Though they had a 'guest' in their castle that night, the other Skeksis, all but the Chamberlain, went to sleep that night. He and Brooklyn spent all night talking. Even the Ritual Master had gone to bed since he had heard Brooklyn's words and felt he wasn't much of a threat, at the moment.
Before the great Gelfling killing of their race, the Skeksis had been friends with the Gelfling race, so to speak. Chamberlain's side of friendship was kind of re-emerging with talking to Brooklyn. Brooklyn needed something to do that night and what was he supposed to do with everyone sleeping?
Around dawn, Chamberlain was beginning to get tired, as was Brooklyn.
The Skeksis did figure that his and Brooklyn's ways were very different, and it was for the best that they did send him home to his world. If he stayed here, he would have to develop a purpose here in this world.
"I had nearly turned to your kind's way once." Brooklyn suddenly said. Sil was beginning to douse a bit, but he snapped back when he heard that.
"What?"
"Demona wanted me to turn against my leader, Goliath, by putting a spell on him. That's how I learned to hate her. She betrayed me too. Tried to kill me. And she has in a multitude of times following it." Brooklyn looked down sadly.
"I wanted to be new Emperor after old one died. But I lost fight. If I stayed, I would still find ways to overthrow him if I could, but he is much stronger than me. General is my biggest rival." SkekSil said. "Likely, he would find ways to hurt Chamberlain."
"I never did ask, what caused the emperor to die?" Brooklyn asked.
"Sick. For long time, noticed Emperor had problems breathing, and toward end, find out he was doing experiments on some big power called Darkening. He used it in big battle with Gelflings, but that stopped too, and we lost one of own when used back on Skeksis. One Gelfling had powers too. Not know where ended up, that one. But Emperor's health keep on getting worse. One day, he take off a decoration on end of his beak, and revealed he had done work with Darkening, and it was weakening him. He tried hard fight to live. No Skeksis wants death. Live long lives. Just want to live long." Sil explained.
"I can understand. You love life for your clan. Yourself. So does my clan. But every time it seems we get to a staple life, something goes wrong, and it gets torn away. After we first got to Manhattan, we thought Xanatos was our friend, but after Goliath saved Elisa, she quickly proved that she could be trusted. She found us a new home at a clock tower that was above her police precinct. Then some human hunters found out where we lived by putting a tracker on Goliath, and we lost that home too. Now we have this Quarryman problem at home. I won't abandon my clan." Brooklyn replied. "After Xanatos and Fox had their son, Alex, he reformed and saved us and took us back to our castle home."
Sil had listened intently. "Yes, Skeksis love life. Never had castle taken from us. Always been our home since been on Thra. Not much life left, but Great Conjunction coming up soon should change that. Old things be made new again. New life for Skeksis. About Emperor, even SkekTek couldn't save him from death that came from dealing with Darkening." he explained.
"Sorry about the Emperor." the gargoyle said.
"No need to feel sorry about. We were ready for him to die. We wanted chance at getting new Emperor. He abused power for too long." Sil said.
"Okay. I won't speak any more of it, but he should have meant something more to your kind. Especially when there aren't many of you left. My kind does. We appreciate every one of us that still lives, at least ones that haven't betrayed us." Brooklyn stated.
"He did. We not kill other Skeksis, our rule. It was his time. Your kind doesn't fight each other all the time?" Sil asked.
"No, not unless we have to. We want to save the last our world has of my kind, and there aren't many. We can't even reproduce fast enough to bring back the numbers we once had." Brooklyn declared.
"How so?"
"My kind can only breed every twenty years. The females lay one egg after a six-month pregnancy, and that egg doesn't hatch until ten years later. That's why I'm saying we can't breed fast enough to replenish the numbers we lost so long ago." Brooklyn explained.
"Fathers help with childlings?"
Brooklyn had never heard that term used before but replied, "Yes. All the adults take care of the babies. From what I remember as a hatchling, the generation of older hatchlings help too. But we also had no set couple for parents either. All adult females were called our mothers and adult males were our fathers. In a way, that worked. If any were killed in a battle, no one hatchling was called an orphan. My clan would just raise us all the same. As brothers and sisters, but we were not biological siblings. Once we come of age, we get to pick our mates. I haven't found one yet. Not enough females." Brooklyn explained.
Then the gargoyle noticed that though Chamberlain was listening, he did have a strange look on him. He was still listening but seemed tired. Then he felt he needed to stand up anyway. He got up and went to look out the window. He had a feeling inside him that he needed to look out the window.
Chamberlain watched him.
"It is nearly time for me to go to sleep again." Brooklyn said. "And even without looking, I can sense when sunrise is near. But I had to check."
"Sure. Am sleepy." Chamberlain agreed.
"You can go ahead and get settled." Brooklyn said.
"You blow out light?"
"Sure, when you are settled." Brooklyn left the room so the Skeksis could get settled for a few minutes.
Chamberlain removed his heavy clothes, then he pulled back his blankets and laid down and covered himself up. "Brooklyn?" he said.
Brooklyn hadn't gone far. He heard his name and came back. "Yes?"
"Light."
He nodded and went up to the fire and blew it out. Now there was a little light in the room from the window, what little light the dawn offered.
Sil wanted to see Brooklyn turn to stone again, but he was just too tired. He drifted off once the fire was out. Brooklyn watched him. He knew he was tired. Of course, he was too.
He went back into the hallway near a window and greeted the dawn first thing by taking a near same pose that he had out in the swamp. He was now stone in the hallway.
The other Skeksis began getting up for the day. Breakfast being the first thing on their minds before duties. When everyone showed up in the kitchen, Chamberlain and the gargoyle were the only ones absent.
"Where's the Chamberlain?" the General asked, as Emperor.
"Don't know. Not seen him since last night." came the answers.
"He'll show up. Let's begin without him." the Slave Master said.
"Fine." General agreed. He still wasn't fond of the Chamberlain, but as emperor, he was checking to see if his clan was all there. "And the gargoyle?"
"Not seen either." the Ornamentalist said.
"I only saw them last night before bed." the Ritual Master declared.
"And?"
"Him and SkekSil were talking in his room." SkekZok replied.
As much as all the Skeksis wanted to sit down to breakfast, they all went to Chamberlain's room because they wanted to see the gargoyle again.
There was enough light in the Chamberlain's room now that things could be seen more clearly, but it was dark enough for the Chamberlain to be sleeping soundly.
The other Skeksis arrived in SkekSil's room and found the Chamberlain still sleeping. That was strange. He was always awake at this time just like them.
"And where's the creature?" the Scientist asked.
They looked around and didn't see Brooklyn anywhere. If that gargoyle betrayed them, he was in trouble. SkekSil was supposed to be in charge of him, as their guest.
"Find the creature!" Ung ordered.
The others went to look in other hallways for him. He couldn't have gone far, but they didn't want him in places that he shouldn't be.
SkekOk soon found him. "I found him!" the Historian called out. He was super surprised at how he found him though.
The others hurried to the location of where they heard SkekOk's exclamation. Out in the main hallway, Brooklyn was encased in a ferocious pose, in stone!
Now that was a shock to them all. Chamberlain and Brooklyn had spoken that the gargoyle would turn to stone during the day. Now they all had their proof.
"But what of the Chamberlain, Sire?" the Gourmand spoke up. "He will hold us up for breakfast."
The General thought to himself. Though Sil was back, it would be nice to enjoy themselves without the whimpering worm around.
"Let him be. We will eat without him." the General replied.
Everyone smiled. Sil was too tired to wake up anyway at the moment. They were satisfied that Brooklyn wasn't going anywhere.
Later in the day, the Chamberlain woke up and saw that his friend wasn't in the room with him. It got him a little concerned. He quickly dressed and went looking for him. He looked in the two closest hallways and found him in one of the main ones, by a window. Sil breathed a sigh of relief. He was still here.
He also knew that he needed to show himself to his duties since he had missed breakfast and the morning Crystal ritual. He would try to catch it tomorrow. He was hungry for food by this time too.
Sil took some scraps from the Slave Master for his food. He knew Brooklyn wasn't going anywhere, but he kept on looking outside to see if the suns were setting.
Chamberlain whimpered as usual around his fellow Skeksis, but whenever he passed by another Skeksis, they could tell something was different.
Finally, it was getting close to sunset, but not there entirely, the Ornamentalist approached him. He was one of a couple of closest allies to him, and yet, had turned on him just before his banishment.
"SkekSil, what is going on with you?" he asked.
"Nothing."
"It's the creature you brought home, isn't it?" He could tell.
Chamberlain gave him a curious look.
"You didn't show yourself like you are supposed to for breakfast and duties this morning." SkekEkt said.
"Me and him up all night." Chamberlain replied. "That's why I not show most of day."
There, Ornamentalist had his answer. "And I also saw the creature in stone like you said too."
"Am waiting for the final sun to go down. That going to be a great thing to see." Chamberlain declared with some excitement, thinking of how Brooklyn was going to be waking up.
"And how is he going to wake up?" SkekEkt asked.
"After final Brother goes down, his stone case starts cracking, eyes glow, and stone goes flying, and he roars." SkekSil explained. "I seen it yesterday." Then he turned. "Must tell others."
The Ornamentalist followed. This was something they all needed to see for themselves. It had been a long time since they had seen something exciting in a new creature.
As the Skeksis were beginning to gather in the dining hall for dinner, the Chamberlain, followed by the Ornamentalist, came in. The Gourmand was a little suspicious about that.
The Chamberlain spoke up. "Hey! It is getting close to sunset! If you all want to see most best thing ever, come with me! Brooklyn is soon to wake up as soon as last Brother sets!" he exclaimed, and then turned to go back to the hallway that his friend was at.
The Ornamentalist immediately followed. The Gourmand didn't want him to be with the Chamberlain alone. The Ritual Master was still suspicious of the gargoyle. The rest of them were curious as to how the gargoyle was going to be getting out of the rock formation. They all got up from their seats and went to see Brooklyn's transformation too.
Chamberlain entered the hallway and kept his distance. The other Skeksis got there too and spread out.
"This better be as spectacular as you say, Chamberlain!" the General warned him.
"It will be." Chamberlain said. He looked outside. It was getting darker.
For several minutes, they all stood and grumbled. SkekSil had better be right about this. He was the least liked of them.
Outside, the Dying Sun finally went down. It was the last to go down.
Inside the hallway, there was a cracking sound now. The Skeksis all looked over at the gargoyle.
Cracks were appearing all over his body. The stone skin was shattering! Then the eyes glowed a bright white, and Brooklyn's voice could be heard. His body moved, and he roared. The stone skin went flying everywhere.
The Skeksis shielded their faces from the flying stone shards. Like he had said, the Chamberlain had said it would be something to see.
Sil smiled when he brought his sleeve back down.
All the others now lowered their arms from their faces and saw the red gargoyle before them again. His eyes had settled back to normal.
"Hi." Brooklyn greeted.
The Skeksis didn't know what to say.
"Welcome to the night." Chamberlain replied.
"Never seen anything like that before!" the Scientist exclaimed.
"And you probably won't coming from any other creature." Brooklyn said.
"And this happens every night?" the Ornamentalist asked.
"Yes. And turning to stone every morning." Brooklyn stated. "It has always been this way for my kind."
"You had Chamberlain missing out on his duties today, Creature!" the Ritual Master pointed out.
Brooklyn saw this one meant strict business. "Because he was talking to me all night!" Brooklyn growled back.
SkekSil looked at Brooklyn. No one had ever defended him. "I still did them."
"But very late in the day." the General said.
"It's not my fault I'm cursed with being only active at night. I was born this way." Brooklyn declared. "It was his choice to stay up with me."
"And how are we going to do this? We are active in daytime, usually." the Scientist asked.
"We need to get him sent home as soon as possible." the General said.
Brooklyn was glad to hear that.
"How about right now!" the High Priest demanded.
"The Crystal's power is strongest with the Great Sun, we know." General said.
"But I'm not awake when any sun is active." Brooklyn reminded him.
"Hard to try to figure out, but surely we could find a way." the Scientist said.
"What about a storm?" the Gourmand suggested.
"It could be the answer." the Ritual Master said.
"But we don't know when the next one will come." the Historian spoke.
If Brooklyn could stay longer, it would make Sil much happier. He didn't want him sent home too soon.
"But if he's going to stay until a storm comes, he's going to need a purpose." SkekNa stated.
"Hmm. Could be Night Guard." Sil offered. "He say gargoyles protectors in his world."
"We have my Garthim for that." Ung stated.
"But they not active all the time." Sil snapped at him.
"Well, he could do that then." the General reluctantly agreed with his rival. "But don't you think of harming us." Ung warned Brooklyn.
"I wouldn't dream of harming anyone, unless there's a reason. Chamberlain is right. That is a gargoyle's purpose in my world. Being protectors." Brooklyn declared. "Of course, we also enjoy things that regular folks like to enjoy too, all while still doing our protecting job at home as well."
"We are active for little while after dark." Sil said.
"Tonight, Chamberlain, you are going to be going to bed at the rightful time." Ung ordered. "Yes. Brooklyn, you will be our night guard until further notice."
"Thanks, Your Majesty." Brooklyn bowed.
The Skeksis did see he had respect after all.
The Scientist then spoke up about his curiosity about Brooklyn's wings.
"How do you use those wings of yours?" SkekTek asked.
"Huh? Oh, we use them for gliding on updrafts in the air." Brooklyn replied. "We patrol our city at home nearly every night."
"Perhaps you could patrol around our lands then as well, to make sure there are no immediate threats?" SkekOk offered a suggestion.
"Sure, if that's what you want." Brooklyn stated.
"I'd like to see how you fly with those wings." Tek stated.
"Glide. And yeah, I could do a demonstration." he offered.
Since he was right near the window, it was a good place to take off from. Brooklyn looked down to the ground. He had plenty of height to use. The wind seemed fairly decent enough tonight. Now was a decent time while there was still some light left on the horizon.
The Skeksis all watched as the gargoyle stepped onto the edge of the window ledge and looking out at the areas around, he jumped off the wall and spread his wings immediately. The Skeksis all stepped to the window to see how he looked gliding.
Unlike the female Gelflings, or birds, a gargoyle didn't constantly flap their wings. If they needed some more lift, then they would. For the most part, Brooklyn kept his wings straight. It was easier for him to glide now without any weight on his back. Brooklyn was one of the most acrobatic in the air of his clan.
Brooklyn flew a good distance toward the horizon, and he did some movements in the air too. Like somersaults, spins, and even diving. He tucked his wings close to his body and dove toward one of the cracks in the ground, but just as he got close, he spread his wings out and caught an updraft that brought him up high again.
The Skeksis saw he could use his skills in the air rather impressively.
Brooklyn soon came back to the ledge. He was given room to land.
"Really impressive, Gargoyle." SkekNa said.
"Not think even Gelfling fly as good at that." Sil complimented.
"Thanks." Brooklyn smiled.
"And you're not afraid to take off like that?" Tek asked.
"No. Not now. It happens at the first time learning it, sure." Brooklyn stated. "For hatchlings when they are shown how to do it the first time. I always need high places to take off from. And if I get stuck some place, like the ground level, well, my talons can be used to climb walls too if needed to get me out of a place I can't spread my wings."
To the Skeksis, this gargoyle sounded like he could be a much more useful guard than any of the Gelflings had been in the past. But he could only do it at night. Hence, the Skeksis slept most of their nights.
"Good. You shall be our Night Guard until you are sent back to your world." SkekUng decreed as emperor.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Brooklyn bowed his head.
"Good demonstration, but now, it is time for dinner." Ung said, and he led the way back to the dining hall.
Brooklyn was to eat first; then do as he was instructed as the new night guard. He would join them for dinner again.
They would try to think of a solution of how the Crystal could get Brooklyn sent home. Being a night creature was a problem. And he was heavy when he was stone. The Crystal thrived best on sunlight.
The Scientist thought of something but didn't want to bring it up. No longer friends with her, but the ancient creature known as Aughra would probably know of a way to get him home. This was going to be tough.