This is it.

This is my one chance to make things right.

To wipe the sleigh clean and fix our friendship that was shattered.

Thanks to Ryder's direction and some locals, I was able to pinpoint where Zuma had been or at least where he was now.

The whole plane ride, my mind kept playing many different scenarios of what I would do, what I would say and how will Zuma react.

I doubt he'd be willing to forget everything, especially after I broke my promise to him. But maybe I was right. Maybe it has been enough time for both he and I to forget what's kept us apart.

Apart from everything, my mind is wondering how in the world did Zuma get his paws on such a crucial artifact. I'm also worried how much danger is headed his way, with so many eyes on him. Hopefully I can get Zuma to give me the headpiece before he gets hurt. Especially since I have a strange feeling that I'm being followed.

Chapter 4: Opening Old Wounds

Did I really make the right choice?

That question has been swirling in Zuma's mind for the past thirty minutes now. Reflecting once again on his recent years and whether he missed being in the Paw Patrol.

He definitely missed his friends, the missions he was called on, the fun he had, and having unlimited energy to spare. The many wipeouts of Marshall or hell, just being around him was more than enough to leave a lasting impression on the lab. Feeling a sense of warmness every time he would think of him. The same could be said for everyone else on the team, but not for his ex-owner Ryder. To this day, the name makes Zuma coil.

That's not to say that Zuma didn't appreciate all Ryder's done for him. The man welcomed him in to his life, gave him a home, fed him, played with him, gave him gifts, and cared for him like a son when his father couldn't. However, that comes with the fact that despite Zuma's best efforts, Ryder seemed to always turn a blind eye to him, in comparison to everyone else on the team.

At first, it wasn't like that, with Zuma thriving in the water and the fact that they lived at a bay, the first few years were amazing to him. Taking part in many rescues that utilized his strengths among the team. About halfway through, he noticed that he wasn't called on as much as his teammates were. Even when they did involve water of all things, Zuma would never be deployed first, if he ever got called at all.

It was always either Chase or Skye that would get called on the most. Though Zuma never held it against them as he loved his fellow teammates to death and it wasn't like their efforts wasn't useful ninety nine percent of the time.

Now when Chase, Skye, and Rubble ended up leaving the team later on, Zuma thought for once that he would get called on more, even go as far as to beg Ryder to cross-train to other skills and raise his volume up even more. But shockingly, Chase and Skye's departure did little. Especially when Ember came in to fill Chase's police pup duties. Rocky even started to get called on more and Zuma's calls kept drying up more and more.

Rocky

Zuma's paw strangles the bottle when the mixed breed entered his mind. Both in anger and sadness.

There was no one else Zuma cared for the most. Throughout his younger years, Zuma had always felt that he couldn't live without him. The bestest friend anyone could ever have and would always be right beside you for better or for worse.

Until at some point, he'd turn on you and leave you in despair.

Before long, Zuma had enough and went to Ryder's office to finally cut to the truth, wanting the man to tell him that it wasn't the case, and that Zuma was in fact a big part of the team.

To his shock, Ryder had no real answer. Ryder, the man who up to that point, was a competent leader and a father to him, had nothing to say to cut down Zuma's claims. He did say that he loved Zuma just as much as he loved the other dogs and did his best to treat him equally as well, but Zuma couldn't find it in himself to believe it. Telling him that Ryder no longer thought he was important enough for him, ripping his collar off, placing it on his desk, and left Ryder's office no longer a member of the Paw Patrol.

However, He didn't want to leave on his own and went to who he thought would stand side by side with him till the end. On his way out, Zuma went up to Rocky and told him what happened. Asking Rocky to come with him, feeling in his heart that Rocky would accept no question. Which made it very shocking when Rocky declined and opted to stay.

The lab begged and pleaded him to reconsider, laying out his heart to the mixed breed, saying that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him. Though, not even Zuma's pledge to him did any to change Rocky's mind. Figuratively siding with Ryder and telling him that he was taking what Ryder does for him for granted.

Zuma's heart was sliced in two by Rocky's words and he took off from Rocky and the rest of the Paw Patrol. Feeling that his entire world was in shambles thanks to both Rocky and the Paw Patrol itself, not once looking back

Throughout the past five years, Zuma has thought about reconnecting. To reach out to Marshall, Chase, or anyone. Even going as far to show up to one of Skye's airshows with the intent to see her again. Though all he did was watch her and left with no effort to meet her at all. Zuma felt that whenever he thought about it, he would be reminded of the pain of being stranded, even if the others had nothing to do with what happened.

Now, he sits here. Washed up and drunk out of him mind. Feeling as though Rocky was exactly right and he did make a huge mistake.

A loud click thrusted Zuma out of his long thoughts as the lights go out. Zuma groans as he knew it was the breaker tripping again. He pushes off the counter and swerves his way over to the breaker on the left side of the store. Opening the compartment and flipping the main breaker, immediately cutting the lights back on.

Ding gling ding.

"Sorry, I'm closed for the night!" Zuma acknowledges the store's doorbell, notifying him that someone has just walked in.

There was a long ambient pause until a clear response was heard.

"Hey Zuma."

Zuma gasps as his lungs tightened, his ears stand completely still. The voice he heard was vaguely familiar to him, though it sounded rougher than the way he remembered. Nevertheless, he still recognized it like an old song he hadn't heard in a while.

Slowly, he turns to confirm his suspicions and was truly stricken from nose to tail.

"Rocky?" Zuma mouths. Doubting if it was really him, or his drunken mind playing a cruel joke.

Rocky stands squarely in front of him with almost no emotion. Looking shaggy as always but obviously bigger than the last time Zuma saw him.

The lab drags his paw towards the mixed breed. Inadvertently bumping into the shelf in front of him, knocking its contents to the floor. Catching himself from spinning down to the floor, though his eyes never left Rocky's.

His mind scrambles to find the right emotion he should have at this moment. However, his heart and his drunken mind couldn't make a sure decision.

Ecstatic that Rocky was here, yet irate that he dares to be. Grateful that he was still alive yet craving to end his life.

One look at the lab fumbling told Rocky that he was drunk as a sailor. It was hard for him to see Zuma like this, wondering just what has happened to the poor dog to resort to drinking.

"I know this is sudden, but I need something from you pal." Rocky cuts the silence and gets straight to it. Zuma doesn't say a word as he inches closer to Rocky. "I know I'm the last dog you want to see right now, but I wouldn't show up like this if it wasn't important."

Zuma gets about nose to nose with Rocky. Glaring into the mixed breed's eyes like a hawk. A toothy grin suddenly forms on the lab's mouth, making Rocky nervously smiles himself.

"You must be the biggest idiot I've ever met." Zuma finally says with a mocking chuckle.

"Huh?"

Pow!

Rocky had barely enough time to react before he was suddenly socked in the snout by Zuma, punching him to the floor and spilling blood from his mouth.

He lays there for a second before slowly getting up with a prolonged grunt.

"Okay, I may have deserved that." Rocky groans as he cranes his neck.

"Damn right you do!" Zuma barks back, hate launching out of his mouth. "I can't believe you would dare show up after all this time!"

"Look, Zuma, I don't want to fight okay? I just need one thing from you and that's it, I promise."

"Really?! You need my help?!" Zuma reels. "After you turned your back on me when I needed you the most?!"

Rocky cringes greatly. He very much expected the past to be brought up but he had hope that it somehow wouldn't. "You didn't know what you were doing Zuma."

"How would you know that?!" Zuma challenged with a growl. "No, you know what? I don't even want to deal with you right now. Get out!"

Although Rocky wanted to leave, he knew he couldn't, for Zuma's sake. "I did what I did Zuma, you don't have to be happy about it. But let's forget about all of that and help each other out now."

Zuma snorts as he spins around and starts picking up the mess he made earlier. Completely ignoring Rocky's request.

"Come on Zuma, it's nothing much. Just a headpiece." Rocky reveals.

Zuma doesn't look back as he points to a specific wall in his store. "If you're looking for knickknacks and stuff, they're over on the far wall over there."

Rocky grits his teeth a little. "It's….a bit more specific. It's a bronze circular headpiece with a red crystal in the center. Dawning a phoenix."

Zuma slightly gasps. Immediately recognizing what Rocky was describing. He bought the thing from an antique store in Malibu a few years ago. Admiring it's design as kinda cool in his eyes and got it as a treat for himself to remind him of how far he had come in his career. However, he wore it during his performance at the Pawlympics, where he completely bombed and came last. Since then, Zuma hasn't worn it believing that it was bad luck, enforced by the slump he ended up being in shortly after. He tried to get his money back, but the antique store refused the refund, so he'd been stuck with it ever since.

But how does Rocky know he has it? No. He has to be talking about something else.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about dude."

Rocky knew Zuma was holding back. "Zuma, don't lie to me, I know you…"

"No! You have no right to ridicule me for lying!" Zuma roars. "After you abandoned me, I don't think I can ever trust you again!"

Rocky drawls a slow breath before responding. "Zuma, I am sorry."

Zuma just finished putting everything on the shelf before he growls his response. "Well that's good for you, but it does little for me, dude. Now, get out of my store and never come back."

Rocky knew Zuma meant what he said, and it tore his heart. However, he couldn't give up at all. There is a lot of danger heading the lab's way if he didn't get the headpiece away from him.

"Zuma…please. That headpiece is really important."

Zuma scowls at Rocky's stubbornness. "What part of get out do you not understand? I already told you at length that I have no idea what you are talking about and even if I did, I would not give it to you! Now, I'm going to say this one more time. Get out of my surf-shop before I call the police, or maybe a dog catcher would fit for you!"

Rocky was stunned stiff. Never have he'd ever thought that Zuma would resort to such a threat.

The mixed breed hesitates in Zuma's gaze greatly before he slowly turns around and heads for the door. However, when he gets to it, he hesitates again, being flashed with the danger that was coming for Zuma if he just gave up now.

He eerily turns around and finds Zuma not looking at him anymore. Instead at the store counter, pouring some more whisky into the bowl that was sitting on the counter.

Looking all around the old crusty store, Rocky had one more idea to try. He was going to give money for the headpiece anyway, but it seemed that now it was the only chance he had to get through to Zuma.

While the lab was the lab was downing the bowl, Rocky pads all the way up to the counter next to him. He pulls out a wad of cash from his pack and places it next to the reeling Zuma with his mechanical hand.

After a couple coughs, Zuma slowly eyes the money with a bit of confusion. "What's this?"

"Three thousand dollars Zum. For the headpiece."

Zuma's confused expression grew. He's willing to shell out that much money for the trinket? Where'd he even get it from?

Still, he had no interest in helping the dog who stabbed his heart. "I don't need your money dude."

Rocky goes in harder, riding on the lab's poverty. "I'll give you another seven when I get back to Adventure City."

Zuma twitches. That adds up to ten thousand dollars! That would do wonders for him right now. "Ten thousand dollars? For that stupid, worthless medallion?" Zuma covers his mouth immediately with a gasp. Cursing his drunken mind for letting that slip.

As soon as he said it, Rocky perks his ears, growing a small smirk. "Aha. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"I…I…"

Rocky sterns his look. "Stop playing around pal. I'm serious. That medallion is more important than you think it is. Trust me."

Zuma chuckles in response. Rocky is dead set on getting this seemingly worthless medallion. One dog's trash is another's treasure. However, he didn't want to give in, thinking that maybe, he could ring out as much as he could.

"Come back tomorrow." Zuma says with a smile.

Rocky cocks his head. "Tomorrow? Why tomorrow?"

Zuma chuckles more. "Cause I said so, dummy."

Rocky smiles at Zuma for a bit, before he slowly starts walking away from the lab towards the door.

Zuma laughs again as he gets to the door. "See you tomorrow Rocky!"

Rocky takes one last look at the drunken Zuma before slowly walking out of the store. Leaving Zuma alone with his thoughts. A few seconds go by until Zuma raises his head up with disbelief.

"No…that didn't happen." He mouths as he swivels toward the door. Staring at it profusely as if Rocky was still there.

There was just no way. It had to be a hallucination. Why would Rocky show up out of the blue like that? After all that has happened with the way their relationship ended, and the harsh words from both sides? It didn't make any since that Rocky would just appear out of nowhere without at least planning or someway to let him know he was coming.

Zuma turns back to the counter and is shocked to see the money Rocky left was still there and hasn't vanished. He touches it with his paw and confirms that it in fact wasn't a hallucination while also thinking back to the punch he threw at Rocky and how his paw is stinging a little. Telling him that it was indeed real.

Upon this thought, Zuma goes to the back room where he sleeps and rummages through a drawer, pulling out the medallion in question.

Just as Rocky described, it was a shiny bronze circular piece depicting a winged phoenix with an illuminating ruby gem in place of its eye. Outlined by scriptures of a language Zuma can't even begin to understand.

He walks out to the counter, dangling it in his paws while eyeing the money Rocky left for him.

But why did Rocky show up asking about some medallion that he had? How did he even know he had it in the first place? Zuma hasn't seen or spoken to Rocky, Ryder, or any of his ex-teammates in years, so what gives? What's with this worthless medallion?

Zuma has no idea, but one thing's for sure, Rocky is dead set on it. Offering a ridiculous amount of money for it. Money that could really help Zuma get his life back on track. Regardless of what was between him and his ex, it would be idiotic for Zuma turn him down, especially for a medallion that has brought nothing but bad luck for him ever since he bought it.

Zuma drapes the medallion over a mini mannequin of a dog sitting on the left side of the counter and opens a drawer where his current savings were, which at this point, was just pocket change. Stashing Rocky's three thousand into it, having made a sure decision.

The front doors then open again, perking Zuma and spots what looks to be a gang of cats. The one in front had a particularly sly to his smile. "Good evening Zuma."

Zuma groans in response as the gang walk themselves in. "Sorry. I'm closed for the night. You'll have to get your gear tomorrow dudes."

The cat chuckles sinisterly. "Do we look like surfers to you?"

Zuma glances around his store which now had cats littered around, giving intense stares to him. "No. But cats have surprised me before." He then eyes the cat who was speaking and was shot by familiarity.

The cat was a tabby. Almost the same fur pattern as Rocky, minus the white snout. Ringing a vague bell in his mind.

"Say, I know you." Zuma says suspiciously. "Weren't you one of Humdinger's cronies back then?"

"You have a good memory Zuma." The cat's smile grew. "I wouldn't think you'd remember me."

"How could I not? You and your friends were always a thorn in our sides for many years." Zuma sneers. "So excuse me if I'm a little suspicious."

The cat snickers mockingly. "I assure you Zuma, I'm not here to trouble you much, as long as you, cooperate."

Zuma pans around and sees the swarm of cats that were inching a little closer. Then eyes the tabby again, somewhat preparing himself for anything. "What do you want then?"

"The same thing your friend Rocky wanted." Tabby answers. "Surly he would've mentioned that they'd be other interested buyers."

Zuma gulped a little. Now he understands how Rocky would've known about the medallion, considering that Humdinger was interested in it as well. Maybe it wasn't as worthless as he thought it was.

Zuma kept his stance. Not intimidated by cats any less. "Must've slipped his mind."

Tabby gets up close to the lab. "You haven't given it to him yet, have you?"

"Why? Are you willing to offer more?" Zuma asks back.

"Oh most certainly." Tabby answers with strange envy. "Do you still have it?"

Zuma glares at the cat intensely. He has no idea why this group of cats are so tense for a medallion, but he knew that if Mayor Humdinger wants it so bad, it can't be any good if he gets it.

"No." Zuma blankly answers. "But I know where it is."

Zuma then turns and goes behind the counter, pulling out a full bottle of whiskey. Not noticing that a cat had followed him and was slowly approaching.

"Hey. How about a drink for you and your cats?!" Zuma offers, trying to stall.

Tabby turns his attention to the rack of harpoons in one of the aisles. "Don't play games with me Zuma. Why don't you tell me where the piece is right now?"

Zuma snorts in response. "Listen pussy. I don't know what kind of dog you think you're dealing with. But no one comes into my territory and tells me what to do."

Tabby slowly laughs at Zuma's enforcement. "Oh Zuma. Let me show you how I deal with dirty dogs like you. Mrrouw!"

On command, the cat behind Zuma digs his claws into Zuma back. Zuma yelps, instinctly bucking the cat, making him crash into the shelf behind them, knocking glass knickknacks off and hit the cat's head and the floor.

Zuma goes to assault his attacker, but another dives across the counter and tackles the lab to the ground. Zuma struggles to knock the cat off, but the original attacker punts Zuma right in the nose, joshing Zuma's head enough to knock him out cold. One of the two then grabs the now dazed Zuma and pulls him up, restraining him and facing him towards Tabby, who was holding a sharp harpoon.

Zuma comes to and tries to break free of the cat's grasp, but to no avail as Tabby was now just across the counter.

Zuma starts to shake a little as Tabby raises the harpoon. "W-Wait, wait, I-I can be reasonable."

"That time has passed, dog." Tabby hisses as he points the harpoon straight at Zuma's heart.

Zuma starts to whimper and shake furiously, attempting one more time to break the grasp but had no luck. "You-you don't need that! I'll-I'll tell you everything!"

Tabby grows a wide evil smile and slithers out. "Yes, I know you will." Sticking the harpoon into Zuma's chest.

POW!

Tabby hisses in pain as the harpoon was suddenly shot out of his paw. Everyone shifts their eyes to the lone figure who fired the shot.

None other than Rocky who had somehow raced in unnoticed.

"Let him go!" He barks out, his mechanical hands aiming a gun right at Tabby.

Tabby hisses at him as the cats aim their guns, however Zuma acts on the distraction and bucks the cat behind him again and elbows the other in the face. Another cat aims his gun to shoot, but Rocky fires first, hitting its target as the cat ends up shooting the circuit breaker at the far wall. The breaker pops and explodes, prompting the lights to go back out and the breaker to suddenly catch fire.

Everyone delves into cover as the shootout begins. Rocky gets behind a pylon while Zuma ducks behind the counter, fighting off his attacker by breaking his empty whiskey bottle on him. The other goes to help, but Zuma sees him and stabs the shattered bottle right in the cat's chest as it yelps in pain before falling to its side.

Meanwhile, Rocky moved over to the end of an aisle, close to the front door as the cats were covering behind other aisles, firing bullets at him. Rocky then spots a collection of lighter fluid on one of the aisles a cat was hiding behind. Mouthing a quick sorry to Zuma, Rocky waited until the cat got ready to fire before shooting the lighter fluid, engulfing the shelf in flames and igniting the cat as his face and coat on fire.

The cat screams as he flails around completely engulfed in flames before Rocky ends his life mercilessly with two bullets.

Zuma gets up and is immediately attacked by the cat behind him. Slamming his snout down on the counter, pinning it down and restraining him. Rocky sees this and quickly shoots the cat in the face, freeing Zuma up. However, the mixed breed didn't see another cat come up beside him and slash him with his claws.

Rocky yelps and drops his gun before being grappled and thrown into a shelf, knocking it over and tumbling with it to the floor with its contents.

The cat picks up the mixed breed who was dazed and wrestles him over to the counter, pushing him into it and stunning him even more. The cat then slams him on top of the counter, knocking everything off, including the mini mannequin with the medallion that skids close to the fiery shelf.

Upon seeing this, Zuma grabs the last whiskey bottle he had under the counter and breaks it on the back of the cat's head, forcing him to let go of Rocky.

The cat grabs his gun to shoot, but Rocky tackles him first, as the two now fight over it. The cat rakes his claws down Rocky's neck and rolls him over, pointing the gun right at his head.

Tabby who was watching on, then instructs another cat armed with a machine gun. "Shoot them."

Both Rocky and the cat look towards Tabby and the machine gun cat.

"Shoot them both." Tabby orders further. Prompting the cat beside him to cock his gun and aim at the two.

Both Rocky and the cat had the same idea, as they both aim the gun together at the machine gunner and fire several shots at him, killing him efficiently before going back to their own fight.

Tabby runs over to cover but eyes the bronze medallion laying out in the open. He reaches over and grabs it, but the medallion was extremely hot to the touch thanks to it being so close to the now giant fire next to it.

His paw sears as he suddenly lets out a horrid scream, dropping the headpiece and running out of the store.

Zuma looked around in shock. The store was now beyond saving at this point, as it was completely up in flames. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a cat approaching the two fighting amidst the flame, gun in its paw. He then notices the harpoon from earlier next to him.

Eventually, Rocky finally got the upper paw thanks to a nearby surfboard to break across the cat's back. Knocking him down for the count. He then turns to see a gun pointed straight at him square at him. He freezes in place as he has no gun to challenge the cat, making this too easy for the cat.

However, just before he pulls the trigger, a harpoon suddenly bursts out of his chest like an alien, making the cat look down to see while gasping for air. He then slumps down on his side revealing it to be Zuma who threw the harpoon and saved Rocky in the nick of time.

Rocky smiles in relief before Zuma gets up and runs over to the medallion. He tries to pick it up but yelps and retracts his paw.

"Hold on! Don't burn you paw off, I got it!" Rocky says, as he then grabs the medallion with one of his mechanical hands before howling to Zuma. "Got it, now come on! Let's go! Go!"

Rocky and Zuma then ran out of the burning store quickly as the store begins to collapse into a burnt ash pile.

Only just then does the fire department show up and start to immediately put out the fire. However, Zuma knew just by looking that there was nothing that could be done for what was left of his life. Nearly casing him to collapse into the sand.

"Well…..there goes the rest of my life….." Zuma mellows.

Rocky goes up next to him and paws his shoulder. "Hey…I'm….I'm sorry pal."

Zuma snaps his head over to Rocky, his sadness replaced with pure anger. "Oh I know you are! But hey! At least you got that damn medallion now or whatever the hell it is!"

Rocky looks at the medallion and sees that it indeed was the headpiece to the Staff of RA

"Look Zuma I…"

"No! You listen to me now you home wreaker! You owe me a new store! And no You're going to get more than you bargained for!" Zuma yells out. "Because I coming with you!"

Wow! What bad luck. Sure Rocky got the headpiece before the bad guys could, but in doing so, has burnt the one thing left in his life, the Get-Wet Surf Shop!

Now Zuma is along for the ride and is defiantly not happy about it!

The real adventure starts next week with Chapter 5: City of the Living!

Please review and let me know what your favorite parts are and if you have any questions about the story or anything else, leave 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.