“Okay… Sign here… here… here... And an initial here and here…” The Mayor said as I wrote down my name on a few slips of paper as well as Roz did as well. The house I told Roz about was still getting built and I was told that it will be a bit before it’s ready to be lived in, it was going to be Camilla's but instead, she moved in with Blake so there was an almost finished house just waiting so after pulling some stings I got Roz a place to stay in town. When we finished the mayor took a quick look at them.

“Yup, that should do it.” She informed us as she put the forms in a folder. I nodded at this while Roz was doing her best to hide her excitement.

“Thanks for the help, mayor.” I said to my former frequent employer as she put away the folder. She nods at us and with that we headed out. As we left the town hall Roz looked over at me with a big smile.

“Thank you again Isaac.” She said to me with a smile.

“It's not a problem, Roz. I'm just happy to help out.” I said to her before adding. “You can keep crashing at my place until the house is finished.” I said to her with a smile. It's been an entire week since the whole wedding debacle and after arriving back in town, I had offered Roz to stay at my place but the downside was that she had to sleep on the couch but she didn't really care and accepted the offer.

“Thank you, and if you need anything just ask. I like to repay you after everything.” Roz said to me. I shook my head at this, having heard this a hundred times by now and had already gotten used to it by now, no matter how many times she said this to me, I would always respond the same way.

“Roz, you don't have to repay me anything.” I said to her with a little shrug of my shoulders. She smiled as she brushed her hair out of her eyes, she wasn’t in her normal Changeling form, instead, it was the look when I first met her, just minus the armour.

“Are you sure?” Roz asked, frowning a little.

“Positive. I'm not doing this so you get to owe me favors, I'm just doing to help out a friend in need.” I said to her, putting my hands in my pockets as we walked. “The last thing I needed was the idea of leaving you homeless after what happened, seriously I don't need that in my conscious.”

“Well truth be told that I have the skills to actually survive in the wilderness for an extended amount of time with nothing… but…” She stopped as I was staring at her. “Right… sorry.”

I sighed at this and shook my head as we continue walking down the street. We turned around the corner and I saw Skyler coming our way.

“There you are!” She said as she came up to us.

“What's up, squirt?” I greeted her as she stopped in front of us. She smiled up to me before saying.

“Nothing much, hey you mind coming to help me and my friends out with something?” Skyler asked. I blinked at this, wondering on what she wants help with.

“Um… alright, what do you need help with?” I asked her with an arched brow. “I swear if this like the time you used me as your school project you can forget about it.” I said to her.

“It’s not! And I said sorry!” She said as she led us off somewhere. We soon ended up at Blake’s diner where I saw Skyler's friends; Samantha and Lucille.

“Howdy Isaac!” Samantha greeted me with a wave as well as Lucille.

“Hey Sam, Scammy.” I said greeting the two, using the nickname I gave Lucille, which she frowned at me for as Skylar sat down next to her friends.

“Did ya ask him yet?” Sam asked Skyler who simply shook her head.

“Not yet.” She answered as I arched a brow at this as Skyler looked over at me. “Okay so the three of us were thinking of trying cooking out and we need someone to try our food out.”

“I don’t see why we need to do this, I know that my dish will do great.” Lucille said as she held her head up high. I arched a brow at this.

“Why exactly are you three doing this?” I asked them, crossing my arms as I said this as Roz stood by me still.

“Well, we’ve been going around trying different things and today it’s cooking,” Samantha explained to me. “Just trying to see what we are good at.” I sighed at this before taking a seat out for me and Roz.

“Okay, so what am I going to be taste testing? Should I call the hospital beforehand or no?” I asked them all expectantly, knowing that something bad would come of this. Roz arched a brow at my demeanour though it's mostly due to her not having lived here for long.

“Oh you worry too much, we’re making a few simple things to see how we do.” Lucille said to me as Blake came out from the kitchen.

“Alright you three, I got your stuff set up for you.” She said to the three before seeing me and Roz. “Oh hey you two, guess you got roped in as well?” She asked as the three headed off into the kitchen.

“I did, Roz is just along for the ride.” I said to Blake.

“Well it’ll be interesting,” Blake said as she sat down. “If you’re wondering, the three of them asked if they can try out some cooking and since today was my day off I agreed.”

“I feel like I'm going to resent you for that.” I said to Blake plainly and simply, my gut was telling me bad shit was going to happen and I for one trust my gut.

“Come on, it can’t be that bad…” Blake said though, from her expression she must’ve got the same feeling as me. After some time talking I was told that Skyler was making a burger from scratch, Sam was doing fried chicken and Lucille was doing curry. “Honestly I was surprised that she wanted to try that out. I did give them the stuff to make the base of them but what they do with it is up to them.” I nodded at this and simply waiting, though the silence soon became unbearable and I decided to start a conversation.

“So I managed to get Roz the house I promised finally.” I said to Blake.

“Hey! That’s great!” Blake said before looking over at Roz. “Finally getting off of his crummy couch huh?”

“Hey, my couch isn't crummy.” I retorted defensively at Blake.

“It was the same couch you had for years.” Blake said to me before Roz spoke.

“Actually it’s quite comfortable if you asked me.” Roz said before adding. “Much more than rocks and hard dirt.” Both Blake and I stared at her for a moment. “What?” She asked before the first course came out and it was Skylar.

“Here you go!” She said before putting out a burger for me it looked like any other burger that I’ve had before.

“Have anything special added in?” I asked her as she set the plate down.

“Special? Uhh…” Skyler thought about it before adding. “Salt… pepper… uhhh. Nope.” I rolled my eyes at this before taking the burger and getting a rather large and juicy first bite. It wasn't bad really, just a simple burger but it's really juicy. I gave her thumbs up. Skyler smiled at this.

“Mind if I have a bite?” Blake asked me. “I want to see how it is.” I nodded and handed her the burger before grabbing a napkin to wipe off the grease and bits.

“Well?” I asked Blake with an arched brow. She hummed a bit as she took a bite before looking at Skyler.

“You did just use the stuff I gave you huh.” She said to her before adding. “It’s not bad, but not great. Maybe a bit more seasoning would do but overall a good burger.” This made Skyler smile as the next course came out. This one was from Sam and she had a plate full of fried chicken.

“Hey ya are!” She said as she put the plate down. The smell alone made my mouth water. Grabbing a chicken leg, I took a large bite out of it and hummed at the taste. Blake, Skyler, and Roz grabbed one and took a bite as well.

“Oh, year… this is good… really good.” Blake said happily as the other two happily ate as well.

“Yeah, when I heard Sam was making her family's fried chicken, I knew it was going to be good.” Skyler said as Samantha smiled.

“Aww shucks, it ain’t that great, had it all the time when ah was growing up.” Samantha said with a little blush as we ate the chicken happily. When it was all gone however, we were all saddened by this.

“Aww man.” I said as we had finished the last bit of the chicken.

“I think I found the one downside…” Blake muttered to herself before the door opened and Lucille came out.

“Well! Here comes the best for last!” She said as she came closer and- oh gods! The smell! My hand went straight to my nose to cover it but it was too late, the smell burned itself into my brain as she put the plate of curry in front of me. It was black, it was bubbling, and there was an aura of evil coming off of it.

“Lucille! Are you trying to kill Isaac!?!” Skyler asked her friend.

“Is that thing even edible?” Samantha asked as she stared at the curry.

“Of course it is, sure it doesn’t look that great but I bet it tastes amazing!” Lucille said with a bit of a huff. They all looked at me to try the food.

“Isaac, as someone who lived with you for a long time, I beg you… don’t eat that stuff…” Skyler said to me. I stared at the three, Lucille waiting for me to try it before looking down at it. I had many… many reasons to just stand up dump this thing in the trash.

“If I die, keep her away from my shit.” I said to everyone and pointed at Lucille. I was never going to let go of the fact that she conned me once. Lucille frowned at me before I took a spoon full of the stuff and put it into my mouth.

… I should’ve followed my gut and tossed it! It was spicy, and it was no, it was slimy and gritty and overcooked and undercooked. Everything wrong about this was just… just wrong! My body soon expelled the food from my mouth as if it was the plague! I gasped and choked as I reached for some water or anything! I was given both a cup and pitcher as I grabbed the pitcher and drank all of it.

“Oh come on, it can’t be that bad.” Lucille said as I finished the water.

“Fuc- fuck off!” I exclaimed, gasping for air before adding. “Seriously, if anything it should count as an attempt of assassination!” I exclaimed.

“You’re overreacting.” Lucille said to me as Blake gulped a bit as she took a bit. Before I could stop her she took a bight… her black and white hair went completely white and did what I just did.

“Ugh! Ahh fugh na!” She gagged as she went for some kind of drink which she reached over to another table.

“Really Lucille, what did you put in that stuff?!” Skyler asked her.

“Oh you know, some spices, the stuff Blake gave me and other things like ginger, garlic, mushrooms, chocolate, apples…” She list off thing after thing and the more she did the more my stomach flipped.

“Oh you should count yourself lucky that I don't need the hospital, I think. If I do, you're paying the bill.” I said to the little assassin. Blake finally calmed down from her fit before glaring at Lucille.

“You… are never going in my kitchen… ever!” Blake said to her.

“Come on, you two don’t get it. Look, she likes it.” She said which we all looked over at Roz who was eating the food… and not throwing up. She looked over at us and swallowed.

“This isn’t that bad.” Roz said to us, making both Blake and I blink in wonder.

“What… is she made out of?” Blake asked me while I looked at Roz with an odd look.

“Ew.” Was all I could say. Roz shrugged as she continued eating. Blake shook her head before looking at me.

“Well, both are in agreement that Lucille should never cook, at all.” Blake said.

“Definitely.” I said with a nod before Blake took the plate of poisonous ooze and out in a trash bag before she tossed it out the door, where I proceeded to burn it into ash. “It will never hurt anyone again.”

Lucille frowned at this as she crossed her arms as the other two looked at each other. Soon the door opened and a voice ran out.

“Well well well, isn’t it the three losers.” This got a reaction from Samantha, Lucille, and Skyler, as we saw two girls about their age walked up to us. One of them had purplish hair with a fancy tiara in it, fancy expensive clothing and a smug look that I’ve seen from nobles in Canterlot. Behind her was a silver-haired girl with glasses and also wearing some expensive clothing.

“What do you want?” Skyler asked the girl, frowning. “Don’t you have something better to be doing?”

“Well I was going to get something to eat, but since you three are here, I don’t want to catch whatever diseases you three carry.” the Girl said.

“Would ya stop with that?” Samantha asked.

“And why would I do what a hick who’s friends with a wingless Skyborn and-” the bully glared at Lucille who glared back before the bully turned. “Come on Amy, we’re leaving.”

The two of them left which left Skyler in a sour mood now. “Sky…” Samantha started to say before Skyler shook her head.

“Sorry… I need to go somewhere.” Skyler said simply before heading out. The mood of the room turned to a more depressed one as Blake frowned even more.

“Those two are rotten…” Blake said before looking to the door. I frowned as well before standing up.

“I'll be right back.” I said before heading out after Skyler. The others didn’t say anything as I left the restaurant. I looked all over the place for her before I caught sight of someone flying overhead.

“Yo~” Rachael said as she landed down on the ground near me. She looked at me before adding. “You okay?”

“Have you seen Skyler go by here?” I asked her, disregarding her question. She blinked at me before thinking about it.

“No I haven’t seen her go by here… but I think I saw her at the bridge. Something up?” She asked me.

“These two brats came up at Blake's shop and said some… upsetting things.” I said to her simply, getting her to frown at this. “They called her a flightless Skyborn.” I said. This made Rachael flinched a bit.

“Ouch…” She said as she rubbed her one shoulder a bit. “That’s… heavy.”

“Yeah, anyway thanks for the info.” I said to her before heading off towards the bridge. I ran towards the bridge before getting there and seeing Skyler on the side of the bridge looking up at the sky. I walked over to her before sitting down beside her.

“Hey…” She said softly.

“Hey… how are you feeling?” I asked her with care in my tone as I heard her sniffle.

“Like shit…” Skyler said to me, pulling her legs up. “It’s not my fault I haven’t gotten my wings yet…” She said, her voice slightly muffled by her legs.

“You shouldn't let them get you down.” I said to her in a quiet tone. She didn't say anything after I said this. “Look, I know her words hurt but… fuck I suck at this.” I cursed under my breath, though this got a little chuckle from Skyler.

“The thought counts.” She said to me. This made me smile a little as we sat there for some time before Skyler spoke again. “You think… there’s something wrong with me?”

“What? No! No there's nothing wrong with you.” I said, honestly shocked that she would ask this. “Why would you ask that?” I asked her once again in shock.

“Because I’ve tried to do stuff that I read in books supposed to help get my wings but… nothing works.” Skyler said as she pulled her legs closer. “Heck even Irena has wings and she’s younger than me!” Skyler started to shake after this, tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s… it’s not fair!” I looked down after she said this, remembering my own time as a street urchin, how I would envy those around me for the homes and family they had while I… while I was left in the streets. I remember coming down here under the bridge on rainy nights.

I looked at Skyler before surprising her when I pulled her into a hug. She needed a shoulder to cry on, I was giving her that shoulder she needed. I felt her shake and cry into my shirt, her tears damping the shoulder part as this happens. Before long she pulled away, still sniffling and eyes now red. She sniffled as I looked over beneath the bridge before saying.

“I used to come here a lot as a kid, during the rainy days and nights to stay dry.” I said out loud, getting a confused look from Skyler, who sniffled and looked at me questioningly.

“What you mean? Why do you always come here as a kid?” She asked me, wiping her eyes before asking. “Didn’t you like it in the orphanage?”

“It was a roof over my head and the others were nice… but it wasn't to last. The orphanage caught fire and burnt down when I was nine.” I said to her, revealing to her that the orphanage I grew up in burnt down, a fact I had kept secret from her and anyone else. “After the fire, the town couldn't afford to build another orphanage so they held this event, where interested couples would come to adopt us.” I said to her before letting out a sigh. “One by one, everyone else found a new home… except me.” I said to her.

“Didn’t… didn’t Blake knew?” Skyler asked me. I chuckled at this before shaking my head.

“No… This was way before I ever met her.” I said to Skyler. I decided to continue my earlier story. “By the end of the day, I was the last kid left. The mayor at the time allowed me to stay at the town hall for only one night but… after that I was on my own. Back then there weren't any homeless shelters in town, so I was just left in the streets and everyday beyond that was struggle to survive. I'd scrounge around through trash to find food or leftovers from restaurants.” I said to her before adding. “I know it doesn't sound healthy by any means but I got by.” I said.

“Wow…” Skyler said softly as the two of us sat there for some time before she spoke. “Then… how did you get to where you are now?”

“Well, it sort of went the same way I met you.” I told her, getting a surprised look from her. “Yeah, it was my early teen years. I must've been at least fourteen when it happened. By that time I had learned how to pickpocket, I would use the money I swiped to buy myself actual food and it I never really got caught, except for one time.” I told her. I scratched my head before explaining. “It was the weirdest thing, I went to swipe some guys stuff and I got caught by him. But instead like anyone else who would dragged me off to the guards he said ‘A boy like you shouldn’t be out in the streets, they should be in school.’ And the next thing I knew I’ve gotten a letter to go to a high end private school.”

“Wait… what?” Skyler said, confused on this which I didn’t blame her for.

“Yeah, I had the same reaction and not only did he get me in, he covered my entire tuition.” I said with a chuckle before soon continuing. “The guy even handed me enough money to last me two years. I used the money for food and supplies for school. Things were honestly looking up for me… in a way. I mean, I was glad I was able to go to the only school at the time but at the same time… it made more of an outcast. Everyone had cleaned and pristine clothes, I had drabs that were worse for wear.” I said to her.

“Didn’t you say that you and Blake met up in school?” Skyler asked me which I nodded and chuckled.

“Yeah but that was halfway through my first year.” I said to her, glancing over and seeing that she had fully stopped crying.

“I see…” Skyler said, looking off into the distance, deep in thought. Before long she snorted and was smiling. “Seems like our lives are almost the same, you think I’m the daughter to some noble?” She asked jokingly.

“Funny.” I said to her with a roll of my eyes before I added. “You know… I can look for someone to help you summon your wings.” I said to her. This got her attention as she looked at me with wide eyes.

“Really?!” She asked me. I nodded and said.

“Yeah but it's probably going to take some time.” I said to her with a little smile. Skyler gave me a teary smile before giving me a hug. I gave her a hug back before a shadow flew over us. I looked back to see Rachael landing.

“Yo.” She greeted us, making Skyler jump a bit.

“Rachael!” Sky said in surprise.

“Hey squirt, looks like you’re in high spirits.” Rachael said with a smile. I narrowed my eyes at her.

“How much did you hear?” I asked her, finding a little too coincidental that she happened to show up after all this, especially after saying that I'd look for someone to help Skyler with her wings. She blinks at me before shrugging.

“Eh, little of this, little of that, honestly it was the last bit I heard the most.” Rachael said simply. I sighed at this before I asked.

“So you willing to help Rachael out?” I asked her. Skyler’s eyes widen at this as Rachael smiled.

“Do you need to ask?” Rachael asked before looking at Skyler. “Trust me kid, when I’m done you’ll be soaring through the skies!”

Skyler stared at Rachael before a big smile grew on her face. “Yeah!” She said, tears running down her face. I smiled at her before I got up and helped Skyler up soon after.

“I guess I'll leave you two to it?” I asked Rachael, wondering if the training begins now or at a later date.

“Yeah, we need to talk for a bit… and to do this. Hold on!” Rachael said before grabbing Skyler and the two of them shot upwards into the sky. Sky’s screaming turned to laughter as the two flew around in the sky, which left me by myself as I chuckled. Putting my hands in my pockets, I looked around wanting to be sure no one else was around before heading back to the diner.

End of XXIV

Author's Note

I might just make a doc for names. Getting tired of editting them for chap specifics. Also yay, not dead? Maybe? Who knows really.