The rickety wooden hut creaked and groaned in the wind as Mia pushed open the weathered door. Relief washed over her as she stepped inside, the familiar scent of old wood and sea salt a welcome comfort.

"Welcome home, Mia!" a chorus of high-pitched barks erupted as a blur of fur and wagging tails engulfed her. She knelt down, burying her face in the soft fur of a fluffy Samoyed.

"Hey, Everest! I missed you too, buddy!" she exclaimed, scratching her behind the ears.

Nelson, who had followed her hesitantly into the hut, watched the scene with a mixture of amusement and apprehension. The tiny house, cluttered with dog toys and well-worn furniture, seemed to burst at the seams with the sudden influx of furry bodies.

"Mia," Nelson began, his voice barely audible over the excited barks, "who... are these guys?"

Mia's smile faltered for a brief moment, a flicker of sadness crossing her face before it was quickly replaced by a strained cheer. "Meet my good old friends! We go wayyyyy back."

She gestured towards a group of pups gathered around her feet. There was Everest, the gentle giant Samoyed, Zuma, a playful Labrador retriever with a life vest perpetually strapped to his back, Skye, a spunky cockapoo with a bright pink backpack, Rubble, a courageous bulldog with a hardhat, Chase, a serious German Shepherd with a police pup uniform, Rocky, a mixed-breed with a knack for fixing things, and Marshall, a clumsy but enthusiastic Dalmatian.

Nelson's jaw dropped. He'd heard whispers about Mia's past, rumors of a strange town patrolled by a team of heroic pups, but he never thought it would be real.

"These are... the Paw Patrol?" he stammered, disbelief lacing his voice.

Mia forced a smile. "The one and only! They saved Adventure Bay countless times, you know."

She knelt down and scratched Chase, the leader of the pack, behind the ears. "And speaking of which, guys, they're supposed to go home with us."

Nelson groaned, burying his face in his hands. The thought of sharing his already cramped room with seven rambunctious pups was enough to make his head spin.

"Home?" Chase echoed, his brow furrowed in confusion. "But Ryder said—"

Mia's smile vanished. Her face twisted into a mask of barely contained grief. "Oh," she choked out, her voice barely a whisper. "You... you don't know?"

Nelson looked up, startled by the sudden shift in her demeanor. "Don't know what?"

Mia hesitated, her eyes welling up with tears. Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke, her voice thick with emotion. "Ryder... he... ahm..." she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Chase whimpered, sensing her distress. "Ryder? Where's Ryder?"

Tears spilled down Mia's cheeks. "Ryder... he's not gonna wake up," she whispered, her voice breaking.

The playful barks died down, replaced by a stunned silence. The weight of her words filled the small room, a heavy cloak of grief settling over the group. The joyful reunion had been shattered, replaced by the harsh reality of loss.

Nelson, his initial annoyance forgotten, reached out and placed a comforting hand on Mia's shoulder.

"What happened, Mia?" Chase finally asked, his voice a low rumble. "Why won't Ryder wake up?"

Mia wiped away a stray tear, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. "It's all because of Overlord," she revealed, her voice thick with emotion. "He... he did something to Ryder. Hurt him in a way we couldn't heal."

A collective gasp rippled through the pups. Overlord, the name they'd heard whispered in hushed tones – a villain, a bringer of chaos. Now, they understood the gravity of the situation, the reason for their sudden relocation.

"That's why finding Master Wu is so important," Mia continued, a flicker of determination replacing the despair in her eyes. "He's the only one who might know how to stop Overlord and maybe... just maybe, help Ryder."

Skye, the spunky cockapoo, whimpered. "But Ryder... he can't be gone! We need him!"

Mia knelt down and gently stroked Skye's head. "I know, Skye. We all do. But Ryder wouldn't want us to give up. He'd want us to be strong, to keep helping people."

Her words resonated with the pups. Memories of Ryder's unwavering optimism, his belief in the power of teamwork, flooded their minds. He wouldn't want them to dwell on his absence, but to honor his legacy by continuing their mission.

Rocky, the mixed-breed with a knack for fixing things, stepped forward, his tail thumping softly against the floor. "Ryder may be gone," he said, his voice small but resolute, "but his memory will live on. We'll protect Ninjago with the rest of you, for him and for everyone else."

A wave of agreement rippled through the pack. Chase, ever the leader, lifted his head, his gaze meeting Mia's. "We're with you, Mia. We'll find Wu and stop Overlord. Together."

Mia's heart swelled with a mix of gratitude and sorrow. These brave pups, her childhood companions, were her strength in this darkest hour. With their unwavering loyalty and Ryder's memory as their guide, they would find a way forward.

The weight of their mission felt heavy, but they wouldn't face it alone. They had each other, a newfound purpose, and a glimmer of hope that flickered within them like a beacon in the night. Together, they would fight for justice, for Ryder, and for a future free from Overlord's tyranny.

Then, the pups surveyed their belongings – a backpack overflowing with supplies, a dented toolbox for Rocky, and a first-aid kit repurposed from Marshall's usual pack – Chase, the ever-pragmatic leader, voiced a concern.

"Mia," he said, his brow furrowed, "we can't carry all this stuff on a long journey. It'll slow us down."

Mia grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Good point, Chase," she admitted. "But you forget..." she paused dramatically, "your friend here happens to be the Elemental Master of Wind!"

With a flick of her wrist, a miniature cyclone swirled around the scattered items, lifting them gently into the air. She focused for a moment, then directed the whirlwind towards the horizon, sending the supplies soaring back towards the Monastery.

Then, taking charge, Mia issued orders to her furry companions. "Chase, I need you to use your keen sense of smell to track Wu's trail. Skye, take to the skies and see if you can spot anything from above. Zuma, get your water gear ready; we might have another waterfall to navigate."

Nelson let out a nervous chuckle. "Waterfall?!" he squeaked. "We just..." he trailed off, the memory of their harrowing escape from the collapsing waterfall sending a shiver down his spine.

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Correction, Nelson," she corrected gently, "we survived a waterfall attack. Big difference."

Nelson sheepishly scratched the back of his head. Maybe this whole ninja business wasn't going to be a walk in the park, he thought. But looking at the determined faces of Mia and the Paw Patrol, a spark of courage flickered within him. He may not have signed up for this wild adventure, but he wouldn't let them down. With a deep breath, he squared his shoulders, ready to face whatever dangers awaited them on the road to finding Master Wu.

___________________________________

" So, Mia. How's your brother and his wife?" Skye asked, trotting to her.

" Good." Mia replied. 

" No arguments or anything?" Rubble intrigued.

Mia let out a humorless laugh. " That's like asking for the sea to stop being watery."

" And you and your husband?"

Mia looked at Rubble, confused.

" I.... don't have a husband."

" Nelson."

Mia choked on her spit, and Marshall had to hit her on the back.

Mia blushed furiously, sputtering as she coughed. "Nelson and I? We're not... we're not..." she stammered, searching for the right words. "We're... well, it's complicated."

Nelson, who had been lagging a bit behind, caught up to them just in time to hear the last part of the conversation. He felt his own face heat up, a blush creeping up his neck. "Yeah," he mumbled, kicking at a pebble on the dusty path. "Super complicated."

Skye, ever the gossip, tilted her head, her ears perked with curiosity. "Complicated how?" she pressed, her tail wagging excitedly.

Mia shot Nelson a panicked glance, silently pleading with him to help her out of this awkward situation. Nelson, however, was equally flustered, offering no assistance. With a sigh, Mia decided to take charge.

"It's... well, we're friends," she began, her voice strained. "But also... kind of rivals at the same time. Ninja stuff, you know?"

Rubble, ever the optimist, let out a hearty bark. "Ninja rivals who travel together? Sounds like the beginning of a great friendship... or maybe even more!" he added with a wink.

Mia's blush deepened, and Nelson let out a groan, burying his face in his hands. "Rubble, please!" he mumbled.

" Oooh." Zuma said, intrigued. " Looooove!"

" Zuma! You're not helping us!" Mia said.

Just then, Chase, who had been diligently sniffing the ground ahead, perked up his head. "Hold on," he barked, his voice sharp with alert. "I smell something..."

The playful banter came to a screeching halt. Mia, grateful for the distraction, straightened her shoulders. "What is it, Chase?" she asked, a hint of hope lacing her voice.

Chase pointed his nose towards a cluster of rocks in the distance. "It's faint, but I smell... smoke."