**Marshall's Workout Woes**
Prompt: Paw patrol fanfiction Marshall while working out overexerts himself while on the bench press
It was an unusually sunny afternoon in Adventure Bay, and the PAW Patrol pups were gearing up for a day of fun, but all Marshall could think about was his workout plan. Ever since he had a little trouble keeping up with the other pups on their rescue missions, he made it his goal to get stronger. Today was dedicated to a serious weightlifting session in the lookout’s gym.
“Alright! Today is the day!” Marshall announced to his friends as he entered the gym, a determined look in his eyes. The walls were lined with various workout equipment, and the sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the space. Chase was doing squats with a light set, while Rubble was busy testing out the barbell on the bench press.
“Hey, Marshall! Ready to join the gains train?” Rubble cheered, flexing his tiny bulldog muscles.
“Absolutely! I’m going to be the strongest pup on the team!” Marshall responded confidently, warm-up stretches already underway.
As the group of pups prepped for their workouts, they each settled into their routines. Skye flitted from the floor mat to the yoga area, demonstrating some impressive stretches, while Zuma splashed around in a makeshift kiddie pool nearby—an excellent way to cool down between workouts.
Finally, Marshall approached the bench press. He was no stranger to it, but he had always preferred running and more agile activities. Today, however, was different. He had seen Rubble lifting heavier weights and, spurred on by a rush of competitive spirit, he decided it was time to step it up.
“Just a light warm-up,” he thought to himself, loading a moderate weight onto the bar—nothing he couldn’t handle. With his friends cheering and a surge of adrenaline coursing through him, he plopped down on the bench.
“Go, Marshall!” Chase called out, as he adjusted his workout band. “You’ve got this!”
Marshall took a deep breath, grabbed the bar, and lifted it with relative ease. The first few repetitions felt flawless; he could almost hear the applause in his head. With each lift, he pushed himself harder and harder, completely caught up in the moment. What started as intended light weights soon morphed into something he wasn’t quite prepared for.
As he completed his third set, he glanced over at Rubble, who looked impressed. “Wow, Marshall! You’re really powering through those!” Rubble yelled, cheering him on. Motivated by his friend’s encouragement, Marshall decided it was time to add more weight. He slapped on an extra ten pounds, confidence surging as he hoisted the bar back into position.
“One more set! I can handle this!” he thought, feeling the heat of determination rising. With his friends encouraging him, he pushed the bar up with everything he had. Tension mounted on his muscles as he completed the first repetition, and the second came just as easily. But as he approached the third, a fatigue he hadn’t anticipated began to settle in.
“Come on, Marshall! You got this!” Skye shouted, hovering slightly in the air for a better view of her friend’s struggle. But as he pushed, something felt... off.
In a split second, the weight felt impossibly heavy, his arms trembling, and panic coursed through him. Unsure of how to respond, he tried to push through, but the bar slipped. “Uh-oh...” he muttered weakly.
Just then, to a chorus of gasps from his friends, Marshall realized he couldn’t hold it anymore. With a lurch, the bar wound up pinning him down. The realization shocked him, and for a moment, he was frozen in disbelief.
Rubble rushed over, his eyes wide. “Hold on, Marshall! I’ll get it off you!” He and Chase scrambled to help, attempting to lift the bar from the stunned pup’s chest. Marshall felt the weight pressing down—consciousness increasing in a flurry of red and blurry edges.
“Can’t... breathe...” Marshall gasped, feeling the panic crescendo within him. Just as he thought he might faint, his friends sprang into action. Chase dove under the bar, barking for Rubble’s help. Together, the two pups summoned every ounce of strength they had.
“On three! One, two, three!” With a grunt and a heave, they managed to raise the bar just enough for Marshall to wriggle out from underneath, leaving him breathless and a bit startled.
Once free, Marshall coughed and pushed himself to his feet, realizing he had a newfound appreciation for safety. “Thanks, guys!” he said, still a little dazed but now safely back on his paws.
“Maybe... just maybe, let’s stick to our routine?” Skye suggested, a note of caution in her tone.
“Yeah, like running and agility training! You’re a firefighter, not a weightlifter!” Rubble chimed, patting Marshall with sympathy and concern.
Taking a deep breath, the adrenaline melted away, leaving behind a hot wave of embarrassment. “I really should’ve known better... I got carried away.”
As the pups gathered around him, Marshall realized he didn’t need to physically outdo anyone to be valuable to the team. They trained with enthusiasm and heart, focusing on skills that mattered in their adventures.
“Let’s go for a patrol instead! There’s always more than one way to be strong!” Marshall finally said, unable to hide his smile, now standing proud among his friends.
With laughter and a newfound sense of camaraderie, the PAW Patrol trotted off into the Adventure Bay sunlight, Marshall’s heart full—his strength lay not just in muscles, but in the support of his dearest friends. And in that moment, he knew that all workouts and adventures were about teamwork, not weight.
