AN: I hope you all are enjoying this story so far. I know that there are some people who have gone off the deep end because I had Ryder die. I'm fine with you all being upset, but hazing me and dropping the f bomb won't help at all. I just hope that there aren't many of you out there reading this and reacting the same way. Just know that I don't stand for that crap and I will block you and report you. You can PM me with your concerns but you can not yell at me and force me to rewrite what's already been written. Also, keep the city of Houston and the state of Texas in your prayers. Though I do not live in Texas, they were devastated by Hurricane Harvey and the people there, especially those in Houston, need all the support they can get. Thank you.

Chapter 4: A Mission Not So Well Done

Marshall went first down the slide, doing his trademark slip before tumulting down the slide. He landed in his pup house as it transformed into his fire truck. Next down the slide was Rubble. Spreading his legs out, he whooped going down the slide. He landed in his pup house as it transformed into his digger. Instead of the drill arm, he had his crane. Next down the slide was Rocky. He hesitated a second before jumping on the slide, scratching behind his ear on the way down. He landed in his pup house as it transformed into his recycling truck. Next was Zuma. He jumped down the slide and threw his paws up in the air while cheering. He landed in his pup house as it transformed into his hovercraft. Next up was Everest. She jumped down the slide and landed in her pup house as it transformed into her snow plow. Last one down the slide was Tracker. He landed in his pup house as it transformed into his Jeep.

Koda emerged from the Lookout's garage riding Ryder's ATV. Though it upset the other pups that they would never see Ryder on that ATV again, they knew they had a mission and took off towards Farmer Al's. Marshall led the way since Koda didn't exactly know where Farmer Al's barn was. Meanwhile, Chase and Skye had just finished packing and ascended in the elevator. Once topside, they walked out only to find it empty.

"That's weird," said Chase skeptically.

"Maybe they got called in for a mission," said Skye.

"Let's find out," said Chase. Being second in command, he still was the only pup with access to the Lookout's controls. He pulled down a map and noticed that all the pups were driving on the road through town heading towards Farmer Yumi and Farmer Al's.

"Looks like they're going to help the married farmers," said Skye.

"Well, we should get going to Barkingburg," said Chase. He pressed a button on the Lookout's control panel that summoned the Air Patroller. Robodog carefully landed the Air Patroller in the front yard of the Lookout.

Being the gentlepup that he is, Chase allowed Skye to go down the slide first. She backflipped onto the slide and giggled on the way down. She landed in her pup house as it transformed into her helicopter. Chase went down the slide next, letting out a joyful howl on the way down. He landed in his pup house as it transformed into his super spy cruiser. The cockapoo and German shepherd piloted their vehicles onto the Air Patroller. The walkway closed up, and the Air Patroller took off en route to Barkingburg.

In ten minutes flat, Koda and the pups arrived at Farmer Al's barn.

"Thanks for coming Koda," said the farmer, with his typical shirt on that revealed his farmer's tan.

"No problem, Farmer Al," said Koda. "Happy to help." It was then that Jake and Ace

arrived. "And now that everyone's here, we can start building your new barn."

"Excellent, I'll bring the blueprints over," said Farmer Al.

"Rocky, get your tools ready. Rubble, get your crane in position. Marshall, be ready with your ladder."

"Green means go!"

"Rubble on the double!"

"I'm fired up!"

"Zuma, Everest, and Tracker, you three will help Jake, Ace, and I on the ground."

"Let's dive in!"

"Ice or snow I'm ready to go!"

"I'm all ears!"

With Koda dishing out orders, everything was running rather smoothly. Koda was surprised by this, but the pups, being so used to missions running so smoothly with Ryder in command, didn't think much of it.

Rocky was on Marshall's ladder atop the barn. He was screwing in the weather vane as the finishing touch. As he started back down the ladder, there was a low rumbling noise. Rubble noticed that the foundation began to shake.

"Uh-oh," the bulldog gasped. "I don't think that's supposed to happen." He ran out of the way, joining the rest of the gang. But they could only watch as the barn's sides collapsed to the ground, taking the roof off too. Part of the roof fell towards Marshall's firetruck. The dalmatian closed his eyes as he prepared for the worst. The roof landed on the red firetruck, followed by Rocky, who landed on the roof with the now detached ladder. The others gasped in horror.

"Marshall!" Koda yelled, rushing over to the wreckage. Jake and Ace followed, while the other pups stayed back.

Jake and Ace worked together to lift the heavy piece of the roof off the firetruck (after removing Rocky and the ladder off first). Koda grabbed an unconscious Marshall by the collar and dragged him out of his firetruck to examine any injuries.

"I have no medical experience whatsoever," said Jake bluntly. "I think you should take him to Katie's Clinic. She'll know what to do."

"Okay," said Koda. "Farmer Al, can we come by another day and fix this?"

"Sure thing Koda. Take all the time you need," said Farmer Al.

So Koda drove Marshall over to Katie's Clinic, and he sent the pups back to the Lookout. Everest went back up to the chalet with Jake. Tracker took his Jeep towards the jungle to rejoin Carlos. That just left Rubble, Rocky, and Zuma.

"Our first failure ever," said Zuma.

"I wonder how Koda's taking it," said Rubble. "He must be so ashamed, not that I'd blame him."

"Let's keep comforting him and supporting him," said Rocky. "I can only wish that Chase and Skye are more successful right now than we are."

The Air Patroller hit a small wind current and jolted a bit. This woke up Skye, who had a rather disturbing nightmare. She hopped off the bean bag she had used as a bed and walked up to the control room, where Chase was with Robodog.

"Hey Skye," said Chase. "Enjoy your nap?"

Skye could only shake her head no. "I had a nightmare," she said.

"What was it?"

"I had a dream about how I was taken back to the last time I saw my family," she said, "before those eagles came."

"You mean the ones we later discovered were robotic and controlled by a white pup according to my eyewitness accounts?"

"Yeah, so now I just can't help but get a bad feeling about this trip," Skye said solemnly.

"Well I don't think you have anything to worry about," said Chase reassuringly. "I will protect you with my life. And that's a promise."

"Oh Chase," Skye said, embracing her boyfriend. "You're the best boyfriend ever."

The sound of Robodog barking interrupted them.

"Well, we're here," said Chase. He pressed a button that turned his Super Spy gear into his suit he wore when he first guarded the crown. He pressed another button that gave Skye a nice pink dress.

Robodog landed the Air Patroller in their underwater headquarters. Chase and Skye walked up the ramp and out into the streets of Barkingburg. As they approached the driveway to the castle, Skye gulped.

"I still have a bad feeling about this," she shivered. Chase held her closer to him, letting her know it was going to be okay. Skye nodded and tried to crack a smile as Chase rang the doorbell. The door opened and out stepped the Earl.

"Ah Chase," he said, "nice to see you again. You too Skye."

"Nice to see you too, your earlness?" said Chase. He still didn't know how to address the Earl, despite this being his fourth visit to Barkingburg. The Earl led the two pups inside, where they saw the princess with a rather large suitcase.

"Chase!" she squeaked upon seeing the two pups. She ran over to them and hugged them. "And how's my favorite PAW Patrol pup doing?"

"Fine your highness," Chase said with a bow.

"Ah yes," said a voice in the shadows. "If it isn't Chase. So good to see you again, isn't it Busby?" A pup with a clean white coat stepped out along with a robotic toy frog.

"Hello, Sweetie," Chase said, eyeing her as if she just robbed the bank.

"And if it isn't Skye," Sweetie continued. "This is, what? Our fifth interaction?"

"Fourth," Skye corrected, but was rudely interrupted.

"No, no, I'm positive it's our fifth interaction. End of discussion," said Sweetie.

"Princess, Sweetie, time to go," said the Earl.

"Coming!" said the two females at the same time. They rushed out the door.

"Take good care of the place," said the Earl, before tossing Chase a spare key and finally leaving.

"Well, how about you go lie down in the princess's room while I cook us up some dinner?" said Chase. "We can watch whatever you'd like to watch on the TV."

"Sounds good," said Skye before ambling upstairs towards the princess's room. Chase walked in the other direction and into the kitchen. He began cooking up some spaghetti when he heard a slight creaking noise nearby. Now in police dog mode, Chase turned around and was face to face with...Sweetie.

"Sweetie, what are you doing here? I thought you went on vacation with the princess."

"That was a hologram I made of myself," she said.

"Well why are you here?"

"So I can be Barkingburg's new ruler, duh." Just then, a claw reached out from her "pup pack" and stripped Chase of his collar and pup tag. Chase was about to do something, but Sweetie pulled a lever and the floor opened up underneath him. He fell into a dungeon with a thud. He peered up and saw Sweetie looking down at him.

"One down, one to go," she said, laughing with her trademark snort.

"I swear, if you hurt Skye..." Chase growled, but before he could continue, the door closed, leaving him alone in the dungeon with nothing but a dimly lit torch on the wall.

"Skye..." Chase whimpered before lying down in a little ball in the corner.

"Skye, you there?"

"What is it Koda?"

"Marshall's been badly injured. Katie's taking care of him. I just wanted to let you know. Tell Chase too please; I couldn't contact him."

"No problem, Koda," Skye said as she heard a knock on the door. "Speaking of which, he just showed up. Talk to you later."

"Over and out, Skye," Koda said before ending the call.

What happened next not even Skye could predict. She gave a puzzled look as Sweetie walked in the room.

"I thought you were on vacation," Skye said with suspicion.

"My hologram is on vacation. The poor thing needed it badly," Sweetie retorted.

"Well, where's Chase?" Skye questioned.

"He's fine," Sweetie lied. "But Skye, there are a few someones I'd like you to meet again."

"Again?" Skye said completely confused at this point.

Sweetie pointed to the window. Skye turned her head and paled upon what she saw.

"The...the...the...e-e-eagles," she whispered.

"That's right, Skye. Say hello to some old friends."

After thinking for a few seconds, everything made sense to Skye, and she began to confront Sweetie.

"You were there," she said.

"I was where?"

"There," Skye said. "You were there when my family was killed off by those...those monsters."

"Indeed I was," Sweetie grinned.

Skye's shock turned into anger as she growled and prepared to lunge at Sweetie. Fortunately for Sweetie, Skye would never get that chance as Sweetie pulled another lever and the floor opened up, sending Skye down into the dungeon.

"Now that those two are taken care of, I can become the new ruler of Barkingburg!" Sweetie said with a laugh and a snort before walking towards the throne room.