Chapter 8: Steele leaves
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The street of Nome was full of joyful people and canines as the lost sled team returned with the medicine. People were patting Balto for his heroic choice of bringing the antitoxin.

''Come on, boy. Someone wants to see you.'' Balto looked up and saw a man leading him to the hospital. Balto recognized the man as Rosy's father.

As Balto came in, he saw Rosy waking up. He decided to surprise her. He saw her musher's hat on the chair and he grabbed it, thus giving it to Rosy.

''Balto, I'd be lost without you.'' said Rosy as she cuddled Balto.

''Ahem.'' a voice said, and Balto looked at the door. He saw her, Jenna.

''Jenna!'' Balto said excited as he ran towards her. They were playing among each other until they nose-kissed themselves. They looked at each other in a loving way.

''Balto! You're back!'' A voice yelled. Balto turned around as he saw his friends, Max and Molly, coming towards him.

''Max! Molly! I'm glad to see you!'' Balto said.

''Same here.'' Molly replied.

''Balto, you know that you've become the hero, haven't you?'' Max said.

''Yes, why?'' Balto asked.

''The dogs and humans won't be despising you anymore. And neither dogs will despise us.'' Max said.

''And they should realize what mistake they've done to you. It's not how you look...'' Molly said.

''...it's how good in your heart you are. I know.'' Balto continued, remembering what they said to him.

''Hey, Balto!'' Another voice yelled out, causing Balto to turn around as he saw Morse coming towards him.

''Congratulations on saving the town. You are hero!'' Morse said. ''I know.'' Balto smiled.

''I'm sorry if I have to ruin the moment, but there's one more thing left to do!'' Morse said.

''What'd it be?'' Balto asked.

''We closed Steele in the boiler room as a punishment for his lies and betraying you all, and we want you to do justice above him.'' Morse continued.

Balto had just returned to the town, after a such running, and being tired. But despite that... ''Alright, we better go.'' he said, as he could not stand Steele's betrayal for his arrogance.

Soon enough, canines headed back towards the boiler room with one thing in their heads: to do justice above Steele.

But as soon as they reached the boiler room, they noticed that the doors were fully opened.

''Who did that?!'' One of the dogs asked, as he and some others entered the room, to find out that Steele wasn't inside anymore.

''He's gone!'' Another one yelled.

''Wait, I think I got a scent!'' Morse yelled while sniffing the air. He turned towards the hills where Aurora Borealis was ''dancing''.

''That way!'' Morse said and guided all the canines towards the Lights.

As they were going uphill, they noticed black canine already climbing there. They realized who it was.

''STEELE!'' Morse yelled, causing Steele to turn around.

''What do you want?!'' Steele asked, angry and afraid at the same time.

''The justice will be done upon you.'' Balto said, as he stepped out of the group.

''What is he doing here?! I thought you were on my side!'' Steele yelled angrily.

''You betrayed us, Steele!'' Nikki said as he got out of the group like Balto did. ''We were on your side. No longer!'' Kaltag said, coming out. ''You left us behind!'' Star said.

''And yet, you have to pay the price.'' Morse said.

''By what do you mean, I have to pay the price?!'' Steele asked.

Max said: ''Balto will make you pay.''

Balto stood few meters in front of Steele, looking at him angry and determined. Steele looked at him and he stood in a fighting position and said: ''Fine, we'll see who's the real hero, wolf-dog or me...''

Balto never used fight as a solution, but betraying humans and leaving children to die, he had no choice. He stood in a fighting position too, ready for everything.

It was then when Steele jumped first. Immediately after, Balto did the same and he managed to tackle Steele first. But, due to Steele's strength, he managed to grab Balto by his scruff and throw him by side.

Balto gained his footing as he saw Steele running towards him. Balto jumped at him, but Steele rammed into him, knocking the wolf-dog onto his back. Steele used his advatage to scratch the wolf-dog into his right fore-paw, causing him to scream in pain.

Steele used another opportunity to grab him by his neck scruff and throw him towards the Lights. Balto was thrown there, at the Aurora Borealis stop, barely conscious and being wounded, breathing heavily. Steele was coming towards him, ready to finish him of.

''NO!'' Max yelled, as he tried to aid his wounded friend, but he was stopped by Steele.

''Back off, you disgrace! This is between me and the wolf-dog! You'll see the victorious one!'' Steele said gleefully as he proceeded towards Balto.

Balto, due to his injuries, passed out. As he was passing out, he lied his head on Aurora Borealis. Just then, a beautiful female voice began singing:

''Reach for the lights,
you may touch the sky,
and the spirits
will come down to you...''

As Steele was few meters away from Balto, ready to finish him off, Star looked towards the Lights, astonished to see the shape shifting behind the lights. He yelled: ''LOOK!'' as the other canines looked towards the same direction Star did, and they were astonished to see figure in Lights.

Steele was standing very close to Balto. He looked him gleefully as he said to him: ''Now this is how you end, you pathetic wolf-dog!''

As he was ready to strike him, a deep, faint female voice yelled: ''STOP.''

Steele turned around to see who told him to stop. he yelled: ''Who said that?!''

''It was I. And you will not harm Balto.'' The same voice that stopped him from finishing Balto off replied, causing Steele to turn around.

As he did, he saw a pair of white, hairy canine legs, with huge claws on it's paws. He looked up and saw what frightened him.

There was her. The great, white wolf, standing above him and looked at Steele. Aniu.

Steele immediately turned mad and jumped to strike the wolf. But as he was about to claw the wolf's face, the wolf disappeared. Steele got on his paws, totally frightened and not being sure if that happened or it was all in his head.

''You better leave.'' Aniu told to Steele. As Steele was scared out of his fur because of Aniu and her ability to disappear and re-appear, he ran as fast as possible towards the ominous direction, finally leaving Nome and never coming back.

The canines were astonished by Aniu, who banished the arrogant glory-hound, as she walked towards unconscious Balto.

Then she said: ''Balto, your Noble Spirit is the greatest gift than any other gift living beings have. Now I'm going to give you the gift. The gift that none of the canines will ever harm you as long as you live.''

Then she glowed with her eyes, thus healing Balto's wound. As her eyes stopped glowing, she walked back towards the Lights and disappeared.

Balto gained consciousness as he got on his paws.

''Balto! Are you alright?'' Jenna asked running towards Balto.

''Jenna? I'm glad to see you here! I'm fine!'' Balto said, nuzzling Jenna.

''Where's Steele?'' Balto asked, as he didn't do what he should have.

''He's gone.'' Max said. ''He ran away as you were knocked out.

''Gone? Where to?'' Balto asked again.

''He's just gone, and he is never coming back again. A spirit in a shape of canine banished him.'' Molly said.

Balto looked towards all the canines and his friends. Then he looked at the Lights. Steele was really gone.

''Come on, Balto. We're going home.'' Max said.

''You go, we will be after you.'' Jenna said as the other canines headed towards the town.

Jenna looked at Balto and said: ''Balto, thank you so much for what have you done!''

Balto, glad to hear it, said: ''Anytime, Jenna. Those children deserve to live.''

Jenna said: ''Balto, since you saved the city, Would you like to...''

''Would I what?'' Balto asked playfully.

''Would you like to spend the rest of our lives together?'' Jenna said, finally getting her words.

Balto looked at her, happy to see his friend as his partner. He said: ''Yes, Jenna. I'd like to. But how about the next night, I need a rest...''

Jenna looked at him and said playfully: ''Sure. You deserve a rest.''

Then they headed towards the Nome.

Chapter 9: The love
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The next morning, Balto woke up. He had finally rested from the run the day before and the battle aftermath.

The day was sunny and beautiful, and the snow was not going to fall. Balto knew that it'd be beautiful night as if he arranged something.

Balto was