Star-Crossed
~ A Balto
version of “Romeo & Juliet” ~
(started
7/23/07 - )
Summary: The hatred between the purebred
Capulets and the wolf-bred Montagues rages on, this time taking place in 1925
Nome, Alaska. Two of the most unlikely canines fall in love, thus leading the
ongoing family feud down its tragic course towards peace. (a retelling of
William Shakespeare’s tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” in the animated Balto
universe)
Rating:
PG-13 for
violence, blood, death, possible disturbing comments, sensuality and the
typical things that have occurred in other versions of this tale (thoughts of
suicide, abusive situations, etc.). However, the Prologue is rated PG.
Disclaimer: All characters used are from the
movies Balto, Balto: Wolf Quest, and Balto: Wings of Change (all with
exception of: Togo, who was added in by the author for dramatic purposes and
also because he was actually a part of the true story of Balto; and Tasha,
Tundra, Loralei and Monty, who are the author’s own characters, either created
especially for the story or used in more than one fan-fiction) and are the
property of Universal Studios, Inc. Also, the main story of “Romeo and Juliet”
is the property of Mr. William Shakespeare and is artistically retold, while
still maintaining the basic feelings and events that were shown in his original
work.
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Author’s
Note:
I’m not
sure if anyone has done this yet, but if it’s been done, this version will
surpass it.
I thought
to myself a couple of days ago: What if a “Romeo and Juliet” styled
story took place in Balto’s animated world . . . with him and the other dogs as
the cast?
I knew in
an instant that this could work. Sure, other cartoons have taken the same basic
story and made them “kid-friendly”, all while still trying to keep the moral of
the story in the end of love conquering over all obstacles and having a happy
ending between the two lovers, but after watching the sappy “The Lion King 2:
Simba’s Pride” (which is a loosely-told version of the main plot of “R
& J”)and the many other remakes of the classic tale for children (all
of them I actually like), I believe it’s time for a more traditional version
of the tale, this time casting Balto and Jenna as the star-crossed lovers.
To tie in
the other major and minor roles of the tragic romance, I used characters from
all three Balto films (not including Balto and Jenna’s children of course),
and even added a character that was crucial to Balto’s heroic journey in real
life, but I have given him a most important role to set the story’s events in
motion. Here’s a cast list of characters, in case you wanted to know:
- The
Chorus: Aniu (a perfect role for an all-knowing deity, eh? Originally, I
was to cast her as Lady Montague, but I thought she would be best in a role
that would allow her to remain ubiquitous or all-knowing and seeing, just like
how she was in “Wolf Quest” when she silently and secretly guided her son and
granddaughter through the wilderness. If you know Shakespearean works, the
Chorus isn’t an actual character; the Chorus just makes the audience aware of
the situation and summarizes the tale without the minor details. Makes sense,
doesn’t it?)
Capulets:
- Lady
Capulet: Tasha (fan character)
- Capulet:Tundra (fan character)
- Juliet:Jenna (An obvious choice for the lead female)
- Tybalt:Togo (fan character, based on the actual canine; I thought he was a good
choice for Tybalt, especially since he, in many stories written with him as a
character that is either jealous of the fame that Balto had received and wants
his revenge or as a dog that crosses paths with Balto and his family.)
- Other
Capulets: Nikki, Kaltag, Star, Ralph, Dusty, Kirby (all random dogs that
actually are huskies seen in the original or in WoC, they all get a chance to
show their aggressive nature at last)
Montagues:
- Montague:Monty (fan character, who happens to be a pure wolf. His mate’s identity and
breeding are unknown though.)
- Romeo:Balto (obvious casting here; I think he’s more of a wolf in this story, so
read this as if he’s a full wolf, not a hybrid. He might have some husky in
him, but it doesn’t show much.)
- Mercutio:Boris (Balto’s best friend and confidant, his loyalty to the wolf-dog is
very strong. Of course if you know the tale, you know what will happen to Boris
later on . . .)
- Benvolio:Muk and Luk (yes, since only one of them can talk, it all works out in the
end!)
- Other
Montagues: Nuk, Yak, Sumac, Niju (all lupines featured in “Wolf Quest”,
they make great choices for Balto’s kinsmen . . . Hopefully they’re better
fighters this time around.), Loralei (fan character)
Other
Characters:
- Juliet’s
Nurse: Dipsy (Her long ears from WoC made me think that Dipsy would be a
decent choice as Jenna’s closest friend and one of the couple of characters
that is trusted with Balto and Jenna’s secret of their love.)
- The
Prince: Morse (the little dog from the Telegraph Office; he seems like a
dog that learns more things than the rest of town, so this is an okay choice .
. .)
- Friar
Laurence: Doc (the St. Bernard . . . I think that’s what his breed is –
he wasn’t used much in the first film and briefly shown in WoC, but I always
considered him to be a wise and trustworthy canine, one that all dogs would
consider as a friend)
- Messengers:Mel (the over-reacting terrier from WoC; he’s pretty neutral in the
Capulet/Montague situation, so he’s a decent choice for the role.)
- The
County Paris: Steele (Oh, what a perfect role for him! This is my first
story using him as a character, so please be gentle with me!)
- Town
Gossipers (Juliet’s friends, but not members of her family): Sylvie
and Dixie (Their personalities of spreading gossip and such make them great
for trying to convince Jenna to find a mate. They know all the eligible
bachelors and have probably flirted with them a lot too, so they make good
companions for Jenna during parties.)
- The
Apothecary: Nava (the only other choice for the part . . . I guess his
spiritual abilities would be good for knowing which herbs can heal you or kill
you . . . the same goes for Doc as well)
Rosy is also
included in the story, but the main focus in on the dogs, not the humans, so
don’t expect her to appear too much. (Sorry, Rosy fans . . . I happen to be
one, actually . . .)
And in
conclusion, there will be an epilogue to follow the tale, just as there is a
prologue to begin everything.
I do hope
that all Balto fans and Shakespearean fans alike read and enjoy my version of
such a classic tale of family feud and forbidden romance. Thanks for reading
and don’t forget to review!
- Juuchan17
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Act
0: Prologue
Friends,
fans, readers – all who are near,
Please hear
me out; you have nothing to fear.
I am a
spirit, called Aniu by most;
I’m sure
you can’t see me, I’m much like a ghost.
I come
to invite you, to bear witness of this tale
Of the
love between a dog and his beloved female.
Love is
not alone as a player in this tale,
Prejudice,
death and hatred, they too prevail.
Our tale
takes place in a world bitter cold,
The tiny
town of Nome, Alaska – events they will mold.
Things
are different here, yet are also comparable,
The year
be 1925, but things aren’t that unbearable.
Within
this town, two families also dwell,
In strength,
pride and dignity, they are equal.
Purebred
Capulets, their husky blood well shown;
And the
mighty Montagues, cries of the wild are known.
Although
they live in the same small location,
These huskies
and wolf-breeds, to the other, detestation!
Fights
and brawls flood the alleys with rage,
To
murder, blood and killing, the canines engage.
Yet
throughout this hatred, two lovers come into view;
Their
past days a mystery, but something starts anew.
Both the
youngest of their line, the joy of their family’s being,
But
another fate awaits the children as the final storm is brewing.
Within
five days time, war turns to peace,
While
lives change, time allows hatred to cease;
Yet out
of the many kin each side will lay to rest,
No loss
will be more tragic than the children they loved best.
= = = = = =
= = = =
The cozy
warmth of a fireplace wasn’t the only happy feeling that filled the room that
night.
A brown
husky was just allowed inside the snug two-floor house that was near the center
of town. Happily, he wagged his tail as he felt the air change from the cold
winter breeze outdoors to the comforting aura of the wooden home’s ventilating
heat.
The smaller
dog that allowed the husky entrance into the house through the front dog door,
a faded mouse-brown Bassett Hound with floppy gray ears, stopped him for a
quick word, placing a tan-dipped forepaw halfway up his left leg.
“Dipsy, did
she . . . Is she . . .” the husky asked, worry was evident in his tone. “Did
everything go well?”
The hound
only lightly laughed. “She’s just fine, hun. You know, for her first time, she
did quite well! I never would have expected her to be so calm when it happened,
but sure enough, she just let it take its course.”
“Oh, where
is she?” He queried anxiously. “I would like to check up on how’s she’s doing.”
Dipsy
lifted up one of her long ears and pointed it deeper into the room. “Oh, she’s
been waiting for you, Tundra, and there’s someone that she wants to introduce you
to.”
He gave her
a nod of thanks then continued into the room. Dipsy carefully followed behind
him, trying to follow the male’s large stride with her own tiny steps. A couple
of moments later, the canine halted halfway through the main room as he saw a
red husky with its head down inside of a mattress-lined doggie bed; flattened
newspaper pages were folded over the bed’s edges, weighed down by the canine’s
size, but the male gulped after noticing the familiar and the sudden new scents
that filled his nostrils.
“T-Tasha?”
the brown male stammered out with a whisper. When no one answered, he let out a
sudden whine. “Tasha, darling? Are you all right?”
The canine
laying inside the comforts of the bed twitched her two-toned tail slightly as
she let out a moan. “Oh, Tundra . . . It’s you . . .” Her head turned towards
his own, flashing a soft smile and fluttering her crystal-blue eyes at her
beloved mate. “Oh, do come closer, darling. Come and see our new pride and
joy.” She gave him a ‘come here’ gesture with her white nose while also moving
her large, bushy tail from her ivory underbelly.
Tundra’s
face lit up at the sound of his mate’s words as his fears vanished; he trotted
up to the end of the room, stopping where she lay with a tiny bundle curled up
beside her teat-lined belly. He leaned his head across her body to gaze upon
the child and soon turned back to his mate, nuzzling her nose affectionately.
“It’s a
daughter, Tundra,” Tasha murmured to him. “Her name is Jenna.”
“Oh,
Tasha,” Tundra, now overwhelmed with happiness and tears trickling from his
eyes, sniffled with pride. “She’s so beautiful . . . Oh, our first child, a
daughter! The gods be praised for this blessing upon our family!” He nuzzled
his mate once more, this time both of the proud parents had tears of joy.
“I’ve
helped birth many a pup before,” the hound assistant commented. “but never
before have I witnessed such a easy delivery.” She sat down by Tasha’s side
with a smile. “I hardly had to do anything except help her with the breathing
exercises during her labor.”
The red
mother only giggled politely in response. “I’d witnessed Mother’s last birth,
so I knew what had to be done. I just breathed and pushed, and after an hour of
contractions and groaning, out she came.” She let out a sigh of relief as she
reminisced about her delivering. “I will admit it, the pain of the contractions
and pushing hurt like hellfire inside me, but after it’s all said and done,
having this little one as the result made the pain worth every moment.” Tasha’s
eyelids lowered a bit. “I had always dreamed of having a child of my own, and
thanks to Tundra and you,” She turned her attention to each canine when she
uttered their names. “that dream has become a reality.”
“At least I
know where she got her looks from.” The brown husky commented once his eyes
were dried. “She’ll be an elegant, little lady, just like her mother.”
“Indeed,”
the new mother agreed. “Maybe in a few days, we’ll see whose eyes she’ll have.”
After giving her mate a loving kiss on the nose, Tasha lowered her head to
groom her pup with her tongue.
The pup’s
coat was a dry burgundy hue, just like her dam’s, only with a slight touch of
her father’s brown fur in her own. White markings distinctively lined her dainty
face and body, and her eyes and ears were shut tight for now, only to open on
their own within a matter of days.
Dipsy
politely excused herself from the new parents. “I’ll leave you two alone now.
You should both get your rest and bond with little Jenna, and I’ll see you in
the morning.” She quickly lowered her head in respect of her master and headed
for the doorway.
“Good
night, Dipsy,” Tundra bade his family servant farewell. “I’ll watch Tasha
tonight so that you can rest as well.” Tasha let out a short bark as the hound
dog’s short, gray tail disappeared through the doggie doorway.
“Perhaps,” Once
Tasha’s midwife and their assistant had left the house, Tundra continued to
speak and plan out his newborn daughter’s future. “perhaps she will be lucky
enough to continue the strong Capulet legacy that we have brought her in.
Especially once we marry her off to some wealthy young husky!”
“Dear,
she’s only newly birthed!” Tasha scolded her mate with a tiny nip on his neck.
After a moment, she smiled yet again, giving him a light giggle. “Let’s raise
her well for now, and then maybe in a year or two, you can find her a decent
suitor.”
Tundra nodded.
“All right, I’ll wait until she’s older.” He let out a sigh and sat down beside
the woven bed, keeping a vigil watch of the place where his mate and newborn
daughter settled down to rest. He lifted his head, his mind deep in thought.
Now with
this new branch that has just sprouted from our mighty family tree, Tundra thought with his eyes closed
and his pride aglow, within a matter of years, we will defeat those mistakes
of nature known as the Montagues once and for all! He opened his brown eyes
again, glancing at the sleeping figures of his wife and daughter with a smile.And Jenna, oh, my pride and joy! She will receive only the best of care as she
grows from both Tasha and I; she is my treasure, my world, the most beautiful
pup ever I’ve seen born into the world!
I will
protect her, and make sure that she continues the good name that we have passed
on to her. Hopefully, the best bachelor in town to help expand our lineage! I
swear it . . . the birth of our precious jewel is only the beginning of the
downfall of the Montagues forever!
We
Capulets shall remain forevermore!
At last, he
finally paced around in a tight circle a couple of times before quietly laying
on the floor and falling into a deep sleep, knowing full well that his life
would never be the same ever again.
The mood
was quite the opposite only half a mile away from the home of the Head
Capulets. Outside of town, away from the warmth of the Head Capulet home, a
chilly breeze greeted a medium-sized tribe of dark-colored wolves. They were
closely huddled together outside of a stone-gray cave where they awaited news
of their Alpha’s condition.
A
dark-brown male emerged from the cavern, his red and yellow eyes filled with
tears and his head and tail lowered in sorrow. His face was marked with light
tan, mainly around his eyes, cheeks and the sides of his long muzzle, only to
be split symmetrically by a brown blaze between his eyes all the way down to
his nose. Without speaking a word, his fellow lupines could sense the sudden
announcement that was about to change their lives.
“I bear
news, my brethren,” the male murmured in a soft, mournful tone. “My wife has
birthed a single child – a son to continue our lineage –”
At the
announcement of the Alpha’s first child, the pack barked and howled with joy.
For the past three years, they had awaited the moment that their Alphas would
bare a son to carry on the duty of being the leader of their mighty pack; less
than two months ago, the Alpha’s mate was deemed pregnant by the pack’s elder
and medicine wolf, causing much celebration and rejoicing by everyone.
The
dark-brown speaker let out a shrill yelp, calling for silence to complete his
message. “But the delivery, I fear, caused too much stress on her body.” Gasps
of shock pierced the silent air as the male paused to calm himself, but the
news was too much for him to hold back his tears any longer. “I have sad news:
I’m afraid . . . she’s passed away after giving birth. The spirits have taken
her to a better place so that our son may live . . . Let the mourning ritual
begin at once, and let a she-wolf volunteer herself so that my son may receive
the nourishment of her teats.” He ordered his pack with a heavy heart.
Indeed it
was easy to see that the dark-brown Alpha was proud to know that a son was born
to carry out his family’s namesake, but the loss of his only mate during the
birth of their only child was the ultimate heartbreak, even overshadowing his
pride of becoming a father for the first time.
Within a
matter of minutes, a grayish-white female was handed the newborn heir and
carried him away to her own cave to allow the child some time to nurse. Many of
the other members of the pack took turns kneeling by the birthing den, while
others prepared for the night’s wake and memorial ceremonies for their leader’s
mate. The male Alpha approached one of his most favored wolves and sat him down
away from the group of mourners in front of the Alpha Female’s birthing den.
“May I have
a quick word with you?” The Alpha asked his friend.
“Yes, of
course,” The wolf lowered his head solemnly. “What is it that you wish to speak
with me, Monty?” the dark navy-black male asked. His blue eyes gazed at the
sight of his Alpha in mourning, although he vaguely showed it. “But first, I’d
like to offer my condolences for your loss. She was a brave Alpha, a loyal and
true friend to us all. It’ll be hard to move on after losing her.”
“Yes, it
will be a challenge, Niju,” Monty leaned up against his friend’s neck,
sniffling every now and then. “but she allowed our only son to be spared from
dying along with her. He has a higher destiny now: to be raised up so well that
he will carry on our legacy once I join her again.” He looked up at Niju with
different eyes, eyes that shone with the promise of a better future. His voice
was no longer quiet and mournful, but it sounded strong and deep . . . just
like old times. “When he becomes Alpha after me, he will help our Montague Clan
overtake those snooty, rich Capulets once and for all! I can feel it in my
bones!”
“Hmm,” Niju
said after noticing the power of his Alpha’s voice. “As much as I wish for our
success in defeating the Capulets as soon as possible, I suggest that you focus
more on your son.” He turned his attention to the light-colored she-wolf that
laid herself in front of her rocky den, nursing the babe on her belly lined
with pink nipples. “With his mother gone, he’s going to need you more than
ever, especially if you want him to grow into the Alpha that you want him to
become.” Monty nodded in agreement as Niju stood up and nudged him forward with
his large muzzle and chin. “Go to him . . . go to your son.”
Taking heed
of his friend’s advice, Monty moved closer towards the white-gray she-wolf that
adopted his newborn son. His heart pounding faster with every paw-step, he
finally noticed the details of the child his mate had left behind.
The pup had
a coat of brown with a few flickers of gray carefully mixed into his wet,
recently-groomed fur. A couple of tan patches surrounded his eyes and the sides
of his muzzle, plus a distinct mark of tan led from his muzzle markings, down
his chest and belly all the way to the tip of his tail. His paws were also
dipped in his father’s gene pool, permanently tan from his tiny pads up an inch
to halfway up each of his legs.
The
she-wolf that was currently feeding the pup detected the grieving Alpha’s
presence, immediately lifting her head up from the ground and lowering it in a
proper show of respect. “My Alpha . . .”
Monty
placed one of his paws on the she-wolf’s shoulder, gently tapping it as a sign
to raise her head. “No need for such formality right now, Loralei,” he
commanded. “You’re always welcome to call me by my name, not by my title –
especially since you were willing to save my child’s life.”
“It is an
honor to serve one’s leader, . . . My –” the she-wolf paused, nervous about the
change he had just told her. “I mean, Monty.” The brown male gave a slight grin
after hearing that. “I have whelped my last litter only a month ago, and I
still have more than enough milk to help your son.”
“I
appreciate your kindness and generosity,” Monty bowed to Loralei politely. “My
mate would want only to best care for her litter if she wasn’t around to be in
their lives.” His eyelids lowered once he let out a sigh. “We had promised to
spend our lives together . . . and raise our children to be strong members of
the Montague Clan . . .” He shed a few tears of sorrow, but was soon silence
into shock at the sound of his son, crying out whimpers to him.
“Oh?”
Loralei’s attention shifted to the newborn that cried out in its loud voice.
With her maternal instincts prepared, she quickly nudged the brown puppy with
her ivory nose, giving him a calming lick every time she paused to start a new
sentence. “Shh, shh . . . hush now, little one . . .” However much the female
wolf tried to calm the pup, he continued to wail in his whimpering tone.
While
observing the she-wolf’s attempts to quiet the whining newborn, Monty focused
more on his son, gazing at him with the sadness of losing his mate in the
process of his being born but also with the love in his heart of seeing his
only child crying out. The pup’s cries grew louder and louder, almost throbbing
inside the Alpha’s ears. Monty sighed as he wondered what to do about this
situation, but suddenly a thought occurred to him.
My son .
. . He’s crying out for something . . . His eyes widened. Could he be . . . calling out for . .
. me? Slowly, he took a couple of steps to Loralei’s belly where his child
was whimpering and whining loudly. His wet nose gently caressed the newborn’s
back, slowly making little circular motions to calm him down.
“M-Monty,
I’ve tried that many times,” The gray-white she-wolf stammered out calmly to
the Alpha. “He wouldn’t quiet down for me; what makes you think he would –” She
was silenced by the sudden sound of . . . silence.
Now the
Alpha Male was laying beside Loralei’s belly, still massaging his son with his
nose with his eyes closed. The newborn was now quiet, cooing calmly and
wriggling on the ground towards his father’s scent as he let out a tiny cry. It
wasn’t a cry of being cold, lost or sadness; it was a call of happiness that
the tiny child cried. Although the newborn was unable to hear or see the wolves
around him, Monty knew that his child was happy to have a father by his side.
“Oh, my son
. . .” Monty cuddled the tiny puppy with his cheek, tears of joy sliding down
his face. “Balto . . . my son . . .”
“Balto?”
Loralei repeated, curiously wondering about the reasoning of the Alpha’s choice
of a name. “Why Balto, Monty?”
“My
father-in-law’s name was Baltic,” Monty replied, still with the scent of salt
tears surrounding his cheeks. “It’s only proper that I remember my mate’s
family by naming my son after her father. Besides,” he paused, looking lovingly
at the now-sleeping child that snuggled up against his front legs and paws. “I
think my darling would be proud to know that her son is worthy of such a noble
name.”
“Hmm,” The
gray-white female lowered her eyelids halfway, intrigued by her Alpha’s
devotion and love for his motherless pup. “I know she would be proud of you,
Monty.” She gave him a sign of affection by stroking her nose against his neck.
“I can tell you that I am proud of you, and I’m sure that little Balto will
make you proud within the next year or two.”
Monty felt
at peace now as he returned the kind gesture to the helpful she-wolf; he no
longer felt so saddened about his mate’s sudden death because now he had a
child to remember her by, a child to raise in the traditions of the Montague
Clan.
Oh, my
son, Monty spoke in
his mind, still looking at the sleeping form of his wolf-born son. My Balto,
your mother didn’t mean to leave you alone. I’m here, I’ll always be here to
love you and raise you to become the Alpha you are meant to be. I’m sure that
with you to lead us, those Capulet huskies won’t stand a chance against your
strength!
= = = = = =
= = = =
Two
years have passed since their birth,
O’er
twenty-four moons they’ve been on the earth;
Yet the
winds are slowly about to change course
For
nothing halts the pull of true love’s force.
(Prologue –
completed 7/31/07)