Mixed up Charm
                      Written by Ditto

   The moon shone brightly as Ditto made her way to Alistair's magic shop.
   Her good friends, Mistoffelees and Kalikaylinda, had just had kittens there.
   All Seven born in a big top hat. She grinned, he really had produced seven
   kittens right out of a hat. Not without help of course. She arrived at Alistair's
   and crawled through the narrow cat door. The room she entered was
   fantastic. The walls were covered by tall bookcases that contained every
   book imaginable. The floor was graced with a beautiful blue Persian rug and
   in one corner, on a coffee table, was the hat. Underneath the table on a lambs
   wool rug, sat Kali and Misto with their kittens. Ditto padded quietly over to
   the proud family and made her presence known.
   "Ditto, how nice to see you." Said Misto. 
   "It is nice to see both of you too but, I must confess I came to see seven little
   bundles of joy."
   Kali smiled, "Their all here." She gestured to the kittens huddled around her.
   "This is Hip Hop, Teenifooot, Thistletail, Fireflower, Jollylock, Mistymoon
   and Mistyeyes."
   Ditto eyed the kittens with admiration. She hoped some day to have some of
   her own. She was drawn towards Mistymoon and Mistyeyes as they were
   twins like she and Munkustrap. As she admired them Mistyeyes seemed to
   sense her presence and crawled over to investigate. Ditto lay down so the
   kitten could sniff her out. Apparently satisfied Mistyeyes rubbed against her
   and settled in-between Ditto's paws. Ditto turned to Kali to see her smile
   and then back to Mistyeyes who purred happily. 
   "I've been curious to know how you two met." She said turning to look at
   Misto and then at Kali. 
   "That's right, it was before you arrived at the junkyard." Said Misto.
   Kali smiled, "Yes and part of the story involves a certain silver tabby." She
   winked at Misto who grinned back at her.
   "Munku? It has Munku in it? This I have to hear." Said Ditto. 
   "Well now, let me see, it must have been two week before your first ball
   Ditto, and Kali's for that matter."
   "Yes, that sounds right to me." Said Kali. "You see it all started when Big
   Mama Marbleeye messed up my charm."
   Ditto sat intrigued and Kali and Misto continued the story.

   "No, I'm sorry, I cannot help you at the fortune tellers tent today." Said Kali
   to her mother Big Mama Marbleeye. Big Mama glared at her daughter from
   her one good eye. 
   "I'm sorry Mama but the ball is in two weeks and I need to practice." Said
   Kali and she turned away. "After the ball I can help you but until then..."
   She said over her shoulder as she made her way to the junkyard. 
   As soon as she got there Kali went in search of some breakfast. As she
   passed she winked and smiled at many of the Toms. She liked to flirt with
   then and enjoyed the attention she got from them. She was settling down to
   enjoy the morsel of salmon she had found when a shadow appeared before
   her. She looked up to see Munkustrap.
   
   "Oh my," she stammered. She had a crush on Munkustrap and had forever
   wanted him to notice her. 
   "Hi, Munks," she said with a purr and a flick of her tail.
   He just stood there starring at her and made no reply.  
   Kali shrugged, "Want to join me for some breakfast?" She asked with a
   wink. He still stood staring at her, never blinking. She looked back at him
   for a moment and them turned back to her salmon. She noticed he watched
   her the whole time. This was strange and she was becoming uncomfortable.
   She finished her breakfast quickly and turned to go. 
   "See you later Munks," she said, turned and headed for the large tier to
   practice for the ball. 
   Suddenly the fur on the back of her neck rose. She turned to see Munkustrap
   a few paces away still starring at her. She smiled and moved on. 
   When she stopped again and was preparing to practice she saw him again.
   She dismissed him from her mind and focused on the dance. She closed her
   eyes and concentrated on her moves, the music playing in her head. She
   made six steps and ran right into a solid wall. She opened her eyes and
   starred at a silver tabby's chest. She looked up and Munkustrap starred down
   at her.
   She smiled, "I don't mind you watching me practice but would you mind
   giving me some room?" 
   He did not move and kept silently starring at her. She tried to side step him
   but he blocked her. She frowned and side stepped the other way. He blocked
   her again. Puzzled by his strange behavior and annoyed that he would not
   speak to her she waved her paw in front of his eyes. He did not blink and
   kept on starring at her like a...Zombie!
 
   "Oh no," Kali cried, "She couldn't have."
   Kali quickly turned and ran to the fortune tellers tent. She did not look back
   until she arrived. There he was, not far behind. Kali stormed into the tent,
   Big Mama was there straightening up and putting out her crystal ball and
   tarot cards.
   "How could you?" demanded Kali. 
   "How could I what?" said Big Mama calmly. 
   "You know exactly what I mean, You've got Munkustrap marching around
   in a daze fawning all over me!" Kali fumed.
   Big Mama raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that what you always wanted?"
   "No, not like that and Demeter is his mate. I would never break up a couple.
   You know me better than that."
   Big Mama shrugged and returned to her cards. Kali stepped between her and
   the table.
   "Make him stop," she begged.
   "NO," was Big Mama's reply and with that completely ignored her
   daughter.
   Kali knew she would gain nothing further from the stubborn Queen. She
   sighed and dashed through the back entrance of the tent.

   She did not have long to wait before Munkustrap was catching up to her
   again. Her mind was spinning, she had no idea how long the trance on
   Munkustrap would last and she did not think she could run much longer. She
   was about to give up when she saw Demeter. The Queen did not look happy
   and Kali found out how unhappy very quickly.
   "You! How could you! You know how much I love my Tom. How could
   you seduce him like this." There was deep pain etched on her face and tears
   in her eyes.
   "I'm truly sorry Demeter," said Kali as she ran by, "I really did not mean for
   this to happen."
   Demeter heard her but starred open mouthed as Kali ran by with Munkustrap
   close at her heals. 
   "Munkustrap, come back!" she cried as the two disappeared around the VW
   bug.
   Now worried about Demeter Kali racked her mind on how to solve he
   dilemma. Racing along a thought popped into her head and she detoured out
   of the junkyard.
 
   Mistoffelees was perched on the top of one of the bookshelves in Alistair's
   Magic Shop. Open before him was a book titled Merlin. He was absorbed in
   the book when his ears pricked up and he turned toward the front entrance.
   Kali came through the cat door like a bullet. 
   She was beautiful, as always. She was often in his dreams but today she was
   definitely distressed. He frowned. 
   "Misto...quickly...block the...door..." she panted.
   He reached out a paw toward the door and sparks flew. When the smoke
   cleared there was a huge net covering the cat door.
   "Thank you." Said Kali as she bent over catching her breath.
   How amazing, he thought, that she would end up here in her time of need.
   He still did not know what was troubling her. He bounded down from the
   bookcase and pawed over next to her.
   "Who or what has brought you here and in such a panic?" he asked.
   She did not need to answer him. There was a big crash and Misto turned.
   Trapped in the net over the door was Munkustrap still in a running motion
   trying to get through. Misto turned back to Kali who was watching
   Munkustrap struggle. She turned and collapsed against Misto completely
   exhausted. He hugged her to him and a wave of heat passed through him. He
   wondered if she felt it too.
   "Big Mama put him in a trance and sent him to follow me. He won't leave
   me and he won't speak to me either. Demeter is mad at me and Big Mama
   won't break the trance." Kali said and tears rolled down her cheeks falling
   on the soft fur on his chest. Misto desperately wanted to lick those tears
   away. "Don't worry, we'll fix everything." He walked her over to one of the
   big, comfy, blue, sofa chairs and made sure she was comfortable. 
   "Are you Hungary?" he asked.
   Kali felt her stomach growl and blushed. She hoped he had not heard it. "If
   it's no trouble, all that running..." she trailed off as Misto clapped his paws
   and a dish of salmon paste appeared before her.
   "Th...thank...you." She stammered.
   "You're welcome, now…" Misto turned and bounded up one of the great
   bookcases. He pawed through the books on the top shelf until he found the
   one he wanted. He carefully levitated the old book and got it to float down to
   Kali's chair. He bounded down again and joined her. He patted the lamp on
   the table next to the chair and opened the book to the index.

   "Hmmm..." he mused and flicked his left ear. "Ghosts, Hexes, Levitation,
   love curses... That's the one." He turned to page 573 and started to read.
   Kali crouched and peered over his shoulder. Her breath tickled his ears and
   gave him shivers. He concentrated on his reading. "All right, we are going to
   need to concentrate really hard and focus on a picture in our minds. Close
   your eyes." 
   Kali sat up and closed her eyes.
   "Now concentrate, Focus on Munkustrap, have you got a good picture of
   him?"
   Kali twitched her nose in response.
   Misto smiled, "I'll take that as a yes. Now picture him with Demeter and his
   kittens. With your mind tell him that he is confused and that it is Demeter that he
   loves, to go home to her and his kittens. Keep repeating that in your mind. I
   am going to join you now and do the same." He closed his eyes and started
   repeating the same thoughts. He cupped his paws together and a fireball
   began to form. When it was the size of a tennis ball his eyes flew open and
   the ball shot out towards Munkustrap. 
   Kali opened her eyes to see it hover in the air over him and then explode into
   thousands of stars. Misto, who was opening his eyes, turned and stared at the
   door. Kali turned to and saw the Munkustrap had stooped struggling and was
   now hanging in the net motionless. She ran over to him.
   "Munks, Munks, are you okay?" she said shaking the net.

   Munkustrap's eyes opened slowly. He blinked and looked at Kali.
   "Hi Kali," he looked around, "What am I doing here and why am I caught
   up in a net?"
   Misto joined Kali and began removing the netting. "You were the victim of
   one of Big Mama's Charms." He explained.
   "What do you mean?"  Asked Munkustrap as he rose and brushed the net
   away.
   "Oh Munks, it was terrible. Big Mama wanted to punish me for refusing to
   help her at the Fortune telling tent so she turned you into a zombie and got
   you to follow me everywhere."  Kali started to cry again. "Now Demeter is
   mad at me, she thinks I bewitched you."
   Munkustrap hugged her. "Don't you worry, I'll explain everything to
   Demeter. No doubt she will want to bat it out with me too. I had better go."
   He released Kali and turned. "Thanks Misto for whatever you have done." 
   He rubbed heads with Kali, shoulders with Misto and turned and headed for
   the junkyard.

   Misto waved as Munkustrap left and then turned to Kali.
   "Oh, thank you Misto. I don't know what I would do without you." Said
   Kali. She hugged him, he was warm and comforting and she snuggled
   against him. She felt a warm fuzzy feeling move through her and she began
   to purr.
   "Keep that up and I'll be the love zombie." Said Misto. His voice seemed to
   have deepend and when Kali looked at hi his eyes shone with a deep
   passion. She was mesmerized. Misto hugged her back and rubbed her cheek.
   She realized for the first time the real feelings she had for him. All this time
   she had felt a bond between them but had related it to their magical abilities.
   She smiled and her eyes sparkled. "You know, I wouldn't mind having you
   as a love zombie." She winked at Misto and his heart burst with love. 
   "Consider me the zombie who will never let you out of my sight again." He
   said as he picked her up and carried her over to his favorite spot under the
   coffee table. He laid her down on the Lambs wool rug and then joined her.
   She gave a satisfied yawn and stretched.
   "Shall we have a little cat nap?" he asked lazily stroking her fur.
   She turned so her head rested against his chest. "Yes Mistomuffin," She said
   snuggling closer,  "Now and forever."
   Misto watched as she drifted into sleep. What a lucky cat he was.