Different Horizons-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Fifty-Four

The next day, Ryder and the team trained without the help of superpowers. The Copycat could have something ready for them, where they could lose their powers, so Ryder wanted them to be prepared for that. With Rocky's help, Ryder set up a new training course. Ryder had set up balancing beams, a boxing ring, measuring tracks, obstacle courses, and more.

Ryder walked around, watching how each member trained in various categories. Zuma, Marshall, and Rubble ran across the track, swerving through the obstacles. Skye and Everest were on the balancing beams, walking from a lower beam to the higher beams without falling. Chase and Rocky were in the boxing ring, going a couple of rounds with one another.

Ryder walked over to the boxing ring. Bruce was watching Chase and Rocky boxing. "How's it going over here?" Ryder asked.

"It's going great, Ryder," Rocky said.

"They're learning quickly," Bruce commented. "They still need more training, but they're getting there."

"That's good," Ryder replied. Ryder noticed something about Chase and Rocky. Usually, they would wear protective gear like headgear and boxing gloves, but this time, all they wore were boxing wraps around their hands. "Aren't you supposed to be wearing gear for protection?"

"Bruce suggested we train without them anymore," Chase replied.

"Wearing protective gear allows you to hit harder than usual because you know you won't injure the other person. However, since the battle won't be fought with gloves, it's important to learn how to control their strength, select their punches, and evade attacks. It's the next step after training with gear."

"Makes sense," Ryder confessed. "Make sure that you involve the others as well. It should be important for all of us to know how to fight if it ever comes to it."

"Will do, Ryder, sir," Chase said. He looked at Rocky. "Ready?"

"Are you?" Rocky replied before lunging at Chase in training form.

Ryder moved on to Marshall, Rubble, and Zuma. They went from running on the track to climbing a rock wall. They were harnessed in and climbing when they noticed Ryder. "Hey, Ryder," they called out in unison.

"Hey, guys," Ryder replied. "Getting your workout in?"

"Yeah," Marshall replied. "This is tougher than I thought."

"Hey, Ryder," Zuma said. "Why is this rock wall here anyways, dude? I thought we were training for the battle."

"You are," Ryder replied. "The rock wall isn't just about physical strength. It helps you be more aware of your surroundings. The ability to assess your environment quickly and efficiently is crucial."

Marshall slowly made his way down, followed by the others. "So, the more challenges we face here, the better we can handle unexpected situations?"

"Exactly," Ryder affirmed. "When you're climbing, you might slip or misjudge a hold. Each failure teaches you to be more cautious and strategic."

Zuma nodded, understanding. "So, we gotta stay focused and learn to adapt."

"Right," Ryder continued. "Training like this will help you think on your feet. Remember, you won't always have everything perfectly planned out. You'll need to make quick decisions based on what you see and feel. That's how you'll outsmart the Copycat or any other threat."

Rubble looked up at the wall. "Well, let's tackle this together. That way, we can watch out for each other and help whoever falls."

"That is a great idea, Rubble," Ryder said. Marshall, Zuma, and Rubble thanked Ryder before climbing the wall again.

Ryder walked over to Skye and Everest, who were focused on their training on the balancing beams. Skye gracefully moved from one beam to another while Everest steadily navigated the higher beams.

"How's it going?" Ryder asked.

Skye smiled down at him with a large grin. "This is amazing. I'm getting the hang of this."

"That's good, Skye." Ryder looked over at Everest. "What about you, Everest?"

"I'm not as agile as Skye. It helps to take it slow and steady. If you rush, it's easy to lose your balance."

"That's fine, Everest. Everyone goes at their own pace. Just remember, whether on the beams or in a battle, staying calm and centered can make all the difference."

Skye wobbled slightly but quickly regained her balance. "It's a good reminder to stay focused, especially with what we're training for."

Everest took a deep breath before moving to the next beam. "And if we do fall, we can learn from it and get back up, right?"

"That's the spirit!" Ryder encouraged. "Every misstep is an opportunity to improve. Keep it up, and don't forget to support each other."

Ryder looked around the room at everyone practicing. He was proud of the effort his team put into their training, so he decided to train as well. Ryder joined Chase and Rocky in the ring and went a few rounds with them. Ryder focused not just on throwing punches but also on teaching Chase and Rocky the importance of footwork and defense. They moved around the ring, exchanging light jabs while Ryder emphasized evasion techniques. After that, Ryder joined Marshall, Zuma, and Rubble on the rock wall. Later on, he got onto the beams with Skye and Everest.

The rest of the day, the team moved around, training on each course. They had trained as much and on as many courses as possible. When Ainsley passed by to call them for dinner, they were all on the measuring track. They were taking turns racing one another on the course. It consisted of various turns, obstacles, and levels. It was Chase and Ryder's turn.

"It's a race between leaders," Marshall called out as if he was an announcer. "Owner and first pup. Student and Master. Who will win?"

Rocky held up a timer. "On my mark, you go," he said. "Three, two, one, go!'

Chase and Ryder took off. They swerved around obstacles, ran around turns, and hopped over different levels. The others cheered them on until they passed the finish line.

"It's a tie," Rocky exclaimed. "You both clocked forty-seven seconds."

"Nice," Ryder said while breathing hard. "We'll just have to go again."

"Yeah," Chase replied, out of breath. "Let's go."

"Dinner is ready," Ainsley interrupted. "In case you guys are hungry."

Chase looked at Ryder. "I could eat."

"Me too," Ryder said. "We'll be down in a second. Thank you, Ainsley." Ainsley nodded and turned around.

Ryder gathered the team in a circle. "Alright, everyone, I just wanted to take a moment to say how proud I am of all your hard work and dedication during training today."

The team looked around at each other, grinning at the praise. "You've all shown incredible determination and teamwork," Ryder continued. "Each of you took on the challenges head-on, whether in the boxing ring, on the rock wall, or working on the balancing beams. That's exactly the spirit we need to face any threat that comes our way."

"Thank you, Ryder, sir," Chase said, speaking for the team. "We couldn't have done it without you. You made this possible." The others chimed in to agree.

"Thank you," Ryder said. "Now, let's go eat."