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Welcome back to the most anticipated Paw Patrol fanfiction going on today!
Paw Patrol: The Ballad of Dally!
Last time there was a big development in Dally's memories thanks to not one, but two flashbacks. Not only that, but Stacy found out that Dally has been hanging out with Chase. A pup Stacy wished he would never find, but instead of keeping them apart, Stacy regrettably passed left it alone with no resistance. Hoping to get the job at Adventure City before their relationship develops too much. We obviously don't want that to happen and neither will Chase when he finds out about Stacy's plans. Can Dally remember in time before he's gone forever, and how long will Stacy allow Chase and Dally to spend time before she steps in?
The only way to find out is to head on down to the chapter!
Chapter 40: The Intense Temptation
Zuma almost didn't come to see Rocky today. After yesterday's freakout, Zuma didn't know if he could handle another one. But no matter how much of a emotional roller coasters already Zuma couldn't let himself abandon a friend in need, especially Rocky.
The lab was greeted with an excited smile from Rocky when he walked into his room. What made Zuma smile back in delight was the fact that the mixed breed was actually out of his bed. Yesterday, Rocky couldn't even move, and needed help to even stand. Now it seemed he was standing a few feet from his bed, looking at him with the happiest expression he's had in a few days.
"Hey Zuma. I'm so glad you're here." Rocky wagged with joy. "Look. I can stand and move!" Rocky twirled around in a few circles to demonstrate his well-being. "With no help from anyone at all!"
Zuma's smile grew wider, and his tail wagged. "That's gweat dude."
"But wait! It gets better!" Rocky hyped. "Katie was so impressed, she said that she might be comfortable for me to finally come home today! Isn't that great?!"
Zuma's excitement spread to his tail that was fueling it's wag. While also noting the fact that he remembered Katie's name. "It sure is, dude!" Zuma ran over and slammed a hug on the mixed breed, who winced in response before hugging back.
"Whoa, whoa, Easy there Pal." Rocky groaned. "I'm still soar."
Zuma shot away from the pup with sorrow. "Sowwy. Sowwy. Fowgot."
"It's okay." Rocky said with a grin. "Just please, keep that in mind when you squeeze me."
"Gotcha dude." Zuma chuckled. "So you'we weally going home, huh?"
Rocky replied with a smile, but weirdly Zuma heard a different mood from the mixed breed. "As long as Ryder says I can."
Zuma barely noticed the slight irritation. "Well, I think we both know what he is going to say." Zuma chirped. "I can't imagine Wydew wanting you to stay cooped up hewe."
Rocky dropped his head to his paws. "Are you sure about that Zuma?"
Zuma's head cocked. "Huh? Of cowse Im suwe dude. Why awe you even asking that?"
Rocky raised his head let out a sad sigh. "Because I don't think he feels the same way."
Zuma approached Rocky carefuly. "Dude, Wydew won't have a problem with you coming back. I think he watew wants you to be home."
Rocky didn't seem easily convinced. "You think so?"
"Yeah dude. He knows youwe misewble in here and want's you to be happy more than I do." Zuma claimed. "You know that right?"
Rocky took a few moments before he answered Zuma's question with another sigh. "Does he really care about me and what I need?"
For the second, Zuma was blindsided by the response, twisting his head around the room. "Wha-What? Wocky you can't be sewious."
Rocky wasn't showing any emotion in his response, at least from what Zuma could gather. "I'm being very serious Zuma." Rocky let out in a stern voice. "Ryder's my owner so I guess he should care to a point, but how much does he care?"
Zuma doubletaked on that. How did they get here? They were excited about Rocky coming home, but now the same pup is doubting his owner.
"Wocky, you're totally making no sense dude." Zuma inched with uneasiness, not knowing how to follow the conversation. "How in the wowld could you think that wydew doesn't cawe fow you?"
Rocky's face fell at the lab's question, and while the context was throwing Zuma off how ludicrous it was. Rocky's expressing told him that he was being for real.
Rocky finally responds after an eternity and the words were more piercing than the mixed breed already said. "Isn't it his fault I got injured in the first place?"
A subtle gasp escaped the lab. "Wh-what-what did you say?" Zuma breath, completely bewildered.
"You heard me." Rocky replied with a subtle gruff in his voice.
For some godly reason, Rocky was seriously doubting his owner, as if he blamed Ryder for what happened to him. Zuma may have expressed some displeasure to Ryder himself yesterday, but that was a spur in the moment and even then, he didn't blame him for what happened to Rocky. What Rocky was doing, was incomprehensible to him. Acting like Ryder betrayed him.
"W-Wocky…..it-it was just and accident. It's not his fault. Neither would it be youw's." Zuma cleared, or at least tried to.
Rocky didn't move an inch as he stared down Zuma like a hawk. "You mean like Marshall's?"
Zuma's eyes grew to the size of basketballs.
"Sure. It was an accident. But all I did was follow Ryder's orders and hold on to that lever." Rocky revealed. "Just like Marshall did when he went into the burning city hall. He never came back Zuma." Rocky closed his eyes as a tear went down his cheek. "How can he care so much for us when he let's us get hurt, and when we don't get back up, he replaces us."
All the air escaped from Zuma's lungs as he tried to say anything to bat down Rocky's claim, but before he could fully process it, Rocky spoke again.
"I want to ask you something Zuma." Rocky said. "Why haven't you told Ryder about Marshall's pup pack yet?"
Zuma swallowed as Rocky seemed to move on with no explanation to his replacement comment. Zuma wanted to dig into that, but he felt that he wouldn't get anywhere with that.
On the other paw, Zuma debated on whether to tell Rocky why. In fear of what the mixed breed might say or do. But no. He through the lure, he might as well reel it in.
"Umm…..well….you see…..uh…" Zuma stammered, shaking in fear of Rocky's mood.
Why is he being so hesitant though? It's Rocky. His best friend. Why is he suddenly so scared of him?
"Zuma. Come on pal. Be honest with me. I won't bite."
As if to really freak Zuma out more, Rocky seemed to have changed his mood at an instant to a caring tone. "U-Um…I pwomised Wubble that I wouldn't tell wydew. I wasn't even supposed to tell you."
Rocky raised an eyebrow. "Whhhhhhyyyyyy?"
"I-I don't know. Something about he wanted to see if he could get it back by himself fiwst. He didn't want Skylaw to be in twouble."
"Why does he care about what happens to that pup?" Rocky asked suspiciously.
Zuma shook his head. "I think he likes hew, and he doesn't want hew to go to the pound ow something."
"While Skylar and her brother are going around with or friend's pup pack." Rocky condemned. "It seems that Rubble has a taste in thieves."
Zuma looked at Rocky with a eyebrow of his own. "Wocky. You of all pups should know what those stways awe going through. Don't you wembew? you wewe a stray too."
Rocky didn't respond immediately as he dipped his head in slight embarrassment. He was easily defeated there.
A deep breath went through his mouth before he responds. "Look. I'm not going to tell anyone either. Out of respect for…" Rocky paused a second as he tried to recall the name. "Rrrrubble…but trust me Zuma, you guys might want to tell Ryder very, very soon."
Tossing aside the surprise that he remembered Rubble's name, Zuma was on Rocky's side here. "I agwee Wocky. Wydew defiantly needs to know. But I gave my wowd that…."
"Im not saying he needs to know; I'm saying you need to tell him before it's too late." Rocky interrupted with sincerity.
Zuma cocked his head in confusion. "Too late? What do you mean by that?"
Rocky closed his eyes and dipped his head. After a breath, he looked back up with his eyes frigid. "Zuma, have you ever heard of the name Dally?"
Zuma's tried to remember the name Rocky said. "Da-Dally? No. Can't say I have?"
"Thought so." Rocky asserted with confidence. "There's no way you would've heard anything about Dally. Because Ryder and that police pup is keeping him away from you."
Zuma's confusion grew, as he tried to figure out what Rocky was implying. "Keeping him away from us? Dude, what awe you talking about. Who is Dally?"
"It's obvious pal. He's Marshall's replacement." Rocky revealed with a slight growl in his voice.
A very icy chill slowly inched through Zuma's back. "Ma-Mawshall's weplacement? You-you've got to be joking."
Rocky shook his head. "No Zuma. I am not joking. Ryder's replacing Marshall."
Zuma didn't know how to process this or if Rocky was telling the truth. Sure, he knew Marshall would be replaced eventually by his sister Ember, but that was years down the road. Until then Zuma himself would have Marshall's duties until she comes of age and arrives. It's going to be difficult to see someone else in the role but at least there would be some time to get used to it and the team knew it was going to happen. That was the plan Ryder told his pups but now, it seems that Ryder himself was going against it.
Zuma couldn't take it as the truth. He could never imagine Ryder going behind his pups back and replacing Marshall sooner than planned. Not to mention, Chase seemed to be involved in this as well. He would never keep a dire thing like this away from the rest of the team. He'd probably lobbied to tell it to them each chance he got.
"H-How would you even know this Wocky." Zuma faltered, being very careful not to come right out and call Rocky a liar.
"I overheard them talking yesterday, Zuma." Rocky explained. "Apparently, Chase had been running off with a new friend, and reporting to Ryder about what they did that day. My guess, is that they're trying to get him to come aboard by being his friend."
Rocky's gotta be stretching here. This was just completely out of character for both Ryder and Chase. To not only lie to their friends but to manipulate another to joining even if the one doesn't want to, doesn't sound like them at all. It must be just a wild theory by someone whose going through memory problems.
Then again, Chase has been absent a lot more than usual. He's noticed that he'd even been blowing off Skye which Zuma always wondered why he would try to avoid her. Could it be that what Rocky is saying is true? It's the only thing keeping this theory afloat.
Still, it wasn't enough to convince Zuma, as he was in full denial that Ryder would just replace Marshall on a without at least telling the Paw Patrol.
"No. Uh Uh. You'we wong Wocky. Mawshall is going to be weplaced by his sister in a few yeaws time. That's the plan Ryder said and he's sticking to it." Zuma denied. "Thewes no way he would just weplace Mawshall like that."
Rocky squirmed as if he was hurt by Zuma's words, but strangely enough, Rocky kept his composure and confidence. "You can not believe me all you want pal, but that's what I think is happening, and soon…I'll be next."
Zuma twitched. "Wha-what?!"
"Yes Zuma. I'm next. If I don't get better, or at least he doesn't see that I'm getting better enough, he'll replace me, like he will Marshall." Rocky fretted with more sadness than anger.
How in the world did they get here?! Zuma couldn't tell if Rocky was being serious or if he was coming off the top of his head. The context looks like it, but Rocky's manner told a different story.
Still, he had to tell Rocky the truth. His mind is twisted and he's just grasping at straws. Yeah…that's it. Rocky just has some weird thoughts that are not true. Right?
"Wydew's not going to weplace you dude." Zuma stated with his own confidence. "He's going to let you come home and it's going to be like nothing evew happened."
"But what about Dally?" Rocky replied with curiousness.
"I don't know about Dally." Zuma breathed, wanting to dismiss the name. "But we shouldn't wowwy about that. The only thing we need to wowwy about is you."
"What about Marshall?" Rocky piped.
Zuma took a few seconds before responding. "If he weally is alive, we'll find him."
Rocky turned around towards the window and looked out of it. "He's alive Zuma. I know it." He then turns to Zuma. "You know it too, and we have to find him now more than ever."
At that moment, the door opened as Katie walked in, diminishing the intensity quickly.
Rocky practically bounced to her. "Well? What he say?! What he say?!"
Zuma squinched a little at the reluctant look on her face, telling him that she didn't have any good news.
"I'm sorry Rocky but….Ryder feels that you need to stay a little bit longer." She inched out with a sad sigh.
Zuma felt a shockwave flow through him as he was sure Ryder would've undoubtably allow Rocky to come back to the lookout. As soon as he heard that, Zuma turned to the mixed breed, and could see the color that was draining out Rocky's paws.
Rocky's eyes were wide and his breathing rate climbed higher and higher. "Wh-What?! N-No! No! No! No! I can't stay here! I want to go home! I need to go home!"
Before Zuma could reach out to him, Rocky bolted for the door. Completely forgetting that Katie was right in front of them who instantly caught him.
Katie picked him up and planted her feet to the ground as Rocky thrashed his head and legs to break free.
"No! No! No! Let me go! Let me go! I don't want to stay here! I want to go home!"" Rocky screamed bloody murder as he continued to break out of Katie's grasp, but Katie kept her firm grip as if she almost expected this to happen.
"Rocky! Calm down!" Katie urged, as she held on.
Zuma watched in horror as Katie carefully began going towards the bed. Rocky thrashed harder, kicking and screaming his head off as if he was being kidnapped.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Rocky screamed as Katie inched over to the side of the bed. Rocky's screams somehow got louder, and his spastic tantrum got even more vibrant until he started to slow down seemingly in an instant.
By the time Katie thrusted him down on the bed, the mixed breed had tired himself out as his breath rate dropped gradually.
"I-I….I…I want to….go….home." Rocky cried softly, way out of breath. "I…don't…..want…to …stay….please…please don't make me stay."
After Katie gasped her breath back while keeping a soft grasp on the mixed breed, petting his head soothingly.
"Shhhhh…I'm sorry Rocky." Katie soothed with her own tears. "You need to stay."
Rocky was almost fast asleep at this point as his spastic tantrum zapped all the little energy he had. "But…but…..but I don't want to stay." He cried through his breaths. "I want to….go…home…I.,….I have to go home."
"I know you do Rocky, but your still not well enough." Katie replied with a sigh. "It won't be much longer. I promise."
"No…you….you don't…..understand…" Rocky weakly croaked as he drifted farther and farther. "I…..I have to….to…..to…..to….find…..Marsh….."
Rocky exhaled the last breath as his body finally shut down. Katie leaned in and kissed the mixed breed's forehead while letting out a muffled sob.
"I'm so, so sorry."
Zuma meanwhile was completely frozen in time. Processing what had just happened in front of his very eyes. A grab bag of emotions was swirling around in his brain, but one emotion was taking complete to control was anger.
What he just saw was something way uncalled for. The image of Rocky, fighting immensely to escape Katie's grasp ignited Zuma.
He thought for sure, Ryder cared too much for Rocky to keep him from coming home. He though Ryder would make the best decision for Rocky's sake, but after the little display, it was clear that Ryder didn't care what Rocky wanted. All Rocky wanted to do was go home and Ryder denied that, without even talking to him.
Maybe Rocky was right, Maybe Ryder doesn't care about him or anypup as much as they think they do, and it's only a matter of time before they get replaced. Like Ryder will do with Marshall a little bit down the line.
"Zuma?"
Zuma's thoughts stayed with him as he looked at a concerned Katie.
"I hate for you to leave like this, but you're going to have to go home now." Katie announced with regret.
Zuma glared at Katie, as if she just insulted him. Now they're going to just leave Rocky alone, when he needs his best friend more than ever? What is wrong with these people?
"Zuma? Are you okay?"
Zuma didn't say a peep as he slowly turned away and walked out of the room.
"Wait, Zuma!"
Zuma didn't even flinch as he went through the door. As much as he wanted to say how he really felt, Katie is not the right person to talk to. That of course would be Ryder.
Skye never thought she would ever have this much fun again. It became very clear that flying with her brother was the one thing she missed the most in her life.
The thrill of being in the sky and doing all the tricks they used to do, pumped her adrenaline and excitement. It may feel different thanks to them flying with jet packs instead of planes, but it wasn't uncomfortable for her thanks to her being a master at the jet pack.
The same definitely couldn't be said about her brother though. He may know how to fly it, but it was pretty obvious that Skye was more skilled at it. She wasn't worried all about it, in fact, she was blatantly cocky as it was one of the rare times where she was the one giving pointers. Not that her brother was listening of course. Noooo, he was too proud for that.
"You really don't have to lean that much, Wings." Skye chuckled with an annoyed manner. "You'll shoot off either side if you do."
"No need to lecture me sis." Wings replied with a cocky smile of his own. "I know what I'm doing."
An agitated groan came from Skye as she rolled her eyes. "You can shoo me off all you want bro, but when you rocket off and embarrass yourself, All I'll do if point and laugh."
"We'll just have to see what happens Skye." Wings replied with the same smug grin. He then looks around in the open field they were at. "This is a nice field to practice on sis. You sure know how to pick em."
Skye smiled as she herself eyes the open landscape. "It's sort of a go to place for us whenever we want to get away from the town and just play. That and I figured practicing behind the lookout was not wise, thanks to the cliff and all."
Wings responded with a playful laugh. "Well, what do you know? A smart idea from you. Maybe all that air finally deflated from your head."
Skye rolled her eyes in response to the jeering. "Yeah yeah, very funny Wings. We going to get back to practicing?"
"Yeah sis. Lets start off with the routine we came up with. Do you remember?"
"What? Of course, I remember the routine. We came up with it yesterday after all." She shrugged off as she was going to describe the routine they agreed on, but suddenly, her mind went blank. She then gave a nervous look at her brother. "Wh-What about you? D-Do you remember?"
Wings's eyes grew wide in realization. "Don't tell me you forgot. Did you?"
"N-No-No…..I just…uh."
"Don't lie to me Skye. You did forget." Wings interjected.
"Okay, yes! I forgot!" Skye groaned. "Happy?!"
"No…not at all." Wings replied with his own annoyance but with a notable nervousness. "Because…I forgot too."
A gasp came out of the rescue pilot. "What do you mean you forgot?! It was your routine!"
"Yeah, well knew it too!" Wings retorted.
"Don't try to put the blame on me! You came up with it!"
"And you helped me, Skye!"
Skye growled in total frustration. "Enough! Were going nowhere with this. Bottom line is that we don't remember our routine for the show!" Skye then lowered her ears and whimpered in a sudden sadness. "This is just great. Our first time performing together again, and we have no idea what we're doing."
"Hey sis. Easy on the tears." Wings calmed. "The show isn't for another few days. We can just practice tricks and come up with a new routine with that. No need to be so down on the ground.
Skye smiled at her brother's effort. "Of course we can bro. It's just that this is our first time performing in front of my friends. They've never really seen me get fancy in the sky. They're expecting me to be more than amazing up there."
"What are you talking about Skye? Ryder, Chase, and all of Adventure Bay have seen you perform."
"I'm not talking about them Wings. I'm talking about Zuma, Rubble, and Rocky."
"Ohhhh right, right. The ones I met…..wait…..Rocky?" Wings cocked. "I don't remember a Rocky."
"Huh? Oh yeah…that's right…..you….haven't met Rocky yet because…." Skye stopped as she was reminded of her friends well being. Her ears dropp3ed and she whimpered the rest out. "Because he got hurt on the ship…." Skye knew she was too low for her brother to hear. She didn't mind it because she preferred it that way as she shrugged it off. "A-Anyway. This is going to be the first time they see do this. I don't want them to think that I just have my head in the clouds."
"Your head's always in the clouds Skye." Wings chuckled.
"That's not what I mean Wings." Skye replied, very annoyed by her brother's shrug.
Wings closed her eyes and shook his head. "Skye, seriously. You're over thinking yourself and worry too much. There's no way your friends will trash you like you think so."
"How do you know?" Skye pressed.
"Because I know your friends won't really care what you do in the air. If they see you up there enjoying yourself, they'll be jumping and yipping in joy for you."
Skye looked somberly at her brother. "You really think so?"
"I know so sis. I may not know them much, but considering the friends you choose to have, it's a no brainer."
The cockapoo drifted downward a little as she processed her brother's words. It made sense to her. Zuma, Rubble, and Rocky have been amazing friends to her. It's silly to think that they would hold her in high regard, especially since they never seen her tear the skies like she used to. They wouldn't be expecting anything from her.
"Skye?" She heard her brother call softly to her. "What else is bothering you."
Skye gave a confused look at her brother.
Wings stood firmly at his sister with a stiffly concerned expression. "I know it's been a while, but I still know you better than your friends and your nerves don't show like this." Wings then walked up to his sister and placed a comforting paw on her shoulder. "Are you sure you want to do this? It's not too late to opt out, and I swear I won't hold it against you."
Skye snapped her head to her brother. "How could you ask me a question like that? Don't you want us to fly together again?"
"Not if it'll get you hurt Skye. You know as well as I do that you can't be doubting yourself while you're in the air. You need to be focused, and if you're not all there, the air is the last place you need to be."
Skye wanted to say she was fine but that would be a bold lie. She knew she couldn't get if by her brother, so she just lowered her head.
"There is…..something, but…it's not really my confidence, bro." Skye muttered.
Wings narrowed his eyes. "Then what is it?"
Skye raises her head and meets her brother's eyes. "I just want the show to be perfect. I want to be better than I was before; so I can give my friends a show they'll never forget." Skye's eyes trembled as the tears started to form. She closes them to hold some back. "It's been a terrible year for us Wings. Ever since we lost Marshall, all we've ever been is sad. Marshall….was our brother, and we lost ourselves. We don't play as much anymore. Every time we do, we felt that it just wasn't the same. We would just wither away, that is….if we were together to begin with."
Wings stood in silence and listened to Skye's whimpers. She looked as if she was barely hanging on herself. "We….We just couldn't have fun anymore. Not without….." Skye choked before she could get Marshall's name out. She shook her head clear and pulled back on her tears. "That's why I want this show to be amazing. I want them to forget about everything that's happened and smile again. I know I can do that. I know I can! I just have to be as good as I once was."
Wings put a paw on Skye's shoulder again. "It's okay to want that sis, and I don't blame you, but you can't let it get to you." Wings then let out a soft chuckle. "You know, you used to tell me all the time that the best way to do your best is to not even think of doing your best at all. Just going out there and doing it was enough. I guess It's finally my turn to trow it back at you."
Skye couldn't help but give a slight smile to her brother and let out a soft chuckle of her own. "I guess your right Wings. I just hope everyone can even see it. Otherwise, all this would be pointless."
"Now why do you even bother saying that Skye?" Wings asked
Skye shook her head again. "No-Nothing. Lets just forget about that and start practicing. First, you need to get good at that pack before we think of any routine."
Before Wings could respond, Skye barked her wings out and took off. She then turns to her brother. "Cmon, I'll give you some pointers."
Wings conceded with a sigh. "Yes sis. Lay em on me."
Chase couldn't figure out if he could call yesterday the best day of the year, but he knows he could really call today the best day of his life.
Chase couldn't remember the last time he's had a playdate this fun, or a playdate at all.
Through out the year, fun was almost hard to find amidst the Paw Patrol. Aside from the obvious reason, A strange disconnect brewed within the team. The group rarely played together, due to the emptiness feelings they felt. Not to mention, the tension going on in the background. The only times they would all be in unison were to occasional festivities around Adventure Bay. They would of course make these appearances with smiling faces, but those smiles were of course masks they put on to hide their misery.
Nearly every day, Chase would do his morning patrol, wake the pups up for breakfast, and spend most of his day around Skye. Provided they were no rescues of course. He didn't know how it was for everyone else, but for him, it was tortue.
He holds his teammates right now as the closest thing he has to a family, so to see them all drift apart was heart wrenching to him, while he was trying to get over one of them being gone forever.
But everything has changed, once again. That same pup who the Paw Patrol has shed so many tears for was alive and well, and Chase was admittedly trying to accept reality.
But that same reality that claimed that Marshall was gone and never coming back was now changing it's story. He wanted to accept it but a huge part of him was very reluctant. Just like he was a year ago when accepting Marshall was dead.
He felt like he was just in a deep coma and could wake up any minute. So much that the shepherd regularly looked around for anything that could confirm that he was in a dream. The sky being red, the ground warping underneath his paws, trees bending over. Anything that would snap it into his head that it wasn't real, but nothing sticks out to him.
"Hey Chase? Are you okay?"
Except for Marshall of course who just came back from relieving himself.
"Huh? Oh-oh ye-yeah Dally. Just taking in the air." Chase answered, shaking himself into focus.
Dally had a look of concern that formed into a small smirk. "You sure? That's like the third time you spaced out."
Chase shook his head again. He didn't know Dally had even been counting.
"Yeah. I'm sure buddy." Chase assured the dalmatian.
"Okay man." Dally replied. He then sat down as he looked sincerely at Chase. "I…. I actually wanna tell you something."
"Oh? What is it Dally?" Chase asked curiously.
Dally sounded sincere in his response. "I….need you to come closer."
Chase rose an eyebrow at this, as Dally was literally six feet away from him, and they were out in the forest with no one else around. "Huh?"
"Come closer so I can tell you, silly " Dally giggled.
Chase was notably weirded out by this. "Uhh. Dally, It's just us out here. Can't you just tell me?"
Dally growled with a hint of laughter. "Will you just come er?!"
Hesitating for a bit, Chase inched closer to Dally and was slowly getting within a tail length of the dally.
Then, Chase saw the smuggest grin on the pup's face. In that moment, he realized what the dally's real intention was but unfortunately, he had no time to react. With playful bark, Dally thrusted forward, colliding with the shepherd who let out a yelp in response. The Dalmatian pinned the shepherd to the ground with a mocking laughter. "Ha Ha! Got ya man! I can't believe you…."
Dally stopped gloating when he noticed Chase's shuttered eyes and gritted teeth. As he let out a painful groan. The color drained from the dalmatian as he realized he realized that he had really hurt him.
"Oh, oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Dally gasped, fixated as he stood over the cringing shepherd. "Are you okay?"
While the pup was practically sweating bullets, Chase was doing his best to sell the injury. It was the oldest trick he knew, taught by him by his dad who used to pull it on him all the time. Once Chase noticed that Dally was mentally distracted, Chase swiftly turned, turning Dally on his back.
The Dalmatian let out a surprised yelp as the police pup now stood over him now. Dally opened his eyes to see the shepherd grinning in victory.
"Hey! You cheated." Dally whined.
Chase let out a mocking chuckle. "Like you did any better."
The dally let out a defeated growl as Chase continued to laugh before he found himself being launched over from Dally's hind legs, landing on his back with a quick thud.
Chase squirmed as he rolled up, glaring a the dalmatian who playfully growled at him. Chase took a stance as he barked, inviting the pup to come at him.
Within a millisecond, Dally accepted by lunging at the police pup. Chase was ready for him this time as the shepherd hugged the dalmatian, and thrusted the dally down on his side, pinning his body down.
The dalmatian quickly pushed him off with his legs, knocking Chase back a bit as the dalmatian got back up and faced the shepherd.
Dally lunged again, not giving Chase time to recover, but unsurprisingly, Chase was ready for him again. The shepherd rose his front paws and caught the dalmatian, keeping him back as Dally pushed to get closer. Chase reached back and shoved Dally forward, making the pup roll backwards on his belly, a little slow to get up as he was a little stunned.
Chase then took the opportunity to lunge himself, and there was no way Dally could see him coming. Chase slammed Dally back to the ground, planting a victorious paw on his chest as Dally gasped for air.
"Gotcha again." Chase chuckled while he admittedly wheezed for air himself.
After a few breaths, Dally formed a small smile. "Wh-Whoa. You're really good at this."
Chase lifted his paw off and got from over Dally. Helping him up as he responded. "Comes with the job buddy."
Dally shook himself off. "Your job must be pretty cool if you get to do stuff like that."
"Not as many times as you think." Chase admitted. "I do more rescuing than fighting, and I can't thank enough for that. I'm not much of a fan of fighting than you think, except for the occasional spar or competition."
"Me neither times a hundred. I don't see the point in it. But it's fun to playfight every now and then." Dally gleaned as he brushed himself off, before looking curiously at the shepherd. "So….your a rescue pup?"
"Yeah. Well. A police pup if you want to be specific." Chase answered.
Dally chuckled a smile. "Yeah, I thought you be. With all that blue on ya a few days ago."
"Oh yeah, you saw a little bit of that ship crash did you?" Chase asked back.
"Mhm." Dally nodded. "I sure did. And I saw you saving that pup from it. That ship got really close to you. Weren't you scared?"
"No. Not really." Chase shrugged.
"Wha? How? That ship was so close to hitting you. How were you not scared?" Dally asked.
"Because I had no time to be." Chase answered with ease. "That pup's life was dangling and if I stood there and did nothing, that ship would've plowed into her. I'd rather lose my life than another one in peril."
"That's…..really cool of you Chase." Dally put over in awe. "I….really admire you for that."
Chase grinned at the praise. "It's just nothing really buddy. It's just my job."
"Aw come on Chase, don't just shrug it off like that. It's like something that I want to do." Dally replied, before his smile faded and his tone dropped to the floor. "Or….something I should be doing."
Although It was fairly faint, Chase easily picked up that last statement and it struck him. Was Dally implying that he should be out there with him? That Dally felt he should be a rescue pup right now?
"What did you sa…"
"Is there more of you?" Dally asked suddenly before Chase could finish.
"Huh?" Chase asked back.
"Is there any more of you?" Dally asked again, very curiously. "Do you have teammates or is it just you?"
"No, it's not just me." Chase answered. "There's a whole team of us."
"Wow. A whole team of you?" Dally replied in amazement. "Are they all police pups?"
Chase shook his head. "Nope. That's what makes the team the best rescue team in the world. Everyone has different ways to contribute to the team. We have one who flies, swims, digs, and even one who recycles….trash."
Chase slowed down gradually as he realized that he'd forgotten to visit Rocky again today. Before Chase could beat himself up about it, Dally asked another question.
"Who's your leader? Is it you?"
"What? No. no. not me. That honor goes to my owner, Ryder." Chase beamed with a smile.
Chase noticed that Dally had an intrigued look on him. He looked as if he was contemplating something. Then, the dally let out a slow repeat of Chase's answer. "R-Ry-Ryyy…de..der? Ryder."
The shepherd looked on as the pup kept slowly repeating the name over and over to an almost whisper.
The warm hopeful feeling flowed through him, as he thought that he was watching Dally starting to find the trail and follow it to his memories. Was this the nudge Marshall needed to finally return? He didn't know and that's why Chase resisted the tempting urge to press him, in fear of scaring him away.
After a few minutes, Dally finally responded with another question. "Chase? What is your team called?"
Chase hesitated at this. He didn't know if him answering the question was really a good idea. Chase decided to answer, figuring that if Dally was asking, it wouldn't compromise the mission. Would it?
"We-We are called, The Paw Patrol, Dally." Chase answered firmly, his nerves ricocheting everywhere.
"Paw…Patrol." Dally repeated slowly. "Paw Patrol?"
Chase gave a nod. "Yep. That's it."
The following moments were probably the longest in Chase's, as Dally just stood there, having the same expression he had.
At this point, he could imagine what was going through the dally's mind right now and it was very good news. It seemed that Ryder's approach was working, and Dally was starting to recall his memories. Which would of course mean that Marshall would finally make his triumph return to the Paw Patrol.
Suddenly, like the sound of a gun, the dalmatian shot off a laugh and plopped to the ground and continued to laugh. "What a lame name!"
"Lame?!" Chase yelped out as he felt the hope crash into a brick wall.
"Yeah man. He he! Lame! Ha ha!" Marshall snorted "I didn't expect you to have such a lame name! He he!"
Chase didn't know if he was more heartbroken or insulted, causing him to stutter his response. "eh, buh, ta. It's not a lame name!"
"It totally is! It totally is!" Dally rolled. "It's the lamest name I've ever heared!"
Chase was reluctantly starting to get a little frustrated from his team being make fun of. "He-hey! Stop it! It's a good name, for a great team!"
"Aw come on Chase, don't kid yourself." Dally said, his laughter dying down as he rose back up to his paws. "Paaaaw Patrol. Sounds like a name for a Saturday morning cartoon like the league of super friends or something."
"Cartoon?!" Chase repeated, insulted. "Dally, we're not a joke! Were a serious rescue team!"
"Not with a name like that!" Dally responded with a laugh.
"Well apparently it was good enough for you when you came up with it!"
"What?! No! There's no way that I…." Dally suddenly stopped both his response and his laughter. He then rose an eyebrow. "Wait. What did you say?"
Chase froze upon realizing what he just said. "Uh….I….uh…." The shepherd couldn't find any way to abort. He wanted to slam his head into a brick wall for letting his unfiltered frustration jeopardizing everything.
"Chase?" Dally called dubiously. "What did you mean by me, coming up with it?"
Chase was panicking in his mind. "Da-Dally….I…..what I meant….was…"
"Come on Chase! Stop dodging me!" Dally hollered. Not with anger but with bated breath.
"Dally, really, I didn't mean that…" Chase tried to give some explanation, but he couldn't find any way to shake Dally off the trail. His voice completely froze in his speech.
A few seconds of silence went by as Chase heard Dally exhale slowly.
"Chase? Have we met before?"
Chase noticed the expression oozing out of Dally's face. It was a look of a strong curiousness as if Dally was hanging on to every word Chase was saying. The shepherd can now safely assume, that Dally was not edging to push him away but is actively looking for any door to his memories. Chase's slip up, may have been the key he needed. He figured there was no turning back now, no matter if Dally would runaway or not. But before Chase could finally utter out a cohesive word…
"Dally! There you are!"
The sound of a rising voice sent a cool relieving chill through Chase's spine, but his relief was thrown away when he discovered that the voice of course belonged to Stacy Jackson. Dally's "owner". His face fell with his eyebrows pointed downwards as the young woman came up from behind Dally.
"Oh, hey Stacy!" Dally chimed, the curiousness completely gone in a mere second, which stung Chase's heart.
"I've been looking all over for you little fella." Stacy claimed with a smile that noticeably dropped when she saw Chase. "Oh…I see you're still playing with your new friend."
"Aw I'm sorry Stacy. I lost track of the day." Dally apologized.
Stacy strangely didn't take her eyes off of Chase. "It's okay Dally." Her tone lowered a little. "As long as you're safe and sound."
Chase glared back at Stacy, resisting the urge to lunge at the girl. She finally turned to Dally. "I don't mean to cut this playdate short little guy, but it's getting dark. We need to get back to the house."
"What? No! Not now! Please not now!" Dally suddenly cried hysterically. "I need to spend some more time with him!"
"You can spend more time with him tomorrow, Dally." Stacy said, firmly. "I've already got food in your bowl."
"Awwww, but Stacy…"
"No buts mister." Stacy cut off with a lone finger. "I'm pretty sure Chase needs to go back home as well." Her voice then lowered to a subtle gruff. "Am I right?"
Chase continued to stare at Stacy like a hawk, while Dally aimed his hopeful eyes at the shepherd. He then looked at the dalmatian with a balked sadness. "Sorry buddy. She's right . Ryder is expecting me soon."
Dally whimpered as he went up to the shepherd with trembling eyes. "I…I guess I'll see you tomorrow…..right?"
Chase gave a warm smile. "Of course Dally."
Dally formed a wide smile of his own as he suddenly wrapped his forelegs around the shepherd and squeezed as tight. Chase hugged back as Dally buried his snout in Chase's neck, tearing up as he let out. "I can't believe I have a true friend like you Chase."
Chase could feel the warmness of Dally's friendship overwhelm him. The strange thing was that Chase didn't think he did anything to gain Dally's trust. After all, they just met two days ago, so surly, Dally would need more time to call Chase his "True friend". But it seemed that it didn't take much for Dally to completely open up to him. He didn't know if it was because of the insinuation of who he really was, or if he was just so glad to have a friend. He teared up as well as he cherished the friendship he missed so much.
"Okay you two, let's break it up now, before we end up staying here all night." Stacy mouthed off, prompting Chase to open and glare his eyes back at Stacy again. Reluctantly, letting go of Dally.
Dally though, didn't let go, as he held Chase tightly.
"Dally, come on now. You need to let him go." Stacy urged with a stern voice that would've made Chase growl at her, had it not been for Dally.
Dally reluctantly let go of Chase. Dragging his paws as he finally made his way home. When he passed Stacy, he turned his head towards Chase.
"Goodbye Chase. See you tomorrow." Dally whimpered as he walked away before Chase could respond. Not that he was going to anyway as his rump was planted to the ground as he was still standing a hole through Stacy.
A few moments went by of them locking eyes, as Chase wondered how the heck Stacy was going to explain this. Though Stacy then turned her back to him, and started to follow the dalmatian, completely ignoring the intensity.
Chase wanted to call her out; demand she explain her actions and give Marshall back, but he'd already compromised the mission enough earlier, and didn't want to risk complete failure. For now, He'll just have to put on a straight face, and play along, for Marshall's sake.
"You must think me a fool to not catch on to what you're doing."
The sudden icy tone jolted Chase. He saw Stacy standing still, her back towards him. Chase wondered if Stacy was really confessing to her doing which prompted him to ready his cuffs., but before he could act, the icy voice sounded off again.
"If it's one thing I won't tolerate, is you and Ryder getting Dally wrapped in your rescues and getting hurt."
Chase was now shocked. She seemed to be playing a completely different tune here. Not admitting to holding Marshall from them and playing it off as if he really was hers. Though Chase could see right through her. Stacy knows what she's doing and who Dally is and was keeping her cards very close to her chest.
She turned to Chase and gave a spiteful look. "Mark my words, If you or your incompetent owner ever hurt Dally, I won't hesitate to ruing all of your teams reputation. You understand shepherd?"
Chase doubted whether Stacy could actually do such a thing but he much rather not find out.
Chase gave a snide smirk. "You have nothing to worry about Miss Jackson. No harm will ever come to your precious Dally."
Stacy stared a little longer before she turned away and continued on. Chase watched her disappear before he breathed heavily to calm himself down. Hoping to one day be able to call his best friend Marshall again, and fantasized Stacy being locked up behind bars.
OOOOOOOHHHH Man! What an intense stare down
It seems Stacy has laid down the line and is coming off as is she doesn't know who Dally really is, but Chase obviously see's right through her and he knows that she knows that. How long will this last before one of them breaks and what will Ryder think of this?
Speaking of Ryder, it seems he has a stern Zuma on his way to him. What will Zuma say and will he keep his cool?
Find out next time when Chapter 41: The Fault in My Owner is uploaded!
Question of the Chapter: Do you think Rocky should've went home or did Ryder make the right decision?
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!