Peace of Mind

[The scene opens with a shot of Balto sitting at the top of a hill, looking out to the park below. It was a slow and temperate evening as he had gotten off early from work and was now taking some time off to enjoy the fresh air in solitude. He generally took pleasure in these moments, where everything was still and peaceful, nothing but the sound of a light breeze brushing against the grass, the far-off calls of birds, and the occasional sound of someone stepping on the stone pavement at the bottom of the hill. Balto appeared to be lost in thought, it had been another average day at the hospital, sorting out medicine and packages where they needed to go, the usual. However, the encounter he'd had with Steele several months prior was still on his mind. The two hadn't spoken much since then, even when the city had its parade, so it was a surreal feeling nonetheless]

Balto: [sighs] I don't know why I need to get worked up over that, in all honesty, it was a one-time thing…

[Even saying that, Balto feels his own tone is uncertain, his mind going back to the Malamute and the scene of him offering to sort out the medicine replays in his head]

Balto: "Um, Steele…thank you?"
Steele: [almost hesitantly before turning away] "Yeah, yeah, whatever…"

[The scene flashes back to present day as Balto looks down to the bottom of the hill. Hakura and Michiru are walking alongside each other as the latter leans contentedly on the former's shoulder. Another angle shows Scar and Shere Khan snoozing together on a bench, and then another shot of Trixie and Starlight getting some popcorn from the stand run by Porky, before cutting back to Balto looking to either side of himself]

Balto: Am I…nah, nah, I'm not going there.

[Balto stands up and begins to walk down the hill, trying not to pay attention to his surroundings as he walks down the path]

Balto: I just need some tea, I'll prolly make some when I get home…might clear my head…

[The scene cuts to Balto opening the door to his apartment and flicking on the light switch, heading towards the kitchen as the shot quick-cuts between him fetching a pot, pouring the water in, setting it on the stove, taking out a tea packet, putting it in the boiling water and then letting it settle as he gets a mug from the cabinet. Balto pours the tea into the mug and then sits on the couch before turning on the television. The current program is a panoramic view of a forest in winter, mountains in the background]

Balto: Huh…that takes me back…

[The view of the forest is intercepted by the image of several wolves howling up at the full moon, followed by what would be a moving drone shot of the snowy mountains, followed by a bird's eye view of a wolf pack running through the snow, the music is a mix of panpipes and drums, fitting to a native setting. The visual is then intercepted again by the sound of barking, legs hitting the snow at a constant rate, and two bright blue lights shining in the distance, before cutting to Balto opening his eyes once more]

Balto: Huh! Ah…oh…must have nodded off…

[Balto looks toward the time, 10:17 at night, as shone by the sky now completely darkened. He picks himself up from the couch and proceeds to head to his room, the scene cutting to the wolfdog settling down for bed, wrapping himself under the covers and closing his eyes for a good night's sleep. The scene cuts to next morning as Balto walks into Evergreen Station, which is surprisingly quiet from its normally busy state]

Balto: Well, guess I'll savor the peace in the meantime…

[Balto goes over to a bench to sit down, leaning back as the only sounds in the area are the cars in the distance and the occasional bird. The wolfdog slowly closes his eyes to enjoy the solitude…before the sound of Gordon's whistle echoes through the station, followed by the ground shaking and people chattering. Balto's eyes flash open to see the station suddenly packed, people running to and from their trains, signals and points changing, engines coming in and out of the junction and rumbling through the station; Gordon with the Express, James with red coaches, Emily with her coaches, Henry with salt vans, Edward with coal trucks, Percy with mail vans, BoCo with oil tankers, Murdoch with cattle vans, Samson with covered trucks, Bradford in tow at the back, Rebecca with different Express coaches, Paxton with stone trucks, Stanley with flatbeds of pipes. People rushing in front of Balto consist of blink and you miss moments of Salem, Fergus, Cindy, Aisha, Hansel, Amy, Streaky, Rita, Badgerclops, William, I.M. Weasel, Maleficent, Jafar, Waul, Cajun, Le Quack, Bon Bon, Aurora, Sly, Basil, Secret Squirrel, all as the images start to blur in front of him through a cross fade, three signals changing from red to green, the clatter of rolling stock, and the whistles of Edward, James, and Percy]

Balto: Uhhhhhhhhh…perhaps I'll go somewhere…somewhere less crowded

[Balto stands up and slips out the station entrance, leaving the noise behind as the scene transitions to the harbor]

Balto: Oooooooh, my god, what even was that? It's like all hell broke loose back there…at least the key isn't too crowded today…

[Balto goes to a bench to sit down, looking out towards the ocean as the water gently laps against the pier. A seagull is heard cawing overhead, Balto doesn't appear to mind much…until the cries are heard in repeat, almost like an echo. The shot pans out to reveal several seagulls standing on either side of the wolfdog]

Balto: Um… go on, shoo, shoo!

[The gulls fly off in different directions as Balto finds himself getting feathers dropped on him]

Balto: PHEW! PAH!

[At that moment, Top Hat, Warrior, Zorran, and Zug all pass on another, the railway tug hauling Frank and Eddie, the harbor tug hauling a barge of scrap metal, and the switcher carrying a barge of pipes, each sounding off their hooter, much to Balto's chagrin]

Balto: Okaaaaay, looks like I'll need to find a new spot again.

[Balto reluctantly stands up as the scene cuts to the park, the wolfdog finding a quiet spot on the grass right under a tree]

Balto: Aaaaaaaah, finally, peace and quiet, no trains, no boats, no traffic, no seagulls, no whistles, just…me, myself, and I…

[Balto props himself against the tree with a content sigh as the peace lasts…for a good few seconds before it's interrupted by the off-key notes of a trumpet, causing the lupine to cringe. He looks to his left to see Sylvester trying to warm up with a trumpet…he rolls his eyes before the sound of strings being tuned is heard from the other side, revealing Tom attempting to tune his Bass]

Balto: Are you freaking kidding me…?

[Sylvester starts to play a rendition of the Looney Tunes signature theme while Tom begins to string the tune he played in Solid Serenade. The two cats glance at each other and try to play each other's tune louder to drown out the other, all while Balto is shown becoming increasingly frustrated, covering his ears until…]

Balto: Oh, for crying out loud, ENOUGH! Have you all gone mad?! I can't get an ounce of peace up in here with all this frickin' noise, and now I have to listen to this?!

[Balto storms off, leaving Sylvester and Tom at a loss for words. Balto is then shown huffily sitting down at the fountain, his paws on his face]

Balto: I swear, if I have to hear an obnoxious sound one more time, I'm legitimately going to lose it. Bah, city life sometimes…

?: Tell me about it.

Balto: Well, at least someone sees where…oooooooooooh

[The shot pans out to reveal Steele sitting about a foot or two away from Balto]

Steele: Hmph, you sound disappointed.

Balto: 'Disappointed' doesn't begin to scratch the surface, I'm just…I don't know how to describe it, it's…complicated…and I don't know if I should be telling you this…

Steele: Pfft, like anything's gonna happen disclosing some personal shit to me, what do I care?

Balto: All the more reason why you wouldn't understand.

Steele: I…haaaaaaaaugh, fine, I'll be 'courteous', anything not to see you moping about.

Balto: Well, if you must know…I've been thinking a lot lately…about myself…about life…about…you…

Steele: Got your attention that much, did I?

Balto: I mean, what happened a few months ago comes to mind…you remember, with the medicine.

Steele: Ehhhhhhhhh, that was just me feeling generous that day, nothing to it.

Balto: I'm not so sure, you haven't really been all that antagonistic to me in general, at least…not like before.

Steele: Well…that's cuz I got my own shit to deal with, I ain't linked to the hip with whatever you're doing.

Balto: I'm aware…it's just…looking around this place, I feel like…I'm only just realizing how much things have changed…like, they've already happened, it's just…coming to me in full force now…and to be honest…I feel like there's more in store for us…

Steele: What do you mean, this is a whole lot a' cryptic shit you're speakin'.

Balto: What I mean is…I feel like…we need to go somewhere, somewhere more fitting…

Steele: …Are you asking me out?

Balto: I think you need to see this too.

Steele: …What?

Balto: C'mon, follow me.

[Balto begins to walk away, leaving Steele gobsmacked]

Steele: What is that twerp talking about…buncha nonsense probably…[the background is shown moving behind Steele]...and I'm following him, okay then…what am I doing?

[The scene cuts to the forest, panning down from the tall pines to reveal Balto coming out from between two trees]

Balto: This is it, this is what I was looking for. The forest…

[Balto takes a whiff of the air and sighs contentedly]

Balto: That's better…it's so tranquil here…peaceful…almost reminds me of…

[Balto thinks back to the vision he saw, a replaying of the snowy forest from prior before it flashes back to reality]

…memories…

[Steele appears from behind Balto]

Steele: Mind telling me what we're doing here, and how I got dragged into this?

Balto: Hmmm, last I checked, you didn't have to follow me here, if you weren't interested.

Steele: I…shut up.

Balto: Besides, you might see what I mean, I feel a connection here…this takes me back…I remember when things didn't look so busy…when things were simpler…

[Balto walks up to a tall pine]

Balto: The forest is something I've always been drawn to…whenever I think of it, I'm reminded of where I came from…it has this air of…serenity…and freedom…you ever felt something like that…?

Steele: Well…sorta, but how does…

Balto: I remember the days of when I'd run about the trees, dashing through the snow…reminded of my lupine heritage…I'd come here sometimes to get away from it all…to clear my head and just watch the trees over me…

Steele: I see….

Balto: Sometimes I wonder…if I should go back…do I really belong in that lifestyle…I'm grateful for what I have, but…am I really…happy…and would anyone understand…?

Steele: …Perhaps…I've been in a similar state of mind…

Balto: Hmm?

Steele: Well, you know my rep speaks for itself, and so when that came to light, I became isolated…the streets aren't the nicest of places, but the forest…I don't know how I did it, or why I did it, but for a while, that was the one place I could go to…and to be honest, barring the fight for survival…it was nice…I never thought much of my surroundings, they were always a blur when I'd thunder down at top speed, no need to get distracted by the scenery…but, when you're all alone and you've got that around you…it starts to become an attachment, so to speak…

Balto: Steele…that's the most poetic thing I've ever heard from you…

Steele: Really? Well, guess I'm just as well-spoken as always, though I guess you could say I've also had similar feelings of satisfaction…makes sense for you, lupine blood and all, but for me, what with my career and…other stuff, I'm not so sure…

Balto: Well…I'm not suggesting anything right off the bat…but perhaps, it's something to consider, for now, I'm content with admiring nature's beauty…

Steele: …Ya' know, I will admit, it ain't half bad to look at.

[Steele moves forward, but trips over a root and lurges forward, colliding with Balto. The two fall to the ground and realize just how close they are to each other, a small hue of red appearing on their faces]

Steele: Uh-AHEM-I think I tripped…

Balto: Yeah, I-I noticed…

Steele: Yeeeeeah…I should prolly get off you.

Balto: If you could, yeah…

[Steele picks himself up while Balto gets back upright as well]

Steele: Sooooooooo…you doin' anything later?

Balto: Well, I didn't really have any plans, you?

Steele: Eh, I didn't really have anything going on…what say to eating out?

Balto: I wouldn't mind…hmhm, now look who's asking who out?

Steele: SSSSShush, and even then, you'd be getting a good deal coming from me.

Balto: Ooooh, I don't doubt it…

[As the two begin to walk off, the sound of a howl catches their attention, particularly Balto as his ear flaps. He looks back and gives a smile before turning back as the shot pans up to get a view from the top of the trees]

Character Guide:

Balto, Steele - Balto (1995)

Aisha - Winx Club

Amy Rose - Sonic the Hedgehog

Aurora, Maleficent - Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Badgerclops - Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart

Basil - The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

Cajun Fox, Le Quack - Courage the Cowardly Dog

Cat R. Waul - An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)

Cindy Bear - The Yogi Bear Show

Fergus, Hansel - 101 Dalmatian Street

Haruka Tenoh/Sailor Uranus, Michiru Kaioh/Sailor Neptune - Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

I.M. Weasel - I Am Weasel

Jafar - Aladdin (1992)

Porky Pig, Sylvester - Looney Tunes

Rita - Oliver and Company (1988)

Salem Saberhagen - Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Scar - The Lion King (1994)

Secret Squirrel - Secret Squirrel

Shere Khan - The Jungle Book (1967)

Sly Cooper - Sly Cooper

Starlight Glimmer, Trixie Lulamoon, Bon Bon - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Streaky - Krypto the Superdog

Tom Cat - Tom and Jerry

William Longtail - Angelina Ballerina (2002)

Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Emily, Rebecca, Murdoch, Stanley, Samson, BoCo, Paxton, Bradford - Thomas and Friends

Top Hat, Warrior, Zorran, Zug, Frank, Eddie - TUGS