Chapter 17: Perfect Plan for Both pt.3

The next morning

"Wake up, buddy!" Ryder slowly nudge Chase's body to call the pup from his dream. "What is it, Ryder?" Chase muttered as he yawned and then rubbed his eyes with his paw.

"Are'nt you excited? It's Christmas morning!" Ryder happily reminded him about today's enjoyable event.

"It is..?" he said in between sleep and awake. It took a few second before he realized. "It is!" Chase's face emmited to become much better than before. He was very excited the moment he remembered today was Christmas.

He stood up and exited his pup house as he began to run excitedly around the Lookout, didn't seems to care about the cold winter. "Wake up, pups! Its Christmas!" Chase yelled with an excited loud bark and howl, so he could wake up the other pups who still sleeping to them ready the blessed day. Ryder only giggled, watching the happy pup annoyingly woke everybody up.

The Lookout

"Hmm.. Yum, this treats is delicious!" Rubble said while digging into his bowl of treats. The other pups had to agreed with Rubble because it was really good.

"Yeah! It's better than before!" Said Rocky who actually eat gently, doesn't want to be like Rubble.

"Good to hear." Ryder said to all of them. "Well It's christmas, everything need to be special, right?" He continued as he pet his pups one by one.

"Hmm.. the lookout still seems to be normal." Ryder said while he putted his finger on his chin, thought that something might be missing.

"What's wrong with normal?" Marshall asked then he continued eating his treats. "We need something related to Christmas." Ryder replied like he was forgetting the very important thing of Christmas.

All the pups gasped, "The christmas tree!" And they were worried when they said it all together. How could they forget about the tree, which is a must for decorating Christmas theme.

"Don't worry, I'll told Jake about this." Ryder said to make the pups calm, which was a good thing to know as they gave a sigh of relief. "But I still need all of you to decorate the rest of the lookout." Ryder glanced at the pups.

"I'm in!" Said Marshall first, who seems to had finish with his treats.

"Me too!" Chase and Skye spoke in unison. This made Chase to blush while trying his best not to look at Skye. Luckily, nobody in the room notice him acting awkwardly, except for Marshall who was looking at him with a grinny face.

"Me three!" Rocky yelled who had just finish from his last bite.

"Me fouw!" Zuma also joined in, eating the remaining treats from his bowl.

They still waiting for one more pups. All of them looking at Rubble who still have'nt finish his second bowl. He was really digging into his breakfast, seems like he doesn't care what all of them had talk about. In mind, he was just thinking by how delicious the treats are.

When he swallow his last bite, he look at them who were also looking back at him. "Uhh.. Me five?" He giggled. Then all of the pups and Ryder bursted in laugh.

The Lookout

"This is the last part of the Christmas tree, Ryder!" Skye flew up and attached a big star on top of the christmas tree that was placed on a corner near the big screen inside the lookout. "That's great, Skye!" Ryder congratulated Skye.

"How about the lights Marshall?" Ryder then asked at Marshall. "hold on... got it!" Marshall said on top of a ladder as he carefully attached the end of the diodes line on a wall. "We are done too." Chase was helping him by placing the other end of the line on the wall too. "Rocky, Hit it!" Ryder said to Rocky. Rocky nodded as he glanced on a button right in front of him. As soon as he pushed the button, the diodes turn on and it beautifully changed its colour. The light gracefully dance around the lookout. "Awesome, dude!" Zuma came from behind them.

"How about you and Rubble, Zuma?" Ryder asked the labrador who was casually walked into the group, seems like he forgot something to tell. "Oh yeah, I forgot!" said Zuma, rubbing his head with his paw. "The lunch is ready, pups!" Zuma continued with a playful tone in his shout.

"You all have been such a good pups today!" Ryder said to all of his pups. "After lunch, you all can go anywhere you want. Just be sure to gather here before its dark, okay." The pups nodded.

It felt great to see everypup happily went to their vehicle, wished to go somewhere they wanted to, so they could prepare for tonight's event.

Skye as usual, she always goes to Katie's whenever she got an event to attend to. As a pretty female pup, she would like to get herself clean and ready because she wanted to look beautiful in front of everybody. But today she felt different, she was most likely doing it for a pup she was concern about yesterday. Who would happen to be the german shepherd. She doesn't know the actual purpose of that, why she wanted to get his attention. She might thought, it could help Chase to be happy again, or maybe it was for something else.

While Skye goes to Katie's, Chase however, went to a place where he used to stay for a month. Yes, it was Marshall's home. During that time, he wasn't like a very brave pup like he was right now. Before Marshall tought him how to build his courage, he was just a shy shepherd who wanted to be a police pup. Marshall's parent also supported him as well because they somehow sees him like their own son. Because of the particular reason, he wanted to give Marshall a special surprise as a Christmas present as a token of appreciation for his best friend.

As for Rubble, Zuma and Rocky. They went separate way to go to a place where they can have they present for a pup they wanted to give to.

Except for Marshall, who was still sitting inside the Lookout, watching the pups took off to their designated stop.

MARSHALL POV

"Marshall, are'nt you coming with them? Or is it about the back flip again..?" Ryder smiled at him. He saw the pup just sitting on a beanbag wondering something in his mind.

"No." Marshall replied, answering both question with a single word. Marshall currently was thinking deep about his plan just for Chase and Skye. Even though he had a plan for them. But he thought, "Is it still enough?" He had a feeling about the plan for the event would not work. Chase might not tell Skye about it again, maybe because it was crowded with the pups. So he needed to think of another plan.

Then he saw Ryder went out the Lookout through the entrance. "Wait! Ryder, where are you going?" Marshall caught up to him and immediately asked. "The mall. Wanna come with me?"

That's when he remembered something, he doesn't have a present yet to give to somebody. He got hook up with his idea to get Chase and Skye getting along, which made him forgot that he had other friends with him. He replied Ryder's invitation with a single nod meaning that he agreed to join with him. "Lets go!" said Ryder.

The Mall Point

"Marshall, check this out!" Ryder called Marshall from an aisle next to him. As he came near Ryder, he immediately asked him. "Do you think Skye will like it?" Ryder said while holding a pink scarf with a flower pattern right on the center of it.

"Wow, good choice Ryder. She'll definitely gonna like it." said Marshall as he glance happily at Ryder. "So, you've been planning to give Skye a gift" He guessed for the obvious answer.

"Exactly! What about you, Marshall?" Ryder then asked Marshall. Well, its going to be a spoiler for Ryder tonight, but he wouldn't mind if he knows anyway. "I've been planning to give a present to Rocky." He generously said.

"So, what present do you think the best for him?" Ryder gave him a challenging smile to him. Marshall felt taunted, as if Ryder didn't believe him. "You'll see." The pup responded with smirk. "Come on, its in the other side!" He led Ryder across the aisles into a section where toys were sold.

"Behold, the greatest toy of the primal ages. The Velociraptor!" Marshall said in a majestic voices as he point his both paw to a medium box of a dinosaur toy. "And it's green too!" Marshall continued as he proved that he actually have the best gift for Rocky.

"That's cool. So, what does it do?" Ryder asked, doesn't seems convince yet if it was a great toy for Rocky. He mean it was just a robot toy. "Keep it until tonight." The section seems to have a lot of it. But one box that attracted him, it was bigger than the rest. So without any doubts, Marshall grabbed that toy with his mouth and then gave it to Ryder.

As they walk their way to the counter, Marshall yet again seems to be thinking about a plan again. "Marshall, you're being so quite today. Anything wrong?" Ryder snapped him out of his thought. Marshall realized what Ryder had said was true. Since lunch, he haven't talk to anyone yet, except for Ryder.

Marshall wasn't very sure why he wanted to help Chase so badly. But he got the feeling that this is the best for him. To him Chase wasn't just his best friend, he was also a brother to him. So he would do it for just for him. If he wanted to help him then he need to think a way to build his courage again. But he haven't found a any yet. Although, what if he ask Ryder for help? "Maybe he can help!" He yelled in his mind.

"Ryder, I.. also want to give Chase a present too." Marshall started the conversation.

"What do you wanna give him?"

"Uhh.. Courage." He replied. "Courage? Didn't Chase had all the courage he need to become a police pup?" Ryder was unsure of what was Marshall really talking about. When he shook his head, Ryder become curious to know. So Marshall pointed him to kneeled down and Ryder just listened to him. When he did, Marshall started whispering through his ear.

Ryder gasped. "I didn't know Chas-" Just a split second after Marshall told that Chase had a crush on Skye, Ryder were very surprise that he almost spit it out. Luckily, Marshall was there to shut his mouth with his paw before anyone else heard it. "Its a secret, keep it down." He whispered again.

Ryder got up again and continued their way to the counter. "So.. how do you give this uhh.. 'courage' present to him?" Ryder wasn't so sure how Marshall could help Chase to tell the truth to Skye. He didn't remember Marshall tought him about love to Chase back when he stayed with Marshall.

"Well, that's just it. I don't know any." Marshall shook his head again. Ryder were hoping a perfect answer for his question. "Sorry Marshall, I wanna help. But.. Is it even necessary. I mean, can we just wait until Chase tell her by himself, even if it takes time." Ryder explained and yes, he got a point there. But Marshall couldn't stop thinking that Chase would do it by himself.

"I don't think he would tell her sooner or later. Plus, I wanted this as my present to him for today, Christmas eve." Marshall was all pumped up and began to think even harder.

"You know... you don't have to think that much. Maybe you got the idea later and not now. You kinda look.. stressful for the moment." Ryder as a kind owner, he was very concern about his pup, he could tell that Marshall was taking this into his pressure. Thankfully, Marshall realized it and began to understands that Ryder was right, he needs to calm down for now.

"Oh, its the Paw Patrol. Ryder and Marshall, how are you?" Greeted a women cashier as they arrived at the counter. She seems to be a twenty year old woman with black long hair. "We are fine, thanks. How about you, uhh..?" Ryder said, wondering about her name. "Ohh, my name is Linda. I'm fine by the way." She replied as she showed the name tag on her T-shirt.

"Can you get this into a present box?" Ryder asked for her service. "Sure, why not?" Said Linda as she folded the pink scarf into a box just of its size. "I believe this is for Skye, right?" She guessed, judged by its colour. Ryder nodded with a smile.

"How about this dinosaur one, I think its for Rocky, right?" She guessed right again as Marshall nodded with a smile. "Great choice, Marshall." She cheered while giving him a wink on her left eye. Yet Ryder was still wandering what so special about this raptor anyway.

"You know what, my favourite pup of paw patrol is the fire pup." Said the cashier while she looked at the pup in front of her. She seems to be very social and casual women. "Why?" Asked Marshall. "Because.. you are very kind to your friends, loyal to them, and you're kinda funny." She smiled at him. "Thanks." Marshall blushed by the compliment he just got. "..but I'm not really good as the other pups. I mean, I'm quite clumsy all the time and always fall off my own ladder."

"Oh, don't be such a modest, Marshall. You helped people so many times. Besides, it will be no fun if you are not around." Ryder explained how important he is to the team. Linda agreed with Ryder.

Just as she finished wrapping Skye's present, she moved to Rocky's one. "Oh.. made that in green one." Marshall quickly responded so Linda wont make any mistake, even if she knew about Rocky too.

"Wants to know my second favourite pup too?" Linda asked again, because she rarely would get the chance to talk casually with the paw patrol, so she doesn't want to waste it. To be honest, wrapping a present box was quite boring without anyone to talk too.

"It's the snow pup, uhh.. what's her name again.."

"Everest!" Both Marshall and Ryder replied. "Well, she was cute and very active pup. Also she had blue eyes just like yours." Linda pointed at Marshall like there was something she was trying to tell. Marshall knew where is this going. "Its not what you are thinking.. We are just friends." Marshall felt uncomfortable when talking about him and Everest were in a relationship.

"Awwhh.. come on, wished you two were a couple. You two will be so cute together. But, Maybe one day." Wished Linda, merely got distracted from wrapping the box with the wrong wrapping paper. "Now there are two person who think like that. You and Chase." Marshall said giving her the long face. "Make that three." Ryder interrupted them as he agreed with the pairing. "Really!? Not you too!" Marshall snorted as he looks away from both Ryder and Linda, being a sulking pup all of the sudden. "I'm just kidding." Ryder giggled by Marshall's funny behaviour.

Linda continued to wrap the box. "Nice flower, where did you get it?" Ryder asked, pointing his finger to a transparent glass with a bunch of beautiful bright blue coloured flower in it. "I know, right. I get it from my boyfriend. He said it was pretty rare and the only place it grow was at the lake near the hill." Explained Linda as she put a red ribbon on top of the green present box.

Marshall got snapped from his sulk, when he heard something very interesting she had just said. Curious to know what, he asked the woman. "Where did you say again?" He got excited as he raised his body and his front paws grabbing the edge of the counter. "Uhh.. The lake? Near the hill." replied Linda wandering why he wanted to know that.

Marshall took a few second before he gets something in his mind, something related to make his next move. "Of course!" He said to himself. He finally got it, the perfect plan for both of them.

He ran outside excitedly. Totally, forgot about his present for Rocky. "Well, somebody wanted a flower for her girlfriend." Both Linda and Ryder giggled. "Ryder, come on!" yelled Marshall who had exited the mall. "Nice meeting you Linda." said Ryder in a hurry too. "Wait! How about your present!" Asked Linda while showing both present on the counter. "Can you save it for a while, we'll be back!" Replied Ryder as he ran outside where Marshall was waiting. "See you both again!" Linda yelled as she waved her hands towards them.

"Marshall! What's wrong?" Ryder saw the dalmatian was already waiting for him at where his ATV were parked. "I finally got it!" Said Marshall excitedly. "I know how to set up the plan for Chase!" he continued.

"How?" Ryder asked again as he hop on to his ATV and then wore his helmet. "I'm gonna give them a little bit of adventure." Said Marshall, slowly waving his paw one time.

"Well, what are you waiting for. Hop on!" Ryder started his ATV's engine. It emitted a smile on Marshall's face because he felt glad that Ryder had his back to help Chase with him. Without further adieu, he hopped on to the back of the ATV and hugged Ryder front behind.

"So, where are we heading?" Ryder raced the engine as it begins to roar. "Remember when me and Rocky dived into the lake, hiding from those bee swarms?" Marshall reminded Ryder the day when Marshall and Rocky manage to get away from the swarm by hiding inside the lake. That was also when Rocky accepted Marshall as his friends again, and he really appreciate that. But that was not the case anymore.

"Oh, I see.." Said Ryder as he figured out what exactly had in Marshall's mind. Because that was where they are heading next. Ryder nodded as he accelerated his vehicle. "Lets roll!"

end of chapter