Saba woke up a bit earlier than usual and thought about what Tor said. She knew it was Tor because of her high voice. But…what was the right thing to do? Follow what her parents say or disobey them? Well, what did SHE think was right?...

Saba nodded to herself. Street dogs it is!

Saba went back to sleep for another ten minutes, then went to practice. During races, Saba felt guilty about going to the alley again even though everyone told her not to. But she knew it would be worth it. And if she happened to get seriously injured or even die, at least she tried.

At the very end of practice, she checked to make sure no one was watching and then headed straight for the alley.

When she ran inside, Akil, Oki and Pok were just conversing. When they saw her, they…smiled.

“Hello Saba!” Akil said in a cheery voice.

Saba was really confused. Didn’t yesterday even happen? She touched the bandages that covered your face. Yep, it happened.

“…Hello.” Saba said, skeptical.

“I’m really sorry about last afternoon, Saba.” Akil said. “I just lost control and swiped your eye. You’re very lucky. I thought made you blind!”

“Um…It’s fine.”

“So…We were talking, and we thought maybe you COULD teach us a thing or two about being…good.”

Saba’s face brightened up. “Really?” All three dogs nodded.

“Yay! I knew it! My dad WAS wrong!”

“So what should we do now teacher?” Oki asked.

Saba smiled. She knew this wasn’t such a waste.

For the next few days, Saba taught the big strong street dogs how to be nice. They made amazing progress, and now some of the dogs around their alley are starting to notice a change in the dogs’ behavior. Saba was so proud of herself she could cry. But one day she was caught by her father and put her in her house for the rest of the night. Directly after practice, Balto came to get her and out her back in Carla’s room.

The next day, when Balto wasn’t watching her, she snuck out through the window. It was a second story window but there was an old mattress at the bottom, so she was fine. Saba then went back to the alley to greet her new friends. When she went inside, she heard them all whispering to each other. Then they looked at her.

“Hi Saba!” They greeted.

“Okay guys! What’s going on?”

Akil winked to his buddies. “Ohh…nothing.

“Just a surprise!” Pok shouted.

“POK!” Akil and Oki shouted. “You ruined it!”

“What surprise?” Saba asked. She DID love surprises.

“Well, since you did so much for us, we figured we’d do something for you in return.”

“Really? Oh, guys you didn’t have to do that. I’m happy doing this!”

“We wanted to. It’s just a thank you present.”

“Well, okay, but where is it.”

“It was too big to carry.” Pok joked.

“So we have to GO to it.” Oki said.

“Oh…Is it really far away?”

“Not really” Akil said. “Just a mile or two outside of town.”

“Okay! Take me there, boys!”

Saba followed Akil and the others for awhile until they got to their destination.

Saba looked around, confused.

“So…where’s my present?”

“Turn around.” Akil ordered in an almost evil fashion.

Saba turned to see a lone cave. Saba wondered how THIS was special. But then she looked inside the cave.

“…Hello Saba…” said the sinister voice inside. Saba immediately knew who’s voice and scent that was.

Balto came over Saba’s house to see how she was doing, Carla was at her part-time job and wasn’t home. So Balto just invited himself in. He went upstairs to Carla’s room and opened the door.

“*Gasp!*” Balto looked out to the window and saw that it was open.

“*Sigh* I knew I shouldn’t have left her alone!” At that time, Nao showed up and saw Balto leave out the front door. Nao then had a frustrated look on his face.

“She snuck out didn’t she?” Nao called to Balto.

“Yes, and I’m going to bring her home!”

Nao followed him and said, “I’m coming too!”

Some dogs on that street heard the conversation and the news spread like jelly on toast. It then reached a Klee Kai’s ears…

Saba stared at the figure above her.

“Aitu! What are you doing here?”

Aitu sneered. “Since I was banned by you, I lived here. It seemed that you got what you wanted didn’t you?”

“Look, I’m sorry. I was just really fed up with your constant helping.”

“And now you paid the price. When I was leaving the town, I ran into these guys!” He pointed at Akil, Oki and Pok.  “They chased me out, but I figured they’d be really good henchmen, or henchdogs. So I came back today while you were stuck in your room and told them all about my plan. They agreed.”

“What plan?”

Aitu had a smile on his face. “The plan to get rid of you.”

Saba growled.

“Oh, and by the way, I ran into someone else also. She said she hates you and can’t pretend any longer.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Oh dearie!” Aitu called to the cave in a sing song voice. Out came someone Saba would never expect.

“JESS?!”

“Hello, Saba.”

“But-I-What-Why?”

“That’s right. I was sick and tired of pretending to be your friend to get popular, then I met this handsome fellow. We made a deal, and now I am the queen of Nome.”

Saba started to laugh. “And how are YOU going to be the queen of Nome?”

“Simple. By killing the king.”

“What about Kila?”

“The little doggie was too fast for us.”

“So what do you mean by ‘killing the king’?”

Aitu took this one. “First, we kill the king, than his wife, and then the little princess who wanted everyone to be goody good!”

Saba then knew what he was trying to do. He was planning to kill her and her parents!

“I thought you loved me Aitu!”

“I only loved you for power, but since you wouldn’t give it to me, I’m just going to do this the hard way!”

“So how exactly are you going to bring my parents here?”

“Oh don’t worry about them. They’ll just come on their own.”

“What if I happen to escape?”

“That won’t be necessary, Saba, because I’m going to keep you captive here until your parents come.”

“But what if I run away?”

“Don’t worry about that either. Oh boys!”

Akil, Oki and Pok surrounded Saba and forced her in the cave. Then they guarded the entrance so she wouldn’t escape.

Balto and Nao were running to Jenna’s house like crazy! They told her what happened and she came with them to find her. When they were close to the edge of town, they ran into Kila.

“Guys!” Kila called. “Wait!”

Balto and the others stopped and looked at her.

“I know what happened!”

“Really? And why should we trust you? You were just using Saba to get popular!”

“I know! I didn’t want to do it, honest! Jess made me! She’s the evil mastermind behind this! Please? I just want Saba to be okay like you guys do!”

“Sigh, fine. What happened?”

“Do you know those street dogs Saba was hanging out with a few days ago?”

“Yeah.”

“It turns out they had a plan to take Saba to a mile or two off the border. They were giving orders to someone who said he was going to be the King of Nome! He’s planning to keep her captive there! I’m not sure about the rest, but that’s all I know!”

“Oh my poor baby!” Jenna cried.

“It’s going to be okay Jenna. Do you know where they went?”

“Yeah! Follow me! Don’t worry I’m fast!”

And Balto and the gang went to find Saba and bring her home!

Saba sulked in her cave, feeling very, very stupid. She shot her angry eyes at the three dogs guarding the cave.

“I can’t believe you would use me like that!” She screamed. “I trusted you, and I really thought you changed! I was just about to see good in you…but I was wrong.

“And YOU!” She creamed at Jess, whom she could barely see because the big dogs were in the way. “You were my friend for an entire year, and suddenly you decide to throw me away!”

“It wasn’t sudden! I didn’t like you from the start!”

“Even so, you used me to get popular, And YOU used me for power!” She screamed at Aitu. “I’m not an object that people can just use to make their lives better!”

It was like no one even heard them. Saba was just about to cry.

Do people only like me because it benefits them?

Balto and the others were pounding their feet against the snowy ground, desperately trying to get to Saba before something horrible happens to her. Suddenly, Jenna gasped.

“I see something!”

Balto looked in her direction and gasped as well. There were two small figures and three big ones. There was also a cave.

“Let’s go!” Balto shouted.

While Saba’s tears were streaming down her face, she heard Aitu shout in delight.

“Well, here comes the rest of the royal family!”

Saba’s tears stopped abruptly. She ran up to the entrance.

“No Dad please! Go back!”-

But Saba couldn’t say anything more because the trio shoved Saba father into the cave.

“Saba?! Why do you have my daughter?! Balto shouted at Aitu.

“She got in trouble with these three.” He pointed to Akil and the others.

“I had to take her into custody.”

“Free my daughter AT ONCE!”

“Don’t worry, I will. If you give me something in return.”

“No Dad, don’t do it!!” Balto heard Saba scream.

“What is it?” Balto asked.

Aitu’s eyes got red with evil. “Your life!” Aitu lunged at Balto and the whole fight began.

Balto was clearly winning. He had Aitu pinned almost four times! But sadly each time was a little more difficult for Balto. He was a bit older than Aitu was. Aitu knew what he was doing. He was making Balto weak so he can kill him more easily. Aitu, in mid-fight, ordered Akil to kill Jenna.

Akil ordered his buddies to guard the den, and leapt for Jenna.

The second Balto heard that command, he sprang right in front of Akil and grabbed him by the neck. Akil swung him off and fought with him while Aitu took Jenna. Aitu grabbed Jenna’s bandana and dragged her to the edge of a cliff.

The bandana slid off her neck and now she as grasping the edge of the cliff, clawing endlessly to get up on it. Aitu wouldn’t let her.

“Balto! HELP!!” Jenna shrieked.

“MOM!” Saba tried with all her might to push through the big dogs, but it was no use.

“HA!” Aitu shouted. “Finally. I have triumphed! I will become ruler of Nome, along with Jess, my queen! Plus three other servants.” Aitu pushed Jenna ever so slightly back. Jenna wouldn’t hold much longer.

At that moment, Akil stopped fighting.

“Wait a moment…servants?! We’re going to be your servants?!” Akil wasn’t very happy.

“Hey, it should be an honor working for me! Now kill Balto, or I’ll kill you first!”

“YOU KNOW WHAT?!” Akil shouted. “WHY DON’T I KILL YOU INSTEAD!!”

Akil, Oki, and Pok lunged at Aitu. Jess went to defend him. Balto was about ready to pass out. So Saba went to get Jenna.

“Mom? Are you okay?” Saba asked after she pulled Jenna up.

“I’m fine Saba. Now.”

“Dad!” Saba ran to hug her father. “I’m so sorry, I should’ve listened to you! About everything!”

“Saba, it’s okay. You’re forgiven.”

Akil, Oki, and Pok threw Aitu and Jess of a smaller cliff. They would survive. Then the three ran up to them.

“Saba?” Akil said. “I’m sorry. We should’ve known that Aitu was selfish from the start. We should’ve never agreed to his plan.”

“As long as you learned your lesson.”

“You know, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to resume learning how to be good. Do you think you can still teach us?” Akil asked.

Saba nodded gratefully. “Sure. But no evil schemes this time!” She kidded.

“Saba!!” A small voice shouted. Then Saba felt something around her ankles. It was Kila.

“Saba, I’m so glad you’re okay!”

“Kila?” Saba was a bit surprised. “What are you doing here?” Kila could tell Saba wasn’t pleased to see her.

“Saba, I know what you’re thinking, and I may deserve what you’re about to do to me, but it was all Jess’s idea to use you to get popular. I just went along with it because Jess said it wouldn’t hurt your feelings. I never wanted to do it in the first place!”

After a few seconds of thinking, Saba smiled. “Okay. Thanks, Kila!” Saba bent down and hugged her. Then her eye caught something else.

“Nao?” Saba looked up. She ran into him and licked his face.

“Nao!!! You came too!”

“Of course I did! Though it took me awhile to get here. Balto and Jenna were leading the way and suddenly sprinted. Kila and I got lost.”

“I don’t care! I’m so glad you’re here!”

“And now we can go home.” Balto said. Everyone agreed and took off for home, wondering what would happen now that everything is all topsy turvy.

One Year Later…

Saba was sleeping in her comfortable bed as Balto walked in.

“Hello Saba!”

“Hey Dad!” Saba told Balto recently that she didn’t want to do dog sledding anymore because she knew that helping street dogs feel respected was her true calling. He was totally fine with it! But what he wasn’t fine with was what happened before she told her. Then Jenna came in.

“Hi Mom.”

“I want to see how they’re doing.”

“They’re fine mom. Don’t worry.” Saba nuzzled her prefect little puppies. She and Nao had them a few days ago. One of them licked her in the face, where her scar is. The vet was right, that slash over her eye was going to be there forever. She didn't mind though.

And speaking of Nao…

“Hi guys!!” Nao burst through the door. He was back from practice. He still did dog sledding even though Saba quit.

“Shh! Honey, you’ll wake the kids. They’re dreaming.”

“Oh. Sorry. How’s it going Benji?”

Nao named the one who looked most like him, and that was Benji. He always liked the name. Saba looked at the little girl that looked most like her. She named her Scarlet. By then three giant figures tried to fit thought the door. Yep, it was Akil, Oki and Pok.

“Geez, is there a party I don’t know about?” Saba kidded.

“Akil’s been begging to see the puppies again.” Oki chuckled.

“I can’t help it. They’re just so cute!” Akil cooed little Benji. The 3 street dogs just received their diplomas and graduated from the “good school”. Now there are officially not monsters anymore. They only fight to defend themselves.

“Hey Nao, look.” Saba said. Nao looked at the ceiling.

“Why is the mistletoe still there? Christmas was weeks ago.”

“I wanted to keep it up. So I can do this.” Saba leaned and kissed Nao. He happily kissed back. Jenna leaned in and kissed Balto. He nuzzled her back. Pok kissed Oki in the cheek. And he wiped his cheek in disgust. “Aww gross Pok!!”

“What? It’s mistletoe!”

Saba and Nao laughed as they gazed upon the six puppies they now have, and could never remember a moment as great as this. Too bad Kila was sick today, or it would’ve been even better!

While the little party was going on, somewhere, up in the clouds, a wolf was smiling. She watched over her wonderful son, whom had her green eyes.

She said to him, “I love you, Banze, with all my heart…”

(And if you’re wondering what happened to Jess and Aitu, they found a new town to rule. Only,  They had to be street dogs. Hopefully that town has a Saba!)

The End!

(finally!)