linger in this building?”

“I don't believe in ghosts, you know that Pierre. In fact, how many of you believe in him? Hmm? I didn't think any of you did.” At that the musical interlude began. “It's time for the Opera to begin gentlemen.” After they had all walked out, a voice quietly said “Well Steele, you have passed the point of no return.” It paid to have a Phantom! Balto then went and told Jenna, Boris, and the bears what he had heard. He then told Boris to go give the police a 'tip' that something was going to happen at the opera. He told every one else to attend the show and keep an eye out for Steele, and he would continue to act as the phantom, and also keep his eye out for Steele. But before Boris left, he quietly whispered to Balto “A dog cannot do this on his own. But, maybe a wolf can.” At this time the show started.

High up above the audience in the rafters Balto saw Steele take his seat. Halfway through the show Balto saw Steele get up and begin to walk to the exit. He quickly went and got Jenna, and they started to follow him to where Steele and his companions were unloading all of there equipment. Balto then told Jenna to go find Boris and to bring all of the police with them. But before Jenna could even move, one of the dogs working with Steele saw them and attacked. This caused quite a commotion and drew Steele's attention. He ran over and tackled Balto pinning him so he could barely move. He then noticed the mask and ripped it off. When Steele saw Balto's face he froze for a second in surprise. That was all Balto needed to get Steele off of him. But there where to many dogs to fight off. Steele told all the dogs to hold him still and then he hit Balto over the head with a gun. Balto fell over unconscious. (Again) Steele then grabbed Jenna and started dragging her back into the Opera House. He dragged her clear up above the stage where all of the sets and backdrops were. Steele then started tying a rope into a noose. “What are you doing?” asked Jenna.

“I'm going to use you to start my revolution. All I have to do is put this around your neck and then drop you. I'll blame it on the supporters of this new republic, get everyone riled up, and then lead them into revolution and take over everything.” Chuckling happily he put the rope on her neck and said “Adios!”

Jenna yelled for help, but she didn't need to bother. Before Steele could do anything a black blur came out of nowhere and hit him. Steele looked up and saw Balto standing there madder than Steele really wanted. He quickly got up and ran as fast as his wobbly legs would let him. Balto took the noose off Jenna and ran after Steele. As he was running up near where the supports for the two-ton chandelier were, Steele jumped out of nowhere and hit Balto hard. Balto staggered for a second but quickly got his wind back and rushed Steele. Steele backed up and drew the sword he had been wearing for the night. Balto stopped in front of him not knowing what to do. Steele looked at him and smiled.

Then he said “You robbed me of my opportunity to start my revolution. So I guess I'm just going to blame this on you.” With that he spun around and cut the rope holding the chandelier in place. Balto gave a howl of dismay and leaped toward the now falling chandelier. He grabbed at the rope and shouted as loud as he possibly could “Behold! He has cut down the Chandelier! Run for your lives!”

The audience, not knowing what was going on, looked up and saw a figure holding the rope to the chandelier. Then they saw someone behind him kick the figure, and as the Chandelier fell it pulled him along with it. Then they decided to run. As the chandelier fell Balto saw a steel beam sticking out and he quickly threw the rope around it. It stopped the chandelier long enough for the the audience to run and Balto to grab a hold of the beam. Then the rope snapped and two tons of steel, glass, and crystal shattered on the floor far below. Steele had not stopped to see how his handiwork had done. He just ran. And ran straight into Jenna, an old goose, two polar bears, and around 20 police. Jenna shouted “That's him!” The police swiftly had him in handcuffs and held him tight. Jenna walked up to him and said “Where's Balto?”

Steele looked back and said “Is that what that's dogs name is? Ha ha! He's probably dead by now.”

Jenna face turned white and said “What?”

“Oh yeah, he jumped after the Chandelier after I cut it down. It's a nice long fall.” Jenna and Boris both turned on there heels and ran into the auditorium looking for Balto. Jenna saw the chandelier crushed on the floor, and she then saw the black cloak that he would wear among the wreckage. She was just about to burst into tears when she heard a voice above her say “ Um.. I need a little help here!” She looked up and saw Balto clinging to a steel beam. She looked at him a little bit longer and then burst out with laughter. Balto looked back her and frowned. “Think it's funny do you?”

(Several years later)

“Wow grandma, that's some story! Is it true?”

“Why of course it's true! Your Grandfather and I really did that.”

One of the grandchildren looked at his sister and said “I bet. Do you think Granddad Balto really did that?”

“Well,” said his sister “It might explain that mask he's always wearing.”