Mauve Eyes
[The scene opens with a shot of Evergreen Forest as the leaves rustle among the trees and the branches creak under the howling wind. The bushes and shrubs are also disturbed as they rustle about in the breeze]
[Transition to the Pine Railway as Skarloey is shown puffing up the line with a rake of coaches, while Rheneas passes by in the opposite direction with a train of coal trucks, the two old engines exchange a greeting with their whistles as they pass by]
[Transition to the town of Maple as the Cooper Gang are shown hiding amongst the shadows while Katz, Le Quack, Cajun, and the Queen of the Black Puddle pass by to the left, while Koan, Berthier, Calaveras, and Petz pass by to the right. Cut to another section of the town as the Fox Family is shown leaving a winery, while Salem and Fantomcat are shown talking amongst one another outside of the store, Legosi and Louis pass by to the viewer's left. Doctor Starline is leaned against a lamppost with narrowed eyes]
[Transition to Maple Station as Edward arrives at the platform to the viewer's left with a passenger train while Bill and Ben pass by on the opposite platform with a train of empty china clay trucks. The platform has several people going about their activities; Mooch, Whizzer, Dipstick, and Two-Tone are loitering around, Geoffrey, Elias, Hershey, and Ash, are listening to Mina practicing on her guitar, ironically enough, in spite of his presence, Lieutenant Pug, having since earned back his original rank, is merely standing well at attention with his accomplice, or rather partner, Persian Pete. Additionally, Mao Mao, Badgerclops, and Adorabat are hanging around on a bench while Chance and Jake are looking over the timetable]
[The first coach has been reserved for the mayor and Miss Bellum as they disembark from it]
Mayor: [sighs] That Mayor Briggs sure can carry a conversation. Boy, am I beat from that meeting.
Bellum: I can only imagine, sir.
Mayor: Ah well, time for puddin', Miss Bellum, may I forward the request to be served in my office?
Bellum: I'll see what I can do.
Mayor: Gee, swell, Miss Bellum, I don't know what I would do without you.
Bellum: I can only imagine…
[The two public officials leave for the office]
[The doors to the coaches open and the passengers disembark, revealing Sally, Antoine, Bunnie, Rotor, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Anastasia, Odette, Dorothy Gale, and finally Balto with Jenna, Aleu, and Kodi at the back. They all have packs on their backs as if they were ready to go out into the wilderness]
Balto: Right, have we got everything?
Jenna: Everything but the kitchen sink, I would say.
Balto: Ah-huh, just making sure. This night should be comfortable for everyone involved.
Jenna: Hmm-hmm, you always were so considerate. Don't remember the last time we took one of these trips.
Balto: Funny thing, I was planning it a while back, but then lost track of time…among other times…AHEM, anyways, is everyone ready to head off to the forest?
Aleu: You know the leader of the pack is always ready to tackle the unknown.
Kodi: [rolls his eyes] Oh, I'm sure they are…
Jenna: So, is it just us this evening, or will we be having other company?
Balto: I did say I wanted it to be a family trip, and I intend to keep it that way.
Jenna: Oh, so tall, dark, and malicious won't be joining us?
Balto: …Well, you never know, he always did like this time of year. Can't imagine why…
Jenna: Don't worry, I'll keep him in line if he gets too out of hand.
Balto: Thanks, Jen, but I think I can handle him well enough. After all…hmmhmm, he wouldn't dare put on a show in front of you.
[Jenna rolls her eyes in remembrance]
Jenna: Oh, I certainly do…[shakes her head]...sometimes I wonder if I was speaking to an adult or a pup in a grown-up's body.
[Cut to a POV shot from the station corridor as we can only hear soft breathing as the camera gets closer and closer to the family, Balto and Jenna are the only ones who can be seen proper as Aleu and Kodi are obstructed by the wall]
[A paw suddenly reaches out to Balto and takes him by the shoulder, causing the wolfdog to gasp and whirl around, Jenna blinks in surprise while Aleu and Kodi are caught off-guard. Cut to showing who the POV was, revealing a tall figure donning a white mask with red eyes…that is until they lift it up revealing a rather smug-looking Steele]
Steele: Trick or treat?
[Balto sighs while Jenna puts a paw to her head, Aleu and Kodi just glance at each other]
Balto: Didn't waste any time, did you?
Steele: Couldn't resist the opportunity when it was there, doesn't take a lot to scare you all, does it?
Jenna: And hello to you, Steele…you might wanna watch out, because I can be scary without a mask.
Steele: Ah, is that a challenge then?
Jenna: Well, you would know…wouldn't you?
[Jenna looks down as she says this before looking back up. Cut back to Steele as he too looks down with a confused expression…before looking back up with a scowl]
Steele: Haha, a comedian, ain'tcha'?
Jenna: I would like to think so.
Aleu: [to Kodi] Doesn't this feel at least a little bit surreal?
Kodi: [murmurs] You're talking to the one who looks like our mother in front of you-know-who, I feel it all the time.
[Steele can't help but pick up on this little bit of gossip as he looks in their direction]
Steele: And what's on your minds, Wolfy Lite and Jen Junior?
Aleu: It's Aleu, and mind your tongue, old man.
Steele: Please, I've aged like wine. Ain't that right, Kodiak?
Kodi: AHEM, of course…
Aleu: You know, it's strange, I know you and dad are kinda…close now, but I'm still wondering whether to call you sir, mister, godfather, uncle-EH…actually scratch that last one…and maybe the second to last one.
Steele: Huh, sharp wit this one…you're alright, kid.
Aleu: …I don't know whether to feel flattered or eternally confused.
Kodi: You get used to it.
Balto: Since you've got the mask, I don't suppose you'll be lurking around the forest with a hacksaw?
Steele: Not unless I wanted to copy a film series that killed that trend as soon as it started.
Aleu: …I know I probably shouldn't say this, but that's probably the most clever play on words.
Kodi: AHEM, anyways, are we gonna head off or what?
Balto: I suppose we can have an additional tag-a-long, so long as he behaves himself.
[Steele rolls his eyes at this]
Steele: I'll be as good as the gold I've won throughout my many races.
Jenna: I can only imagine the kinds of stories you'll share around the bonfire…
[The scene transitions to the Evergreen Forest as we're shown the full moon from the ground perspective, an owl hoots in the distance while the crickets can be heard chirping nearby. Cut to a shot of the river, then to one of a squirrel crossing over a branch before the shot pans down to the canines making their way through the woods. Balto is at the front leading the charge as his yellow eyes stand out against the darkness]
Aleu: Recently, Nava's been teaching me how to become one with the trees, like how he showed us long ago…still don't understand it fully myself.
Kodi: I can believe a lot of things, but a lot of that story sounds a little too…weird. I mean, a pack elder turning into a tree, how?
Aleu: Well, you didn't see it for yourself, so it's harder to explain.
Kodi: You sure you and Dad weren't just seeing things?
Aleu: You saw it too, dad. We were both there.
Balto: Uh…your sister's…not wrong, son, though even I'll admit I don't know how he does it.
Steele: Maybe he gave that pack enough shrooms for them to start seeing things.
Balto: I highly doubt that Nava's one to stoop that low…then again, the man is kind of an enigma. In a way, he looks…familiar…
Aleu: Actually, that reminded me…one of the other pack members, Niju, kinda looked a bit like…Steele…
[Aleu looks back at the malamute, and picturing the visual of the disgruntled pack member gives an almost uncanny resemblance in her head]
Aleu: …Is it a thing for big scruffy guys to be outwardly hostile?
Steele: I've seen that guy pop up a few times in my corner…sure, he's a little rough around the edges…okay, very rough when I first met him.
Kodi: Isn't that a case of irony?
Steele: Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa, hilarious…anyway, we got talking and we realized, "hey, we wanted to take back from someone who we were pitted against"...kinda strange how many parallels I found…even down to have his own trio of goons.
Jenna: I see your own flock is still seen as such…not that it's surprising given their…[sighs]...personalities.
Steele: Even after all this time, they still manage to get on my nerves…I suppose I can't exactly disparage their company, there is some value to be found with them…
Jenna: I think that's the nicest thing you've said about anyone.
Steele: Oh, trust me, I can say many nice things when I want to, especially in regards to our…tour guide.
[Balto looks back upon hearing this, but says nothing as he averts his eyes ahead, knowing full well not to humor Steele's 'comedy' in front of the family]
[Cut to the tops of the pine trees before we pan down to the group having set up camp with a bonfire burning nicely. Jenna and Kodi are examining the tent to make sure everything is secure while Balto is spinning a string of sausages over the fire. Aleu is testing the lanterns before flicking the radio on several different channels]
"Everybody's workin' for the weekend-"
[SRSH]
"Don't you wanna see these clothes on me-"
[SRSH]
"Fly me to the moon-"
[SRSH]
"I can feel it, comin' in the air tonight…"
Aleu: Ah…that should do it…
[Aleu sets the radio down with a content expression before going over to join her father by the bonfire, sitting down on a stump brought over from the woods]
Aleu: …You remember when we did this?
Balto: Hmm? [looks up] Oh, right, I do…you were a lot smaller back then.
Aleu: Yeah…hehe, you used to carry me on your shoulders and we'd go searching through the woods. I'll never forget the time I caught my first fish.
Balto: Yup, did it all by yourself like a big girl…well, after the first few or so tries.
Aleu: Daaaaaaaaad…
Balto: I'm just joshing with ya'...[sighs]...I remember it well…sometimes, I wish I could go back to those times, when you and your brother were little balls of fluff and you'd run up on my back…
Aleu: I mean…I could always try it now.
Balto: Pretty sure you'd suffocate me instead.
Aleu: Not if I was really careful…
[Aleu stands up and goes behind her father before wrapping her arms around his chest]
Balto: Oh! Hehe…haaaaaaaaaaa, that's my girl…
[Cut to Kodi watching this from the tent. The red husky can't help but feel a little…well, not exactly jealous, but…okay, maybe sort of jealous. Jenna notices this]
Jenna: Hey…your father appreciates you just as much as Aleu.
Kodi: I know, I just can't help but feel…insignificant sometimes compared to her.
Jenna: How so?
Kodi: Well…for as weird as it might have been, look at Aleu's adventure, and then look at mine…
Jenna: Kodi, you're selling yourself short…come here…
[Jenna wraps her arms around the younger husky, taking him by surprise, before Kodi relents and sighs into the embrace]
Kodi: …You don't think…I've neglected you, do you?
Jenna: Hmm?
Kodi: I mean, I know I'm my father's son and all that, but…I don't wanna feel like I'm playing favorites.
Jenna: Hmmhmm, that's what I love about you, dear. Thinking of others, even when you have those occasional…slip-ups.
[Kodi's face flushes as he knows all too well what his mother is referring to]
Kodi: Yeah…thanks, mom…
Jenna: Anytime, Kodiak…
[At that moment, Steele arrives on scene with more firewood]
Steele: No need to worry, I've got wood…hope I'm not interrupting this 'wholesome family bonding.'
Balto: …In another universe, I would have said yes, but at this point, you might as well be considered 'family'.
Steele: Yeah, surreal…
[The malamute tosses several bits into the fireplace as they burn brightly. He then takes a seat on a log and stretches himself out]
Steele: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…ya' know, before this, I never really considered myself much of an outdoorsman…though I guess I have you to thank for that…
Balto: There's just something so…beautiful about the forest, even in the dark, reminds me of my roots…[sighs]...there's truly nothing quite like it…
Jenna: I still remember how you made the Northern Lights…and then seeing them in person…you'd never be able to tell the difference.
Balto: Oh yeah…and I showed you the best place to watch them, on top of a hill at the edge of the forest…hmmhmm, and then years later, Steele finally got to have that experience.
Steele: Funny, I knew where to look before that.
Balto: Of course…
[Balto holds a tin of Jiffy Pop via the extension stick over the campfire and shakes it around before the tin starts to pop. Aleu reaches into one of the bags to pull out a collection of marshmallows, two bars of chocolate, and a box of graham crackers. Kodi reaches to pull up several sticks, making sure they're clean]
[Yes, dogs irl cannot eat chocolate, this is fiction, thus we can bend the rules]
[The popcorn meanwhile has finally risen up to an acceptable level, so Balto takes it off the fire. To avoid getting burned, he picks up a stick and pokes the tin, revealing the popcorn fresh and steaming]
Balto: Aaaaah…
Jenna: It's a good thing I brought these along…
[Jenna produces several plastic bags for the others to split amongst each other. She and Balto partake in the popcorn while Aleu and Kodi roast the marshmallows over the fire. Steele merely plops one into his mouth]
Steele: So, any of you got a story to tell, cuz I got a few that'll turn you inside out.
Jenna: Let me guess, you took it from a movie.
Steele: C'mon, I'm not that cheap. You ever heard of 'The Mauve Eyes'?
Aleu: The Mauve Eyes…?
Steele: I've been hearing a few rumors about them through the grapevine, some think they might be related to all the strange things that have happened.
Balto: Like what?
Steele: You remember how people were going on and on about that stupid tunnel at Birch Grove or whatever? Apparently, they boarded it up, but when they went back for inspection, it looked like someone blew it up.
Jenna: Wait, it was blown up?
Steele: Well, the wall was busted, but they couldn't find any evidence as to who'd done it…apart from some gossip.
[The scene transitions to a flashback as Philip brings a works train to Birch Grove, where the workmen inspect the busted tunnel. Many of them seem put off by the circumstances as a large hole has been formed in the bricks]
"Some say it's a spirit who finally broke free of its confines, others say it was something much more sinister…"
[Transition to the Evergreen Forest as a pair of magenta spheres can be seen lurking among the shadows]
"Rumor has it that they're linked to several…incidents…the rail disasters, the bridge collapse, the raid on Panther Estate, even the nightmares…"
[Edward's scene from Trainwreck is shown, followed by the bridge collapsing in Riverbed, the bandits in The Fire Inside, then Balto, Jenna, and Steele's cameos in Escape]
"Of course, that's all they've been; rumors, but some think it could be for real…perhaps someone's out there, stringing all these events like a puppetmaster, trying to see if we'll let our guard down…who knows what they're capable of…it's said they'll come to you with an offering, for a price in exchange, and once you agree, there's no turning back…"
[Transition to something ducking into the bushes, cut to it running across a tree branch, before it cuts to a silhouette looking over Toon City from the top of a ledge, we can't quite make out its shape, but the signature trait is the mauve eyes shining through the darkness]
[Cut back to the present as Steele has stopped talking, before we cut to the others giving him questionable looks]
Aleu: So…has anyone actually seen what this thing is?
Steele: It's hard to say, I remember hearing something about a pair of pink orbs hidden amongst scrap in the salvage yard.
Jenna: That's a lot of speculation for something that you don't know the full picture of. It sounds more like a conspiracy than anything.
Steele: I mean, I never said I was speaking facts, just something to think about…who knows, maybe they'll pop up around here.
Kodi: Now that is just a whole conspiracy…
[Kodi flicks the remainder of his smore into his mouth. Balto looks up to the sky as the stars twinkle above, and in the distance, he can hear the cry of a wolf howl]
[Steele hears it too and a sense of Deja Vu comes back to him in regards to a certain line he said]
"I've got a message for your mom."
[Steele cringes in remembrance, thinking to himself, 'what the hell was I even on…', before looking at Balto]
Balto: In case you were wondering, that wasn't from my mother.
Steele: Really, I didn't catch the resemblance…actually, which side of you is the wolf side, mother or father?
Aleu: That's…a bit of an odd case, I thought it was on my grandmother's side cuz of dad seeing the White Wolf…except it wasn't…
Balto: I'll admit, things got a little weird retelling the story, cuz people began making all these assumptions. I don't have any, to my knowledge, connection to that wolf I saw. However, my lupine side comes from my father, while my mother was a domestic breed…well, from what little I saw of them before Boris took me in…
[Balto pauses and looks down]
Balto: Truth be told, I don't even remember what they look like, it's been such a long time…I suppose it's something I'll never find the answer to, nor the extent of my wolf heritage…even now, it's something that evades me…
[The group falls silent once more as another lupine cry can be heard echoing throughout the forest]
[Transition to the bonfire having been put out and the group now asleep in their tent. Jenna and Kodi are laid down to the north wing, while Balto and Aleu are lying down on the south wing. Steele is closest to the entrance as the camera slowly pans in on his sleeping face]
[Cut to the forest as a heavy fog has descended upon it. Steele is shown walking through the mist as an ominous piano piece plays over the scene…a low synth joins the melody along with an eerie choir as the Malamute continues his fruitless journey through the foggy woods]
"Pride…pride…"
[Cut to Steele looking from one side to the other]
"Comes before a fall, a fall, a fall…"
[The marble canine starts to look visibly tense as the forest is hard to see through, and the echo around him puts him on edge]
[A wolf's howl breaks through the silence, followed by a series of howls accompanied by the rustling of bushes]
[At that moment, two sets of wolf packs rush by as their paws pound the ground with the force of an earthquake]
[In the distance, a light can be made out through the fog…Steele narrows his eyes as he tries to make sense of what's in front of him…he suddenly stops in his tracks…a figure similar to the White Wolf that Balto encountered stands in front of him, but unlike the aforementioned encounter, this one has a more…unnerving presence about them, particularly with the magenta eyes that pierce through Steele's soul]
"...Hehahehah, hehehe, did you really think you could run away?"
Steele: What?
"Unsurprising…no matter where you go, it will always follow you…even now, you can't accept it…why would you…it's not in your character…"
Steele: Hold on, who the hell do you think you're talking t-!
[Steele doesn't get to finish as we suddenly peer into the White Wolf's eye, the distorted laughter continuing as we're shown a visual of Steele in his prime, surrounded by medals and the other dogs of Nome]
"You'd never let go…it represents everything you thought were; strong…admirable…a shining beacon that no one could deter…hmmhmmhmm, whatever helped conceal the truth; weak…cowardly…pathetic…"
[The medals and canines vanish as Steele is shown on his own in a much more disheveled state, bits of hair sticking out, splodges on his fur, untrimmed claws]
"You could never been seen as anything other than first, because it would ruin that perfectly fragile image of yours…it didn't matter what happened so long as all eyes were on you…"
[The silhouettes of canines are shown all in a row as Steele passes by them, their eyes slowly following him]
"It was all about attention…hmmhmmhmmhmhmhmhmh, you were worthless otherwise…whatever the risk, it never mattered to you…and still, you cling onto it, like a chain permanently tethered to your neck…"
[The clicking of a chain on a collar is shown with a metallic echo]
"You can keep up the facade all you want…but it doesn't erase what happened…soon, you will fall and never come back up…"
[The environment around Steele takes a hellish red tint as we are shown a close-up of his eye with fire reflecting off it, combined with a piercing cry of anguish as it transitions back to the mauve eyes, only this time with a different owner before cutting to their mouth, a wry grin on their face]
[Cut to Steele suddenly opening his eyes as we are back to reality. Everyone else is still fast asleep…hastily, Steele stands up and makes his way out of the tent]
[Cut to the forest with a thick fog having descended upon it. Seeing this, Steele looks visibly tense]
Steele: Damn…thought I woke up…
[Steele's attention is caught by something shining from within the fog…his blood runs cold as it is the same mauve light that he saw in his dream, the low creaking of branches and the rustling wind accompanies the scene as the malamute feels as if the world is closing in on him]
?: …ele? Steele?
[Steele suddenly snaps back to reality at the sound of a familiar voice. He looks back to see Balto, a concerned expression adorned on the wolfdog's face]
Balto: What are you doing out here?
Steele: …How did you know where I was?
Balto: Lupine nose…are you alright, you look tense.
Steele: I…it's nothing, just needed some air.
Balto: Uh-huh…in the middle of the foggy woods.
Steele: …Whatever, can't a guy breathe?
Balto: Steele, you don't have to be hostile, you know I'm not like that.
Steele: [sighs]...I may or may not have had an unpleasant dream…thought I saw something that reminded me of it.
Balto: I see…
Steele: I really have fallen…I'm talking sappy about my nightmares like some pup…
Balto: That's not really a weakness, it just shows that you're capable of expressing yourself.
[Steele looks from one side to the other]
Steele: …You know, I'm glad it's just the two of us. Cuz no one else is allowed to see me like this.
Balto: Of course…now bring it in.
[Balto brushes the side of Steele's muzzle as the malamute blinks in surprise]
Steele: …Better.
Balto: Glad to hear it…let's get back.
[Balto and Steele begin to make their way back to the tent. Steele is silent for a bit before speaking up]
Steele: …Thanks for that…all of that.
Balto: [smiles] Of course…
[Transition to the two back in the tent with the others as they've once again laid down to sleep, with Steele looking more at ease this time around]
[Cut to outside of the tent, while the air around the canines might have subdued, it's not entirely free of tension as a set of mauve spheres shine in the distance…a ghostly outline of a wolf all in white passes by the campsite, kicking up a cold breeze before it delves back into the fog]
[Cut to black]
Character Guide:
Balto, Steele, Jenna, Aleu, Kodi, Nava, Niju - Balto (1995) / Wolf Quest (2002) / Winds of Change (2004)
Mayor Mayor, Sara Bellum - The Powerpuff Girls
Anastasia - Anastasia (1997)
Chance Furlong / T-Bone, Jake Clawson / Razor, Callie Briggs - SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron
Dorothy Gale - The Wizard of Oz
Fantomcat - Fantomcat
Katz, Le Quack, Cajun Fox, Queen of the Black Puddle - Courage the Cowardly Dog
Koan, Berthier, Calaveras, Petz - Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
Legosi, Louis - Beastars
Mao Mao, Badgerclops, Adorabat - Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart
Mooch, Two-Tone, Dipstick, Whizzer, Lieutenant Pug, Persian Pete - 101 Dalmatians (1961) / The Series
Mr. Fox, Mrs. Fox, Ash Fox, Kristofferson Silverfox - Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Odette - The Swan Princess (1994)
Salem Saberhagen - Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sally Acorn, Antoine D'Coolette, Bunnie Rabbot, Rotor Walrus, Geoffrey St. John, Hershey the Cat, Elias Acorn, Mina Mongoose, Ash Mongoose, Doctor Starline - Sonic the Hedgehog
Sly Cooper, Bentley Turtle, Murray Hippo - Sly Cooper
Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn - Tom Sawyer (2000)
Edward, Bill and Ben, Skarloey, Rheneas, Philip - Thomas and Friends