Boris struggled to get up when a loud voice rang out.
"Boris! Boris!"
Boris got his head up and looked around.
"Huh?"
"It's an emergency."
He turned to see Balto dash towards him with Cole right on his heels. Boris was thankful though.
"Balto.", he said before lowering his voice so Stella wouldn't hear, "It's about time."
He then thought fast as Balto and Cole came up to the pair of geese.
"Ah, is Balto and Togo.", he said to Stella, "Always in trouble, those dogs."
Cole looked Boris' way firmly and then to Stella who was looking a bit scared.
"So, I take it you're Boris' date?", he guessed.
Stella calmed down as she saw Cole didn't mean harm and was just curious.
"Yeah, and I was about to do a little flying with him.", she said turning to Boris.
Boris however ran up to Balto's side.
"Oh, if I'm not bailing him out, then they are kaput."
Cole looked more firm at Boris, but Balto beat him to the punch.
"You must be the famous Stella."
Stella looked a bit firm herself.
"And your friend here must be the famous Togo which makes you the famous Balto.", she said crossing her wings, "The trouble dogs."
Now Balto looked Boris' way firmly.
"Boris."
Boris however kept to his lie.
"Come. We take care of emergency. Come.", he said quickly urging Balto away though taking a moment to look Stella's way, "Good-bye Stella."
Cole saw the disappointment in her eyes as she looked unsure.
"Bye Boris.", she said a bit sad as Boris and Balto hurried away.
Cole rolled his eyes.
"I take it he didn't tell you did he?"
Stella looked interested.
"Tell me what?", she asked.
Cole opened his mouth, but then Boris' voice rang out.
"Togo! We go now!"
Cole ignored him and spoke up.
"Boris just has a fear of heights."
Stella looked a bit surprised.
"He has a what?", she asked looking interested.
Before Cole could talk again, Balto's voice came to his ears.
"Togo, you coming?"
/
Cole sighed as he looked Stella's way.
"Hey, Boris could be a bit of a pain, but he means well.", he said to Stella, "He's really into you."
Stella looked a bit firm.
"Well, that's one way of putting it.", she said, "I bet he can't fly like-"
"Oh sure he does.", Cole blurted out, "He just doesn't want to fly very high."
Stella's firmness softened.
"Really?", she asked.
Cole then remembered Balto and shot Stella one more say.
"So, you wouldn't mind keeping this between us Ms. Stella?"
Stella looked a bit at ease.
"We'll see.", she answered before she flew off.
Cole dashed and was soon caught up to Boris and Balto though Boris looked concerned.
"So, what you say to Stella?", he asked as the trio walked along.
"I just told her that-"
"You told her the truth?", Balto guessed.
Boris looked Cole's way pleading, but Cole knew he couldn't lie.
"I did."
Boris almost fainted, but Balto got his attention again by changing the subject.
"Boris, I wasn't kidding when Togo and I came along. There really is an emergency."
Boris forgot about Stella for the time being and let Balto continue.
"A big race. The mail dogs against the bush plane."
"And whoever wins gets to deliver the mail to Nome.", Coel put in, "Though that's what Steele claims."
Boris smacked himself in the head.
"Oy, does this mutt ever leave us alone?"
"And that's not the big thing about all this.", Balto stated, "They want Togo and me to lead the dogsled team."
"So what is problem?", Boris asked trying to lighten the mood.
Balto didn't look so at ease.
"I've chased that bush plane.", he said rather depressed, "I can't beat it."
"That could be problem.", Boris said seeing the reality of the whole thing.
Cole then looked firm.
"Balto, I know that the plane is fast. Believe me, I was there when you chased it too.", he said trying to be supportive, "But as my musher used to say, 'It ain't over til the fat lady sings'."
"Really?", Balto asked as he and Cole headed back to Nome, "He really said that?"
"Actually, what he was yelling at me was, 'How many times do I have to tell you that you need to listen?', but I knew what he ment.", Cole told Balto, "Maybe we should try explaining it to the other dogs."
Balto sighed. Cole could see the doubt in his eyes, but he didn't want to let his friend down.
"Hey, I'll be right there alongside you.", he assured.
/
Needless to say, the other dogs didn't really see things the way Balto and Cole did once they arrived.
"We'll beat that plane paws down, now that you two are lead dogs.", Ralph had said excitedly.
Cole looked unsure as Balto tried explaining though a spotlight was on him like he was a guest of honor.
"Listen…"
"We're behind you 100 percent Balto.", Kirby had put in.
Coel suddenly felt like he had to step in when the other dogs in attendance started talking over each other.
"To the max!"
"100 percent!"
Balto thought about leaving and Cole could tell he wanted too, but as they did, Kodi came in front of them looking eager.
"If anyone can do it, you both can."
Cole tried to look calm, but found it hard to do so.
"Kodi, I know your fellow teammates have faith in Balto and me, but…"
"Everyone, listen.", Balto said trying to talk some sense, "I've seen it fly and Togo has too. I just think we need to consider the possibility…"
Unfortunately for Balto, it fell on deaf ears as Steele's voice rang out in the area.
"Of what?", the malamute asked smiling as he strutted into the area, "That you and Togo here aren't up for the challenge?"
"That's not what he ment.", Cole said firmly, "What he's getting at is-"
"So does that mean you'll both do it?", Kirby asked eagerly.
Steele locked his eyes on Balto while still wearing his smile.
"Yeah Togo, does that mean you're doing this?"
Before Cole could answer Kirby's voice rang out again.
"Let's do the call."
And the whole group started howling to the skies though Balto looked more uneasy and dashed off. Steele however looked amused.
"Guess he doesn't have it then."
Cole looked his way coldly.
"I said this once before Steele, and I'll say it again.", he said looking Steele right in the eye, "You're the devil."
And before Steele could make out what he said, Cole dashed after Balto and caught up with him as he had exited the alley though Boris was on a crate nearby looking eager.
"Yes, this is good.", the goose said cheerfully, "Very good."
Balto then looked happier.
"You think a bunch of dogs can beat an airplane?", he asked.
"Of course not.", Boris said looking a bit firm, "Is impossible."
Balto's expression fell.
"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence.", he said turning to Boris, "If you think we're going to lose, why are you so happy?"
Boris then looked happy.
"Because, I have solved my Stella problem."
Cole raised an eyebrow.
"Really?", he asked, "Let me guess, you're going to confess to Stella what I told her was true?"
"Are you crazy?", Boris responded before giving Balto a sly wink and then doubling over as if he was in pain, "Ah! Oy! The pain! The pain! Oh! And old migratory injury is back."
/
Cole was a bit impressed with Boris' antics, but both he and Balto both knew better.
"What migratory injury?", Cole asked.
"I've known you my whole life and you've never migrated anywhere.", Balto added.
"What does it matter?", Boris asked, "If I'm in pain, I cannot fly, yes?"
Cole sighed.
"Boris, I really think you should just confess to Stella that you don't fly very high and-"
"Let her think I'm no good for her?", Boris countered, "No! I think my plan better."
Cole then noticed Balto heading off and he turned to Boris.
"Boris, can you meet us back at the boat? I need to talk to Balto out there."
Boris shrugged.
"Ok, but be back real soon yes?"
He headed off and Cole dashed to catch up to Balto who seemed to be going over to a cabin outside Nome where he saw Balto let out a wolf howl of his own, though this one sounded sad. Cole paused as Jenna showed up. Even at a distance, Cole could hear them talking.
"What are you doing here?", she asked, "It's late."
"I just thought I'd say hello.", Balto said trying to forget his woe.
Jenna laughed lightly.
"You couldn't wait until morning?", she asked.
"I thought you'd miss me too much.", Balto answered.
Jenna knew something was bothering him as Cole suspected she did.
"Always.", he heard her say, "So what's up?"
Cole then felt a breeze behind him and his nose caught a whiff of something familiar.
"Now what?", he asked looking around.
"I sense you're disturbed my brother."
Cole's heart skipped a beat as he noticed Nava appear nearby looking younger than when Cole and Balto met him.
"Nava?", Cole asked amazed, "How did you get here?"
"Your heart called to me.", Nava answered as he noticed Balto and Jenna, "What troubles Balto and you?"
Balto by now had explained to Jenna about not being able to keep up with the plane and Cole saw the woe in his eyes as he guessed Steele's words were still in his mind.
"How can I look Kodi in the eyes if we lose?"
Jenna didn't look worried.
"You're his father. He loves you."
Nava then smiled.
"Oh, that's the problem.", he said with a chuckle as he turned to Cole, "Do not lose sight of what hasn't yet happened."
"Kodi knows Balto and me as the town heroes.", Cole stated a bit nervous, "The great Balto and Togo who saved Nome."
"What if Togo and I are the same Balto and Togo who lose the mail run?", they heard Balto asked Jenna.
Cole sighed as he looked to Nava.
"Nava, what can I do?"
/
Nava just started singing while Jenna was doing the same.
"You don't have to be a hero. You just have to be there. He doesn't need to know you're perfect. He need to know you care. And when the race is over, you've done all you can do. Be a family not a hero. That's all he needs from you."
Cole felt comforted by Nava's words as memories of Kodi and Aleu came to his mind. He could still see the little puppies running along the beach, having fun, but this time he was focusing on Kodi who was the littlest of the litter, and had stopped running before looking defeated as Nava's voice sang again.
"You don't have to be a winner if you give it your best. Believe in who you are and time can do the rest. Your heart is his example. Brave and strong and true. You don't have to be a hero, you just have to be you."
Cole remembered having personal talks with Kodi back in his puppy days and the last time he visited. Telling the pups stories from his own world, having quality time with him, and even having times together as Nava's voice continued.
"Trust in your friend. He's more than he seems. Like you, he can run. Like you, he has dreams."
Cole was feeling better as he noticed Balto was looking better already.
"Thanks Nava.", Cole said smiling.
He turned to see Nava was no longer around, but he didn't mind as he heard Jenna speak.
"Whatever happens Balto, you will always be his hero."
Balto headed off and Cole followed. When Balto paused, he looked upward and Cole did the same to see the aurora borealis hanging in the air as Nava's voice came to his ears again.
"Have faith in yourself my friend.", Nava sang as the aurora shifted into a couple dogs sharing a nuzzle before it returned to normal, "Have faith in him too."
Balto then headed back to his boat and Cole followed wondering what to tell him, when Nava sang once again.
"He will always have a hero."
Balto and Cole paused by a large puddle of water than was still enough to see their reflections. Cole had no idea what Balto was seeing, but he noticed Nava reappear beside his own reflection.
"He will always have a hero.", Nava said smiling Cole's way, "For he'll always have you."
Cole saw Nava vanish again like a mirage, but he wasn't sad as he noticed Balto heading off again. As Cole hurried after him, a thought came to mind.
"Was that really Nava or a part of my psyche?", he wondered.
Then he paused as he noticed Balto had halted. He followed his friend's gaze and saw the bush plane. Balto looked Cole's way, but when their eyes met, Balto knew that Cole wouldn't leave his side.
"What do I do to deserve a friend like you?", Balto asked as they headed to the plane.
"I don't know.", Cole answered, "Random luck, but whatever it was, I'm glad it happened."
It wasn't long before they were right at the plane where they paused.