After a long wait here it is, the first part of the new trilogy from RTW and the first co-written by Solaris. Here it is, Balto: Darkness Rising.

Enjoy!

Balto Darkness Rising
(Part I of the Darkness Trilogy)

Written by:
Anthony Rotramel

Pages: 89
Words: 25,213

Started: 03/26/2012
Finished: 06/22/2012

Note: This story was inspired by Balto, ©1995 and Balto 2: Wolf Quest © 2000 by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The character's _and the events of this story are © 2012 by Anthony Rotramel. The other characters are copyright by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Previously in Balto: To Love a Stranger…

Previously in Balto: To Love a Stranger...

Blaize once again stood behind the curtain in front of the stage in the old mill.
He peered out at the floor of the mill and saw that nearly every dog in Nome had gathered there.
Blaize turned his head to look behind him. "…ready?" He asked.
Steele looked at Ebbie and Ronnie and smiled. "…yeah, think I am." He said.
Blaize nodded. "I'll call for you." He said. Then he stepped out onto the stage.
Instantly the dogs fell silent.
"Dogs of Nome…" Blaize said. "Today we are here to discuss a very serious topic. "I ask you to give it your utmost attention and thought."
Blaize paused and looked behind him. "…Steele, please come out here."
Steele walked out from behind the red curtain and stood beside Blaize, followed by Ebbie and Ronnie.
Blaize turned back to the crowded floor.
"As you all know, a few days ago Steele returned to our town. He brought with him a truly intriguing story. He said he had been killed by my mother, as we all had heard, but that Aniu had recently restored him and given him a second chance. He also said that my sister Aleu, who you all know was struck by a car and killed a few weeks ago, had been restored to life by her as well. We sent Balto as an emissary to the Talbourne to ascertain the validity of this statement."
Blaize paused and looked to his father. "Balto, what did you find?"
Balto smiled and stepped forward out of the front rank of dogs. "I'm very pleased to report that my daughter Aleu is indeed alive and well, serving the Talbourne and Aniu once more."
"You talked to her?" Blaize asked.
Balto nodded. "I did, it was her."
Blaize nodded. "Thank you Balto." Then he turned to face the dogs on the floor again. "Dogs of Nome, several have reported that Steele had helped them." Blaize turned back toward the curtain. "Jayce, why don't you come out here and tell us your story." He said.
A black furred female Chinook stepped out from behind the curtain and walked up to sit on the other side of Blaize. "I lost my son Jonathon." She said. "He got out of the house and took off. I was looking for him and Steele was across the street, talking to Ebbie. He tried to assist me in finding my son, then I saw him up the street, and a car was coming fast…" Jayce hung her head a tear rolled out of her eye. "I thought my son was going to die. He wasn't going to move, he was scared. He's… he's just a little guy…"
She paused.
"…Steele took off running, neck and neck with the car as it sped toward my son, who still wouldn't move. At the last moment Steele sprung in front of the car and I was just sure both of them would be hit… but he grabbed my son and rolled. The car barely missed both of them. Steele saved my son's life."
She turned to Steele as tears rolled down her cheeks. "…thank you Steele, thank you so much."
Steele smiled and nodded at her. "…you're welcome Jayce."
Blaize nodded. "Thank you Jayce." He looked back at the floor. "…another that Steele assisted was the young stray Ronnie." Blaize turned to her. "…sweetie, you want to tell everyone what happened?"
The young dog gulped and nodded, then padded over beside Jayce and sat down."
"…go ahead then." Blaize said. "…you have the floor Ronnie."
The young malamute nodded. "As you all know, I'm a stray, lived on the streets of Nome my entire life, never had a family… or someone to take care of me. Whenever I get a chance to go and play with friends I love to do so. The other day I went out to play hide and seek with a few other pups and I decided to hide in the Outskirts so they wouldn't find me. It was a stupid thing to do… but I wasn't thinking…"
She paused.
"…anyway, as I was hiding these six dogs found me, big dogs. They came after me and I jumped through a window, but I injured myself, once on the window and then twisted my paw when I hit the ground. The dogs caught up to me easily and… and they were about to do some… horrible things to me. I could hear them talking…"
Tears came to the young dogs eyes and she stopped for a moment, then looked back up.
"I thought I was gunna die. …but then mister Steele showed up, he talked with them for a few minutes and then told them to leave me alone. When they laughed at him mister Steele held his ground and they attacked. He fought off all six of them and could have killed their leader, but he didn't."
The dogs all gasped.
Ronnie nodded. "He… he let him go, as long as he would run away and never be seen here again. His friends followed. I thought mister Steele was dead, because he just fell over in the snow then, but he was just hurt. Even though he was hurt, mister Steele let me get on his back and carried me back here. Then you all took me to doc's. While I was there Steele was brought in too. He comforted me made me feel safe, and said he'd be there when I woke up." She smiled. "…and he was. Not only that, but I'm not a stray anymore. Mister Steele said I could come live with him and Ebbie. …that he would try to take care of me."
Ronnie giggled. "I've never been so happy." She said. "I know you all think mister Steele is a bad dog, but you're wrong." Ronnie her head and looked at Steele. "He's the nicest dog I've ever met. …and if you all don't let him stay here I'm going with him."
Ebbie nodded and looked at him. "…me too." She said with a smile.
Steele smiled at both of them.
Blaize nodded. "Thank you Ebbie." He said.
Now, before we call this to a vote there is one other dog we haven't heard from. He turned to his father. "…Balto, would you please come up here?"
The dogs all gasped and murmured to themselves as Balto stepped out of the crowd of dogs and onto the stage.
Blaize nodded. "Thank you Balto, you have the floor."
Balto nodded back. "Thank you son." He said. Then he turned to the dogs gathered below. "Dogs of Nome. You all know me, and… and you seem to follow me. I must be honest and tell you I was not happy when Steele returned, as I'm sure none of you were… however, last night he saved my life."
The dogs all gasped.
Balto nodded. "I know, it's still hard for me grasp too. Steele went out in that storm and walked halfway to the Talbourne, found me and carried me back here to Nome. Without his help I would not be standing here right now."
Balto turned to Steele. "Thank you Steele." He said.
Steele nodded at Balto.
Blaize nodded at his father. "Alright, if that's all, lets have our vote. You have all heard of the example Steele has set for himself and his actions. All those in favor of granting Steele his second chance, please raise your right fore-paw."
Ebbie and Ronnie's paw rose and Blaize and Balto's soon followed.
Jenna gasped and frowned at Balto.
Balto sighed. "…sorry Jen…" He said to himself.
One by one other paws started to rise until every paw in the old mill was in the air, every paw except Jenna's. She turned and looked around her, at all the dogs and their paws in the air, then she turned and walked quickly out of the mill.
Balto sighed again.
Blaize hadn't noticed his mother's exit. He smiled and turned to Steele.
"…looks like you're staying." He said. "Steele, by the power given to me by these dogs of Nome I hereby grant you all rights and privileges, and do confer upon you the title of citizen of Nome. Welcome home."
The dogs all cheered.
Steele smiled and looked around him.
He was at a loss.
"…how did this happen…" He thought. "…how did everyone change their minds about me?"
Steele looked around at all of the paws in the air and his vision grew blurry as tears started to fill his eyes. He smiled. "…thank you… thank you all …very much."
Blaize nodded and dropped his paw. The other dogs dropped theirs as well.
Blaize turned to the dogs. "If no one has further business to discuss then this meeting is adjourned, please be safe returning to your homes."
The dogs started to talk and soon the mill was filled with chatter.
Blaize turned to Steele. "Well Steele, welcome to Nome." He said.
Steele nodded. "I'm going to make the most of this chance." He said.
Blaize nodded and smiled. "I know you will." He said. Then he walked off the stage to join Astarre in the crowd.
Steele turned to Ebbie and smiled. "…looks like I get to stay." He said.
Ebbie nodded and smiled. "My master was wondering where you were last night, seems he wants you to stay too. …and he took to Ronnie right away." Ebbie rubbed her paw on the top of the young malmute's head.
Ronnie nodded. "He says he wants me to run with his team!" She said.
Steele smiled. "…that's great." He said.
Ebbie smiled. "I was hoping you'd stay… not only with my Master, but with me." She stepped up closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "…as… my mate." She said.
Steele gasped and stepped back, staring at her with wide eyes. "I… I… well… that's… surprising." He said. "…it's so soon…"
He paused.
"…are you sure Ebbie?" He asked.
Ebbie nodded.
"How can you be, a few days ago I was stranger you didn't even know."
Ebbie smiled. "…sometimes you learn to love a stranger." She said. "…and sometimes you learn you can't live without him." She grinned and nuzzled him. "...and some things you just know in your heart."
Steele smiled. "Ebbie…" his eyes filled with tears as he looked from her face to Ronnie's and a wide grin split his muzzle. "I… I would be honored." He said.
Ebbie smiled and kissed him.
Ronnie giggled. "Yay! I have a family hehehe"
Steele chuckled and rubbed her head with his paw. "Yeah… yeah I guess you do." He said.
Ebbie nuzzled him. "We should get home." She said. "Mark is wanting to see the team. He's talking about running some big race, the first of it's kind… and the longest ever."
Steele smiled. "…sounds like fun."
Ebbie nodded. "…as long as I'm with you."
Steele smiled and nuzzled her. "I love you Ebbie." He said.
Ebbie smiled. "I love you too." She said.
Then she stepped back. "…come on Steele, let's go home…"

Balto caught up with Jenna outside the old mill.
"…Jen…"
"How could you Balto?" Jenna asked. "…what the hell is the matter with you? Don't you remember what he was like?"
Balto nodded. "…last night I saw a different Steele Jen…" Balto said. "It wasn't easy for me… but… even he deserves a chance to prove himself. I think he's proven that he can at least be trusted not to hurt anyone."
Jenna shook her head. "Balto, what if he was doing all of these things to trick us? …so he could come after you and I later?"
"Why would he have saved me then Jen?" He asked.
"…to put you off your guard, like he's obviously done." Jenna said. "…Balto… come with me, I think we need to talk. I think you've forgotten the past."
Balto sighed. "Alright Jen." He said.
Balto followed Jenna as she turned and sprinted toward the edge of town.

Dema was running hard.
She'd had to stop because of the storm, but she was back on the trail again now.
The taste of Jason's blood was still sweet in her mouth.
She grinned.
"I'm coming Balto…" She said. "You don't know who I am, but I am coming and when I get to Nome I will take your life from you." She thought.
She cackled.
"…I'm coming for you Balto, Aniu cannot ignore this!"