Flickerella: chapter 2

Felicity's boots squashed as she descended down the stairs with Alvin and Simon following to find the new chipmunk in the house. There were other chipmunks, such as Jeanette and Brittany over the chipmunk trap Madame Medusa set up.

"Now, now," Felicity called as she met with the animals. "Calm down, everybody." she then looked to see a chubby chipmunk with green eyes, looking frightened inside the trap. "Oh, the poor thing looks scared to death, Alvin, you go in there and make him feel welcome and safe."

"Righty-o, Flick!" Alvin saluted and dashed inside the trap while the younger chipmunk stood back in fear. Alvin went inside and stood next to the shorter, chubbier chipmunk. "Now, now, listen dude, no one's going to hurt you."

The other chipmunk looked disturbed and he was about to punch Alvin. The red clothed chipmunk took his paw and set it down to calm him down.

"Now, calm down, no one's gonna hurt you," Alvin pointed to the other chipmunks and Felicity. "We're your friends, and so is she."

The younger chipmunk calmed down and saw that Felicity seemed friendly and loving. He then smiled at Alvin and at Felicity.

"There you go, buddy," Alvin smiled and took his paw. "Now, come with me." Both chipmunks then walked out the cage.

"Well, that's better," Felicity smiled and took out the green sweater she had for the new chipmunk. "Let's just slip this on for size." Felicity slid on the green sweater and it was a little tight on him, but still comfortable. "It's a little snug, but you'll learn to love it. "Now, you'll need a name... I think we'll call you, Theodore."

"Do you like that name?" Alvin asked the newly named chipmunk.

"Mm-hmm." Theodore nodded with a smile.

"Now, I got to hurry," Felicity went to the stairs. "Alvin, Simon, keep Theodore out of trouble. And don't forget to tell him about Tom." she was now out of sight, ready to tackle on her day.

Alvin nodded and turned to Theodore with Simon.

"Tell me, my new brother, have you heard of Tom?" Simon asked, pushing his glasses back.

"Uh, T-T-Tom?" Theodore asked, nervously.

"Yes, Tom," Alvin replied, then got on all fours and made cat hisses. "Mean! Sneaky! He's big as a house!"

Alvin's foolish playing of Tom made Theodore afraid. He then quickly hid behind the stairs.

"So, you get the idea?" Alvin asked.

"Uh, yes..." Theodore replied in a frightened tone.

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Meanwhile Felicity was walking down the halls and opened the curtains to one of the big windows, letting in the sunlight. The sunlight made her cringe a little, but it was better than being kept completely in the dark. Inside the room with her, she was not alone. Inside with her was a blue-gray cat with a white muzzle, black button nose with whiskers, yellow eyes with green iris, white paws and a white tail tip. He was asleep and curled up in a ball on a purple pillow. He was Tom Cat. Tom suddenly woke up and looked at Felicity.

"Here, kitty, kitty." Felicity whispered to him.

Tom yawned as his response.

"Come, kitty, come on." Felicity tried to get his attention.

Tom turned over in his sleep.

"TOM, COME HERE!" Felicity yelled, sharply.

Tom this time heard it and unwillingly woke up. He crawled from his pillow and walked over to Felicity. He looked very cross with Felicity since he had been sleeping.

"I'm sorry if Your Highness doesn't like to have an early breakfast," Felicity walked up the stairs, unbeknownst to her, Alvin, Simon and Theodore were sneaking along. Tom glared at them as he followed Felicity to start breakfast. "It's certinately not my idea of having you to be fed first, but orders are orders, now come on!"

"Is that Tom?" Theodore asked.

"Yep," Alvin told him. "That's Tom."

Theodore laughed at Tom, since he had never seen a cat up close before. "I can show that cat a thing or two!" he put up his paws like a boxer about to meet his next match.

"No, no, no," Simon stopped him. "He may look funny, but looks can be deceiving, my friend."

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Meanwhile, Tom and Felicity were in the kitchen and there was a bull-dog with gray fur, a red spiked collar and white muzzle. His name was Spike.

"Spike?" Felicity called as she walked over to her old family dog. "Spike!"

Spike bit on the rug, but settled down and woke up. He smiled to see Felicity, but glared at Tom.

"Dreaming about chasing Tom?" Felicity asked.

Spike nodded.

"Got him this time?" Felicity asked.

Spike nodded.

"That's bad." Felicity scolded.

Spike was shocked Felicity would think that since Tom was a bad cat. He hung his head as Tom snickered evilly at the old bull dog.

"What if they heard you upstairs?" Felicity asked as she grabbed a teapot and placed a few teacups on a breakfast tray. "You know, there are orders. So, if you want to stay in your nice, warm, bed, you got to get rid of these dreams. Do you know how?"

Spike shook his head.

"Just learn to like Tom." Felicity shrugged.

Tom walked right in and Spike growled at him.

"No, I mean, it. Tom has good points too. For example, he..." Felicity paused to think. "Well, sometimes, he... Well, there must be something good about him."

Tom glared at the orphaned girl. Spike couldn't help but laugh. Tom glared at the dog then, and hatched an idea. He went over to scratch Spike on the face, which caused the bull-dog to growl at him and Tom let out a weak meow to show he was falsely injured.

"Spike!" Felicity went out to drag the bull-dog outside. "Oh, Spike, let's go outside, I know it's hard for you, but you should try to get along." she then handed Tom his saucer of milk and stared at him hard. "And that includes you, your Majesty!"

Tom glared at Felicity as she grabbed corn to feed the animals outside the house.

"Breakfast time! Everybody up! Hurry!" Felicity shouted to the animals as Alvin, Simon and Theodore followed. "Come on, everybody! Breakfast!"

"Come on, guys, it's breakfast time!" Alvin exclaimed as he scampered out with the others.

"Breakfast, oh breakfast!" Theodore was thrilled.

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The chipmunks tried to gather remaining corn grains, but nearly got hurt from the hungry roosters and chickens such as Chanticleer, Chicken, Spot and Cordelia. Felicity spread corn grains all over the ground for the animals for their breakfast before she would attend elsewhere. Alvin and Simon stopped at points, trying to help Theodore since he was new, of course. Felicity then spotted the chipmunks and gave them their own breakfast of corn grains and gave the biggest one to Theodore as he looked very hungry and unhappy.

Alvin and Simon then decided to sneak past Tom to get what they wanted. They had their corn grains and they knew if Tom knew they were coming by, they wouldn't have a chance to get away. They all then got away okay, despite issues with Tom and they all made it out alive. Theodore was now in the kitchen, hiding behind a cup. Tom lifted the cup and trapped the chubby chipmunk and was about to lift it back up and eat him, but then the bell rang.

"Felicity!" a voice yelled.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming!" Felicity yelled back. "Sheesh, morning, noon, and night..."

Tom ducked down and went back to the cups to get his proper meal of chipmunk. He picked up a couple of cups out of three, but saw no Theodore. He was about to lift the last one, until Felicity came back and he went back to hide. Felicity poured hot water in the cubs and balanced kitchen ware as she traveled upstairs to her family to serve them, just as she had done since her father died. Tom kept a close sharp eye on the cups so he could capture Theodore. Felicity entered a bedroom and Tom snatched one of the cups, only to not find Theodore and placed his ear on the door while Felicity went in to serve one of her step-sisters.

"Good morning, Darla, sleep well?" Felicity asked.

"Hmph! Like you care!" Darla snapped from inside the room. "Take those clothes, then iron them and have it done in an hour, one hour, you hear?"

"Yes, Darla." Felicity walked out, carrying a basket of pink clothes.

Tom looked in, but then the door slammed on his nose, causing him great pain. He then followed Felicity to the next room.

"Good morning, Victoria." Felicity greeted.

"Well, it's about time!" Victoria snapped. "Don't forget the mending and don't take all day getting it done either."

"Yes, Victoria."

Felicity walked out again and Tom got his nose hit again, much to his misfortune. The eight and a half year old girl then made her way to the final room.

"Well, come in, child, come in!" Madame Medusa called from inside her room.

"Good morning, step-mother," Felicity walked in the room and Tom was once again left out.

"Pick up the laundry and get on with your duties." Medusa ordered.

"Yes, step-mother." Felicity agreed, unwillingly, then walked out and closed the door on Tom's face. Felicity held more clothes and was on her way downstairs.

Tom felt very unlucky and grumbled into the floor. His eyes then lit up as he heard a scream from Victoria's room. Theodore went out the room and was then captured by Tom.

"Mother, oh Mother!" Victoria shouted as she came out of her room. Victoria had long golden blonde hair in braids, blue ribbon earrings, and wore a pink night-gown. Victoria then saw Felicity and looked very angered with her. "You did this on purpose! You did this on purpose! Oh, Mother! Mother! Mother!" she ran into Medusa's room.

"What did you do?" Darla snapped at Victoria. Darla had curly blonde hair with pale skin, a button nose, blue eyes and right now had a red, fluffy sleep mask over her forehead, and wore a mauve night-gown. Darla didn't even bother to hear Felicity's side of the story and went with Victoria to Medusa's room.

"She put it right there!" Victoria cried. "A wretched little mouse under my teacup!"

Felicity gasped and turned to Tom in an accusing face. "Alright Tom, what did you do with him?" she asked.

Tom showed his hands, showing no Theodore.

"Oh, you're not fooling anybody," Felicity picked him up by his neck fur. "We'll just see about this, come on, let him go."

Tom lifted up one of his feet.

"No, the other one, come on."

Tom lifted up his other foot to show Theodore curled up in a ball, shivering for his life.

"Oh, you poor little thing." Felicity cooed at Theodore.

Theodore looked up and ran off to his own business and Tom just glared at him.

"Geez Tom, will you ever learn?" Felicity sighed.

"Felicity!" Medusa's voice rang around the house.

"Yes, step-mother," Felicity walked toward the room with Darla and Victoria following.

"Are you gonna get it?" Victoria asked.

"Close the door, Felicity." Medusa demanded.

Felicity closed the door as told, leaving her step-sisters excluded. Darla shoved Victoria to look through the keyhole. Victoria shoved her right back. They both then leaned in to look through the keyhole to Medusa's room.

In Medusa's room, Felicity stood from her stepmother's bed. Inside the bed there was a woman with scarlet colored hair, aqua colored eyes, ruby-red lips, and her hair was up with a cotton white towel, a frilly pink night-gown. This was of course, Madame Medusa.

"Oh, please, you don't think-" Felicity was cut short.

"Hold your tongue!" Medusa told her, sharply.

Felicity closed her mouth.

"Now, it seems we have time on our hands..."

"But I was trying to-"

"Silence!" Medusa snapped as Felicity tried to explain. "Now, the time for practical jokes has come to an end. Perhaps we could put it to better use. Now, let me see, there's a large carpet in the main hall, clean it! And the windows upstairs and down, wash them! Oh yes, and the tapestries and the dapestries-"

"But, I just-"

"Do it again! And don't forget the garden, scrub the terrace, sweep the hall on the stairs, clean the chimneys, and of course, there's mending, the sewing, and the laundry-"

Tom looked at her with a smirk.

"Oh yes, one more thing," Medusa concluded. "See that Tom gets his bath."

Tom looked shocked, and glowered at her slightly.