Who Says? [PAW Patrol Zuma X Rocky]

Ghosting

Chapter two
Ghosting
Zuma's POV

Skye stood over the vessel that held the crystals, two of them missing, courtesy of Zuma. Their glow brightened the control room so much someone could have mistaken it for it being day. Frustration and guilt filled her. It felt wrong to be getting mad at her friends over harmless fun. It's not like it was dangerous or anything regardless of what Ryder said. She missed her powers just like Rocky and Zuma do, that's all. Screw it. If Rocky and Zuma got to use them without getting in trouble surely Skye should be able to use hers too. She huffed angrily and swiped up 4 of the white glass, all of them instantly connecting to her pup tag. The feeling of power crashed on top of her like a wave. Her paws changed hues to pink and lifted slowly above the ground. Only one last time. Like Rocky and Zuma. One last time. It's fine. She was strong again one last time.

...

That next morning Zuma struggled to get out of bed. Instead of the promised few more minutes last night, it had turned into a few hours and he was tired. Despite not being able to get up he refused to go back to sleep, focusing his attention on his sleeping teammates around him. As all of the pups' houses were still in the midst of being rebuilt after the meteorite crash, Zuma couldn't help but enjoy their new sleeping arrangements. Instead of being cooped up in his house alone at night he was accompanied by the sounds of his friends soft breathing as they peacefully slept, he felt safe. His attention caught on Skye who was already awake. He realized he never saw her go to bed last night. "Hey Skye." He greeted his friend. Skye barely looked up. "Hey, Zuma." The pup was distant, lost in thought, but Zuma pushed on, determined to get some reaction out of the cocker spaniel, wondering if she was still mad about the crystals. "When did you go to sleep last night? I didn't see you when I went to bed." Skye hesitated and looked around, keeping her eyes fixated on the sleeping pups on their beds. "I was just playing around with my powers." She mumbled, looking down at her paws. "I thought a lot about what you and Rocky said." She was whispering now. "You're right, there is nothing dangerous about it. I was overreacting." Zuma perked up, for a second he really thought Skye would tell on him and his friend that night. "Oh, cool." He simply said, not wanting to push it anymore. Suddenly, all of their pup tags beeped in unison, the sleeping mounds of Zumas friends stirring, awakened by the annoying sound filling the room. "Paw patrol, to the lookout." Ryder's voice came in, his voice loud and intense. Chase was the first to stand up, shaking his flank around as he climbed off his high bunk. Zuma scrambled up after him, Marshall already falling down by his side. Rocky mumbled something under his breath about people getting into trouble so early in the day, but gave a long stretch. Rubble seemed irritated just as Rocky, pulling a pillow over his head in deep conflict with himself if he should get up or not. Liberty crawled out from under her covers and let out a big yawn, spotting Skye still unmoving over on her bunk. She smiled and waved at her before joining Chase out by the entrance of their room.

...

"Paw Patrol ready for action Ryder, sir!

All pups stood in their respective area with a pacing Ryder in front of them. "Everyone, Cap'n Turbot's boat is sinking at Adventure City Ocean. Zuma, we need you and your hovercraft to rescue him from the water." Ryder's voice sounded impatient and worried, his nails clicking against his teeth as he bit them. Zuma nodded and stepped up, understanding the situation but getting a bit stressed out over the severity of the situation. "Let's dive in." "Rocky, go with Zuma, you know the most about vehicles and can help him find a way to keep the boat afloat for longer if needed." Rocky's shoulders hunched up, already dreading the sound of it. "Yay..." "And Skye, you're look out, the waves are big so help Zuma out with where and when he should be diving in." Ryder said, waving his hand in the general direction of Skye, already making his way out the door. "Come on!" he shouted, his sneakers landing powerfully against the floor. The three pups were on his heels as they hopped on their vehicles, Rocky in Zuma's hovercraft, following Ryder to the city's ocean; a popular tourist attraction for fishing and swimming. It was raining hard when they got there. A crowd of drenched people huddled together surrounding the docks, looking on worriedly at the drowning boat in the near distance. Zuma heard Ryder yelling something, parking his ATV just at the edge of the dock, the pounding rain against his window too loud to hear. Nonetheless, it made the crowd move to the side so they could get through. Zuma roared past them, squinting his eyes to the water ahead.
Rocky clinged onto Zuma and buried his face into his shoulder as the lab crashed on to open water. His hovercraft shooked and wobbled as he accelerated towards the boat. "If I had my crystal I could just lift the boat up out of water, all while staying on dry land!" Rocky whimpered, his eyes fiercely closed. Zuma thought about it, feeling bad for his friend's anxiety. He tried his best to keep his hovercraft steady while also remaining the same speed. It was true, if Rocky had his powers he would just be able to lift it up with no problem. "Skye, how's it looking?" Zuma radioed into Skye, adjusting his mic closer to his mouth. The waves looked safe enough for now but the pup had to be sure. There was silence. Rocky and Zuma looked at each other. "Earth to Skye dude!" He yelled into the mic, slowing down as he neared their destination. No one answered. "...Uh- t-the bow Zuma!" Rocky said, nudging him, looking over Zuma's shoulder at the nearing boat. "The bow is halfway under the water, there's nothing we can do at this point to slow the sinking, but you need to get Cap'n Turbot out now." A lump of fear grew in Zuma's throat. He tightened his grip on the levers and parked as close as you could to the boat that was now halfway under.
"Paw patrol is that you?!" A frightened voice sounded just outside. Cap'n Turbot was at the edge of their boat, hands gripping the rails with force. Zuma opened up his screen on the roof of his hovercraft, refusing to take a last look at Rocky, scared that he might then start to hesitate. "I'm coming to get you Cap'n Turbot, don't worry!" Zuma yelled over the crashing white caps. He scrambled out of his vehicle and dived in the water, legs kicking powerfully against the current. His hovercraft strayed near the ship, rocking slowly back and forth as the growing waves banged against it. Rocky peaked his eyes up and over the roof to try and catch a glimpse of Zuma, terrified for his friend. "Arf! Buoy!" On command, Zuma's pup pack pulled a red and white stripe buoy out onto the water. He threw the rope that connected to it up onto the hovercraft, praying Rocky understood what he needed to do with it once Turbot jumped down. Zuma tried to angle the buoy as best he could, but as the waves grew stronger with each passing second, he eventually gave up and decided this is the best he could do. "Cap'n Turbot!" he called, straining to look up at the boat, small paws clinging onto his buoy. "You need to ju-!'' Suddenly, a huge wave crashed on top of Zuma, pulling him straight under. The cold sea water hit his throat like a bullet, he tried to call for his scuba tank but in an instant, the current smashed his back against Turbot's boat, the loud bang echoing through the water, ringing through his ears. The pup opened his mouth to yell out in pain, only to swallow more seawater. Panic started to settle in, he rotated his body towards the surface, angling his head to the dim light above. Swim, swim, SWIM! But Zuma was growing dizzy, his legs weak, the sharp throb in his spine causing him to get tugged down deeper into the water. He tried to call out, lungs burning, mind drifting.

Then, nothing.