Suprize!
Welcome back to the roller coaster ride that is Paw Patrol: The Ballad of Dally!
Interesting developments have been brewing as Zuma now knows about Dally, with Ryder steering him away from finding the truth! Now he wishes to talk with Chase to try to get more Information on this mysterious pup!
But Chase himself is coming home after a very stressful day and has one thing on his mind, Get to Ryder. Will Chase be willing to talk after everything that's happened and if he is, what all will he reveal?
There's only one way to find out and that's by scrolling on down!
Chapter 42: A Close Call
By the time Chase pulled into his spot at the lookout, the fur on his face was drenched. He had been crying since he left Katie's, because of that, Chase wanted to lock himself up in his puphouse. But he couldn't because he still had to give his report to Ryder on what happened today.
Before he went in, he had to dry himself, and calm himself down before he faces Ryder. Not only because he didn't want to show weakness, but he didn't want him to know that he yelled at someone who didn't deserve it.
Chase lost complete control of himself and went off on one of his best friends. He was already irritated from his encounter with Stacy before and hearing Rocky bury his owner, reminded him of Stacy doing the same thing, and he reacted horribly. He'd never gotten so angry with any of his friends before, not even with Marshall.
His moral ethics already decided that he needed to apologize to Rocky for screaming at him. The mixed breed didn't help things himself by being stubborn, he still didn't deserve to be screamed at, no matter what he said. He knew Rocky didn't mean those things, he knew Rocky was going through a lot, but Chase acted like Rocky was assassinating Ryder's character.
He must apologize to him sometime soon, but he couldn't worry about that right now. He needs to collect himself and tell Ryder what happened today with Dally. He just hopes that no one sees him like….
"Chase! You got a minute?"
Chase twitched at the obstacle that thrown at him as if life was against him. It of course was Zuma who was calling out to him, and that was the last pup who needed to know about what he did to Rocky.
"No….Not right now Zuma. I…need to go talk to Ryder." Chase tried to shoo away.
"Come on dude, please? It's weally im…" Zuma started as he ran up to the shepherd. He stopped when he noticed slightly distraught shepherd. "Duuude. Awe you okay?"
"No. No I'm not. I really need to talk to Ryder." Chase responded with a bit of annoyance.
"Oh-Okay dude. But…when youw done…"
"Yes! Yes! I promise I'll talk to you. Just sit tight, okay?" Chase groaned as he went inside the lookout, leaving a very concerned but intrigued lab.
He prayed to anything as he walked inside that no one else got in between him and the elevator. Unfortunately, that was only wishful thinking, because at that time, his girlfriend and her brother were over at the tv, watching the taped show they performed two years ago at Adventure Bay.
When Skye spotted Chase from behind, his heart jumped like the cockapoo did herself and yipped over to him, wrapping a very excited hug on the subtly annoyed shepherd.
"Chase! I haven't seen you all day today! I missed you so much!" Skye yipped with a furiously wragging tail, giving a quick lick on the side of his face.
Annoyed as he was though, it was hard to not feel a welcoming warmness from the pup he loved more than another. He mustered a smile and rubbed his snout on her neck.
"Not as much as I missed you angel." Chase replied as they let go. "Listen, I don't want to be rude but…."
"Hold on babe, you've got to hear this. It's going to really blow you away!" Skye beamed with a cocky smile.
"I bet it will Skye, but…" Chase tried to politely move her aside for the elevator, but an excited Skye was a jumpy Skye, as he obliviously went on.
"So, you know all of our tricks we performed at the show two years ago?"
"Yes of course I do. Now please…."
"Well guess what? We're going to take the best ones and do them again with jet packs! With new ones as well!"
"That's great Skye. Can't wait! Now it you excuse me…"
No use. Skye was just too enthusiastic to even notice Chase's request.
"But wait! Wait! You haven't heard the best part!" Skye jumped, doing a short backflip at the anticipation.
"Come on Skye, you can tell me…."
"Oooo. It's so awesome, I can hardly keep my paws on the ground." Skye looked as if she was about to launch to the moon, in which Chase dearly wished she would so he cand get to Ryder. "Thanks to the Jet packs, we're going to take those tricks and turn them up to the maximum! Like for the belly brush, we're going to pass each other so close, that our bellies will actually brush each other and we'll actually feel it! Won't that be so cool Chase?!"
That caught Chase's attention almost to the point where he forgot about his task. "Wait, is that even safe?"
"Of course, it is Chase! We did it so many times today! It's like muscle memory!" Skye yipped again.
"I see…whatever you say Skye." Chase then shook his head, remembering his original task.
Unfortunately, Skye was not done. "Don't you see Chase? This show is going to be the best show ever!"
"I bet it will with you in it." Chase tried to slide away, but he was blocked by an inattentive Skye again.
"All of Adventure Bay is going to love it! It's going to be amazing being back up in the air in front of the crowd with my brother!"
"Yes, I'm so happy for you Angel, you can tell me all…."
"Everyone will be soooo happy and in awe that they won't know how to be sad ever again!"
Chase was beyond irritated at this point. He had to try to get his message across before he does something he will regret later. "Skyyye."
"Ooooh. I really really really can't wait for the show! I can't wait for you to see me being awesome again!"
"Angel."
"I bet if Marshall was here, he'd be bouncing all over for it!"
"SKYE! FOR THE LOVE OF RYDER! I GET IT! THE SHOW'S GOING TO BE AMAZING AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE AMAZING!"
Chase's voice echoed through the lookout, as it stopped Skye's rambling on the dime. Once he opened his eyes, he saw the damage. Skye's bubbly attitude was immediately gone and was replaced with an agape mouth.
His heart was sliced in half. He's now yelled at two of his friends today, both having no warrant to deserve it. Yelling at Skye was very unnecessary, but it was the only way to get her to come back to earth.
"Look. I'm sorry for yelling, but I really need to go talk to Ryder right now." Chase delicately stated with regret. "You can tell me all about your fancy little tricks when I'm done okay angel?"
Skye didn't move, Chase's outburst froze her solid. She was hurt. Bad.
Realizing he's done enough damage, he reluctantly brushed by the cockapoo, and made his way to the elevator. He had to shield his eyes when he turned around because his mate's of course followed him, tearing up as he stopped. He could feel his own eyes welling up at the pain he caused, as he activated the elevator.
Since the talk with Zuma, Ryder had moved out of his office and was in the observatory, in deep thought of the conversation as he was making some much needed modifications to the pup computer. Although, He was doing it to distract himself but really, it didn't.
He didn't know how Rocky got the idea that he was being replaced. Ryder wouldn't even dare doing anything like that unless for a very good reason. What troubled him mostly was the fact that both he and Zuma know the name Dally.
It was a real close call that made Ryder shoot from his hip, telling the lab that while Dally does want to join the team, his is not going to "replace" Marshall. The only he wasn't here, was because he was super shy, and that his owner is someone who hates Ryder. It was of course half true, but it was the only thing Ryder could think of to shoo him off the trail.
As if that wasn't enough, Ryder also noticed that Zuma was holding back on something. He was going to dive into it, but he got wrapped up in the conversation about Dally. He could tell Zuma was hiding something. He didn't know what it was, but it had to be something about Marshall being alive. Of course, that is the case, Marshall is alive, he just wonders if Zuma really knows that, or does he only think that.
He knew for a fact that Zuma lied to him yesterday when he said he didn't really believe Rocky. If Ryder didn't know any better, he'd say that it was the other way around, that Zuma believes it and told Rocky.
Normally, Ryder would be over that, wanting to know why he believed so, but this wasn't a normal situation. Marshall is alive and he already full believes it even though he hadn't even met or seen Dally yet. Supposably, only he and Chase knew it.
So how does Zuma even have an idea? He didn't tell any pup and Chase swore he didn't as well. Yet apparently, he told Rocky that Marshall was alive. The big question is, why is he being so secretive about it. At least with Ryder.
The sound of the elevator arriving brought the boy out of his head, turning around to see Chase front and center.
Finally. He'd been waiting for this report all day with bated breath. "Hey Chase, what did you and dall…."
Ryder immideiatly noticed that Chase looked very insecure with himself. A little sting of worry went through him as he hoped nothing bad happened with Marshall. "Whoa Chase, you don't look okay. Is something wrong?"
Chase stepped out of the elevator and looked at his owner with sadness. "To be honest Ryder sir, you don't want to know."
That worried Ryder more. "What happened Chase?"
"A lot Ryder sir. A lot." Chase replied with a faltered tone. "Let's just get the important stuff out the way. Dally and I had a fun day today. We sparred and talked."
Ryder gave a small smile as he went up to his pup. Stroking him as he replied. "Well, that isn't too bad Chase. It's quite wonderful, actually."
"It was Ryder. It really was…but…..it wasn't…and…I almost compromised the mission."
Chase then dropped his head in embarrassment went as Ryder an eyebrow. "What did you do?"
It took Chase a bit before he raised his head back up at his owner. "Dally started to ask questions, Ryder."
Ryder's heart inflated. "He did? What he asked about?"
"About the team Ryder sir. What we do, how many of us were there, and he even asked about you. I was careful with my answers but then, we got to what the name was."
As the shepherd relayed, Ryder's heart grew more and more. From the sounds of it, Dally was starting to discover the trail to his memories. But then, Chase formed an embarrassed look again.
"He asked what the team's name was and I told him. Theeen, he laughed and called it lame."
A sudden snicker came from Ryder. "H-he did?"
Chase nodded, although he was not laughing. "Y-Yes Ryder sir. But then….the screw up. I was riled up a little when trying to tell a laughing Dally that it was not lame and…..my tongue slipped."
Ryder gritted his teeth. He knew the piece of information Chase revealed. "Oh…no. You didn't."
"I did Ryder sir." Chase whimpered in humiliation. "I couldn't help myself."
"What did he do? What did he say?" Ryder pressed.
"That's the thing Ryder sir. He didn't act like he wasted to shoo me away. In fact, he sounded like he was very intrigued at what I meant." Chase replied, his embarrassing tone diminishing a bit. "Like he really wanted to know if we met before."
Hope filled Ryder's mind as this was starting to be a best case scenario. "What did you tell him Chase?"
He was really hanging on at what Chase's response was. Hoping to get a great answer.
"I'm not going to lie Ryder sir." Chase cleared. "I was really going to tell him. But then…." Chase's voice was suddenly bitter. "Stacy showed up."
Ryder's hope fell in a million pieces. He felt that Chase telling Dally the truth was a complete Hail Mary, and Stacy intercepted it. He let out a defeated sigh. "Aw no, Chase. Sooooo close."
"No kidding Ryder." Chase gruffed. "When she showed up, Dally's curiousness was gone just like that, and she told Dally told to go home."
Pushing aside the disappointing moment, Ryder was now very curious and worried about what happened between Chase and Stacy.
"What happened Chase? What did Stacy do?" Ryder asked.
Ryder could see the bitterness inside the police pup growing inside him. To the point where Chase audibly growling. A rare characteristic of his.
"Well….After Dally went home, It was just us. I thought for sure that she would fess up, since she knew she was caught red handed. But….she acted completely oblivious." His growling rose slightly as he clenched his paws. "She's passing it off like she doesn't know who Dally really is. She even threatened us."
"Threatened?" Ryder repeated.
Chase nodded stiffly. "Yes Ryder sir. She said that if we ever let her "Dally" get hurt, she will ruin our reputation and make it to where we never go on another mission again."
Upon hearing that, Ryder clenched his fist in disgust. Writing hit pieces on them was one thing but dragging all of his pups down with him was an all time low. Let alone keeping one of them away from him, and not telling him the truth.
Ryder has always not been a fan of Stacy Jackson since she started writing, but he didn't think much of her. Thinking that she wasn't worth it to worry about, but now that she was essentially holding one of his pups hostage and threatening the other's livelihood, Ryder had never felt so much hate for a single person.
He surprised himself by being able to keep his head cool in front of Chase. "I wouldn't worry it Chase. She could write the most damaging article about us, but I doubt anyone would listen to her. If it even makes the paper."
Chase looked up. "You really think that Ryder sir?"
Ryder nodded confidently. "Yes Chase. You shouldn't worry too much about it bud. Contenue the mission as planned, and if Dally asks any more questions, be sure to be careful with your answers. And try not to blurt out any more slip ups. Understand?"
Chase went up to his fours and nodded respectfully. "Yes sir Ryder sir."
He then turned around made his way back to the elevator.
"Hold up Chase." Ryder called out.
Chase stopped with no hesitation as he turned back around. "Yes Ryder sir?"
"There's something else I need to discuss with you." Ryder presented. "I got a call from Katie a little bit ago saying that you yelled at Rocky today. Is the true?"
Chase notably froze stiff at the question until he let his head droop in embarrassment. "Y-Yes Ryder. I-I did."
Ryder folded his arms and hardened his look. "You wanna tell me why?"
It took Chase a good minute to answer back. To Ryder, it felt like a century.
"D-Do I really have to, Ryder sir?"
Ryder looked at his pup with a sudden sympathy. He could tell that Chase was beating himself up mentally from his misdeed. He really didn't need to ask the shepherd about it; Katie of course heard the contexed and relayed it to him. He wasn't asking to diminish him, more he was asking for his pup's mental sake.
Ryder dropped to a knee and softly petted Chase's head. "No bud. Not really. I just want you to know that no matter what Rocky says, especially at the state he's in right now, yelling at him will only make his situation worse."
Silence filled the observatory as Ryder continued to pet Chase solomly. Worried how damaged Chase still is after everything.
Then, Chase looked back up and met Ryder's eyes with trembling pupils. "Ryder? Can I ask you something?"
Ryder gave a small smirk. "What is it Chase?"
"Do you still blame yourself for what happened to Marshall?"
Ryder reflected on that question with a subtle falter. It's a sentiment that had haunted Ryder ever since that day, and he could tell that it haunted Chase too. They bounced this back and fort with each other for a better part of the year. Assuring the other of how ridiculous each other were when it really was just an accident. A different kind of blame game where the roles were reversed, with each one trying to make sense of whose fault it really was.
Ryder could only resopond with a deflection. "Do you?"
Ryder felt Chase's body shudder a bit in response. Another moment of silence rang out as the both of them had no idea what to say to the other.
Then, abruptly, Chase turned back around and went in the elevator. Instead of stopping him, Ryder let him go. He felt that he had nothing to really say as the elevator propelled Chase downward to the lobby.
After being frozen a bit in place for a bit, Ryder rose to his feet, not wanting to think anymore about it, shifting his focus on the conumdrum of Stacy.
For two years, since Stacy came to Adventure Bay and since the Paw Patrol had been active for that matter, Stacy has had a clear agenda to "expose" Ryder. The strangest thing is that throught all this time, Stacy never made any effort to do a sit down one on one interview with Ryder.
Ryder felt that this had gone on long enough, and that it was finally time to get to know Stacy Jackson, and try to clear the air. She may even come clean about what she's doing, and if she doews, Ryder would be the better man, and maybe let her slide away.
He picked up his pup pad and called the one person who could make this work.
"Ryder! What a pleasant surprise as always! What can I do for ya."
Ryder smiled back at the editor. "Hey Tucker. Nice to see you. I need a big favor from you."
As the elevator stopped at the bottom, Chase was met with outraged glares from everyone in the lobby.
Chase looked around for Skye but she was nowhere, with only Rubble, Zuma, and Wings giving him those glares.
He gave a sad sigh. "Yes I know I screwed up. Where is she so I can go apologize to her?"
Wings didn't move an inch, while Zuma answered the question with a scowl. "She's in hew pup house dude. Crying hew eyes out."
Chase whimpered as he made his way to the door, not wanting to say another word. Avoiding eye contact with everyone.
"Hold it right there Chase."
Chase halted right in front of the door, shuttering his eyes and gritting his teeth. He recognized the voice to be a very infuriated Wings.
He slowly turned around to meet the cockapoo's sharp eyes, ready to take the tongue lashing he deserved.
"I have no problem with you dating my sister." Wings stated very sternly.
Chase wondered how much of that he really meant.
Wings then continued, still shooting daggers at Chase's eyes. "But that was totally uncool of you to blow her off like that."
"Hey, that's my line." Zuma suddenly scoffed, prompting Wings to snap his gaze over to the lab, making him instantly regret his outburst. "S-Sowwy."
After that was settled, Wings turned his gaze back to the police pup. "I don't know what's got into you, but Skye doesn't deserve to be shoved aside like you've been doing lately."
Even though Chase felt guilty, he still had enough pride to not be talked down to by someone who's barley here. "It's not you I need to apologize to, hot shot."
Wings craned his head in slight surprise of the shepherd's response, emulating an intense silence to brought everyone on their toes.
Rubble and Zuma stood ready to brake up any sort of violence that may come from this moment.
"Like I said, I have absolutely no problem with you and my sister." Wings snarled. "But that doesn't mean I can't change my mind."
Rather than feeding the Cockapoo's ego, Chase wisely turned back around in response, leaving the intense situation behind him.
At this point, Skye's cheeks were a deep tomato red. Her heart shattered to a million pieces when Chase blew up, but what hurt the most was what Chase said to her. It felt that Chase didn't care one bit about the tricks she's working hard on and the performance that means so much to her.
Of course she didn't think that Chase actually meant what he said, and Skye was so excited about the show that she definitely overwhelmed Chase to the point where he had to lash out to get her to calm down. She at least knew that much and that's probably why she wasn't really mad at him, just….hurt.
Added the fact that Chase had been dodging her left and right because of an "important mission". She wondered if she was even a significant part in Chase's life at all anymore.
It would be very different if Chase would just tell her what the mission was about, but apparently, because Ryder told him to keep it a secret, Chase shackled up. He's a very loyal pup and obeys every order the best he could, and it annoyed her that he was guarding a tempting secret and his attention was not on her.
Again, Skye get's it. She knows she cant have Chase all to herself no matter how much she wants it to be so. He still has a duty to uphold and a life to live, but when Chase blatantly tossed her aspirations aside for his "Mission." It cut the cockapoo deep, and now she lays in her pup house, crying in sorrow.
Knock, knock
"Hey angel. I-It's me." She heard Chase from the other side of the door. "I hope your not too upset to at least talk."
Skye's first instinct was to shoo Chase away and not say anything to him, but she knew that won't help anything.
She sniffs back. "Maybe."
"Come on Skye. Let's get this over with. You know I didn't mean to yell at you." Chase charmed with a little confidence. "You just caught me at a bad time."
Skye responded by getting up and opening the door. She saw Chase jump a bit as if he didn't expect her to open so fast. She then gives him a look.
"Do you really think my tricks are just "little" and "fancy?"
"Well…I don't know about little, but they are fancy." Chase suddenly chuckled.
"Really?"
"What? It's a joke." Chase whined.
Skye's face remained unchanged "You pick weird times to joke around Chase."
The smirk instantly disappeared. "Sorry angel, I didn't mean to yell or call your tricks little and fancy, but you sorta caught me on the spot. A lot has happened to day and I feel completely spent."
Skye dropped her head to her paws. "I know Chase. I understand. The mission's more important than me right now."
She felt Chase trying to raise an objection, but she immediately shoots her head up spoke first. "No Chase. You don't have to lie to me. I'm sure whatever Ryder has you doing is more crucial than some silly little performance."
This time, she gave Chase room to talk, but stunningly, he didn't say anything. Like she was right on the dollar.
"I just wish you could tell me what it is."
Chase finally responded. "Trust me Skye. If I could tell you, I would've by now. But It'll endanger the mission that much."
Skye softened her eyes. "Like I said Chase, I get it. If Ryder says you can't speak to anyone about it, you'll obey him, and I trust him as much as you did. I just wish you understand…" She turned away from Chase and looked up at a picture of her and Wings at one of their shows. "This is more than just a silly little performance Chase, and It's not just about my brother and I soaring through the air again. It means way, way more to me than that."
She turned back around and set her eyes on Chase's. "I'm sure you noticed what's been going on lately. Ever since Marshall's death we all have been depressing wrecks. So much that we all drifted apart."
Skye lowered her head as tears formed in her eyes, recalling everything that happened this past year. "I don't understand Chase. We were all supposed to get through this together, but the only times we are together anymore, is either during a rescue or when It's time to eat. Even then, we don't' talk much."
Skye sniffed her tears, trying to keep herself form silently crying in front of Chase, as he reaches out to him.
"Skye…"
"But it's not just us Chase, It's Adventure Bay. It seems that everyone in town has been so sad. Even after a full year, we still have so much to heal." She raised her head back up to Chase. "You see what I'm saying Chase? I want this airshow to be the best performance ever, so for one moment, everyone can forget everything and be cheering and happy for at least two hours."
Chase said nothing as Skye continued. "It's an escape Chase. A two-hour escape for everyone. I've been working really hard on these tricks to make the show the best it can be, so Adventure Bay can come together, and have the most fun they've had in a while and not wither away like we're being doing." Her eyes started to tremble. "I just hope you can understand that."
It took a moment for Chase to respond to Skye's words. She wondered if her point got across to him and he really understood why it's bothering her so much that Chase keeps giving her the cold shoulder.
"I'm not going to like to you angel," Chase finally replied, admittedly putting Skye a little on edge. "I initially thought you were just doing this because you wanted to fly with your brother again. I had no idea it went way past that."
Chase sat down as he continued, still eying his angel. "But now that I know, I'm even more excited and more hopeful that your show goes well. A show like yours could bring everyone together at a time like this. But I see something else that I don't think even you've noticed."
He places a paw on hers solemnly. "You're putting so much pressure on yourself that you don't really know if you can wow us. You've set a bar way too high for you to meet, but the ironic think is we're not putting that pressure on you."
Skye was confused at that. "What? Everyone knows I'm good at flying. They see me every day. I think they'd want to see more than silly flips and going fast."
"Yes Skye, but this is no competition. This is you flying like you used to do and that is already amazing." Chase said with honesty. "You don't need to push yourself so far when all we want is just some great tricks from you for us to watch in awe."
Skye lowers her head. "I…guess I get it, but….that still doesn't meant that everyone's expectations are low. This is the AirDogs after all. Just by name alone we are expected to push it past the limit."
Chase then narrows his look. "Yes but the AirDogs don't come here often. Adventure Bay is not going to judge harshly on you all because they're not used to seeing you rip the skies. There going to be amazed regardless."
Skye took in all of this and it struck her. It's surreal to think that a few months ago, Chase was very hesitant in Skye performing again, but now it seemed that he was fully on board, and wants Skye to succeed possibly more than she does, and is doing all he can to build her confidence and it was working.
She suddenly chuckled a little. "You sound just like my brother Chase."
"Well, your brother knows what to say to you and so do I." Chase confidently stated before he got closer to her, and nuzzled her side, prompting her to do the same. "You're going to be amazing Skye. I know that for a fact."
"But…can I really be as amazing as you say come show time?" She says, as she nuzzled his snout.
Chase then looks into her eyes. "Skye. You remember the deal we made a few months ago? Where you said if you didn't think that you could do it, you'll opt out?"
The nuzzling stopped as Skye responded surly. "Yes. I do."
"Well…..do you think you can still do it?" Chase asked with a little bit of derisive.
When he said that, the fire in her heart ignited as her feeling for Chase overcame her, and she abruptly tackled him down on his back, and planted a fiery kiss on him before saying. "Of course I can you handsome shepherd."
Chase let out a pleasured filled chuckle as he kissed her back, though letting her steer the action as she drove her tongue through his throat. The conversation was shoved aside as they kissed it away.
Skye would've easily forgotten the conversation if it weren't for Chase suddenly stopping his effort. Skye retracted and gave a disappointed look.
"Hey, what's wrong? Why'd you stop?" Skye whined. Wondering what else was on Chase's mind.
Chase than gives a funny look. "I just remembered, we still have to go to dinner. Everyone's probably waiting on us."
Skye groaned. "Oh…yeah right." She got off of Chase and they make their way to the lookout.
For two hours now, Dally had been laying down in his room trying to get to sleep but thanks to the events of today with Chase, that was hard to do.
He kept thinking about the conversation today and how eye opening it was for him. He carefully asked questions about the shepherd and what the team was to get an understanding on who Chase was and the answers were far effective than he expected. He was easily overwhelmed with the information he'd gotten, and his mind was like a messy office with incomplete documents scattered about everywhere that he was trying to gather them up and organize them.
One thing especially stood out for his was what Chase said before Stacy showed up.
When Dally asked about what his team's name was and Chase said Paw Patrol, Dally couldn't help but laugh at it. It sounded very silly and way less serious that Chase was making it out to be.
Dally felt very bad for laughing. It no doubt mocked Chase to see someone degrade his rescue team. But then Chase let out something that threw Dally's mind in the loop he was in now.
Chase said that it was he, Dally himself, who came up with the name.
What was he talking about? How would Dally come up with it if he hadn't met Chase and never been a part of the Paw Patrol. The only way that would make sense is if Dally was actually….
A sudden huge yawn came out of the pup as he instinctively thought that sleep was finally coming to him. He laid his head down and stuffed his snout in between his paws. Off to dreamland.
At least, that's where he thought he was going….
"Come on Marshall. People aren't going to take us seriously with a name like that, this is a rescue team not a tv show."
Marshall groaned in response of Chase's criticism. It had been two days since they started doing rescues as a team around Adventure Bay and they still couldn't think of what to call their team, or more like, they couldn't agree on a name.
Marshall suggested the name "Rescue Patrol" but Chase obviously wasn't on board.
"I am being serious about it. I want our team to be something special, so it should have a special name!" Marshall argued. "Unlike yours which is sooo boring."
Chase snorted his response. "It may not pop out as much as yours, but it's firm and straight to the point!"
"So does mine and it's smaller!" Marshall retorted. "Easier to remember!"
"How can you not remember "Ryder's Rescue Service?!" Chase argued back. "It rolls right off the tongue, or are you that much of a bonehead?"
"I am not a bonehead Chase! It's just not a good name for us!"
"It is a good name!" Chase threw back.
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is…."
"Pups! What's going on?! I can hear you from outside!"
Chase gasped to the voice. He looked away from Marshall and was horrified to see a fully grown German Shepherd enter the lobby from outside in an irritated manner. He had a striking resemblance to Chase, but perhaps the more accurate thing to say was that Chase had a strong likeness of him. The shepherd in question was Chase's father, Tracer, still in his uniform as he was fresh off his afternoon patrol.
Chase immediately sat up in attention to his father. His annoyed and agitation thrown out to show no evidence of the sort. Marshall himself was always intrigued how Chase could easily flip flop form being a bossy jerk to a responsible and obedient whenever his father came around.
"S-Sorry father. Marshall and I were just trying to come up with a name for-for our team."
Tracer craned his head in slight consternation. "You two still haven't settled that? Surly you two would've agreed on something by now."
Chase was notably rattled by his father's jab at him. "I….I'm trying sir. I even came up with a suitable name for us. It's just Marshall being stubborn like always."
"Oh you lie like a rug Chase!" Marshall inserted. "I did listen to you berating me." Earning a love tap from Chase in which Marshall exaggerated with an "Ow"
"Chaaase." Tracer called sternly. "Don't act like I didn't see that. You know better than to treat your friends like that."
Chase jolted before he hung his head in defeat. "Yes sir."
Marshall snickered at the helpless Chase before he noticed Tracer giving him the stern look as well.
"That goes for you too, Marshall."
Marshall mirrored Chase's movements. In the year and a half of Marshall joining Marshall's family, Tracer had easily become "a second dad to him. So naturally, Marshall fell in line with Chase. Responding with a monotoned voice.
"Yes, Uncle Tracer."
Upon that, another individual entered the room from the observatory above. This time, it was a human boy who was the leader of the pup's recently formed rescue team.
"Hey Tracer. Anything wrong?" Ryder greeted, as he stepped off the elevator.
Tracer then turns to Ryder. "Nothing to worry about Ryder. These two bozos were just having a disagreement to say the least about what to name their team. But I got it under control for you."
Marshall noticed a slight whimper out of Chase. He felt bad for him as he knew Chase took his father's criticisms of him very seriously, as if he failed to be a great son to him. Marshall instinctively placed an assuring paw on his and even though he didn't get much of a reaction out of the shepherd, he could tell that Chase appreciated his best friend being there for him.
Ryder let out a disappointed sigh. "I figured they'd do this when I gave them the responsibility in the first place."
Now it was Marshall's turn to be embarrassed as both Marshall and Chase let out whimpers in Ryder's disappointment.
Another sigh came from the boy. "I guess they just can't agree with a name. We're gonna have to come up with one ourselves Tracer."
Hearing this, Marshall couldn't bare disappointing his owner without at least giving it one more try. "W-Wait, RRyder! We have came up with a name to share!"
Tracer narrowed his eyes at the dalmatian. "Is it a name you and Chase can agree with?"
Marshall was going to blindly say yes, but one look at Chase's confusion stopped him. He hung his head down to his paws as he let out a defeated sigh. "No sir."
"Then I'm afraid we can't accept it Marshall. It's not fair to Chase." Tracer said with a firm tone. "Being on a team together means you must agree on decisions like this. If you two can't do that, there's no point in being a team at all."
"But Uncle Tracer! We can be a great team! We just need…" Marshall felt Chase's foreleg across his chest, stopping him from going on. He gave Marshall an assuring look before focusing on Ryder and his Dad.
"What I think Marshall's trying to say, is we both have some suggestions on what we can name the team." Chase stated firmly. "And we would be appreciated if we could still share them with you and help us come to an agreement."
Ryder and Tracer then eye eachother as Chase and Marshall look on in anticipation. Marshall then leans over to Chase and whispers. "Thanks man."
"Don't mention it buddy."
"Well, I see no problem with that." Ryder says to Tracer. "Do you?"
"I have no objections Ryder sir."
"Okay then. I guess we can hear what you to have." Ryder announced. The two pups were about to speak up until Ryder interjected. "One at a time, pups. We'll start with you Marshall."
"Yes!" Marshall yipped with excitement. "You're really going to love it Ryder!"
After hearing a snort from Chase, Marshall stood on his fours, ready to impress Ryder.
"Sooo, I was thinking that maybe we can call ourselves, Rescuers on Paws!" Marshall chirped with the widest smile.
"What! That's the most ridiculous name I've ever heard!" Chase yelped out. "What happened to the one you had earlier?!"
"Chase." Tracer called out with authority, freezing his son on the spot. "It's not your turn yet."
Chase whined in response as he sat back down. "Yes sir."
The damage was done though as the fire in Marshall was diminished by Chase's outburst. "I….I was going to go with the rescue patrol but, Chase sand people wouldn't take it seriously, soo I tried to come up with something we both can agree with." Marshall let out another whimper. "But…I guess he didn't like that either."
Ryder went up to the Dally and petted the top of his head. "It's okay Marshall, I know you tired your best. To be honest though, those names weren't really bad."
"It wasn't?" Marshall sniffed.
"No. Not at all. They just don't really hit the mark that much in my opinion." Ryder complimented. "See if you can make something out of them, then you can come back to me."
That little motivation ignited Marshall again, as he formed a smile. "Of course Ryder. I won't let you down."
Ryder let out a smirk before turning his attention to his first pup. "Okay Chase, what do you got for me bud?"
By looking at him, Marshall could tell that he was still a little shaken after his outburst. Almost as if he was carefully choosing his words. In an instant though, Chase shook it off and was now calm as the air. Marshall has no idea how he was able to knock himself calm.
Chase cleared his throat. "Well. Mine is a little more to the point. I thought of calling ourselves, "Ryder's Rescue Service." What do you think?"
The tone in Chase's voice pretty much showed his confidence in the name. So sure Ryder would like it.
"Hmm…I don't know if I feel the same way Chase." Ryder responded with honesty.
Chase's face fell at Ryder's response. "Wh-Wha? But….I thought….since…it is your team, and you're the leader, that it should be named after you, Ryder sir."
Ryder solemnly shook his head. "Naw Chase. Your missing the point here. This is not just my team. It's our team."
"Our team?" Chase repeated obliviously.
"Yeah Chase. You both are involved in this as much as I am. It wouldn't be fair to center the thing around me just because I'm the leader." Ryder stated.
Chase stood there for a second as he processed what Ryder was saying. "I….I guess. I never thought about it like that."
"Then you see the glaring problem with calling it Ryder's Rescue Service huh?" Ryder implied.
Chase's ears drooped. "I guess so. Sorry Ryder sir."
"Don't down yourself bud. It was a good effort, and I do appreciate taking me inconsideration." Ryder assured with a smirk.
"I guess this means we still don't have a name, huh?" Chase whined.
"It's okay buddy. Rome wasn't built in a day." Tracer entered, walking up to his son. Placing a paw on his shoulder. "You'll come up with a name eventually, and I hope it'll encapsulate what you guys are all about."
Chase looked at his father and gave him a loving hug. "Thanks dad."
"You're welcome son." Tracer said as he hugged his son back. "Now, why don't we go get something to eat? My patrol left me starving."
"I'm famished too. Let's see what Mr. Porter can do for us." Ryder added "I think he's making a blueberry pie today."
"Oh Yum!" Chase blurt out while licking his lips, before realizing that he went a little overboard with it. He chuckled nervously. "I-I mean. That would be nice."
After both Ryder and Tracer let out a quick chuckle of Chase's breach of character, they all proceeded to head out of Normality Tower.
Everyone except Marshall, who was in deep thought. He thought about what Ryder and Tracer said of what the name should be about and was figuratively putting the pieces together.
Then literally as a light bulb went off in his head. "Wait! I got it!"
The sudden call out stopped the three in their tracks as they noticed that Marshall had stayed behind.
"Huh? What do you mean Marshall?" Chase asked.
"I mean, I know what we can call ourselves!" Marshall cheered with glee. "I have a name!"
Ryder, Tracer, and Chase then look on in anticipation to what Marshall came up with.
"You do? Well go on you silly pup." Ryder replied with curiosity. "Let me hear it."
"Okay, you know how you said that we should have a name that really says what were about?!" Marshall asked Tracer.
"Yeah." Tracer answered.
"And you know how you said that I needed to see if I could work with names I already came up with?" Marshall then asked Ryder, clearly hyping his answer up.
"Of course I do." Ryder answers.
"Good and Chase, do you remember when you said that our name should straight to the point and that…."
"Yes Marshall yes! Could you please get on with it?" Chase pushed. "The wait is killing me!"
"Gladly! So I took all of that, and thought of the perfect name for us!" Marshall yipped, nearly bouncing off the walls.
The three were right on their toes as Marshall clearly hyped this to the moon.
"I think…we should call ourselves…..." Marshall paused, teasing them more. "The Paw Patrol!"
Silence filled the air as Marshall looked for a reaction from at least one of his peers. Then, he got one as Chase suddenly snickered himself into full on laughter as he collapsed on the floor and yucked it up.
As he went on, Marshall's spirit dropped to his paws as he tried to keep himself from bursting into tears. Deeply insulted by Chase's behavior."
"P-P-P-Paw Patrol?! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Chase yucked as he started to calm down a little."
"Y-Yeah. I….I thought that…it was at least…a good name." Marshall stammered as he was on the verge of tears.
Chase then finally regained his composure after hearing his friend's speech deteriorate. "L-Look. I'm sorry for laughing, but really? Paw Patrol? Come on Marshall. No one will ever take us seriously with a name like that. We'll be laughed right out of Adventure Bay."
"You…you think so?" Marshall croaked.
"Yeah. I'm sorry buddy, it's what I think." Chase honestly pointed out. Still a little jumpy about Marshall's effort. "Come on, you'll laugh about it later."
Marshall gave a fake smile. "Yeah. I…I guess I will."
The oblivious Chase put a paw on his shoulder. "That's the spirit buddy. Now, let's go have some pies, okay?"
Marshall nodded as they began to make their way to Mr. Porter's, with Ryder and Tracer, who have strangely been silent since Marshall revealed his name.
Chase and Marshall stopped when they realized that they have the same amused faces Chase had. Though they didn't have loops of disappointing, instead, they had intrigued faces.
Then, Ryder finally spoke. "Actually Chase. I think Marshall's on the something here."
"Huh? What do you mean Ryder sir?" Chase cocked.
"I mean, I think I really like Marshall's suggestion. Sorta pops out the tongue easily." Ryder expressed with pleasure. "Paw Patrol."
"What? You've got to be kidding Ryder." Chase replied with bewilderment. "What about you dad?"
Tracer took a bit as he thought over the name Marshall gave. "You know, I think I'm coming around it too."
"Oh come on! Not you too!" Chase whined.
"Sorry Chase, but I think I'm on board here. It may be a little silly, but it stands out that way. Doesn't take itself too seriously."
As Chase spirit was deflating, Marshall's inflating two times as fast.
"Yo-you mean you like it?" Marshall asked, getting excited.
"I indeed do, Marshall." Ryder confirmed. "I think you struck gold."
Marshall teared up again but this time, they were joyful tears. "Then…then does that mean…..we can use it?"
"Almost Marshall, but there's still one more we're got to convince." Ryder informed. "Remember, all of us have to agree."
Everyone's eyes shifted directly on the German Shepherd pup as he himself felt he was on a losing side, heck, even he started coming around to the name.
After looking back and forth at Marshall, Ryder, and his father, he dipped his head and let out a defeated sigh. "Okay….I don't have any arguments. Let's call ourselves…." Chase cringed a little bit as he realized what he was about to say. "…The Paw Patrol."
"Yes!" Marshall launched straight up at Chase's decision and started to chant the name. "Paw Patrol! Paw Patrol! We're the Paw Patrol!"
Well how do you like that?
Another Dally had another crucial flashback and we had the anticipated debut of an anticipated character in the DragonsFire universe!
What will Dally do with this? Will he confront Chase about and How will Chase react?
Find out next time When Chapter 43 is released!
Question of The Chapter: What do you think will happen when Stacy and Ryder finally meet?
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!