Marshall walked along the sidewalk of Adventure Bay. The Dalmatian wore an ever so faint smile on his face. Ryder had instructed the firefighter pup to go to Mr. Porter's café to buy some fruit. Marshall, feeling guilty about not participating in the mission the previous day, was eager to accept this task and get it done. Besides, it felt really nice to finally take a walk after sleeping in his pup house the whole day to deal with his concussion.
Just as usual, the Dalmatian didn't seem to have a care in the world. After waking up that morning, he seemed to have completely forgotten about his woes with Everest. Once he actually thought about it, all he would have to do was apologize and everything would be okay again. He wasn't sure what happened after Rocky invited him to talk over some food, but whatever it was, it must've worked wonders! He felt much more calm about his reluctance to talk to Everest now.
Was he curious about what happened between Rocky's invite and waking up that morning? Of course he was. Too bad he never got a chance to ask the recycling pup after they got back from the mission involving City Hall. It was quite late when the rest of the team returned.
Outside of Mr. Porter's little restaurant was a small child, who was slowly painting the side of the building. Wearing a red shirt and baggy shorts was Mr. Porter's Grandson, Alex Porter. Marshall couldn't help but to smile a bit. Alex was a lot like him, in a way. Rambunctious, always willing to help out.
Too bad he wasn't old enough to be in most places without a supervisor. Marshall then thought for a moment. Maybe it was better for him to be supervised at all times. Whenever Alex was left alone, something was sure to go wrong. This never irritated him, though, as he knew the little boy always aspired to be like Ryder and the PAW Patrol. He just went a little overboard from time to time.
Who knew? Maybe when Alex got a bit older, maybe when he reached Ryder's current age, he could actually become a full-fledged member of the team. He wouldn't mind another human on the team. The more people and pups willing to do whatever they can to help others and their community, the better.
"Hey Alex!" The Dally greeted as he walked up, "How have you been?"
The little boy turned to look at Marshall, stars in his eyes, "Marshall! Hi! What are you doing—?"
"Alex, bucket!"
Alex suddenly stopped moving to see that he was inches from stepping in the bucket he was using to contain the paint he was using to paint the outside of the building. The aspiring PAW Patrol member moved the bucket to the side, putting it down beside the wall.
He then ran to Marshall, getting down on his knees to give the Dally a tight hug. The firefighter pup gave the boy a lick on his cheek, eliciting a laugh from him.
Marshall had always had a special kinship with Alex. Both members of the Porter family he knew, actually. Alex and Mr. Porter both were pretty clumsy and accident prone. Just like he was. He always enjoyed doing his best to give Alex safety tips, while also assisting Mr. Porter whenever he needed someone to pick up the fruit he would usually drop.
"What are you doing here?" Alex asked, letting go of the pup.
"Just picking up some fruit for Ryder..." He gave him a smile, "What are you doing?"
The little boy smiled in embarrassment "...I kinda scraped up one of Grandpa's walls, so he's teaching me how to paint!"
The Dalmatian's kind smile grew slightly more crooked as Alex explained. Was giving a five to six year old pain the best idea? Well, it was Alex. He always did a bit more than the other children his age.
"Am I doing a good job?" The boy asked, gesturing to the wall he had previously scraped up. Marshall's fur stood on end at the sight. He didn't know how bad Alex had scraped Mr. Porter's Café, but, in the nicest way he could put it, maybe it would've been better to leave it scraped up.
The strokes were crooked and uneven, some of which didn't even smoothly run across the building, stopping midway. Marshall let out a sigh. Fruit gathering could wait. Alex needed desperate help.
"Could you give me the brush?"
Alex looked a bit confused, but did as asked, holding out the brush for him to take. Marshall took the brush out of his hand using his teeth to hold the brush by its handle, "Watch this," He spoke, his speech a little hard to discern because of what he was holding in his mouth.
The Dally started on the left side of the wall, gently stroking in one straight line. The Dally nervously watched his paws, hoping he didn't trip up and crash into something. Surprisingly, he didn't hit anything, completing the stroke without incident.
"There, Alex..." He smiles, walking backwards to look at his work, "You need clean strokes if you wanna— Woah!"
The Dalmatian suddenly tripped, falling backwards. Marshall performed an accidental flip midair, landing butt-first in the pain Alex was using.
"Man... That was a paint-ful fall!" He quipped, earning a chuckle from Alex.
.
.
"Rocky, Zuma, Rubble, Skye. I need you guys at the top of the lookout. There's something I need to tell you."
Zuma and Skye, who were in the middle of a heated game of Pup Pup Boogie, stopped playing, a bit confused at the strange call from Ryder.
"...Ryder needs us?" The Chocolate Lab spoke, his statement sounding more confused than resolute.
As the four made their way over to the elevator, they exchanged puzzled gazes. They didn't need to verbally state it, but they were all coming up with their own theories.
"What if Ryder found out about all the food I snuck and ate!?" Rubble suddenly asked, worried, "Oh man I'm in so much trouble..."
The other three pups turned to look at their teammate before laughing.
"What?"
"Ryder already knew about it..." Skye explained, "Why else did you get less food that night? You already ate."
"No way! I'm way too slick to get caught!" The Bulldog exclaimed, causing another round of laughter.
Chase and Ryder listened to the muffled laughs of their teammates. Their friends. The police pup couldn't bear to look up at his owner. This certainly wouldn't be a good conversation. But why did they have to be in such good spirits? It would only hurt them more if they go through such a drastic mood shift.
The laughter and talking from the pups only grew louder and louder as the seconds ticked by.
Ryder held a small flash drive in his hand, clenching it in his palm so hard that he could almost hear the plastic around it begin to crack. For the first time in his life, he was nervous to face the pups. His pups. His team. What would they think? What would they say?
The elevator finally came to a stop, the four pups walking out and into the highest level of the lookout tower. Upon seeing the boy and his first pup, the four faces approaching contorted into expressions of concern, worry, and most abundantly, intrigue.
Ryder sighed. He would find out in the next few minutes.
Chase went to stand with his friends, staying silent as various quiet questions were thrown his way. The police pup, as per Ryder's orders, stayed quiet and let the young leader take the lead.
"As you guys know, we figured out who was behind City Hall sinking..." He began, the room going completely silent, "From the evidence we have, Chase and I... We've concluded that the one behind this was... And I know you'll have questions about—"
"It was Marshall! He did it!"
Cutting Ryder off was Chase, who couldn't bear to hold it in any longer. The German Shepherd let out a long exhale.
"Chase—"
"That's why Marshall wasn't with us!" The police pup shouted, "Rocky thought he was sick, but Marshall wasn't even in his pup house! Marshall... He... He stole them!"
Life was almost immediately sucked out of the room, Chase's final words reverberating off of the walls and ceiling, lingering in the room in the form of a fading echo. Ryder's eyes grew wide at his first pup's outburst. They were both shaken when they first saw that footage, but the young leader felt stupid that he didn't see this coming.
Chase and Marshall were best friends. The first two pups of the PAW Patrol. The notion that Marshall, the happy and clumsy firefighter pup could be a thief—like Humdinger and the rest— made him want to throw up his breakfast. But he was a pup of evidence. It stacked up against Marshall. What was he going to do? Turn a blind eye to all of it? His paws always upheld the law, and that wasn't going to change.
"Marshall?" Zuma echoed, confused, "Dude, have you been getting enough sleep?"
The Shepherd's eyes pierced through the Chocolate Lab's soul as Chase turned to him. Zuma couldn't help but to take a step back and shrink under his friend's glare.
"Chase...?" Skye's voice quaked as she looked from her friend to her owner, "...Ryder...?"
The young inventor immediately turned himself away from Skye's pleading, watery eyes. Ryder heard the Cockapoo's voice break as he began to walk towards the large flatscreen that was mounted on the far side of the room.
"Ryder!"
Zuma looked at Skye, who had begun to desperately hold back any tears. His eyes widened as he began to follow his owner, "Woah... You're not saying—"
"Marshall is our friend!" Another voice shouted from behind Ryder, causing him to turn around. Glaring at him was Rubble, who's expression spoke for itself. He wasn't just going to take news like that out of nowhere, "We can't just accuse him of that! It's Marshall!"
Rocky, who had remained silent for the majority of the conversation, spoke in support of Rubble, "He's right. Where's the proof saying he is? Marshall couldn't have done it. He was with me that night!"
"Really?" Ryder asked, "Each pup tag has a tracker on it. After checking Marshall's, it hadn't moved from his pup house. I checked the footage on it..."
"Marshall threw it in his pup house..." Rocky's eyes widened, remembering something, "Ryder, really, he was with me. He took off his pup tag—"
"Rocky. I know you two have grown close since he saved your life... You don't have to repay him by lying for him."
"Ryder—"
Chase put a paw on Rocky's shoulder, shaking his head.
"I know you all don't believe us. It's understandable. I didn't believe it either, but... Well... Evidence is irrefutable in this case..." Ryder showed the five a small flash drive, silencing the room once more, "...You'll have to see for yourselves."
The young leader debated on whether or not to really put the flash drive in. There was still time. There was still time to turn around with a wide smile on his face, claiming that he had pranked his pups. That would save them the heartache. But that wouldn't exactly save him and Chase the heartache. They saw the tape. They were certain. Once he put that tape in, the PAW Patrol would be changed forever.
Those golden bones must've all cost a substantial amount of money. A crime of that magnitude would result in a permanent expulsion from the team.
Shaking his head, he nearly shoved the flash drive in. His pups deserved to know. His team deserved to know.
Stepping back, the boy watched the flatscreen in front of them flash with static for a few seconds, his heart rate beginning to accelerate.
"I'm so sorry, pups."
With that, the video began to play. It started with a view of the building from the front. The footage remained like that until about ten seconds in, where a small, cloaked figure walked past the camera. The new viewers of this footage squinted in confusion. The video then proceeded to fast forward into later in the night. The camera picked up the faint sound of something dragging on the ground.
As the cloaked figure entered the frame, the five watched as a golden bone dropped out of the bag the figure was carrying. Once the bag and the thief were out of frame, the thief went walking back to grab it, picking it up in its mouth. As the culprit went walking back out of frame, their front right paw suddenly slipped, sending them tumbling on the ground. As the subject of the video rolled, all of the video's viewers could see, as bright as day, a puppy's hind leg. A white hind leg that was covered in black spots.
"No way..." Rubble uttered, his mouth going agape.
Even Rocky, who was the last to see Marshall before he woke up at the lookout the next morning, began to recount the events of that night, wondering if there was a point in time where he and Rocky weren't together. The evidence seemed irrefutable, just like his owner had said.
.
.
"Katie!" Marshall cried, suddenly walking into Katie's pet parlor, "I need help!"
The young vet heard the Dalmatian's yelp for help and sprang into action, walking over to see what was wrong, "What's the matter, Marshal?"
"I need to get this paint off my butt before it dries..." The firefighter pup blushed in embarrassment, realizing how weird what he was saying was, "Can you help?"
Katie only let out a soft giggle, "You're lucky none of my clients have appointments today..."
"Yes!" The Dally cheered, nearly dancing in jubilation, "Thanks Katie, I owe you one..."
"After all you and the PAW Patrol have done for me and Cali? You don't owe a thing," The girl kneeled down, gently stroking the fur on Marshall's head, "Just get in the bath before that paint starts to dry."
Marshall went to sit down in one of the empty baths in the washing room. The Dalmatian got comfy as it began to fill with water, "Seriously Katie, you're a lifesaver... I was thinking I'd have to go home with a yellow butt..."
The pet parlor employee couldn't help but laugh at the comment. She had always enjoyed spending any type of time with the PAW Patrol. On top of being really well behaved pups, for the most part, the pups' company was truly enjoyed by her. They and Ryder always made the day-to-day more fun and entertaining.
The two began a conversation as Katie put on some gloves and began to scrub paint off of the Dally's body.
"...And then Chase was all like; 'You got twenty seconds to split up before I hunt you down'. It was so scary trying to look for a hiding place, I almost peed myself!"
"Did you find a place?"
"No, but I was saved!" Marshall explained, "Everest pulled me into the bush and gave me a place to think about my next move in peace... She was really generous to share her spot with me..."
All of a sudden, Marshall's slim tail began to quickly wag, splashing the water in various different directions. Cali, who had been playing with her brand new squeaky mouse toy, caught a few strays, getting hit by the splashing water. The cat yowled in surprise, running away. Katie didn't get away scot-free either, as water flew into her face due to the pup's wagging tail.
Katie spat a bit of water out, "Marshall, stop!"
"Huh?" The Dalmatian's dream-like state disappeared upon noticing what his tail was doing to Katie and her pet, "Uh... Whoops... Sorry Katie, sorry Cali."
Cali, as per usual, huffed, turning her nose upwards as she walked away.
"It's okay, Marshall," She wiped her face off with a towel, taking a deep breath in, "Getting a little splashed is expected when you're washing pups..."
The Dally couldn't help but to smile at Katie's patience. Just like Ryder, she was extremely patient with him whenever he would mess something up. Whenever Marshall would expect to be scolded, it was only met with a learning lesson for the future.
"I guess I won't need my bath when the others get theirs..."
"Hm?"
"Aren't our baths scheduled for sometime soon?"
"Right... Your baths..." The blonde's eyes grew slightly larger, staring down at the rim of the small tub Marshall was sitting in. As her mind drifted off, the faint sounds of frequent splashing, as well as the piercing screams to follow.
"Katie?" He asked, no response following.
It was just supposed to be a normal scheduled bath for the pups. It wasn't like it was their first ever. They had the rhythm down, so then why? Why did things have to turn out like that? There was no way she was going to survive another scheduled bath if Rocky—?
"Katie!" Marshall yelled in her ear, causing the girl to scream in surprise.
"Huh?"
"You've been scrubbing my thigh for forever!" The Dalmatian complained, "It kind of hurts a little now..."
Focusing her attention on Marshall's left thigh, she noticed that the paint had been scrubbed off, "Oops! Sorry, I got a little lost in thought. Let me start on your other side."
Back at the lookout, it seemed as though all of the color had been drained from the building. Ever since the news of Marshall's potential status as a thief broke, the pups didn't exactly want to go outside and play like they always would. Instead, all five of them lazed around the lookout, remaining on standby in case Ryder called them for a mission.
However, the aforementioned leader wasn't even in the mood to have to deal with another Adventure Bay emergency at the moment. He was in his bedroom, typing on his digital diary. He surely needed to at that moment. That was the only thing he could do. Document. If he stopped, he would have to face them, he would have to face his team, face Marshall and tell him that he knew.
He wanted to hold on to hope, to pray to whatever higher power was there to beg for something to come along to definitively prove Marshall's innocence without a shadow of a doubt, but everything added up way too well against the Dalmatian pup. Ryder knew he had to search for the resolve to not make any exceptions, to be fair. A leader who let himself be walked all over by the ones he was supposed to lead wasn't fitting of any leader.
If Marshall, hell, if anyone on the PAW Patrol, for that matter, did something like that. They would be off of the team. No ifs ands or buts. It pained him, but there was no other option.
As if on cue, Marshall came walking through the sliding doors of the lookout, a faint smile on his face. He had collected the fruit Ryder had asked for earlier that day. Sure, the paint fiasco had cost him about an hour of getting his fur scrubbed, but he was back home, clean, and ready to spend the rest of the day playing with his friends.
As he walked towards the elevator, holding the bag of fruit between his teeth, he noticed two pairs of eyes looking his way. He looked at them, seeing Zuma and Rubble peeking from over a couch in the TV room. Once they realized Marshall was watching, they immediately ducked down out of sight.
He shrugged and kept walking. Looking to his left, the Dally noticed a familiar pink ally. Skye.
"Hey Skye!" He greeted, nearly dropping the fruit he was holding, having to scramble and catch them.
Normally, the Cockapoo would giggle faintly at his antics, greet him, and go about her day. But at that moment, she didn't know how to react. She stood there, eyes glued to the Dalmatian.
"What?" Marshall asked confusedly, "Are there still suds in my hair?"
Skye quickly walked off, not a word uttered. This was the point where the firefighter pup realized that something in the lookout wasn't right. Maybe Ryder would know. He continued his short walk to the elevator, watching his step in order to not wipe out and ruin the fruit. As the sliding doors closed, The Dally gently put the bag of fruit down in front of his paws.
The ride up the elevator was filled with questions. Questions that he was sure Ryder could answer. He always seemed to know what to do. He always seemed to know the answer. There was rarely ever a time when he couldn't rely on his beloved owner.
The doors to the elevator opened.
Ryder stood on the other side of the room, back facing the Dally.
Marshall picked up the fruit, beginning to walk towards him. The sounds of Marshall's slow footsteps filled the silent room.
Ryder's heartbeat sped up.
Marshall's tail swiftly swayed from left to right.
The Dalmatian obediently sat the bag of fruit down a few feet from the boy, sitting down behind it with that same bright smile of his, "Fruit mission complete!"
The young leader shut his eyes tight. This is when Marshall noticed that his owner was holding his pup pad, which was already opened. The firefighter pup wondered if they were about to go on a mission.
Ryder pressed the middle of a colored wheel.
"PAW Patrol, to the lookout."
Marshall looked down at his tag, which had glowed its fiery red color. The Dally smiled, turning around to join his friends and get his gear on. Before he could take a step, though...
"Stay where you are."
The sudden order from Ryder sent the disoriented Dally into further confusion as he turned to face his owner, who was now looking down at him.
Their eyes met for the first time that day.
Marshall's usually exuberant eyes met the cold, downtrodden pupils of his owner's. For just a moment, the Dalmatian could swear that he felt Ryder's eyes staring directly into his soul.
"...Ryder? What's the matter?" He asked, growing concerned for his owner, "Is everything okay?"
No response.
"Why won't you say anything?"
Silence.
"Why won't anyone say anything!?"
A voice spoke from behind, "You should already know why, Marshall."
"Chase!" Marshall immediately recognized the voice of his best friend, beginning to turn around, "Why's everyone acting so strange and weird and—"
Upon looking at the German Shepherd, his canine instincts flared up. It was an odd feeling, as his instincts didn't really factor into his life that often. He could only remember a few select times when it did. One of those was before he was in the PAW Patrol, when he was on his own.
He was walking through a small forest, collecting something, anything, to eat, when he couldn't help to feel like he was being watched. Turning around, his eyes met those of a wolf's, who was staring Marshall down like he was prey. Something in his brain clicked, his ears flattening against his head as he turned tail and ran for his life.
The wolf's eyes had nothing on Chase's.
The police pup was glaring at the Dalmatian, his eyebrows nearly pushing together as his eyes narrowed. Something told Marshall that he did not want to try and talk to Chase. He looked angry. Furious, even.
His eyes slowly drifted away from Chase, trying to see how the rest of his team, his friends, were looking at him. As his eyes drifted to Rocky, the mixed breed seemed worried, anxious. Looking at Zuma, the Chocolate Lab turned his head away, disdain in his eyes.
Marshall looked at Rubble, who could be seen mouthing something indistinct with a look in his eyes worse than when he was watching the Apollo movie and there was a blackout that shut everything in the lookout down.
Finally, his eyes landed on Skye. The aviator looked deep into Marshall's eyes before whimpering, turning to suddenly hug Chase's side, burying her face into his fur. The Shepherd's ears perked up as he turned his attention to Skye, his eyes softening. He gently put an arm around the Cockapoo, gently rubbing her back for comfort.
The Dally turned to his owner for an explanation. Any explanation. The young leader looked like he had tears in his eyes. With a crack in his voice, he spoke.
"Marshall, you are the primary suspect for the theft of the golden bones beneath City Hall. As such, you are hereby suspended as a member of the PAW Patrol."