In The End...

by: Lady Vader.

rated: G.

characters: are all (c) to Universal.

summary: Balto returns home with the antidote, along with the missing sled team. He's glad he's going to save all those little kids an get back to his new found love, Jenna. What if the ending isn't quite like he had hoped?

pairings: Eh, that'll give it away.

a/n: personally, I have nothing against Balto, nor did I wish it would have ended like this. But still, I'm pretty happy with this fic.

songfic based on Linkin Park's 'In The End'.

Alternate ending to the original Balto film. Quite AU.

 

It starts with love.
One thing, I don't know why,
It doesn't even matter how hard you try.
Keep that in mind.
I designed this rhyme.
To explain in due time.

All I know.
Time is a valuable thing.
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings.
Watch it count down till the end of the day.
The clock ticks life away.

It's so unreal.
You didn't look out below,
Watch the time go right out the window.
Tryin to hold on.
Didn't even know, I wasted it all.
Just to watch you go.
I kept everything inside.
And even though I tried,
It all fell apart.
What it's meant to be
Will eventually
be a memory, of a time.

Cold wind stung at his warm, golden brown eyes as he sprinted as fast as he could over the growing snow drifts. The load he was helping the sled team pull was growing heavy, even if it was the antidote. The leather harness was beginning to cut into this skin, causing it to become painfully raw. He winced as he shifted, feeling it cut into his flesh even more. They had to keep going. 

The whole situation was a miracle in itself. He had found the missing sled dog team and the oh so important antidote, and together, they hade made it through a blowing blizzard. This had all been an effort to save so many kids living in Nome, sick with a deady disease. 

His muscles burned and his heart pounded angrily in his chest. His breaths were slowly becoming ragged. They were almost there. Suddenly, Nome's lights came into view. He heard the dogs behind him bark happily. They were nearly home.  He found himself smiling, despite the way he felt. He was finally going to see Jenna again. He let out a loud howl, lunging forward harder, wanting to get into Nome. His paws dug into the icy snow, begging for more speed.

People were slowly coming out of their warm homes, their eyes falling on the sled dog team coming down the hill. Many gasped, but they were not greated with cheers. The closer they got, Balto realized many were shaking their heads. The slowed, then finally coming to a stop in snowy, crowded street. He felt cold eyes apon them, then someone muttered, "If only they would have been here sooner."

He felt his heart drop. Oh no.  He felt frozen, glued to the cold street. He groaned inwardly as his harness was roughly lifted from his brown, shaggy shoulders. He stared up the man. The man's eyes were cold and sullen. "If only you had been here sooner boy." He whispered, "Maybe my lttle girl would still be alive." He patted Balto's head, then began freeing the rest of the sled team.

He had tried so hard to save them, the kids, and to save Rosey. He froze instantly at the thought. He numble moved off, rushing off towards the town's small doctors' office. He spotted the window, and he placed his massive paws on the seal. He stared inside, trying to see through the foggy window pains. What he saw haunted him to the stake.

Beds were lined up in rows, white sheets covering the bodies occupying them. His eyes found the far corner were many adults were standing. One silently pulled a sheet over a small girls face.  He suddenly felt sick. He dropped back to the street. He hadn't saved Rosey. He silently turned, and walked away numbly. He had to find Jenna.

 He rushed down the street, his eyes watching for Jenna. He couldn't help but feel bad. He had tried to save all those kids. He had failed them. He had failed their parents. He had failed Rosey. He had failed Jenna.  It had all been a waist of time.  He had been helpless to save them, instead he had just let them die.

Then he saw them, Jenna and Steele laughing together, both laying down side by side at her doghouse. It was evident she had been crying, but apparently Steele had cheered her up fairly easy. He felt his heart drop once more, and ice water rush through his veins. "Jen-" He muttered.

Jenna looked up, obviously suprised to see Balto standing there. Her eyes suddenly grew cold, the she whispered spitefully, "You said you would save them." Fresh tears appeared in her eyes, and she stood, rushing off down the dark street.

Steele stood, glaring at Balto. "Well well. Looks like our hero didn't win anything. Infact, looks like it was all for nothing. He lost more than he gained." He scoffed, then turn quickly, wacking Balto with his fluffy, white tail. He sauntered off down the street, searching for Jenna.

Balto felt cold inside. Steele's words slowly sunk in, clearly true for once. He had lost something dear to him. He had done it to make him happy, but instead he was watching her go. Everything was all falling apart.

When I tried so hard and got so far.
But in the end, it doesnt even matter.
I had to fall, to lose it all.
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.

He knew his journey wouldn't come without scrafice, but hadn't expected nothing like this. He had tried so hard, trying to please, trying to be accepted, but in the end it hadn't mattered. He was still a mutt, a stupid wolf dog. He had lost it all, or what little he had. What it boiled down to was, after all his work, he had gained nothing.

It hadn't even mattered... 

One thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even mather how hard you try.
Keep that in mind.
I designed this rhyme.
To remind myself.
How I tried so hard.

Despite the way you were mocking me,
Acting like I was part of your property.
Remembering all the times you fought with me.
I'm surprised it got so far.
Things aren't the way they were before.
You wouldn't even recognize me anymore.
Not that you knew me back then,
But it all comes back to me
In the end.

You kept everything inside,
And even though I tried it all fell apart.
What it meant to be, will
Eventually, be a memory of a time

A FEW MONTHS LATER:

He never really forgave himself for that night. If only his team could have gone faster. He sat silently by the graveyard gate, fighitng his emotions. He had to go inside, but he sure as heck didn't want to. He shakily stood, stepping into the silent place.

He was a different wolf-dog now. He had lost weight for one thing, his ribs were easily visable. His once thick brown fur had lost all it's shine, looking dull and lifeless. Honestly, much how he felt. And his eyes. Those once bright, warm eyes had all the happyness drained from them. That had all been zapped by guilt and loneliness. What a mess he was in.

His eyes landed on a sobbing female, crying on Rosey's gravestone. Jenna. He winced, flipping his large ears back against his skull. He had caused her pain.  He was about to step forward and speak to her when an all too familiar black and white dog slipped beside her "Jenna, darling, let's go. Come on, you'll make yoursel sick." He licked her cheek and helped her to her feet.

They turned, ready to leave, when they spotted Balto. Jenna gasped at him. "Oh my gosh." She whispered, noting how bad he looked. "Balto?"

He dipped his head, then slowly looked back up. "Yeah..." He cleared his throat and sighed.

Steele growled gently. "Get out of here." He whispered deeply.

When I tried so hard and got so far,
But in the end, it doesnt even matter.
I had to fall, to lose it all.
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.

I've put my trust, in you.
Pushed as far as I can go.
For all this,
There's only one thing you should know.

Balto stepped aside as Jenna and Steele slowly passed him, making their way to the gate. He watched them go over his shoulder, and frowned slightly. He took a deep breath.

"Jenna wait." Both turned, Steele shooting him a death glare, Jenna looking at him sadly. "There's only one thing you should know."

I've tried so hard,
And got so far,
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.
I had to fall, to lose it all,
But in the end, it doesn't even matter.

"I tried to hard to save her. I really did.  I got so far and came so close, but in the end, I guess it really didn't matter.  I had to fall, and now I've lost it all. But in the end, it doesn't even matter..."

 

The end.

 

a/n: I have nothing against Balto, but I just had to write this fic, mainly so it would leave me alone. I hope you like it. If you do, leave me a comment. It was pretty fun to write.

a/n 2: Sorry, if the font problem on page two isn't fixed. I don't know what's wrong with it. It shows up fine when I go to edit it.

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