Cole's eyes took a bit to adjust to the new view, but once they were, he found himself back in his room again. The mirror showed he was human again, but he was already feeling blown away from the adventure.

"I can't believe Steele saved Balto.", he said to himself as he double checked his homework for the night, "Probably something he could brag about no doubt."

"Cole, is everything okay?"

Cole tensed as he heard his mother's voice from upstairs.

"Yeah Mom.", he called back, "I just got a little lost in my homework."

As Cole prepared to get his homework in order, he then remembered something for his Writing class.

"Don't forget class, your final writing assignment is due next Thursday.", he recalled the teacher telling him and the rest of the class.

"What kind of story can we write?", a fellow student had asked.

"Whatever comes to your mind.", the teacher had said, "Just be sure it's appropriate, at least four pages long, and hand written when you turn it in."

Cole felt a bit tense. Sure, he could write good, but in all the time he had spent making sure he was still able to be on the cross-country team and making sure he was still able to help carry the team to victory, he hadn't given any thought about what story he'd do for his writing assignment. He still had time though as the weekend would probably help. For now, dinner would be served and Blake would soon be over with Nora and Sarah since the group had grown close as friends. Cole put his fingers to the Inuit necklace and felt a chill run across his hand, but he turned to see the window near his bed was still open so he went over to it and closed it.

"Cole, dinner will be ready shortly."

Cole came out of his room just in time to hear a knock at the door. He went to get it and found Blake with Nora and Sarah with him.

"Hey Cole.", Blake said cheerfully, "We having steaks tonight?"

Sarah sniffed the air a few times and she looked thoughtful.

"Mashed potatoes, gravy, and carrots?", she guessed.

Cole smiled.

"Yep."

Nora looked amused as she came in with Sarah and Blake.

"Are we good?", she asked, "Or are we good?"

Cole rolled his eyes.

"You guys having trouble with your homework?", he asked.

Blake looked a bit embarrassed.

"Yeah, I'm a little lost on my Advanced Algebra homework."

"I'm a bit behind on my report for History.", Nora admitted.

"And I could use some help with Art.", Sarah added.

Cole was used to having them come over whenever homework was getting to them. It made spending time together fun and more social.

"Blake, will your dad be picking you up?", Cole's mother asked as she noticed the group getting set for their usual session of homework helping.

Blake rolled his eyes comically.

"Nah, Mark and Lars are driving him up the wall again.", he stated, "Their hearts are in the right place, but they're not very bright at times."

/

The weekend went by pretty fast. Cole had spent most of it with Blake training for the final cross-country run they were going to do before school was let out and they would no longer have to be on the team. Nora and Sarah helped too with Aleu since it got her outside and time to spend with the people she cared about. Sunday was sunny, but unfortunately, there came a run in with Keith after the service.

"So, enjoy your time away from the track?", he had asked.

"Hey, it's Christian custom to attend the mass each Sunday.", Cole said firmly, "If you're here to try and get us worked up, you're clearly wasting your time."

Keith chuckled clearly amused by the gesture.

"You think I'm here for that?", he asked, "Well, once the school year ends, I'll be finally able to get out of this dump and move to Anchorage where I'll make a real difference."

Blake just smiled.

"Only if you get your grades up before Graduation next Friday."

Keith frowned.

"Don't remind me.", he sneered, "You two clearly don't know what I had to go through to get my position on the team."

Now Cole chuckled.

"You mean that you bullied other members, made those who wanted to try out feel unwelcomed, made training hard as heck, and being just plain bad?"

Luckily, Keith's father had shown up and made sure Keith would be polite when interacting with others though Cole figured that Keith only obliged cause Mr. McSnarl was present. When their parents came out, Mr. McSnarl greeted everyone happily and offered to pay a lot of dough for the charity the hospital was hosting. When they left, Keith managed to shoot Cole and Blake a cold sneer while his dad wasn't looking. Still, the encounter was over and Cole was able to go over to Blake's house so the two of them could think of ways Cole could finish his Writing class project. Mr. Gustov was happy to have him over as it would keep Mark and Lars occupied as he seemed busy with something.

"What's with Mr. Gustov?", Cole had asked.

Mark couldn't keep a secret and blurted it all out.

"Mr. Gustov's got a girlfriend."

Blake suddenly looked shocked.

"Mr. Gustov actually is seeing someone?", he asked.

Lars nodded eagerly as the doorbell rang. They had all gotten to the living room to see Mr. Gustov with a woman who looked his age yet still spry before she noticed them.

"And who are these Gustov?", she asked slyly.

Mr. Gustov looked nervous.

"They're… my adopted kids.", he admitted, "Cole is just good friend to Blake while Mark and Lars just don't sit still."

The woman looked around Mr. Gustov's age and her graying hair was tied in a bun while her gray eyes sparkled with intrigue while wearing a blue shirt, jeans, hiking shoes, and a warm smile.

"Well, I don't want to be rude.", she said not taking her eyes off the boys, "I'm Natasha."

/

Cole was back in class on Monday and he had a good idea where his Writing assignment would be about, but had doubts.

"Why not base it on Inuit folklore?", Blake had suggested, "You seem interested in that kind of stuff."

Cole put his things away before getting his books, folders, and pencils for the half of the day before lunch. He had felt like it had potential, but maybe other kids in the class had the same idea as Blake did. He thought of telling Blake that, but since Blake's adoptive dad was seeing someone who was nice and clearly into him, he didn't' want to risk it. Natasha seemed like she knew how to handle a family and was certainly good material as a wife since she wanted things to go slowly so Gustov and her could get to know each other. Cole got to homeroom just as the bell rang and the morning announcements came over the intercom.

"Attention Seniors, as you're all aware, next Friday marks the last day of school so get those assignments in before school is let out on that day."

Cole was deep in his Writing assignment before the announcements ended and Keith suddenly showed up at his desk making him jump for a bit.

"Keith, what are you doing over here?", Cole asked getting annoyed, "I'm trying to work."

Keith smiled.

"Cole, I heard your party is on Saturday."

Cole really wished Keith would move along, but Keith wasn't budging. Thankfully, the teacher called him out before Cole lost it.

"Keith McSnarl, if you have time to chat in class, then move your desk to the available on in the back of the room and please be quiet."

Keith went back to his seat now looking firm as if he wasn't planning on getting called out. Cole spent most of the day trying to focus on his schoolwork, but whenever Keith and him were in the same room, Keith made it clear that he wanted to be invited even though he never said anything. As Cole met Nora and Sarah at lunch, he provided the invites for them and Keith wanted to receive on as well, but Cole refused. As Keith turned to leave, Cole suddenly had an idea.

"Um Keith, I was wondering if-"

Keith didn't bother to wait for Coel to finish.

"Great! I'm there!", he answered enthusiastically, "Whatever it is, I'll do it!"

He bolted off and Cole suddenly looked sly.

"Anything?", he asked though he doubted Keith heard him.

Nora and Sarah looked a bit taken aback as Blake showed up looking just as bewildered.

"What's Keith so excited about?", he asked, "He's transferring or something?"

Cole just started on his pizza and broccoli.

"I invited Keith for a special something for my party this weekend."

Blake looked shocked and interested at the same time.

"What was that?", he asked.

Cole looked the trio's way.

"Guys, how do you feel about a little payback?"

Blake, Nora, and Sarah just looked lost.

/

That Saturday, Cole was thrilled to have the special part Keith would be taking part in. Blake, Sarah, and Nora had helped him set it up. Now they just had to wait for Keith to show up as party guests started arriving that afternoon. Cole had invited some of his teachers, the coach, the cross-country team, and even the neighbors who were more than happy to attend. Then a flashy, clearly overpriced truck roared up in the driveway and parked. Cole and Blake both looked unsure as Keith stepped out putting his keys in the pocket of his black leather jacket, jeans and boots while sporting flashy sunglasses as he flipped them with his hand and placed them on his jacket pocket while letting his dark hair hang out.

"Don't you think he overdressed?", Cole asked.

Keith just waltzed over and gave a smile.

"Well, where's my role?"

Cole smiled.

"Glad you feel that way, you're just in time for your role."

A while later, Keith was clearly not happy as he was placed behind a board that allowed his face to show while guests pelted it with rotten vegetables.

"Hey, this was not what I signed up for!", he snapped as a rotten tomato smacked his forehead and slid down the side of his face.

"I would've told you if you just let me finish.", Cole reminded him, "Don't worry, you can leave, just apologize for the mean things you did to us."

Most of the adults found this a bit harsh, but couldn't resist a chance at a toss. At least Keith's face was getting pelted and not his clothes or he would really be upset. The party was still fun though guests helping with the hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, everyone talking and having fun. When it came for Cole to have his cake, it was beautiful. Keith had gotten out of his job and left in a huff in his truck only to not look where he was going and crash into a telephone pole.

"I'll call the tow truck.", Mr. Marty said as he dialed.

As much as Keith wanted to leave, his house was on the other side of Nome and he had no intention of walking.

"I can't believe I got dressed like this to end up like this.", he said coldly.

Cole felt a bit sorry for him and tried to make amends.

"Keith, I'm sorry about setting you up like this.", he said, "I was just-"

"Don't tell me!", Keith snapped before he suddenly broke down, "You don't know what I went through! Having to move from your home in Maine only to be ignored by the sibling you gave up everything for?! How could you know that?!"

Cole suddenly saw tears in Keith's eyes and felt pity.

"Is that why you did what you did?", he asked, "You made our lives hard because your life was hard before?"

Keith said nothing, but Cole continued.

"Keith, everyone suffers, but dragging someone down is not the way to go. I was like that myself when I first came here. I could've urged you to fight me, but I didn't. Whatever you've gone through was probably unjust, but it won't go away until you learn to let go of the hurt and let people know what you're feeling."

Blake was in awe.

"Wow Cole, you sure have a way with words."

/

As Cole prepared to go to school that Monday after, he felt a presence as he walked out to meet up with Blake, Nora, and Sarah. He touched the necklace, but nothing seemed to be happening.

"It won't work anymore."

Cole turned to see the very shopkeeper who had sold him the necklace standing nearby wearing his plaid shirt, jeans, hiking boots and his gray hair smoothly brushed.

"Why won't it work?", Cole asked in surprise.

"Because you don't need it anymore.", the shopkeeper answered plainly.

Cole was even more taken aback.

"You mean I can't see Balto again?", he asked hoping it wasn't true.

The shopkeeper sighed.

"My friend, you've forgotten why you went there haven't you."

"What did I forget?", Cole asked.

"You wanted to get back what you lost.", the shopkeeper told him smiling, "And now you have it. You got new friends and you've grown to like it here."

Cole turned away sadly, but the shopkeeper kept talking.

"But you'll always remember the times you had there."

Cole then brightened. He couldn't go back to Balto's world, but he could write about it. He dashed off towards Blake house as the shopkeeper observed.

"Balto doesn't like good-byes.", he said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small crystal on a chain, "I remember from when I was little."

He looked upon the crystal still smiling as if remembering something before he turned away and vanished without anyone noticing. Cole had made it to Blake's house where Blake was ready to go, but when he saw Cole's face, he knew Cole had something on his mind.

"Cole, you okay?", he asked.

Cole shook his head smiling.

"No Blake, I'm finally very right.", he answered, "I got a story to write for my paper."

Blake looked interested.

"What's it about?", he asked as h and Cole headed out to Nora and Sarah's house so they could get their usual lift.

"It's a tale about a friendship that crosses over reality itself.", Cole answered.

Once at school, Keith was attempting to be nice, but still had a bit much of his usual attitude in him. Still, Cole was just eager to get to his Writing class so he could start writing. It took a while, but while everyone was already done with school and either having yearbooks signed or clearing out their lockers, Cole knew he would have help as he got to the class.

"I take it you found your story?", the teacher asked.

Cole nodded eagerly.

"I think I have."

Cole got to his desk and got out a blank set of papers. He then took a minute to sharpen the pencil he had on hand before sitting down and was ready to begin. He touched the Inuit necklace around his neck as the memories came back again and he got right into the writing.

"Cole looked out the window at the landscape below. As beautiful as it looked, he was feeling anything but happy."