice!

Doublay jumped forward and they embraced each other, a puff of happy dust danced away from them, the lighter Naughty Twin gasped.

Doublay stepped back out of the way and Troy position changed as he moved forward to could see her huddled up with her brother. The nights events had left her shaken and a little more than a quivering wreck in the cold night air, her brother’s body merging with hers as much as he could, sharing her burden.

Troy blew on them and just for a second her aura shone with a bright yellow glow and she stopped shivering.

Wow, she said

Gotta admit that was a bit impressive!

Hello;

He bent down to the darker Naughty Twin and they rubbed cheeks, little matchstick light flickers ran down their backs and popped out the end of their tails.

Now he’s just showing off!

You must be Sarah, enchante!

And I kid you not he bent forward, took her paw in his hand, head bowed a kissed echanged. Sarah blinked and put her head down trying to hid the sparkle in her eye. Oh yes he was a charmer alright, proving that tonight alright.

He turned to face Bella and Twizzle;

Ladies, I’m Troy Lamore!

He offered out his hand to Bella who gently touched it back, head dipped, before offering the same to Twizzle, just as she was about to reciprocate he paw bumped her and resting back on one leg, one arm across his stomach the other on his chin;

Yo sister,  how’s it goin’?

I laughed, I couldn’t help myself, Twizzle would not have appreciated that. No by the look on her face she was not impressed, choosing to keep her thoughts to herself.

I don’t believe we’ve met.

Troy snapped out of character and offered out his hand to Chameleon. Chameleon just stared at him, mouth open.

Err sir, sir, he stumbled

Troy winked at him before quick as a bullet he leaned right into his face and shouted BOO!, as loud as he could. Chameleon jumped up, knocked Sarah, who was gazing longingly at Troy, trying her damness to make him hear how much her heart wanted him.

I just looked at her and tutted, reverting to type *raise eyes*, she tumbled and knocked into both Bella and the Naughty Twins and everyone fell and jumped and squealed, claws and paws and cat calls.

Troy laughed and turned to Mogsie, as everyone buzzed around.

Hello Mogsie my old friend. 

Mogsie nodded, equals and both confident and not threatened by powers games of ego.

Troy.

Mogsie nodded and settled down.

How you doing?

I was getting more and more irate.

How you doing? How you doing?

I couldn’t help but mock, the two of them sitting there like nothings gone on, about to have a bit of a chinwag. They both turned to look at me, Mogsie a bit stunned, Troy a grin on his face.

How’s that wind Lil’?

I was seething!

I’ll tell you how that wind is shall I! A bit to blustery for my liking actually. Do you know what’s been going on? We could have really done with your help, where were you, off somewhere having “adventures”, exclamation mark paws in the air, when all the while we really needed your help? Don’t you know the Queen was here and you weren’t!

Mogsie stood up to calm me down.

Lil’!

I’d just about had enough of him too, he shouldn’t have called me attention his way.

And you!

My teeth were gritted.

YOU!

I could feel my eyes well up. I felt so hurt, I so needed Mogsie to have helped me and he refused. Didn’t he know that it was his opinion that mattered most to me, that it was him I worried the most about, that he could get so under my skin and into my soul making it leap and sleep? Didn’t he know that in that split second that he refused to be by my side that my heart broke, now replaced by a waterfall of pain.

You don’t dare try and defend him;

I jabbed paw in Troy’s direction

Where were you when I needed you? Eh;

My chin went up, he said nothing.

Eh! Why wouldn’t you help me we called out for your help months ago and I begged just now?

My gates flooded open and I stepped forward to him, legs, I could feel my legs. My heart raged a fire-pit, my bones creaked I could hear them. What? What! My head was spinning, I could feel. I COULD FEEL AGAIN! For the first time since I went to the other side I could properly feel. I could feel my legs again, I could feel warmth, oh how I’d missed warmth. I caught myself and could hear voices coming clearer into focus.

Sarah and Bella something, I couldn’t make out.

Look out! cried the lighter Naughty Twin as I stumbled near her, the sudden movement of her voice helping me to steady myself, things became more sharply focused.

Lil’! LIL! I could hear Troy’s voice and turned in the direction, I stumbled again, trying to retain my balance.

He couldn’t help you Lil’, he couldn’t help you.

What?

I shook my head to clear it and listen to every word being spoken.

He couldn’t help you Lil’. It had to be your choice! Your choice alone!

I turned to face Mogsie, his face said he was telling the truth, my head spun back to Troy and just stared at his, trying to understand what he meant. Why did it have to be my choice alone? Comprehend, comprehend.

Everyone else had fallen silenct, not a hair on a cats body moved, not one!

Mogsie began;

What makes you think Troy hasn’t been around helping us?

I turned to look at Mogsie, his face shining truth.

Troy put his arm on my shoulder and gently eased me down. I ached, every part of me ached, I wasn’t sure what was going on. My head was darting in every direction trying to match up the dots of all of this. Everything, everything, he was here helping, why me, what’s all this, what? I ache, I ACHE! I can’t ache, I haven’t for ages. Oh!

I turned to look at Troy, his eyes smiled diamonds, he gently nodded his head.

It’s OK Lil’ it’s OK. Here sit, just catch your breath a while.

Breath. BREATH! I sniffed in and out as rapidly as I could. Air! I could smell air. The scent of Mogsie, the grass newly cut and watered by this evenings rain. One of the cats needed a bath, George, ah George, his warmness.

It’s Ok, Troy’s hand was on my shoulder.

Just sit and let me explain. Don’t worry about a thing, it will all become clear, I’ll make sure of that.

He turned and smiled at the group, everyone was settling down.

Mogsie would you like to begin?

Mogsie, like to begin? What’s going on, my mind started whirring. Troy, sensing this, moved closer so our bodies touched. I felt my fur running a static marathon, rising upwards the closer he got, little thunderbolts of light sprung between us and settled down as we did. I felt calm.

Mogsie nodded and smiled.

Tonight is not the second time that Troy and I have met.

But you told us…George began to say.

I know and at that time I had only met Troy once. We all agree I would call him to help us and I did and he came, just because he didn’t show himself to everyone didn’t mean he didn’t come, he did, he came to me that very night but let me start at the beginning.

The Other Night's With Troy Lamore.

That night that we spoke I called out for Troy to come and help us, you may remember the day Lil’ I’ll never forget it, July 17^th, the day before our Queen was brought back.

I was sitting outside at the top of our garden up by the blue night lights, I find it very peaceful up there, it’s somewhere where I can go to clear my head, not many others come up there, too far away from the kitchen.

I’d not long called out to Troy when I heard a rustling in the bushes and out walked Troy brushing himself free of leaves.

I knew he said he’d come whenever I called but by anyones standards that was fast and I stood there my mouth a little open, trying to process how he’d made it so quickly.

Troy finished brushing himself off and came over to sit by me.

Sorry a little outta breath there, you don’t have a glass of water do you?

Luckily mum knows I like it up there on my own and she's created my own bar area, with a choice of water or fresh milk on tap so he was able to make his own choice. Water as it turns out. 

I let him drink his fill and settle himself before I started to explain everything that had been going on, about Emma and the Naughty Twins and George. All the while Troy sat there nodding making mental notes. I must have gone on for about an hour until I’d run out of words. It was great to be able to talk to someone else about it, I didn’t want to put my burden on any of your shoulders.

I looked at Mogsie, always thinking of us, always looking out for us even when we didn’t know it. I felt bad as I’d thought he just didn’t care anymore, how could I have every questioned him? I felt angry at myself now, a little ashamed, he always had our backs.

You can always talk to me, I smiled at him.

I know. He paused and looked at me sadly.

The moment lasted longer than it did finally broken by someone clearing their throat. I turned to Troy as Mogsie continued.

What do I do? I asked him and was surprised at the bluntness of his response.

Nothing! You do nothing!

I can’t do nothing, I began to protest

You have to Mogsie, in fact you mustn’t get involved. It’s not your path and it’s not your decision! Another will call The Curse and The Queen and that one only can stand a chance to free those trapped.

I really couldn’t believe what I was hearing, he must help us and I asked him what he was going to do about it, we couldn't stand back and do nothing, it wasn't in either of our natures, our DNA.

Nothing! Nothing at all, came his reply I remember I was getting both angry and confused by his calmness. Troy had helped me when I was at my lowest and by that time I knew that he had helped many of you too but I didn’t recognise this stranger in front of me who had dashed to our aid and then professed he wasn’t go to do anything and furthermore dictate that I wouldn’t either!

Troy must have sensed my growing rage, and I could tell you I was furious and ready to challenge him but he smiled at me.

Mogsie, neither of us can do anything not because we don’t want to but because we CAN’T! I can’t free our Queen, if I could I would have but I can’t, I’m not the one chosen and I’m not the one that made that choice either, Mogsie I'm troubled by my own curse preventing that.

Mogsie soon, very soon the one who is chosen, the one who does have the key will say those magic words and the Queen will be freed but that freedom comes with The Curse which also brings with it a choice. That choice is The Curses test for the chosen one and can either free or decide the fate of the Queen and Catkind, it’s too dangerous for us to get involved, there’s too much at stake for everyone but it had to be that one, they'll have the best chance of beating The Curse, they've had the perfect journey and training ground to be able to take on The Curse and we have to make sure we use the best chance we have. Remember Mogsie, you had to break a heart to help that heart, now you must do the same thing again. I will make you a promise though Mogsie, I will hang around a while, keeping an eye on things, hey I could do with a base fancy letting me camp out up here for a few weeks, I can see everything that’s going on and it’s far enough away for me not to be noticed.

I nodded, at least if he was around I wouldn’t be alone, watching silently, torn by the need to protect .

Remember Troy repeated as he bedded down and I started down the steps to the bottom of the garden;

YOU CANNOT GET INVOLVED!

As hard as that was I understood. 

He took a step nearer.

Lil’ it was so hard for me all those weeks when things were going crazy around here I had to pretend not to care, to be blase, laugh, make joy. It wasn’t easy but when I felt I was weakening and wanted to jump in I would go up to chat to Troy. Sometimes we’d just sit up there in silence watching everyone go about their business. Some days it was easier to keep away that see the torment you were going through trying to rally everyone around, already fighting agianst The Curse, but I knew I couldn’t get involved no matter what, even tonight, even when you begged me to help you make the choice Troy was firm, I couldn’t get involved, no matter what.

I turned to Troy, he smiled and nodded back.

But I don’t understand, you were here all along and your Queen was here trapped and you couldn’t reach out to her, right there by you;

I pointed at Emma

 Trapped in Emma, so close you might have been able to smell her.

Yes but as I said I didn’t have the key and I didn’t have the choice, that’s my curse. As much as I love the Queen she comes with The Curse that would destroy Catkind and nothing, nothing is worth jeopardising Catkind. I can only follow her around as she tries to come back, fighting her own battle with The Curse.

So many times, so, so many times she’s nearly managed to out run it, to lose it, but it always finds her again. Doesn’t mean to say that she’s going to give up coming back to me, or me following her and helping in whatever ways I can. Where she goes I follow but I’m not without my own magic to help her, but it'n not the magic that can free her.

But it’s our Queen, the love of your life, lost again. How do you bear it? I don't think I could have.

Because I love her and I know how clever she is. She’ll find a way and I’ll be there waiting for her when she does, no matter where I’ve got to go.

Troy turned to me.

Lil’ you made the right choice, you know that don’t you?

Troy smiled;

You see The Curse may have no loyalty but you have and that’s The Curses greatest fear, something it can never have. The Queen is clever, cleverer than The Curse gives her credit for.

A twinkle in his eye gave me a feeling he wasn’t just being kind to me, I caught him catch me catch him, but I didn’t give anything away.

The Curse has been defeated and Catkind is safe that must be celebrated even if my Queen is lost again but no worries to anyone I’m going to find her and she’ll find me.

I’ve been waiting, waiting such a long time for this chance and we got a step closer this time, that’s something to cheer, we’ve moved a step closer to the end game when we will be together again for all time.

I was astounded what was he saying, Troy knew what was on my mind and smiled.

Lil’ if at first you don’t succeed try again. Each time you practice you get better results and this time, this time we nearly made it, next time who know’s? Next time maybe we will beat The Curse and my Queen will be free again.

George stood up, 

But why here? Why us? When did we become a part of it? 

1964!

What? I shook my head!

Sarah gasped, she was doing that a lot tonight.

Troy turned to her, yes 1964.

Way back in 1964 this place was very different to how it is now. 

He got up and walked around Emma's back giving her a little stroke as he went.

Where Catworld now proudly stands an orchard once stood, up over that hill over there and all the way down to the bottom of the road and back towards the main road, an orchard of apple tree’s. That’s where I found myself, I’d followed magics trail and it led me here.

As I sat underneath one of those apple trees I lost myself in thoughts special dance and looked within to seek the trail of my Queen and I saw a way. I felt something special about this place and knew this is where I would find the help I needed, I just needed to wait for the right time, that time is now.

Within the year the orchard had gone, replaced by trucks and bricks and mounds of dirt, noise and MEN. Men in yellow hats and clipboards and boots. Men laying concrete, men mixing mortar, MEN being MEN. 

2 years it took for this land to change from a beautiful apple orchard into a community. Many of those are still here you know, E, she was an original you know along with AM. Your own daddies Uncle was an original too and after 10 years your Daddy became a part of this place when he moved here with his family.

I knew the first time I saw him that the time was finally beginning to come, I just needed to be patient and wait for the circumstances to be right, for the combination of cats to be the right recipe.

Sally, Smokey, Lucy, Misty, Evie, they were near candidates and with a mix of this one and that one I seriously thought they could be the chosen one's, the one’s magic chose, but no they were not to be and I knew I had to wait a while longer.

When George and Emma moved in, I got a feeling there was something right about them, they had something about them. That eye that weeps so much for George now was so bright and sparkling back then, so bright, he had a fire in him and I got excited. Then Twizzle moved in and she brought kindess with her and I felt the mixture begin sitr. When Sarah arrived and birthed out Pawson and Parker I knew I was onto something. 

Parker and Pawson!

I gasped and looked at the Naughty Twins. George has also cottoned on and looked on at them with a tear falling out of his non weepy eye.

Sarah and Bella both looked at Parker and Pawson. The twins just looked back.

What? Parker said his darker coat glistening jet.

Bella smiled and spoke at Parker softly. That’s your name, how could I have ever forgotten?

I learned in and gave him a kiss on his cheek;

Hello Parker, I smiled and turned to Parkers sister;

Hi Pawson.

Pawson? The snow white Pawson smiled back;

Yes that’s my name!

She embraced her brother jumping up and down they chanted, Parker! Pawson! Parker! Pawson.

I turned to look at Troy sitting next to Mogsie, Mogsie looking on with pride. Troy smiled at me, he knew what he had done. How I felt the love and respect for him flood top to tow, he’d given them something they both needed, something so precious and so very forgotten, their names!

After a few minutes things quietened down and Mogsie spoke;

So you where up to Parker and Pawson arriving.

Oh yes. Well then we were nearly there but there was still other important parts of the recipe that were still missing.

Lil’, he turned to face me;

Lil’ you then came here, along with Nadia and I felt it, magic was coming. Lil’ the first time I saw you I saw you were the chosen one, the one who would have to make the chose. The one who I saw was going to need so much courage and yet her was this little lady all scared to even go out and tell the man she loved how she felt about him. That little lady who’s heart was so big that it ended up being just too big for her and burst and yet it was this big heart that qualified her to be the one magic had chosen to make the right choice.

I had to help you, I had to guide you to find your courage for so much would one day depend on it,  today!

I needed a man, a man to help but love, love that can be bigger than magic itself and cannot be played with so I just had to wait until the right man arrived. I knew not when, it just so happened that I bumped into Mogsie that night by the tunnel. Love has a life of it's own.

How I enjoyed watching it blossom between the two of you but also tainted with  sadness as I knew that Mogsie was going to have to break it to save everyone. I couldn’t do anything about that tragedy as much as I tried to find a way for you two to be together and in the end love found it’s own way. It was the love between the two of you that allowed everyone to see you again Lil’. That you can thank love for.

Each of you that I met needed just a little help, however all of you were involved, a part of the perfect mix but something was still missing, something that I needed to thread and pull you all together as friend and foe, to bind, who would have thought that dogs could be so useful?

Huh!

Out of my mouth and right in his face. Top teeth showing on the right side.

A dog!

George sounded incredulous.

Yep, a little over excited, playfully optimistic, in her own world, blond bundle of pure never ending puppy. River! 

I needed her to pull all the threads together. It was River’s arrival that brought more of you in, up until then Lil’ shyness was keeping a distance between everyone. It was River who manged to get herself accepted as an honory member of Catworld. It was River that Pawson stood up and made a pact to guard over when Lil’ went to the other side and it was at that point that I was sure that we had the best chance of success. 

Lil’ you had gone and we met on the other side because you made the choice to come back I knew that it was finally happening, everything was in place, courage would not let you down and now magic was giving you the chance to come back, the sign I had been waiting for and the sign I'd been dreading for I knew the outcome wasn't certain.

A tear dropped from his eye as he lost himself in the thoughts of his Queen. Everyone was silent not wanting to intrude on his grief, sadness mixed with love and loss, so recent she was here he must still be able to smell her.

Suddenly up went his head a smile spreading across his face.

There’s a reason you know why us cats have nine lives!

Well I wasn't expecting that!

Not the one in the fairytales, and myths throughout the world. Nah as fun as they are the real reason is Love!

Troy looked at me and then Mogsie;

Truth, he stepped towards Twizzle and rubbed her face;

Honesty he nodded to George,

Integrity Doublay! 

Intuition, he danced in front of the Naughty Twins,

Courage he kissed the top of my head,

Muscle, he tickled the underneath of Chameleons chin,

Strength, he nodded at Bella

And more than a touch of magic he head nodded towards the house, towards where River sat looking out of the window at us all.

Oh yes and little bits of magic trails spread throughout the world and each with just a little bit of my Queen in them just waiting to remember,

He bent down and kissed Emma’s stomach turned to me and laughed,

Thunderbolts and lightening Lil’, sometimes the answer just comes to you like thunderbolts and lightening!

He spun around three times. Yippee! 

He stamped his foot down firmly, little bits of dust from the path blew up and made those of us in the front row cough.

Now my friends I must be off, things to do, his raised his paw in the air and started to swoop down, whispering in my ear, licking lips as he went;

 People to find, Fruits to ripen! 

He glanced over to our home, strangely to the office window. 

ADVENTURE AWAITS! 

He called out loud to the group and turned his back to us, looked up and then down. The sky cracked, a thunder bolt crossed the sky turning into a rainbow as it hit the ground in front of him, a hole appeared with deep purple bubbles floating out of it.

Troy turned to me. Another choice Lil’? And looked up and down;

Some choose the path of thunderbolts and lightening and some the path of magic!

What? My mind was racing! Did he want me to come with him? Was I getting another chance to be with Troy?

No he loved his Queen and to follow him would be pointless, he loved another and as much as I loved Troy, everyone loved Troy, he was our first and he was off to find a love that spanned life and death, time and beyond and I truly loved Mogsie, Troy was just a fantasy.

No thanks, I smiled, I think I’ll stay here I’ve got quiet used to how things are now, you go find your Queen.

At that moment I realised I no longer felt, warmth had gone, my legs were beginning to numb out again. Oh no what was happening to me? Had I made the wrong choice? Should I have gone with him? Had I made the wrong choice? Suddenly I felt again, the warmth spreading from the ground below.

Troy let me ask you, how will you find her?

He looked at the rainbow and smiled. I’ll just follow the path of magic Lil’. Hashtag magic!

Laughing his head rocked backwards. That’s my path Lil’. Now what’s your’s?

Troy turned and nodded down to the hole;

Lil’ you’ve already made your choice, there’s nothing you can do about it now.

I felt a pulling in me, tugging towards the hole.

What do you mean, I’d already made my choice?

The wind was beginning to pick up and Troy stood forward right in the pathway of where the rainbow ended and the hole began. Floating in mid air he stood, smiling at us all.

My friends I’m off! A new adventure awaits you all!

He then turned to me;

You especially, you have an amazing adventure in front of you. Courage Lil', courage!

The wind was a gale and I could hardly hear what he was saying, leaves whipped around and a flower pot blew across the lawn.

You.. he shouted.

I was being pulled towards the whole, swept by the wind now sucking down, no, no what did he mean?

YOU! Troy shouted,

Are you enjoying the wind in your hair Lil’? I asked you that first night and you said yes! Lil’ you chose then, there was magic in the air the night we met and it heard you and once magic hears you there’s nothing you can do but enjoy the ride. 

The noise now unbearable my ears felt fit to pop but Troy hadn’t finished;

This is it Lil'! Just remember. REMEMBER!

With that he shot up in the air along the path of the rainbow, the tale detached from the ground and followed like a shooting star.

The wind was sucking me nearer the edge of the hole, bubbles strangely moving in the opposite direction. I was now over the hole and beginning to feel strangely euphoric. I didn’t mind, I didn’t know what was going on but I didn’t feel worried, a sense of calm washed over me and I looked at the cats in front of me, my friends.

I loved my friends, but what was that I was seeing? They were staring at me and in the reflection of Mogsie’s eyes I could see myself, standing there glowing gold, rays coming out like solar bursts. The air turning yellow as it danced around.

I smiled at them, waves of love washing over me. I didn’t know what was happening or where I was going but it didn’t matter to me at that moment. Oh how I wish Evie was here I could do with a black cats luck. Troy has said I was going on an adventure a choice I’d already made a choice led by magic.

Down I shot into the hole.

No light, no sound!