SWORD OF DARKNESS-THE TEMPEST SUBSIDES?
(1 WEEK LATER/BARKING-BURG CASTLE DUNGEON/1332HRS)
Claw sits in the cell where he is confined to, his armor and pup pack long removed and kept beyond his reach. Claw looks up to see the butler bring Claw a bowl of either wet or dry puppy food and a bowl of water on a silver platter as the castle guard opens the door and the butler sits the bowls on the floor in front of him and turns to leave. The Doberman looks upon the butler with absolute rancor and ill will growing inside him as he ravenously wolfs down the dry pellets and water before the guard can even close the door! The dog finishes his food and water quickly and greedily then looks across the cell block at the duke, his only company except for the callous dungeon guards! Claw starts closed mouth drooling and whimpering at the dukes food as the butler brings a second silver platter containing a paper covered burger and a small boxed order of french-fries (The whole meal is like a dollar value meal McDonalds). The butler sits both down and takes the platter and leaves, the guard escorts the butler out, leaving the two to stew in their own affairs as Claw puppy begs for some fries, or a chunk of meat. The duke looks at Claw in malice as he screams at the Doberman "I wouldn't give you a piece of food if I owned every scrap in the world!" The guard returns quickly and runs his baton across the bars saying "Be quiet prisoner!"
(JUST OUTSIDE THE CASTLE/SAME TIME)
Ryder opens the rear cargo ramp of the now fixed air patroller and walks up to the princess and informs her "The air patroller is fully repaired. Robodog just took it on its first test flight, I think we will be ready to go home now. We will take Claw with us, just as I promised him." The princess orders one of the castle royal guards to bring up Claw as Ryder turns back to the air patroller.
(CASTLE DUNGEON/SAME TIME)
Claw stares at the guard as he opens up the cell door and orders him out where he follows the guard up to gather his armor and pup-pack and then the two continue to the main yard and finds the princess, Ryder and the air patroller waiting for him. Curiosity burns as claw walks up to the princess where the guard stops him by pointing his gun and shouting "HALT!" The princess waves the guard away and kneels before the now exiled Doberman and asks "What is it Claw?" The Doberman speaks his mind at once "What will happen to the duke now?" The princess sighs and says "He will be returned to Flapping-ton where he will NEVER become king, and will find his father has stripped him of all royal title and power." Claw smiles and says with laughter lacing his voice "No-longer-a-duke-William will be surprised when he gets home, won't he?" Princess Catherine smiles in response and says "He sure will." Claw smiles and nods before frowning "What will happen to the shattered remains of Caliburn?-" Claw then smiles as he looks back to his attached pup-pack and And I will-with your permission-return Excalibur to the mountain for if it is ever needed again. And remember this your majesty; You will always me fighting in your corner if you EVER need my help." The princess smiles and answers Claw "Caliburns busted remains will stay here in the hidden room where it will be kept out of hands-or paws-that would try to re-forge it and use it for evil. I am glad to see you are still a knight at heart, return the sword-with my blessing." The princess stands and bids Claw farewell as he turns back for the Air patroller ramp, Claw turns and looks at the princess one last time as the ramp raises up and closes. The princess turns and leaves for the castle as the airplane takes off for the white fang mountain.
(WHITE FANG MOUNTAIN/1 HR LATER)
Claw walks off the ramp of the air patroller heading for the place in the ground where Excalibur was and he barks out his sword and carefully sticks it in the hole and utters the words "Excalibur, I release you from your bond." There is a glow from Claws pup pack as the sword reattaches itself to the earth and Claw looks back to see his sword returned to normal. Claw turns back and starts for the air patroller but stops and looks over his shoulder and says "Thank you." before returning to the airplane.
(ADVENTURE BAY/2 HRS LATER-1654HRS)
Claw leaves the air patroller and looks around at what is now his home city. Claw shakes his head and walks over to the hollowed out plastic tree looking play area and takes off his armor then lays down on the ground and takes a nap; Claws dream is confused and twisted.
(BEGIN CLAWS DREAM)
Claw is standing on a open plain before a forge and surrounded by other blacksmith equipment as a lightning storm rages around him. Claw stands before the glowing, red hot shattered remains of Caliburn, each crash of his robotic hammer causes a myriad of sparks to fly into the air, each wall of sparks catches the lightning and directs it to the metal of the sword, keeping the surface hot. Claw is sweating as he gives one last hit then his pincers lift up the sword and plunge it into the tub of water, causing a wall of steam to arise. Hidden in the steam are the faces of Ryder, The rescue knights, Princess Catherine, Earl Richards, and Lastly-as the steam fades away-Duke William. Claw turns the blade sideways to view the new mirror like finish. Claw turns it up and down as he looks at his handiwork. Claw looks down at the glowing spot on his body that is close to his heart. Claw smiles as he tosses the blade as high as he can, causing all the lightning in the storm to strike the sword at once. The sword returns to Claws pincers glowing purple yet again as the rebuilt blade is returned to its scabbard. Claw - grinning - looks into the tub of water to see his eyes glowing purple.
(END CLAWS DREAM)
Claw sits up with a scream and gasping breath as he tries to calm his racing heart. Claw looks to see the sun starting to set over the ocean. After he finally calmed down enough that his heart no longer felt like it would explode Claw looks at the mountains and then decides it is time to go to his permanent home. Claw walks up to the lookout and takes the elevator to the top and walks out to see Ryder sitting on a beanbag chair playing on his pup pad. Claw sits down and decides to wait, but just at that moment 'game over' appeared on the screen and Ryder sits the pup pad down on the small table beside him then looks at Claw and asks "What's wrong?" Claw looks at Ryder and is bluntly straight forward. "I don't know what to do now. I have a home to go to but no way to maintain income." Ryder puts a hand to his chin in thought as he comes up with an idea. "I don't normally do this for those who have a track record like yours. But- but- in light of what you done for all of us I am willing to let you serve as a deputy paw patrol police pup. You will - if you take the job - follow Chases EVERY order. IS-THAT-UNDERSTOOD?" Claw puts a paw under his chin in thought and says "Let me get to my new owner on the back side of -what is that mountain called again?- Jakes mountain and see how it works out." Ryder says "The offer will always stand until you do something worthy of removing the offer-" Ryder smiles and picks up his pup pad and mashes the screen a few times then says "-Go down the slide. I have a few surprises for you." Claw looks at the slide and walks over then takes a breath and jumps on the metal slide and as he rounds the last bend he sees Chases police vehicle waiting for him on the bottom. Claw lands in the police vehicle and looks at it in awe for a minute when Ryders voice snaps him out of the awe. "This is Chases spare police vehicle, and it's NOT a spy vehicle, it is ONLY a police vehicle. The paw patrol all have spare vehicles, some have more than others. Marshall and Rubble for example has 4 count - 2 type system Others like Skye and Zuma have a only 2 count - 1 type system." Claw looks at Ryder and says "I don't want to take Chases spare vehicle." Ryder calmly replies to the Doberman "I can make Chase another spare police vehicle. This one is on loan until you make the decision whether you take the job or not. If you don't take the job you MUST return it so I can remove the paw badge insignia, sirens, flashing lights and cone launch targeting system. You can keep the winch either way. Look under the seat for your last surprise. " Claw stands and jumps behind the seat and pivot lifts up the bottom part to find a uniform of solid blue complete with pup pack that looked just like Chases except it has NO stripes above the star. Ryder places a hand on Claws back and says "Take your time, I will give you a week to decide starting tomorrow. Today, you can take the vehicle on a test drive up to Jacks home and talk the job over with him." Claw looks at Ryder in a mixture of joy and fear. "I don't know how to drive." Rocky comes up pulling a wagon with Claws armor in it and places the pieces inside as Ryder calls out "Chase!" Chase comes running up without his gear on and says "Yes Ryder?" Ryder kneels and asks "Can you drive Claw to his new home and teach him how to drive his new vehicle on the way?" Chase notices a flaw in Ryders plan and asks "How will I get back home?" Ryder replies "I already thought of that. I will accompany you both on the way up there and drive you back to the Lookout." Chase nods and jumps into the vehicle that was now Claws and begins to at once explain the controls, before long Claw was driving with Chases instruction.
(JACKS HOME/1734HRS)
Claw jumps off runs up to the door and is closely followed by Ryder who knocks at once. Jack opens the door and looks at Ryder who motions his attention down to Claw who eagerly moves inside at once as soon as the door is opened, followed by Ryder and Chase. Jack returns to his seat and Ryder immediately cuts to the chase. "Sir, as you may know Claw wants to live with you full time. But you don't know that he has lost his knighthood permanently and has been exiled from Barking-burg. But I have offered him a position on the paw patrol as a part time police unit. Claw wants your input before he decides to take the position." Jacks looks at Claw and says "The military was my life when I left high school. That IED attack and ambush took that from me; But I found solace in my farm that I built here. It is not as big as farmer Al and Yumi's but it provides me with enough income that I can live a comfortable life. You need to find your new purpose. I recommend you take that job." Claw looks at Ryder and Chase with a frown and voices a problem. "If I am to stay here I can't accept the job." Ryder smiles and says "You haven't met Everest and Tracker yet. They're part time members who live with their owners. Everest lives right here on Jakes mountain with Jake and works as a sled and trail patrol dog, Tracker lives in the jungle with Carolus and gives guided tours. When they're not on paw patrol missions they live normal lives with their owners. You can do the same Claw." Claw smiles and immediately accepts the job. Ryder smiles and says "Welcome to the paw patrol." Ryder gives one last piece of advice "Emergencies can happen at any time. You as a new member must be ready to deploy at a moments notice." Ryder then turns and leaves with Chase on his heels.
(TIME SKIP/2257HRS)
Claw lay fast asleep on the foot of Jacks bed while in his body a small rice grain sized piece of Caliburn resting right next to his heart begins to glow faint purple.
(END SWORD OF DARKNESS-THE TEMPEST SUBSIDES?/END OF NOVEL)