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“Well Gibbs, we’ve really gotten ourselves into a pickle this time.” Tony murmured to the panther cub in his shirt.
Tony had to admit that they hadn't planned for this contingency. If anyone was going to turn into a cat on this journey and get stuck like that it was more likely to be Tony. He wondered if this is how Gibbs felt when Tony was stuck in kitten form.
Despite the propinquity of Gibbs both physically and through the bond, Tony felt adrift. Rupert's declaration that the old lady cat was the only one who could help them return Gibbs to normal, definitely didn't help Tony's state of mind any. He knew he needed to go see her, but venturing alone was just asking for trouble.
This would be so much easier if Gibbs would just change back. Tony still didn’t understand how Gibbs had even turned into a panther cub. Did the bond give him the ability to use Tony’s powers?
If so, Gibbs was going to be stuck in that form for a while. Tony’s powers weren’t the easiest to control as proven by Tony himself getting stuck as a kitten and starting this whole mess. Well, at least, dragging everyone else into this mess.
He considered returning to the human world and hoping that Abby could figure something out, but with Gibbs like this they definitely weren’t ready for Senior or Ziva or Jenny. If any of them figured out they were vulnerable, they’d be in for a world of trouble. He could take someone from the Cat Kingdom, but he didn’t really know any of them and had no idea how they’d be if they encountered trouble on the journey.
Well there was nothing for it. He’d have to venture out the old cat lady by himself. Hopefully, Gibbs would be smart enough to stay with Tony. “Rupert, help me with these packs, would you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Gibbs hissed as one of the packs was placed on Tony’s chest right where he’d been planning to sleep.
“I know. I’m sorry. You can ride in my pocket or on my shoulder instead.”
Gibbs had already scrambled up to Tony’s shoulder, but he still hissed at that suggestion. Tony sighed. He hadn’t meant to upset Gibbs, but it was the only way he could reasonably carry 2 packs.
As it was, it would be a struggle to put both packs on again whenever they stopped since it was definitely easier to do with help. He’d manage somehow, though. Tony tried to pet Gibbs to calm him down and comfort him, but that only made Gibbs hiss more.
Tony sighed and started down the hallway that would eventually lead him to outside Sammy’s or his castle and hopefully eventually to the old lady’s castle. Without Gibbs’ help, Tony knew he would be stopping a lot more. He just hoped that this journey wouldn’t be fraught with danger.
Though if this really was a quest that they were supposed to undertake as part of the prophecy, he doubted that he’d get that lucky. What had that first Cat King prophecy said? Seek the wise one when you are ready for your journey?
They’d all assumed that meant Ducky, but what if the wise one was actually this old lady cat? What did that mean for the other prophecies? Was there a wise one and a wise man?
Tony shook his head in frustration. He was beginning to think the prophecies were more hindrance than help. Maybe if they had some monks that had been studying them for years they’d better understand them.
On the other hand, just look at religion in the human world. So many people studied the same books and yet their interpretations of them were vastly different, so that probably wouldn’t have helped anyway. Tony blinked in shock. He hadn’t even made it out of the Cat King’s castle and he already had an obstacle to face.
“Take me with you, Your Majesty.”
“No me. Take me.”
“What is all this?” Tony stared at the sea of cats begging him to take them with him.
Sammy appeared just then, “I’m sorry about this, Your Majesty. They all heard about your journey and want to help you out. I’ll get rid of them for you.”
“No. It’s ok, but I can’t take any of them.”
The entire room of cats drooped, including Sammy. “You can’t?”
“No. I’m sorry. I don’t know what we’ll encounter in the forest and desert and having someone along that I can’t predict how they’ll react will be worse than going alone.”
“But won’t you have time to get to know them on the way?”
“I’m sorry. I wish it would, but the first encounter could spell disaster for both of us if we don’t know how each other will move and react to a situation. I have to do this on my own.”
Sammy frowned. “I understand, but I wish it wasn’t that way.” She then turned to the gathered cats, “Well everyone. You heard his majesty. Let’s give him a good send off.”
The crowd cheered and parted, forming a path for Tony to walk down. He was sure he made quite a sight with a backpack on his back and one on his chest and a panther cub on his shoulder, but no one commented. In fact, all they did was cheer as he walked down past them.
He guessed being King wasn’t all bad, but still he knew it would be better for everyone if Sammy became the King in name and deed. Honestly, he’d like to take Sammy along and teach her some of his moves, but someone needed to run the kingdom and it definitely wasn’t going to be him. He just hoped that nothing bad happened.
He’d hate for all of these cats to end up dead because of him. Finally, the castle door was in sight. A few of the cats towards the end of the line pushed the door open for him and he stepped through, turning to wave goodbye to all of the cats before he started on his journey.
They jauntily waved back and called, “Good luck, Your Majesty! Have a safe trip. Come back again soon!”