March 26, 2015: Adventure Bay, California.
I don't deserve to be here.
It was the only thing that Chase could think as he looked around at all the people that had come to the ceremony. It seemed like the whole town was attending, from the Turbot brothers and Mr. Porter to Ed Hawley the frickin' train engineer. Even the cats and birds seemed to be here to celebrate; he was pretty sure he'd seen Hooty in a nearby tree. All of these people were smiling and laughing like the chaos of the last month hadn't happened, like everything had gone right for them.
Like the Paw Patrol hadn't failed them. Like
he hadn't failed them.
Why? Why, after everything that had happened, would Adventure Bay not only forgive their failures but also throw them a ceremony to honor them?
The others deserved it, but Chase? Chase, who'd failed to find one lone burglar back in January? Chase, who'd gotten himself and Rocky injured because he couldn't swallow his damn pride and admit he was wrong? He couldn't understand it. He didn't want to.
"You okay, Chase?" Skye's concerned voice snapped Chase to attention as he turned to face the cocker spaniel.
"I-i'm fine, Skye, nothing's wrong." He stuttered out, trying his best to project his voice in a steady, calm manner. From the unimpressed look on her face, though, he could tell she didn't buy it.
"Look, Mister," she began sternly, "You know that lying won't get you away from this conversation, so stop trying to and just tell the truth."
Her serious face then gave way to one more worried and empathetic. "We've all been worried for you, Chase, especially after you and Rocky got hurt. You seem so much more distant and irritable now. That's not like you, Chase."
Chase sighed. He couldn't be annoyed with her for prying, not when she was just being concerned for him. "You're right," he began, slowly dragging his paw back and forth across the pavement. "It's just... I'm the second-in-command, the one who leads you guys whenever Ryder can't. I'm not supposed to fail, yet that's all I've been doing these past few months.
"I couldn't catch that burglar back in January, I got myself and Rocky hurt last month, yet here I am being honored along with the rest of you. And I just can't figure out why."
An awkward and tense silence came over the two of them as Chase turned away from Skye, thinking that she was surely ashamed of him now.
"..."
"...Marshall, water cannons." Skye suddenly deadpanned, causing Chase to turn to her in confusion.
"Huh?"
"
Arf arf!! Water cannons!" A voice yelped from across the town square.
"...
Wait-!"
But before he could stop Marshall, Chase was hit square in the face with about a liter of water.
"
Pfluhn freh flurgh!" Chase sputtered as he coughed hard, pretty sure that some of the water had gone down the wrong pipe. Shaking himself dry, he then turned to Marshall and yelled, "Marshall, what is wrong with you?!"
"You were beating yourself up over failing again despite Ryder telling you otherwise, weren't you?" An utterly unapologetic Marshall responded as he and the other pups trotted towards the Skye and Chase.
"Wh-wha-?"
"We've been best friends and partners for years now, Chase, you can't fool us." It was Rocky who deadpanned this time.
"...I was asking about how you knew Ryder had a talk with me." Chase nervously replied, trying to deflect the question only to shrink slightly upon receiving the most unimpressed looks ever.
"Dude," Zuma piped up, "It's the most Ryder thing Ryder would do, why would we not know he did it?"
"And don't try to change the subject, Mister!" Skye quickly reprimanded him.
"Yeah, Chase, you need to stop beating yourself over making mistakes." Marshall more softly admonished him, which caused the others to adopt more sympathetic looks. "We all trip and stumble at times, especially me. So just because you messed up one time, it doesn't make you a failure. It makes you normal."
"But I'm the second-in-command," Chase weakly retorted, "I can't be normal. I have to be an example to you all, and I... I-"
"Can't do that if you fail?" Rubble cut in, making Chase go silent, before sighing and slowly approaching his friend. "Chase, we already look up to you. You're super duper extra cool, buddy, and we wouldn't be the same without you."
"We don't need you to be perfect," Skye beamed at him, "We just need you to do your best.
"Yeah!" The rest of the pups excitedly piped up. Chase teared up a little, seeing the complete support that his friends had for him.
"Besides," Everest chimed in. "I haven't been part of the Paw Patrol for as long as the rest of you, yet I'm pretty sure that Ryder messes up as well. Need I remind you all about the crab incident?"
They all collectively shivered at the horrible memory. Then, Marshall started giggling, followed by Rubble, then Zuma as well. Soon, the rest of the pups were laughing along with them.
"Thanks, guys, I really needed that kick in the shin." Chase remarked as he finished giggling. He then winced as he felt his ribs ache from where he'd fallen on them. "Though, I really didn't need the one to the ribs."
"At least you're not moping anymore." Marshall chuckled.
"True." Chase agreed, before facing all of his friends and beaming at them. "And thank you all. For everything."
"Don't worry about it, best buddy," Rubble happily responded.
"You'd do the same for us if we were in your situation," Skye kindly stated, placing a paw on Chase's shoulder. "It's what makes you a good friend."
"U-um, th-thanks, Skye. Y-you too." Chase stammered out as he blushed at the physical contact. His ears perked up as he detected gigg... ling...
Shoot.
He turned to see the rest of his friends had started snickering at him, and they only doubled down once Skye had noticed and started blushing as well.
Goshdangit, they were never going to let them live this down, were they?
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(POV Shift: Johanna)
"You ready, partner?" You whispered as you slowly walked to the town hall, nervously adjusting your suit and mask here and there. Your muscles were tensed up, your palms were sweaty, and your fingers were fidgety.
"Ready as I'll ever be, Jo." Presto whispered back. His unusually soothing voice helped you calm your nerves, and you gave him a soft smile in return.
"Excellent." You respond as you look across the street and toward the town hall, which was packed with. It was 11:51 AM, almost time for the ceremony to truly begin in earnest. Clutching your "nanny bag" tightly, you take in a deep breath before plastering on the most wide and sincere smile you can. It was showtime.
Skipping quickly across the street, you walked toward the entrance of the town square and waited for the signal.
Finally, after what had seemed like a long eternity, Mayor Goodway and the Paw Patrol finally made their way up the stage. After tapping the microphone a few times, Mayor Goodway began to speak.
"Welcome, everybody, to the Paw Patrol Appreciation Festival!" She excitedly announced, which caused the crowd to respond with an equally excited cry. Say what you will about Mayor Goodway, she knew her way with words.
"As you all know, today, we are taking the time today to honor the Paw Patrol and celebrate everything they've done for our beautiful city. But, before we begin the festivities..."
There's your cue!
Presentation Roll: 1D100+10(Planning)+5(Presentation!)+5(Presto) = 55+10+5+5 = 75
"You'll be entertained by us!" Presto dramatically declaresld as you fired a Micare up into the air, making sure you did't accidentally flashbang anyone and give the game away. You then casually and confidentally sashayed your way toward the stage as the crowd parted for you, though some stared at you in surprise and with suspicion.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Mayor Goodway asked you, very confused.
In response, Presto smugly stated, "I, my good mayor, am Presto the Magnificent, and my more massive associate is The Puppeteer." After he introduced you, you quickly bowed dramatically before her.
"We wish to share our magical talents all around the world, and we wanted to start by honoring the amazing heroes of Adventure Bay." You declared, before politely tipping your hat toward the pups. "We give our most sincere regards to the Paw Patrol pups Chase and Rocky, in hopes they will have a speedy and painless recovery."
Paw Patrol Perception Roll: 1D100+10(Suspicious)-10(Causing Chaos)* = 31+10-10 = 31.
You saw Chase and Everest ever so slightly squint their eyes at you, and your hand discretely tightened around your wand in response. Just in case, of course.
"Well..." Ryder began, rubbing his chin in thought. "It would be fun to watch. What do you think, Mayor Goodway."
"Well, I had planned for some extra entertainment beforehand," Mayor Goodway hesitantly said, "but I had intended for it to be Chickaletta showing off her dance moves. Though... I suppose we can do a magic show instead."
You beamed in delight as Presto happily replied, "Thank you so very much, Mayor Goodway. I swear upon all my stitching that you will not forget this."
You took one massive hop onto the stage as Mayor Goodway and the Paw Patrol made their way off the platform to give you space to perform, though you noticed that Chase was still staring at you with suspicion.
"Thank you,
thank you," you dramatically began, lowering your voice a tad for an additional flair. "Now, to begin this show, let me ask you all something. Take anything you have, something you can hold, and raise it high in the sky for all to see."
Most eagerly did as you asked, but some of your audience was still hesitant. Seeing this, Presto coughed, which ellicited a few giggles, before reassuringly telling the crowd, "Come now, folks, don't be shy, we won't bite. At least, I don't think I'd do much if I did bite ya'."
The injection of humor seemed to have done the trick, as the rest of the now chuckling crowd finally raised their hands, in which phones, wallets, money, and other things are held.
You gave your best toothpaste ad grin as you set your bag on the ground, taking the time to slowly unzip it. "Thank you, my darlings," you humbly thanked your audience, which illicited some... affectionate sighs out of them? Huh?
Ah, whatever, time to get paid.
"And now," you dramatically announced, "drumrolls, please!"
Thump thump thump thump thump thump
As the audience enthusiastically one-hand slapped their knees, you let yourself sinisterly grin early.
"For my first trick, I shall make
allll these things...
DISAPPEAR!!"
You dramatically swing your bag towards the crowd, releasing your many minions to fly and reap the fields of their crop!
Vexes and Allays Attack!: 1D100+10(Planning)+10(Vexes)+10(Allays) = 94+10+10+10 = Art!Crit! 124 (how)
Critical Roll I: 29+10+10+10 = 59
Stunned silence.
Then, all hell broke loose as your Vexes and Allays descended upon the panicking crowd. Mayhem and mischief reigned supreme as your Allays and Vexes once again step up to hit another grand slam.
A Vex crashed into a man's face, causing him to bowl into two other people.
An Allay did a dive run, snatching twenty items with one swoop. It quickly returned to your bag and deposited the pilfered properties inside, before rushing back to get more stuff.
The Paw Patrol were briefly stunned into inaction by all the chaos, trying to make sense of what on earth was happening before them.
It cost them.
A rather innovative Vex quickly rushed toward them and slammed into Marshall's Pup Pack, causing its water cannons to activate and unleash its watery payload on the rest of the Paw Patrol.
Rocky and Rubble were launched back by some particularly powerful blasts, Chase and Skye fell to the ground due to the sheer pressure of it, and the rest of the Paw Patrol were distracted by the incessant spray. Marshall, for his part, desperately tried to get his Pup Pack in control, but with all the noise and pandemonium around him, the Pup Pack didn't register his voice commands.
Before you was pure chaos, and there was no one who could stop you.
You turned to Presto and gave him a knowing look.
"Presto."
"Puppeteer."
"Together?"
"Together."
Inhale...
NYAHAHHAHHAAAHAH!!MUAHAHHAHAAH!!!
|--------------------------------------------|
You have complete control of the battlefield. What do you focus on now?
[] Focus on knocking the Paw Patrol out of the fight early.
[] With all this chaos, the Paw Patrol have left their vehicles all alone. Would be a shame if someone... swiped them.
[] Write-In
*Forgot to add the negative 10 for the Paw Patrol roll, have added now.
|--------------------------------------------|
A/N:
@Magoose, GET YOUR DAMN DICE OFF OF MY LAWN!!!
I really like interludes, but sometimes they can come off as a bit like "other characters fawn over the protagonist in a scene you alresdy wrote." Here, I figured that I could fit in a good semi-interlude that expanded upon the other characters while also avoiding that particular trope.
Also, how do you guys feel about how I write the characters?