People were up laughing and practicing their singing, scattered all over the sports field. Humdinger was by himself near a tree, hands in his pockets and looking like he wasn't doing much.
Alex Porter watched him from afar. He almost felt bad for the guy. He didn't like to see anyone left out.
Ryder on the other hand wasn't even paying any attention to that old Humdinger. He was too busy practicing his own audition. And he already knew what he'd do for his. He would sing a love song. And why not? It was to be a love story after all. For Valentine's Day.
That made Ryder start thinking about the party and wondering how he was going to ask Marshall to go with him. He watched the dalmation who wasn't too far off. He could walk over there and just ask him.
But for some reason the thought made Ryder suddenly overcome with nervousness. But Marshall was his pup. They knew practically everything about each other. So why wasn't he comfortable just asking and getting it over with? This was strange.
"C'mon, it can't be that hard. It's Marshall." He told himself, before walking over there.
The dalmation was laying down on the grass, singing a bit sleepily and pawing at a pretty flower when he suddenly felt a hand on his back. He turned over to see his owner kneeling above him.
"Hi, Ryder." Said Marshall with a smile.
"Hey, pal. Buddy. Bestie." Said Ryder, like the pre-teen he was and returning the smile. "I see you're almost completely awake."
"Yeah. Took some time but I'm almost there."
"So, I wanted to ask you something, Marshall."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I um, uh, well..I wanted to ask, what are you doing for your audition?" Ryder asked, mentally kicking himself.
"I'm just gonna sing. That's what pretty much everyone else is doing. How about you?"
"I'm singing too. A love song."
"Neat. I think everyone will enjoy it."
"I think so too. Except Humdinger of course."
"What's to expect? He hates all of us." Said Marshall with a gloomy sigh.
Ryder frowned. It made him sad to see his best friend sad. As an owner, friend-BEST friend-and parental figure, he had to do what was best in the moment, and that was talking it out.
"Marshall,"
"Yes?"
"There are certain people in the world who can't accept happiness and love because they don't want to. I guess it's just who they are. They don't know how to. It's like..all they live for is just to push others around and do the wrong things to get what they want. Which, if you think about it isn't really living at all."
Came every small child's question: "Why?"
Ryder set Marshall on his lap. "Because...(sigh), I don't really know if there's any proper way to explain this. See, everyone's life is kinda like a fairytale. Like the musical we're doing. Some people live in happy fairytales that get a happy ending while others live in dark, sad fairytales. The irony is, you choose which one you live in. After all, people say you're the author of your own story. That story being your life. I suppose the trouble with the people in the dark fairytales is that they don't believe in the magic of love and kindness. The type of magic that can only be found in a happy fairytale and a good heart."
"Good heart?"
"A heart like yours. A heart that writes of magical affection and wonders. You can do it, Marshall. I know you can help stop the spread of evil." Ryder looked off into the distance. "For God knows it is far too extending."
Marshall looked up to see his owner looking depressed and gave him a sympathetic lick. Ryder blushed and smiled at him.
"Ryder,"
"Yes, pal?"
"I've been thinking that this fairy tale of a life is also a game."
"You have? How so?"
"Well, everyone strives for something. And in a game, everyone plays for something. Such as one of those fairy tale quests."
"Ah, I see. It's true. We're in a game too. A game against Somnambulism."
Marshall looked down in a bit of sadness. Ryder gently picked up Marshall's head with his hand. "Marsh, it isn't your fault. These things just happen on their own." He said, quietly.
"I feel it..stalking me. I know that sounds weird but-"
"I can feel it stalking the both of us. But don't worry, Marshall. We'll figure it out. Like we always do. Please. Let me continue to protect you. The safest you'll ever be is in my arms." Ryder said, extending them.
Marshall leaned his head on his owner's chest and Ryder wrapped his arms tightly around his pup. His Marshall. Not Somnambulism's or anyone else's.
"Life is a game, isn't it? For the people who possess a good heart, they are winners in fairytales and games. And in contrast, the people who live in darkness, they are like servants of the devil." Ryder sighed heavily. "Too unbelieving in fairy tales and too competitive in games. Do you remember me telling you pups what I said to Humdinger on the day of the Mayor Triathlon when we found out he was up to his schemes? That cheaters never prosper?"
Marshall smiled. "Yes. I remember."
"Somnambulism's tricks will not stop us in the end. Why, that's not even how it works. The Paw Patrol always survives. We win because we are a happy fairytale and work to achieve the greater good."
"That's the way it's always been. And that's the way it'll always be. At least with me. Because God forbid, if ever something happens and I'm the last pup standing, without the rest of the crew to back me up, I'll still be doing what I was brought to this earth to do: serving Adventure Bay."
Ryder smiled broadly and couldn't help but give his puppy a kiss on the cheek. "Oh Marshall, you're the foundation on which my pride is built."
Marshall chuckled. Ryder always said that to him.
The boy pulled his pup even closer and whispered, "They do in fact say that life's like an obstacle course. That we're like pawns in a game. That we each have a purpose to survive for. To play for. And you either beat your opponent or you don't. But I think we're stuck in between. Not winning this particular battle quite yet, but also not losing. Just waiting. Waiting to see where our perseverance takes us, along with fate. Somnambulism is sinister. That I can assure. But you know what?"
"What, Ryder?"
"My love for you makes it weak. And that's all you ever really need to know. How much I love you and need you."
Marshall snuggled up against Ryder as the boy held him.
"Oh Marshall, if only there was some way to tell you-"
"Everyone!!! Auditions will begin now!" Shouted Mayor Goodway from a distance.
"Has it already been 25 minutes?" Asked Marshall.
"I guess so." Said Ryder.
"Then we should head over there. The sooner we get done with auditions the better."
"You're right." Said Ryder, picking up Marshall and carrying him as they made their way to the chairs in front of the stage. As they passed Humdinger Ryder couldn't help but keep his eye on him to make sure he wasn't up to something.
"That dude's always up to no good." He thought.
Humdinger noticed Ryder watching him suspiciously but tried to avoid eye contact. He slumped in one of the plastic chairs and muttered to himself about how much he despised everyone. Particularly Goodway and the pesky Paw Patrol.
Mayor Goodway could certainly tell he was not pleased with anything. Though neither was she. Just looking at him was enough to...enough to....
"Why it's enough to make me throw up! That's what!" She shouted in her mind.
Brushing off her skirt and turning around in a hasty manner, she walked up onto the stage to face everyone as they sat down.
"Alright. Now that you are all seated we can begin with auditions. Francois? Francois, come up here, please."
Cap'n Turbot's french cousin made his way to the stage and stood beside Goodway, smiling down at everyone.
"Francois here is going to be the choreographer of the show. He's familiar with dancing so I was sure he'd be a good fit for the position. He's going to sit by me as we watch the auditions and help me determine who gets which role. Any questions?"
(Crickets)
"Alright. Then let's begin. Um, Ryder, you're first."
"Ok." Said Ryder.
The mayor and Francois sat down at a rectangular table and had some paper and pens to take notes. Ryder hooked his Pup-pad to a speaker.
"Alright, Ryder. Whenever you're ready. Please slate." Said Goodway.
"Ok. My name is Ryder-"
"Tell us something we don't know." Said Humdinger.
Ryder gave him a look before continuing to speak. "My name is Ryder and I will be singing, 'I Love You Baby' by Frank Sinatra."
Humdinger snickered. "This should be good." He mumbled.
Ryder pressed play, grabbed the microphone and waited for the small instrumental intro to pass before singing. As he began to sing the words his eyes would not move from the sight of Marshall. He felt something in his heart that made the words he was singing have a more true meaning to them. Marshall himself noticed this and even turned around once or twice to see if maybe Ryder was singing to someone else.
"🎵You're just too good to be true,
Can't take my eyes off of you,
You'd be like Heaven to touch,
I wanna hold you so much,
At long last love has arrived,
And thank God I'm alive,
You're just too good to be true,..🎵
Something was stirring inside of Ryder and he didn't know what it was. It was like the song stated. He in fact just couldn't take his eyes off of Marshall as he sang. He felt like everyone else dissapeared and that it became dark, with a spotlight shining down on Marshall and a spotlight shining down on him as he continued to sing.
🎵Pardon the way that I stare,
There's nothing else to compare,
The sight of you leaves me weak,
There are no words left to speak,
But if you feel like I feel,
Please let me know that it's real,
You're just too good to be true,
Can't take my eyes off of you🎵
🎵I love you baby,
And if it's quite alright I need you baby,
To warm a lonely night,
I love you baby,
Trust in me when I say:
Oh pretty baby,
Don't bring me down,
I pray,
Oh pretty baby,
Now that I found you,
Stay,
Oh let me love you baby,
Let me love you🎵
🎵You're just too good to be true,
Can't take my eyes off of you,
You feel like Heaven to touch,
I wanna hold you so much,
At long last love has arrived,
And thank God I'm alive,
You're just too good to be true,
Can't take my eyes off of you🎵
As Ryder gazed at Marshall he smiled and absent-mindedly reached out to him slightly. There was something magical in the moment and Ryder couldn't bear to lose it. It was just the two of them right now.
Just the two of them.
2nd audition -
Chase: "🎵Buddy, you're a boy,
Make a big noise,
Playin' in the street,
Gonna be a big man someday🎵"
Everest: "🎵You got mud on your face,
You big disgrace,
Kickin' your can all over the place,
Sing it,🎵"
Chase, Everest, Zuma and Rocky:
"🎵We will, we will rock you🎵
🎵We will, we will rock you🎵"
Rocky: "🎵Buddy, you're a young man,
Hard man,
Shouting in the street,
Gonna take on the world someday,🎵"
Zuma: "🎵You got blood on youw face,
You big disgwace,
Wavin' youw bannew all ovew the place🎵"
Chase, Everest, Zuma and Rocky: "🎵We will, we will rock you🎵
🎵We will, we will rock you🎵"
3rd audition -
Marshall: "🎵I got this feeling on a summer day when you were gone,
I crashed my car into the bridge,
I watched,
I let it burn,
I put your stuff into a bag,
And pushed it down the stairs,
I crashed my car into the bridge,
I don't care,
I love it,
I don't care🎵"
Everyone cheered as Marshall moon-walked a little and sang.
"🎵I got this feeling on a summer day when you were gone,
I crashed my car into the bridge,
I watched,
I let it burn,
I put your stuff into a bag,
And pushed it down the stairs,
I crashed my car into the bridge,
I don't care,
I love it,
I don't care🎵
🎵You're on a different road,
I'm in the milky way,
You want me down on earth,
But I am up in space,
You're so so hard to please,
We gotta kill this switch,
You're from the 70's,
But I'm a 90's chic,
I love it,🎵"
It was at this moment Marshall started getting distracted. His somnambulism was kicking in. He just stood still on the stage and stared at nothing. Ryder tried to wave his hands in his face to get him to continue to sing. Jake tried snapping his fingers, Katie called his name and Rocky yipped at him. Marshall snapped out of it a minute later and continued his song.
"....OH. Um, (Clears throat) 🎵I don't care,
I love it,
I don't care,🎵"
4th audition -
Skye: "🎵Let it shine, let it shine, let it shiiiinnneee🎵"
Mayor Goodway gave a little round of applause. "That was beautiful, Skye. Next!"
Skye proudly trotted down from the stage to her friends. "Wasn't I great? Mayor Goodway thought so." She said, beaming with pride.
"You did excellent, Skye." Said Ryder, more focused on the video game he was playing on his Pup-pad.
Skye just rolled her eyes.
5th Audition -
Rubble - "🎵C is for cookie, that's good enough for me,
C is for cookie, that's good enough for me,
C is for cookie, that's good enough for me,
Oh, cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C🎵"
"Should've known he'd do a song about food." Ryder whispered to Marshall.
"Poor guy. I feel as though I should go up and help him."
With that, Marshall made his way to the stage and Ryder cheered him on.
"Yeah! Let's go, Marshall! Doing the right thing! Wahoo! Yeah!"
YOU ARE READING
The Two Of Us (will be continued)
FanfictionThey say life's like an obstacle course. That we're like pawns in a game. That we each have a purpose to survive for. To play for. And you either beat your opponent or you don't. But I think we're stuck in between. Not winning, not losing. Just...
