The Ballad of Balto: Part ONE

The Ballad of Balto: Part ONE

 

(started 3/13/06 - Part One finished 3/15/05)

 

Summary: A poetic retelling of the Balto trilogy in rhyme. Part One of Four.

 

Rating: G for General Audiences.

 

Note: This was mainly done after hearing the announcement that there won't be a Balto 4 anytime soon. This is dedicated to Balto fans everywhere! Here's to you!

 

Disclaimer: Balto, Balto: Wolf Quest, Balto: Wings of Change, and all Balto characters belong to Universal Studios. Umm . . . that's all. Enjoy!

 

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Part ONE: Balto

 

I'll tell you a tale, a heroic tale

that I'm sure you've all been told:

the adventures of a dog named Balto,

and his huge heart of gold.

 

It all began in the town of Nome

back in nineteen twenty-five

a young mix of husky and wolf

was struggling to survive.

 

This pup's name was Balto; the whole town knew

that wild look was in his face

But he longed to run in a dog team

yet he felt quite out of place.

 

Local sled huskies howled and jeered

led by the racing champion, Steele;

He wanted the hybrid to mind his place:

"You'll never lead a dog team; that's unreal!"

 

Yet the lonely pup was not alone

for his guardian Boris was there;

The Russian gander had stuck with him

living in their boat that was far from repair.

 

But a sudden force was about to strike

as if sent from the heavens above.

In the form of a red beauty named Jenna,

young Balto began to fall in love.

 

Yet at the same time, tragedy struck

as terrible sickness did multiply.

Without the medicine that they lacked,

the young victims would be doomed to die.

 

A footrace was held to choose the team

Balto knew - none were as fast as he,

But fate took a turn for the worst

when Steele began to disagree.

 

"You're a wild animal, half-breed!" he teased.

"Go home and travel with your packs!"

And the team left without the wolfdog

as the dogs began to make tracks.

 

They recieved the medicine now, you see

but the children quickly got sicker.

Townspeoples' hopes began to fade

as life's light started to flicker.

 

Rumors spread between the canines

that the serum team strayed the path

and those that were sick were close to death

Time was short . . . . you do the math.

 

"There must be something I can do,"

thought the wolfdog on and off.

He constantly watched Jenna's girl Rosy,

who suffered from that deadly cough.

 

Then it was decided that night

that Balto would go through the snow and fog.

Unfortunately he would have to help

Nome's proud top sled dog.

 

With Boris by his side

and polar bears Muk and Luk,

Balto trekked Alaska's winter terrain

and things ran quite amok.

 

They were found in the woods by a giant bear,

who attacked with unknown cause.

It swiped and bit the air fiercely

with its sharp teeth and claws.

 

Jenna arrived just in time,

their demise she was able to prevent.

Through her weeping sadness,

she had bravely tracked Balto's scent.

 

The large grizzly was soon defeated

but Balto fell through some ice.

Muk and Luk, though afraid of water,

dove in without thinking twice.

 

The wolfdog was saved by his furry friends

but Jenna got a sprained ankle bone.

He got the goose and cubs to escort her home;

It was time to go at it alone.

 

Before the gang departed for home,

the hybrid's guardian gave him a wise, parting thought:

"Don't forget you are both dog and wolf -

you can do things that they cannot."

 

And so Balto continued, following his nose

and found the team on a cliff of rock and snow.

The medicine was safe, but the freezing dogs

couldn't figure out which way to go.

 

But Steele refused the hybrid's help

for he was filled with pride.

He fought while Balto stood his ground

but the malamute fell over the cliff's side.

 

Now the team could continue onward

now with Balto taking the lead;

but Steele was not done for yet, you see,

for he made marks for Balto to misread.

 

The black and white champ had arrived at home;

the Nome dogs welcomed him back, surprised.

"Where's the medicine? The others?" they wondered.

Steele told them they were lost - they all had died.

 

Then he tugged on a red fabric

revealing that Balto also was left to die.

Jenna sobbed, then knew the truth:

"It's not true! It's all a lie!"

 

She told herself not to give up hope,

the team's return, she seemed to know.

The purebred created a make-shift aurora

using bottle glass and a lantern's glow.

 

Overtime, Steele's plan had successfully worked;

the markings' scent had lost its sniff.

The medicine was nearly lost for good

Balto caught it, but he too, fell over a snowy cliff.

 

The wolfdog felt defeated,

he was about to throw in the towel.

But a large, misty-white lupine

acknowledged and let out a howl.

 

He turned his head in shame,

rejecting his wolfhood inside,

but all of a sudden, he thought again;

Boris's words were now clarified.

 

He let his wild half cry out freely

as he answered the white wolf's call.

Together they howled, then spiritually revived

The medicine, he began to haul.

 

And away they continued, the team and him

along the right path where people would eagerly await,

Through ice caves, avalanches and snow piles,

Balto hoped that they were not too late.

 

Balto saw the sign of the Northern Lights,

he knew Jenna believed he would find a way.

The team was safe! The medicine was here!

Balto had truely saved the day!

 

People lost their fear of the wolfdog,

their love for him grew and grew.

And the words of Rosy spoke the truth:

Balto, they would have been lost without you!

 

So give three cheers for Balto,

for his courage and determination;

His story has touched fans everywhere

from generation after generation!

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