Different Horizons-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Sixty-Three

The Copycat grabbed Ryder and carried him out of the tower. The Copycat threw Ryder into another building with so much momentum that Ryder crashed through the wall onto a table. Ryder shook off his dizziness and got up.

"I finally got away from you and your pups, but you won't leave alone," The Copycat yelled through the hole. He raised his arms and launched a fire column at Ryder. Ryder lifted his palm and shot a water beam to counter the attack. He moved out of the way and flew out a side window before launching another beam at The Copycat, sending him back.

"As long as you pose a threat to others, we'll always stop you," Ryder said. Ryder flew forward and pushed The Copycat through the building, through walls and furniture.

The Copycat grabbed Ryder's arm and twisted Ryder around. Once the Copycat had control, he launched Ryder up. Ryder flew through the roof and found his balance. Ryder watched as The Copycat got closer with his hand pulled back for a punch.

Ryder knew The Copycat had superstrength, thus, a punch would be painful. He also knew that The Copycat wouldn't stop, so he couldn't be talked down. That left Ryder with one option. Ryder moved out of the way as The Copycat went in for the punch. Thanks to Chase's superspeed, Ryder saw the punch in slow motion. Ryder grabbed The Copycat's wrist, pulled his arm back, and punched him in the chest.

The Copycat crashed into the asphalt. He looked at Ryder hovering high above, and it angered him more. He turned to his right and grinned when he saw a car flattened by the tank from earlier. The Copycat grabbed it with both hands and threw it at Ryder.

The car bounced into Ryder, sending Ryder backward. The Copycat flew upwards, grabbing the car midair as it plummeted towards the ground. He hit Ryder with the vehicle again.

Ryder balanced himself as The Copycat threw a car at Ryder. Ryder caught it, but the Copycat was planning on that. He rammed into the car, sending them both into the building. As Ryder got up, he used Rocky's magnetic abilities to form the automobile into an oversized baseball bat.

The Copycat didn't notice, so he rushed Ryder. The Copycat got closer to Ryder, so Ryder swung the bat, launching The Copycat to the side. Ryder threw the metal bat at The Copycat and made it wrap around him like a straitjacket. The Copycat couldn't move his arms, so he began melting the metal with his hands.

Ryder saw this and immediately froze the metal around The Copycat to slow down the process. "What is that, six times already this week, that you've been frozen?" Ryder asked rhetorically. "That's gotta be embarrassing."

The Copycat growled at Ryder. Ryder noticed that eyes returned to their original feline state for a second before becoming human again. "This can't hold me." The Copycat tucked his head into the metal, pushing the ice off him in an explosion.

Ryder shielded his eyes from the debris. The Copycat took the opportunity to punch Ryder in the chest. Ryder flew backward into the air, where The Copycat met him. The Copycat attempted to punch him again, but Ryder was ready.

Ryder summoned a fireball so bright it momentarily blinded the Copycat. The Copycat barely regained his vision when Ryder flew behind him and launched a fire column at his back. The Copycat launched forward into the tower.

The Copycat launched out of the tower and tackled Ryder. The Copycat spun around, and Roundhouse kicked Ryder to the ground. While on the ground, the Copycat grabbed an ice cream that was parked nearby and hurled it at Ryder. Ryder stood up as the truck crashed into him.

Ryder grabbed the truck and raced towards The Copycat. The Copycat grabbed another vehicle and did the same. They swung at each other simultaneously with all their strength, sending out a shockwave that jolted them away from each other and shattered nearby windows.

The Copycat got up, breathing heavily. "Harold," he yelled into his earpiece. "What's taking so long?"

"I am trying to open a portal from scratch," Harold complained. "I'm almost finished."

"You should've finished a long time ago, but you can never do anything right," The Copycat expressed. There was dead silence on the other side. "Just get it done." The Copycat levitated up and flew towards Ryder.

Ryder got up slowly. He could feel his strength running out. He had to do something quick, or he wouldn't win. Ryder looked up and noticed the others staring at him. The building they were in was far enough away that it was out of harm's way, but Ryder could see them clearly. I can't let them down, Ryder thought. I have to win for them.

Ryder turned around and noticed the Copycat flying towards him. As The Copycat got close, Ryder grabbed his shoulders and took him high. When they were high enough, Ryder summoned a vortex of elemental fury. Water, fire, and ice columns spun around each other, creating a pressured point. Ryder aimed the vortex at The Copycat.

The Copycat was launched into a destroyed building. Ryder flew directly down, forcing the Copycat to break through the floors towards the lobby. As they went further, the walls around them imploded. Ryder dragged the Copycat out of the debris and back onto the street.

The Copycat got up and looked at his body. Some of his armor pieces were missing, and his jacket was torn in half. That angered the Copycat even more.

The Copycat lunged at Ryder and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. The Copycat punched Ryder in the stomach, which Ryder countered with a punch to the hip. They exchanged punches and blows, both dodging and striking. They were evenly well-matched, so they entered an almost harmonic rhythm of combat.

The Copycat summoned a shard of metal and slashed at Ryder with it. Ryder avoided the weapon as much as he could. Ryder lowered his body and spun. He kicked The Copycat's leg out from under him. Ryder punched The Copycat back while his feet were off the ground, so The Copycat rolled some ways back.

The Copycat got up and tried to summon his powers, but they weren't responding. He realized that his crystal tooth had popped out of its socket and fallen out, taking with it The Copycat's powers. Ryder noticed the crystal on the ground and immediately used his magnetic powers to retrieve it.

The Copycat was breathing heavily with anger. "I can't let you beat me again," he said. "I have worked too hard to stop." At that moment, a portal appeared behind The Copycat. The Copycat looked back at it and smiled.

"Finally, it's time to end this once and for all," The Copycat said. "My army will come through this portal for you, and I will once again rule it all."

Ryder looked up at the tower where Harold was. Ryder noticed the white lab coat in the distance and realized Harold was watching from afar. Then it dawned on him why. Ryder turned back to The Copycat. "That portal isn't for me," he said softly.

The Copycat's smile faded as he caught up to what Ryder was saying. He turned around and looked into the portal. On the other hand, it was like looking into the universe instead of another city. The Copycat felt as the portal pulled him in.

"Time to go home," Ryder said. Before The Copycat could mutter another word, Ryder launched a water column at him, launching into the portal.

"NO!!!" The Copycat screamed.

Ryder stood there watching as the portal began to close. He felt a pull at his chest and realized the crystals were getting sucked into the portal as well. Ryder tried to grab them, but it was too late. The crystals disappeared into the portal as the portal shrank and vanished.

Instantly, Ryder fell to his knees. The sudden difference in power was too much for his weakened body. Ryder sat there, reminiscing about what happened. Ryder and the PAW Patrol beat The Copycat, sent him home, and saved the city. No...They saved the world.