Warning: This story will contain mature themes such as some possible light depression, some possible gore, mature language, and more. Read at your own risk.

"Paw Patrol, to the Lookout!" A voice exclaimed through Zuma's puptag. Ryder needed them again.

Zuma got excited. Maybe they'll need me today! He thought as he climbed over his orange beanbag and onto the ground. He then padded to the elevator where everyone else was; Marshall, however, was missing.

He joined them with a smile on his face. Many years have past since they have been puppies. Each a full fledged adult dog—they, however, were still called pups by Ryder; it was out of affection for his beloved dogs.

Zuma and Rubble themselves were both twenty eight years of age. While the others were older than them. Of course, Zuma and his brother-like-friend Rubble were both still one year older than the twenty seven year old Tracker, who hadn't been going on as many missions as he had in the past.

Zuma stood there waiting for Marshall.

Where is he? He's usually barreling into us with his scrawny spotted body by now, but he's not here. Is he okay? Zuma wondered with worry.

Zuma's worry was for not as Marshall came moonwalking into the Lookout with a braggart look about him. He seemed awfully proud of himself this morning.

Like clockwork, Zuma felt Marshall's body collide with Rocky and from there the pups landed in a pup pile. Then Marshall made an unfunny joke Zuma forced himself to laugh at out of fear of being not included.

The pups then stood strong and tall as they were being taken up in the elevator. Their gear began to be mechanically added to their bodies as they rose to the top.

The machine was done and the elevator stopped. Zuma followed his friend's actions and jumped into his spot near Marshall.

Maybe I'll get chosen this time. Zuma prayed with calm golden eyes. He was relaxed. Ryder knew what he was doing. At least that's what Zuma believed. He had high hopes in his—one of many—best friend.

Chase slammed his paw down on the ground in authority when everyone was gathered. "Paw Patrol ready for action, Ryder, sir!" Chase addressed.

Ryder was facing away from them when they arrived. He turned around and greeted them with a smile of someone who could only love.

"Thanks for coming, pups." He began as he tapped away on his Pup-Pad. "I'm sorry for interrupting your spring cleanup, but there's an emergency." Ryder informed.

Zuma's eyes widened. An emergency? What kind? He could almost feel himself swimming in that bay now doing his job. He'd rather be doing his job than lazing about; he enjoyed getting up and doing something more than what he appeared.

"What is the emergency, Ryder?" Rocky wonders as Rubble whimpers in a worried state. "I hope no one is hurt." The bulldog whines.

Ryder gives them a sad look. "I hope not as well. Anyways, Mayor Goodway called and told me the situation. Her, Chickaletta, and Mayor Humdinger are all trapped in Foggy Bottom with no way out." Ryder informed them.

"What? How did Humdinger get trapped in his own territory?" Rubble asked in confusion while both Marshall and Skye chortled with laughter at the predicament Humdinger got himself in. "Yeah, how? Was it too foggy?" Marshall joked as he bit his lip.

Zuma joined in the chorus of laughter. It wasn't really funny. Humdinger could be hurt even if he knew where he was. Zuma knew Marshall meant well: putting a pretty dark situation into light—however, Zuma thought he wasn't serious enough to handle the situation.

Sure Zuma himself wasn't all that serious. But that was out of the missions field. He enjoyed the missions and rescuing really pretty merpups from the dangers that could lurk in the depths of adventure bay.

Ryder laughed along innocently. "Well, it is a pretty gloomy and foggy place. It's very easy to get lost there. From what I know he was attempting to trap Goodway there, but ended up in his own trap."

Mayor Humdinger is such an unlucky person. When we get there to help him, he will be so thankful! Zuma thought as his tail wagged. It seemed like a water mission to him.

"So, how come they can't get out of Foggy Bottom?" Marshall inquired. "I don't understand it. This is so confusing."

Ryder sighed. "I know it is. Mayor Goodway mentioned a key and mentioned how the bridge to Foggy Bottom got destroyed in the process of her attempted capture." Ryder tried to explain.

"So, the bridge needs fixing?" Rubble asked in excitement. It seems Zuma wasn't the only one itching to get their paws out there in Foggy Botton. Ryder laughed. "Yep. So, obviously for this mission I'll need..."

Zuma leaned forward with wide eyes. Please pick me! He begged Ryder silently in his head.

If this wasn't a mission for a cool calm pup like himself he didn't know what was...perhaps an island full of exploding sharks. Who knows.

"Rubble!" Rubble straightened up, his ears lifted up in alertness. "I will need you and your rig to help us fix the bridge." Ryder ordered.

Rubble barked with excitement. "Let's dig it!" He exclaimed with his eyes closed and his tongue sticking out. He then ran towards the slide and slid down it how he usually did.

Zuma chuckled. Out of all the pups, Zuma would have to say that Rubble was the nicest and most deserving of: well everything. Rubble was just that nice. It was good to see him going on this mission.

"Skye! I will need you and your 'copter to help in the aid of the rescue of Mayor Goodway. She's stuck in some sinking sand and could really use a lift. Also, since they're in Foggy Bottom, it'll be a good idea to go above in the air rather than on land." Ryder called informatively.

Skye straightened up with a glow in her eyes. "Roger, Ryder! This puppy's gotta fly!" She barked in a high pitched voice. The calling continued as Skye giggled and leapt onto the slide, dittoing Rubble's actions of sliding down it to reach her helicopter.

Zuma prayed Ryder needed him for this mission. It had water and it had opportunity to be on that water. It was everything Zuma had trained for. Zuma's gaze hardened as he put out a wave of confidence, praying he would be at least chosen for this mission.

"Chase!" Ryder continued after another pause. Chase puffed out his chest in pride and lifted his eyebrows like he was some big deal. Perhaps he was just happy to be chosen on this mission, but Zuma felt like Chase could sometimes be a braggart or an egotist sometimes. Not that it was bad, Zuma just didn't like how often Chase was picked in front of him.

Not this time, though. Chase and Zuma would both be picked. This was certainly worthy enough for a water pup to be chosen, right?

"I will need you to control traffic there in the meantime. A lot of chaos is happening there because of not only how uncoordinated the attack is, but Chikeletta is running around. Make sure no harm comes to her." Ryder ordered.

"These paws uphold the law!" Chase slid down into his pup vehicle.

"And..." Zuma leaned forward as unsuspiciously as he could. "Rocky! I need you to help Rubble put back that bridge so Foggy Bottom can get the materials and supplies they need in order to continue living." Ryder informed.

Rocky gazed over at Zuma nervously as if he knew Zuma should have been picked. Rocky's head immediately faced his boss as Ryder gave the orders. Well, Ryder was the boss.

Perhaps he knows a strategy to helping that doesn't involve water? Still I would have rather gone over there. Just in the off case someone drives off the road or bridge and ends up in the water.

"Why trash it, when you can stash it?" He remarked as he puffed out his chest, giving small looks at Zuma before he bounded for the slide as well.

"Alright, Paw Patrol is on a roll!" Ryder followed and now it was only Zuma and Marshall left. As usual.

Zuma sighed as a slight depression wave overcame him briefly. What was the point of being in the Paw Patrol if you couldn't even do your job and some random police pup was sent out to do the very same job you had? He didn't know.

He wanted to curl up and die. He truly thought he could have been useful. His calm stature had faded now that he and Marshall were left alone.

"H-Hey! Are you okay?" Marshall asked him after a few silently moments were spared.

Zuma wasn't completely sure. He shrugged. "I dunno, dude. I just really wanted to be a part of that mission. It just felt like this mission was for me." Zuma sighed.

Marshall approached him and put a paw on his shoulder. "Don't feel so down. There have been plenty of times I felt like my expertise would have been useful myself. Maybe...maybe Ryder is just making sure we're both healthy."

Marshall didn't seem convincing enough. Zuma was sure he was just trying to make him feel better, but Zuma knew that Ryder wasn't just doing this for their health.

Does Ryder think I'm that lazy? I'm relaxed sure, but that doesn't mean I don't want to do a good job.

"Perhaps. I just...want to feel like Ryder needs me is all. It feels like he needs everyone else way more than me. It's not fair."

Zuma could see the pitying glance the spotted dally was giving him. He hated it. He didn't want the pity his patchy friend was serving up. He knew how unfair it was. He didn't need those kinds of uncool emotions that followed it.

Still, Zuma appreciated Marshall's concerns.

It was unfair for the both of them. Marshall should also be complaining alongside him, yet he's showing he cares more about Zuma's feelings than his own.

"So, how about you? You've been going on less and less missions. You sort of know how I feel, right?" Zuma wonders.

Marshall shrugged. "I don't really know how to feel. I want to trust Ryder's instincts and his decision making skills—after all, it is his team we are serving under; but on the other paw I feel like sometimes Ryder doesn't pick the best suitable pup. I feel like he can sometimes get away with picking pups like Chase and Skye because he's the boss." The spotted dally began.

"But I'm not sure. He might just feel like this mission was better suited for someone like Skye who can lift from above. Plus, Ryder was being a little vague in his explanation. Who know."

Zuma couldn't help but feel like he was missing something. They lived in a Bay Area. Sure he understood that rescuing people in water wasn't something to be needed often, however, Zuma knew that rescuing people from the water wasn't his only skill.

Besides being able to save people in water he was just one of the faster pups in the water in general. He was such a good swimmer that even Rocky couldn't drown with him around.

So why did it feel like Ryder didn't need him anymore? It wouldn't be enough to just let this slide, however, Zuma wasn't sure how much longer he wanted to be their water rescue pup if they weren't going to at least let him see if there was something he could do from within the treacherous waters.

Zuma left without answering Marshall. He decided that going outside in the springtime breeze and feeling it in his fur was better than staying inside. He needed some fresh air.

However, once he got outside the fresh air didn't feel as refreshing as he wanted it to. It just felt cold and dead like how he felt.

He padded back inside. Maybe he should continuing playing pup pup boogie. It's no fun without the others. And Marshall will Cush me with his body if I ask him. I'd rather not hurt the poor dally. He's pretty sensitive.

Zuma turned on the TV and began to play the game. All was going well for him until a blackout occurred across Adventure Bay.

Zuma groaned. Great. Now he was sad and there was nothing he wanted to play either. Thankfully his friends got inside just as the power went out. Zuma could hear his friends groan as they got inside.

"Well, guess we better fix the power? Rocky?" Ryder asked.

Rocky nodded his head. "Green means go!" He exclaimed as the two went back outside.

"Well, guess that's lights out guys." Marshall joked as he fell down the pole Ryder slides down. Since the lights were out, this was the only way downstairs.

All the pups expect Zuma laughed. But will the next time it seems like I'm needed truly be the time I'm actually needed? Will this madness of feeling unneeded ever leave?

"Hey, Zuma. We're going to play hide and seek in the dark—it will be so much fun. Will you play with us?" Skye asked, jumping onto Zuma's shoulders playfully. She strut around on his back a bit.

Zuma nodded.

Well, I guess one last chance wouldn't hurt. I just wish I could have the guts to tell them how I truly feel.

Zuma barked loudly in excitement. "Of course I will, Skye! This sounds so much better than regular hide and seek!"

"I know right?" Skye asked with a playful lowering of her front legs.

And with that, Zuma bounded with Skye back on the ground to his friends. They played hide and seek for the rest of the night.