The next morning, Jim was awakened by several voices calling his name. "Unca Jim, Unca Jim, Unca Jim!" Before he could answer, he let out a big "OOF" as Adam Chloe, Olivia and Andrea Doppler jumped on him, tugged his arms, bombarded him with their pillows and batted at his ponytail. "Whoa, okay, okay, okay, I'm up, I'm awake, I'm awake," he answered as he tried to push himself up and deflect the pillow blows. "Time ta get up, Unca Jim," Olivia quipped up in her high-pitched voice, "Mommy says so!" "Oh," Jim replied with a big, long yawn, "Your mommy sent you?" "Yeah," said Adam. "And Mommy also says ya need ta get on your...best...jacket 'n yoo-nee-for-m!" spelled out Chloe Doppler. "Oh," Jim said as he put his feet on the floor and rubbed his eyes. "Alright, I'll do that. Oh and...tell your mommy that Uncle Jim says he'd like return the favor to you all when we get home." "Okay Unca Jim," Andrea replied oblivious to what he really meant. Jim smiled at this and looked around. "Oh hey, Olivia?" he called after the departing fantastic four. "Yeah unca Jim?" replied the yellow-haired kitten as she stopped and turned around on the steps. "Does your mommy or my mommy know where my nice clothes are?" "Uhhhhhhh," she though with a puzzled look in her green eyes, "I go 'n ask her, okay?" "Sure, go ahead," Jim answered with a wave of his hand.
A few minutes later, Amelia came down the stairs into the crew quarters. Behind her was Delbert with a big metal-bound wooden trunk in his hands. "Ah, Good Morning James. I'm pleased to see my dear four children have succeeded quite well in their mission." She spoke with a sort of mischievous gleam in her eyes. Jim just looked down with a bashful smile. "Yeah, they did. Thanks Captain." "You're quite welcome," she purred a little. "Now—Delbert if you would place the chest on the floor—James, the Admiral has sent word this morning that there is going to be a special ceremony held somewhere undisclosed. He also requests that you come dressed as finely as you possibly can be arrayed. Also," she continued talking as she unlatched the trunk and opened it up for Jim, "he specifically commands that every possession of yours be securely and knowingly stowed together and readied in preparation for either travel or a long stay. "Stay?" Jim paused as he stood with a pair of forest green dress trousers. "That is what Admiral Creed has ordered," Amelia replied, "and there is absolutely no time for hesitation, James. I therefore suggest that you dress yourself as quickly as possible and then report back to me on deck. Delbert, let's leave Mr. Hawkins to his trousseau." Her canine husband followed her out the stairs as Jim hastily disrobed himself from his pj's.
A few minutes later, Jim appeared out of his quarters with the trunk, his backpack and weapons. These he left in a neat pile near the gangplank and then he jogged over and up the poop deck stairs to the Captain. "All set, Ma'am." He spoke with a crisp salute. "Very good then James," answered Amelia with a tip of her hat-covered head. She took a moment to survey Jim's tan-trimmed black boots, dark forest green pants, simple white undershirt and gold-buttoned dress jacket that matched his eyes very well. "You look very handsome, James." "Thanks Captain," Jim answered, "You look even better yourself." "JIMBO!!" came a loud and boisterous voice from behind and below. "Silver!!" Jim answered as he turned and jumped down the stairs and ran to meet the old cyborg. "Why look at yeh, Jim! Yer spit 'n polished as a king's first droubloon!" "Oh yeah, thanks," Jim replied sheepishly as he was not used to so much attention at once. "Oh and by the way, James," called Captain Amelia from the bridge as Jim turned slightly to look back at her. "Admiral Creed wants you to report to his quarters immediately as possible. Leave your effects where they are but take your solar contraption with you." "Aye, Captain," Jim saluted as he ran below to get his surfer, reappear and run down the plank.
He jogged for quite a distance until he came to a stop in front of the Admiral's tent. "Cadet Jim Hawkins requesting permission to speak with the Admiral." "Enter, Cadet," allowed the Lieutenant on guard. Jim passed inside and stood at attention. Admiral Creed was eating breakfast with a well-attired man at his left. The man looked up at Jim's entrance and gulped down the bite he was chewing. "Good Morning," he spoke with a warm expression. Admiral Creed turned his head and saw Jim as well. Placing his napkin and utensils on the table, he pushed back his chair and arose. "Ah, Good Morning, James" "And to you to Admiral Sir," Jim returned with a snap salute. Creed saluted back and turned slightly to his guest. "Cadet Hawkins, this is Prince Philip, son of Hubert, King of Beulah. He comes with a message from King Stephen of Avalon, his father-by-marriage & law." The tall & big grizzly nodded slightly to the Prince and held out his hand—palm-up—towards Jim. "Your Majesty, I present to you Interstellar Special Forces Cadet James Pleaides Hawkins, son of Leland and Sarah Hawkins and our most valuable soldier under my command." He placed his hands behind his back and stepped away as Prince Philip arose.
"Glad to meet you...Your Highness." Jim said with a slight bow. "And I'm very well pleased to meet you as well, sir Hawkins," the prince spoke in kind. Jim smiled sheepishly once more. "It's Jim, Jim Hawkins; I mean...I don't hold any special position or title, so..." "I understand," Philip spoke as he studied the young man in front of him; it only took a few moments to see that the soldier-boy before him was the exact description of the one who'd rescued the King's youngest daughter.
"Tell me, Jim," began the prince as he withdrew a rolled-up parchment from his belt pouch, "Are you the same author who penned this letter to Her Majesty, Princess Bethany of Avalon?" He loosed the tie string, and unrolled it so Jim could see. Jim nodded like a naughty child who'd been caught doing wrong. "Yeah, I wrote it, I'm the one you're looking for." Prince Philip was elated to hear this but he kept his glee to himself carefully.
Replacing the letter, he straightened regally and said with an air of authority: "By order of their Majesties, King Stephen and Queen Leah of Avalon and King Hubert of Beulah, I'm here to convey you safely and swiftly to Their Majesties presence wherewith an audience shall be held with the one whom they seek!"
Jim was taken aback by this and looked towards Admiral Creed. The calm and resolute Fleet commander nodded. "It's all been arranged and discussed with your parents and His Royal Highness here. You shall depart in his company in," and the Admiral raised his pocket watch to his snout, "about two minutes and ride straight forth to his castle. Your family and friends and belongings shall not be far behind but you must leave now as Prince Philip here has been stayed since this past night. Do you have any other pressing matters at this moment?" "No Sir, I'm ready to travel." "Then follow His Majesty here; he'll provide you with a mount and security for the trip. Now go!" Jim saluted and followed Prince Philip out of the tent.
Nearly an hour later, the cavalcade of the Prince and one hundred horsemen arrived back at King Stephen's castle. The drawbridge was already lowered for them to cross and as they did, flowers and fragrant leaves were tossed in their path for their horses' hooves to tread upon and release more aromas. In addition, cries of welcome, blessing and praise came to their ears as the entire courtyard was filled with citizens from the two countries.
Suddenly, almost everybody's attention was captured by a strange, loud noise that seemed to come from the sky. The battlement guards shouted and pointed as an unusual object came flying into view and over the castle. The phenomenon circled the entire fortress from an astonishing height until it came plummeting down to the courtyard. But just before colliding with the stone pavement, the strange thing suddenly slowed and circled above the crowd until it gradually came lower and stopped just a foot above the ground.
"Oh, Hi," Jim spoke to the shocked, petrified and somewhat defensive crowd. Nobody could believe what it was they all saw: a young, strangely-clothed man on a flat object that seemed to be wooden with another most peculiar object made of metal on its back. Jim stepped off, picked up his board and walked in the direction of the Prince. Everyone, out of fear and respect, parted and gave him much room to pass. Prince Philip waited for Jim to come up to him before dismounting along with his fellow riders. "That was remarkably amazing," he gushed, "I've never seen such, such...magic." "Oh, well," Jim began, "actually, it's not really magic: it's a law of nature that can be used by anyone who knows how it works. I'll show you all how sometime." Philip nodded before reminding himself of the present business. "Their Majesties await your presence within the throne room but I must lead you there." Jim nodded and relinquished his board to a squire for safekeeping. Then the soldiers flanked Jim and with Prince Philip leading, the formation went on.
They passed through the courtyard, under the highest arched doorway and through a massive hallway with more archways and halls on either side. Noises of people speaking followed by a blare of trumpets came to their ears. "His Royal Highness...Prince Philip!!!" announced a herald within the room ahead. Finally, Jim could see that they'd come into the center of the massive keep and sensed that there were more people beyond the guards shielding him from any view except upwards. After about a hundred paces, the flanks of guards ahead, besides and behind came to halt and Jim followed suit. Now, all he could hear was his rapidly beating heart...and several footsteps far forward. Then came Philip's voice: "Your Majesties, I bring and present to you...James Pleaides Hawkins!" With that, the guards in front of Jim marched forward and split to the right and left; the ones on his sides turned likewise and took five steps away from him, stopped and turned back to face him. When the last footman had stepped aside, Jim was left standing by himself staring ahead. About twenty feet away was the elevated throne floor with Prince Philip standing to the left of a short, stout king who flanked the left of a tall, thin and stately monarch. Jim just stood there for three seconds...until the taller king held out his hand and beckoned Jim to come. So he slightly lowered his head and walked forward until he was about a step from the elevated floor and bowed from the waist.