Rocky woke up, feeling very sore. Ahh! What was I doing last night…? Oh, yeah, covert missions and stuff. Rocky thought about the hard drive he'd managed (barely) to get, loaded with information about Goode. I guess I'll work on that today. Why am I… Rocky looked around, releasing he was still in the Paw Patroller. Was I really that tired? Rocky felt his eyelids begin to close again. Maybe, just for a little bit, I'll catch a few more winks. Rocky was about to go back to sleep when he noticed he didn't see Skye anywhere. Then he saw her, lying atop Chase's back, soundly asleep. Rocky smiled. I'm sure Chase is happy about that. He nestled down back in between his best friend and Marshall. Marshall, what about Marshall...Rocky tried to think, but he was still too tired. Then his eyes fell on his amulet, shocking him awake. Marshall knows my secret! That's what it was...Oh well...the rest of the Paw Patrol is going to figure it out sooner or later, but if I don't tell him something soon, he's sure to tell someone something. Rocky decided to stop thinking and go to sleep. I'll worry about this later.
Rocky
Zuma woke up, feeling a bit stiff. He didn't have any memory lapses. He remembered everything about yesterday. He glanced over at Rocky. He licked his ears until he woke up.
"Aww...Zuma…" Rocky moaned, still wanting to sleep.
"Come on, we have some things we need to talk about," Zuma said, licking his ears a bit more vigorously. Rocky twitched them, then decided to get up.
"Okay, fine," he said, snapping open his eyes. He and Zuma left the Paw Patroler silently, not wanting to wake the other pups. They went into the lookout, where they found Ryder eating some cereal.
"Goodmorning, pups. You slept late," he observed.
"And from the looks of it, so did you," responded Rocky.
"Aye," Ryder said, who was still in his PJs. Rocky and Zuma opened the refrigerator and look at what there was to eat. They both got a pop-tart (Rocky got cherry and Zuma got blueberry), and began munching on them.
"Wocky, what are we going to do about Mawshall?" asked Zuma.
"We'll just tell him...umm…" said Rocky, not sure.
"How about the truth?" asked Marshall, suddenly appearing behind them.
"How long have you been there?" demanded Rocky.
"Just got here," he said, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Just tell me what's going on…"
"Is Wyder still hewe?" asked Zuma.
"No, he left, said something about an errand he had to run," said Marshall.
"Well, Marshall, I'm not who I look like." started Rocky.
"Well, yeah, that became clear yesternight," said Marshall.
"I just feel like you won't believe me…" said Rocky.
"Won't believe you?! Dude, you spontaneously learned telekinesis and became a living torch! You also somehow are telepathic, picnokinetic, and able to teleport! I'll believe just about anything now." said Marshall, sighing.
"Well, ok. When I was born, I was already dead. So my father, who was the creator of everything, gave his life to resurrect me. Oh yeah, in the process, he reincarnated in me, so I now hold the same power he does.
Expect I don't know all of them yet. I haven't had time to just sit down and try to figure them out. Also, my power is my greatest strength and my greatest weakness. My father, Meres, had to wear this amulet to keep his powers in check, or they drive you insane." said Rocky revealing it again to Marshall. It gleamed, and it looked like white smoke swirling around. "So if I ever take it off, or at least until I can control my emotions and things, I'll go into a rage, and basically destroy everything." he finished, looking Marshall dead in the eye.
"I know I said I'd believe anything, but that story is so far-fetched, I just don't know…" mumbled Marshall.
"Told you that you wouldn't believe me." sighed Rocky.
"Wait, how long have you known this, when did you figure it out?" asked Marshall.
"Ummm….that's a long story," said Rocky, not meeting his eye. "I'll tell you later…"
"Wait a moment, you the person in that hospital! You framed Copy-Cat!" accused Marshall. Rocky inwardly winced. I didn't think about that… Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive… Rocky had nothing to say, not at all.
"You lied to me, to us, and poor Chase. He believed you!" said Marshall upset. "Copy-Cate is a nuisance anyway! We all wanted him to go to jail anyway! Sure, I was wrong, but it's too late now. Marshall, I really need you to be quiet about all of this!" said Rocky desperately.
"But, if I know about it and don't say anything, that would make me a bad pup…" whimpered Marshall. He really wanted to back his friend, but he was too afraid of the consequences.
"Marshall, if anything goes wrong, I'll take all the blame for it, okay? Just pretend you don't know anything."
"Promise me I won't get in trouble…" said Marshall. Yes! I've gotten through to him!
"I promise!" said Rocky, crossing himself. Marshall smiled happily.
"Well then, of course, I'll support you, because what are friends for?" he asked. Everypup loved Marshall. He was fun, happy-go-lucky, easy to make up with, friendly, loveable, and loyal. Rocky gave him a big hug, tail wagging furiously.
"Thanks, Marshall!" he explained.
"You're welcome," responded Marshall. "I might be able to help you with your powers, Rocky." Rocky sat down, confused.
"What do you mean?" asked Zuma.
"Our powers are just a dim reflection of yours, Rocky, but the training for ours is the same for yours. I can help you unlock your powers, control them, and sustain them for longer," he said, jumping up.
"Come with me to my training spot, you can train privately over there." Zuma and Rocky finished their pop-tarts and followed him quickly. Marshall's training area what in a small secluded spot behind the lookout, behind the trees. It was quiet and there was a small creek. A few birds sang a melodious song. They were about a half-mile from the lookout. Marshall stopped in a small clearing, and to the side, was where all the water from the creek deposited into, creating a small lake. It was crystal clear, and a few flowers bloomed on its banks.
"Wow, this is beautiful…" said Zuma, taking in his surroundings.
"I know, but this used not to be here. It was just a forest. I rerouted water from the bay here, added a filtration system so it's drinkable water. I cleared these trees away, and added sand here from the beach. It took me a whole season to do, but I'm proud of what it turned out to be. It a great place to go if you ever want to get away from it all and think. I call it, Heaven's Majesty. Marshall had never taken any of the pups back here, and no one had ever been allowed here. Sure, Rocky and Zuma had seen his training spot directly behind the Lookout, but no one ever knew this was here. It was a very serene place to be. Marshall sat on a stone in the center, and five stones were surrounding it.
"What are these here for?" asked Zuma.
"Well, if I ever let the other pups know about this place, this is where we will all sit," said Marshall proudly. "It's my biggest secret!"
"Why awe are you showing us this? I thought you wanted it to be a secret," asked Zuma.
"Well, because you guys told me your biggest secret, I'm sharing mine," Marshall said, paw on his heart.
"Wow...thanks Marshall," said Rocky.
"No problem. Plus, since it's a secret spot in Adventure Bay, no one knows about it. So you can train here freely." said Marshall. He was so thoughtful and loyal.
"Ok, what's first?" asked Rocky, sitting on a stone. Zuma sat beside him. Marshall sat in the center.
"First, you need to tell me what powers you've learned already. We will work on those first," he said.
"Well, I have Lightning, Ice, Earth, Wind, and Fire control." began Rocky.
"So you have elemental control…" said Marshall, thinking.
"I also have Intagibiliy and Bulletproofness."
"Picnokinesis," said Marshall.
"Gravity control, sonic manipulation, teleportation." Rocky had to think for a bit
"And I can speak with people through their minds."
"Telepathy," said Marshall.
"Telekinesis, and that's everything so far…" said Rocky.
"It seems like overall, your greatest strength is with your mind. You haven't developed a lot of physical attributes, but your mind seems overpowered. Even with your physical attributes, I'm willing to bet my tail that your mind will always be stronger. When you use your powers, what does it feel like?"
"It's like I have a large rush of adrenaline, and then a warm glow spreads through me," said Rocky.
"Honestly, the first thing I'm going to teach you is how to control the powers you already know. Since most of it is mental, we're going to work on mental strength." Marshall collected a few rocks, and threw them at Rocky. Rocky automatically deflected them with his mind, holding them in the air.
"Okay, just keep doing that, I'm going to give you some more to 'hold' on to. Marshall found a large stone so heavy that both he and Zuma had to carry it. They placed it in front of Rocky.
"You want me to pick that up? Easy…" said Rocky as he effortlessly picked that rock up too.
"Okay, time to bring in the big guns, be right back," said Marshall running away.
"Come with me, Zuma," he commanded, and Zuma sprang after him. They came back, driving their vehicles. Marshall and Zuma got out.
"Okay, pick those up," said Marshall. Rocky gulped, but did as he was told. The vehicles floated into the air. But now Rocky looked like it was a challenge for him.
"Uh, this is, really heavy…" he said.
"Raise them as high as you can, then bring them down, then up, then down. It's kinda like lifting weights, except with your mind," he said.
Rocky began lifting them up and down.
"How long do I have to do this?" asked Rocky.
"Until I say stop," said Marshall, smirking. "After I finish with you, this will seem like nothing. Rocky retreated into his mind, closing his eyes, trying to concentrate enough to keep them up. A few hours passed, when Marshall finally said.
"Okay, you can put them down now." Rocky gently sat the vehicles down.
"Wait a second, where did all these come from?" he asked. Somehow Marshall had managed to get every last vehicle from the lot here. And Rocky had been forced to carry all of them too.
"You're good at this. You didn't even realize we had left and come back multiple times, and added weight," said Marshall. "Okay, I want you to lift Zuma and ours again. Rocky did so, and a surprised look dominated his face.
"This is easy!" he realized.
"I know, stick with me buddy, and I'll show you how to do things. Now that you've begun strengthening your mind, your powers should be stronger now," said Marshall. "Try it." Rocky began channeling a lightning bolt, commanding it to circle him. It was much thicker in breadth and length. Rocky gasped.
"It worked!" he said. The bolts so longer went off in random arcs from him, it formed a stable, solid band around him.
"Okay, that's enough of that," Marshall said. The bands dissipated into the air, charging everyone's fur with electricity.
"Now, is there any power you want to learn?" asked Marshall?
"Well, If I'm going to save Marcus, I need to know healing, and invisibility," said Rocky.
"I've been trying to figure it out, but nothing happens."
"What do you mean?" asked Marshall.
"Well, I'll give you an analogy. It's like my powers are behind a closed door. I can see them through the window, but the door is locked. I put in the key, but it won't turn. I hope that makes some kind of sense to you." Rocky said.
"I think I know what the problem is, but I don't think that you're going to like it."
"What's...wrong…" mumbled Rocky.
"It's not your powers, it's you." pointed out Marshall. "The reason you can't 'turn the key', reach, and master those powers is that somewhere inside, you're still hurting badly over something, that's why you can't learn healing. And the reason you can't learn invisibility, is because you are already hiding from something. Each power has a mental block that you have to overcome to learn it. Unless you figure out what it is, you'll never be able to access those powers, and they will remain locked up inside you." said Marshall. Rocky didn't look surprised.
"I'm not hiding from anything, and I'm not hurting," he said.
"Wocky, what's going on? You can tell me," said Zuma.
"No, I...I...I..can't… I said I'm fine!" murmured Rocky, before he teleported somewhere else, taking the vehicles with him.
"Where he go?" asked Marshall.
"I have no idea," said Zuma. "But he can tell me what's going on. We're best friends, we're supposed to be able to tell each other these things."
"Zuma, is something going on between you and Rocky? You too have been awfully close for the past week." No one is supposed to know about that, at least, not yet.
"Umm...no, what do you mean going on?" asked Zuma innocently.
"Just, you seem, different when you're around him," Marshall said. "Did you argue about something with him?"
"Yeah, I did, I should probably go apologize," he said, turning away. "I'll see you later.
"Ok, bye!" said Marshall. Ugh, no I have to get all the vehicles...Oh, Rocky took them with him. Awesome! Marshall started cleaning out the water filter connected to the small lake. Who would've thought our Rocky would be so powerful...
Rocky repositions each pup-house in its assigned spot. Luckily, all the pups plus Ryder had taken the Paw Patroller to do some more skydiving practice. He'd left a note saying so.
I'm not hiding from anything, I'm not hurting, I'm not hiding, not hurting, not hiding… Rocky repeated this thought over and over, willing his powers to believe it and allow his healing and invisibility to kick in. He'd convinced his mind, but he couldn't convince his raw, aching heart.
"No, I'm not hurting!" he shouted into the air. "Why won't you listen to me?!" he slammed his paw down, and another sonic wave came from it, sending anything not particularly heavy flying.
"And I'm not hiding! That isn't happening! I'm the strongest entity in the universe, why would I hide?!" he screamed. The sky darkened, and it began to rain, it began in trickles, but it soon swelled to torrents. Rocky hid in his pup house.
The wind picked up, and rain began to fall. What in the world...Thought Zuma. It was a perfectly sunny day today, where did this come from. Zuma looked up, and saw the storm was directed right over the Lookout.
Oh, no, Rocky's the cause of this. I wonder what's wrong. He thought, putting on a burst of speed as he ran. The lookout came into view, and realized that it was raining very badly the closer he got. Drenched to the fur, he ran on through. I have to get to him. I have to be there for him. He thought. There was a strong wind, and it pushed him back, but he pushed on. Rain ran into his eyes, blinding him. Who needs an umbrella when you can do this? Zuma's paws glowed and he created a waterproof dome around him. He struggled to the center of the storm. Where is he? He asked himself, now in the Lookout's parking lot.
Rocky huddled up in his puphouse. He'd long since stopped trying to repress his feelings, and the sadder he got, the more intense the storm grew. "I couldn't save him, I couldn't save him," he mumbled. Marshall's words had broken down the dam he'd spent a lot of time building around his heart. The wind grew even stronger.
Zuma went inside the Lookout.
"Wocky! Wocky where awe you?" he called. He should be in here. This is where the storm is localized. Then he thought for a moment. This storm was strongest here, but that didn't necessarily mean this is where the pup was. He left the lookout, and was almost completely swept off his feet by the wind. Then he looked toward Rocky's pup house. It was almost invisible, making it hard to see. Long strands of ice were emitting from it, freezing anything in its path. Wow, whatever Marshall said set him off. Though Zuma. But now I know where he is. Zuma went to take a step, but he couldn't. Ice had formed around his paws. I can control water, but I can't control ice! Or can I? Ice is made of water, so if I control water, can I control ice? The ice began creeping up his legs, and started turning him into an ice statue. I'd better figure this out quickly!
Rocky curled into a ball and rocked back and forth, muttering. "Why did you sacrifice yourself...why...I never stopped thinking about you… I'm still coming for you… I never stopped loving you, either...you can't give up hope...you can't...I don't hate you...but do you hate me..." Rocky kept seeing Marcus, held by the neck, telling him to run. But his eyes betrayed an overwhelming fear that almost made Rocky vomit. He tried to get up, but he kept seeing Marcus's face, choking from oxygen loss,, he kept seeing the visions of blood, he kept hearing the screams of pain, and he couldn't do it. All he could do was cry as his broken mind tortured him. A dark blackness opened up in his heart, and he was falling in...
Zuma's luck was holding out, because, after a bit of commanding it, the ice came under his control. Yes! The ice receded, and Zuma continued to battle the wind, for every 2 steps he took, he was pushed back one. I've gotta make it… He thought. When he finally made it to the door, the wind was so strong he had to hold onto it, or be whisked away. He tried to pull it open, but it was iced shut. He could control ice, but with nowhere near the amount of control he had with water. kept trying, and the door finally unfroze. Zuma opened the door the best he could and threw himself in, falling flat on his stomach. The door slammed behind him, making Rocky jump. Zuma immediately threw his arms around him. Rocky broke down in tears, having a total meltdown.
"I couldn't save him, I couldn't save him!" he rambled, slightly hysterical.
"Shhh...It's okay now, everything's going to be ok," said Zuma soothingly.
"No, it's not...what if he hates me…" cried Rocky in dismay, shutting Zuma out. Zuma squeezed him tighter.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but I need you to look at me." Rocky refused too, so Zuma bent down and laid beside him, looking him in the eyes. There was no fire in them, but they shone a brilliant blue color. Zuma licked his ears slowly, and Rocky began to calm down.
"Rocky, tell me what's happening…" murmured Zuma.
"Ever since I got that letter from Jason, I've been thinking about Marcus. He's still a prisoner, and Skye and I left him. I left him to be punished for my actions and her actions. We were supposed to get out together, but he stayed, he sacrificed his freedom for me. Me, Zuma. And how did I repay him? I tried to forget about him for 3 years. I couldn't take the pain, so I just stuffed it down inside of me. The truth is, Marshall is right. I'm hiding from Jason, because I'm still afraid of him, of what he'll do and has done, to Marcus. And that's why I'm hurting. But I didn't address my fear, or my pain, I just plugged my ears to it. But I can't anymore, not after what Marshall said. I can't do this anymore! What if Marcus hates me?! What if Jason wasn't lying...what if...what if..." he cried grabbing onto Zuma like he was his only lifeline.
"Shhh…' what ifs aren't healthy," said Zuma, Rocky completely and totally ignored him.
"I'm such a coward! If only I had fought back! But I didn't, I was too afraid! I left him there! He saved me and I left him!" he screamed. Rocky wiggled out of Zuma's grasp.
"I don't deserve you! I can't even enjoy you! How can I when I'm such a, a horrible, back-stabbing, cowardly puppy!" he shouted, pushing Zuma away. " The answer is, I don't! I shouldn't be able to indulge in your touch, or your kisses, when I've done horrible things! I framed Copy-Cat for goodness sake! What am I becoming? I'm a monster! I framed him! He didn't do anything wrong, but he was still punished for it. I should know better, I've been there before!" he screamed. He took his claws and tore a long gash down the side of his arm. "I should be in just as much pain as I've caused everyone else!" Rocky had been trying to keep a hurricane of emotions inside himself. It grew in intensity with time, but Rocky had kept the doors to his heart firmly closed. Then Marshall came and knocked on the door, and Rocky couldn't close them in time. The past had finally caught up to Rocky, and it was driving him insane. All the unspoken grief and pain he carried with him for years tore through him, destroying him. Dark red blood trickled down his arm, and it began to stain his paws. Memories flashed through his mind, Jason slicing the razor through the same spot. Rocky tore another identical line down his other arm, and just as he finished, he was knocked over by a snarling Zuma.
"I won't hear this anymore!" barked Zuma, tears streaming down his face. "Stop doing this to yourself! You're really going to sit there and tear yourself apart! Literally! This is just the reason Jason sent that letter, to mess with your mind! Fight it!" shouted Zuma right into his face, making Rocky pull his ears flat against his head.
"Don't let his poison infect you! This isn't you and it never will be. He's using your grief and pain to make you hate yourself! Don't you see it?! You're giving in to the battle you've fought inside yourself for 3 years! If you give in, what was the point of fighting in the first place?! Because if you allow your past to become your present, you lose the future! You lose our future!" Rocky's eyes began to spark. I'm getting through to him! Zuma stepped up his assault. He roughly shook Rocky back and forth with his paws. "You never deserved all that pain, but now you sound like you believe you do!
"Because maybe I do! Maybe fate knew how I would act toward Marcus, and punished me for it before it even happened! And after!" Rocky said. Zuma brought his paw down hard against the side of his face.
"THAT'S RIDICULOUS!" he barked in his best friend's face. Rocky held the cheek that was hit and whimpered. Zuma towered over him, and he looked menacing. "You just need to listen to yourself! Do you say the future punished you for the past?! NEWS FLASH! IT DIDN'T! The only one to blame here is JASON! NOT YOU! You are not a coward! You are not! Repeat after me! I am not a coward!
"I...am...not a coward!" said Rocky, eyes beginning to change color from blue to vibrant emerald green.
"Jason is to blame for all of this!" Zuma said, who had since stopped shaking him.
"Jason is to blame for all of this!" shouted Rocky with conviction.
"You did the wrong thing, running away from your fear and hurt, yes," said Zuma." But you need to face it. If you don't face it, it will destroy your mind! You need to accept that you are afraid, and that you are hurting and hiding. But after that, it's easy. Because then you can work on being brave. Ever since you joined Paw Patrol, you've always been an introvert. Do you see it! Jason has changed you! He's changed the very way you live your life, and he's happy because he's still torturing you, even in his absence." said Zuma trying his hardest to get through to him. Zuma felt something warm and sticky at his paws. It was blood. Rocky's blood.
"Oh my...why did you do this too yourself?" asked Zuma pressing his paws against Rocky's bleeding forelegs.
"I felt like I wasn't in enough pain, because of the amount I've put others through." Rocky only now felt the pain. It really hurt. Zuma's paws lit up, and when he went to heal him, Rocky pulled away.
"You're not seriously going to continue this?" asked Zuma dryly.
"But, what about Marcus…" asked Rocky.
"Marcus wouldn't want to engage in such self-destructive behavior, regardless of his current state," Zuma said, worriedly. Rocky stiffly held out his legs, and an icy feeling washed over him as Zuma worked his magic.
"Are you going to be okay now?" asked Zuma.
"Yes, thanks to you," said Rocky, a little sheepishly.
"I'm sorry you had to hear all that. I didn't mean to dump on you," said Rocky, embarrassed.
"It's okay. It needed to come out, and I just happened to be there when the floodgates burst open," said Zuma. Zuma found a small cloth in Rocky pup's house and began cleaning the blood off the floor. He threw it away in the small trash can Rocky had inside there. Zuma looked back at Rocky, and he saw a new light in his eyes.
"I'm not going to blame myself any longer for what happened," he said with conviction. "I accept that I am afraid, but I'm no longer hurting, and I'm no longer hiding. What happened to me is in the past. I have to look forward to the future now." Rocky said. The reaction was instant. The rain stopped and dried out immediately. The wind ceased and the sun came out. Yes! I got through to him! I did it! Rocky is back! Though Zuma. Zuma opened the door.
"Well, Rocky, I guess it's time to…" Zuma looked back, and he didn't see anything.
"Wocky…" he said. He felt a tap on his shoulder and jumped back, slipping on his own paws, and falling hard on a sharp piece of...something...that Rocky decided to upcycle.
"Oww…" Zuma whimpered. His paw was cut, and a small trickle of blood flowed down it. Rocky appeared, shock on his face.
"Sorry, I was just trying to scare you," Rocky said. He held Zuma's paw in his, and instead on an icy feeling, a warm glow spread through Zuma and his paw mended itself.
"You did it...you learned invisibility and healing…" said Zuma.
"Yeah, thanks to you. If you hadn't been here, I might've…" Zuma pressed a paw to his lips.
"That doesn't matter," he said. "Just let that be." Rocky walked over to his desktop, and began to search through the files on it. One name in particular. Jason Wright. He'd gotten the drive from the lookout before he'd left with Marshall. The computer instantly replied.
"Zuma, look at this," he said, pointing to the screen.
"Wha…?" Zuma replied.
"Daniel sent Jason a message soon after he triggered the bomb. He encrypted the source, but I managed to unscramble it."
"Okay, what does it say?" asked Zuma.
"The source is where the message originally came from. By finding the source, I can find where it was sent too," said Rocky, typing more code into the computer. It flashed, and an address came up.
"183 Springville Lane, Foggy Bottom." it displayed.
"That's where he is! That's where Marcus is!" said Rocky angrily, slamming his paw down. He ran towards the lookout, Zuma at his heels.
"What are you doing?" he asked. When the elevator when up, Rocky typed something into the console, and he and Zuma were suited up in their UnderCover Paw suits.
"You're not thinking of…"
"Yes, I'm going now!" shouted Rocky as they were suited up.
"Without Ryder and everyone else?" asked Zuma.
"They aren't here, I'll leave them a note," he said, as the machine finished, and began taking them to the lookout.
"A note! This is crazy! You realize that this is a very dangerous mission, yes? Why would you do this?" asked Zuma. Rocky turned to him, tears shining in his eyes.
"Because if I were Marcus, I'd want myself to do the same thing. And I know Marcus would do it for me," he said, stepping into the slide.
"Tell Ryder not to worry, ok?" Rocky said, going down the side. Zuma hesitated for a second, then jumped after him.
"Ruff! Vehicle!" shouted Rocky. He fell into the seat, as the transformation was completed. Just as he hit the gas and left the lookout, he felt a jolt in the back.
"Zuma, what are you doing?" asked Rocky.
"I'm not leaving you behind! I told you that I was coming with you when you told me about him the first time. Friend don't leave friends behind." said Zuma, strapping himself in.
"You really are a true friend, Zuma," said Rocky, smiling. "Ryder come in!" he shouted.
"Ryder here, what's up?"
"I deciphered where Jason is! I'm going there now!" he said, speeding down the road.
"Wait what! You're just going to leave without us?" asked Ryder, who was currently falling out of a helicopter.
"No time to lose. If you get there in time, go to 183 Springville Lane, Foggy Bottom," said Rocky.
"Wait don't…" Rocky cut the connection. The two roared down the road, breaking every speed limit known to man.
"Wocky, slow down!" screamed Zuma. Rocky eased up on the gas, but not much. He was looking at the monitor, using the GPS coordinates he had put in. About a mile from the destination, Rocky stopped, and jumped out of the vehicle.
"We'll go the rest of the way on foot, we don't want to raise attention," said Rocky to Zuma.
"You tearing down the road probably already did that…" mumbled Zuma to himself. Rocky stopped in front of an old building. He did a flying kick so hard the wooded door splintered to dust.
"Alright, Jason! Give me back my…" there was nothing. It was just an old, empty garage. The was a small Tv in the corner and that was it. Suddenly, a hard chromium wall slammed down in front of the door.
"Rocky…" said Zuma, a little fearful. Red lights flooded the room, and the small TV turned on.
Rocky tied to break through said wall, but only managed to break his paw.
"Wheee!" he screamed, holding his useless paw in one paw. He sat down, and began healing his wrist. It didn't take very long, but it still hurt.
"Okay, no going through there. I'm sure that this is one of Jason's traps. He's insane, and as much as I hate to admit it, he's a very smart man, in an evil, twisted way." Rocky snarled.
"Rocky! How are you doing today?" went the TV The pups sat down in front of it cautiously.
"Just so you know, this is a pre-recorded message. You traced the signal from my good friend Goode, eh? Get it? Good and Goode?"
"Just cut the crap and move on!" barked Rocky.
"You probably want me to cut the crap and move on. Feisty one eh? Well, you were when I first met you, and you still are today!" he said joyously.
"Wow, this guy is good. Damn it! So he's got me saying it!" shouted Zuma.
"So, if you're here looking for Marcus, you've probably figured out that this was just a trap to get you here. There was a small hissing every since the exit was blocked, but the pups only heard it now.
"What is that?" asked Zuma.
"You're probably hearing the hissing now. It's loaded with chloroform. You pups will pass out in a short while. Rocky, who's that sitting next to you? Zuma is it? Yes, I know he's your best friend. It's going to be awesome capturing the both of you, then I can torture you some more! Oh, yeah, I've upgraded from that old table, it was holding me back. I've built a state of the art torture room! It's… Oh never mind. I'm sure you're dieing to see it! Well, you're in luck, because, your next destination is the very same. Well, you'll be out in about 5 minutes. I'll see you when you get here. Oh, and I know you're friends will come looking for you. I'll make you wish they didn't! Bye!" he said, shooting the camera to bits with a gun he produced from nowhere.
"Wocky, I can barely keep my eyes open…" said Zuma, falling over
"No...It wasn't...supposed to happen….like...this… Rocky tried to create a wind to push the poisonous air away, but he couldn't think straight. There was too much in his system. Rocky and Zuma went low to the ground, where there was still some fresh air.
"Zuma, we've got to get out of here!" Rocky said. Zuma nodded and they crawled over to the door. Rocky tried again to punch through it, and it began giving way. But his punches got weaker and weaker.
"Zuma...we're...not...going to...make it…" said Rocky, giving in.
"It's okay...Wocky...I'll be...fine." wheezed Zuma. He struggled to put his paw over Rocky's.
"Whatever...happens….we do it….together…" Zuma passed out. Rocky kissed Zuma lightly, then everything went dark.
What's happening...Why are these chains on me… Rocky thought groggily. Then he looked over and saw Zuma. Zuma! The memories rushed back. He tried to break his chains, but they were laced with some strange substance that glowed a blood-red in the dark. Zuma lifted his head wearily.
"Wocky…" he gasped.
"I'm here!" said Rocky. "Arf! Googles!" he shouted. His spy googles came down over his eyes. He scanned the room, and saw that it was just that, and empty, square room. They were chained opposite to each other, to the walls. Their forelegs were in the air, and their bottoms were sitting down, legs parallel to the floor. Rocky tried again to break the chains, but it didn't work. He doesn't know who I am. That's my only advantage! I can't use my demi-god powers until I have to. I'm sure he has the entire place monitored!
"Zuma, we're going to get out of here! Do you hear me?" Rocky said.
"Aye, I hear you," said Zuma, as the last effects of the drug wore off. A door opened, and a man came in.
"Who are you?" asked Rocky. The man didn't say anything and grabbed Rocky. Rocky tried to bite him, but the man had a muzzle on him, and he was ready. The moment his teeth snapped shut, he slipped it on and effortlessly tied it around his muzzle. Rocky tied to speak, but it just came out muffled. He did the same for Zuma, and he went back out of the room and brought in a large steel cage. He uncuffed the pups, and shoved them in the cage.
Maybe I can use my powers now! Thought Rocky. But, no, the cage was made of the same blood-red material, and his normal powers wouldn't work. He picked it up and the pups were brought into a very large room. It was very bright in this room, and it blinded Rocky for a moment. When Rocky adjusted to the light, he realized that it was larger than he first thought. He was taken out and chained to a seat, about 3 feet off the ground. Zuma was just thrown on the ground, and the man walked away.
"Wocky! I'll get you out of there!" said Zuma. But the moment he touched the chains around Rocky, Rocky screamed in pain.
"Wocky, I'm sowwy what…" he began. Then the door opened again, and the evil man himself walked in.
"Sorry, pup! I've created those chains to give a nasty shock of pain whenever they are touched. If you are Rocky tries to touch those chains, you'll only hurt him.
"You're a monster!" shouted Zuma, flinging himself at him. Jason pulled out a remote and pressed a button. Rocky began to howl in pain.
"Make it stop!" he shouted. Zuma stopped dead in his tracks. The howling stopped. Zuma lifted a paw to step in Jason's direction, and it started again.
"No, no, pup. Go back over there or I'll hurt him some more," he said threateningly, turning up the pain level. Rocky was shaking in his chair, trying to get out, but he was bound fast.
"Wocky, I'm sowwy!" said Zuma, running back over to him.
"Good, pup," said Jason smirking. He sat down in one of the chairs, and he rose a few feet as well.
"The main attraction hasn't started yet, I'm still waiting for that. But! That doesn't mean we can't play a game while we wait. Rocky whimpered, and Zuma wanted to touch him, but knew it would just hurt him more.
"Would you like to play, Zuma?" asked the man.
"No! I'll never…" Rocky began to scream some more.
"Okay, I'll play, please, stop hurting him!" cried Zuma.
"That's what I like to hear! The game we will play is called, Painful Pondering!" he said, and a large flatscreen TV dropped down in front of him.
"I will ask you some questions, and if you don't answer, or fail to answer correctly, well, you already know what's going to happen." he smiled devilishly.
"Don't listen...to..him…" panted Rocky, fur smoking.
"Question number one! How old is Rocky?" he asked.
"Six," replied Zuma growling at him.
"Lose the growl, pup!" said Jason angrily. Rocky began to whimper in pain.
"I mean, six!" said Zuma with forced cheerfulness. Rocky stopped whimpering.
"That's better. Next question, what is Rocky's greatest fear?" he asked. "I have a guess, but I want to be sure."
"Umm…" began Zuma
"No...don't tell him…" said Rocky weakly.
"Aww, so you do know! Come now, be a good puppy and tell Uncle Jason," he said, smirking.
"You're not my…" Zuma glanced at Rocky and thought better of it.
"You pups are fast to catch on. I'm tired of waiting, pup!
"Rocky greatest fear is...sigh...water…" Zuma mumbled, hating the anguished look on Rocky's face.
"Ah-ha! So you never forgot, huh Rocky? I knew that one would really mess you up."
"Please, I don't want to play this game anymore!"
"Okay, fine, we'll move one. After this last question," said Jason. Zuma heard whimpering from Rocky.
"What does Rocky remember of me? Do I haunt him during the day? Has he been driven to madness yet? Does he wake up screaming remembering my horrific abuse?" He smiled.
"No…Zuma…" said Rocky, trying to sit up. "Whatever you do...don't…" Rocky was too weak to say anything else.
"Tik-tok, Zuma…" whispered Jason.
"I...I can't tell you!" said Zuma firmly.
"Then Rocky will pay the price!" said Jason. The red chains began to crackle with electricity, and Rocky's soft, gray fur began to smoke. Rocky's howls of pain filled Zuma's ears, causing tears to stream from his cheeks. Lightning crawled up his entire body, as he convulsed in pain. Jason turned off the charge, and Rocky slumped over, not unconscious, but almost so.
"Zuma, you can end all this, just tell me...what does Rocky remember of me?" asked Jason soothingly.
"I'm sowwy Wocky, I can't do it," he murmured to the mix. "Rocky hates you! He still has nightmares over what you did to him! He's been hurt most by Marcus, who he believes he failed! His emotions go out of control, and just today, I had to calm him down. Is that enough?! I don't want to do this anymore! Please!" the lab cried, putting his paws over his eyes. Rocky was silently crying as well.
"Doesn't it hurt, Rocky, that your own friend betrayed your trust? You thought it was a safe secret, locked away in him forever, never to see light again. You were wrong. I told you, I have my ways. All this could've been avoided, but no, you refused to turn yourself in." he said, joy spinning into his face. "Not that you would've though, no, you are too hard-headed for that. But it worked out in my favor anyway. Why hurt you when I can hurt your best friend as well? Along with the whole Paw Patrol!" he said. A door was opened, and the whole Patrol was pushed into the room, bound and gagged in the same material that Rocky was tied up in.
"No...no!" Rocky tried to protest.
"This is all your fault, mutt! Maybe it would've been better if you had just done what I told you to do," said Jason sadly. (Not really, he was very pleased with Rocky's discomfort.) "Now I have no choice but to make them suffer too," he said. He pressed another one of those buttons, (seriously! How many buttons does this man have?) and the chains feel from around them. They ripped off their gags, albeit they were confused. Marshall went to untie Rocky, but was knocked to the floor by Zuma.
"Don't touch him!" he said. "The chains are rigged, you'll hurt him if you try to touch them!" Marshall nodded and backed away.
"What are you going to do with us?" asked Ryder. The pup packs had been taken, but they didn't take Ryder's pup pad. They didn't know it was the watch he carried around with him at all times. Rocky was the only one who still had his uniform on.
"Well, I want to begin by say, I'm very sorry about all of this. I just want to hurt Rocky, not an innocent boy and his pets. But you all are the things he loves most, so, you're the perfect pawns in my plan for revenge."
"How do you know all of this?" murmured Rocky, regaining some strength.
"There is one of you here that is a spy, for me. Every night for the past month, he's been feeding me information about the paw patrol, and everything he remembers about Rocky," he said mysteriously. "And you'll never guess who it was, so I'll just tell you. Brace yourselves, this will be shocking!"
"What! Never! We'd never betray Rocky!" barked Chase defiantly.
"Oh really, then how do you explain this!" he shouted, pressing a button. The Tv, in clear, HD quality, showed Chase with a man in a dark hood. It was night, but the image was bright. There was no mistaking it. All the pups gasped, and stepped away from him.
Chase was a...a….a...traitor.
Okay, so the longest chapter I've written, with 7.7K words,(says Fanfiction). Rocky and Zuma reveal their secret to Marshall, who in return trains Rocky, to gain better control of his powers. Rocky is shown to still harbor a massive amount of guilt over Marcus, to the point of being self-destructive. Zuma barely manages to calm him down. When Rocky figures out the location of the call from Daniel Goode to Jason, he immediately leaves, with Zuma in tow. They are knocked out, and are back in the presence of Jason. Zuma is forced to hurt his best friend, revealing a lot of personal information about him to his worst enemy. The Paw Patrol has been captured a well! And Chase, the most law-upholding pup (these paws uphold the laws, right?) is revealed as being a traitor. (Insert gasp here) But what does Jason have planned for them now? Stay tuned, and let the games begin!