Different Horizons-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Harold lunged at Ryder, Rocky, and Rubble. He jumped into the air, ready to hit the heroes. Luckily, they got out of the way, making Harold hit the concrete where they were standing. Rubble rolled into a ball and ran towards Harold. Harold raised his arms, taking the impact and sending Harold into a pile of empty boxes. Harold got up and began making his way over.

Harold used his powers of creation to build two extendable metal staffs in each hand. He swiped at Rubble's feet, knocking him down. Harold struck at Rocky with both staffs. Rocky used his magnetic powers to raise a metal panel between them. Harold pressed down on the makeshift shield, holding Rocky in place.

Rocky was struggling to hold up against Harold. He was losing his stance when Ryder tackled Harold off of Rocky. He helped Rocky up.

Harold quickly got up. "Three against one isn't fair," he exclaimed. "Let's even the playing field." He waved his hands around, glowing a bright gold. More materials and items began swirling around Harold. In a few seconds, Harold had two robots on either side. However, instead of looking like the robots that Harold used to build, they were more humanoid.

Before anyone could say anything, the robots lunged at Rubble and Rocky. Ryder went to help them, but Harold swiped the staff at Ryder, making him dodge it. Ryder stood up as Harold tried to hit him again. Instead of avoiding it, Ryder grabbed the staff and yanked it out of Harold's hand.

Harold snarled. He struck down at Ryder, who held the staff up to block the blow. Harold kicked Ryder in the stomach, sending him back onto the ground. Harold tried to hit Ryder with the end of the staff, but Ryder rolled out of the way and got up. Ryder spun around and hit Harold in the back, making him fall forward.

Ryder looked over at Rubble. He rolled into a ball and hit the robot from different directions, knocking some pieces off the robot. Ryder turned to Rocky. The robot hovered off the ground while Rocky pulled it apart using his powers. Ryder smiled, seeing as they held their own.

Harold got up and ran towards Ryder. He had dropped the staff and punched Ryder in the jaw. Ryder staggered back but regained his balance. Ryder got a defensive positive, raising his left fist in front of his chin and his right fist by his cheek. Harold tried punching again, which Ryder moved and returned the hit to the stomach. Ryder landed a hit to the side of Harold's helmet, knocking him sideways.

Ryder and Harold exchanged hits, kicks, and punches. Ryder tried limiting his punches, as Harold wore full metal armor. Ryder tripped Harold, and while he was off balance, Ryder grabbed his arm and swung him into a metal beam. Harold fell to his knees in a daze.

Ryder turned Rubble and Rocky, who moved all the scrap robot pieces together as Rocky compacted them into a cube. Ryder picked up one of the staff and walked over to Harold.

Harold took off his helmet. "Alright, I'm done," he said as Ryder got close. "You win."

Ryder stood there at Harold. "Just so you know, I didn't want this to happen," he said. "We didn't have to fight."

Harold laughed softly. He looked up at Ryder, his nose slightly bleeding. "Don't kid yourself. You know we needed to. Heroes and villains. It's the same story over and over."

"Maybe it doesn't have to be," Ryder said. He dropped the staff and offered his hand to Harold. "Help us defeat The Copycat."

Harold hesitated before swatting away Ryder's hand and getting up by himself. "What I've done is done. There's no changing that."

"Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find us," Ryder said. Ryder noticed Rubble and Rocky looking through the opening in the wall at the battle ensuing on the ground. They watched as Skye destroyed an enemy drone and then flew away from another. Ryder picked up the staff and looked toward the center of the room at a console with a button on it. He needed to destroy it to ensure they couldn't use it anymore. He looked at the staff, and it gave him an idea.

"Rocky," Ryder called out. "I need to go high."

Rocky instantly understood what Ryder meant. He raised his arms, making the metal panels off the floor rise. They organized themselves into a flight of stairs for Ryder. Ryder ran up the panels to the top. Once he reached the last step, he jumped off. He positioned the staff in a way that it would stab through the console.

He was inches away when a golden chain appeared out of nowhere and knocked him sideways. Ryder rolled a few feet before balancing himself and getting up. He looked around and noticed the source.

At the stairway entrance, a man in a biker uniform and gold chains smiled wickedly at Ryder. Ryder recognized him as Midas, the leader of the Phoenix Riders. Next to Midas was a man with black hair, a dark blue suit, a white shirt, and a tie with lightning bolts. Ryder didn't know who he was but assumed the man wasn't friendly.

"So close," The Copycat said as he passed through the hole in the wall, making Rubble and Rocky take a step back. "But we're too close to stop." The Copycat flew across the room between Midas and the other man. "I'm afraid your team has reached its end."

Ryder's eyes widened as he realized what The Copycat meant. He turned in time to see a man and woman appear out of the shadows and knock Rocky and Rubble out of the opening in the wall.

"No!" Ryder yelled. He pressed his finger against his ear. "Skye! Rocky and Rubble are falling."

"On it," Skye responded.

"Man, I'm happy that Harold didn't listen when I told him to get that hole patched," The Copycat said. "I wonder if she's quick enough." The Copycat sped over to the opening and looked over the edge. He watched Skye catch Rocky and Rubble and take them close to Chase and Marshall, half a mile away from the tower.

"Well, that's a shame," he said. "They made it, but no worries."

"Ryder, come in," Skye said. "Are you okay?"

Before Ryder could answer, The Copycat raced towards Ryder and took the earpiece. "Can't have you communicate with your team." The Copycat crushed the earpiece in his hand. He signaled to the others. The man and the woman appeared from the shadows on either side of Ryder and grabbed his wrist, holding him down. Midas summoned some chains to wrap around Ryder like snakes.

Ryder looked at The Copycat. "Midas works for you now?"

"It's a partnership," The Copycat said. "Right now, I'm lending them the crystal's energy. They help me rule the world, and they get their powers back and a piece of territory for themselves. And look how it's working. It won't be long until we defeat your team. We'll finish them off and move on to Crystal Coast as planned. You, on the other hand, will be my prisoner until the job is done. And then I'll finish you off myself."

Ryder struggled against the villains. "No point in struggling. You can't beat them alone." In the distance, they heard a sound like a sonic boom. The villains in the room looked around, confused.

Ryder smiled. "You're wrong, Copycat. I'm not alone." Before The Copycat could say another word, the room exploded with blue electricity and power. The villains were launched back into the furthest wall. They looked up in shock to see Chase and Marshall standing on either side of Ryder.

Chase snarled under his breath. Small blue lightning bolts traveled across his body as if the excess energy didn't entirely leave. "Hands off our leader."