Different Horizons-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Fifty-Three

Ryder walked around, helping each member control their powers and combat without them. He watched as they raced through the obstacles as humans and pups. They had been practicing for about an hour already.

Chase had superspeed, Marshall had fire powers, Skye could fly and had super strength, Rocky had magnetism, Rubble could roll like a wrecking ball and had super strength like Skye, Zuma could manipulate water and morph with it, and Everest had ice powers. Ryder also recalled that they could switch from humans to pups on command. Ryder wanted each member to train accordingly. Luckily, Gabriel's gym and training area were roughly the size of two professional basketball courts, so there was enough space for everyone.

Ryder looked up to see Skye flying through rings, around ropes, and taking sharp turns around corners. Skye caught her foot on the ring, making her stop in her tracks. "How's it going up there, Skye?" he called out.

"Slow," Skye confessed. "I'm trying to get through these rings as quickly as possible, but I keep bumping into them." Skye flew over to the starting line and tried again, her foot snagging on the ring. This time, Skye lost altitude before regaining her balance and coming closer to Ryder. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm supposed to be an excellent flier."

"You are, Skye," Ryder comforted. "But you're used to flying in a vehicle or as a pup. In your human form, you have to consider your size."

"My size?" Skye asked. "But I'm already the smallest one on the team."

"Right, but when you fly, you spread your arms and legs out, like you did as a pup. Try keeping your limbs close to your body. See if that helps."

"I'll give it a go," Skye replied. She returned to the starting line, took a deep breath, and flew off. Skye kept her arms and legs close to her body. This time, she felt less air resistance, which also helped her have more control. Skye flew through the obstacles with ease. She smiled as she realized how much easier it was now.

"That's it, Skye," Ryder exclaimed. "Keep it up." Ryder walked over to the next member, which was Marshall. He was launching fireballs at some targets made from cast iron and kevlar. The area around him was floored with ceramic tiles, so Marshall would not burn anything around him. "How's it going over here, Marshall?"

"It's going good," Marshall replied. He launched more fireballs at the targets. Nine out of ten hit the targets, while some went past the marks and hit the fireproof wall behind them. "I'm getting better but still missing a few."

Ryder thought back to the battle with The Copycat. "What if you try doing a fire column like you did against The Copycat?"

Marshall looked at the targets and down at his palms. "Honestly, I don't know how I did that. It just happened."

"What made you do it the first time?"

Marshall glanced up at Everest, who was forming ice disks and snowballs and throwing them at various targets. Ainsley was with her, catching the disks the Everest tossed. Everest noticed Marshall and smiled at him. "The Copycat threatened my teammates, which angered me. I intended to throw a fireball at him, but the column appeared."

Ryder stayed silent for a second. "Well, you can practice controlling it because it can be a useful power."

Marshall looked up at the targets. "I'll give it a go." Marshall put his palms together. He focused on his palms, sensing as they warmed. Ryder could feel the heat coming off Marshall's body, making him take a step back. Marshall forced the energy to his palms, exalting it forward. A column of fire shot out of his palms at the targets.

"There you go, Marshall," Ryder said. "You're getting it."

Marshall smiled at Ryder. However, his smile quickly faded afterward. Marshall took a step back, tripping on the ridge in the floor. He caught himself, but not after creating a fire circle around him. The fire still shot out of his palms. "I can't turn it off," Marshall said.