NO YOUR NOT CRAZY.  YOU READ IT RIGHT.  THIS IS THE LAST PART AND WHERE YOU FIND OUT WHO WON.  BALTO OR STEELE.  THE ENDING MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.  BUT DON'T FEEL BAD!!!  THIS SERIES IS OVER, BUT I'M NOT!!!!!  BALTO WILL RETURN!

"Wolves of the Pack of the Mountain, may i draw your attention!"  Balto, Kodi and Star stood with Mage as the leader adressed his pack.  Vitwany stood next to her brother and Oreo, Vitwany's mate, stood beside her.  "For many years, we wolves have shared a common similarity.  We all distrust and dislike dogs."  Many cries of agreement followed this. 

"But now i must ask you!"  Mage called out.  "May we not forgive and forget?"  Silence followed.  "We were all told the stories as pups of Rowan's betrayal to the wolf race, but must we not also see that Rowan was happy?  Do we have the right to deny a wolf his joy in life?  If Rowan created the race of dogs, then it was for a sole purpose."

"Get to the point Mage!"  A voice called out.  

"My point is...."  Mage said.  "My pack will no longer be at war with the dog race!  Our friend Balto needs help and we will help him."  Many cries of outrage followed his words.

"Listen to me!"  Oreo suddenly called out.  The black and white wolf quickly grabbed a stick in his mouth and drew a line in the dirt.  "All who ask to help step across the line!  I know we're asking you to forget all you've been taught about dogs, but wouldn't you like to be known as the wolves who helped restore the balance to our world?"

Oreo dropped the stick and stepped over the line he had drawn.  Vitwany, Mage, Balto, Kodi and Star followed.  The pack stayed.

"So this is my loyal pack?  Fine then.  Shade!"  A larger wolf stepped forward at Mage's command.  "You were my most trusted wolf and a natural born leader, which is why i named you my beta.  I dub you head of the Pack of the Mountain." 

"But Mage,"  Balto said.  "I didn't want you to give up your pack!  This is the wrong way!"  

"I was planning to run away and form a pack with Oreo remember?"  Vitwany said.  "My brother is welcome to come with us."  Mage nodded.

"Plus Balto, i will not force those who do not wish to forget." 

"I'm coming!"  A voice piped up.  A small gray she-wolf named Sasha stepped forward.  "I think it's time to forget the past and move toward the future!"  She crossed the line.  

"Is that all?"  Mage asked.  None of the wolves moved.  "Very well then.  Shade, lead them well.  This is goodbye."

Shade nodded toward Mage.  "I will not forget the leader who taught me all.  Goodbye my friend."  

"It is time to go."  Balto said.  Sasha, Vitwany, Mage and Oreo nodded and Kodi said "Let's get them dad!"  Star nodded also and they were off, running toward Nome.  Balto was in the lead with Kodi at his right and Mage at his left.  Vitwany and Oreo followed and behind them Sasha and Star brought up the rear. 

"Dad, do you think Mom managed to convince the dogs of Nome to trust you?"  Kodi asked.

"If i know Jenna, she did."  Balto answered.  The pack ran on, stopping only to rest and for the wolves to hunt for them.  Finally, they reached Nome.

"We will rest for the night."  Balto said.  "We don't know what faces us tomorrow and we must be prepared for anything!  Use this rest ot gather your strength."  They all nodded their heads and curled up.  

"You know Balto, you and i are alike."  Mage said.  "We are both natural leaders and we want the same thing."

"What do you and i both want Mage?"  Balto asked.

"To keep our families safe and our friends close."  The wolf answered before curling up next to his sister and falling asleep.

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~~~~~BACK IN NOME, the next day~~~~~~

"Give up Steele!"  Nikki growled.  "It's over!  We all know the truth now!"  The dogs surrounding all shouted their agreement.  In the days since, Jenna and Nikki had rescued Dusty (i will tell how in another fan fic) and had gathered the dogs together.  Dusty had told them what happened and now the dogs of Nome were confronted Steele.  Rector was no where to be seen.

"Is that so?"  Steele asked.

"You are the most despicable, the most untrustworthy, the most...."  Kaltag started but Steele intrupted.

"So what are you going to do?"  Steele asked.  "Bring the wolfdog home?"

"Yes!"  A voice shouted.  It belonged to Ralph, one of Kodi's mail team mates.  "Balto can come home now!"

"And then we should drive you out Steele!"  Another voice said.  Many voices soon followed.

"Drive him out of Nome!"

"Leave him for the wolves!" 

"He'll never lie to us again!"

"Look!  It's Balto!  And he's with Kodi and Star!  And there are others there to!  It's.......I don't believe it!  He's with wolves!"  Dusty shouted, turning her head toward the forest where Balto could be seen.

"So Balto,"  Steele said.  "The fight begins now!"

"Fight?"  A dog called Kirby said.  "Who's going to fight?  I know i'm not fighting for you Steele!"

"Me either!"

"Count me out!"

"I don't need your help!"  Steele snarled and to everyone's horror, a blood curlding howl broke through and sent chills down everyone's spine.  "Balto has wolves, so do i!"  Steele shouted as seven huge, snarling wolves led by Rector ran up from behind Steele.  Unknown to the dogs, Steele had promised the wolves that the wolves could eat all the humans food and maybe even the animals if they promised to help Steele.

"Run!"  Nikki shouted.  "Toward Balto if you wish to fight Steele off!"  The dogs scattered as the wolves ran forward.

The fight had started.

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"Are you seeing what i'm seeing!"  Vitwany shouted.  "The dogs are running toward us, but their being chased by other wolves!" 

"I know that pack!"  Mage shouted.  "That's the Pack of Blood!  They are nothing but a group of loners who travel and kill for pleasure!  The only good thing about them is they don't mind being near dogs!  Their lower than do........."  Mage stopped himself.  "I mean, their lower than dirt!"

"Look!  Some of the dogs are running away!"  Star said. 

"I'm guessing those are the ones who don't want to fight."  Kodi said.  "What do you think Dad?  Dad?"  Balto remained quiet.

"Jenna, please be safe!"  Balto thought desperately as he surged forward to meet the oncoming dogs.

"Nikki!"  He finally shouted and the pack slowed down as the dogs approached.  The Pack of Blood had stopped chasing them and gone back to Steele. 

"Balto!"  Nikki called out and the dogs burst into speech.

"Balto we're sorry!"

"Steele tricked us!"

"Forgive us!"

"We want to fight!"

"Balto."  A voice called and Jenna rushed out.  Balto yelled in joy and ran forward.  The couple nuzzled for a moment before another voice yelled in delight.

"Dusty!  Your safe!"  Kodi called and he too ran toward his mate.

"Hey Kaltag!  Nikki!"  Star said to his friends.  

Balto raised his head and saw the four wolves standing away.

"Guys, this is Mage, Sasha, Vitwany and Oreo.  These are the wovles i stayed with.  They are here to help."  Balto said, flicking his tail at each wolf as he introduced them.

"Why would wolves help dogs?"  Nikki asked.

"We are here to forget the past and look toward the future."  Mage said.  "And Balto is part wolf also.  We are helping out a fellow wolf."

"So Balto, what's the plan?" Oreo asked. 

"Yea!  We're here to help!"  Star said.  "I want to show some of those wolves what happens when he messes with the dogs of Nome!"  

"Okay, first things first."  Balto said, leaping up on a rock so all could hear him.   "I want everyone to find a partner right now!  You will fight with your partner.  That way, if your ever in trouble, you always have help.  If you see someone else in trouble, help them!  Mage, you know more about the Pack of Blood than i do!  Tell them about them!"

"Right.  The Pack of Blood is a group of......"  Mage started.  Balto ran up to Jenna.

"Oh Balto, i'm so glad your home!"  Jenna whispered to him.

"Jenna,"  Balto started.  "Jenna, i don't want you in this fight.  Take Dusty and every other girl dog and get them out!"

"What?"  Jenna took a step back.  "But Balto......"

"The odds are already for us Jenna!"  Balto said.  "We have more dogs than Steele.  Please Jenna!  I can't fight knowing your in danger!"

"Balto, please don't ask me to run away!"  Jenna said, a little angerily.  "I've done my part to help....."

"And you've done wonderful!  But now it's time for me to try."  Balto licked her.  "Please Jenna!  Do this for me!"

"Balto, i will not fight, but please, be careful."  Jenna whispered.  She went to round up the female dogs.  Balto heard many moans and angry shouts, but eventually, the chaos died down as the females left, leaving the males to fight. 

"Balto, it's time."  Mage said.  Balto nodded and stood up.

"Dogs of Nome," He called out and there was silence instantly.  Even teh wolves seemed to listen.  "By now, Steele has made a battle plan and is ready to fight!  Well so are we!  We have grown in this experiance!  And now, lets kick some tails!"  Howls and cheers followed his words and Balto ran up to Kodi.

"Take some dogs, Oreo and Sasha around and hide in the trees."  He instructed his son.  "We can block them off and stop any traps coming our way.  Steele is tricky."  Kodi nodded.  "And Kodi,"  Balto continued.  His son turned to look at him.  "Please be careful."

Kodi nodded.  "For Dusty."  He whispered before he ran off to find who he needed.  Finally, the time to strike was there.  Kodi was in position and was to come into the fight at a signal from Mage.

Balto lead the pack, running until they came to the forest where he had first hidden.  They would not have the fight in the city.  Steele stood there with Rector and the seven snarling wolves.

"Rico."  Mage called out to one of the wolves and a black one raised it's head.  "It's a shame to see you fight for a cause like this."

"Steele promised us food!"  Rico shouted.  "Think what you want Mage!  You won't be thinking for much longer!" 

"Then it is settled."  Mage whispered and Balto stepped forward.

"Steele, i will give you one more chance to redeam yourself!" Balto called out. 

"I don't think so!"  Steele snarled.  

"Steele, your outnumbered!"   called out.  "Give up!"

"Am i?"  Steele laughed as Balto flicked his ears.  In the distance, he heard the howling of dogs and the snarls of fights.

"Kodi!"  Nikki cried.  "Our trap backfired Balto!"

"Oreo!"  Vitwany whispered, horrified.

"You bet it did!"  Steele said.  "You didn't think i'd leave this all down to just a head on fight?  No, your all surrounded!  Now, lets make this clear wolfdog!  The losing dog has to leave Nome.  Forever."  Balto looked around toward his small group of dogs.  With Kodi, Oreo, Sasha and three more of his dogs, that left only Nikki, Kaltag, Mage, Vitwany and four more.  They were trapped.  To his horror, many more wolves jumped out of the trees, followed by other dogs.

"I have been planning this for a long time Balto!  These dogs are from other towns who all are willing to help!  The wolves were promised hunting rights!"  Steele laughed!  "You can't beat me!"

"I accept!"  Balto called out.  "I am not afraid of you Steele.  It's time we end this fight once and for all!"  

"Agreed."  Steele snarled and he lept at Balto, who sidestepped the attack and swung around, snarling.  He saw Vitwany run ahead and collide with the wolf Mage had adressed eariler.  Rico.  Suddenly, Balto felt someone yanking on his tail.  With a snarl he turned to see Rector glaring at him.

"Now you die Balto!"  Rector snarled.  "Die like my family did!"  And he pinned Balto down under one of his massive paws.

"Rector!"  Balto coughed.  "I did not kill your family!"

"You did!  You sent me to the ally that day!  You caused me to kill Meeko!"  Rector growled and lunged for Balto's throat.  Balto suddenly saw a flash of red.

"Kodi has saved my life!  He escaped the other attack!"  Balto thought in relief, but when he got up, he saw, to his surprise, Jenna.

"I couldn't leave."  Jenna called out while she dodged Rector's teeth.  

"Rector!  Leave her alone!"  Balto snarled.  In one motion, he lept at Rector, who had been taken by surprise and pinned him down.  "Rector understand, i did not kill your family.  You are crazy with grief and your mind was twisted by Steele!"

"Lies!"  Rector screamed.  "All lies!  You are a murderer Balto!  And you will die tonight!"  Rector jumped up, throwing Balto back and aimed for his throat.  

"Balto!"  Jenna called in horror.  Suddenly, Balto saw Mage, standing in front of him.  To Balto's horror, Rector's teeth closed around Mage's throat and pinned him to the ground.

"Balto!"  Mage coughed.  "Balto, tell Vitwany I....."  But it was too late.  In one swift motion, Rector closed his jaws.  Mage's eyes grow wide then closed as his body went limp.

"MAGE!"  A voice called.  Vitwany rushed in, saw her brother's dead body and screamed.  Jumping at Rector, she easily caught him off guard.  Rector had never fought a wolf and Mage had not put up a fight.  Vitwany on the other hand............

"You killed him!"  She screamed.

"I have no time for this!"  Rector growled.  "Balto, die!"

"I am a wolf!  I kill for food!  Your not the only one who can kill!"  Vitwany sobbed and in one swift motion, she clamped her jaws around his throat and he screamed in pain as she killed him.  

"Balto."  Jenna ran up to him and hugged him.

"Vitwany, I....."  Balto stared at Mage's body, but Vitwany had already moved on to another dog.  Quicly, she sent the dog running into the woods, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

"Jenna, what are you doing here?  Where's the other dogs?"  Balto asked.

"I brought those who wanted to fight."  Jenna said.  In the distance, Balto could see Kodi running toward him with Dusty by his side.

"Mother came and helped us fight off the other pack!"  Kodi called out.  "Then we came here!"  It was clear Steele's team wasn't prepared for the renforcements and they backed away. 

"We're winning!"  Balto thought.  Jenna growled as a wolf came near. 

"Jenna don't!"  Balto said, but his mate ran ahead and caught the wolf with her teeth.  "Jenna!"  Balto called.  Sasha was suddenly in sight, fighting alongside Jenna.  Balto turned his head.  Jenna would be safe with Sasha.  She was a good fighter.

Balto ran through the fighting packs, looking for Steele.  He saw Star and Oreo battling side by side against two of the wolves from the Pack of Blood.  Kodi had gotten one of the dogs that had come with Steele and the others were just a mix of teeth and claws. 

Finally, Balto saw him.

Steele was fighting against a wolf Balto had never seen before, but regonized from Mage's old pack.  Teh wolf had been following Balto and snuck in to fight with Balto.  

"Steele!"  Balto called out and Steele turned.  The wolf nodded at Balto, accepting that it was Balto's turn to fight, and ran off.

"Balto!"  Steele snarled angerily.  The sled dog raced at Balto and the two collided in a furious whirlwind of fur and teeth.  Steele had bitten down on Balto's shoulder, causing pain to sear through Balto's pelt.  Balto quickly did a counter attack and clawed Steele's back. 

Finally, the two seperated, both gasping for air.

"I will not lose this fight wolfdog!"  Steele snarled.

"Steele, you grew up hating me!  Let the past go!"  Balto said.  "Stop this fight right now and no more blood will be shed!"

"Never!"  Steele cried.  "You humilated me, scorned me, and took my future mate!  My musher didn't put me as head dog again because you took over the medicine run!  You destroyed my life Balto!"

"Steele, I'm sorry that your life has been hard, but so has mine!"  Balto said.  "Please Steele!  Stop this now or your going to get hurt!"  

Steele snarled and sprang at Balto.  Balto sidestepped the attack and flung himself on Steele.  The two dogs rolled on the ground, snarling and lashing out before they once again had to stop for a break.  They were evenly matched.

For the third time, they looked at eachother.  Hatred flared in both dogs eyes as Balto and Steele started to circle eachother, both looking for a weakness in their opponent.  Steele was limping slightly in his left front leg and Balto's shoulder was bleeding badly, but neither slowed.  Finally, Steele made the first move.  He sprang at Balto who jumped up and met him in the air.  Balto suddenly remembered a trick that Steele had used many times before.  With a snarl, he snapped his jaws near Steele's limping leg and the dog tripped.  In an instant,  Balto was on top of him, jaws around his throat.

Balto had won.

"Steele, it's over."  Balto said.  A howl broke out behind him.  In their moments of fighting, Balto and Steele had not noticed that Steele's pack was gone.  He saw a few of them running in the distance.  The ones that had been able to continue fighting had probably ran off when they saw Steele had been beaten.  The howl belonged to Oreo.

"Balto has won the fight!"  Oreo howled and the wolves joined in, including the brown one Balto had seen.

"It's over Steele."  Balto said.  Steele snarled then lay in the snow.

"I could not have lost!"  He said, but he sounded defeated.  Balto unleashed his grip on Steele's throat and both dog and wolfdog got to their feet. 

"Steele, honor your deal."  Kodi growled and the dogs and wolves around him murmured in agreement.

"Hold on Kodi."  Balto said.

"Balto, you can't possibly be thinking of letting him stay!  This is what this whole battle was about!  This was why my brother is DEAD!"  Vitwany snarled.  Oreo licked his mates ear.  

"Be silent Vitwany."  Balto said.  The demanding tone in his voice told Vitwany not to object, but she still growled.

"Steele, you understand what you've done?  Your own greed has driven you to things that you can't undo.  What do you have to say for yourself."  Balto said.

Steele snarled, but held his tongue.  His pride would not allow him to speak.

"Then Steele, your musher will forever wonder what became of you.  You have been given many chances and you blew them all.  It's time for you to go."  Balto and Steele glared at eachother until finally, Steele looked away and began to walk. 

And he walked until the forest trees blocked him from sight.

There was silence, then a great cheer broke out.  The wolves all started howling, and even a few dogs joined in.  Balto was getting "great job" and "Good work" from everywhere! Finally, Oreo came forward.

"Balto, it's time for us to go."  He said.  The dogs all quieted down.

"But who's going to be your leader?"  Balto asked, flicking his eyes to where Mage's body could still be seen.

"I am."  Oreo answered.  "Vitwany and I were already planning to start a pack with me as leader, so now's the time.  Sasha and Kalon will come with us."  Sasha and the brown wolf, Kalon both nodded.

"Thank you."  Jenna stepped forward.  "I hope your territory will not span to far from Nome.  We would love to have you come back one day."

"We will."  Vitwany said as Kalon picked up Mage's body.  "We will bury my brother and get our pack started.  Then we will come back.  Balto, you are our friend.  And a wolf never forgets it's friends."

"Neither does a dog."  Kodi stepped forward and threw his head back, letting out a rough, but still clear, howl.  The wolves joined in and the dogs were next.  Balto and Jenna both howled along and the sound rang out for miles, echoing through the forest. 

"Good bye."  Oreo said and led his pack away.  Soon, like Steele, they were gone.

"Come on Dad."  Kodi said.

"Balto, it's time to go."  Star continued.  Kaltag joined in.

"You must be dying to see it."

Jenna ran forward and licked her mates ear and, as the troup of dogs marched back to Nome, she whispered the word in his ear.

"Home."

END OF THE SERIES!!!!! WASN'T IT AWESOME!!!!!!  THANK YOU GUYS FOR READING!!!!!!!!!!!  IT MEANS A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!  BUT DON'T WORRY!!!!!!!!  I'M STILL GOING TO CONTINUE WRITING!!!!!!!!!!!  BALTO WILL RETURN!!!!!!!  WHY DO I KEEP USING SO MANY EXPLANATION MARKS???????  I DON'T KNOW!!!!!!!!!   ANYWAY, THANKS AGAIN.  WHO KNOWS?  MAYBE I'LL EVEN START A FAN FIC ABOUT OREO AND HIS NEW PACK!!!!!!!!!  JUST KNOW THIS:  I'M NOT DONE YET!!!!!!!!!