Chapter 14 – Secrets Revealed (Part 2)

Everyone's jaws dropped after hearing Skye's statement, especially Chase, Ryder and the Princess.

"Skye, if this is a joke, now's not the time" Ryder said sternly.

"I'm being deadly serious" Skye replied. "See for yourselves."

As everyone walked back up the hallway to where Skye was sitting, their jaws dropped even further like they were about to fall off. The painting was indeed of a German Shepherd that looked just like their friend.

"No way" gasped Rubble.

"It is Chase dudes" said Zuma.

"It looks just like him" Marshall gasped.

"But, that's impossible" Chase stated. "Why would there be a painting of me?"

Stepping forward, Rocky took a closer look.

"Wait a minute…" he said to everyone. "…it saids here 'Lord, Aged 7, Future Guardian of Barkingburg'."

"That painting was done before I was even born" the Princess explained. "Lord was my dad's faithful dog. He was the cutest thing as a pup, just like you Chase."

"See, I knew there was a logical explanation" Chase said to everyone. "Now let's get moving."

As everyone moved along, another painting caught Marshall's attention.

"Hey guys, check this one out" he called to his friends.

As everyone gathered around, this painting was very different. This one had humans and dogs in it.

"What's the history behind this painting your highness" Ryder asked the Princess.

"This one wasn't painted that long ago" she replied. "But it's my favourite one in the whole castle."

"What does it say Rocky?" asked Ryder.

Rocky gazed at the engraved writing on the golden frame, and recited it:

"It saids 'Queen Leah, King Thomas, the Guardians Lord and Lady, and their young children, the Princess and future guardian, Lord and Lady's son'."

"Lord and Lady, they were German Shepherds, just like me" Chase observed.

"That was painted when Lord and Lady's son was born" the Princess added. "It was supposed to mark the beginning of Barkingburg's golden age."

"I'm sorry about what happened to your parents Princess" said Rubble.

"It's ok" the Princess replied. "I'm just glad I have things like this to remember them by."

"Ok, let's get back to work" Ryder but in. "We've got to find that last element as quick as we can."

But just when the PAW Patrol were getting ready to move, the Princess stopped them again.

"Chase, come here" she asked.

Doing as he was told, Chase walked over to where the Princess was standing, in front of the family painting they had seen.

"Now, hold up your left paw" he asked politely.

Holding it up against the painting, everyone noticed the freaky coincidence.

"Whoa" Chase gasped. "My birthmark is exactly the same as the one in the painting."

"I knew I had seen it somewhere" the Princess exclaimed.

"Ok, does anyone else think that can't just be a coincidence" asked Rocky.

"Wait a minute..." thought Skye. "…Chase, do you remember the day Ryder and Katie found you in that boat?"

"The date, sure" Chase replied. "I mean he had it my birthday since he didn't know my real one. The 21st of March."

This date made everyone's jaws drop, again.

"What?" Chase asked his puzzled friends.

"Dude, the 21st of March is the day Barkingburg perished in that attack" stated Zuma.

"I'm thinking, maybe Lord and Lady's son didn't die in that attack, maybe he was placed in boat, and sent across the ocean" suggested Rubble.

"No, you're not suggesting what I think you are" Chase asked with a shocked look on his face.

"It makes sense Chase" Ryder interrupted. "The Earl said no body was ever found, you look exactly like Lord when he was your age, you've got an exactly the same birthmark as the one in the painting, you're the age their son would be now, and only you've been having the visions."

"What are saying Ryder?" the pups asked their leader.

"I'm saying, I don't think Lord and Lady's son is dead, I think Lord and Lady's son is…Chase."

Now that the truth had finally been uncovered, everyone is complete shock. For Ryder, he had always known his lead pup was special, he just didn't know in what way until now. For the rest of the PAW Patrol, their best friend was practically royalty. As for the Princess, the pup from her childhood memories was with her all along.

"So, you're saying I'm some kind of long lost royal pup" Chase asked.

"Yes Chase" cried the Princess with a big smile on her face. "You were destined to be the guardian when I become queen."

The other pups looked at Chase, who was struggling to take all this information in.

"Let's say for a second this is all true, and somehow Sweetie already knows it, that would explain why she's always so awful to you" Marshall said suddenly.

"Yeah, plus your more of a royal pup than she is dude" Zuma stated.

"She must know we're close the truth, that's why she's been trying to stop us" mentioned Rubble.

"Ok pups, our Mission PAW has now tripled" Ryder commanded. "We've still got to find the last element, but now we've got to protect the Princess and Chase with our lives."

"You got it Ryder!" the pups said in unison.

In all the commotion, no one had noticed what Chase was doing. When Ryder looked at him, he was sitting in front of the family painting of the royal family.

"Are you ok Chase?" asked Skye.

"Yeah" he replied sadly. "It's just, I always thought my parents didn't love me, but now I know they do, or at least they did."

Finding out he did have parents was a shock for Chase. Ryder and the PAW Patrol were the only family he had ever known. The other pups all had parents that they either remember or still see, but Chase had nothing like that. It was hard for him, especially on Mother's day and Father's day to see everyone with their parents and not have any of his own. Now, knowing his parents gave their lives to save him was overwhelming. He just stared at the painting.

"Mum…Dad" he whimpered reaching out to touch them in the picture.

Suddenly, one giant scream filled the hallway. Chase turned around, only to find his friends had disappeared!

"Ryder, pups, Princess, where are you?" he cried.

Chase tried to pick up their scent, but it hadn't gone beyond where they were standing in the hallway. He tried howling for them, but still they didn't come. Then a familiar cackle and snort echoed through the castle.

"Sweetie!" Chase said, now with anger in his voice. "What have you done with my friends?"

"That's for me to know, and for you to find out" she laughed. "If you wanna see your precious friends again, you'd better find me that last element."

Fuming, all Chase could say was, "I'm gonna stop you!"

Author's Note: Hi everyone. So, Chase finally knows the truth. About his past, his parents, and his destiny. But what will happen next?