That's Why I Love You: A Marshall x Everest Collection

Brave

"Thanks again for inviting me to parachute, pups." said Everest, her mind wondering why the city hall looked like a doll's house from the hot air balloon. For being hr first time parachuting, she was taking the heights pretty well.

"You have to try it, it's awesome!" exclaimed Rubble, who was getting ready his gear to jump when Ryder gives the sign. Right next to him, Rocky and Chase were giving a last check to the bags while Skye and Zuma were chatting about something in a corner. In the opposite corner though, Marshall was sitting, shaking a little.

Everest looked at him a bit worried. "Yeah, don't let Marshall get close to the edge, he's afraid of heights." Ryder warned, verifying some things on his pup pad. They didn't notice that the spotted pup was hearing them.

"I wouldn't blame him, it's pretty high up here, even I am a little scared."

"You'll be fine, I pretty sure-"

But their conversation got interrupted at the sight of a Dalmatian pup jumping from the edge with a parachute bag attached to his back. Everyone panicked and rushed to see said pup in free fall. When the pups were already picturing a nice funeral for Marshall, but not with open casket for obvious reasons, the sight of the red parachute opening made their souls return to their bodies.

Ryder got his pup pad right away and called him. "Marshall! What were you thinking?!" the leader asked, exasperated.

"... I needed fresh air?" his pup sheepishly answered with a chuckle.

Everest approached to the pup pad. "Marshall, that was amazing!"

"Thanks Everest." He smiled. "Uh Ryder, how do I get down faster?"

"You can't."

"Oh." he gulped.

*  *  *  *  *

"Careful guys, bears can get really mad if you bother their sleep." Jake suggested, looking from behind a rock along with Chase, Everest, Ryder and Marshall.

"But my pup tag fell right in the entrance, how are we going to take it back?" Everest asked, looking at the empty spot on her neck. The grisly bear let out a loud snore, his head resting in his front paws, and exactly a foot away, the pup tag.

"I guess someone could sneak in and get it, but it's a risk." Ryder frowned, not really sure of his suggestion.

Everest looked at him and then again to the tag resting inches close to the huge 7 inches claws of the mammal.

She decided with a sigh. "Well, if there's no other option, I'll-"

"Look! Marshall is crawling towards the bear!" Chase exclaimed in a whisper with his paw pointing to the Dalmatian pup making his way to the animal he fears the most.

Everyone looked in shock at him, specially Ryder. "Marshall! What are you doing?!" He said in a muffled scream, said question did not got any answer.

A few meters from the bear you could see Marshall trying to control his shaking body as he tried to concentrate on the tag and not on the huge bear with claws and fangs that could easily turn him into a pup skewer. With one last gulp, he extended his paw and pulled the tag closer, so he could grab it with his teeth and sprint back to his friends.

Still behind the rock, he was greeted by his friends clapping and cheering in silence. He smiled proudly with the tag still in his muzzle.

Just when he was about to give Everest the tag, he got tackled with a hug that made him spill the tag, which feel beneath him.

"You did it, Marshall! Thanks!" She thanked still holding him in the embrace, as Marshall thought a way to hide his flustered face.

*  *  *  *  *

"Wow, who would have thought skunks really like bayberries?" Zuma scratched the top of his head as he, Ryder, Jake, Chase, Everest, Rocky and Marshall watched concerned at a bunch of bushes surrounding a single one that had bayberries. The problem was that when their skunk friend guided to the fruits, other 4 skunks gathered around the bush. Now they can't get any closer if they don't want to get sprayed.

"But we looked everywhere, Ryder. That bush has the only berries in the entire bay." Chase pointed out, gulping at the smell that his sensitive nose caught.

"Aw, I really wanted that bayberry pie, but I don't want to get skunked again." Everest sighed, looking down and thinking about the possibilities. Ryder placed a hand on her head.

"Don't worry, Everest. Let's think how we can get them without scare the sku-"

Rocky gasped. "Look! Marshall is heading to the bush!" He shouted, pointing with his paw.

Ryder face-palmed. "For God's sake, Marshall! You're allergic to skunks!" As he and the others looked in awe, the young leader preparing his phone to call Mr. Porter for a deliver of 6 cans of tomato juice to get rid of the smell.

Marshall dodged two of the skunks and quietly sneaked to grab the cluster with his teeth. Suddenly, his nose started to twitch, and was about to sneeze, but he managed to run as fas as he could, holding his breathe and making it to where his team was.

"Amazing Marshall!" Rocky and Chase greeted, along with Jake and a smiley Ryder, who kept his phone on his pocket.

"Yay! Bayberries! Thanks Marshall." Everest quick hugged Marshall and proceeded to smell the precious fruit.

He smiled. "You're *achoo* welcome."

*  *  *  *  *

"It's karaoke night pups!" Chase exclaimed as the other pups gathered in front of the big screen behind the elevator. Rubble had already his Luke Star glasses, Zuma in the DJ's, Rocky finishing getting ready the stage as Skye showed Everest the list of songs for the night. That until the Husky pup noticed Marshall sitting alone in one of the beanbags in the dark.

She motioned Skye to come with her as they walked to where he was. "Are you going to sing tonight, Marshall?" She asked, grinning warmly.

Marshall's face showed a dim red. "I-I'm not sure." he nervously replied, not making eye contact. Everest raised an eyebrow in confusion and turned to Skye.

"Why is Marshall acting like that?"

"He doesn't like to sing in public, even though he has an amazing voice." said Skye.

"Really?" replied Everest, quite impressed, gaining an affirmative nod from the Cockapoo.

She walked towards the flustered Dalmatian with an idea on her head. "Can you do me a favor, Marshall?"

"Uh, sure Everest." said Marshall, more calm than before.

The Husky smiled. "Would you please sing with me in a duet?"

His shock didn't go unnoticed. "S-Sing? With you?" He asked, a little red on his cheeks.

"Yeah, you know, it's my first karaoke night, I'm a bit nervous, and I've been told that you're a very good singer." Everest titled her head to a side, making her look totally cute.

Marshall lowered his head, now smiling sheepishly. "I-I'm not that good."

"Please, I would really appreciate it." She finished, showing him a big smile and big blue puppy eyes.

Marshall was hypnotized, he looked at the ground and then back to her with a shy grin. "O-Ok! Don't worry, I'll sing with you."

"Yay! Thanks Marshall." Everest exclaimed, jumping forward and hugging him. When he was about to return the hug, she leaned forward and gave him a little peck on the nose. Everest noticed that the grip was weakening and before she could say something, Marshall was stunned on the floor, blabbering "Everest" again and again with a goofy smile. Everest blushed.

"Ups...?"