Chapter 9: Perfect Dates, Part 2
It has been around five months since Gabriel's and Margareth's first date. Everything has been great for the two. They have been on many dates since then but Gabriel has something special planned for today.
"Are you sure about this?" Gabriel asked with concern.
Gabriel was in his pup house with Marshall and Marshall smiled at him, "Of course,"
"Well, this Date seems complicated," Gabriel whined.
Marshall sighed, "Look, you want this to be perfect, right," Marshall asked and Gabriel nodded, "Then let's do this, you will start at the beach, then go for lunch then meet up with Skye and Ace so she can take you for a ride and then and on a boat trip."
"It seems like you have put a lot of thought into this, did you come up with this off the top of your head?" Gabriel teased knowing the answer.
After his first date with Margareth, Gabriel and Marshall had a heart-to-heart about their love life, "I have no idea what you are talking about," Marshall dismissed Gabriel's words with a slight blush.
"You can't just ignore your feelings forever," Gabriel tells him with a smile.
"We can worry about it later, right now, this is about you and Margareth," Marshall tells him.
"Now get going, you have a date to go on," Marshall said and started to push him out and towards the Lookout.
"Okay, hold on," Gabriel said, grabbing a small box and giving it to Marshall, "You know what to do."
"I will be there," Marshall reassured him with a smile, "Now go," Marshall pushed him into the Lookout.
Gabriel sees a pup-pup-buggie match between Zuma and Marcus facing off with Skye, Margareth, and Rocky cheering them on.
"Youw toast Mawcus," Zuma boasted.
"In your dreams, Zuma."
They were in a fierce competition and Zuma was in the lead but not by much, "C'mon Marcus, you got this," Skye cheered happily.
That seemed to motivate him as his score went higher and passed Zuma's. Gabriel walked over and sat next to Margareth and watched the match unfold. Rubble was watching Apollo The Super Pup as he normally does but Sebastian watched too with confusion.
"How is this entertaining to you," Sebastian said with disgust.
"This is like the best show ever, how can you not like it!" Rubble exclaimed.
"It seems childish to me," Sebastian shrugged.
"Now you are starting to sound like Chase and even he likes Apollo The Super Pup!" Rubble tells him.
"Ahh, come on, I had that!" Zuma yelled as it showed that Marcus had won.
Marcus snickered, "Better luck next time Zuma, you got to have some competition other than just Skye."
Skye walked over to Marcus and nuzzled him, "Great job Marcus."
"Ug, leave the lovy–dovy stuff to yourself," Zuma scoffed and walked off in defeat as the others giggled.
"Come on, Marcus," Skye said as they walked out.
Margareth looked at Gabriel and smiled, "Who would have thought, Marcus and Skye together, huh."
Gabriel smiled, "I guess they get jealous of us."
Margareth spied her tongue out to Gabriel jokingly, "So what up?"
"Not much, but I was thinking, we could go on another date?" Gabriel tells her with a shy smile.
Margareth walks over to Gabriel and brushes up against him, "What were you thinking?"
"It is a surprise," Gabriel says with a smile and licks her cheek.
Margareth thinks for a second before replying, "Fine, but it better be good."
"Then come on, Let's go," Gabriel said and grabbed her paw as he dragged her out she smiled and let out a laugh, "Okay, no need to rush out and pull me along the way."
"Sorry, I might be a little excited," Gabriel admitted shyly.
"No need to apologize, now, let's go on our date, shall we?" Margareth said and held out a paw.
"Yeah, Gabriel said, grabbed her hand, and headed to the beach with her.
They looked at the beach and heard the sounds of the ocean as they walked. They walked over to a small area without people that had a small umbrella with two towels under it.
"Now this is a cute little spot and the view of the ocean is sweet," Margareth said and settled on the towel under the umbrella.
"Not as cute and sweet as you," Gabriel tells her confidently.
"I see someone found their confidence," Margareth said, looking seductively at him.
"Why, do you like it when I am confident?" Gabriela asked her with a matching seductive look.
Margareth leaned closer to Gabriel's muzzle and smiled, "I do,"
Gabriel met her halfway and they locked lips, they stayed like that for a minute before breaking the kiss and looking at the ocean.
Margaret smiled and put a paw on Gabriel, "Tag, you're it," She said and ran towards the ocean.
"Hey, not fair!" Gabriel said and ran after her.
Back at the Lookout Everest arrived in her snowcat with a smile. She got out and walked inside to find Rubble watching Apollo as he does with Sebastian passed out, probably from boredom. But the rest of the pups were missing.
Everest looked around surprised that no one was around but then she heard the elevator ring as Chase walked out.
"Oh, hey Everest, what brings you here?" Chase asked with a wag.
"I don't think I have ever seen the Lookout this dormant, where is everyone?" Everest asks with her usual happy demeanor.
"I don't know, I have been with Ryder for a while" Chase answered honestly.
I think Gabriel and Margareth went on a date and who knows what Marcus and Skye are up to," Sebastian tells them with a a sigh.
"And seriously, how do you guys like this stuff, it so boring," Sebastian complained.
Everest and Chase couldn't help but giggle, "Anyway, I think Rocky and Zuma are probably working on something downstairs but Marshall should be here, as long as he didn't sneak off again," Chase said with a sigh at the end.
"Why is he sneaking off," Everest asked curiously.
"To train, as he puts it, I swear that ever since Hunter came back into his life, things have changed, and not for the right reason," Chase said letting out his emotions about recent events.
"Wait, hold on, who is Hunter," Everest asked confused.
"He is, well, I guess an old friend, idol, I don't really understand their relationship," Chase answered, "He disappeared for three years then suddenly came back, it just feels weird to me and now he gives him a weapon like, really?"
"That sounds a little weird but I think you just don't know him well enough to judge him," Everest said while thinking about it herself.
"I don't need to understand him, I know all I need to know, he gave a pup sword to play with, how is that redeemable?" He asked her.
"By the sounds of it, it does not sound like he uses it as a toy, more like protection," she tells him.
"Call it whatever you want, but I still don't any pup should have something like that, it could hurt or even kill someone," Chase said showing he was worried.
"Think about it this way, you're a cop, so don't you have a gun? Guns are meant to kill people not protect them," She tells him.
"Yes, I have one but that doesn't mean I use it every day like Marshall does," Chase exclaimed.
"I can tell you are worried about him, what's really wrong?" Everest asked seeing through his anger.
Chase sat on the floor and pawed at the floor, "He has been distant ever since Hunter came back, almost like he wants to shut everyone out," Chase said as a tear fell.
"Everything has changed so much over this past year, I feel like the PAW Patrol is falling apart," Chase tells her and he falls apart.
Everest sat next to her, "Change is hard but isn't the end of the world, and I don't think anything can break the PAW Patrol apart," Everest told him as the tears fell.
Meanwhile, Gabriel and Margareth enjoyed a nice lunch at Mr. Porter's. "Mm, now this is good," Margareth cooed as she ate her food.
"I swear, Mr. Porter makes the best food," Margareth said as she ate with pleasure.
"Yeah sure beats the pup Ryder has been giving me, I swear, I will never like that stuff," Gabriel pouted.
Margareth could only giggle, "It is not that bad although this stuff is way better."
"But can you believe that Marcus and Skye got together, it feels like we are all growing up," Margareth said with a smile.
"Yeah, we are growing up," Gabriel with a bit of sadness at the end.
"What's wrong? Margareth asked concerned.
"Wrong, nothing is wrong, I think everything is going the way it is supposed to, we grow up, we can't change that but why can't we just be innocent little pups a little longer?" Gabriel asked himself.
"Yeah, it does seem like things are going a little too fast for comfort," Margareth said and sighed.
Margareth thought about what he said as it got stuck in her head, they cleaned up their mess and thanked Mr. Porter before leaving.
They walked down the streets of Adventure Bay with Gabriel leading Margareth somewhere but Margareth wasn't paying that much attention.
"Gabriel?" Margareth said with a concerned voice.
"Yeah, what is it," Gabriel asked her with a smile.
"These past five months have been amazing but do think we have been ignoring the other pups, I don't even remember the last time we all hung out outside of a mission," Margareth exclaimed.
"Now that you say it out loud, I do think I have been a little over the top and hanging out with you more than anyone," Gabriel said with a sigh, "But we can change that after today."
Maybe we can have a Pup–Pup–boogie competition like we used to," Gabriel said with a smile.
"That sounds nice," Margareth sighs happily as they reach an opening in a field of grass. Margareth looked around to find Skye and Marcus, talking with Ace's plane parked behind them as she fixed something.
"Hey guys!" Margareth said, happy to see them.
"Margareth, I thought you would be coming soon," Skye told her with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Margareth asked.
"Gabriel didn't tell you, smooth," Marcus tells Gabriel.
"Thanks, I think," Gabriel said confused by his statement.
"Well, we are going for a ride, in the air," Skye said excitedly.
"Well, everything is ready, I adjusted the seats so that you should be able to reach the flight controls," Ace tells her and hops down from the plane.
"Thanks, Ace," Ace tells Skye with a smile.
"Just don't let anything happen to her, but most of all, be safe," Ace tells her with a smile.
"Thanks, Ace, now everyone," Skye throws a few parachutes out, "Suit up, we are gonna go for a ride."
All four pups quickly put on their Parachutes, Gabriel then looked at the plane with curiosity, 'What makes you tic?' Gabriel wonders.
"Okay everypup, Gabriel and Margareth, you guys need to share a seat in the back and Marcus you are with me," Skye tells everyone as she hops into the piolets seat with a smile as she starts to flip a few switches.
Gabriel hopped in first and helped Margareth up, "Thanks Gabriel," Margareth said with a smile as she sat down.
Marcus wasn't far behind and sat next to Skye, there wasn't much room to spare with four pups and only two seats but they made do with the arrangements. The propeller started to spin as Gabriel smiled from the air.
"Everypup ready?" Skye asked with a cocky grin.
Me and Margareth both nod, "Whenever you're ready," Margareth tells Skye.
They all saw that the plane started slowly as it picked up speed, being in the Air Patroller or Skye's copter was cool and nice but it was nothing like flying a plane like Skye was doing.
Skye's smile only grew and so did the others as the wheels left the ground and rose in height. It was breathtaking, literally, Gabriel then coughed from all the air filling his lungs. He quickly regained his composure and saw Adventure Bay in a new way.
"It looks so small from here," Gabriel said as he looked down.
"Now you know how it feels to fly, it is so peaceful and relaxing," Skye told them with a pleasant smile.
"I have to admit, this feels nice, having the air blow against your fur feels amazing," Marcus said in awe.
"Yeah, I have to agree, this feels and looks amazing," Margareth said.
"Now there is only one thing I think we should do," Marcus gave Skye a sly grin.
"Skye could only shrug with a smile as they leaned in for a kiss.
Margareth quickly did the same thing to Gabriel before he could protest.
The Sky is full of endless wonders, that was the thing going through Gabriel's head as the flight went on.
Back on the ground, a certain Dalmatian was running through the forest at record speed as he swung from trees and dodged rocks and branches. The path he was running on was more of a track for him. He had been practicing ever since Gabriel and Margareth started dating, but for what? That the Dalmatian couldn't explain.
He reaches the end and hits a timer, he looks at the timer to find that this time around, his time was 55 seconds, "Damit, I need to go faster," Marshall said eagerly and kicked over the clock.
Marshall picked up his pup pack, took out his Kukri, the one that Hunter gave him, and walked over to hit the target practice area, it was made of mostly logs cans, and anything else he could find.
He took a deep breath, trying to feel his metal arm extension as it gripped the sword, and then he threw it right at a log, it hit dead center but only dented the wood instead of spitting it like he hoped.
"There isn't enough power in this stupid arm to split the log," Marshall huffed and groaned loudly as he went to get his sword from the log.
This time he set his eyes on one of the cans, he took another deep breath before throwing it, and when he threw it it spun really fast and hit the can dead center again but it landed on the blunt end and just knocked it over.
"Damit it!" Marshall yelled letting out his anger as he kicked a tree only to regret it as he only hurt himself.
Marshall instinctually grabbed his paw and fell to the ground, he fell with a huff and groaned from the pain.
Marshall tried to get back up but was pushed to the ground by someone, "Hold still, your sister won't be happy if she out what you were doing to yourself," a voice said from behind him as it wrapped his paw in bandages.
Marshall looked up to find Everest addressing his wound, "There is no reason to beat yourself up over this," she told him with a cold glare.
"What would you know!" Marshall snaps.
Everest was shocked but quickly finished wrapping his paw, "Well first, your throw had power and focus but you are throwing it like a boomerang," Everest giggled a little.
"You don't want it to curve that much, just enough to hit the target, with more distance it is fine but you are pretty close, do you want me to show you?" Everest offered with a smile.
Marshall was now the one shocked by Everest's knowledge but he nodded and gave her the pup pack.
Everest looked at another log took out the sword and aimed before throwing it and just like she said, it curved very little and hit the target with ease,
"How did you do that?" Marshall asked, flabbergasted.
"Jake and I like to play axe throwing during the summer, it took me a while to figure it out but with practice, I got it but judging by your first throw, you have a lot more power and accuracy than I do.
"I never heard Jake did that?" Marshall said surprised.
"That is because it is more of a mature sport, one that pups probably shouldn't be playing in, it was a secret," Everest tells him with a smile.
"But now I have a question for you, what are you doing out here working yourself to the bone on something so dangerous?" Everest asked seriously.
Marshall only sighed, did he have a reason besides superstition, he didn't know, "If I told you why, you wouldn't believe me."
"I used to live in the South Pole like a wolf, I have seen the unbelievable," she reassured him with a smile.
"Promise me you won't laugh or call me crazy," Marshall begged her.
"I promise," Everest said with a sweet smile that showed care.
Marshall then started to think, "When I first got this blade, I was excited, it was my favorite kind of Sword and Gabriel decided to make a pup pack for it," Marshall stated, "Then we started to train with each other and teach other new techniques, it was so much fun."
Marshall let out a happy sigh as Everest giggled from his happiness, "Then, he and Margareth started dating," He let out a sad smile.
"Did that upset you that they were dating, she is your sister?" Everest asked.
"No, I was happy for her and Gabriel, it was great to see them both so happy," Marshall tells her, "But then we stopped training."
"So you are angry that he doesn't show up anymore?" Everest asked but Marshall shook his head.
"No, he doesn't have as much time as we used to, it makes sense he would stop showing up," Marshall tells her.
"Then what's got you so tense?" Everest asked confused.
Marshall let out an audible whine, "A-around two months ago, I started seeing these vivid dreams," Marshall said with a quiver.
This made Eerest curious, "T-these reals felt so r-real, almost like I was there, it felt too r-real, too real," Marshall as his breathing became heavy.
"E-everytime I h-have watch as one o-of m-my f-frien-nds die," Marshall as his legs finally collapsed due to the mental stress.
Everest instantly caught him out of instinct and held him as he started to sob uncontrollably, "A-all I c-could do is w-watch as they d-died," Marshall let out through his sobs.
"It's okay Marshall you can stop, you are okay," Everest reassured him as she caressed his back in a relaxing way.
It took a good few minutes for him to calm down as his mental stress was let out, 'This poor pup,' Everest thought. 'How could he bottle all this up.'
"Thanks, Everest," Marshall tells her with a shy smile.
"Anytime Marshall, but I need you to do something for me," Everest tells him.
"What is it?" Marshall asked her with his usual goofy smile.
"I need you to stop worrying about your dreams, you are still a pup, you need to have fun not worry about these dreams," Everest tells him with a smile.
"The pups have noticed your absence, they worry about you, Chase worries about you, I worry about you," Everest tries to tell him.
Marshall thinks about it before smiling, "Yeah, I think that is a good idea," Marshall says and tries to get up but finds it hard due to his paw being wrapped but Everest quickly helps him up, "C'mon, let's go do something fun," Everest told him.
They both walked off with a smile, "Hey, you definitely have to tell about Hunter, he sounds so interesting," Everest asked him with a smile.
"Oh, we have so much to talk about," Marshall said with excitement as he went on a tirade about his friend.
As they left a radio crackled as a man wearing a red outfit with a black mask as he picked it up, "Sir, you are not gonna believe what I found," the man said.
"What is it?" ring out on the radio.
"Sir, he ha–" he was caught off by a whistling sound.
Immediately, an arrow wisped through the tree struck him in the head, and pierced his skull, coming out the other side. He fell to the ground as the radio ringed, "John, what happened," the radio yelled.
The person jumps down from the trees, they lands on the ground gracefully. They wore leather armor with black clothing, wore a black hood that covered their eyes was visible, had brown eyes, and were feminine in appearance. She had a straight blade on her side a bow in her hand with a quiver on her back.
She walked over to the dead man picked up the radio and crushed it with her hands.
"No one can know about the Flame," She said and walked off.
Gabriel and Margareth were walking down the sidewalk when Margareth laid into him, "How could you take apart Ace's plane!" Margareth scolded him, "What were you thinking."
"I just wanted to know what a plane looked like inside so I could make my own," Gabriel whined.
"You can't just take everything apart, especially other people's things!" Margareth yells as he dips his head down from shame.
Margareth sighed, "Listen, you need to stop taking everything apart, and definitely other people's things, okay?" Margareth said letting her angry side go and looking at him with a caring smile.
"Okay, you're right," Gabriel tells her.
"Glad to hear it, now what's next on your plan?" Margareth asked with a smile.
Gabriel looked at the time, "Looks like we are just in time," Gabriel said with a smile as they walked onto the bay and saw the flounder and Capt Turbot.
"Gabriel, good timing, ready for your boat ride?" Capt Turbot asked happily.
"Yup, you ready Margareth?" Gabriel asked her and she smiled.
"Yeah, sounds nice," Margareth tells him and they walk on the flouder.
They walk over to the ledge and look at the sea, "Isn't the sea so nice?" Gabriel asks with a smile as the ship starts to roar.
"Yeah, so shining and pure, I can see why Zuma likes it so much, even if he he doesn't see it like I do," Margareth said with a giggle.
The boat started to move as they looked at the ocean, "I still can't believe how much my life has changed, I went from a mansion to a stray, to joining the PAW Patrol and finding a true family," Gabriel says with a bright smile.
"Yeah, it feels unreal sometimes," Margareth commented.
"And now, I am with the love of my life, you," Gabriel tells her with a sweet smile.
"Aren't you so sweet," Margareth said and licked his cheek.
"And now I feel like I belong here, this is my home," Gabriel tells her.
"This is your home, no one can take that away from you," Margareth tells him.
"Yeah, I hope you're right," Gabriel tells her as they look out to the sea with a smile.
Gabriel slowly looked back at Margareth to find had groaning in pain, "I don't my body likes the sea," She said before throwing up into the sea.
Back at the Lookout Marshall and Everest were having some fun time together outside, "You're joking a dragon!" Everest said with excitement and skepticism.
"I am being totally serious, a dragon was really here, I can't believe you weren't here while he was here, his name is Spyro and he is totally cool," Marshall tells her.
After these few months of training, he felt relieved to talk about this, talking about Hunter and Spyro is one of his favorite things to do, "How come you get to meet all these cool people, I want to meet them!" Everest complained and Marshall giggled as he looked at the time. 5:55
"Oh crap, I gotta go!" Marshall said and ran over to his Puphouse.
"Wait! What's wrong?" Everest yelled.
Marshall came out with a small box, "I need to give this to Gabriel before six, I need to go, now!" Marshall tells her and starts to run off.
"Wait, why aren't you using your truck?!" Everest yelled and ran after him.
Marshall ended up running to the beach with Everest close behind him. At the same time, Gabriel and Margareth were getting off the boat with Gabriel comforting Margareth as she groaned from pain.
"Sorry about the boat ride, I sure ruined it huh," Margareth says with a giggle from embarrassment.
"It's not your fault, just a little sea sickness," Gabriel reassures her.
Gabriel looked back at the sun as it started to set, "Isn't this perfect? Just a perfect way to end this date," Gabriel asked her.
"Yeah, it is so beautiful," Margareth said happily as she stared at it.
Gabriel was getting anxious by the minute and Margareth could tell, "What's wrong Gabriel?" Margareth asked before she heard running and panting.
She looked to her side to see Marshall collapsed to the floor from exhaustion with Everest right behind.
"Marshall? Are you okay?" Margareth asked as she and Everest tried to help him up.
Marshall pants before throwing a small box to Gabriel, "Here," Marshall said before collapsing again, "Now give me a minute to catch my breath."
They all laughed, "Why didn't you just take your truck?" Gabriel asked him.
"That's what I said," Everest said.
"I kinda forgot about it," Marshall admitted with an embarrassed smile.
They all laughed at that, "Okay, it is about time I get serious," Gabriel takes the box and opens it.
Inside to find a bracelet covered in black spots and a white background like Margareth's fur and the underside is brown like Gabriel's fur. There were two symbols, a wolf, and a flame.
The bracelet made both Margareth and Everest form a huge smile because they knew what was about to happen.
"Margareth, will you marry me?" Gabriel asked her as he showed her the bracelet.
"YES!" Margareth said and jumped on him and kissed him.
Both Marshall and Everest watch them both make out with a smile, "So, do I go or~" Marshall said but got no response.
"I think they are a little preoccupied," Everest said with a giggle, "Let's leave them be," Everest said and dragged him by his collar back to the Lookout.
A few hours later after Gabriel announced that they were engaged, Marshall was walking back to get his swords in the dark.
Sure he could have just gone and got them tomorrow but he felt like he needed to get them today. He walked down the path he heard every step he took, it was eerily quiet.
He felt uncomfortable walking down but he didn't stop. He reached his training area and found his pack on the ground where he left it. He picked up and smiled, "You should really keep an eye on your surroundings," Marshall jumped at the voice and looked up to see the girl sitting on a tree, the one he used to sit on.
He could see the weapon on her and it made him shiver, W-who are you," Marshall said and took out one of his swords.
"Oh trust me, honey, you couldn't touch me if you tried," She tells him and throws something at him.
It was a head that wore a mask, it made Marshall jump, "He was watching you, listening, You're lucky I shot him before he told anyone about the dream but they saw the attachment you had for the girl, because of your anger, you made one of your friends a target," She tells him.
"What are you talking about?" Marshall asked confused.
"Don't act ignorant, or our you that ignorant?" She asked herself but shook it off, "Ask your parents about the White Flame next time you see them and tell them about the dreams, that should open your eyes."
"The White Flame?" Marshall asked.
"That's a question for your parent, for right now, remember that these dreams aren't dreams, if you aren't careful people you care about will die," She warns him.
"Why are you telling me this, you were listening to me and Everest?" Marshall asked frantic.
"I don't know everything kid but if you want answers, ask Spyro or your parents, they know who they are and what they want," She answered and jumped down.
"And why I am telling, partly because I am supposed to protect you, and second, I don't like seeing innocent people and little pups die," she said and started to walk off.
"Wait! Who are you?" Marshall asked her.
Her face was covered but you could tell she smiled, "You can call me Lexa," She said and walked off.
Marshall looked at his swords in disbelief, 'what do I do?' he asked himself.