Prologue

"Yes Ryder sir. I will call you when we reach Foggy Bottom."

"Copy that Chase." Ryder replied. "Please be careful. Ryder out."

As soon as Ryder ended the call, the tears that started falling a few minutes ago intensified. He lost a pup today. A pup who was adored by all, and did her very best despite not having any formal talents in rescuing. A pup who had dreams that were limitless.

Today, the Paw Patrol lost Skylar and unlike Marshall before her, there was no doubt that she was dead.

Ryder stood at the console, completely unaware of his surroundings. All he could feel was the familiar unpleasant pain of loss and grief. Skylar may not have been a real member of the team, but she was such a close friend of theirs that it didn't matter. She was part of the team. Even if Rescues wasn't her main purpose, her dreams and aspirations of becoming a singing sensation inspired all of the pups to follow their own dreams. But in the midst of that, Ryder saw much more than what Skylar saw in herself. Through all of her doubts and shyness, Ryder saw Skylar's determination to do more than her hopes and dreams. To do better and help out more than she could.

He saw that potential in her, and wanted to see how she met her goals. But now her determination, along with her beautiful singing was forever silenced by an overzealous crime boss. Ryder and the world will never know what she would become.

Now comes an extremely difficult task. Announcing the pup's fate to the others. He was terrified of how they'd take it, knowing full well that the lookout would be filled with cries tonight. Especially for one bulldog in particular, who would more than likely crumble in his feelings.

He got out his pup pad, and pushed the button to call his pups.

"Paw Patrol….to the lookout." Ryder ordered out, tears landing on his pup pad.

Uncertainty was what was going through the cockapoo's mind rather than annoyance. When she heard Ryder's voice, it made her stomach turn.

Ryder calling out to them in such an unsettling voice only meant one thing. Something went wrong with Chase's mission to Sticksburg. She hoped no one was hurt. Skylar was an amazing friend to her, and there is no way Skye could get through Marshall dying again. Her crucial concern though, fell on the pup she loved, Chase.

When Chase told her that we had a special mission in Sticksburg where he had to swindle a crime boss, Skye was reasonably iffy on it, but she trusted Chase to be safe and do his best to make it back. Thanks to her knowing how strong the shepherd was, she wasn't worried that much, and even supported him. But now, her mindfulness was being put to the test.

She didn't want to assume anything, as it would only make it worse, but thanks to Ryder's tone, her mind instantly jumped to the obvious conclusion.

However, she needed to be strong herself. With Chase and Marshall absent, she was next in command of team leader. She never thought that such a situation would come to be, but she is a strong pup and always felt strong. She was mentally prepared to find out the worst, but everything after that was a total mystery. She will try to be as strong as she could, even if whatever Ryder says, would crush her. She had to do it for Chase.

"Skye? Are you okay?" Skye heard Everest say in the elevator.

Skye looked over to her absolute best friend . "Yeah Everest." She takes a deep breath. "I'll be fine."

Everest worries didn't end there. "Are you sure? This sounds pretty bad."

Skye gave the Husky a warm smile. "I know Ev. But I'm ready for anything. What about you?"

Everest lowered her head, and reset it forward. "To be honest Skye, I'm scared. Really scared."

The cockapoo responded by putting a paw on Everest's. She knew the husky was in the exact same boat she was in. Though her worries were for Marshall. Less than fifteen minutes ago, Everest admitted to Skye about her crush on Marshall, though it came to no surprise to Skye though.

Ever since the Husky's early days on the Paw Patrol, Everest's eyes had always been set on the Dalmatian. Whenever she would come over to spend time with them, Everest always made sure she was near Marshall all the time. If they were sitting somewhere, Everest sat next to him. When she was choosing where she would stand during the mission briefings, she chose the position next to Marshall. The most obvious hint despite it all, was when Marshall had his wipeouts, Everest was always the first one to ask him if he was okay, and when he would let out a pun, Everest would laugh harder, almost every time.

So yeah, it was absolutely no shock to Skye that Everest was drawn to Marshall. Not just because of her countless signs of it, but Skye believed that Everest and Marshall were perfect for each other.

Their personalities and goals in life were strikingly familiar to each other. Though they had different dreams, with Marshall being a fire dog, and Everest wanting to be the best snow rescuer ever, they were pretty much the same, and the determination to fulfil those dreams were neck and neck. Not to mention, the two are essentially an exact mirror image, as far as their views and morals were concerned. Always the first ones to step up, always wanting to do better than expected of them, and always wanting to be the last ones safe for the sake of everyone.

They were made for eachother, and when Everest confessed, Skye's heart exploded. It just needs the spark to get the fire in their hearts started. But that was now on the line, as they stood in the elevator, waiting on the other pups, not knowing what to expect, weht they finally faced Ryder.

"Do you think Chase, Marshall, and Skylar are okay Skye?" Everest whimpered. "You think we will ever see them again?"

Skye tried to assure Everest the best she could. "I don't know right now, Everest. We can only hope. Just know that whatever Ryder tells us up there, I'll be right there for you girl, no matter what."

Everest drew a small tearful smile. "Thanks Skye, that goes for you too."

The two friends smile warmly before the rest of the team finally fall in. Rocky and Zuma were extremely tired due to how late it was, but Rubble was wide awake. There was no ignoring that he noticed Ryder's weak tone as well as she did, and he was very close to shaking his bones off.

Rubble never supported Skylar going on such a dangerous mission. He, along with everyone else, heard over the years how ruthless Bubba was. There would be no limits of what the chow lab mix would do to get his way, no lines he would not cross when he was double crossed. Not to mention, he was the sickening low life who killed Chase's father, Tracer, right on the Lookout's grounds and got away with it.

The mere thought of Skylar being anywhere near Bubba's presence was disturbing enough, but to win Bubba's heart to spy on him was down right suicide for her. Not ever Ryder wanted to follow through with it, but somehow, someway, Skylar persuaded everyone, except Rubble of course.

Rubble hung on to her legs, begging, pleading her not to go. Ryder and Skylar tried their hardest to assure him, but Rubble was very stubborn, and he was justified for it. He finally let her go, when Skylar begged him to let her do it, in which Rubble against his heart, finally let her go. He still wasn't calm about it, nearly pulling his tail out everyday, until it was time for Chase and Marshall to go, when Chase promised him on his father's badge that Skylar would be safe.

Skye looked at him and gave an assuring smile. "Hey, Rubble. I know what you're thinking. Whatever happens, I'm right here okay?"

Despite him being unstable, Rubble gave a smile back. "Y-You too Skye."

Skye nuzzles him for comfort, before pushing the button for the elevator to lift them up. Skye's stomach turned more and more, as she did her best to prepare for the inevitable despair.

When Ryder heard the elevator heard the elevator open, and his pups lining up behind him with those famous words from Skye. "Paw Patrol, ready for action Ryder sir!" His heart launched to his throat.

He slowly turned to face his pups, half of them were half asleep while the other half had very scared looks on their faces. Ryder wished he didn't sound so sad on the pup pad, but try as he might, he couldn't hold it all back.

He took a deep breath, remembering the last time he had an announcement like this. Trying to learn from that to not sound so weak, while inside, Ryder was tearing himself apart.

"I-I'm sorry to wake you pups up so late, but this couldn't wait. I have some …..news. Bad news."

Skye, Everest, and Rubble whimper, knowing what it was about, while Zuma and Rocky were now fully awake and alert. Skye stepped up bravely and looked straight at her owner. "I think we have an idea on what it is, Ryder. I just want you to know that whatever it is, we are ready for anything."

Ryder would have smiled in pride, but nothing could get him to do that. "I hope you are Skye, because there's nothing to feel good about this at all. I just got off the pup pad with Chase. It seems that Bubba took the bait, and has the computer virus Rocky and I developed. Making the mission a success But….something went wrong…..and we've….lost a pup."

As soon as Chase's name was mentioned was jumping and barking with joy, in her mind of course. She felt so guilty for even being relieved of Chase's survival. One look at Rubble and Everest made her realize that.

Everest was close to hyperventilating. Marshall was not mentioned, and that made the Husky tear up before the news was given. But, it hasn't been said yet, and Everest knows that at least Chase was okay. But what about Marshall? Is he okay? The snow pup could only hope that Marshall was alive.

Rubble was worse though. His whole body was shuttering and his eyes looked as if they were cannonballs ready to fire. When he only heard Chase's name, he instantly went into panic mode, but tried to hold it all in for the announcement. Hoping to god, Skylar made the cut.

One of the pups was gone. Marshall and Skylar were both beloved by everyone, but either Everest or Rubble will fall apart by the end of this. Skye didn't know who she would miss more. If it's Skylar, Skye's heart would be ripped out and mashed in the ground. Like Everest, Skylar became a very close friend to her in just under a year. There were already so many memories with the retriever that she's had with her. To lose her when they got to be very close friends, would be devastating to the cockapoo.

If it's Marshall….Skye didn't know if she could go through it again. The Paw Patrol barely survived the first time Marshall had "died". If it happened again, Skye would have no chance in going through another Marshall death, as shivering as it sounds.

Both of them were friends Skye would die for, and both of their deaths would hit the team hard.

Skye felt like she was in a sick reality game show, where one of the contestants has to die and one of them gets to live by fate's vote. It was a horrible thought to have, but that's exactly what she felt. One of her friends was dead, and one of them survived.

Who is it? Marshall or Skylar?

Ryder was the only one who knew, and was now going to finally deliver the grave news.

"Pups….I'm sorry…...We lost Skylar."

The silence cut through the air, as the pup's air was stolen from them. Everest closed her eyes, and took a long relieving breath while tears formed. She was so relieved that Marshall survived, but was extremely disheartened at the loss of a dear friend.

Rubble however, wasn't even thinking about Marshall. All he could think about was the love of his life, being yanked away from him. All of the memories of the times Rubble helped her from the streets, and beautiful singing was now the only way he could hear her voice.

No. It can't be real. Skylar would never just leave him. After all the time they spent together, the dreams they shared, and the singing they did together, the future they wanted to live with each other. That can't all just go away.

"R-Ryder. No…..ma-maybe you heard him wrong. Skylar cannot be dead. Sh-she w-wouldn't ju-just d-d-die on m-me now. Not when…."

Rubble's attempt to deny reality stopped, when Ryder bowed his head and shuttered his eyes, that's when it sank in.

Skylar was dead.

The bulldog's paws and body were shaking furiously now. He shut his eyes and grit his teeth as he was feeling a mix of shock, confusion, and anger. Hot tears streamed down his face as the cannonball was loaded. "Skylar."

Skye inched over to him and motioned to hug him…..

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Rubble screamed, blowing Skye away. Everyone nearly died of a heart attack, seeing Rubble fire off suddenly.

"Skylar! Skylar! SKYYYYYYYYYYYLARRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Rubble bolted to the slide, wailing and shrieking Skylar's name over, as he slid down to his rig.

Skye motioned to go after him, until Ryder spoke up. "No Skye. Let him go."

"Ryder…" Skye protested with tears.

"It's probably best for him to be alone right now. He needs space."

Skye whimpered as she bowed her head. Her eyes pouring tears for her now late friend who was amazing at being herself. Everest nuzzled her as she was trying to comfort while looking for comfort herself. They were later joined by a sobbing Zuma, a weeping Rocky, and A broken Ryder.

Skylar was a dear friend to them all, and will be missed for the rest of their lives.

When Rubble got to the bottom of the slide, he jumped off to the side. He didn't want to drive anywhere. He wanted to go to the spot where he told Skylar that he loved her. Behind the lookout on the cliff side, which over time, became a sentimental spot for the pups.

He got to the edge and collapsed to the ground, sobbing and wailing his heart out to the starry sky. The love of his life was gone, and he had nothing but a photograph of him and Skylar in his paws.

He looked at it with tears landing on the frame as he placed a paw on Skylar's smiling face. He loved the photograph. To him it was his most prized possession.

It was taken after the two sang a duet together at the talent show, with the Paw Patrol band backing them. After that, Rubble confessed his love to her and was on cloud nine when she returned it. They took the picture after.

Now it's sentimental value has grown through the roof. It was the only way Rubble could see his beautiful girl.

Rubble thought back to the last time he saw her, she had just gotten off her first tour of the U.S. a week earlier. She told Rubble that she wanted to help the Paw Patrol more than what she could do. At the same time, Ryder got an offer from Bubba for Ryder's award winning software for his use. After thinking of a sophisticated plan to swindle him, someone needed to infiltrate his computer system to develop a particular virus that would compromise Bubba's entire system, and possibly get him slammed in jail permanently.

Skylar stepped up, seeing the chance to finally give back to the Paw Patrol. Rubble tried to convince not to, but Skylar's insistence and his love for her batted him down, and she went to Sticksburg for a couple days, promising that she would come back.

Well that promise had been shattered, and now Rubble lays there, completely lost in his despair. Unconsciously, Rubble started to sing the song they performed together as he looked at the stars.

I can't find, oh, the right romantic line

But see me once and see the way I feel

Don't discard me just because you think I mean you harm

But these cuts I have, oh, they need love to help them heal

There was a painful pause with each line, as Rubble sobbed the song out.

D-Don't let the su-sun go d-down on me

Although I search my-myself it's always sssssomeone else I see

I'd ju-ju-just allow a fr-fragment of your l-life

To wander fr-fr-free

Rubble could barely get through the last line, as he imagined Skylar singing along with him.

But lo-lo-losing everything is like the su-su-sun going do-down on me-me

As soon as the last word was sung, Rubble broke down, and sobbed his eyes out. Drenching the picture in his tears. "Oh Skylar!"

Through this, Rubble remembered another promise that was broken. The one Chase made before he left. He promised Rubble that he would make sure Skylar was safe and made it back home. He trusted him, told him that if anyone could keep Skylar safe, it would be him. Chase broke that promise, and a reluctant anger grew in Rubble in response.

Although it may not have been his fault, he put all his faith in him and he failed.

"I trusted you Chase. I trusted you…"

Rubble had never been so angry in his life. He may not be seething, but the feeling was strong as steel. Right now, he could care less about Chase's well being.

Suddenly, Rubble's eye caught sight of a shooting star streaking across the night sky. Rubble was a true believer in wishing upon a star. Nearly all of his wishes came true, so he wasn't going to waste this chance.

He thought long and hard about his wish. What he truly wanted at this point in time. Once he was sure, he closed his eyes and recited the old rhyme he had used many times before.

"Starlight…..Starbright…..First star I see tonight."

Rubble paused as he had second thoughts, but continued with sincerity.

"I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish tonight."

Rubble hesitated again. He wonders if it will ever come true. It was a very ambitious wish, and probably won't come true.

He thought about it some more and debated if it was a waste of a start. But this was what he wanted to happen, so he tried anyway.

Tears leaked out of his eyes as he announced his wish to the stars.

"I wish I never see Chase ever again."

Lost And Found: A Temple of Doom Side Story