Rocky and Ryder walked outside of the lookout, idly talking to each other as they stopped in front of Marshall's bright red pup house, a soft whimpering coming from inside of it, which could only be coming from Marshall, considering that every other pup was inside the lookout.
Before unlocking the door however, Rocky tapped one of his paws on the locked automatic door, trying to get Marshall's attention as he spoke. "Marshall, buddy. Are you awake in there? Ryder wants to have a one on one discussion with you." Rocky asked as the sound as some footsteps came from inside of the pup house as Marshall spoke, leaning against the automatic door of his pup house as he did so.
"R-Rocky, g-go away, please. I'm not worth anyone's time; it's just like Blaze said. I'm a failure, and that's I'll ever be." Marshall said, his voice breaking up slightly as he thought about everything Blaze had said to him, bringing tears to his eyes as he laid back down inside of his pup house.
"Marshall, you're not a failure. You're always there for us when we're down, and we love having you around, just as much as everyone else on the team. You're an incredible fire pup and EMT, and I'm glad you're here with us." Ryder said as he looked over to Rocky, signalling to the mixed breed that it was almost time to unlock the automatic door, but not quite yet.
"T-Thanks Ryder, but why would my own parents say things like that about me after all these years? I-I don't understand, they're the ones who came up here for a reunion after you got in contact." Marshall cried out once more as he unlocked the automatic door from the inside, allowing himself to walk out and lay on the grass that was right next to his pup house, looking up to the sky as he continued to cry.
Rocky and Ryder sat down next to Marshall, comforting the dalmatian as he continued to cry, letting his emotions run free after bottling them up ever since he left Azura.
"W-Why is everyone always so patient with me? I ruin everything, and I'm just a klutz." Marshall said as he stood up, looking back at Rocky and Ryder as Ryder suddenly cleared his throat, getting the attention of the Dalmatian.
"That isn't true at all, Marshall. No person or pup is perfect, and we all love each other for who we are. Our imperfections and differences are what make us all unique, after all." Ryder said as Rocky gave Marshall a paw bump as he walked back into the lookout, leaving Ryder and Marshall alone to have the one on one conversation that Ryder wanted.
"R-Ryder, please tell me this. Do you think I'm good enough to be on the Paw Patrol still?" Marshall asked as Rocky left, remembering that he had wondered about this initially around a week ago.
Ryder wanted to respond with what his gut was saying, which was that of course Marshall was. Alongside the other pups, Marshall has become a specialist in what he does, and he's an amazing friend to boot. But Ryder could tell that what Blaze had said to the younger Dalmatian and his son had dug deep roots and was deeply affecting him.
Because of that, as much as Ryder didn't want this to be the case, he didn't think simple words of encouragement would be enough to help Marshall here. Maybe the team could show Marshall's family that he truly knows what he's doing, by allowing him to demonstrate in a live rescue?
But how would they do that? The Paw Patrol don't create scenarios to go and fix them, they get called to deal with active scenarios. But what if that changed just this one time? No one would be put in harm's way, and they'd set it up safely, so what could possibly go wrong?
"Of course I do, Marshall. Your parents aren't right to say things like that about you, or anyone else, just because they raised you. Please, try not to take their words to heart. I'm sure they mean well, even if they're having trouble expressing that." Ryder said as Marshall laid down in a small ball, allowing Ryder to slowly rub Marshall from his head down to his chest.
"B-But they never had any trouble expressing their love for Cookie and Kai, and give them all of the support in the world like good parents do. I'm the problem clearly, and they're finally saying things like that." Marshall said as Ryder continued to rub his body, moving his fur slightly as he rubbed the Dalmatian's fur.
Ryder didn't know how to respond to that, he had noticed a stark contrast in how Smoke and Blaze treat Cookie and Kai compared to Marshall ever since they were picked up in Adventure Bay.
"I... I see, Marshall. Here's an idea, why don't you get some rest in your pup house for now? I'll bring some food and water out, and then me and Everest will have a bit of a surprise for you." Ryder said, getting Marshall's spirits up slightly. And this wasn't an empty promise, no, he was very excited about this.
"S-Sure Ryder, I need some more time to think about everything that's happened." Marshall said as he went back into his pup house, leaving the automatic door unlocked this time as he did so, curling back up into a ball as he cried to himself again.
Ryder walked back into the lookout as the automatic door to Marshall's pup house closed, making a call to Captain Turbot with the pup pad as he sat down.
"Is tonight a good day for it, Captain?" Ryder asked, smiling lightly as the pups continued speaking with Marshall's family, Everest's ears peeking up as she heard what Ryder was talking about, deciding to walk over to learn more.
"I think so, Ryder. Have Marshall and Everest meet me at the beach at around 9 PM tonight, okay?" Captain Turbot replied with a smile on his face as he threw a treat at Wally, the walrus jumping out of the water briefly to catch it.
"Got it, Captain. I'll let the two of them know." Ryder said as Everest jumped up onto the couch that he was sitting on, doing a slight stretch as she looked over to Ryder.
Seeing Everest, Ryder hung up the call with Captain Turbot, also knowing that the conversation that the two of them were having was over. What had to be said was said, so Ryder set the pup pad down on the table that was directly in front of the couch.
"S-So Ryder, how's Marshy doing?" Everest asked as she remembered seeing Rocky and Ryder step outside of the lookout to go and speak with Marshall. But other than that, nobody else in the lookout knew what happened.
"He's doing okay, Everest. He wants to stay in his pup house for now, so I'll be bringing some food and water out for him. Are you ready for the surprise me and you planned for him?" Ryder asked, thinking about how happy this would make Marshall and Everest. Ever since their first date not too long ago, they've been even more happy than usual, and Ryder was sure this would really help raise their spirits, but especially Marshall's.
The team had noticed how painfully obvious that Marshall needed a break from his family, but especially his parent's. It hasn't been that long since the team picked them up from the airport in Adventure City, but the tensions around the lookout have been so high lately that you can cut it with a knife, and the arguments that Marshall's parents have had with Marshall haven't helped with that by any means.
And what happened at the Paw Patrol's training course really didn't help. Marshall and his parents haven't actually interacted since that happened, but some kind of a discussion about that had to happen at some point. With any luck, this small break Marshall was taking from his family tonight with Everest would help lower the tension around the lookout, and make the inevitable discussion or argument at least more manageable for both parties.
"I'm glad to hear that, Ryder. I'm going to go grab the gift Katie made for Marshy now. Call my pup tag when it's time, okay?" Everest said as she jumped off of the couch, landing on the floor of the lookout and walking out, feeling the glares of Marshall's parents on her as she did so.
With that, Ryder stood up off of the couch as well. For now, he was getting some food and water for Marshall, wanting to see how the dalmatian was doing. He had also noticed the glares that Marshall's parents had directed at Everest, but couldn't really do anything about it in the moment.
Ryder walked into the food cupboard in the kitchen with both of Marshall's bowls in hand, filling up the water and food bowls to their normal levels as he began to walk towards the automatic doors, seeing that Everest was already driving off, likely to pick up the gift Katie had made for Marshall. Ryder didn't even know what it was, but with how much he knew Everest loves Marshall, and vice versa, he knew it would be a great gift for the Dalmatian.
Ryder walked out of the automatic doors and over to Marshall's pup house with the dalmatian's food and water bowls in hand, hearing that Marshall was still lightly whimpering.
As Ryder got closer, he was surprised but also relieved to see that the automatic doors opened as Marshall walked out, sitting down on the grass as he looked over to Ryder, a look on his face that screamed that he had a lot on his mind, which was understandable.
Ryder set the food and water down right in front of Marshall who began drinking from the water bowl with no hesitation whatsoever. Clearly all of this stress that had been building in Marshall's mind had been taking a toll on him, and probably still was, but being next to Ryder, the dalmatian finally felt like he had a moment to breathe.
"T-Thanks for always being there for me, and the other pups for all these years, Ryder. You've really helped us all through some dark times." Marshall said gratefully as he began to eat, letting his mind relax as he took his mind off of what his parents said, no matter how brief this moment of bliss would be, he needed it badly.
"Marshall, it's just what I do. And don't think you all haven't helped me through some tough times too. We may seem like just a rescue team, but we're really truly a family." Ryder said as he rubbed Marshall's back slowly, giving the dalmatian some space as he ate.
"Y-Yeah, you've got that right, Ryder. Mind if I take my bowls into my pup house? I want to get a bit of rest before the surprise that you told me about." Marshall asked as he opened up the automatic doors, waiting for Ryder's response.
"I don't mind at all, Marshall. I'll call your pup tag when the surprise is ready and we'll go from there, okay?" Ryder said as Marshall walked into his pup house, Ryder placing the dalmatian's two bowls in the clean corner of the firetruck in its house form.
Ryder walked away from Marshall's pup house and walked back into the lookout, keeping an eye on the clock that was displayed on his pup pad as the pups and Marshall's family relaxed near each other, with nothing happening right this moment.
Meanwhile, Everest was driving into the main part of Adventure Bay with her snowcat as she crossed the bridge, making a beeline towards Katie's. The veterinarian had said Marshall's gift was ready today, so the husky felt like she had no time to waste, especially with the date being tonight.
Everest also knew there was a question that she wanted to ask Marshall, it had been on her mind ever since the two of them started dating, and she knew the answer that she would give, but how would Marshall answer? To Everest, there was only one way to find out. And that was to ask Marshall the question during the date itself.
Each and every time Everest thought about this question, and what it represented for both of their futures, her heart and mind began to run wild as butterflies filled her chest at the very thought of it.
Everest parked in front of Katie's clinic as she jumped out of the snowcat, landing on the ground and bending her four knees to soften the impact as she began to walk, stretching her legs slightly as she did so.
To her surprise, Katie met up with her as soon as she came into the building, placing a small box with an unfamiliar logo into one of the many pockets on her cyan and orange vest.
"That's the gift we talked about, right Katie?" Everest asked with a smile on her face as Katie closed the vest pocket up by zipping it shut.
"It sure is, Everest. Go have a good date with Marshall, okay?" Katie said, smiling as well as Everest nodded and walked out of the clinic, her tail wagging so much that it could be mistaken as a blade on a helicopter's rotor quite easily.
"I-I will, that's for sure Katie. Thanks a lot for getting his gift made. I know he'll love it." Everest replied, her tail still wagging uncontrollably as she exited the clinic, with the automatic doors opening in front of her as the night began to fill the sky, the stars becoming visible as well with the moon reflecting light down onto Adventure Bay and the surrounding area.
As she walked outside, Everest felt a light chill run through her fur as she jumped into her snowcat, deciding to drive back to the lookout to see what's going on. There's still around half an hour until it's time. Might as well relax a bit. Everest thought to herself as she looked behind herself to the back of her snowcat, everything that she planned to use during the date was safely in the snowcat; the gift Katie had her friend make safely in one of the many pockets of Everest's vest.
Everest drove in silence for around five minutes before parking her snowcat at the lookout again, jumping out of her snowcat as she turned it back into her pup house, seeing Ryder sitting in the grass near the lookout with his head low.
The lavender husky walked over, laying down next to Ryder as Everest spoke lightly. "Is something wrong, Ryder?" Everest asked as she looked over to Marshall's pup house. The automatic door was still closed, but Everest could hear a pup eating and drinking inside of it. That was an extremely good sign.
"Y-Yes and no, Everest. Physically I'm perfectly fine right now, but I feel like I'm a failure of an owner. Marshall asked me if I still think he's good enough to be on the Paw Patrol not too long ago today, I gave a sincere and honest answer saying that he obviously is, but the fact that he's asking that makes me feel like I'm a failure of an owner, and a team leader." Ryder said as Everest brushed the fur of her neck against Ryder, comforting him ever so slightly non verbally before she spoke.
"Ryder, moments of uncertainty happen to absolutely everyone. Moments where we think we aren't good enough to do something we've done for years because of a few negative situations. I'm sure Marshall isn't contemplating leaving the team or anything, but he most certainly needs a break from his parents. And that's what we're giving him tonight, just me, him and Captain Turbot on the Flounder." Everest's heart fluttered with butterflies as she spoke, making sure to speak in a comforting tone towards Ryder, knowing he really needed the emotional support right now. And there was nothing wrong with that, everyone's been there.
"T-Thank you, Everest. You should probably get going to the docks, actually. We have around fifteen minutes until we're ready to go." Ryder said as Everest nodded and jumped back into her snowcat, speeding off as Marshall continued eating and drinking inside of his pup house.
Even with all of the stress and anxiety that had been bubbling inside of Marshall, the fact that he was still taking care of his needs was a very positive sign. And Ryder was confident that this date with Everest would help raise his spirits even further.
Everest could feel the small box in her vest bouncing around lightly, but thanks to the fact that it was secured inside one of the pockets of her vest, the precious gift that was for Marshall had absolutely no chance of being damaged.
Everest parked at the docks as she heard her pup tag going off. It was a call from Ryder, which only meant one thing. It was time for her second date with Marshall, and the dalmatian would be here at the docks any minute now.
At the same time, Marshall finished eating and drinking out of the bowls in the pup house, allowing him to press the button to open the door on the pup house automatically, walking out to see the starry night sky above them, and Ryder right next to his pup house.
"Marshall, are you ready to get down to the docks? Everest is waiting for you." Ryder asked as he picked up both of Marshall's bowls, preparing to bring them back into the lookout as he waited for a response from the Dalmatian.
"Of course I am, Ryder. I wouldn't dream of keeping Ev waiting, see you and the others later." Marshall replied as he transformed his pup house into his firetruck, jumping into it as he smiled at Ryder and began to drive off towards the docks.
Marshall drove down the bridge slowly as he looked up to the stars in the night sky, smiling lightly as he thought about his future with Everest, and the rest of the Paw Patrol. The future was undeniably open and undetermined, but Marshall was unsure about how to feel about this reunion between him and his family, but especially his parents.
Although Marshall knew reunions between family members are normally extremely joyful, with the way his parents have been acting towards him, he truly wishes he could've just had a reunion with Cookie and Kai, without Smoke and Blaze. In spite of the fact that the three siblings did not spend much time together while Marshall was living in Azura, the three siblings all have fond memories of the time they shared together.
Even though Marshall feels like his parents have been unfair to him, Cookie and Kai were the only two of the dogs in his family to make him feel like this reunion wasn't just a waste of time for everyone.
Marshall parked his firetruck on the road right next to the beach as he jumped out of his firetruck, seeing Everest's snowcat near him. Everest was indeed here, and it was time for their date.
W-Wait, I don't have a gift for her. I suppose it's too late now. Marshall thought to himself as he noticed Everest sitting down on the wooden docks of the beach as he walked towards the docks, Captain Turbot inside of the Flounder as he worked on his boat's engine.
Marshall sat down next to Everest on the docks as he rubbed his fur against hers, surprising Everest in a good way as she looked over to the Dalmatian with light blue eyes right next to her.
"So Marshy, are you ready?" Everest asked as Captain Turbot came out of the Flounder, waving to the two pups to show them that they were ready to set sail under the starry night sky.
"Readier than I'll ever be, Everest. Let's do this." Marshall said as he climbed up into the Flounder, still looking up at the night sky as he climbed up the ladder slowly.
Everest followed behind Marshall on the ladder as she looked up at the night sky as well, it reminded her of the question that she wanted to ask the Dalmatian, and tonight was the perfect time to ask it.
The two pups laid down on the deck of the Flounder right next to each other as Everest decided that now was the best time to ask Marshall the question, taking a deep breath before asking. "So Marshall, how do you think you'd treat your pups if you had any?" Everest asked as she crawled up next to Marshall, looking to the stars that were scattered around the night sky.
"Hmm, I don't know Ev, I'd definitely give them much more support in their lives than Blaze and Smoke gave me growing up. What about you?" Marshall asked, feeling Everest rest her head on his as the two dogs curled right up next to each other.
"I think I'd give them all the support they need in life. And between me and you, I think Dalmatian Husky mix puppies would look almost as adorable as you, Marshy." Everest said as the Flounder began to sail across the open seas of Adventure Island.
"Come on Everest, you're such a joker." Marshall said as Everest blushed lightly, unzipping the pocket on her vest and passing it over to Marshall, taking a deep breath after she carefully dropped it from her mouth.
Marshall pawed at the box carefully, eventually being able to open it up with his mouth, revealing a new collar inside of it. It was fire red, ice blue and frost white with small fires and penguins on the collar, the back of it saying Marshall x Everest, with the word Marshall being in the same fire red as one part of the collar, and the word Everest being in the same ice blue as another part of the collar. The x was partly fire red, and partly ice blue, with the frost white in the middle of the x.
"Y-You got me a new collar? Th-Thank you so much, Ev. I love you." Marshall said as he looked at the collar with so much happiness in his eyes. It wasn't about the collar itself, though Marshall appreciated it, it was more about getting a gift like this from the love of his life.
"I know you do, silly. But let's keep the collar in its box for now, okay? I can put it into your vest, and Ryder can put it on you when we're back at the lookout, okay? I know you wouldn't want it to get damaged." Everest said as Marshall nodded briefly before looking up from the cuddle and kissing her on the snout, causing Everest's heart to surge with so many emotions as she kissed back.
This was going to be a date to remember.
Hey all! I'm very sorry for the long wait on a new chapter for A Dalmatian's Reunion! I hope this one was worth the wait though.