A Paw Patrol Story 12: Forgiving Yourself

Chapter 2

Champ, Hikari, and Joshie had made their way to the Lookout, Joshie was amazed at the sheer size of the Lookout tower itself. "Wow, it's massive." He said, as he got closer to it.

???:New friends of yours, Champ?

Champ saw that Marshall was coming over. "I guess you could say that." Champ said with a nervous look on his face. "So, what brings you two here?" Marshall asked, looking at Joshie and Hikari. "That's none of your concern, kid" Hikari replied, walking right past Marshall.

Marshall:What's his problem?

Joshie:He's been through a lot.

Champ:A lot you say? Like what?

Joshie:It would probably be better if you asked him, though we just met, so I doubt he'll tell you right away.

???:Hold it...

Champ, Marshall, and Joshie saw that Chase had approached Hikari as he was about to enter the Lookout. "Who are you?" He asked. "Why should I tell you?" Hikari replied, as he slowly began to reach for his katana. "I am second in command here, since Ryder is currently out, I'm in charge. Now either tell me why you are here, or get lost!" The German Shepherd demanded, looking Hikari straight in the eye.

Hikari:You got guts, I respect that. But move along, before you end up having to walk on only three paws or maybe just one!

Chase:(Barks) Net!

Just then, Chase's puppack opened up, revealing his net launcher.

Chase:Last chance!

Hikari began to get very angry as he took out his katana.

Joshie:Hikari, calm down!

Hikari:Move, now!

Just then, something had hit Hikari's blade, knocking it out of his mouth, causing it to become stuck to a nearby tree. "What's going on here?" A voice shouted out. The pups and Joshie looked up, seeing a tiny human standing on the top of Chase's puphouse.
Chase:Matt? I thought you were with Ryder.

Matthew:I sensed something coming here, so I decided to check it out.

Hikari looked at Matthew. "Who's this little punk?" The Shiba Inu scoffed, approaching the tiny human. Matthew smirked as he looked up at Hikari. "Wanna find out?"

Joshie:(Sighs) Oh great...

Matthew:You're not the first moron I've dealt with. Nor will you be the last.

Hikari:I could easily squish you like a bug if I wanted!

Matthew:Could you now? Try me!

Hikari began to get even more angry as looked at Matthew, who remained unfazed, and was still smirking. "Okay, let's get this done quickly, I got better things to be doing." Matthew said, summoning his keyblade.

Joshie:What kind of weapon is that?

Hikari:Ready to die, runt?

Matthew rolled his eyes and just threw his keyblade. Despite its small size, once it made contact with Hikari, it launched the Shiba Inu far back, sending him crashing into the tree his sword had gotten stuck to. Grace just stood and watched what was going on. "Boys will be boys I guess..." She sighed.

Matthew:I'd recommend not moving and just tell me what's going on, it's not that hard.

Hikari:Is this some sort of joke? Me losing to someone so small?

Matthew:Don't take it too personally. You threatened to harm my friends, I just wanted to protect them is all. I can tell you are not from around here. You and that snowkid over there.

Hikari stood up, grabbed his sword and approached Matthew. He set his blade on the ground. "Your strong for someone this small, but your lucky that even hit me, your aim was way off." Hikari said to Matthew, with a smirk on his face. "Yeah right!" Matthew chuckled.

Matthew:So, what's your name?

Hikari:The name's Hikari. And that snowkid over there is named, Joshie. We've traveled quite far to come here.

Grace:Why's that?

Hikari:Before I answer your question, it would probably be best if I discuss where I come from.

Champ:I say we wait for Lucas to get here first. This matter includes him as well as he is what you are.

Matthew:What's that supposed to mean?

Hikari:Who's Lucas?

Champ:Just be patient and wait!

After some time had passed, Ryder and Lucas had returned to the Lookout. "We're back!" Lucas said cheerfully. The others giggled at the Wild Dog.

Grace:Well, at least you don't smell anymore, hehe!

Lucas rolled his eyes then noticed the shiba inu and the snowkid.

Lucas:Who are they?

Joshie:Hi, my name is Joshie, and this is...

Hikari looked at Lucas and began to growl loudly at him. "What's a wild animal doing here?" He shouted, his anger rising even more. "What's with the big nose here?" Lucas snarled back, growling just as loud as Hikari was. "Oh brother..." Grace sighed as she bit both of their tails, making them yelp in pain and turn to look at the Rockruff. "Behave yourselves, especially you!" She said, pointing a paw at Hikari. Hikari rolled his eyes.

Matthew:Okay you guys, break it up and let's go inside so we can talk.

The pups, Matthew, Joshie, and Ryder all went into the Lookout, gathering around to listen to Hikari's story.

Hikari:I come from a place from another world known as the Hidden Paw Village. My name is Hikari, Prince Hikari...

Matthew:PRINCE?!!

Grace:Great... More royalty...

Hikari:What's that supposed to mean?

Matthew:We'll tell you later, please continue your story.

Hikari:Anyways, I'll make this brief as I can. My brother, Kuro, killed my father and has seized the throne, Zack insisted that I leave until I am strong enough to take on my brother. Kuro is the exact opposite of who I am. I loath conflict, he does not. He's dangerous, and it is only a matter of time until he destroys my world. If he were to discover how to cross into different worlds like this one, the impact could be devastating. I also came here in hope of finding allies to help me free my village of that monster.

Lucas:(Just like how my father killed my mother...)

Champ:If your brother is king, I suppose he would have a massive army by his side?

Hikari:Yep.

Matthew:Going now would be a death sentence for us all.

Hikari:Now Joshie here, I saved him from an orphanage.

Champ:What do you mean by "saved him?"

Hikari sighed as he unsheathed his katana, placing it on the ground. "That director of that orphanage was willing to kill off or even throw children out just for his own selfish reasons... So I killed him where he stood."

Grace:So much for not being like your brother.

Hikari:I was angry, I let my own anger and darkness consume me, just shut up! I ain't proud of what I did!

Grace:Regardless, you come here, telling us you want peace for you and your village, but then come tell us that you killed a man?!

Matthew:Settle down, Grace.

Champ:I'd kill him too!

Matthew:Shut your mouth! We got it, it was messed up.

Champ:(Scoffs) What do you know? I had to kill in order to stay alive in the past! You probably killed people in the past, you just don't remember!

Matthew:Excuse me?

Chase:Everyone, calm down!

Lucas whimpered and covered his ears as Matthew and Champ started to argue with each other.

Matthew:As long as you are here, we don't kill anyone, no matter how much we believe that certain someone deserves death. You aren't that same pup anymore. You don't have to scavenge the world to find food, friends, or to find a place to live.

Champ:If I have to kill someone, I will! I would have killed Vaati if given the chance.

Lucas:Um, you can't just kill a spirit. That's practically impossible, even though you should know that. Seal him, probably, kill him, no.

Champ:Quiet, Spots!

Lucas:"Spots?"

Rocky noticed how uncomfortable Joshie was getting so he and Zuma decided to bring him outside, away from the argument. "You okay?" Rocky asked, nuzzling Joshie. "Why are they arguing?" Joshie asked, feeling very worried.

Zuma:We don't know anything, about well, anything.

Rocky:We try our best to understand the situation, but nothing ever makes sense to us, just them.

Back inside the Lookout, Ryder and the rest of the Paw Patrol had gotten Matthew and the others to calm down, trying to keep them from fighting each other.

Hikari:The hell was that about?

Grace:We have a lot to talk about.

Chase:Okay you two, that's enough! Ever since the Australia incident, both of you have barely spoken to each other. Are you not best friends? Champ, didn't you promise to look out for Matthew? What happened to you guys?

Matthew:Look, Champ, I know you're still upset about not telling me that I had Autism, I just want you to know that it is okay.

Champ:No it is not!

Matthew:Why are you being so hard on yourself?
Champ:I failed you by not telling you the truth... I'm a failure...

Champ then stormed out of the Lookout. Hikari looked at Matthew who just sat down, not sure of what to say. "Oh Matthew..." Grace sighed, gently nuzzling the little human. "He'll come around, just give him some time." "You said that last time, and nothing happened..." Matthew said, walking outside. The Rockruff felt helpless, not sure of what to do.

Grace:This is bad...

Lucas:What are we going to do?

Grace:I don't know.

Hikari:The best thing to do for now is to just wait and see which one will speak first, Matthew, or Champ.

Grace:Hikari, I know you just got here, but I'd appreciate it if you talk to Champ for me? I already tried, and well... You saw where that got them.

Hikari:I guess I could try... Wouldn't hurt...

Lucas:I'll try talking to Matt if you'd like, Grace?

Grace shook her head, then looked at Chase. "Think you could talk to Matt?" Chase nodded his head as he walked outside, trying to find Matthew. Meanwhile, Matthew had wandered away from the Lookout, using his grapple wristbands to get as far away from the Lookout as possible.

Matthew:I'm just causing more damage, Champ's hurting inside because of me... Because what was forced onto him...

???:(You'd think your "friends" would be better off without you?)

Matthew:Huh?

???:(The darkness within you is strong, but you refuse to let it out...)

Matthew:Vaati?

Just then, a dark spirit appeared in front of Matthew. "You are broken... Your own friends did this to you, didn't they?" Vaati asked. "What? What are you talking about?" Matthew responded, slowly backing away. "Tell me this, do you think this entire town wants you here? Are they afraid of you?" The dark spirit said, as he got closer to Matthew. "They fear you, don't they?"

Matthew:Yes... Well, not Katie of course, but the mayor, and everyone else... Ever since the attack that had happened here, everyone's been on edge, not only fearing me, but Champ, Grace, and Moby as well. They worry that we may end up using our powers against them, that we will hurt them... Despite all we did to protect them.

Vaati:How does that make you feel?

Matthew:Sad, frustrated, confused...

Vaati:Frustrated you say? The first time we met, I attempted to provoke you, make you release your anger through cruel methods, but seeing this now, I may no longer have to do so. I bet you're still angry towards me?

Matthew:Damn right I am! You nearly killed Lucas, turned me against my own friends...

Vaati:I thought you weren't supposed to remember that?

Matthew looked away, started to feel even more angry.

Vaait:Someone told you something you weren't supposed to know. I don't care who, but at least you are aware of what you are capable of when you finally remove the shackles keeping your own powers hidden away. Since that seal on your soul is still intact, I can't enter your body, and give you the power you as a warrior deserve.

Matthew's body began to feel cold as a small dark aura appeared around him.

Vaait:For the time being, I shall give you some of my power, it isn't much, but enough for me to see if having you as a vessel is even worth my time.

Just then, Matthew felt a surge of dark energy enter his body, making him groan in pain and fall to the ground.

Matthew:This power...

Vaati:Feels great and powerful, doesn't it?

Matthew:Why are you doing this?

Vaati:Like I said before, to see if having you as a vessel is worth it, can't take over a body that can't handle my power. What you do with that power is completely up to you...

Once Vaati had vanished, Matthew stood up, feeling the power that was surging through him disappear, but knew that it was still somewhere inside him. "So, I'm guessing that power will only come out when I release the anger inside my heart. For everyone's sake, I hope that I have no need for this power, for now at least." Matthew said to himself, as he sat down, trying to understand everything that had just happened.

Thanks everyone for reading this new chapter. It has begun, Matthew's slow descend into darkness. What will become of him? Will the friendship between Champ and Matthew be restored? What new power could have been granted to Matthew? Find out next time in the next chapter. 

As a reminder, Joshie belongs to JoshiePlushie!