Hey there. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy.

The sky was turning to dusk in the small town of Nome. Jenna was sitting on the porch of Rosy's house, waiting patiently for Balto to return. It has been four days since he escorted Sora to see Nava about what Cecelia was planning to do in the year 1928.

"It looks like Balto won't be coming home today." Jenna sighed. "Maybe he and Sora would be back tomorrow."

Jenna got up and went inside. She lies down on a comfy pillow next to the fireplace. Jenna closed her eyes and was about to go to sleep when she heard someone coming in. She got up and got excited.

"Balto?"

"No, mom, it's me." Kodi said when he walked in.

"Oh hello, Sweetie." Jenna said, nuzzling her son. "You just came back from delivering the mail?"

"Yeah," Kodi said. "I thought dad and Sora were here now."

"No, Kodi." Jenna said. "They're not."

"What do you think they're doing out there?" Kodi asked. "Do you think they found Nava yet?"

"I'm pretty sure they have, Kodi." Jenna said. "Perhaps Nava told them that they gotta do something to stop this Cecelia."

"Well, I hope they're okay." Kodi said.

"Don't worry, Kodi." Jenna said. "Your father can take care of himself. And Sora's with him. They both can handle those 'Heartless' things."

Kodi grins at his mother.

"You're probably right." He said.

Just then, Jenna and Kodi heard somebody coming in. They went to the front door to see if who it is.

"Hey, guys." Ralph said.

Kirby and Dusty were with him.

"Is Balto and Sora here yet?" They asked.

Jenna and Kodi gave disappointing looks and shook their heads.

"No?" Kirby asked. "Where could they be?"

"I don't know." Jenna said.

"Do you think they're okay?" Ralph asked.

"We're pretty sure they are." Kodi said. "Hopefully, they'll be back tomorrow."

"Yeah, hope so." Dusty said.

Just then, more dogs came in. It was Balto's friends and old teammates: Nikki, Star, and Kaltag.

"Hey, Jenna, Kodi." Kaltag said. "We just came to see if Balto's here yet."

"Sorry, guys." Kodi said. "But dad isn't here yet."

"Oh," Kaltag said. "Let me guess, he's off with a human that can talk to us dogs."

He, Star, and Nikki laughed. Dusty gave an annoyed look.

"He is, dad." She said. "And the human's name is Sora. Balto is helping him with something very important."

The golden husky with a brown spot on his left eye stared at his daughter firmly.

"Dusty, how long will you keep up with this ridiculous story of yours?"

"She's telling the truth, Kaltag." Kodi said. "Dad is helping Sora stopping this human witch named Cecelia from taking over."

"Yeah!" Ralph and Kirby said.

"Don't tell me you guys are in this too." Kaltag said. "Jenna, do you also think that this is getting crazy?"

"As much as I think it is." Jenna said. "But I'm afraid Kodi, Dusty, Ralph, and Kirby are telling the truth."

"Oh, come on, Jenna." Nikki said. "I would never expect you're in this joke too."

"You guys know I would never joke about something like this." Jenna said.

"Okay…So where is Balto?" Kaltag asked.

"Balto is escorting Sora to see Nava." Jenna replied.

"That old wolf leader Balto was talking about?" Star asked.

"That's right." Jenna said. "Balto believes that Nava might know something about those 'Heartless' that attacked the town a few days ago."

"Heartless?" Kaltag, Nikki, and Star said.

"That's what Sora calls them." Jenna said. "He says that they're dark creatures that come from people's hearts."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up there, Jenna." Nikki said. "I'm sorry but I just can't believe any of this."

"Me neither." Star said. "A human that can talk to dogs, dark 'Heartless' things, it's just too much for me."

"Yeah," Kaltag said. "The only way for us to believe it, we have to see it ourselves."

"Well, why won't you all stay for the night?" Jenna said. "I'm pretty sure Balto and Sora will be back tomorrow."

"Okay, we will." Kaltag said.

Then, once again, another dog came in. Kodi growled at the newcomer. So did Dusty, Ralph, and Kirby. Nikki, Kaltag, and Star just gave dirty looks. Jenna just gave an angry look. It was Balto's old rival: Steele.

"Good evening, Jenna." Steele said with a smile.

Jenna just looked away from him. Kodi walked towards him.

"What are you doing here?" He said angrily.

"I just came to visit, that's all." Steele said, acting normal.

"Yeah, more like trying to hit on my mom." Kodi said.

Steele just looked at Kodi, but showed no expression.

"What makes you think that?" He asked.

"Because you've been trying to do that for a long time." Star said, showing no fear.

It was times like this that Steele would bark at Star, who would get scared and cover his face. But Steele didn't do anything to Star. He just nodded.

"Yeah…it's true that I try to hit on your mother, Kodi." He said. "But I realized that it'll never work between us. So I came to apologize for everything I've done."

"Really?" Jenna said, now looking at Steele. "I believe there's someone else you should apologize to more than me."

Steele looked at Jenna. He knows who she meant.

"Right, I should apologize to Balto for…for…"

He couldn't say it.

"For always making fun of his pedigree," Jenna said it for him. "For keeping him off the rescue team to get the medicine,"

"For attacking Balto when he tried to help us get the medicine back," Star said.

"And for messing up our trail back to Nome." Kaltag said.

Steele was shocked by the sudden outburst. He then looked down and nodded.

"You're right." He said. "I should apologize to Balto. He deserves it."

Kodi looked at Steele.

"What's with the sudden change of heart, Steele?" He asked.

"I just came to my senses that I've been doing nothing good all this time." Steele said. "I just wanted fame and…your mother."

Kodi growled when he heard that.

"But that's all in the past now, Kodi." Steele said quickly. "I promise you, I'll apologize to your father and be a good dog for now on."

It was Jenna's turn to look at Steele, seeing if he's telling the truth.

"All right, Steele." She said. "We'll see to that once Balto comes back."

"Thank you, Jenna." Steele said.

Just then, the ground started shaking uncontrollably. All of the dogs tried to gain their balance. Star fell to the floor easy.

"What's going on?" Ralph asked while the ground was shaking.

"How should I know?" Kirby said.

Then all of a sudden, the shaking stopped.

"What was that?" Kodi asked.

Just then, they heard a human laughing. All of the dogs ran outside. A lot of people were out there too, shaking from that unexpected event. Rosy and her family ran out there as well. Rosy then gasped and pointed up at the sky. Everyone looked. They gasped too. A tall muscular man, who's completely bald with a full beard wearing a black coat, was floating in the sky. The man looks at the town's people.

"Hello, everyone." He said. "Sorry for the shake. I just wanted everyone's attention. My name's Bolder and I have important to tell you. You see, a while ago, my majesty, Queen Lavendra, has sent my fellow comrades to retrieve some ice crystals. But each of my comrades has been destroyed by the Keyblade Master. I'm pretty sure you all know who he is."

The town's people looked at eachother and whispered. They had no idea what Bolder was talking about. But Jenna, Kodi, Dusty, Ralph, and Kirby did.

"It was the boy who scared away those 'dark wolves', a few days ago." Bolder called out.

The town's people gasped.

"Sora?" Rosy said.

"That's right, little girl." Bolder said. "And that mutt, you people call a hero."

The town's people gasped again.

"Yes, you all know who I'm talking about." Bolder said. "Well, my majesty is getting upset by this nonsense. So she's ordered me and my other comrade, Kie, to capture you all and take you to my fortress."

Everyone screamed and started running when they heard that. Bolder just made a grin and snapped his fingers. Soon, hundreds of rock-like Heartless appeared through out the town, cornering the people of Nome. Just then, Kie appeared and started moving her fingers. Little tornados appeared and started sucking the town's people. Everyone tried to get away from the tornados, but the Heartless kept them from going anywhere. Rosy then got sucked in. Soon, so did her mother and father. Jenna gasped. Kodi tugged on her bandana.

"Mom, we've got to get out of here." He said.

Jenna was getting scared but nodded. The dogs started running. They had better chance of escaping than the humans. The Heartless tried to stop them, but the dogs were too fast for them. They were getting close to the exit of the town. But just then, a little tornado was pulling Jenna in. Kodi looked back and saw it.

"Mom!" He yelled.

Kodi tried to get closer, but Dusty stopped him.

"We can't save her unless we save ourselves!" She said.

"Go look for Balto and Sora!" Jenna said before she got sucked into the tornado.

Kodi and the others started running towards the exit. Tears were coming out of Kodi's eyes. Bolder and Kie were laughing. Only a few people were still running from the tornados. Soon, the dogs made it out of the town. Kodi was growling like he never did in his life.

It's all my fault. He thought. I couldn't save mom. They'll pay for this. Bolder and Kie…you guys are going down.

Kodi then looked at the sky, staring at the full moon.

Dad, Sora, where are you?

Outside of Nome. A few minutes later…

A quick flash of light appeared. Soon, Sora, Balto, Boris, Muk and Luk appeared. They were back.

"Oy, it's good to be home." Boris said. "I can't to see Stella's beautiful face."

Sora and Balto grinned.

"Come on, let's go surprise everyone." Balto said.

Just as he was about to walk, Balto stopped there. His eyes and jaw were wide open.

"What is it?" Sora asked.

Balto didn't need to answer. Sora looked at where Balto was looking. He too, had his eyes and jaw wide open. Boris, Muk, and Luk looked too. They all gasped on what they saw. The town of Nome was gone. Instead, a massive Castile stood there. It looked like it was made out of ice. It was tall and wide, and a lot of dark clouds were circling it. Sora gasped.

"W-what happened here?" He asked. "What happened to the town?"

"I-It's gone…" Balto said with shock. "It's really gone…"

Sora then had an idea of who was behind this.

"Cecelia…" He said with anger.

"Dad! Sora!"

Sora, Balto, Boris, Muk and Luk turned around. Kodi, Dusty, Ralph, Kirby, and a couple of other dogs Sora has never seen before, ran towards them.

"You're back!" Kodi said. "We've been looking everywhere for you guys!"

"Kodi, what happened here?" Balto asked. "And where's your mother?"

Kodi looked down.

"They…took her." He said in a low voice.

"What!" Balto said. "Who took her?"

Kodi was too hurt to say more. So Dusty told him.

"Two humans with strange powers kidnapped everybody in town by creating little tornados to suck them in." She explained. "Jenna got sucked in as well."

Balto growled by this.

"Did they say who they are?" He asked in a hard voice.

"They said their names are Bolder and Kie." Dusty said.

"Subordinates…" Sora said.

"What?" Dusty asked.

"No time to explain." Sora said. "What about this castile?"

"It appeared right after the last human got sucked into the tornado." Dusty said. "And that's all I know."

Sora stares at the Castile. He had no idea what Cecelia and the subordinates are planning to do with the people of Nome. But he knew one thing…

"We've got to go in there and save everyone." Sora said.

"I don't think it's going to be easy, Sora." Dusty said.

"But there's got be-"

Sora stops there. The new dogs were staring at him like he was a ghost. Sora sighed.

"Sorry guys," He said to the new dogs. "I know this is strange that I can talk to you, dogs, but now's not the time."

A short skinny dog with gray fur went up to him.

"I can't believe it…" He said. "Jenna and the others were right. You CAN talk to us, dogs!"

"Huh?" Sora asked, not expecting this.

A big overweight brown dog spoke next.

"This is amazing!" He said. "A human that can speak dog!"

A golden furred dog with a brown spot on his left eye spoke after him.

"Yeah!" He said. "You must be So-Sor-Sore-Sorre-So…"

"You must be Sora!" said the little gray dog.

The golden dog punched the little gray dog on the head, which made him make a stupid laugh and fell to the ground.

"You guys know my name?" Sora asked.

"Yeah," said the golden dog. "My daughter, Dusty, told us about you. But we didn't believe her until now. I'm really sorry."

Dusty smirked.

"Apology accepted." She said.

"Right, but now isn't the time." Balto said. "Let's get to the boat and we'll discuss what to do."

Everyone nodded. When they got to the boat, Stella ran to Boris and hugged him.

"Boris, you're back!" She said. "Where have you been?"

"Not now, Stella." Boris said. "We have a bit of a situation."

"Yeah, Stella," Balto said. "Nome is gone and so is everyone."

Stella gasped.

"Why, what happened?"

Sora and Balto decided to tell the dogs everything that has happened these past four days. When they finished, nobody said a word. The black and white dog with blue eyes that Sora hasn't heard a word from, looks at Balto.

"So, what are we gonna do, Balto?" The dog finally said.

"I'm not really sure, Steele." Balto replied.

"Steele…" Sora said. "You!"

Steele was shocked by Sora.

"Yes, I've heard about you." Sora said. "And from what I heard, you're one twisted dog."

Steele started sweating. He didn't know what Sora was gonna do with him. But Sora didn't do anything.

"If it weren't for this situation we have, I would've taught you a thing or two." He said. "Got any ideas how to get in the Castile, Balto?"

Balto shook his head. Sora rattled his head.

"There's got to be a way in."

Just then, something caught Sora's eye. An old sleigh was laying next the boat. Sora went to it. Balto and the others looked concern.

"Say guys," Sora said. "I know without a doubt that once we get close to the Castile, Heartless would be there to stop us."

"Yeah…" Balto said, not getting Sora's point.

"So…how fast do you guys go on a sled team?" Sora asked.

"Really fast." Kodi said. "It depends on weight. Why?"

Sora showed the dogs the sleigh he found.

"So, how fast would you guys go for…someone like me?"

Balto now knew what he meant.

"Like what Kodi said, really fast."

"And for all of you guys?" Sora asked.

"Really, really, fast." Balto said.

Everyone looked puzzled.

"Huh, what's going on here?" asked the brown dog.

"We'll use the sleigh to get to the Castile and avoid the Heartless." Balto said.

"That's a great idea!" said the little gray dog.

"You're right!" Kodi said. "Sora, you're a genius!"

Sora scratches the back of his head and smiled.

"Thanks."

"Come on, let's get started." Balto said.

"Before we go," Sora said. "I don't know your guys' names.

"Oh, right, I'm Nikki." said the brown dog.

"I'm Star." said the little gray dog.

"And I'm Kaltag." said the golden dog.

"Okay, got it." Sora said.

Sora found some old straps and ropes. He tied it to the sleigh, and harnessed the dogs, all expect Steele.

"Wait! I want to help." Steele said.

"Why should I believe you?" Sora asked.

"Because I want to help, I really do." Steele said. To make it up for all those bad things I've done."

Balto looks at him.

"I think he's telling the truth, Sora." He said. "Give him a chance."

"Are you sure?" Sora asked.

Balto nodded.

"All right, you can come and help us, Steele." Sora said. "But listen to this. If you do anything to slow us down, or try anything to hurt Balto, I'll make sure the Heartless get you."

Steele nodded franticly.

"I promise, I won't." He said.

"Good." Sora said.

He then harnessed Steele next to Kaltag. Balto walks to Sora.

"Are you really gonna do that?" He whispered.

"Nah, I just wanted to be sure he's keeping his word." Sora whispered back.

Balto smirked.

Balto was made lead dog. Behind him were Kodi, Dusty, Ralph, Kirby, Nikki, Star, Steele, and Kaltag. Boris, Muk and Luk decided to stay at the boat.

"Good luck, fellers." Boris said.

Sora stepped on to the sleigh board, and grabs hold of the rope.

"All right, guys." He said. "Mush!"

The dogs started pulling the sleigh, going towards the Castile.

End of chapter. In the next chapter, things won't go as easy as Sora planned. Plus, Balto shows off his new power. Please review.