As Balto, Jenna, and Cole were making their way back to Nome, everyone there had already started their day. Fox was out after getting his breakfast and thought he'd stop by the general store on his way out to see Nikki, Kaltag, and Star if they weren't out already.

"Another beautiful day in Nome.", he thought to himself recalling earlier, "I hope Togo found Balto in the early dawn's light."

A man was walking in so Fox took the opportunity to go in also. As the man walked up to the counter, Fox's eyes darted to a pudgy light brown dog with long ears that dragged on the ground and a mischievous look in her eyes as she crept toward a sack with a tear causing some grain to spill out.

"And where do you think you're going Dipsy?", he asked slyly.

Dipsy froze and quickly turned to see Fox's smiling face and quickly slapped on an expression of surprise.

"Oh Fox.", she said plopping her behind on the ground in front of the grain sack, "I-I didn't see you come in."

Fox looked to the sack behind her and then back to her.

"You weren't trying to steal anything from your owner are you?", he asked keeping his sly tone, "You do know what will happen if you get caught."

Dipsy's expression got more tense though she tried very hard not to show it.

"This wasn't for me.", she said quickly, "It's . . . uh, for . . . Mel."

Fox raised an eyebrow. Mel was the Airedale Terrier who lived at the Post Office of Nome and he was known to be tense if the mail was late. As convincing as Dipsy's words were, Fox didn't believe her entirely.

"Uh-huh.", he said as his eyebrow dropped back over his eye, "I just met up with an old sled teammate of mine last night and-"

"Which one?", Dipsey asked quickly as she tried using her back leg to make the hole in the grain sack bigger, but with no luck, "Oh, what was his name again?"

Fox looked firm.

"Togo.", he answered, "The one who helped Balto save Nome during the epidemic a few years back."

Dipsey had to think fast cause she didn't want Fox to rat her out if she was going to snag a quick snack, but how could she? Then she had an idea.

"Hey Fox, I think Steele was going off to let your team have a bit of grief for taking his glory away."

"That dog is not allowed anywhere near our sled team.", Fox said keeping his firm tone, "He knows that."

"Not if you ask him.", Dipsey countered, "Apparently that leg injury did more to him then just put him in the hospital for a long time."

/

Just then, the store owner came by and noticed his dog and Fox.

"Oh Fox, you here to make sure my girl isn't getting into anything?", he asked as he petted Fox's head and then Dipsey's, "Thanks boy."

Fox was distracted for a moment so Dipsey had to go fast. The moment her owner looked away, she turned to the sack and bit a bigger hole before cramming a few bites into her mouth and darting for the door which was opening from another customer leaving. Unfortunately for her, Fox was right behind her looking pretty miffed as they walked outside.

"For shame Dipsey.", he said to her, "You know it takes a long time for your owner to get that stuff and you repay his trust by stealing from him?"

"Hey, it's for Mel.", Dipsey tried saying without losing what she was holding in her mouth while trying to look sympathetic, "Honest."

Fox's expression hardened.

"If he doesn't, you and I are going to have a serious chat.", he warned before he dashed off.

Even though he had left, Dipsey felt like he would spring out and rat her out at any second if she didn't honor her word. She hurried inside the Post Office where Mel was stressing himself out as usual.

"It's a disaster, mayhem, a catastrophe."

Dipsey spoke up to get his attention though she knew that if he was nervous he would accept it right away.

"Hey Mel, I brought you a treat from the store.", she said to him still shaken by Fox's words, "Fox made sure of it."

"Thanks Dipsey, but I can't eat a thing.", Mel answered before flinching and then belching, "Nervous stomach."

Dipsey felt better knowing she had offered first rather than swallow the grain so now Fox had nothing on her.

"Good.", she said before swallowing and coming over to Mel, "I already ate it. So, what's news?"

"News?", Mel answered getting more worked up with every word, "What do you mean news? Don't you know the mail is late?"

Dipsey rolled her eyes as Mel crouched on the floor whimpering. She wasn't too worried about it and even if the mail was late, it would still get there.

"Honey, it's late at least once a week.", she told him trying to help him calm down, "Why worry?"

"I'm not worried.", Mel denied, "I'm just reasonably concerned."

He saw Dipsey wasn't buying it so he spoke up again.

"Okay, I'm frantic. Why are the dogs late with the mail?"

"Uh, I don't know. They're playing bridge?", Dipsey guessed.

"No. I'll tell you why.", Mel answered, "Something terrible has happened."

Dipsey sighed and looked on as Mel launched into a scenario of listing the things that would go wrong while also acting it out.

"What if the dogs went right over a cliff? Splat! Or they coulda been buried in an avalanche."

"Mel, calm down.", Dipsey told him.

Her words fell on deaf ears as Mel launched himself into some stacked packages that fell on him. Luckily he wasn't hurt as he continued.

"No, they're probably out there right now, bleeding and torn to shreds after a vicious attack by grizzlies."

"Oh, my.", Dipsey said as she watched Mel act out.

"I think I feel a migraine coming on.", Mel said as he paused suddenly.

"I think I'll join you.", Dipsey told him as she was relieved that Mel finally calmed down.

Then a sound reached their ears.

"What in the name of Yukon Jack is that?", Mel asked.

/

Outside, other people were gathering as Mel and Dipsey came outside and saw the bush plane fly over Nome.

"What the heck is that?", Dipsey asked.

"Trouble.", Mel answered getting worked up again, "That's what it is."

Fox was out too with Nikki, Kaltag, and Star who also couldn't help but notice the plane now landing outside of Nome.

"That can't be a good sign.", Nikki said plainly.

"Man, that thing is just so uppity, so steady, so-", Kaltag started.

"So unnatural.", Star interrupted.

Fox's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, now where is our mail runners?"

"Man boss, this can't be the day it's late is it?", Nikki asked, "Man, if I could run again, I-"

He paused as he flinched and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Man, lousy time to retire."

"Yeah.", Kaltag agreed, "We were so good back in our day."

Star looked a bit firm.

"Hey, we can't pull sleds forever you know.", he piped up, "The new dogs are great."

Fox looked Star's way understandingly.

"Yeah.", he chuckled, "Especially Balto and Jenna's kid. He showed potential in the entry run."

Kaltag looked eager.

"Oh yeah, he's definitely got it."

Fox looked out and noticed the airplane land. Then the sound of barking came to his ears which made him and the trio turn to see the team pull into the front of the post office.

"And there they are."

As the lead dogs took a break to shake themselves dry, Kodi now a dark red and tan husky mix, looked firm.

"We're late again."

"Yeah, well, what's the big deal?", the other dog who was brown with a lighter brown underside asked as he scratched himself before looking Kodi's way, "We're just running the mail, not saving the town."

"Like your old man and Togo.", a dark gray husky put in as he joined the conversation.

"Zip it, Ralph, "the brown husky said firmly, "We would've been on time if you hadn't been dragging your tush the whole way."

Ralph gasped in surprise.

"Me? I've got a broken toenail and it's driving me crazy.", he answered before coming up with a comeback of his own, "Besides, Kirby you kept yanking to the right."

"I had a lousy breakfast this morning.", Kirby retorted, "It wasn't my fault."

"Hey, it wasn't our fault.", a purplish brown husky named Dusty stated cutting into the conversation, "Hello, the ice was slippery. Everybody knows the snow is treacherous in the spring."

Ralph looked more on board with what Dusty said.

"Yeah, that's it. The snow's getting soft.", he said as he placed a paw in a batch of slushy snow near him, "Warmer weather, mushier snow."

The team shared a laugh, but Kodi wasn't joining in.

"But that's no excuse for being late.", he countered, "Everyone counts on us. Neither snow nor rain nor sleet nor hail will stop the U.S Mail."

"Yeah. What are they gonna do?", Dusty asked jokingly, "Fire us?"

Another round of laughter rang out before Kirby looked Kodi's way after calming down.

"Look Kodi, bottom line- we got the mail to Nome. Enough said."

/

Mr. Simpson started talking to Mr. Simpson who managed the post office in Nome who had come out while he started unloading the mail.

"Mail's here, Mr. Conner."

"Hey there, Mr. Simpson.", Mr. Conner said before taking a bag and heading to the door.

Unfortunately he stumbled and fell into the office and a crash rang out. Mr. Simpson looked at the door ready to head in, but Mr. Conner gave a thumbs-up from the door.

"I'm okay."

Balto, Jenna, and Cole had arrived and noticed the sled team getting unhitched.

"Looks like the mail finally arrived today.", Balto stated.

Cole rolled his eyes.

"Hey, delivering things by sled isn't easy you know."

"Very funny, Balto.", Jenna chuckled though she chose to ignore Cole's statement, "You know Kodi is proud of his new job."

"He does get that gleam in his eye.", Balto agreed.

"Kind of like how you and me do when we run together?", Cole asked before noticing Kodi as the trio walked over, "I would know."

"Hi Dad.", Kodi said as the trio came over, "Hi Mom."

When Kodi saw Cole, he paused and then smiled.

"Hi Uncle Togo."

Cole rolled his eyes comically.

"Didn't I tell you and your siblings that your father and I are not relatives?", he asked.

Balto chuckled.

"Togo, he's looking good out there."

"You think so?", Kodi asked as the group walked together, "I've been practicing on the beach. I'm kind of…"

"Kind of what?", Cole asked growing interested.

"Well, I'm hoping to get a chance at lead dog.", Kodi finished, "Like you and Togo, Dad."

Cole smiled and Balto looked complimented.

"Well, you keep working hard and I'm sure you'll get there.", Balto said to him.

"Just don't expect it to be easy.", Cole put in, "Did I ever tell you of how hard I worked at getting that position?"

"Only about a few hundred times if I recall correctly.", Kodi said smiling.

Then Balto paused.

"It's here.", he said in awe, "My word, it's here."

"What's here?", Cole and Kodi asked together.

Cole followed Balto's gaze to see the plane from earlier on the ground and not far outside Nome. Just as Balto was about to head off, Cole noticed something as an envelope flew by and landed at his feet. On it was a poem which grabbed Cole's attention.

/

"A change from above brings a race to decide. A choice is made when the legend flies.", Cole read quietly to himself.

"Togo?", Kodi asked.

Cole snapped at attention as he looked Kodi's way.

"Yeah?", he asked.

"You okay?", Kodi asked, "You seemed a bit distanced."

Cole looked out of the corner of his eye to see the envelope had vanished. Probably blown away or something.

"Just…a…slight chill.", Cole answered thinking up an excuse quick, "I better go see what your dad is up to."

He hurried after Balto and had caught up with him just as a man with blonde hair, blue eyes and aviator gear stepped out of the plane and on to the snow and noticed them.

"Hey there boys.", he said kindly, "A dog welcoming committee huh?"

He reached over and rubbed Balto's head before doing the same to Cole before pointing to his plane over his shoulder.

"Why don't you both guard my plane for a few minutes?", he asked as he stood up, "I'll be back soon."

He got up and left while Balto got closer and started sniffing around while Kodi's sled teammates had come over to inspect as well.

"What is that thing?", Kirby asked.

"Watch it Balto.", Ralph warned.

Balto wasn't listening as he got even closer.

"Dad, don't go getting any ideas.", Kodi said as Balto jumped on the plane's wings.

"Since when is he such a Samwise Gamchee?", Cole thought to himself.

"Me?", Balto asked as he had now reached the cockpit, "You think I'd just hop in and go for a flight?"

"Highly unlikely.", Cole thought to himself, "The probability of a dog manning controls ment for humans is worth zero point nothing on the hope-ometer level."

"Yes.", Kodi answered his father.

"You're right.", Balto said looking upward, "I would if I could."

Cole snapped out of his daze.

"Balto, I think you should get down from there."

Balto did so just as a flock of geese flew overhead.

"Guess we can agree that spring is officially here.", Balto said before looking curious, "So where's Boris?"

"I don't know.", Cole answered, "Haven't seen him since this morning."