I can still remember the first time that I saw this movie as a kid even though it wasn't until later on in my life, that I realized what a profound impact it had upon me and its ending still gets me choked up to this very day. Its funny some of the things in this world, which take us back into memories we think that we have long forgotten but trust me when I say there still with you, there just buried beneath the new ones, all you have to do is be welling to dig for them. Well that's enough about the deep connection that I feel toward this great movie and if you haven't had the opportunity to see it yet, I strongly recommended that you track it down and watch it. If you aren't on the verge of tears by the end, than you must already be dead on the inside because it's inspired by an incredible true story, which is bound to touch upon your heart strings. However that doesn't mean that you have to have seen the movie to enjoy reading this fic but it sort of dose help one understand the history that there is between its canine characters and how that relationship has changed from what it was before, to what it is my fic. As usual I always welcome all opinions, so please R&R

Disclaimer; I don't own any of the characters or film rights to this movie

Northern Lights

Chapter One,

The noble and indelible spirit of the Husky

With the thundering crash of the collapsing ice cave still ringing in his ears, Balto courageously led the dog team in to the blinding snow and ice of an arctic blizzard; a storm of such historic proportions that it would later by recorded as the worst blizzard to hit the area in over a century. After all the dangers they had already endured to safely deliver the desperately needed diphtheria anti-toxin to Nome, a lesser lead dog might have stopped to give the team a brief rest to recuperate there strength but not him. The wolf-dog was determined to see the life saving serum through to the end even if it meant losing a paw or two to frost-bite, than at least Rosy and the rest of the children would be saved from an early grave and their parents from countless years of grief. Every step forward caused pain to shot through his body yet Balto ventured onward as if nothing was wrong with him, setting a furious pace that have exhausted even the most seasoned of Nome's sled dogs.

Crashing through a particularly high snow bank, Balto saw a dark shadow in the distance. As they drew nearer, the dark shadow dissolved in to the clearly defined town of Nome illuminated from behind by the dancing northern lights. Remembering that Jenna was the only one he had shown them to, Balto just knew that she must of heard of there plight and braved the bitterly cold weather to arrange the broken bottles from under the hospital on the hill that hill overlooked Nome. Lousing a howl, Balto reached for the last dregs of his strength and ran faster than he had in his entire life. Heralded by Balto's howl, the previously hopeless residence and dogs of Nome poured out of their homes and lined either side of the main street. A thunderous cheer rent the air as the lost sled team emerged from the storm like spectres from one of the tales of old.

Slowing the dog team to a stop directly in front of the quarantined hospital, Balto and the others were swarmed by the joyous townspeople. As the Doctor and Rosy's father carried the unconscious musher into the hospital to tend to his injures, another of Nome's residences took the leather harnesses off the sled team starting with Balto. Looking around the crowd as the strips of his leather harness were lifted off him, Balto was surprised that none of them inquired why he was leading the team when the sled had left Nome with Steele at its head.

Once free of his harness, a few moments later, Balto found himself on the receiving end of thankful pats from the grateful parents who had children that were afflicted with the deadly diphtheria virus. Hearing his name being called far above his head, Balto looked up and saw Boris descending toward him. Wrapping his wings around Balto's neck, the Russian snow goose praised him for his awe inspiring adventure and achievement. A few minutes later, the fluffy polar bear cubs Muk and Luk burst from the crowd and sandwiched Balto and Boris between them, engulfing the other two in a loving hug; as the group toppled to the ground, relief reflected in all of there eyes.

Extracting himself from the bottom pile, a few moments later, Balto watched as Rosy's father motioned for him to come inside. Looking back over his shoulder at Boris, who insisted that he should go with the flick of his wings, Balto felt a rush of excitement and happily followed Rosy's father in to the hospital. A mixture of relief and admiration shone in Jenna's eyes as she beheld Balto for the first time since he had ordered Boris to make sure Muk and Luk got her home safely while he soldiered on alone undeterred by the worsening weather. Affectionately nuzzling Balto, a few moments later, Jenna let her actions convey just how much she had missed him, unwittingly revealing the true depth of the feelings she had felt for him all her life.

"Balto, you did it," Jenna said joyously, relishing the feel of his scruffy fur as it rubbed against her combed one, "Thanks to you, Rosy and the children of Nome will be safe."

"I had a promise to keep," Balto answered back softly, retuning Jenna's affectionate actions with some of his own, "I hope that climb up the hill did not re-injure your paw, Jenna."

"It's nothing that a few more days of rest wouldn't heal," Jenna said holding her head against the side of her scruffy loves neck, deeply breathing in his musky sent, "But we can talk about that later, what you need now is rest, my love. After what you just did, you have more than earned it."

"I think your right, Jenna," Balto said suddenly aware of just how tired he actually was, began to feel asleep on his paws after two days of running at top speed through the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness without stopping to rest because it meant certain death for the towns children.

Deeply breathing in Jenna's sent of fresh pine needles, which reminded him of spring hunts in the forest not far from Nome, the hybrid husky closed his eyes and unable to resist its gentle lulu any longer began to slid down her right flank; giving in to sleep as he went. Landing with a muffled thud upon the wood planked floor of the patient ward, moments later, Balto was sound asleep. Smiling warmly as she looked down at her beloved, Jenna gentled pulled Balto over to the foot of Rosy's bed by the scruff of his neck before cuddling against him. Lovingly laying her head across Balto's shoulders and wrapping her tail around him, a few moments later, Jenna closed her eyes and let sleep wash over her.

For those of you whom have read any of my other fan fic's, I know this first chapter is a little on the short side compared to them but remember that's it only the first chapter. Plz R&R