Cole felt sick as he suddenly landed on his feet again. His view was blurred for a time, but he recalled it was like this when he visited Balto's world and regained it after a bit.
"Whew, never thought I'd feel that again.", he said to himself.
As soon as his view cleared up, he felt a slight vibration, but that was about it as he found himself back in the airplane's bathroom where he originally went to before his adventure and back in his true body again.
"Attention passengers, we will soon be arriving in Anchorage."
Cole's attention sharpened as he suddenly remembered that the plane was in turbulence when the magic suddenly flared up. Could that have been the defining event? Before he left, he caught his reflection and saw that the ivory wolf head had returned to the necklace around his neck with the same amber teardrop beside it separated by a couple of beads which surprised him a little.
"Huh, how did I get to take that back with me?", he wondered.
He decided to shake it off as he made his way back to his seat as the memory of his adventures repeated themselves in his mind. Luckily he had his entire row to himself and allowed him to get lost in thought as he pondered.
"First my necklace let me into a world based on "Balto" and now this.", Cole thought, "Wait, wasn't that adventure I had based on something?"
He then remembered something from his youth. It was a movie night with Blake, Sarah, and Nora one time.
"So, what do you guys think about seeing tonight?", Cole recalled himself ask.
Nora had looked thoughtful as she pulled out a DVD while looking a bit mischievous.
"How about a Don Bluth movie?", she asked.
Cole looked confused.
"Don Bluth?", he had asked, "Who's that?"
Blake, Sarah, and Nora all pretended to gasp in surprise.
"You've never heard of Don Bluth?", Sarah asked, "He's only one of the best animators in Disney history. He worked on "The Fox and the Hound", "The Sword in the Stone", and "The Rescuers". Good old-fashioned animation."
Cole looked a bit surprised.
"Does that include "Balto"?", he asked.
Blake shook his head smiling.
"Nah, that was done from his studio Amblimation and was the last animated film under that name."
Cole then had an idea.
"Hey, how about this: name that line from one of Don Bluth's movies. If you can't name it, you have to watch it."
Blake, Sarah, and Nora were up for that. It was Spring Break after all and they had to have some fun while making it a learning lesson.
"Okay, you're on Cole.", Nora said playfully.
"I'm up for that.", Sarah added.
"I'm game.", Blake said.
Cole couldn't help but laugh as he recalled that night, but then the seat belt lights came back on and the captain's voice came over the intercom again.
"Attention passengers, please fasten your seat belts as we have started our descent into Anchorage, Alaska."
Cole did so as he looked out the window and saw the familiar sight of Anchorage coming up. He had flown into Anchorage time and time again, but this time, he wasn't going in for a sporting event for his school.
/
As the plane finally touched down, Cole waited further as the plane went into parking at the gate. Although it was early in the afternoon, he was feeling a bit drowsy and a little stiff from sitting in the seat for a while.
"Well, here goes my departure.", he thought as the thought of Blake not being there to spend his college years together reared its ugly head.
Luckily as Cole felt like his legs were falling asleep, the plane had parked and the gate had connected to the door as the seat belt sign went off.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for flying Alaska Airlines. Baggage will be claimed at carousal four."
Cole got up and feeling in his legs slowly returned and started to walk out of his aisle to open the overhead bin so he could get his carry-on suitcase. Luckily it wasn't all that big or packed very much so he could get it out easily. As he made his way out of the plane, the flight attendants gave him smiles and thanks though Cole felt they were just saying it and hiding how they really felt. Still, he went out into the Anchorage airport and was soon heading toward the baggage claim. Since he was feeling a little bit hungry, he paused at the local Mc Donald's on the way out and was soon at the counter.
"So, what will it be?", the clerk asked.
Cole looked her way a bit anxious.
"I'll take a double quarter pounder with cheese meal with a large fries and a Fanta if that's available.", he answered.
The clerk rang it up.
"Got it. Anything else?"
"No, that will be okay for this afternoon.", Cole told her.
After paying the tab, the clerk gave Cole his number which was 42 and he waited as he looked back on the times he had with Blake.
"You think Keith will ever change his ways?", he recalled himself asking Blake once as they did some practice runs at home.
"Hardly.", Blake had answered, "But that's probably cause his parents put so much pressure on him to do his best that he doesn't want to let them down."
"That would explain why he was so mean to us.", Cole stated.
Cole couldn't help but laugh at himself for thinking Keith was just a nasty, mean spirited, person when behind it all, he was being pressured by his family.
"Number 42?"
Cole snapped out of his trance as he heard his order was up and went to get it when the clerk suddenly held up a hot fudge sundae.
"Free desert?", she offered, "Someone ordered it, but didn't come back for it. Must have been late for a flight or something."
Cole shrugged and gave a smile.
"Sure.", he answered as he accepted the desert from the clerk.
He made his way to the baggage claim with his meal and the soft sundae feeling better than he did when his journey here began.
/
At the baggage claim, Cole waited for his suitcase along with other passengers who had come on the plane or were getting off another and waiting at other parts of the baggage claim. Cole ran a couple fingers over the amber raindrop and recalled the very shopkeeper who had appeared to him.
"That necklace will change your life."
Maybe it wasn't exactly what he said, but Cole couldn't help but feel a bit interested. Could it be because he had something to learn that triggered the magic or was it something more? He didn't know and as the baggage started sliding off the ramp and onto the rotating part, he then remembered something.
"Geez, I haven't got a ride to college.", he said to himself.
Still, he waited for his suitcase and soon it was there. After picking it up, he went outside since it was a nice day and there he could finally get some fresh air. Needless to say, a lot of other people had the exact same idea and were taking up a lot of the seats.
"Another insult to injury.", he thought bitterly.
Luckily taxis were available and most of the waiting crowd had gotten on and the rest were moving on to some vehicles with either friends or family who were picking them up. Cole took the time to sit down and sighed as the memory of Blake and him handing in their final papers on the semifinal day of school.
"You actually wrote a good paper for Writing class.", Blake had told him as they had seated down to lunch.
"Hey, I made due with what I had I guess.", Cole answered.
Cole recalled himself telling someone of his first adventure in Balto's world, but she found it unlikely and even he had to admit that it did sound pretty weird and unbelievable if someone had said something like that to him at his current age. He even remembered the last time he saw the shopkeeper.
"You will always have your memories."
That would explain why Cole still recalled Balto and now his time in his latest adventure. Did the shopkeeper know about the necklace doing something like this? He must have cause he didn't seem to show up and it worked very similar this time albeit differently. Still, both worlds must have had something in common when an idea came to mind.
"Don Bluth, could you be the connection?", he wondered.
He looked out and saw that most of the crowd had gone and the taxis lined up looking ready to go for anyone who asked. Just as Cole was ready to get up and head back inside, a bus rolled up into the area and parked nearby. After a while, a man dressed like a school official came out and adjusted his glasses before looking at a clipboard he had with him.
"Cole Marty?", he asked as if Cole was nearby, "Cole Marty?"
Cole came up and looked a bit nervous.
"Yes?", he asked.
The man smiled as another man came out and gathered Cole's bags before opening a side on the bus and placing them in before closing it.
"Glad to have you here.", the official said gesturing Cole to board, "Your dorm is all set up and ready for you."
/
Cole couldn't help but feel a bit better as he sat in his bus seat and other people Cole's age started boarding. After about an hour and twelve more kids his age later, Cole heard the bus hiss and the official got on with his assistant as Cole thought he was and the bus driver closed the door and started pulling the bus away from the curb. As the official made his way to a seat in front of the bus, Cole noticed that he had a name tag on the left side of his jacket reading "Danes". The official must have noticed out of the corner of his eye and looked Cole's way with a raised eyebrow.
"Is there a problem Mr. Marty?", he asked.
Cole suddenly looked a bit embarrassed.
"Sorry Mr. Danes.", he said apologetically, "I just saw your name tag and I didn't mean to look your way wrong."
Mr. Danes gave a warm expression.
"Oh, it's quite alright.", he answered calmly, "I also noticed that fancy accessory you're wearing. Personal item or is it better if I don't ask?"
Cole felt like he could open up to him and he had to open up to someone to take his mind off his troubles since he had eaten his lunch earlier while waiting for someone at the baggage claim.
"It's kind of special.", he answered, "I got it back in Nome from some odd gift shop and the owner said it would change my life in a way."
Mr. Danes looked a bit interested.
"Maybe it did.", he said sagely, "You're going to a good college so maybe it was some kind of luck charm from someone who felt like you needed help."
Cole looked back on that day and maybe Mr. Danes had a point. He was in a dark place when he first moved to Nome and Mr. Danes must have read his expressions or he was a very good guesser.
"So, what brings you here to this college, hmm?"
Cole couldn't help but feel comforted.
"I'm here for the writing session if my athletic scholarship doesn't work out.", he answered.
Mr. Danes tapped his clipboard before turning his gaze to it.
"Oh yes, we got your entry essay about four months back and I must say that it was pretty impressive."
He then turned to Cole who looked a bit unsure and raised his eyebrow again.
"Something on your mind?"
Cole sighed.
"Yeah, it's that my best friend and I are going to separate colleges and I just…"
"You wanted to go through the experience with them?", Mr. Danes guessed.
Cole nodded feeling the dread although faintly. Mr. Danes didn't seem bothered.
"Yeah, I've heard that many times in my career as a college worker.", he said as if he was a psychologist, "Maybe you'll hear from him and you two can talk about how school is going. That way you won't feel so alone while trying to make some new friends."
Cole suddenly felt hope flare in his heart and couldn't help but smile. Mr. Danes seemed to get what he was thinking and maybe being away from Blake wouldn't be so bad after all.
/
By the time the bus had pulled up to the college campus, Cole felt excitement building. The buildings were the classes were being held were impressive and the air was still fresh as Mr. Danes led the group off the bus and they got their things as he gave out the rooms where they would reside in.
"Amelia Hershe, room one-seventeen with Casey Finch."
Cole waited patiently until his name was called.
"Cole Marty, you're in luck. Your dorm room two o seven, and I hope you enjoy your roommate."
Cole looked a bit nervous, but tried to be brave as he headed toward the dorms after Mr. Danes gave him what looked like a room key. It took a bit to get up some stairs, but he managed in the end. He found his room and knocked on the door.
"The door is open."
Cole entered to find his dorm room with a bunkbed, a desk large enough to be used by two people if needed, a living room and a kitchen. It was like a hotel room only it was already paid for. Someone was already here cause there was a suitcase in the back near the closet where the light was on.
"Hello?", Cole asked, "I'm the new roommate?"
Cole put his suitcase down and had just lifted his head to see…Blake Wolfen?! Cole's heart stopped and he dropped his bags just as Blake looked his way equally surprised.
"What are you doing here?!", they both asked in unification.
After a pause of shock, Blake regained his nerve.
"I must have read my application wrong and I was really going to this college with you.", he said a bit embarrassed, "Talk about luck huh?"
Cole couldn't believe his good luck! Now he had nothing to worry about and could focus on his classes more thoroughly.
"Yeah, good luck.", Cole said smiling, "Hey Blake, can you help me unpack?"
Blake didn't need to be told twice and before long, both boys had unpacked and were set up.
"Okay, we're all moved in.", Cole said, "I'm going to hit the library in case we need to get a jump on our schoolwork."
Blake chuckled before noticing Cole's new necklace addition.
"Wow, where did you get that?", he asked.
Cole paused as he thought about telling Blake about his adventure, but would he believe him if he did?
"I…I found it.", he answered.
Blake looked at ease.
"Oh, you must have gotten it from a gift shop at the airport while waiting for the bus."
"Sure, I got it on my way over.", Cole answered even though he left out the whole magic part, at least Blake was accepting of it since it was true in a way.
"Well, let's go see what our new school has to offer before the curfew.", Blake offered.
Cole didn't have to be told otherwise and soon, both boys were on their way out and Cole's pendent accessories shining in the afternoon sunlight.
