After finishing his business in the City of Hands, Jynx was given a bumpy ride through the jungles to the closest city and then hustled onto an airship. It was a long and somewhat boring ride as most of the passengers seemed to be poodles or Kujakus who preferred to keep their distance from the scruffy Khatta… but they were just a small annoyance at worst.

Several days later the ship lands at a familiar port, in a familiar city. Luggage is left on the deck and the passengers are hustled out of their rooms as fast as can politely be allowed.

The Khatta finds himself up on the deck as the gangplank is lowered and bumped around by the passengers as they disembark.

Taking what little baggage he brought with him, Jynx makes his way down the gangplank with a yawn. He had only just begun to get comfortable when he was ushered out of his cabin, and his fellow passengers made less than desirable chatting partners. "Well, home sweet home," he mutters to himself, making his way towards the Bazaar.

A poodle catches the feline's eye. Looking bored at the world, he holds up a card that reads 'Feli Kurai'. Behind him is a rather impressive-looking carriage with eight Dromodons attached.

The Khatta blinks. "What? Who knew I was coming back? And for that matter, who in the Dagh would get me a chauffeur?" Curiosity peaked, the cat decides to make his way over to the carriage. "Um, hello."

"Yes… " the poodle drones. He eyes the Khatta up and down, still keeping his card up.

"I noticed you have a sign there for a Feli Kurai," continues Jynx. "Might I ask what you need him for?"

"He has a very important engagement." The poodle yawns. "I've been told to meet him here, give him breakfast, and get him ready for the celebration in his honor."

Hey, breakfast sounds nice! "Well, since you're not going to flush me or skin me or anything, I am that cat!" The cat grins.

The poodle's eyes widen. "Really? Hmp… They told me that you types were eccentric… bah." The poodle lowers his card and opens up a door in the stretched carriage. "Please step in." The smell of Bromthen ham, eggs, toast, and several other assorted breakfast delicacies waft past the Khatta's nose from inside.

Eccentric? First time I've been called that! thinks Jynx as he follows his nose inside the carriage. "Oh, by the way, who's doing all this? I mean, Dom couldn't afford all this stuff."

The inside of the carriage is plush and comfortable. The inside could very well be a cabin! There's even a small washbasin in case Jynx wanted to clean himself up… and hanging next to one of the plush seats is a beautifully embroidered suit. It looks like something a prince would wear and even comes with a flashy sword.

"You don't know??" The poodle shakes his head and hops into the driver's seat. "The Duchess of course. Goodness… people these days."

"Just hurry up and eat and then get cleaned up and changed. You look a fright," the poodle yaps. He then whistles to the Dromodons.

"Duchess?" Jynx asks confusedly. Shrugging, the feline buries the thought for now, and gets the rest of the way inside the carriage. Blinking at the poodle as he closes the door, the cat digs into the grub, which is much better fare than the slop they served on the airship. After having his fill, he uses the washbasin to clean his face, then changes into the suit. It's a bit too flashy for his taste, but its much better than the rags he had on.

The ride is smooth as silk as the Khatta is taken past the familiar sights of Rephidim. The sounds of the Bazaar fill his ears (as well as the squealing of its patrons rushing to get out of the way of the carriage). The sounds fade out as the ride goes through the Scholar's Quarter… and finally stops in front of what Feli remembers to be Alysin's Auction House. Oddly, the carriage stops at the back instead of the front.

The carriage rocks just a bit as the poodle hops off. The door opens and a Calico Kattha and a red-furred Lapi grin in at Jynx. "Ohhh! You're here!" the Kattha squeals. The Lapi bounces on her heels.

Jynx peers his head out the window of the carriage. It's been a while since he was here last. He steps out of the door, and blinks at the other feline and the rabbit. "Ummm, yes, it's me." He scratches his head, "Er… no disrespect, but… do I know you?"

"Isn't he silly!" the Lapi giggles and elbows her friend. The Kattha grabs Jynx's arm and pulls him towards a door in the back of the building. "Of course you don't… I'm just here to make sure you look all nice and spiffy for your entrance!"

"His fur's a bit short," the Lapi comments. "I bet it wouldn't take a perm very well. Oh well, we'll just make sue with what we have. I'm sure that black fur would just glow with the right oils!"

The black feline begins to protest as he is dragged along, but the utter confusion of the situation blocks the words. "Entrance? Perm?! Hey, wait – What are you two talking about?"

The Lapi grabs Jynx's other arm while the Kattha chatters on. "Don't mind Mora, sweetie," she purrs. "We just need to get you spiffed up a bit. Can't have you all scraggly for the Duchess' big thing. It'll be painless, I promise." She winks and pushes the door open.

Dumbfounded, Jynx can do nothing but be pulled along with the two females. "Duchess who? Why won't someone tell me what's going on??"

The Khatta is shoves off in a small room and plopped down in a seat. "Isn't he cute?" The Lapi giggles and drapes a towel around Jynx's shoulder. "The Duchess is… well… the Duchess! As for what's going on… you're Feli Kurai, and there's going to be a big thing for you later on. You're the star here, after all."

Jynx falls back heavily into the chair, falling painfully on his tail with a wince as the towel is put around him. "S-star? Big thing?" The feline shakes his head, trying to sort all this out. "It seems like everyone but me knows what this is!"

The Kattha puts a finger to Jynx's lips. "Now now… you should save your voice. Just sit still while I give you a trim and a shampoo, and then Mora here will take care of the finishing touches." She walks behind the Khatta and tilts the seat back. Something warm and sweet smelling is poured on Jynx's head which the feline hairdresser massages in… gee… it kinda feels nice…

The black Khatta sets his ears back to keep the liquid from going inside them, and grimaces in confusion. He relaxes a bit as his head-fur is massaged, and reluctantly goes along with all the pampering quietly.

The Kattha (whose name turns out to be Thela) continues scrubbing Jynx's fur, chatting about various bits of gossip like the crazy Babelite ambassador who knocked down some monuments in the Old City and the big bash that the Baron had at the Shiny Shoppe a week or so ago. Mora keeps herself occupied by filing away at Jynx's claws and painting them over with a clear resin polish to keep them from cracking or chipping.

At the end of the whole treatment, Jynx's fur glows like polished obsidian. His claws are sharp as diamonds and even his teeth have been whitened. His fur is perfect and smells of summer herbs. It hardly even looks like him in the mirror anymore… more like a prince or a nobleman.

Jynx's fur stands up on end, regardless of the comfort. The whole situation strikes him as eerie. He just nods along with Thela's chattering, giving the occasional "uh-huh"'s and grunts of acknowledgment. When the process is done, he looks at himself wide-eyed in the mirror, jaw dropped. "Uhhh… it's-it's… nice… "

Both Thela and Mora squeal in delight. "You look like a Prince! No… a gallant knight! It's too bad we don't have any armor in the costume department or… " There's a knock at the door and a Kujaku pokes his head in.

"You done with Feli yet? He's due in five," the Kujaku twitters. From behind him, music can be heard rumbling through the halls.

The black Khatta tries to swivel his head in the chair to look at the peacock. Music?

It sounds like an orchestra playing a deep dramatic tune. The drumbeats make the walls tremble. "We're done with him, Kree," Thela purrs and then helps Jynx out of the chair. "Ohhh… I wish I were you. All that attention… the spotlight… ohhh!" She gives Jynx's head-fur a bit of last minute preening and then pushes him towards the Kujaku.

Jynx stumbles forward towards the door, the look of confusion never leaving his face. "Y-you mean I have to go o-out there?" His eyes go wide at the Kujaku and the open door.

Kree rolls his eyes. "What, did you think the party was gonna come to you? C'mon… we need to get you out in time." He gestures over his shoulder with a thumb and then adjusts the black-tinted glasses perched on his beak.

Tail twitching nervously from side to side, the black Khatta timidly paces forward and out the door, heading for the spot the Kujaku motions to. "Wh-what do I have t-to do?"

"You're supposed to rub your head and dance a ballet. Good Dagh!" Kree shoves Jynx down the hall and up to a platform with a curtain on one side. "Just stand here and wait!"

The music is much louder now; it sounds like it's just on the other side of the curtain.

Jynx gives a small instinctual hiss as he is shoved, but does as the peacock says, waiting behind the curtain.

The Kujaku storms off, grumbling, "You'd think they'd wait until after the curtain rises before they went into character."

Character? Jynx sighs, and just waits nervously, his tail thrashing about wildly. Tired of waiting, he ventures a small peek outside of the curtain. Just what is going on here?

Outside, the music quiets a bit but a new voice takes its place. "Ladies and Gentlemen… Alysin's Performance Hall is proud to present Duchess Kurai's masterpiece: The Adventures of Feli Kurai! A tale of bravery and heroism!" The curtain zips up, smacking Jynx on the noise and the orchestra starts up again.

Outside is a full audience… all of them staring at Jynx.

Jynx zips his head back in quickly, his heart pounding wildly and eyes wide. "O-okay… " He backs away from the curtain, wishing to the Star he knew what was going on.

The applause fades a bit and the announcer starts up again. "Our adventures start in the City of Rephidim where our hero, the brave and heroic Feli Kurai,decided to rid the Rephidim sewers of the ferocious monsters inhabiting its depths!" The curtains part in front of Jynx, leaving him wide open for the audience to see. Wooden cut-outs slide out in front of him and then slide back and forth, looking like a silly water effect. On either side of the stage, a pair of rubber monstrosities pop out and wave their tentacles at Jynx, hissing and growling.

"Pssst! Pssst!" comes a voice near Jynx's feet.

Jynx's heart races, unprepared to be suddenly facing an audience full of people. His ears swivel as he hears the sounds of someone trying to get his attention, and he looks down to the source.

A Titanian head peeks out from a concealed spot on the stage where the audience can't seen. "This part where you hit monsters with a hammer! Uh… I mean… where you slay them with your sword!"

The rubber monsters advance upon Jynx, waving their tentacles in the air. One of the monsters has a fox's tail sticking out the back for some odd reason.

The Khatta just blinks at the shaggy wolf, then looks up at the strange rubber monsters. Rooted at the spot for a few agonizing seconds, he pulls out the costume sword, and half-heartedly waves it at the rubber-suited antagonists.

The monsters seem amazingly easy to dispatch. Whenever he taps one of the flailing tentacles it drops off as though it had been severed. When he finally hits the bulk of one of the creatures it falls over, remaining tentacles sticking straight up in the air.

"But the spirit of adventure still boiled in Feli's blood… so he continued on to the Underside and did his part for the war against the Babelites!"

Jynx gives a lopsided smirk as the fake monsters are taken care of, then blinks once again as the voice starts back up. He peers around like an idiot, searching for the source.

The 'water' is hastily pulled back and the 'monsters' retreat. A new backdrop falls down, this one painted in an airship scene and several barrels labeled 'DANGER!!!' 'TNT!!!' and 'EXPLOSIVE!' are pushed out onto the stage.

The Khatta spins around and stares at the backdrop. How does this person know all about his adventures?

"This is where you hit monsters with hammer… I mean… you shout, 'Come out cowards and face a true hero!'" the Titanian whispers.

Shaking his head, still not sure of all this, Jynx does as he is told. "Uh… C-come out cowards and… face a true hero!?" He shouts with a stammer. Funny, he doesn't remember ever saying that.

Several painted Khattas walk out onto the stage. They've been made up to look like Savanites but Jynx has seen enough of them to know that these guys are not real Savanites. Black masks adorn their faces and they wear the Babelite 'eye' prominently on their clothes. The cats hiss and growl. One of them raises his hands and signs menacingly, "Where is the bathroom!"

"Now hit them with your hammer! I mean … your sword!" the Titanian whispers.

Jynx snerks, just barely catching himself from laughing out loud. With another sigh and grin, he swings at the faux spotty cats, trying to do it with style this time. Might as well go with the flow!

The sword connects! Hmm… it seems to be made of something soft as the blade bends just enough to not do any damage. Still, the first spotty cat he hits goes down, clutching his chest. Two more go down with his next swing. One of the cats looks wary and signs, "Flower… blue sunset on the Dromodon!" The other 'Savanites' nod and leap for Jynx!

The black feline acks, and swings his fake weapon wildly, flailing his claws out as well. The audience is all but forgotten as the feline gets into the mood.

One of Jynx's claw-swipes connect, causing a hiss from the spotted cat who falls at Jynx's feet. The rest of them 'die' equally as dramatically until only one is left standing. He hops up on one of the crates and growls.

One of the 'dead' Savanites at Jynx's feet whispers up, "Watch the claws, bub… or you'll hear from my lawyers next time." His head promptly drops back down and he lolls his tongue out, playing 'dead' yet again.

Jynx springs at the last feline, slashing his sword at the spottycat's side. He's startles a bit as the fallen actor whispers up to him, bringing his mind back to where he actually is. Once again, his heart starts to pound wildly as the crowd becomes a factor.

"The evil Babelite Savanite leader decided to kill himself rather than fall at the hand of the great Feli… so he chose to BLOW HIMSELF UP instead!" comes a voice from somewhere above. The various barrels and boxes start issuing forth smoke and rumbling.

Jynx blinks? Evil Savanite leader? The Khatta's hands fall to his sides in confusion, and he just watches the actor, keeping an ear towards the Titanian.

Soon the smoke fills Jynx's vision. It's not choking, thankfully, just blinding. The announcer continues on, "But the heroic Feli was too brave to die! He escaped and thus saved Rephidim from the Babelites. From there his journeys took him to the Savan… where he battled evil forest monsters and killer plants!"

The smoke clears and a new set has erected itself somehow: a green backdrop with lots of leafy plants here and there. Something that looks like a moth-eaten purple Bromthen forest-hog trundles onto the stage and charges at Jynx!

"Hit it with your hammer! I mean… uh… oh darn… Gnarr can no find right card!" the Titanian growls.

The Khatta blinks back tears as the smoke fills his vision, trying to wave it away. He does a double take at the strange Bromthen hog, and swings his false sword at it clumsily. "I think I get the gist!" he whispers to the wolf.

Perhaps this strategy doesn't work as well. The hog bowls Jynx over as it runs across the stage. It stops before it reaches the other side, turns around and seems to be preparing for another rush.

"Darn… where is that card. OH! Gnarr find it! You supposed to say 'Ouch! I am wounded!' and clutch you side. Then leap on it when it attack you next and break hog's neck."

"OOF!" protests Jynx as he is knocked to the floor. "What the… ?" He staggers back up to his feet, and turns to face the beast. The Khatta blinks, "Gnarr? That's you?" He paces backwards from the hog, doing as the Titanian says when he notices the crowd again. "Ow, I am… wounded… " He clutches his side nearly unconvincingly, and prepares for the next rush. When is this gonna be over anyway?

The 'hog' (since when did hogs have fox tails?) rushes at Jynx a second time, this time much slower and much more noisy. It limps a bit… Perhaps it's 'wounded' as well.

Several people in the audience 'ooooooooh!' at the spectacle of Khatta vs. hog.

Crouching down over-dramatically, the black Khatta leaps onto the fox – er, hog's back, and grabs at its neck, although gently. "Okay," he whispers, "I think this is where you die… or something… "

Obligingly, the hog falls over. Its red bushy tail sticks straight up. "Oink!" it gasps and then lies still.

Jynx stands up from the fallen costumed fox, and forces a look of triumph. If anyone was looking at his tail though, they'd see that his nervousness was running rampant.

The people in the audience applaud! "Our hero went on many more adventures… but that is a story to be told after the intermission. Part Two will begin after the banquet… "

"Hit it with a hammer! I mean… bow!" Gnarr whispers.

After a looks of hesitation, the Khatta gives a nervous bow, then slowly starts to back away off stage, eager to flee from the watching eyes of the audience.

The curtain drops and the applause fades out, to be replaced by a soft tinny melody from the orchestra. Gnarr's head vanishes from his hidey-hole, although his pounding footsteps can be heard underneath the stage. He pops out from behind the backdrop. "You do good! Is most convincing Feli actor we have… Gnarr never see anyone duplicate that confused look he always has so well… "

Jynx just stares at the Titanian. Is he really that dense? "Gnarr, it's me! Feli! The real Feli!" He throws his paws up wildly, "I'm Jynx! Now what in the name of the Star is going on here? And who is Duchess Kurai??"

Gnarr pats Jynx on the head. "Suuuuuure you are. You can stop acting now, is break-time. You want donut?"

The black Khatta rolls his eyes, "Gnarr, you moron! I'm not joking! He sets his ears back angrily at the Titanian, "Don't you even recognize me? And answer me, who is the Duchess? NOW!"

The 'hog' rights itself and a fox shakes his fur out. "They promised me a starring dramatic role! Still… I suppose it's better than playing a tree like last time." The fox grabs his costume and drags it off the stage.

Jynx blinks at the hog, but quickly turns his head back to stare angrily at the shaggy wolf.

Gnarr scratches his head. "You no actor we hired? Wow… " He shrugs. "Duchess Eve Kurai. After crazy Khatta Alysin die, she leave all sorts of stuff to people; left her title, house, and other stuff to Eve. I think she gots some things for you too."

The Khatta freezes. "Eve? A… house?" His jaw drops yet again, "You're kidding me? Wh-why did Alysin leave us all that stuff? I didn't even know her… "

"That cause she all crazy and cooped up in crazy house in Old City!" Gnarr laughs and whops Jynx's back. "She you aunt I thinks."

"My aunt?" Jynx scratches his head, brow furrowed in confusion. "Well… you say Eve wrote this? Is she here anywhere?"

Kree wanders back onto the stage. "That went as well as can be expected with union types." He adjusts his glasses and peers at his clipboard. "Okay, you have half an hour for munchies and mingling if you're up to it… and then you have the big scene where you ride a dragon to the stars to visit the magical princess in her castle." He eyes Jynx, "You are insured, aren't you?"

The Titanian nods! "She getting ready for next scene! Gnarr do her makeup himself!"

Jynx crosses his arms, and glares at the Kujaku and Titanian. "Take me to Eve, now!"

The Kujaku sputters, "I have to supervise the next set before intermission's over." He elbows the wolf, "You do it… Just make sure our star doesn't get his fur messed up!"

Gnarr whines.

"I don't care what she's calling herself now; I want to see her and get some answers!" He looks up at the Titanian, "Gnarr, take me to her, now!"

One of the 'Savanites' walks by, munching on a pastry. "Hmmp. Can't even find sugarfur-filled these days… just bugs bugs bugs… "

Gnarr's ears droop pitifully and he nods. "This way." He heads across the stage, tail between his legs.

Jynx follows behind Gnarr, the look of anger replaced by a look of frustration. "You're telling me that she financed all this, and wrote a stupid cheesy play about my life? I don't believe it!"

The Titanian walks past several actors in glittery costumes, some of them dressed like happy fish or stars. "Well, Alysin willed her auction house to little sister. It inspire her to write play for when she open it." He nudges by a foppish fox playing a lute and stops at a bright pink door with a heart-shaped knob.

"Well, I guess it's not the strangest thing she's ever done," the Khatta mutters. He stops at the pink door, and motions to it. "This her room?"

Gnarr nods. Inside Jynx can hear all sorts of chattering and giggling. The smell of flowers is rather strong as well. "Want Gnarr to knock?"

Jynx shrugs. "Knock yourself out." He cocks an ear towards the door, listening as best he can to the girlish gibbering.

The Titanian obligingly raps a knuckle on the pink wood. "Duuuuchess, Gnarr gots visitor for you." There's some giggling, and then the door creaks open. A familiar white-furred face peeks out.

"Who… FELI!!!!!!" Eve squeals and leaps at Jynx!

"Gack!" Jynx just barely maintains his balance as his little sister throws herself upon him. "Ack, Eve… Okay okay, good too see you too!" He tries to put the kitten down, since she seems a bit bigger than the last time he saw her. "Now, what's going on here?"

The kitten continues to cling to Jynx as tightly as she can. "You came! Ohh! I missed you! When Auntie Alysin died and I started having dreams about you I decided to write a play so everyone could see how much of a hero my big brother was! I knew you'd make it for the opening!" She's dressed in a perfect twin of the outfit Jynx remembers from her dream, right down to the bows on her fingers. "I've got a cool new house now and I've been watching over the inheritance that Auntie left for you… and… and… I'm a duchess now!"

"Duchess, huh?" The Khatta grimaces. "Well, it seems like I'm more than here for the opening; they think I'm the actor!" He sighs. "And you have a house of your own now? What about Mom and Dad? And how were we related to crazy old Alysin?" Many questions does the Khatta ask.

"They didn't wanna talk about it too much… Mama said something about craziness not being on her side of the family or something like that." Eve grins. "Do you wanna see my house after the play's over? Maybe you can come and live with me since Mama and Papa kicked you out of their place!"

Related to Dominic? Well, that explains the insanity part. "Sure, you can show me – WHAT?" The Khatta blinks, not sure he just heard what he did, "Kicked me out? What do you mean?"

"Or maybe you could live in the castle Auntie left you in Sylvania! I hear it has a cool basement." The kitten fluffs her hair, causing her numerous bows to rustle. "Daddy said that if you had time to gallivant around Sinai then you're big enough to live on your own now… or something like that."

"Ten minutes everybody!" Kree shouts from the stage. "Showtime in ten minutes!"

Jynx purses his lips, his anger apparent from the red tint of his ears. The color soon goes away at the mention of the inheritance. "C-castle? In Sylvania? She left me that?" He barely even hears the Kujaku, just staring in bewilderment at his little sister.

"And big pile of metal too! Gnarr keep them safe for black Khatta while he away!" Gnarr barks happily, his tail wagging.

Eve pats Jynx on the arm. "You kin stay with me… as long as you help Gnarr with housework."

The black Khatta leans against the door frame, clutching a paw to his head in disbelief. "I… I… "

The kitten tugs Jynx's arm. "C'mon! I need to make my big entrance. Then we can have lunch. Gnarr got Bromthen Heaven to cater the party afterwards, and I need to tell you about the really neat dream I had about you in a dress and some bat lady that talked to my fishies!"

Jynx just dazedly follows along with the kitten, still trying to absorb all that he has been told. "Yeah… Bromthens taste good… " He doesn't even hear the part about the degrading dream.