The news of Marshall's "puberty upgrade," as Chase grumbled, sent the Paw Patrol HQ into a frenzy. Pups yelped in disbelief, Skye bombarded Ryder with questions about body odor and voice changes, and Marshall himself stood there, a red-faced mess clutching the new clothes.
"Calm down everyone," Ryder interjected, his voice firm but kind. "Puberty is a normal part of growing up, even for pups. Marshall will adjust, and we will all support him."
Easier said than done, as the pups soon learned. Gone were Marshall's enthusiastic mornings. Instead, he shuffled in, sporting a brand new black eye shadow (applied, according to Marshall, to "look more intimidating") and a cloud of a new, unfamiliar scent.
"Marshall," Everest sniffed, her nose twitching, "what's that smell?"
Marshall, sheepishly holding a stick of deodorant Ryder had discreetly gifted him, mumbled, "It's called… uh… deodorant? Ryder said I needed it."
The pups erupted in a chorus of "Ew!" and "Gross!" Even Chase, usually the picture of stoicism, wrinkled his nose in disgust. Marshall, already feeling self-conscious, retreated back to his pup-house, slamming the door shut with a frustrated yelp.
The real drama unfolded with the announcement of a new rule. "Marshall, given your changing schedule with friends," Ryder began, "I'm implementing a later curfew for you. Lights out at 11 pm instead of 9 pm."
A collective gasp filled the room. The other pups had always grumbled about the 9 pm lights-out policy, but 11 pm felt like a lifetime away. Jealousy simmered in their eyes. Why did Marshall get special treatment?
"That's not fair!" Rubble whined, his tail drooping. "We want to hang out with friends too!"
"Exactly!" Zuma chimed in, his voice rising in excitement. "Can we have a later curfew too?"
Ryder chuckled, "I understand your frustration, but Marshall's situation is different. He's making new friends outside the Paw Patrol, and it's important he has some time to connect with them."
An avalanche of complaints followed. Rocky argued it was unfair to pups who weren't "going through puberty," Skye demanded equal rights for sleepovers, and Chase, ever the rule follower, simply grumbled about the disruption to their routine.
Marshall, meanwhile, peeked out from his pup-house door, a conflicted expression on his face. He appreciated the extra time with his friends, but the blatant jealousy from his pack stung. Was this really the way he wanted things to be?
Ryder, observing the chaos, raised his voice. "Pups, enough! We'll find a solution for everyone. But right now, it's time to respect Marshall's needs and his new friends."
The pups, still grumbling, eventually settled down. The air remained thick with tension, however. It was clear that Marshall's transition into "teenage pup" was causing more waves than anyone anticipated. As Ryder patted Marshall's head consolingly, he knew the journey ahead wouldn't be easy. They had a lot to learn about growing up, navigating friendships, and most importantly, staying united as a team – even if it meant learning to deal with a little teenage drama from their beloved Marshall.
