Katie stirred. The floor felt like a solid ocean of coolness below her. She stirred again, this time waking up her numb limbs.

Suddenly, she felt it. An excruciating pain shot out of her jaw. Katie puckered and held her worn hands against it. The sensation decreased, but still produced a throbbing jolt every now and then.

Katie could see clearly. The empty benches. The deserted ticket booths. The lonely railings. The sunrise. Sunrise? She scrunched up her forehead, and slapped herself to make the "hallucination" disappear. It didn't. Streams of tanned golden sunshine flowed like angels through the stained windows. No doubt, it was early in the morning..

How long had she been here?

Katie slowly but surely remembered being subdued two days before, interrogated by a Ryder look-alike and then saved by Skye. What came next? Yes, it must be! She was still recovering from the lazy effects of the neurotoxins when she heard a cry. It was Ryder. She had rushed out to find the look-alike execute her best friend. Now way was Katie going to let that happen.

Following the mesmerizing rays, she found herself staring aimlessly at the tiled flooring. It created a cascade of light diamonds, dancing around playfully.

Then Katie saw it. A growing splash of gut-wrenching red. She changed her focus, and traced the red. It grew bigger and bolder. Until it lead to a series of distinctive shapes. A foot? A leg? A... OH MY GOSH! It was Ryder!

The boy was lying on the ground motionlessly and grunting. His knees were tucked up, and his hands were folded around his stomach. It was as if he was vomiting. Vomiting blood from his guts.

Rushing over, Katie cringed at the sight. Indeed Ryder was gravely injured. Two holes punctured his vest, saturated with red body fluids, pouring out at a snail-paced but steady rate. It hadn't clot, meaning Ryder was still alive! The pet groomer bent down, and turned over the boy so her face was facing his.

"Ryder? Ryder? Are you okay?"

Ryder's eyes fluttered open, and his chapped lips formed a thin welcoming smile.

"Katie..."

"Are you okay, Ryder? What happened?"

"Katie...I'm shot through...by Ranger." Ryder still had the smile, his eyes focused like a lovesick bird.

"WHAT!?" Katie cupped her mouth in fright. The holes on his vest must have been made by a bullet. Not a bullet, buttwo bullets, "We gotta get you to a doctor! Wait, who's Ranger?"

"It's okay...Katie...He's my twin brother...I should have told you about this before."

"No no no, that's not important right now, Ryder. We need to get you and the PAW Patrol wherever they are, to medical attention as soon as possible!"

"Katie, please...I deserve to die."

"Ryder, don't say that!" A tear rolled down Katie's cheek, "You can't die, you're - you're too young."

"Katie, please...go stop Ranger...forget about me, I deserve to die."

"NO, Ryder, I'm staying with you." More tears were now flowing down, "I can't leave you like this. And what about the PAW Patrol?"

"Katie...the PAW Patrol can still roll without me." Ryder's voice was growing faint.

"No, Ryder!" Katie bowed down on Ryder, cradling him while weeping tears of sorrow, "NO RYDER! You don't deserve to die after all the wonderful things you did to Adventure Bay. You're our hero."

"Katie...Katie...you're my hero."

Katie looked up, her eyes widening, "You mean -"

"Yes Katie...I love you."

Katie bawled even harder, "I love you too, Ryder. After all those years, you finally admit it. I love you with the tip of my heart."

"Oh all the universes I've traveled through," grinned Ryder weakly, "I had finally come across a star."

"Ryder, I - I don't want to leave you."

"Katie...Take care of the PAW Patrol, take care of my dear Pups, take care of the community...but most of all," Ryder's eyes glistened as he shed a tear, "take care of yourself. Even though this may be the last time we'll have together, go live a happy life. Continue my legacy. Show the Pups that you still have faith in them."

Katie leaned closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. Their faces came together and they kissed. For a while, they both had shut eyes and tears splattering down. Looking down, she saw streams of dried crimson rivers on his vest. Ryder had stopped bleeding.

"Good bye, Katie."