This really is just absolutely typical of my life. That was what Bruce Banner had thought when, the Hulk's form and personality having been subsumed for now within his own mind and human frame, he found himself standing next to a dead dragon, surrounded by a crowd of wide-eyed people. He did not have an opportunity to say anything though, before a wave of dizziness and exhaustion seized him, and he pitched forward unconscious onto the ground.
From a dreamless void, thankfully bereft of his other personalities, Banner started awake. The bed he found himself lying in was extremely soft and comfortable, the pillow and mattress a delight against his head and shirtless back. But any pleasure he felt was shoved away by a surge of worry as he wondered where precisely he was. Sitting up in the bed, Banner took in the pleasant furnishings of the chamber he had been deposited in, then he hoarsely cried out "Oh, Lord!" as he wondered how long he had been asleep, and how long he had until sunset and...him...coming out again. Casting his eyes around the room, the bewildered scientist saw a window through which daylight shone...but for how long? Throwing off the bedsheet, he ran barefoot across the carpeted floor and peered outside, breathing a sigh of relief as he saw it appeared to only be shortly after noon.
His sounds and movements must have been noticed, as he turned at the sound of a door opening. Standing on the threshold now was a young man clad in a plain white tunic, sleeveless and belted at the waist, with sandals on his feet, whom Banner supposed to be a servant. Seeing the man eyed him uncertainly, unmoving, Banner cleared his throat, gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile, and said "Uh...hello. Can...can you understand me?" At the servant's befuddled expression, he pointed to himself and said "Bruce. My...name...is...Bruce. Yes? Bruce."
The servant pointed at Banner and said "Bruce?", to which Banner nodded, relieved to have established the first stages of communication. The man gestured with his hands then toward the open doorway, a movement Banner had no great difficulty understanding signified that he was invited to another part of...wherever this was. He was then lead a short way along a corridor, arriving in a chamber decorated with beautifully wrought tapestries and statues, dominated by a tinkling indoor fountain...and an ornate chair on which sat a muscular, dark-haired man wearing a golden crown, an old white scar crossing his left eye, scrutinizing Banner. Standing at his side was a woman who appeared older than him, but was still beautiful. She nodded to the servant, who bowed and withdrew.
The lady smiled sweetly at Banner, and spoke in a soft voice, her words meaningless to the scientist, who could only shrug apologetically. But before anyone could say or do anything else, a new figure suddenly appeared in another doorway, that of a man looking to be in his early to mid twenties, his hair tousled and his eyes bleary, as though just risen from sleep. At the sight of him, the woman approached and placed her hands gently on his shoulders, speaking in a concerned and loving manner, to which he tenderly replied. Noticing the crowned man now risen from the chair, the newcomer bowed low. But on seeing Banner, his eyes widened, then he slowly approached and said "Hello, Doctor Banner."
"You...you recognise me?" Banner exclaimed, startled. "And you speak English?"
The man nodded and replied "I do indeed; you and your...other self...have been in the news often enough...though I had thought you were dead. Earlier, when my mother told me of who had rescued our city from the dragon's assault, I thought the description sounded much like you. But come, let's talk over food; I'm famished. You see, I think I'm the reason you're here in Valusia. I am Maltusius, and this is the house of myself and my mother, whom you have already met, as you have also met Kull, the ruler of this kingdom."