Chapter 1: A New Family
To call Tom and Jerry's first theatrical movie, which came out back in 1993 (1992 in Germany) a 'misfire', would be gross understatement… What with its big musical numbers, secondhand villains, the cat and mouse getting along (as well as talking nonstop), and a plot that was very reminiscent of Disney's The Rescuers from 1977 .
Look, before you all tell me that the movie wasn't exactly what fans were hoping for, I get it. But if you peel back the layers of that onion, there can be no doubt that the film, as whole, was (to me at the very least)… dare I say, tolerable? It's not the worst thing that I've seen both the cat and mouse duo ever turn out from their careers.
If anything, that title, for me at least, would have to go to either their 103rd short "Blue Cat Blues", 9/10ths of the Gene Deitch era cartoons, 5/10ths of the Chuck Jones era, or their direct-to-video 2017 film Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Trust me when I say, "I know what I'm talking about."
And if you still disagree with me, that's fine. If you think the movie ruined their careers, that's fine. The following was just an opinion of mine… nothing more, nothing less.
But enough of that, I have to get back on track to the story I am telling.
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When Tom and Jerry saved Robyn Starling's life, what none of them counted on was the fact that Michael "Daddy" Starling would actually come to save their lives as well. It was true there was a telegram that confirmed his survival in Tibet, but whether or not he would actually appear was one question that only time would reveal.
Sure enough, he was indeed alive and he had promised his only daughter that they would never part ways again.
A few days after that mess, Aunt Pristine Figg, her dog Ferdinand, Mr. Lickboot the lawyer, Dr. Jason Sweetface Applecheek and his Straycatchers, Captain Kiddie and Squawk were put up on trial. The following verdicts were the outcome towards these unusual people:
Aunt Figg was found guilty of abuse, neglect and many other things towards her niece. So she was ultimately sentenced to prison for 6 years or more, without any parole.
Ferdinand wound up going to a dog pound so he could get back in shape… he never did. His love for sweets and everything else that a dog should not eat got the better of him and wound up seeing him die from starvation.
Mr. Lickboot lost his job as a lawyer as he had been in cahoots with Aunt Figg. However, his prison sentence was less severe, he would serve prison for 2 or more years, as he was one of the few who actually did care about Robyn's well being.
Dr. Applecheek lost his license as an animal veterinarian and was sentenced to life in prison, especially seeing as the animals he kidnapped were held for ransom. The Straycatchers, of course, got the same verdict.
And finally, when Captain Kiddie and Squawk were pardoned by Robyn, Tom and Jerry, they served half a year in prison and agreed to reform, which they successfully did so.
So where does that lead us to regarding the cat and mouse duo now? Let's find out.
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Four days later, Tom and Jerry were welcome into their new home by Robyn and her dad. However, if you know those two, their so-called "friendship" didn't last long in spite of everything.
But what if it did? What if somewhere in an alternative universe they not only became Robyn and her dad's pets and loyal friends? That's what you the reader are here to explore and find out.
When Tom and Jerry began taking in the atmosphere of their new home, the cat found himself relaxing in a nice warm bed, while the mouse was happily exploring his new mousehole. But it was too good to last as Tom laid out a mouse trap for Jerry, the latter of whom turned the tables on his feline counterpart. It was as they began chasing each other once again, a freeze frame happened by showing the two in a yellow circle, which was how the movie ended.
But remember, this story is in a multiverse where anything is possible, so let's rewrite history.
As the cat and mouse began chasing each other, Robyn was seen carrying a tray of food for the two and entering the living room.
"Tom, Jerry?" she called out. "I bought you two some food."
No answer. The now former orphan tried once again but received no answer.
"Where are those two," she asked herself.
Her answer came as quick as a flash when she saw Jerry running for his life as Tom had in his hand a fireplace poker to ram the mouse with. Scared, The latter then quickly ran up his owner's shoulder and the feline put on the breaks.
Quickly snatching the poker from his paws, Robyn then grabbed Tom by his tail with her free hand and scowled at him.
"What has been going on here?" she demanded, it was quite clear that she was a little upset.
It didn't take long for her newfound pets to explain everything to her. A little while later, they were done with their storytelling.
"So you see, Robyn," concluded Tom, "we have to fight. It's just who we are."
There was a long pause before the young heiress to her family fortune spoke and shook her head in disappointment
"Look guys," she sighed, "I know that it's in both your nature to be enemies, but can't you both at least please try and get along for both me and daddy's sake? Please?"
"Since you said 'please'," nodded Jerry, "I will."
Robyn smiled at the mouse's answer — Tom, however, turned his back and scoffed.
"Me, be friends with that little pipsqueak? Absolutely not!"
Robyn then showed Tom her the same puppy dog eyed face that she gave him when Jerry left the kitchen to overhear Aunt Figg and Mr. Lickboot's discussion about Michael's survival. Tom had fallen for it before, but not this time.
"No!" he hissed. "You can't make me!"
A moment later Tom was taken outside.
"I'm sorry, Tom," said Robyn. "But until you and Jerry learn how to get along, it's for your own good."
She then placed in front of the cat his lunch.
"And just to show you that I'm not as cruel compared to Aunt Figg, here's your lunch."
"Thanks, I guess," said an uncertain Tom.
Robyn then turned to Jerry.
"And that goes double for you too, Jerry." She said slightly firm. "If you and Tom can't work things out, I'll have no choice but to put you outside too. You'll still get meals and everything… well, you get the idea."
"Sounds good," the brown mouse nodded.
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As Tom ate his meal, which turned out to be salmon, a green apple and sliced vegetables, the gray and white fur-colored feline began to think of what Robyn said to him.
"Maybe Robyn's right, he said to himself out loud, "perhaps I should bury the hatchet with Jerry." Tom then scrunched up his face to think. "It's not as though I know where my old owner went. Adding to that, the little guy has saved me and my nine lives on more than one occasion, and I owe that to him." He let out an involuntary shudder but eventually caved in, "After all, it may feel weird at first, but it'll be worth it. I hope…"
A little while later, after he was through his meal, the cat sat down to relax to ponder if he really wanted to go through with his decision. If not, he would have to stay outside for a while.
But as he gathered his thoughts of whether or not to redeem himself and let bygones be bygones with the mouse in question whom he had wronged more than once, Tom eventually heard music being played somewhere. Unable to suppress himself, he looked everywhere to see where it was. He then quickly discovered it was coming from Robyn, who was busy playing the piano. And there by her side, his rival and unlikely friend.
It was after eating his lunch, Robyn introduced Jerry to some music that her mother, Elizabeth used to play for her. Among them included various classical pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, Tchaikovsky, and so on and so forth.
But now, she was playing a song that her mother used to sing to her when she had trouble sleeping, a lullaby if you will. It was only when his wife passed away, Michael did his best to keep Robyn's lullaby still intact. He did so extremely well.
And because Robyn hadn't heard it in many years, she decided that she would eventually pass on her memory to her own children one day. But she didn't have to worry about that yet, as she was still only 9 years-old herself.
As Robyn began to sing, liking the sound of the melody, Jerry started dancing to it; she was also unaware that both her dad and Tom had entered the room to join her and the brown rodent.
"Love is no fairy tale," she sang, "but that isn't still to say… It knows how to teach us well, it helps us find our way. As much as we sacrifice, is only as much as we can gain. Forgiving not once but twice, and then again and again. Ooh…"
Then the young girl sang the chorus, "It isn't about how much we can get. It isn't remembering what love would forget, I've found the secret of learning to live… it's all in how much we give."
And the song shifted to the third verse, "Sometimes the rain pours down, flooding across the land. And sometimes the sun shines bright, warming our hearts again. I'll be here by your side through every season's change."
Back to the chorus, "It isn't about how much we can get. It isn't remembering what love would forget, I've found the secret of learning to live… It's all in how much, all in how much, it's all in how much we give."
Robyn brought the song to its bridge, "We can't see the days ahead, or the unsuspecting nights… When the road is hard to find, love will be our light!"
After a moment's pause while doing an instrumental hook, she returned to the chorus, "It isn't about how much we can get. It isn't remembering what love would forget, I've found the secret of learning to live… It's all in how much, all in how much, it's all in how much we give. It's all in how much, all in how much, it's all in how much… we give."
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When the song had ended, Tom and Jerry broke into applause for the young heiress to the Starling fortune. Surprised to see that Tom had let himself back inside the house, Robyn didn't know what to think.
But when Tom explained everything to her on how he had a change of heart, a smile then spread to Robyn's face.
"I'm so glad to hear that, Tom," the young girl said as she gave Tom a hug.
"Same here," nodded Michael.
"Ditto," agreed Jerry, who extended his hand. "Friends to the end?"
Extending his own hand, the light gray and white fur colored cat took his mouse companion's hand and shook it warmly.
"We'll weather life together," replied Tom. "So what the heck?"
When all of that was done, Michael took out some pet licenses for Tom and Jerry to wear, not only were their names engraved upon them, but so was the address that they would now call their brand new home: 210 William Street, Beverly Hills, California 90210.
After that settled, the family of four headed on their way to the kitchen to tidy up their dirty dishes and later clean up the mess that Tom had made with Jerry earlier.
It is here where this chapter ends and another one will begin eventually. Another chapter centered around the unlikely adventures of a cat, a mouse and their two human beings.
Author's notes:
• So that was the very first chapter of The New Tom, Robyn, and Jerry Adventures . Let me know what you thought of it. It is merely the first of many chapters I will be writing. And as always, please fill free to leave me your feedback.
- The story came as a request to me by a fellow author named niccunningham, who I was happy to oblige with his request.
* Now normally, I do NOT take story requests on because I am always busy with writing MY own stories, but the request was so genuine that I couldn't turn it down (plus I tried to figure out a story like this for so long, but couldn't figure it out how a story like this should work).
* I WILL, however, be more than happy to take ideas as to how I can enhance or improve my stories; be it for chapters, dialogue and everything else.
• And for those of you have to ask, yes, I WAS indeed a little inspired the story of The Tom, Robyn, and Jerry Series created by Mr. ManyWorks when making this story, but not 100%.
• And finally: I own nothing in this fanfiction, as such: Tom, Jerry, plus everyone else have their rights and everything else are owned and © by Warner Brothers.
- But for the song known as "All in How Much We Give", its rights are owned by Stephanie Mills.
That said, until the next chapter, my fellow readers and Toons:
I'm M. R. Parkerson signing off…