Ryder and Skye-centric story package.

16. "Is Santa real?"

It was a simple question, one that a young Skye had to ask.

"Is Santa real?" She asked, watching as Ryder and Chase decorated the inside of the lookout in reds and whites and greens, her being wrapped up in a blanket because Ryder was worried that the pup wouldn't do so well in the cold because of how small she was.

"Of course he is, Skye." Ryder said, letting go of his end of the banister. He walked over to the bundled pup and knelt down beside her with a smile. "He brings presents ever Christmas and we leave him cookies and leave out carrots for his reindeer."

Skye moved out of her fluffy prison and into Ryder's arms. "Really?" She asked, her wide eyes looking up at Ryder in wonder.

Ryder nodded with a smile as he held the pup. "Yeah. He's one of my favorite people ever. I've never actually met him, but I've heard stories of him being a very jolly guy with a round stomach and a joyful laugh and a wide smile.."

Skye yawned, smiling as she nuzzled into Ryder's chest. "He sounds nice.. Just like you. I wish we could meet him one day.." She said, letting sleep take hold of her.

"Me too, Skye." Ryder set the pup on a cushion and covered her back up, pausing to gently scratch behind her ear. "Me too.."

17. "Who did this?"

Ryder looked over Skye's scratches, worry and anger mixing in his features. "Who did this?" He asked, making sure to clean the wounds carefully.

"It was Mayor Humdinger's kittens.." Skye said, almost crying. She'd been ambushed and attacked by the kittens with the Mayor nearby. She'd just barely managed to escape, arriving at the lookout in her current condition.

Ryder bandaged Skye carefully, before pulling her into his arms to cradle her. "It's okay, Skye. I'm here." He said softly, rocking the pup back and forth slowly.

It reminded Skye of that winter, so long ago, that Ryder had found her and brought her home when she first asked about Santa. And just like before, she nuzzled in to Ryder and let sleep take her.

"Good girl, Skye." Ryder said, setting the pup on a cushion. "I'll be right back. Robodog will be here for you if I'm not back before you wake up." He kissed the pup's head before going to his firepole.

He slid down it to his ATV. He rode off with one destination in mind: Foggy Bottom, more specifically the lair of Mayor Humdinger.

"Mayor Humdinger!" Ryder yelled, parking outside the Mayor's hideout. "We need to talk! Your kittens hurt one of my pups, and I want answers!" His anger was barely contained as the doors opened.

"My kitties did no such thing! I am appalled that you would make that assumption, young man!" Humdinger said, putting a hand over his heart in shock.

"Really?" Ryder asked, pulling his pup pad from his bike. "Well, let's see," he began to move things around in his pup pad, "how you," he seemed to be entering a code, "deal with.." He finished the code and pressed a button to send it out. "This."

"What did you do?" Humdinger asked, before his phone began to go off like a hoard of screaming goats. Half sent texts about power outages and an entire grid shutting down were sent to his phone before it lost service. "Ahh!" He looked at the boy in anger. "You little snot rag!"

Ryder put his hand over his chest in mock shock. "Who? Me?" He glared. "Well then I guess you should have thought about that before sending your kitties to attack my pup. Enjoy your city being in an electrical fog for a week." He said, getting onto his ATV and riding back to Adventure Bay.

"I have good news Skye!" Ryder announced, walking to the pup as she chewed on some treats.

"What is it Ryder?" She asked, looking at him.

"Those kittens won't ever attack anyone ever again." Ryder said, sitting down beside her.

Skye leaned against him. "Thank you Ryder."

"Your welcome Skye." Ryder said, smiling down at the pup.

18. "I love you."

He'd found the little pup, a cockapoo that he named Skye, shivering in a box during late August. She looked so undernourished that it scared him.

He'd taken her to Katie, who didn't have much hope for a positive outcome for her. But she'd help Ryder with her for as long as Skye would fight.

Ryder spent days feeding Skye through a bottle, keeping her wrapped in a blanket, giving her nutrient rich water and sleeping next to her pup bed.

He was playing on his pup pad as Skye was napping. He paused his game when he saw her waking up, feeling her paw on his arm.

"Hi Skye." Ryder said with a smile. "You hungry?"

Skye shook her head, still not talking yet. "I.. Lo..ve you.." She said, speaking for the first time since Ryder found her.

Ryder smiled, setting the pup pad down and pulling Skye to his chest. "I love you too, Skye. Your such a good girl."

It had been a long time since Skye had said that to Ryder, but that was fine. She was a good pup, and he knew that she loved him. But that was because he loved her. And that was enough for Ryder.

19. "But Mom/Dad!"

Skye looked from the rocket to Ryder. It was a small enough rocket for her to fly on her own. Built by Alex, given to them as a gift.

"I don't know, Skye. I mean, your just learning to pilot your copter." Ryder pointed out to the little pup.

"But.." Skye's eyes widened to look at him. "Ryder..."

"Not right now, Skye. First you need to learn to fly your copter." Ryder said, putting the rocket in a wagon. "I'll put it in my ATV garage for now, so it's safe."

"But Ryder!" Skye grabbed his pant leg and pulled.

Ryder groaned, turning down to look at the pup.

20. "I said no."

"But Ryder!" Skye grabbed his pant leg and pulled.

Ryder groaned, turning down to look at the pup.

"Skye, I'm doing this because I care about you. And I don't want you to get hurt." He said, prying his leg from the pups mouth.

"But I want to fly it!" Skye argued. "I can do it!"

"I said no, Skye." Ryder said with an even tone of voice. "No means no. You just started learning to fly your copter, I am not going to let you injure yourself flying this thing."

Skye growled, jumping at Ryder. She was angry that he wasn't letting her fly the rocket. Ryder caught her, falling back into the wagon. The impact of the wagon falling jarred the rocket enough to kick to life, flying across the ground towards the Bay where it exploded after flying over the cliff.

"See?" Ryder said, looking at the pup who had his sleeve in her mouth.

Skye whimpered, letting go of Ryder's sleeve. "I'm sorry Ryder.."

Ryder smiled, hugging Skye. "It's okay Skye. Maybe one day you'll get to fly a real rocket. But for now, let's get you flying in that copter."