A/N: Hello all! It's been a while since I posted anything, I know, and I'm sorry: this isn't a HTTYD fan fiction. This is actually a (sort of) original story that I've written and want your opinion of. It's called Romeo and Juliet: A Tale of Two Horses, and as the title suggests it is based on the Shakespeare play of the same name (minus, you know, the horse part). I know this is rather different from my usual fan fiction work, but please bear with me. There's a reason I'm putting it up here. You see, I have thoughts of publishing this book someday, and I want to get an idea of what kind of reaction it will receive. So please, by all means, leave some reviews and tell me what you think of this story. All constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, and any tips to help improve it are invaluable to me. (But please note the word choice: constructive criticism. Merely telling me that my story "sucks" or that I'm "a no-talent hack writer" does not fit into that description, and I hope you will refrain from such unhelpful and, to be frank, immature comments.)

Some important information before we get started: this is meant to be a children's book. I'm aiming for the 8-12 age range. That being said, I don't pull punches. There will be some (hopefully minor) violence, some rather adult-ish themes (though nothing explicit, I promise), and some pretty sad moments. I think kids are capable of handling darker material, so I haven't made much of an attempt to lighten the story up for them, but if you think I've gone too far, then please let me know and I'll consider making some alterations. Also, the story is about horses, but they have been more or less anthropomorphized, meaning that their behaviors are more human than equine in nature. (Think a Disney movie's animal characters, like in The Lion King or 101 Dalmatians.) So don't be upset if my characters don't display typical herd behavior: I have taken some liberties with natural horse conduct for the sake of the plot. One last thing: this is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but it is rather loose, and I've made a few alterations to the plot for various reasons. That being said, I am trying to be more or less faithful to Shakespeare's original, so if you think I've strayed too far, please let me know.

I think that's everything you need to know on the outset. If I think of anything else (or if there are enough questions in the reviews) then I'll be more specific in A/Ns for later chapters. So with all that out of the way, let's get this party started! I hope you enjoy! :)

Chapter One

The peace of the spring afternoon was broken by the sound of a horse's furious shriek. Every head in the herd rose from its grazing and turned to face the source of the disturbance: two big and powerful stallions were fighting in the center of the clearing the herd called home. The golden palomino Montague roared in pain as the pitch-black Capulet struck him with a heavy, sharp-edged hoof. Montague retaliated by biting Capulet's shoulder, and the black screamed in fury. None of the mares came forward to stop the fight, nor did they even flinch as one horse landed a blow on the other. These brawls had become so common that even the gentlest and softest-hearted horse among them was not horrified or even surprised.

One horse, however, did plunge into the fray and whinnied furiously as he drove the fighting stallions apart. Prince, the bay stallion who led the herd, bucked, and his hind hooves drove Montague back, while his flashing white teeth made Capulet retreat a pace or two.

"That! Is! Enough!" Prince bellowed once the two horses were separated, sides heaving, sweat trickling and mingling with the blood that streaked their trembling bodies. "This is the third time this month that you two have disturbed the peace of my herd! And it will be the last!" He pawed the ground and stared each stallion down until they lowered their heads submissively. His gaze lingered a moment longer on Capulet, and to him he added, "I don't care whatever history you may have. What is done is done, so leave it in the past."

Capulet glanced up at him for a brief moment before looking away again, glaring at the earth.

Prince huffed, and when he spoke again, it was in a voice of deadly calm. "Both of you listen well: I allowed you to stay here out of the kindness of my heart, and I hold the power to withdraw your welcome. The next time one of you so much as looks at the other the wrong way, I will banish you from this herd. Have I made myself clear?"

Capulet dipped his head silently, and Montague murmured, "Yes, Prince."

"Good," Prince snorted. "Now return to your families and tend to your wounds. And don't forget what I've said."

He turned and departed. Montague and Capulet exchanged one last glare of equal loathing before they turned away, each heading toward opposite edges of the clearing.

As Montague approached his corner of the glen, a handsome paint colt looked up. "Montague," he sighed. "Again?"

Montague nodded and winced: the motion made a cut on his neck sting. "Yes," he said. "I didn't intend to get involved, but…well…"

"Capulet started it?" the young stallion asked wryly.

Montague snorted. "Yes. I was minding my own business, and he just came up and starting hissing all these insults at me. I tried to ignore him, but…well, he's the kind of horse that is impossible to ignore. Then he shoved me, and I, well…I lost control."

The colt sighed and shook his head. He knew that, on the other side of the clearing, Capulet was probably telling his mate the exact same thing.

"Benvolio, have you seen my son?" Montague asked, looking around. "I haven't seen him at all today."

Benvolio scanned the herd, frowning. "Come to think of it, no, I haven't," he said. "That's odd. I wonder where…?" Then his eyes brightened. "There he is!"

Montague followed Benvolio's gaze and sighed in relief as his eyes fell on a blue roan colt. He was tall and handsome, his body long and trim, his mane and tail thick and flowing. He was grazing contentedly by the forest's edge, apparently unaware that a couple of fillies nearby were giggling and stealing covert glances at him.

"Romeo!" Montague called, and the colt looked up. "Come here, my son. How are you today?"

Romeo trotted over and replied, "Fine, Father. I'm just—" He broke off and skidded to a halt as he got a closer look at Montague's scratched and bruised body. "What happened to you?"

Montague snorted. "It's nothing, son, just a few cuts."

Romeo shook his head. "Were you fighting yet again, Father?"

"Yes, he was," Benvolio answered before Montague could speak. "But how on earth did you miss that, Romeo? It was in broad daylight for everyone to see."

"Uh…" Romeo blinked and looked away, blushing slightly. "I guess…I guess I was lost in my thoughts…"

Montague narrowed his eyes slightly. "Lost in your thoughts?" he repeated. "Son, you're always lost in your thoughts these days. What in the world could possibly trouble you so much that you don't even notice a brawl in the middle of the clearing?"

Romeo looked up at his father and hesitated. "Uh…it's…it's nothing," he finally murmured.

"Nothing, huh?" Montague said with a tired sigh. "Fine. I'm in no mood to argue with you. If you're sure that you're all right…?" He trailed off, the slight lilt of his voice indicating an unfinished question.

"Yes, I'm fine," Romeo replied, nodding and smiling.

"All right," Montague said, though by the tone of his voice, Romeo knew the subject had not been dropped completely. He then turned and walked into the forest, heading toward a little stream that ran nearby, where he intended to clean his wounds.

"Okay," said Benvolio the moment Montague was out of earshot, turning to his friend. "I know that look. What's going on? What's bothering you?"

Romeo blinked in surprise and then sighed. "You're too perceptive for my own good," he said.

"Well?" Benvolio prodded. "What is it? You know you can talk to me, right?" He paused. "Is it about Mercutio?"

Mercutio had been Romeo's friend since the two had been foals. Along with Benvolio, the three had been inseparable…until Mercutio had fallen in love. Only a few days earlier, he and his new mate Angelica had left the herd to start one of their own.

"Mercutio?" Romeo said thoughtfully. "Well…I suppose so…in a way…"

"In a way?" Benvolio repeated, bewildered. "What does that mean?"

Romeo didn't answer for a moment. He gazed at the grass at his feet, pondering. Then, after almost a full minute, he said, "I…I remember how happy he was when he found Angelica, how devoted he was to her and how he always smiled when she was around." He paused. "I…I wish that I could find someone that would make me as happy as he was with her."

Benvolio stared at him. "So…you've been wanting…to fall in love?" And he laughed. "Romeo, why didn't you say so? That's something that we can fix!"

Romeo looked up at him, bemused. "How? I already know the mares of this herd, and none of them have caught my attention."

"Well, that's not completely true," Benvolio said, grinning. "You don't know all the mares in the herd. What about those belonging to Capulet's family?"

Now it was Romeo's turn to laugh. "Come on, are you serious? I'm Montague's son! How on earth do you expect me to get to know anyone from Capulet's family when he and my father hate each other so much?"

Benvolio shrugged. "Well, attending his party tonight might be a good place to start."

Romeo gaped at him. "The party?" he asked, stunned. It was the night of Capulet's annual celebration, a festival that was open to the entire herd…except Montague and his family. "Benvolio, perhaps you've forgotten, but I'm not invited, remember?"

"I'm inviting you," Benvolio replied easily. He smiled. "Being the son of the herd's leader has some advantages. I promise you, no one will harm you as long as I'm beside you."

Romeo hesitated. "I…I don't know…"

"Come on," Benvolio coaxed. "It'll be fun! And who knows, you might just meet your one true love…" He said this last bit in a singsong voice that sounded faintly teasing.

Romeo considered for a moment, and then he sighed. "All right, I'll come. But if anything happens, it's on you."

"I think I can live with that," his friend replied with a happy smile.

…

Meanwhile, on the other side of the clearing, Capulet was having his wounds tended to by his mate Lady. "Why must you always get into these fights?" she sighed as she licked blood away from one of the cuts that covered the horse's body.

Capulet sighed and winced. "Darling, we've been through this," he said wearily. "You know why."

Lady looked up at him and frowned. "It doesn't mean I have to like it. Capulet…" She sighed. "It was a long time ago…can't you just put it in the past?"

Capulet snorted. "It's not that easy. You know how badly Montague wronged me. I cannot forgive him for so great a crime."

Lady sighed and chose not to pursue the matter. She didn't want to make her mate angry before the party.

"Where is Juliet?" he asked after a moment. "I need to speak with her. Paris talked with me this morning about possibly becoming her mate."

Lady smiled. "That's wonderful news!" she said. "I think she's grazing, over there by the trees."

Capulet followed his mate's gaze and saw a beautiful red filly standing in the shade of the forest, her head lowered, cropping grass with a small smile on her face. He nodded. "Excellent. Lady, would you bring her over? I need to find Paris, and we will introduce them. Maybe tonight at the party…" He let the thought go unfinished.

Lady nodded and turned to fetch her daughter while her mate trotted off in search of Paris.

As her mother approached, Juliet looked up. "Good afternoon, Mother," she said. "How is Father doing?"

"He's got some cuts and scratches, but he'll be all right," Lady replied. "Hopefully all this fighting will stop now that Prince has threatened banishment."

"I hope so," Juliet agreed, nodding. "I hate watching them fight. All that blood…" She shuddered.

"I know it upsets you," Lady said, reaching out to nuzzle her daughter. "But cheer up, Juliet. The party is tonight, after all."

Juliet smiled excitedly. She always loved her father's parties. The singing, the dancing, the laughter, it was all so fun and exciting.

"There is something your father wants to talk to you about, Juliet," Lady continued after a brief pause.

"Oh?" Juliet asked. "And what is it?"

"It's not for me to say," Lady replied, smiling mischievously.

"Oh, Mother!" Juliet laughed. "You're so mean to tease me like that!"

Lady laughed with her and said, "Well, you won't have long to wait to find out. Come on, let's go to him."

Juliet nodded and followed her mother to where Capulet stood, conversing with a tall and powerful-looking chestnut horse. Upon their approach, the two stallions turned to look at the mares, and they smiled. "Ah," Capulet said happily. "Juliet, this is Paris." He nodded to the chestnut, who bowed his head in a sign of respect. "He has expressed interest in getting to know you."

"Oh…" Juliet blinked, surprised. "Um…hello, Paris."

"Hello, Juliet," Paris replied, smiling down at her. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise," Juliet said, inclining her head.

"Paris has requested to escort you to the party tonight," Capulet explained. "Does that please you, Juliet?"

Juliet glanced at her father, and then at her mother. Both of them were smiling expectantly. It couldn't be plainer that they were both excited about Paris, far more excited than she herself was. But she smiled and said, "Of course, Father."

"Excellent!" Capulet whinnied as Paris beamed. "Well, Paris, we look forward to seeing you tonight. The festivities begin at dusk."

"I can hardly wait," Paris replied in all seriousness. "I will see you then, Juliet."

He reached out to nuzzle her, and Juliet allowed him to. But her heart did not race when he did.

A/N: I hope you've enjoyed it so far. More will come soon, I promise. And I can actually promise that with confidence this time because the story is actually already finished. So you won't be waiting for an eternity while I struggle to complete the next chapter, as is my usual way. I'm hoping to post chapters every Tuesday and Friday, so expect the next chapter early next week. Thank you so much for reading, please tell me your thoughts in a (constructive!) review, and I'll see you (hopefully) on Tuesday.