Chapter 02: Unconscious No More Meanwhile, in the valley of the Ur-Ru mystics, the Ur-Ru were mourning the death of UrYal, the healer. Last night, UrYal lost his head while he was practicing with healing mantras. His headless body was discovered by UrNol, the herbalist. Today, a funeral was being held for UrYal. All his belongings were gathered and placed in the sacred circle. UrSol plays his harp while all the other Ur-Ru gather around in a circle, holding each other's hands and saying a prayer for their deceased companion. Many houoh showed up for the funeral of UrYall the healer. He was one of the most respected UrRus in the valley alongside UrSu and UrIm. UrZah spoke his words while the houoh observe, crying and mourning the loss of one of their guardians. "Dear healer, I pray you be well in your next life. You shall receive your belongings, for they will be handy in your next life. May you watch over the houoh phoenix people and guide them on the right path..." "It's horrible." A houoh woman sobbed. "Who or what could have done an unspeakable act to an innocent UrRu?" "I don't know my love. But whatever it was, I hope it doesn't come for us." The woman's husband replied as he hugged his crying wife and whispered words of hope to her. At the same time, UrSu was critically injured and was unconscious for quite a while. However, his wounds have stopped bleeding for some unknown reason. He was still alive, but injured. He was put up onto his bed and his wounds were dressed and bandaged. Only time will tell when UrSu would recover from his painful ordeal. --- Three days later... "Ahhh...*yawn*" SkekSo yawned as he slowly opens his eyes. As his eyes were fully open, he saw that he was not in the Skeksis palace, but in the palace of Gimlie. SkekSo looked down and noticed that most of his robes were gone except the lower robes and his loincloth. He also had bandages on his body as well. "What happened?" "So, you and your father rescued a Skeksis?" A young woman's voice ask someone. "Yes, I'll take you to him." Another young woman replied. "I hope he made it." A young girl's voice added. "Same here." Both older women responded. Suddenly, SkekSo heard a couple people approaching his room. "Who's there?" "You're finally awake." A young woman's voice told him. "Hmmm?" As SkekSo looked over at the door, three young dragonite women came into his room. One was a young and regal looking dragonite woman stood. It was obvious that this blonde haired dragonite woman was a princess or noble woman. She wore a horn ring on her left horn, alongside other jewelry, a blue and green dress, red fingerless gloves and sandals and an anklet on her right foot. The other woman looked rather different from the noblewoman. The other woman had fiery orange hair, lavender skin, and wore a red low cut dress with a golden sash, red high heel boots laced with gold and a velvety green cape lined with white fur. The youngest of the group was obviously the daughter of the red haired, lavender skinned woman. She was a spitting image of her mother, with orange hair and lavender skin, as well as wearing a blue and red kimono like outfit with a yellow sash wrapped around her waist. She look liked she was a teenager, or at least a teenager by Earth reckoning. "How are you feeling?" The noblewoman asked SkekSo. "Is there anything we can get you?" The woman sparked SkekSo's curiosity. "Who are you? Where am I?" "I am Mayarie, the princess of Gimlie. And this is Lady Bianca, my royal retainer, and best friend since childhood." Mayarie replied “And my name is Rosa.” The young girl added. “I'm Bianca and Emile's daughter.” "My father and I brought you in after we discovered you wounded and unconscious." Mayarie explained. "Well, I happen to be of royal blood too. My name is Emperor SkekSo." "Neat." Bianca cheered out. "I've never met a Skeksis before." "How's the Skeksis doing Mayarie?" A male voice rang out. "He's awake dad. He regained consciousness." A male dragonite wearing regal robes entered SkekSo's room. SkekSo recognized the male dragon as Lord Basarla, the ruler of Gimlie. "Is there anything you need sir." "Can you call me sire please? I happen to be an emperor too." SkekSo requested. "Very well royal sire. Is there anything you need?" "Well, I am rather hungry. I can't believe I went three days without food." "Any type of meal you want in particular royal sire?" Basarla asked. "I'd like anything that is nice, meaty and filling." SkekSo replied. Mayarie and Basarla nodded their heads. "Very well. We'll let our chefs know." As Mayarie, Basarla, Bianca and Rosa left the room, many thoughts have started to enter SkekSo's mind. "I'm still alive. Why didn't I die on that day? Are there people that actually care about me?" SkekSo tried to get himself out of bed, but his body was in too much pain to do so. "Damn...so painful... *groan*" --- Three days have passed since the Skeksis army massacre took place at Gimlie. UrSu slowly opens his eyes as he finally regained consciousness. "I'm... still...alive?" As UrSu was fully awake, he noticed his body was bandaged up. However, UrSu was still in a lot of agony. " Yes...I am alive...so much pain..." "I see our master is finally awake." a familiar voice said softly. "UrIm, is that you?" UrSu asked as he saw a fellow UrRu slowly approaching his room. "Yes, it is I." "What happened?" "I don't know, but we found you wounded and unconscious in your bedchamber. I dressed your wounds and bandaged them up." "Where is UrYal? Why isn't he here?" "UrSu, I have bad news...UrYal is dead. We found his headless body before his body vanished from sight." "What could have done this?" "I'm not sure master UrSu, but we must stay calm. There is no need to panic. We need to stay in our lair where it's safe." "Very well." UrSu's stomach started to growl loudly. "So starving...is UrAmaj busy?" "You want food master?" UrIm asked. "It has been three days since you've eaten. I'm sure UrAmaj wouldn't mind cooking a meal for you. You're in no condition to do it yourself." "Thank you..." UrSu whispered as UrIm slowly left his bed chamber. --- A huge meal was brought over to SkekSo. He was serves barbecued grunz ribs, some fish dumplings and some lo mein noodles with the white meat from a kokko bird (a type of chicken-like bird native to Dragnar). The scent of the meals were driving SkekSo wild. He didn't hesitate to dig into the meals that were served to him. "YUUUUUUUM!" SkekSo cried out as he started to tear apart the grunz ribs and ate the meat off of them. "So good! So good!" "Whoa, whoa, take your time royal sire." Basarla shrieked in surprise. "I don't want you choking on your food." "Hm?" SkekSo paused as he put the ribs down. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to worry you like that. I was just happy to be given some luscious food after being knocked out for three days." "We understand SkekSo." Mayarie added. "We're just concerned for your well being." SkekSo's blue eyes widened in surprise. "You guys are what?" "We are concerned for your well being." Basarla replied. "Really?" SkekSo wondered. "Why?" "Because the Skeksis are the avatars of the dragonite race. We want our avatars to be in good health and happy." Bianca replied. "Ummm...thank you..." SkekSo replied. Those words felt odd on the Skeksis' tongue, but it also felt odd that there were people being kind and polite to him. All the Skeksis back at his palace were usually spiteful and jealous of one another. The only Skeksis that seemed to come close to honoring the emperor was SkekUng the garthim master. He also won favoritism with SkekLach the collector, but little did he know of SkekLach's alterior motives. "Is there anything else we can get for you royal sire?" Bianca asked. "I'm fine for now." SkekSo replied. "If there is anything you need, let us know, okay?" Basarla said to SkekSo. Mayarie hands a small box to SkekSo. "This is gift for you dear emperor." As SkekSo unwrapped the box, he opened it and saw a small bell attached to a handle. As he used the bell, it gave off a loud ethereal ring. "A bell?" "Use that bell to call upon us." Mayarie told the Skeksis. "It will come in handy." "Thank you Princess." SkekSo said with a smile on his beak. "I'll keep this bell by my side, since I am still in too much pain to get out of bed." "I'm glad you like it." Mayarie said as she, Bianca and Basarla left SkekSo's room in their palace. As SkekSo was picking away at his food, tears formed in his eyes. It felt so weird that the royal family of Gimlie and their subjects were being so kind to him and treating him with respect. They were also the first people to give him a gift too. No one has ever given SkekSo a meaningful gift before in his entire life. Not even the other dragonites back at the Skeksis' palace were this kind and polite to him. Sure they honored him and would do anything for him, but they seemed so cold and blank personality wise. They seemed like mere brown nosers to him. Mayarie, Basarla and their loyal subjects, on the other hand, seemed to have warm and caring personalities. They seem to really care about him. But still, SkekSo wondered how things were going at his palace since he was absent. He only hopes there is no bickering going on between the other Skeksis. He also hoped that more life essence from Houoh phoenixes and other opposing were being collected for him to help him live. He also hoped that the dragonites that lived with the Skeksis are keeping things in order. All those thoughts flooded his mind as he started to finish his meal with tears in his eyes.