Royal Bonding --- "The Dark Crystal" is a trademark of Jim Henson (RIP my good man). I'm not making a profit off of this, nor do I own TDC characters. However, the Realms of Alerfa and all the worlds and characters associated with the Alerfa universe are owned by me, myself and I. --- Chapter 01: Saving Gimlie It was 300 years since the great conjunction took place on Dragnar. This time around, things were different. Both the Skeksis and the UrRu mystics were born under the shattered skies of this foreign world. The Houoh phoenix people were in alliance with the Ur-Ru mystics, while the Dragonite dragon people were in alliance with the Skeksis. The houohs and beings in alliance with the houohs were captured as slaves and had their soul essence drained from them in order for the Skeksis to survive. In order to survive, Skeksis need to consume souls, as well as blood. One day, the emperor heard of a Houoh rebellion planning a surprise attack on the kingdom of Gimlie. Emperor SkekSo hoped that SkekYi, SkekUng and SkekVar would feel well enough to leave the castle with their warriors to stop this houoh rebellion and save the dragonite kingdom from destruction. "Royal sire." SkekVar the general cried out. "What is it General SkekVar?” SkekSo asked. “You sound rather panicked.” “SkekUng can't make it into battle today.” SkekVar replied. SkekSo lets out a disgruntled groan. “What is his excuse now? Is he sweating buckets again? Or stubbed his toe?” “No...SkekUng has a migraine.” “A migraine? Are you sure?” “Yes. SkekUng is in his room moaning and groaning in pain with dragonite healers taking care of him.” “So, who will take SkekUng's place?” “You and SkekYi with both be our replacements for now royal sire.” SkekSo's eyes widened in shock. “Us? US? Is this some sort of a sick joke?” “No royal sire. You and SkekYi have to go out there and be SkekUng's substitute general.” “Humph! Fine.” “Thank you my lord.” SkekSo took his scepter and went over to the crystal chamber, where all the other Skeksis (except SkekUng, since he had a migrane) were gathered, watching the images of the rebellion on the crystal. "Listen up!" SkekSo shouted, silencing the whole room. "Since SkekUng isn't feeling well, I've decided it is I who should go and temporarily take his place as general." SkekSil the Chamberlain tried everything he could to stifle his laughter. “SkekSo, a general? What a joke.” "You find this amusing Chamberlain?” SkekSo growled at SkekSil. “You want to go out there and be in SkekUng's shoes instead?” "No...no." SkekSil stuttered nervously as he stopped laughing. “Very well you whimpering sissy. Then you have no room to talk about this.” SkekSo sighed and shook his head. "(sign) What will I do with SkekSil?” "We heard the news about SkekUng my lord." a heavy armored dragonite said as he gathered his comrades and garthim soldiers. “Let us come with you and SkekYi. You two can't take on a whole rebellion with just the two of you alone.” “Very well.” SkekSo said as he hopped onto a garthim. “Garthim! Go to Gimlie! Stop the rebels!” The garthim all headed out of the exitway and headed over to where the houoh rebellion were hiding, so they can prevent the attack on Gimlie. --- Thankfully for the Skeksis, it was getting pretty dark outside. Skeksis prefered to go out at nighttime, because sunlight weakens them and makes them lethargic. Plus, Skeksis have excellent night vision and can see in the dark no problem. However, they kept the palace lit up for the dragonites and slaves' benefits. The dragonites wore light goggles on them in order to see in the dark. "I see a sign!" SkekYi shouted. One of the Garthims headed over to the sigh and the sign read, "Gimlie Kingdom: Straight ahead." SkekSo was feeling relieved when he knew the kingdom of Gimlie was nearby. This was his first in a long time out of the Skeksis' lair. Mostly, the Garthims, SkekVar, SkekYi, SkekUng and their allies would go out and do the work for the emperor, such as searching for slaves and food. Thanks to the Crystal Bats, the Skeksis learned of the rebellion planning a surprise attack on Gimlie and its people. SkekSo, as well as the other Skeksis, were pleased by how loyal and devoted the dragonites and their allies were. But as SkekSo and SkekYi got near the border and welcoming sign, houoh rebels started to ambush the emperor and his army. "Damn them..." SkekSo growled to himself as he pulled out his scimitar. "Get back foul beasts!" a houoh rebel yelled. "We're going to put an end to Basarla's reign of terror." "Yeah, surrender, or DIE!" "Damn it, who do these rebels think they are." SkekYi thought to himself as he brandished out his sword. "Dragonites...ATTACK!!!" An all out battle took place, with the houohs taking on phoenix form and the dragonites taking on dragon form. In the magical scuffle, one phoenix dropped down from the sky, bleeding profusely. SkekYi poisons his sword as he points it at the wounded phoenix. "No...no! Don't you dare!" the wounded phoenix pled, but his only response was being impaled by SkekYi's poisoned sword. "Bad mistake jack ass!" Another phoenix rebel snarled as he transformed his feathers into fiery swords and stabbed SkekSo in the left shoulder. The phoenix turned back to his humanoid houoh form and puts a death grip on the injured emperor. "SKEKSO!" a dragon screamed out as he saw a houoh holding the wounded skeksis emperor hostage. "You bastards! Surrender now!” “Over our dead bodies stink breath!” The houoh spat. SkekYi jumps up on a garthim and pulls out a bow and some arrows. “Garthim! Kill the rebels!" Around them, dead and dying houohs and dragonites started to fall from the skies and were littered around the survivors and the skeksis. SkekYi shot arrows at the phoenixes and the phoenixes were slaughtering the dragonite troops. Just as thing couldn't get any worse, something plunged into a couple Garthims, making them explode. Pieces of the garthim shrapnel were flying all over the place, beheading SkekYi in the middle of shooting arrows and injuring SkekSo again. SkekSo has never felt this much pain in his life. In fact, for thousands of years, SkekSo lived a sheltered life in the crystal palace. He never felt pain in his life, for he sent out the other Skeksis to do the work for him. But this time, things were different. He felt physical and emotional pain for the first time in his life. "You'll pay for this..." a dragonite warrior snarled as he held up his scimitar again. But he ended up spitting up blood and dropped dead from the blood loss. “Say your prayers monster!” A houoh swordsman shouted as he held a dagger to SkekSo's throat. But just before the houoh can have his way with the Skeksis emperor, a loud cry was heard and a burst of flames turned the houoh into ashes. In the air, two dragons flew above SkekSo and his dying troops. The male dragon had silver blue skin with gold plates, piercing yellow eyes, golden wings and a serpentine lower half. The female dragon next to the male dragon was shorter, had smooth white skin with golden wings, a head of long golden hair, a long toothy beak, blue talons for hands and feet and a white tail with a sky blue tip. "Surrender now!" The female dragon shouted. "If you rebels don't surrender, we will give you a punishment far worse than death!" The male dragon added. "It's Lord Basarla and Princess Mayarie!" One of the few surviving houoh rebels screamed in terror. “RUN! RUN FOR OUR LIVES!” “AAAAAAAACK!” As the few surviving houoh rebels screamed, unsheathed their wings, and flew off, Basarla and his daughter Mayarie approached the wounded Skeksis. "I can't believe this shit." SkekSo moaned. "I just can't believe it..." "Don't worry, we'll help you." Basarla said in a calm, soothing voice. "Really? Why...?!" the pain was too much, and SkekSo ended up passing out. As Basarla and Mayarie looked around, they saw that SkekSo was the only survivor of the skeksis army massacre. “Only one survivor. If only we came sooner......” “No time to mourn dear Mayarie.” Basarla said sadly as he carried the unconscious Skeksis emperor in his arms. “We need to help this Skeksis recover as soon as possible.” “Understood Dad. Let's go. We have no time to loose.”