Mexico City, Modern Day.

The fight had been fierce, starting with the “I don't see you, so you don't exist”, then the “I stare at you to show dominance”, then the “I have eaten your food, what are you going to do about it”; and now he felt the crushing loss of defeat, as he had lost all three and been driven to attack. He had won that part of the battle, at least, even with the loss of the eye, but next time he wouldn't be so lucky.

As much as he was able, he was still just a cat, and he thought as a cat. Food, shelter, territory, mates. These are what is important in life. He had lost all of them. It was time to move on. His life had been long, as far as a street cat's life could go, he was near the end at almost 6 years. If it wasn't from poison, disease, larger predators, or vehicles, he would still die of malnutrition.

The wounds from the last fight were still fresh but had scabbed over, and so, he lay in His sunbeam. It was warm on his old, and well scarred skin, better, it felt good. He eventually rolled over, and bathed his other side for a while, but not too long, as the sun did weird things to the shredded eye on that side of his head.

Eventually he stood, and stretched, one of those comforting full body stretches that cats are know for the world over, and looked around. The new head tom on the block wasn't around, so he gingerly picked his way down the alley, and turned left.

Then EVERYTHING changed.

*-*-*

He looked around. Then he stared around. What was this? He crouched, hackles raised. Grass? Trees? He had seen neither since he was a kitten! He slunk along, towards the nearest line of trees, and fled into them. He calmed himself, licked at his patchy, dirty fur, and gave up. Then he heard it! The sound of a bird! A bird on the ground!

He crouched. Bird was tasty food. Not as good as scraps from the meat place, but better than food from the metal bins. He let his ears, then nose, lead him to the bird. It was small. It was in a puddle, near the edge of the trees, among some grass that had unquestionably been planted to allow predators to have cover.

He surreptitiously crept across the short grass, and hid amongst the tall stocks. His stiff tail twitched silently as his hind brain made the calculations. He sprang.

*-*-*

The small dove, looked about. It saw nothing but the lovely cool water it was bathing in. It was happy. Then, it was dead.

*-*-*

The elderly tom cat was, for the first time in ages, happy. The bird had tasted better than anything he had eaten before. It hadn't been quite enough to fill the stomach, but close. He lay in the sun speckled grass near the trees, and slept.

*-*-*

He arose from his slumber, and stretched... His tail wasn't stiff?!? That was odd. Welcome, but odd. He looked around, and spotted the puddle. He lazed over to it, and looked down. It was clear, and reflective. He could see the scars on his face, the healed eye-socket, the gray/white of his fur, the blue of the sky, and white of the clouds.

Blue...Blue? What is this? He thought, I can only see in shades of gray! What is Gray? Why can I think? What in the great Purr is going on?!? He shook his head and took a drink from the puddle. I am cat. These things are beneath me. I will not worry overlong about them. He went about his day.

*-*-*

The shadows were long, as Mr. Mouse took his stroll down the side of the building full of grain. It had been a good day. He was happy. Right up till the moment the thing of horror and nightmares had come around the corner. Scars of battle covered it, and where they weren't, it had fluffy gray and white fur. It only had one eye! And it was made of tooth and claw.

Mr. Mouse dumped pellets on the ground. His hind brain screamed. He shook. The thing was grace incarnate! It looked at him and Smiled.

*-*-*

The fat little mouse had been a tasty treat, but the cane it had been using? Not so much. He felt kind of bad for eating the little fellow, but it hadn't said anything, so it was fair game. It didn't matter, what was done was done. He stuck his tail in the air and walked on. This will be MY new kingdom.

Over the course of the evening he hunted and napped in turns. Rabbit and squirrel were tasty, fish was better, but required more work. Bird was good. Boar was dangerous. He decided to avoid the boar in the future. He marked his territory, and generally enjoyed himself.

Then it came calling...

*-*-*

“Look you little fluff ball, These are My people you have been eating.” A very angry goat eyed a somewhat worried cat. “You keep it up, and we will have more than words.”

“And why should I listen to some jumped up farm dweller?” The cat asked. And the goat changed. Not much, just slightly, but he changed. “...Okay...How about if they don't talk back? Can I eat them then?”

The goat changed back, “I can accept that. If they don't respond, you may eat them.” He cocked his head a bit to the left, “How did you come here? Cats were intentionally excluded from the celestial realm. You are bad for the ecosystem.”

“Well, your ancient god of natur-”

“Don't. Never say what you were about to say.” The goat interrupted. “NEVER.”

“As you wish.” The cat swished his tail. So much for buttering him up. I think I will do what he says, otherwise things WILL get messy. And I don't think I would even come close to winning...When did I start to think in terms beyond base survival? This is weird. “I come from...another place? A place of black roads that soak up the sun. Where the air is dank, and poisoned. A place of humans and machines.”

“Oh, you come from the Other world.” The goat sighed. “Very well. Don't eat the talking ones. Stay hidden from the other gods. If you get caught, you are on your own.” The goat turned, and walked away.

*-*-*

“Maximilian? I think I saw a cat!” Narissa, goddess of tranquility, looked at her sometimes friend and lover.

“Really? Didn't you have them deliberately excluded?” Maximilian replied, tone light.

“Yes. They are anything but tranquil. I want you to hunt it down, and kill it!” Narissa said.

“Hmm... Very well, my little flower. But first, why? Why do you hate them so?”

“Don't worry your pretty little head about it. Just get rid of the damned thing.”

*-*-*

He had decided, at last, his name was Tom. Tom Cat, El Gato, King of the Celestial realm! Then the man came running at him.

He poofed his tail, and for effect, all the rest of the fur on his body. The man yelled at him, and charged. El Gato did what any respectable ruler would do. He jumped on the foolish mans head. He Clawed and bit him.

*-*-*

“That damn cat! He almost took out my eye!” Maximilian yelled. “He hurt me worse than Maxwell! These scratches will take forever to heal!!” He took a deep breath. “In My name, I will Kill that bastard cat!”

*-*-*

And so, the Götterdämmerung of El Gato the Great and Mighty, began.