Don't Leave Me This Way
Kuzco coughed as he made his way through the village. I'm almost to the palace..I'm almost to the palace...I'm almost to the-
Kuzco felt his knees shake and he slowed his pace. I'm almost there….His knees buckled and he fell to ground, onto his side, wincing. He had a hot flash and whined before letting out a harsh cough. Kuzco laid his head on the ground and closed his eyes. I'm almost there...Ugh, I can't make it! What did Blue Jay say to do if I needed her? Say 'Cuckoo Cuckoo'?
"Cuckoo...Cuckoo…" He coughed. I doubt this will do anythi-
"Oh dear, are you all right!?"
I stand corrected.
"Blue Jay?" Kuzco groaned weakly as he pried open his eyes.
Ms Featherbon was standing in front of him, frowning deeply. "What are you doing out here?"
"I..I left...:" Kuzco coughed.
"Why dear? You're ill!"
"I can't live there anymore...Pacha thought I built Kuzcotopia...Even though I promised him I never would!" He sniffled and wiped his wet eyes.
To his surprise Ms Featherbon managed to frown deeper than a moment before. "Oh dear, I-I'm sorry I-"
"It's not your fault, Blue Jay." Kuzco said as he sat up and leaned against a tree.
"Do you know anywhere you can stay?" She asked gently.
"Of course I d-..." Kuzco stopped himself. For once he didn't want his pride to take over and make things worse. "Actually..no..I-I don't…"
"...You're staying at the palace with me."
Kuzco blinked. "Excuse me, w-what?"
"You're going back to the palace with me."
"I thought the rules were I had to live outside the palace while in school."
"A head of royal affairs I can make exceptions for situations such as this." Ms Featherbon explained. "Besides deary, you're sick so the sick clause still applies."
"But, won't The Royal Record Keeper be m-"
Ms Featherbon put up a feather to silence him. "I'm the empress, my word is more powerful than his. Can you stand up?"
Kuzco held onto the trunk of the tree and attempted to get up, but he stumbled and fell back down.
"Just lay still dear." Ms Featherbon cleared her throat and gathered her magic, then sent them back to the palace and took him to bed. She settled into the pillow by his head and stroked her wing against his forehead. "Oh, you poor thing…"
"Aren't you worried you'll catch this?"
"No dear. Spottatiocious isn't contagious, in fact it's very rare because of that." She stroked his hair.
"I feel terrible." Kuzco's eyes widened. "Am..Am I going to die!?"
"Oh, no no dear! It's not fatal, you'll just feel really bad." She comforted.
"Hey Blue Jay?"
"Yes?"
"Th-th-tha-Um...T-that's a relief...Can you get me a bucket?"
"Of course dear, you stay put." She flew off and returned a moment later with a bucket. Kuzco grabbed it and vomited into it then placed it on the floor. "You feel better?"
"Not really..I probably feel worse actually." Kuzco shivered and pulled the blanket over himself. How he'd missed his bed, he just wished it had been under different circumstances.
"I'll go get you some water."
"Th-th-...All right Blue Jay…"
She came back moments later and guided the cup to his lips, helping him drink. Then she just settled in and comforted the sick emperor-to-be as she hummed a small tune. Kuzco felt his eyes close as he drifted off to sleep.
Ms Featherbon smiled warmly. She was so caught in the moment she was surprised when a guard came in a few minutes later.
"Ms Featherbon?"
She turned to face him. "Yes?"
"You have a visitor."
"Tell them I'll be there in a second dear."
The guard nodded and left the room.
"I'll be back Kuzco dear. I just have some business to attend to." She made her way to the front of the palace and froze when she saw Pacha. "W-what are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for Kuzco. I think he ran aw-"
"He's here." She said, the most apathetic and uncaring she'd spoken to anyone who wasn't Kunak.
"H-he is?"
"Yes. It's my duty to protect royals, and I felt that he was in danger emotionally in your residence." Ms Featherbon explained.
"Danger?" Pacha asked, puzzled.
"Yes." She replied just as flatly as before. "I'd rather he didn't live with someone who could worsen his mental illness."
"What are talking ab-"
"You accused him of attempting to build Kuzcotopia!" Ms Featherbon boomed.
"Listen, it looked like he-"
"You don't trust him!"
"Of course I do!"
"Then you wouldn't have confronted him about this!" She started to glow. "You wouldn't have even dared to let the thought enter your mind!" Her voice turned low and scratchy.
Pacha was startled and took a step back.
Her form changed. While she was still a bird some of her features and size morphed to be more lion-like, and her feathers had a slight purple-green tint radiating from them.
Pacha shuddered and whined as he made his way back even more. The first thought in his mind was Kuzco!
He ran past her to the royal bedroom.
"Get back here!"
"Kuzco!"
Kuzco groaned as he opened his eyes. "What?...Pacha? What do you want?" He didn't sound pleased.
"We have to get you out of here!"
"No,I'm not going back with you." Kuzco rolled over to his side and covered himself with the blanket even more.
"Kuzco-"
"You don't care about me, just get out of here!"
Pacha froze. "...Not this time."
Kuzco looked over in an angry confusion. "What are you-"
Pacha quickly grabbed him and held him close.
"What are you doing!?"
"Getting you out of here!" He pulled him closer to his chest.
"Why!? Do you just not want me to be ha-What is that!?"
Ms Featherbon-Winged Bonnet- was standing the doorway, her wings spread to block the doorway. "Where do you think you are going!?"
Pacha tightened his grip on Kuzco and using his animal impression skills to his advantage he snarled like a puma.
Winged Bonnet blinked, unimpressed. "You cannot do much to startle me, feeble peasant. Hand over the emperor and leave."
Kuzco whimpered as he gripped onto Pacha's shoulders.
"Don't worry my dear, I will free you from the reigns of his torturous peasant grasp! You will be safe soon my little bird."
"I-I-I'm n-not s-scared of..of him! I'm scared of y-y-you!"
Winged Bonnet frowned deeply, sorrow managing to show in her dark red eyes. "But what ever for? You have nothing to fear my dear little bird, my desert flower. I only have your best interests in mind, and wish to free you from this hell you are facing living with this peasant!"
Kuzco breathed heavily as he turned to face Pacha, as sweat beaded on his forehead. He couldn't even tell anymore if it was from his raging fever or anxiety. "W-w-well he w-went to g-get me when he saw you like...this!"
Sorrow filled Winged Bonnet's eyes. "I am sorry I have caused terror in you…" She looked at Pacha. "...Both of you…"
Her form shrank and she turned back to normal. She groaned as she stroked the side of her aching head. "Oooo dear...That hasn't happened in ages!" She looked over at Pacha and Kuzco and frowned. Bashfully she fluttered over. "I'm sorry dears..I-I don't know why that happens...but it's been a long time since it has...I-I feel terrible!"
"B-Blue J-Jay.." Kuzco whimpered out before coughing harshly.
"You need to get back in bed." Ms Featherbon said gently.
"Right." Kuzco coughed into his fist. She and Pacha brought them back to bed, and started to leave.
"Hey uh...can..can you two..stay?"
They headed back over to him. Pacha sat on the side of the bed, and Ms Featherbon landed on the pillow next to Kuzco's head. "I really am truly sorry I-"
"It's all right Blue Jay." Kuzco said as he closed his eyes.
She looked at Pacha hesitantly. "It's okay…"
Ms Featherbon relaxed into the pillow and fell asleep. She was still confused about what just happened, but she decided sleep would help her think it over.