(A/N): Hey guys. Back with a short one for you, but very impactful.
Now I must disclose that this chapter is not for the faintest of heart as it deals with suicide tendencies. Please understand that committing suicide is very serious, and shouldn't be taken lightly. If you are having any thoughts of suicide please seek help the best way you can, and remember, you are not alone.
I'm sorry if you cringed at that, but I feel that it had to be said. I've had my run ins with suicide and it wasn't very pleasant time for me or my friends that I've lost due to these terrible temptations.
But enough with that, on to the Chapter!
Welcome back to Paw Patrol: The Ballad Of Dally!
Chapter 15: Agony of Loss
Rubble and Chase arrived back at the lookout possibly more clueless than they were when they left. They searched all the places that they would think Rocky would be. The playground, the park, city hall ruins, the dump, and even the swimming pool. Rocky was nowhere near any of those places!
They spent hours looking for him hoping to find any trace of a scent for their friend, but no clues came about. This worried Chase to no end. Taking into account the mental state Rocky had been in, all sorts of alarms were going off in the shepherd's head. There was no telling where he was or what he's doing but Chase had a very deep pit in his stomach of what he might be doing. He hoped to any god that he was wrong.
Zuma was absolutely hysterical when he came in. If it wasn't for Skye keeping him calm, he would've probably have had a heart attack. He was really torn up and worried about Rocky being missing, almost blaming himself for allowing the mixed breed to slip away from him. He wanted to go with Chase and Rubble but Chase deemed Zuma too compromised to go, leaving Chase to ask Skye to stay with him in which Skye gracefully accepted.
Chase got out of his truck with a very concerned manner. He hoped that they had found their good friend and was unharmed and safe, but had no success, not even a scent of him was found. He didn't want to resort to calling Ryder but he may have to. Rocky could be anywhere, and it was clear to him that both Chase and Rubble weren't enough to search all of Adventure Bay and find him in time. They may have to end up calling Ryder which Chase wanted to avoid. At the state he was in, it was probably very risky for Ryder to know that one of his pups is missing and was in great danger.
"Are you sure you don't want to call Ryder Chase?" Rubble asked as he ran up to the shepherd. "Rocky could be anywhere."
"We may have to Rubble." Chase confirmed. "As much as I want to try and keep Ryder out of this, we are only two pups Rubble and I fear that we may not have enough time."
Rubble drooped and whimpered. "I hope he's okay, Chase. I really don't want to lose another friend in the same week."
Chase looks over to Rubble with care. "It's no use thinking like that buddy. It won't do any good for him. All we can do is find him. Now I'm going to call Ryder. Hopefully with his help, we will find Rocky quickly."
With that, Chase went to push his pup tag to call his owner. Before he could though, Rubble suddenly asked a question. "Hey Chase, didn't Rocky and Zuma take their vehicles to the beach?"
Chase's ears perked up at the weird question. "Eh? Y-Yeah. What about it?"
Rubble answered with another question. "Then if Rocky ran off from Zuma, Why is Rocky's recycling truck here?"
Chase cocked his head in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean…." It was then that Chase saw said truck parked in it's usual spot. "Hold on."
Upon discovery, Chase ran over to it and went to investigate with Rubble following suit. Chase sniffed all around the truck, hoping to get a much needed scent. He discovered that the engine was still hot and not blazing. "Seems like this has only been here for a bit, Rubble. It's still warm."
"Did Rocky pull up while we were out looking for him?" Rubble suggested.
"I don't think so Rubble, it's been here for a good minute, shortly before we left." Chase answered, sniffing.
"But that can't be right. I didn't remember seeing Rocky's truck out here when we went, and surely Zuma would've seen it here before he went inside, right?"
"I don't remember seeing it either Rubble. I guess we were in such a rush that we must've simply not noticed it somehow." Chase said, while continuing to sniff. "And as for Zuma, I don't think his mind was too compromised to notice it, considering that he didn't even park his hovercraft in his spot, otherwise he would've noticed it." He finally got to the driver's seat and got a good whiff. Once he did…
EUREKA!
Finally, he got the recycling pup's distinguishable scent. He lifted his nose up in the air and concentrated. Rubble watched with curiosity and excitement. "What is Chase? Did you get his scent?"
Chase raised a paw towards the anxious pup, motioning him to stay quiet as he concentrated. Chase then jumped off the truck and began to frantically sniff the ground for a trail. He suddenly stopped, still sniffing as he finally got one, but when he looked up and noticed where it was going towards, his heart dropped to his paws. According to Chase's tracking, the scent was leading past the lookout….towards the cliff.
Chase shot off towards the cliff, tracking Rocky, hoping that he was in error.
"Hey! Chase! Wait for me!" Rubble called as he chased after him.
As Chase followed his nose to Rocky, his worries grew more and more. No doubt that Rocky was at the cliff. He hoped he was wrong in what the pup was doing over there. He kept telling himself that there was no way Rocky would ever go that far. But the state Rocky was in kept reminding him of how unstable he was. But at this point, everyone on the Paw Patrol was very unpredictable. Chase realized that when he found out about Ryder's current predicament.
Chase ran and ran until he finally found the lonely pup, sitting on the edge of the cliff, looking down below at the ocean shore, which was very high up. Chase halted in his tracks with his bones feeling like they would be thrusted out of his body. Rubble ran right up beside him and gasped at the sight of Rocky.
"Rocky! What are you doing?!"
Rocky didn't move an inch. He just stood there as if Rubble's voice was complete silence. All he did was continue to look down at the bottom. Chase tipped toed closer towards the unstable Rocky. Hoping to not make a mistake and scare him to jump.
"Rocky? Buddy? We want to help you. Please talk to us." Chase called out, hoping to get something out of the pup.
Again, nothing came out of the pup which only pumped more fear towards Chase and Rubble.
"Rocky. Come on. Y-You're scaring us." Rubble whined. "Please, at least get away from the edge."
Rubble's efforts were still futile, as Rocky refused to move.
"Rocky. Zuma is in there crying up a storm because you ran off from him. He really is worried for you." Chase added. "...A-and so am I, I have to admit."
Silence again as the pup stood absolutely still on the edge. Chase's heart was in his throat the longer Rocky stayed silent. Any word could drive Rocky to go over the edge, literally. He had to choose his words carefully."
"Rocky! Please! Before you do anything! Let's talk first! Give me at least five minutes!"
It was almost dead silent again, tearing both Chase and Rubble's hearts to pieces for the safety of their friend. Then finally, Rocky spoke.
"This was Marshall's favorite spot."
Chase was now at least five feet behind the mixed breed as he listened for more.
"Out of all the places he could sit and relax, this is what he chose." Rocky added.
Rubble stood beside Chase and stood next to Chase as he watched on.
Rocky suddenly chuckled. "You know, believed it or not, I never understood why. I never bothered to ask him. But now, I think I do. It's so peaceful here, you could easily get lost in space and take in what really goes on around you when you don't notice it. The view is so breathtaking don't you think?"
Chase swallowed as he responded. "It is Rocky. It really is."
There was a deadly period of silence before another word was spoken. Chase stood, ready for anything.
"This is the second time I lost my best friend Chase. When I lost him the first time, I thought the same thing I'm thinking now. Sad, angry…..guilty. It was the worst thing I ever went through. I had many thoughts to end it. Came really close too. But I made an effort to try to move on, and I did. For him." Rocky confessed.
The two pups stayed silent as Rocky went on.
"I went on, because I knew that Marshall would've wanted that. In fact, He would've been so upset with me. So I made a life of myself the best I could. But then….."
Rocky then turned around to face the pair. He looked straight through Chase's amber eyes. "...I was given a second chance. I don't know why but, I was. I couldn't believe it. Another chance to be Marshall's friend and live my life with him still alive, it was a miracle."
Rocky lowered his head to his paws and shed tears "From then on…..I vowed that there would be no way I would lose him again. That I wouldn't allow that to happen again and Marshal and I would live the rest of our natural lives, being the best of friends."
Chase stood and listened on, letting Rocky say whatever he had to say.
"Then, it got even better. I met you two, Zuma, Skye, Ryder, Alex, Katie, The mayor, Captain Turbot, Walley, Jake, and many others. We grew and grew and I cherished all of you as my good friends, almost brother. It laughs that for the first time in my life m I was happy like I was doing my one purpose in lifes with my….family. I thought finally, I was looking forward to my future and everybody else."
Rocky then started to whimper through his speech. "But…..that turned out to be stupid and naïve thought. Just like my dream to invent something to change the world. I thought if I didn't worry, and relaxed….., I would be fine. But just when I really started to be very happy, my luck betrayed me, and it ripped Marshall away from me again, and this time, he's definitely not coming back."
Rocky's whimpers grew to sobs as it went on. "I've always made terrible decisions everyone I love pays for. From my mother dying at my birth, leaving my sister with an abusive owner, ruining Marshall's life, losing Marshall twice now, and driving my closest friend to hate me. All I've ever known is the lowest parts of my life, and I'm sick of it."
He then starts to sob more. "Marshall was everything to me. He was my first and only friend for a while, and I've always loved him as a brother, but more importantly…...he loved me back and believed in me. When we were separated, I accepted that he was really gone and I moved on. It took a lot from me, but I did."
Rocky paused a bit as he cried more. "I-i can't do it again. Oh god no I can't! I-It was so hard the first time! I thought It was going to be way easier the second time, but no! It's far worse this time! More than I ever imagined to be!"
Chase then stepped forward as he picked up on the cues. "Rocky, Don't be foolish. You can get through it."
"NO! I CAN'T!" Rocky shrieked. Stopping Chase in his tracks. "I CAN'T GO THROUGH WITH IT AGAIN! NOT AGAIN! NOT AGAIN!"
Rocky started to move back, causing two pup's hearts to skip.
"Rocky! Please! You can! It may be hard but you can get through this!" Chase protested.
"You just don't understand Chase! I've already gone without Marshall once and it was hell! I'm not strong enough!" Rocky shot back.
"Rocky! Stop! It's not the answer! It will only make things worse!" Rubble was hysterical and on the verge of tears. "Please buddy! I love you! We all love you! Please don't do it!"
"I know you all love me, and I love you all too, that's why I've got to do this! I don't want to hurt anyone ever again! I don't want to live on without Marshall! I want to talk to him! I want to play with him! But most importantly I want to be with him by his side! Like we should!" Rocky stated, moving closer and closer to the end.
"Rocky, if you do this it would only hurt us more!" Chase pleaded.
It took Rocky a bit to respond. "Maybe I will! Maybe it will hurt you all more. It seems to be the only thing I'm meant to do. I guess I better fulfill that destiny!" Rocky turned around and looked down the very steep cliff, confirming if it really would send him to his doom. He was now toe tips away from ending it all. "I-I'm sorry Chase….I'm sorry Rubble….I'm sorry Zuma…I'm sorry Ryder…" He then looked up to the heavens where he believed to be heading. "...I'm sorry Marshall…...see you later pal."
"Rocky! No!" Rubble screamed as Rocky finally stepped off and began his descent.
"ROOOOOOOOCKYYYYYYY!" Was the only thing the mixed breed heard as he closed his eyes and waited for the sudden stop that would send him to puppy heaven.
Then, the stop came, but for some reason, it didn't feel as painful as he thought he would feel, but more stranger than that, he felt like he was dangling in the air, and wrapped up in a net.
Rocky opened his eyes and much to his dismay, he was a nose hair length away from the Rocks in the water. He shot his head up and found that Chase had caught him with his net from his launcher.
"WHAT?! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!" Rocky screamed as he thrashed around in the net. "LET ME GO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!"
Chase was doing his best not to fall himself, as he stood held on the best he could.
"Oh my god! Nice catch Chase!" Rubble gracefully complemented.
Chase gritted his teeth as he started to pull the net up. "Don't compliment me yet. Help me get him up!"
As ordered, Rubble began to help Chase pull the net up as Rocky thrashed to get free.
After a few minutes of holding on and pulling, they finally managed to get Rocky back up to the cliffside with him still thrashing around. Chase grabbed the bottom of the net and threw Rocky a few feet in front of him, with the net letting go of him.
Rocky got up and immediately made a run for it to jump again, but this time Chase was ready.
"Oh no you don't!" Chase said, as he tackled the mixed breed to the ground and cuffed his front and back legs together, immobilizing Rocky as he laid on his side.
Rocky fought and fought and fought Chase but the police pup was stronger as he locked the cuffs. Giving him no way to move as he laid on his side.
"NO! NO! NO! NO! WHY!" Rocky screamed. "Why didn't you let me fall! You should've just let me die!"
Chase grabbed Rocky by the scruff and rolled him over on his back, so that all Rocky could see was Chase's angry eyes.
"DAMN IT ROCKY" Chase yelled, fully enraged. "DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT BULLCRAP AGAIN! I DON'T CARE IF THE SKY IS FALLING!"
Rocky didn't seem to be listening as he screamed in Chase's face. "NO! NO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!"
"NO! NOT UNTIL YOU LISTEN TO ME!" Chase yelled back with more authority, somehow louder than Rocky. "I'VE LISTENED TO YOU, NOW IT'S MY TURN!"
"YOU SHOULD'VE LET ME DIE!" Rocky retorted. "SHOULD'VE LET ME DIE!"
Slap!
Chase suddenly slapped the tate out of Rocky's mouth. "SNAP OUT OF IT ROCKY!" He continued to slap him until the recycling pup calmed down.
Rubble looked on in terror. He had never seen Chase so angry in his life. "Ch-Chase."
Chase raised a paw in front of Rubble's face. "Not now Rubble!"
Around that time, Rocky finally started to calm down and stop squirming. Chase notices this and asks "Are you done?
Rocky nodded slowly.
He then got the keys to the cuffs out. "So if I unshackle you, you won't run off on me?"
Rocky shook his head. "No Chase. I won't."
"You better not, or I swear Rocky, you will get something worse than death!" Chase said, as he began unlocking the cuffs.
Once he got them of the mixed breed, he stepped back to give Rocky some room. His eyes were glued on the pup, ready in case Rocky made a break for it again.
But the recycling pup did no such thing, instead, he sat there ready to take the tongue lashing he was going to get. Rubble stood and watched as he was still traumatized by everything that happened.
"I want to ask you this Rocky." Chase began with a stern voice. "What did you think that was going to solve? What in your brain thought was going to happen had I not caught you."
Rocky either couldn't think of anything to say or was simply too worn out to say anything.
"I'll tell you from my point of view. Not a darn thing. It would've caused more problems than you could ever think of." Chase stated sternly. "Imagine what would've happened if I had to tell Ryder that you jumped. What do you think Ryder's reaction would be? Hm? How about poor little Zuma, who was ballistic that you had run off on him? He is one of your precious best friends who already told you that he would always be there for you and will help. You scared the bejesus out of him buddy, and you were going to leave him like that? After all he's done for you, you were going to make him lose both of his best friends back to back? Do you have any idea what would have done to that poor pup?"
Rocky only dipped his head in sorrow. Rubble went over to Chase and whispered. "Chase, I don't think being negative like this will help him. It will only make him feel worse."
"It's the only way he's going to learn Rubble." Chase whispered back. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."
Chase then turned his attention back over to Rocky, who thankfully, still hadn't moved, or said anything. "Look Buddy. The only reason I'm coming down this hard on you is so I can make you understand that throwing yourself off the cliff or harming yourself in any way will only bring more pain and misery on us…...and Marshall."
Rocky shot his head up at Marshall's name. "Ma….Marshall?"
"Yes Rocky. You know darn well that Marshall would be here right now, saying the same thing to you, I have no doubt about it." Chase implied.
"Y-You think he's mad at me right now?" Rocky croaked.
Chase thought about the question as he answered confidently. " I don't know Rocky. He's probably rolling on the floor crying out your name, trying to get you to stop from killing yourself, and the fact that you almost did, may have frightened the pup."
Rocky then lowered his head again in shame. "I-I'm so sorry." He started to shake as tears formed again. "I-I just can't live without again. All I ever wanted was to have him as a friend, and be there when he needed me. Because he was there for me. There is so much I want to tell him. So much I want to do with him. I thought that if I had gone with him, I could be with him forever and no longer have the fear of losing him again."
Chase stepped closer to Rocky and put a paw on his shoulder. "You will see him again buddy. You're just going to have to wait until it is your time, and you will be happy forever with him. That's how it's got to be. Trust me, we all have to get through this….together."
"I-I don't know if I can Chase. I don't know if I'm strong enough." Rocky replied sadly.
"Don't say that Rocky. Cause it's not true. You're stronger than you think." Rubble chimed in.
"No! I'm not Rubble!" Rocky blurted out. He then got quieter when he noticed that he was yelling again. "You just don't understand what all I've been through and why it's so hard for me."
"Rocky, look at me." Chase ordered.
Rocky slowly raised his head to meet Chase's now caring eyes which had now started to form tears himself.
"My father…...died right in front of me. At the time, I felt that I lost my motivation for life. I thought that my one purpose was to make him so proud of me…..so when he was shot and killed in front of me, I saw my life go away as well…." Chase whimpered softly. Talking about his father always did this to him. This the reason he usually never ever talked about him. Rubble and Rocky were appalled by this as this was essentially the first time they ever heard Chase speak of his father.
"If-If it wasn't for Marshall, I would've done the same thing you did, except no one would've catched me." Chase whimpered out. He sniffled and looked away for obvious reasons. Rubble put a comforting paw on his shoulder, hoping to comfort his sad friend. The shepherd then looked back at Rocky with damped eyes. "And now….I lost my sworn brother. I can technically say that he died in front of me as well."
It took Chase a bit before he could continue. "Now I'm not saying this to one up you Rocky, I'm saying this to tell you that you are not the only one whose been through a lot to get here. I know first hand how it feels to give up after everything goes wrong. I was in your paws Rocky. In fact…..I too stood on the edge of that cliff."
Rocky and Rubble gasped at their realization.
"Ch-Chase…..are you saying that…"
"Yes...of course…..I thought about doing it as well. But I didn't follow through with it….."
Rocky was shocked at this development. There was only one question he could ask. "Wh-What stopped you?"
Chase looked at the mixed breed with a knowing look. "What do you think stopped me?"
It took Rocky a second to think of the answer. "Marshall?"
Chase nodded in response. "Yes Rocky. Marshall stopped me before I could do anything about it, and he said the same thing I'm saying to you right now. You think I don't understand now?"
Rocky sniffled as he said nothing, but Chase could tell that he was finally starting to understand what Chase was trying to get across to him.
"I'm…..so….so….sorry Chase." Rocky mumbled out. "I hope you can forgive me…"
In response, Chase walked up to the pup and gently wrapped his arms around the mixed breed's body and hugged him. "Of course I do buddy. Just please know in mind, I know it's going to be hard and I know it's going to be so painful, but we will get through this. No matter what. Now…"
Chase lets Rocky go as the two stare at each other. "There's another pup that you need to apologize to."
Rocky dipped his head in embarrassment and shame. "I know Chase. And I will. But can you do me a favor? You too Rubble?"
"Anything for you Rocky." Chase warmly accepted as well as Rubble.
"Can we forget this ever happened and keep this a secret? I know how troubling this would be for the others to worry about. Especially since I failed." Rocky requested.
"Of course Rocky. Just as long as you promise me that you will never do something like this again. If you do think of harming yourself again. You tell someone. Deal?" Chase rebutted.
Rocky raised his head as he responded firmly. "Deal."
Ryder and Katie stood in awe of the statue before them. Ryder could hardly believe it when the Mayor said that she had a statue commissioned for the late pup. She said that it was sculpted from stone by a very respected and talented artist on the outskirts of Adventure Bay. The Mayor then requested them to come along with her to see the artist's name to see what the result was.
The statue wasn't so big at all. Instead, it was a polished white stone statue of Marshall, at his exact size. Standing with his gear on with that determined smile of his. They were even his spots that were in the exact places that Marshall had them. His gear was the right shade of color, and even went as far as those darn baby blue eyes that Marshall was gifted with, which seemed to shine even brighter than the real thing. Below at the dally's feet, was a little plaque that simply stated…
In loving memory of a pup that gave his all to protect the city loved. Adventure Bay Loves you back Marshall.
You did your best and forgot the rest.
Ryder was very surprised at how detailed it was. He had never seen a statue so powerful and so full of passion along with the dally's determination. He looked at the Mayor who stood proud of the statue. "Mayor, y-you shouldn't have."
"What's wrong Ryder, you gave me the okay to have a statue made in his memory." Goodway implied.
"First of all, I'm sorry Mayor, I don't really remember if I did or not. Second of all, if I did, this is just a little much."
"Oh come on Ryder, don't be like that, it probably didn't cost that much to make." Katie assumed, trying to warm Ryder up to it.
At that implication, the Mayor started getting nervous again. "well…. Um you see…...about that."
Both Katie and Ryder look at the Mayor dangerously curious.
"Mayor Goodway, how much did this cost?" Ryder asked very sternly.
The Mayor started drenched in sweat. "Well….considering every detail that went into this, um…..fifty…...thousand dollars."
Both Katie and Ryder's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets over the shocks of what answer was.
"Fifty thousand dollars?!" Katie exclaimed. "Mayor! That is way too much!"
"Mayor! With all due respect, that could've gone into building a new city hall! Heck that alone could build the whole thing! What were you thinking?!" Ryder exclaimed.
"What do you mean to ask that Ryder?!" the Mayor rebounded back, a little hurt. "I wanted the best way for Adventure Bay to remember Marshall."
"I understand that Mayor, but driving yourself and the town broke, isn't the way to do it. I don't mean to tell you how to do your job, but you've got to think here." Katie added. "That money would have improved the town, like a new city hall that you need right now."
The Mayor started to be very hurt by this as tears were trying to slip out though she was doing a horrible job at hiding them. "Ryder…..Katie…..I-I didn't mean for you to make you feel that way. I just wanted to do this for Marshall. That pup has done so much for this town. From the people and animals he saved, to the well being of this city. All I wanted to do was show our admiration for him and tell him that we will miss him so much."
"Nobody is doubting that Mayor. I'm sure Marshall right now is totally flattered that you did this, but I think he is also thinking the same thing we are. If not more than that, he probably wouldn't think that he deserved it." Ryder implied.
The Mayor looked down in shame. "I-I'm sorry. I guess you don't like it then. I guess I'll find something to do with it. Probably destroy it and have it intiguated to something with the city in some way."
The Mayor walked to a nearby bench and sat down on it. She put her head in her hands. Ryder sighs as he goes over to her. He puts a hand on her shoulder. "No Mayor. We can still use it. It's already made so the least we can do is use it as the memorial. It is a fine statue after all, the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
The Mayor sniffled. "Thanks Ryder. That means a lot to not just me, but the whole town."
Ryder chuckled as he rolled his eyes. "Of course Mayor. Whatever you say."
"But Ryder, where are we going to put it?" Katie asked. "There are so many places we can put it."
Ryder looked at Katie as he answered. "Don't worry about that Katie. I know the perfect spot for a statue like this."
(A/N): That is all for now.
Again, please seek help if you are having any suicidal thoughts. Like Chase said, suicide is never the answer, as it only caused more pain then it subdues. At least that's my opinion of it.
I've added another Chapter to the story so there will be two more chapters before this story's hiatus will be underway. Again, I am so sorry for any inconveniences this causes, as I hope you are enjoying my story very much. That being said, the next chapter will be uploaded next Friday.
Question of the Chapter: Where do you think Ryder will put Marshall's statue?
Let me know in your review!
Please review and tell me your favorite parts and if you have any questions about the story or anything else, just put it in your review or pm me and l'll get back with you as soon as I can.
This Is Sean Thames of Dragonsfire Entertainment signing off!