Marshall was out walking along Big View Trail, the place where he seemed to spend most of his days. He stopped at the lake that sat alongside the path of the trail. He watched the sun across the lake as it was proceeding to set. This spot was Marshall's favorite. Ever since Chase had broken his heart, Marshall would come to this spot alone. It seemed to take his mind off of everything. The scene was so calming. He would even skip a few stones across the lake at times. Marshall sighed watching the sunset. He started to think of Chase and began sobbing. The thought of Chase dating Skye was hard enough on him, but actually seeing it with his own eyes was slowly killing him. Marshall was so lost in his sadness that he didn't notice someone approaching from behind.
"Hey… Is everything alright?" Asked a voice that surprised Marshall. Marshall turned around to face the voice and was met face to face with a dalmatian pup. Marshall's expression changed to an empty and unfriendly one.
"Yeah…" Marshall answered, lying to the other dalmatian. He really wasn't in the mood to engage in a conversation with any strangers, especially if it was about personal things that he would rather not talk about.
"I can see you're lying." The stranger told him. "Why are you crying?" He asked.
Marshall was quickly starting to become annoyed with the pup. These days he already wasn't in the best of moods nor as friendly as he used to be, and this pup certainly wasn't helping his mood by being nosey.
"I'm not crying." He answered sharply, while he slyly tried to wipe his tears away.
"Well it's good to know that those are tears of joy then." The stranger said with a sarcastic smile. Marshall was unfazed and continued to sit staring at the sunset. He really wanted to be alone to brood right now, but it seemed like this pup really had a hard time taking a hint. "It really is beautiful. I've only been in this town for a few weeks now, and this spot became my favorite the first moment I stopped here…" The pup said staring out at the sunset. Marshall discreetly rolled his eyes. "The peaceful serene sounds of the nature here. The great sunset view near the lake. The list goes on and on. What's your favorite part?" He asked Marshall.
"Being alone?" Marshall replied in a bitter sarcastic tone.
"Being alone is great… but isn't it better to be surrounded with friends and people who care about you?" He said, causing Marshall to scowl at him. Marshall then maintained his silence; trying his best not to shout at the pestering stranger. "Look… I can take a hint. I can tell I'm probably bugging you right now."
(Yes! He CAN be taught!) Marshall said in his mind.
"It's just, when I see someone sad and alone, I just feel like it's my duty to cheer them up."
"I am NOT a charity case!" Marshall growled. "I don't need anyone babying me or feeling sorry for me."
The stranger sighed.
"My bad… I didn't mean to come off that way. I'm just terrible when it comes to making friends in this town. What I meant to say was that I can't stand seeing others sad. I know what it's like to be in a place like that myself, so seeing others that way just makes me see a reflection of myself…" Silence soon engulfed the two. "I'll just leave now." The stranger said, turning his back to leave. "But whatever you're going through, don't let it get you too down. I can tell that you have so much happiness to give." The stranger smiled slightly and proceeded to walk off. Marshall bit his lip. He couldn't help but feel guilty and ashamed of himself. Look at what he had become. He used to be one of the most friendliest pups in Adventure Bay and now, now he didn't so much as shoot a smile towards anyone these days. Heartbreak and depression had changed him into someone else. Someone he didn't even realize he was becoming.
"Wait…" Marshall called out to the stranger, making him turn around. "You said that this was your favorite spot… so you should be here to enjoy it." The stranger looked rather surprised at Marshall's change in behavior.
"Are you sure?" The pup replied. "I understand if you want your privacy."
"It's alright. Maybe I could use a friend right now…" Answered Marshall. The pup then smiled and made his way over to Marshall's side. Marshall still felt rather uncomfortable around company, but tried his best to brush it off. As the two watched the sunset, before long they found themselves casually chatting and found that they had quite a lot in common.
"C'mon," the stranger laughed. "Let me hear you. I promise I won't laugh."
"It's just not something I like to do around everyone…" Marshall answered nervously.
"Well it's a good thing I'm only one person." The stranger smirked. "Go ahead. I'm sure your voice is great." Marshall hesitated before finally giving in.
"Ok… but if you laugh, I swear I'll push you into the lake."
"I promise." The pup said, crossing his heart.
Marshall looked around to make sure that no one else was watching or listening. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I have this vacancy in my heart!
There's just something that's always tearing me apart!
I don't know why I ever let you go!
Now there's no one to bear- with me!"
Marshall stopped singing and opened one of his eyes. The stranger sat there with his eyes wide.
"That was great! Vacancy by Kylee? I love that song." He started clapping his paws.
"Thanks…" Marshall blushed nervously. "It just recently became one of my favorites."
"I'm not really that good at singing… or rather not good at singing at all." The stranger said laughing. "Where'd you learn how to sing like that?"
"I don't know." Marshall shrugged. "I guess I just kinda taught myself."
"Well you're a awesome teacher." He said, making Marshall blush.
"I'm not THAT good." Marshall slightly grinned, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well you're WAY better than me. If I sang, you would probably end up being a deaf dog." The pup joked, making Marshall laugh. Laughing was something that Marshall hadn't done in so long and it felt great to him.
"Finally I made you laugh."
"Was that your plan all along?" Marshall said.
"Maybe. I knew you had a great smile uh… what's your name by the way?"
"Marshall."
"Marshall? Sweet! Marshall, you can call me Joey."
Chase walked his way back into the entertainment room. Everest was now going up against Zuma in Pup Pup Boogie. Zuma wanted to prove who the real champion was by beating Everest and the two seemed to be neck and neck. Chase sat down beside Rocky. He was still in his thoughts thinking about Marshall.
By the way he was acting… I'm not sure if we'll ever be back to normal. He thought to himself. The way he acts around that Joey guy is same way he used to act around me.
Rocky looked over and noticed that Chase looked deep in thought.
"Is everything alright Chase?"
"Huh?" Chase said, snapping out of his thoughts.
"Chase is just really bummed that we didn't get to have our picnic today." Said Skye. "Don't worry Chase. We'll just have it another day this week."
"Yeah." Was all Chase could utter out in response. His ears perked up as the elevator could be heard descending in the distance. He hopped out of the seat and rushed towards the elevator. Marshall was smiling with closed eyes as he stepped out of the elevator.
"Marshall." Chase called to him. Marshall opened his eyes to see Chase standing in front of him which quickly made his smile fade. "Are you all done? With whatever you were doing?"
"For now, but i'm tired; so I'm going to take a nap." Marshall answered.
"What?! But you said that we would hang out." Chase said. Marshall huffed.
"How are we supposed to even watch this movie when the others are using the TV right now?" Marshall asked. Chase pondered this question for a second.
"We can use the TV in the PAW Patroller."
"Fine." Marshall said, before walking away.
"Where are you going?"
"To the PAW Patroller? Just get the movie." Marshall answered sharply.
"O-Ok…" Chase answered before running back into the entertainment room. Marshall walked outside the doors of the Lookout to be greeted by the cold rain.
So much for watching the sunset today… Marshall walked to the PAW Patroller and entered, shaking his fur dry. He sat down on the seat in front of the wide screen and sighed. "I'd REALLY rather be sleep right now."
"Chase look! Everest is beating Zuma!" Yelled Skye. Surely enough Zuma was getting his tail handed to him on a silver platter and he didn't like it one bit. Zuma looked sweaty and nervous.
How… how can she be THIS good? I've been playing this game WAY longer than her… I'm supposed to be the champ! Zuma thought to himself. He attempted to do a tailspin, but somehow slipped and landed on his back.
"And the winner is… NOT Zuma!" Rubble shouted making everyone laugh.
"Your bragging rights have been revoked." Rocky joked.
"Looks like you're number one now Everest." Said Skye. Chase would have been more impressed with this situation if other things weren't on his mind. He approached the movie rack and tried to locate the movie he had in mind.
"Let's see… The Barking Dead… The Little Mer-pup… Play Your Symphony… Chasing Tails… Like it Never Happened… Cartoon Millionaire… " Chase huffed. "Rocky should really get back on his job of organizing these." Chase continued to look long and hard. "Here it is. Apollo The Movie: Super pup Origins." Chase picked up the case and opened it to find that there was no disc inside. "Ugghhh!" He turned around to face the others. Everest and Rubble were now in a team battle with Rocky and Skye while Zuma sat on the couch pouting at his previous defeat. "Where is the Apollo movie disc?!"
"If it's not in the case then I would check the DVD player. You know Rubble watches that movie like three times a day." Rocky answered while keeping his concentration on the game.
"Hey, you can't deny that it's the best movie ever. You can't watch it just once." Rubble defended.
Chase walked over to check the DVD player and surely enough, the disc he was looking for was inside. After placing the disc back inside its case, he proceeded to walk out. The rain was relentlessly pouring down now. Chase dashed to the PAW Patroller as drop by drop intensely splashed all around him. He entered to see Marshall on the seats slumped down with a bored expression.
"I got the movie." Chase said, waving the case in the air. Marshall paid him no attention and didn't even offer a response. Chase sighed and entered the disc into the player. He walked over to sit by Marshall as the player tried to read the disc. When he sat by Marshall, Marshall instantly moved over a couple of spaces, distancing himself from the shepherd. He was still staring straight ahead with that uninterested expression.
Marshall… do you really hate me this much to not even acknowledge me anymore? Chase said within his mind, while staring at the dalmatian. Chase soon found himself lost deep within his thoughts again. You were one of my best friends. Why are you treating me like this? Chase didn't want to admit it, but this was really starting to get to him.
The theme for Apollo began to play as the words Insomni-act Productions appeared on the wide screen.
"What is a hero?" Spoke the narrator from the movie. "Or rather, what makes a hero? What truly defines them? Is it courage? Love? Strength? Determination? All can be defined as heroic traits and all can be connected and draw out power from one another. The scene changes to an abandoned town. "This is the tale of a hero… and how that hero came to be. In an abandoned town, a mad scientist experiments on helpless animals, trying to create a new living breed. A creature… of destruction."
As the movie goes on, Marshall's bored expression fades and he begins to get really engrossed into what's happening, watching from the edge of his seat.
The mad scientist cackles as he stares at a frightened gray german shepherd pup "I have endowed in you the strength of a rhinoceros. The speed of a cheetah. The flight of an eagle and so much more. YOU will be MY weapon of destruction! You will kill! You will destroy! You will make this world mine!"
By the middle of the movie both Chase and Marshall were watching the movie with wide eyes and anticipation.
"I can't believe I waited so long to watch this." Chase thought out loud.
"Yeah I know. It's really good." Marshall answered without realizing.
Apollo turned to face his friend Lance, a white pit-bull pup.
"Apollo you're… flying..." Lance, spoke with wide eyes.
"Lance… you're my best friend. Thank you. It was because of you that I was able to come this far. Because of you, I gained my memory back and I realized that I'm not just some tool for destruction." Apollo closed his eyes. "I'm sorry for keeping all of this from you. For not telling you sooner. I was afraid you'd think I was a monster." Lance ran up to Apollo and held him tightly.
"I don't care what you are… you're my best friend! Please… don't go! Don't leave me!" Tears were starting to form in his eyes.
"I'm sorry… I have to make things right…" Apollo released himself from Lance's grip and quickly flew off.
Chase was watching the scene with tears in his eyes. He looked over to Marshall and saw that he had tears as well.
Over half an hour passed and the movie had ended. The credits began to play across the wide screen.
"That was a great movie." Chase said.
"Yeah! I see why Rubble watches it so much now." Marshall answered. Chase didn't realize it until now, but he and Marshall had actually been having small conversations and laughing together throughout the movie. Not only that, but it seemed Marshall was actually responding to him now and he looked happy. Chase smiled.
I guess the movie really distracted his feelings toward me. Chase thought. He decided to take a chance. "So… What do you wanna do next? Chase asked.
"Hmm…" Marshall pondered. "I guess we could join the others in Pup Pup Boogie."
"Let's do it." Chase replied. "I gotta warn you though; don't expect me to take it easy on you." He joked.
"Oh it would be in your best interest to play your hardest if you wanna beat me." Marshall shot back. The two walked out of the PAW Patroller to find the rain had stopped. Marshall's pup tag then went off.
"Marshall, I've finished it now. I'm heading to the ground floor to give it to you." Announced Ryder from the dalmatian's pup tag. Chase watched as excitement took over Marshall's features. Marshall instantly took off running into the lookout with Chase following behind. By the time the two entered, Ryder was already exiting the elevator. Marshall walked up to Ryder as Chase stood out of sight to see what this was all about. Ryder held his fist out to Marshall and unclenched it revealing a pup tag. This particular tag was white with a red cross in the middle. Marshall gasped with excitement as his eyes sparkled.
"It's perfect Ryder!"
"I made sure to align it with the same frequency as the speaker you gave me. I even built in some of the speaker's parts into the tag." Ryder said smiling. "I've already tested it and the sound comes through perfect and clear. I even added a extra feature so that your friend can specifically contact you."
"Thanks so much Ryder, you're the best!" Marshall jumped onto Ryder and assaulted him with licks. "I'm going to go give it to him now." Marshall accepted the pup tag from Ryder and ran out of the lookout. He was so full of excitement that he didn't even notice Chase was standing there listening the entire time.
Marshall hopped into his fire truck and started the engine. He was about to drive off until Chase ran up to the truck.
"Marshall, where are you going? I thought we were going to hang out some more."
"Sorry Chase." Marshall said, rubbing the back of his head. "I really have something important to do. We can hang out more later." He waved to Chase before driving off. Chase watched as Marshall's truck disappeared over the bridge.
He's not fooling me… He's going to go see that Joey guy. He's choosing seeing him over hanging out with ME. We were having such a great time. He was even talking to me again. Frustration was starting to build up in the shepherd. Without even thinking, he hopped into his own vehicle and took off, pursuing the dalmatian.
AN: My next update was supposed to be for "October the 31st" but unfortunately I lost the file and have to rewrite the entire chapter over due to some mediocre mistake... you don't know how frustrating that is...
Anyway... as a little "easter egg" in this chapter; some of the movie names that were mentioned are actual stories by authors from this site. Just a little shoutout to those authors. ;) "The Little Mer-pup" is actually one of my titles. Back in December I came up with the idea to make a ChasexMarshall story similar to the plot of Disney's The Little Mermaid but completely different. I decided to scrap the idea because I figured that it just may not work, but I may upload a prologue just to see what you all think about it.
Thanks again for your continued support. Any and all feedback and reviews are welcome. They really help me improve :)
Till next time, PEACE!
