Different Horizons-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Forty-Eight

Zuma extended his arms to his sides, forcing every pipe in the warehouse to explode simultaneously. He could sense every drop of water rushing to fill the building.

Zuma focused all the water towards a central location, Midas. Midas looked around in shock as he watched columns of water launch towards him. Midas, in a moment of panic, tried using his powers to create gold chains and destroy the water beams but eventually got swept off his feet.

Zuma created a whirlwind with Midas in the center. Midas screamed and shouted, calling out to his men. "Go after them," Midas yelled in a slurred voice.

Midas' men came out of shock and ran towards Ryder, Zuma, and Rocky. "I got this," Zuma strained. "Go."

"Let's go, Rocky," Ryder said as he picked up a broken pipe.

"I'm not a good fighter," Rocky protested.

"Then stay close," Ryder said. "I'll help you."

A man ran up to Ryder, holding a baseball bat. He swung at Ryder, who ducked out of the way. Ryder pushed the man from behind, making him run into someone else. As they fell, another guy tripped over them.

Another man pulled out a large hunting knife and swung at Ryder. Ryder used the metal pipe to knock the blade out of his hand. He turned back at the man, hitting him in the stomach. The man fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

Rocky was watching Ryder when Zuma called out to him. "Rocky, look out!"

Rocky turned around as a man tackled him to the ground. The man reached for Rocky's throat, but Rocky had his arms up in defense. Rocky's arm started to weaken when Ryder rammed into the man, pushing him off Rocky. Ryder helped Rocky up.

"Thanks," Rocky said.

"You're welcome, but you need to help," Ryder said. "We need your help."

"I told you, Ryder. I can't fight. I tried with Chase, and I couldn't win in practice."

Ryder moved Rocky to the side and threw the pipe at the guy running at them. The metal made contact with his head, knocking him out. Ryder turned to Rocky.

"Rocky, you can do this. Just remember what Chase told you. And do your best." Rocky looked down at his hands. He curled them up into fists, placed one arm before his face, and slightly bent his knees. Rocky leaned his left shoulder forward and turned his hip. "Okay, Ryder."

"Good," Ryder said. Rocky and Ryder began beating all of Midas' men.

Zuma held Midas in the whirlpool for as long as he could. Midas was starting to plan his escape from the water. Zuma knew he couldn't contain the gang leader for much longer. He needed to do something else.

At that moment, Midas got an idea. He formed a gold chain and launched it at a nearby motorcycle. Midas yanked the rear tire off the bike and sent it towards Zuma. The tire hit Zuma in the chest, causing him to fly backward onto some cardboard boxes. All the water Zuma was controlling fell to the ground. Midas was free.

"Finally," Midas exclaimed, moving his shoulders in circles to untense them. "You're going to pay for that. No one disrespects me like that without any consequences." Midas formed a chain in either hand. He swung them in circles, letting the end scrape against the concrete floor.

Midas launched one of the chains at Zuma. Luckily, Zuma got out of the way before the chain crashed into the boxes. Zuma launched a small water column at Midas, who deflected it with the other chain. He launched the chain at Zuma, who barely managed to dodge.

"I'm much stronger than you, boy," Midas yelled to Zuma. "You can't defeat me. I will bury you, along with your friends here. Give up."

Zuma looked over at Ryder and Rocky. They were taking down bikers left and right, but it seemed like they would be overwhelmed soon. Zuma could tell they were breathing hard, close to exhaustion.

Zuma got up. It was his moment to do something, to play his part instead of sitting on the sidelines again. "You may be stronger than me, dude," Zuma said. "But I am not giving up."

The reply infuriated Midas. He launched both chains at Zuma. Zuma raised his hands and made the water around his feet to grab the chains. Midas tried pulling on the chains, but they wouldn't budge. Midas watched as the water snaked up the chains towards his hands. He tried moving, but the water at his feet wouldn't allow him to. Midas looked up and didn't see Zuma. "Yo, where'd you go?!" he yelled.

"Where I have to go." Zuma's voice echoed through the water. He appeared in front of Midas, uppercutting him in the jaw. Midas fell onto his back with his arms on either side. Zuma used the water to wrap Midas in the gold chains. Once Midas was stuck in the gold, Zuma removed the crystal from around Midas' neck.

"Hey, that's mine," Midas yelled.

"It was never yours, dude," Zuma said. He looked up and realized that Ryder, Rocky, and the biker were looking at him. The bikers looked like they were preparing to fight him, and Zuma couldn't have that. "Ready, set, get wet, dudes." All the water in the warehouse joined, creating a large wave that swept the bikers into the yard. The only ones left were Zuma, Rocky, Ryder, and Midas.

Rocky and Ryder looked at him in awe. They were both drenched from head to toe. "Couldn't you have done that earlier?" Rocky asked. "And without me getting wet?"

Zuma shrugged. "I thought it was an epic moment."

"It definitely was," Ryder said. "I'm proud of you, Zuma." Ryder patted Rocky on the back. "And you too, Rocky."

"Me too?" Rocky asked.

"Of course," Ryder said. "You both did an outstanding job. You proved to me what I always knew. You both are amazing."

Rocky and Zuma couldn't help but smile. Even though Ryder didn't say much, what he said meant much more. For Rocky, he didn't feel like he was in Chase's shadow anymore. Rocky was his own hero with his own set of skills. And as for Zuma, he felt important. He felt like he was given a bigger role. But he realized that he had always had that role. He wasn't just another pup. He was a member of the Paw Patrol. He has his place.

"Thank you, Ryder," they said in unison. Zuma passed one of the crystals to Rocky.

"No worries, guys. Let's get out of here." Ryder turned towards the entrance of the warehouse. The bikers groaned in pain. Some were on the ground, while others were on top of rusty equipment. One biker was inside an oil barrel that didn't catch on fire. That scene got Ryder thinking aloud. "I wonder how the others are doing."