Changing Paths-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Where are they, Sweetie?!" Chase asked.

"They . . . they were right here," Sweetie replied. "The Duke showed them to me. He thought that Dom was you. He planned to use you to get me on his side. He thought I wanted revenge for the first time we met, but I don't."

Just then, Sweetie's pup tang rang. She answered the call, and the Duke replied. "Sweetie, where are you?" he asked. "You're stretching my patience."

"I'm on my way," Sweetie replied. She hung up before the Duke could ask any follow-up questions. "I have to go."

"Okay, go," Ryder said. "We'll . . . keep on looking for Dom and Skye."

Sweetie walked out of the room without saying another word. She didn't want to create more trouble than she already had. 

Joining forces with the Duke? Her conscience told her. The voice vibrated inside her head like the shake before an earthquake. You know how reckless and unstable he can be. Now two pups you didn't want to see harmed are in danger.

"I know," she told herself. "Shut up."

"Excuse me?" someone said.

Sweetie looked up to see the Earl staring at her, confused. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said with a smile. "I wasn't talking to you." She kept on walking, leaving the man more confused than before.

Luckily, the voice quieted down, but Sweetie still felt the guilt of her actions. "I have to make this right," she muttered to herself. "I have to help save Skye and Dom."

Skye and Dom have been following the Duke around the castle. During the last ten minutes, they found themselves following the young boy under two bridges, through an open window, and up a spiraling staircase.

After what seemed like forever, Dom and Skye made it to the middle of the staircase. Before they could open the door, they had the boy's voice.

"Sweetie, where are you?" the Duke asked. "You're stretching my patience." The Duke was silent for a second, but they heard a muffled voice. "Okay, but . . . did she just hang up on me?" The Duke sighed. "No matter, my plan is already underway. Soon, this kingdom shall belong to me, and no one will mock me again." The Duke went quiet after that.

Dom and Skye looked at each other. The Duke wanted to take over the kingdom, but they did not know what his plan could be. From the sound of it, his schedule was still in the course of being completed.

Dom and Skye waited for a couple of minutes before opening the door. The door led to the crosswalk on top of the main wall. Dom and Skye poked their heads through to get a better view.

Surprisingly, the only one there was the Duke. He was leaning against the side, looking out into the city. He didn't seem to notice Skye and Dom watching him. There were few places where Skye and Dom could hide from the Duke's gaze. Some crates laid next to each against the wall on either side of the Duke.

"There you are," someone said from behind them.

Dom and Skye turned around quickly to see the white terrier smiling at them. "We've been looking for you," she said.

"Sweetie," Skye said. "What are you . . . wait, we?"

"Yes," she replied. "The rest of your team is in the basement."

"They're here?" Skye asked.

"And looking for you," Sweetie added. She looked at Dom, and her heart skipped a beat. "Hey, Dom."

"Hey, Sweetie," he replied, his cheeks growing warm.

"Uh, I have to go . . . talk to the Duke," Sweetie replied, taking her sight off of Dom, at least for the moment. 

Sweetie walked through the door and went towards the Duke. Despite her happiness of finding Skye and Dom, she went for an uninterested look so that the Duke wouldn't suspect anything.

"I'm here," Sweetie announced. Somehow, she knew that Dom and Skye were listening, so she talked with a slightly loud voice.

"Good," the Duke said. "I wanted to show you the next phase of my plan."

Sweetie frowned. "The next phase?"

"Why, yes," the Duke replied. "First, we needed to separate the Paw Patrol so they couldn't get in our way. We already did that, and as far as I know, they haven't even stepped foot in Barkingburg."

"Of course," Sweetie said. "They're too busy looking for Skye and Dom in Adventure Bay."

The Duke looked at Sweetie. "Exactly, they have no business here. That's where the next part of my plan comes in."

"Which is?"

"Dethrone the Princess, of course," he said. "My jolly cousin takes her place for granted. She doesn't understand the power she holds if she just lets herself wear the crown."

"But she's not the right age yet," Sweetie said.

"That's what the elders always say. You're not old enough. You don't understand yet. In time, you will comprehend. Personally, I don't like to learn. It takes time away from taking."

"So, what?" asked Sweetie. "You're just going to put on the crown, and they'll follow you."

"If only it were that easy," the Duke said. "No, that kind of power must be taken. If I wait for my time, it will never arrive. I need to take the matter into my own hands."

"How are you going to do that?" Sweetie walked to the other side of the Duke so that she could keep an eye on the door she came through. She watched as Dom and Skye crept up behind some crates to listen better. Luckily, the Duke was not paying attention to them.

"I need to apprehend the Princess and force her to give up the power."

"Wait, what?"

"The Princess is the only thing stopping me from taking the throne."

"But you said you won't hurt her."

The Duke shrugged. "I lied. It's what I do. It's necessary to raise to our designated place as rulers."

Sweetie took a step away from the Duke. "I . . . I can't let you do that."

"I thought you would say that," he said. He didn't sound surprised. He smiled and bowed. "Then this is where we depart ways."

Before she could ask what he meant, she felt the claws of the Duke's eagle wrap around her waist and lift her off the ground. As she went up higher, the Duke smiled and waved. "Bye, Sweetie, but this is my destiny," he yelled. "And nothing is going to stop me."