Chapter fifty-three: Christmas Craze!
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas jammed out as the pups danced.. even some of the ones that weren't on the dance pad. The pair of pups stuck with one another, following the moves that were required of them to stay in the game. Ned, Brian and Melody watched their sister dance, silently mirroring the dance moves.
Chase's paws padded through the patterns, tracking the lights and colors more than the music, but fortunately for him the beat flowed through every movement and didn't feel at all difficult at any point. He knew that wouldn't last long, but he decided he'd enjoy it for as long as he could before that internal clock struck him out.. if the game didn't do it first. He took a quick look over at Snowflake, who was rather focused on keeping up, which she was doing quite well now. It sure did surprise him, even though there really wasn't much reason to be. But even so watching her almost made him miss a step so he returned his full attention back to the screen.
Snowflake focused on the game with intention. True, she and her siblings didn't play Pup Pup Boogie often, but they weren't new to it either. Though given her competition, Chase was clearly more skilled at the game compared to her. The husky moved her paws as she tried to match the colors and patterns of the game, and even had to be careful she didn't trip herself.
The two pups kept their wits about them as they battled on for the lead spot.
Just gotta stick it out to the end! Chase thought, beginning to pant. Now he was starting to get to his limit, but considering they'd been fighting this dance for some time. He figured his stamina had measured up close enough to where he'd been scoring himself as of recently so it came as no surprise. Still, considering where he knew he'd been previously it was a bit disappointing, however he could hazard a rather educated guess that he was finally getting closer to that previous limit which was encouraging all the same.
I'm almost there!
Then a move was requested on the screen that made him nervous all over again. However when it came time to execute it, he just went for it and even closed his eyes like it'd improve his chances of success, until he heard Snowflake's voice and just had to look.
The husky lay sprawled on her chest with her tail dangling over her head and her back legs sticking up into the air trying to keep herself from flipping over completely.
And then he realized that he was still standing even though the game was continuing without them.
"I.. I won?" He said, questioning the site before his eyes even though he took another look to confirm it.
"Yes, Chase.. You won. Surprised you could do a backflip. I thought Skye was the only one with that skill. My backflip was more of an awkward landing," Snowflake confessed.
"And after coming off an injury no less," Chester commented, genuinely impressed. "It's really kind of embarrassing actually."
"Why, cause you flopped during your turn?" Rayla hinted, and she knew she struck dead on a nerve by the tree-lighting of his face.
"Shhhhh.." the older shepherd hushed, making Chase smirk.
"Well you won. Who's turn is it now?" Snowflake asked, as she carefully laid down before getting back up on all four paws.
"Actually, you guys were playing for the top spot," Rubble admittedly informed them.
"We were?" Chase queried, turning his gaze to meet Snowflake's. "I guess I lost track of who was doing what.."
"Probably because you were a little busy beating the fur off of us," Rayla supposed, giving him a knowing smirk.
"Yeah! You dusted us with your skills," Skyler bubbled, crouching down next to him, then popping back up again as she spoke. "Nobody could keep up with you today!"
"You guys better not have taken it easy on me," Chase hinted, giving some among the group some rather focused attention.
"And what if we did?" Chester implied forwardly, leaning in to him smugly. However Chase's judgy look made him shape up.
"Ok, scouts honor that we didn't," Chester backtracked, "..but still what would you have done if we did?"
"Forced you into a complete rematch bracket," his little brother replied. "But good thing you didn't go easy on me cause I don't think you would've made it through the second time around."
"Yeah, good thing." Chester deadpanned indignantly.
The tiny shepherd pup eagerly headbutted a ball toward Kylie, who giggled watching its excitement for having succeeded after she caught it.
"Ya know? This babysitting thing ain't that bad," Tiny commented observing the little game continuing before him.
"'You offering to go wrangle the rest of 'em?" Chase mused, initially hinting at something only Chester could identify with.
"Save yourself and don't, and don't tell the Prescotts that.. they'd gladly put you to work." Chester's remaining deadpanned tone turned into him sitting up on his haunches to knife a paw across his neck and mouth the word 'no' while shaking his head.
Melody looked at Chester with a mix of confusion and concern.
"Are you saying they'd kill him?.." she asked apprehensively.
"Not exactly,.." Chester clarified. "But after just one day you might wish they had.. they're like fifty whirlwinds in a hailstorm."
"Wrangle as in gather the puppies or something else?" Brian asked, unsure what Chase meant.
"No.. wrangle as in keep them outta trouble.." the younger shepherd returned mildly. "Try that with ten of em jumping all over ya. See how fun it actually is."
"It actually does sound like fun! I volunteer!" Ned said, before raising a front paw up in the air.
"I second the decision!" Melody chimed in. Brian and Snowflake just deadpanned their siblings.
"Nah. No way, would you be able to watch them. I better help," Brian said to the two huskies.
"I would help, but if Ryder needed me, I would need to be available," Snowflake reasoned.
"And that's why we don't do it all the time," Chester remarked thankfully. "Good thing we have expert shepherds who keep them littles in line.. as 'in line' as little pups can be till they find a family that is."
"But all the fooling around aside, let's go make some cookies!" Maggie announced, yielding a fanfare of cheers and barks.
xxxx
"First batch is cool!" The Prescott girl called out, moving a pan down to the floor where several pups came to take a look.
The little pup came tromping up out of curiosity of their gathering, but didn't really seem to notice the reason why.
"Woah, hold up there, little guy," Chester stopped him. "Gotta watch out for the cookies. We're taking some to dinner tonight, so we gotta decorate them all nice first. You might be a little small for that job, squirt."
"Tag you're it!" Chase announced dropping in over top of the mini shepherd to tap him on the back which successfully distracted him into chasing after him.
And in fact, while everyone else decorated cookies, he mostly busied himself with entertaining their little friend, even when they started singing Christmas carols.. read Christmas stories, and shared Christmas memories. And though he didn't appear to be paying them any mind, his peripheral hearing, if that was a thing, caught every word.
xxxx
"Ok.." Maggie finally sighed, placing the final decorated cookies into the tins for transport. "That should do it for tonight's Christmas Eve banquet. Can't believe it's already the day before Christmas!"
"I know, crazy isn't it? Another year coming to a close with the best holiday ever." Billy piled on. "What a way to finish out another great year."
"Absolutely!" Snowflake agreed happily.
"Hey.. where's- wait, aww.. nevermind.." the progression of Skyler's voice was so obvious that everyone had to stop and take notice.
Marshall, Rayla and Chester ran over to her from different locations in the room, and when they got her, they looked past her to the cutest sight they'd seen yet.
Chase lay curled up on a pillow with the little pup tucked up under, and in between, his foreleg and chest; their heads laying right up against each other.
Snowflake looked at Chase and smiled.
"Awwwwwwww. That's so cute! Chase is adorable with the puppy!" Snowflake cooed sweetly.
"Oh my goodness! So sweet! Someone take a picture!" Melody commented happily.
"Aww.." other Pals swooned.
"We're not ruining their moment anytime soon," Brian agreed with a smile.
"We'll let him rest. Too cute to interrupt; even for me," Ned suggested.
Though after they said this, Chase's head moved and his eyes blinked open as he awoke in such a way as to realize he had fallen asleep too.
"Finally fell asleep?" He said, rubbing an eye.
"Didn't think I'd fall with him.." he added, slowly shifting off the pup to leave him sleeping soundly on the pillow.
"Well.. you did," Rayla shrugged.
"And I think this little guy'll sleep for a while.." Billy supposed, coming over to very gently transfer the pup into the carrier, closing the door without latching it.
"Great work, pup," he added, smiling at the PAW Patrol Shepherd.
Chase gave him a cocked smile out of pride, but lost it after noticing someone else speaking up.
"So, what's the plan?" Ned asked Maggie.
"Well, sweetie I have a couple movies in mind we could watch, since our little friend's happily napping now," Maggie replied sweetly. "How about it?"
"What movie options do we have?" Snowflake asked, curiously.
"Quite a few.." Maggie replied, gesturing to the spread she'd gotten out earlier.
"Oo! You brought my favorite one!" Chester noticed happily. "Let's do that one first."
"And why would we want that one?" Rayla asked rather pointedly, humorously hinting at something.
"Cause it's great.. you'll see," Chester decided to say, seeing the fishing expedition coming a mile and a half away.
"We should have time to watch a few before dinner tonight," Maggie assured the pups as they gathered to find a cozy spot by the tv. "And perhaps after too if time permits."
XXXX
They'd only made it part way through the second or third movie when Ryder's pup pad suddenly rang. And since he was already holding it he could answer it pretty much instantly.
"Hi Mayor Goodway," the boy greeted brightly. "Merry Christmas Eve!"
"Not so merry over her, I'm afraid.." the mayor sighed distraughtly.
"Have you seen the weather outside?" She asked, turning the snowy background into frame with her, before moving out of the way to show the full view of City Hall's front lawn well blanketed in white.
"Woah.." Ryder awed, then looked up out the window.
"Woah..guys, check it! It's snowing again!" Skyler gasped rolling off her side to stand and approach the window, putting her paws on the edge of where the glass rested into the base of the Lookout, where she could get a higher view of the winter wonderland outside.
"Wow, it's really coming down," Rocky commented, strolling closer.
"It's been snowing nearly all day and the snow is starting to pile up.." the mayor said, turning the camera back onto herself. "Pretty soon I'm afraid no one will even see the path to come in when they arrive.. if they can even see the road to drive here!"
"Don't worry!" Ryder decided. "We'll clear the roads and make sure the snow doesn't cancel the communal Christmas Eve dinner! No job is too big?.."
"No pup is too small!" Chase joined in with him.
"Hold up.. are we even allowing you to resume your post?" Rayla asked, looking to Ryder. Chase locked eyes with the boy with a hopefulness that begged the young leader to make a quick consideration, but recent events alone were enough to confirm his initial thoughts
"PAW Patrol?.." the boy winked, pressing the multicolored button. "To the Lookout!"
And Chase's nod thanked him as they got up and ran for the elevator.
xxxx
When they were finally in uniform, the line up turned out to be much more crowded than they remembered, but then they were also including three members they didn't normally have all at once.. and putting Chase back in his place just made it feel more complete. And the second row that were standing in; mainly to observe.
Never had he felt so proud to wear the shield of his specific job and of his team as a whole, then he did right now. And for the first time, he realized just how long it'd been since he'd stood here completely of sound mind and confident in himself as he should be. And it thrilled him to feel that familiarity with little to no hesitation.
"PAW Patrol ready for action, Ryder Sir!" Chase declared, taking great pride in it more than usual.
"Great! Ok pups, we know why we're here.." he pressed the button of his pup pad so the screen came down.
"It's been snowing as we just saw, and that might cause problems for people trying to get to the Christmas Eve dinner at Town Hall. So we're gonna need everyone we can to help clear the roads in time. So we're gonna all work together, Pals too.."
"Yes!" Several non-members cheered, a couple of them high fiving one another.
"What about us, Ryder? We don't have any equipment, and digging the roads by paw wouldn't clear much snow," Brian commented.
"You're right.. but don't worry I've got a plan for that too." Ryder pointed him out, raising his other hand a moment later to press a button to change the scene. "We'll use as many snow removal vehicles as we can to clear the roads and use the rest of our non-drivers to spread salt and sand to keep the snow from turning to ice and making the roads slippery."
"Ok,.. but.. none of us are winter pups?" Marshall pointed out. "But we do have one that is.."
"Two that are.." Chester recalled.
"Don't forget, Snowflake," he finished leaning his head to look at the husky he spoke of.
"Thanks Chess, but there's no way Everest and I can clear all the snow on our own. Maybe Rubble can help with his bulldozer, and Zuma with his hovercraft blowing in reverse?" Snowflake responded cautiously.
"It would help clear snow, but I doubt Zuma wants to drive backwards all night," Brian commented.
"Exactly, which is why we need.." Ryder pressed a button that brought up the snow-covered tree, which split horizontally in the middle of the screen and parted to reveal the pup who answered the call.
"Everest!" The pups gasped.
"Hi pups!" The husky greeted, "Merry Christmas Eve!"
"Merry Christmas Eve, Everest!" Ryder replied, waving. "And we need an assist in order to save the dinner festivities tonight.."
"Because of all the snow, I know.. Jake and I are headed into town to help clear it away again," Everest interjected. "We figured you'd already be gearing up too, so we headed down right away."
"Make a detour and stop by the Lookout first.." Ryder instructed.. "We have a surprise for you."
"Really? A surprise for me?" The husky queried, flattered but quite confused. "But.. what about the snow?"
"Don't worry.. I think you'll find it'll be just what we need for.."
He split the screen so her icon displayed next to her, which also became an image of a vehicle they didn't recognize.
"An ultimate winter rescue!" Ryder announced. "As I got thinking about it.. I realized this was the perfect opportunity to unveil one of my other new vehicle projects.. so pups.. return to the elevator to get your new gear."
"Yes!"
"Alright!"
"Let's do it, dude."
"Awesome!" The PAW Patrol pups clamored running excitedly back to the elevator.
Sup everybody! Ok so this may be a little out there but.. here we are. Also.. we have been TERRIBLE about writing so we have not gotten caught up with writing to stay ahead. So if a chapter is not posted next week it's cause we haven't completed the next one.. We will certainly try to finish it, but as we've said before there's no guarantees so we will try the two week break once again to try and give ourselves some more time.
Sorry for any inconvenience, but we're doing our best to get going on it. We've been getting distracted with different things happening and other writing projects going forward as well, so there's that also. Not trying to make excuses, just letting y'all know what's happening.
So, all things considered.. The end is drawing near.. So stay tuned.. And we'll hopefully see you in a couple of weeks. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thx!