While Brooklyn was gliding, Sil did have an interest in wanting to look at what it was like up here in the sky. He peeked his head over the gargoyle's left shoulder and looked down. The landscape below was just going by so fast. It gave the Skeksis a weird feeling in his stomach, and he pulled his head back over. He just let Brooklyn do the gliding.

Brooklyn kept on going the direction that Chamberlain had pointed out to him.

Sil kept his eyes ahead to give the gargoyle directions. Chamberlain did tell him that over on the other side of those big hills was where his home was.

Soon, Brooklyn finally had to rest from the flight. Sil was getting heavy. He landed on the edge of a high mountain. Chamberlain was also glad to be back on his feet again. He panted a little, still feeling a bit unnerved from such a new sensation.

"You alright?" Brooklyn asked.

When he caught his breath, Sil replied, "Yes. Just not used to being in air. Very shocking feeling, it is."

"Yeah, I guess it can be, especially the first time, but I've done it most of my life that I forgot how it felt the first time." Brooklyn replied.

Sil walked to the edge of the cliff and saw how close they were to his home. He pointed, "There is castle home."

Brooklyn walked over and saw what Sil was pointing at. It was a huge castle sitting out in the middle of the valley, surrounded by huge cracks too. "Boy, this land needs some rain. The ground is all dried and cracked."

"Those cracks do serve as Skeksis power gained from the outside world during storms. But it not rain much." Chamberlain said. "Yes, does need rain."

"I can see that."

"It stormed just before Emperor died. A couple days ago."

"I didn't quite picture your castle like that." Brooklyn said. "Back on Earth, I live in a castle too."

Chamberlain was definitely interested. "You say you did."

"But mine is more spread out and has grass outside." Brooklyn said.

"Castle is very big, but dirty. Used to have much grass and green around it. Water too. Time just change it all."

"What do you mean by time?" Brooklyn asked.

"Thra has a thousand trine rule coming to end in just weeks. Great Conjunction coming up and all be renewed for sure. Very special occasion." Sil explained.

"Would be something to see, but I don't intend to stay here that long. Like you said, if your Crystal can send me home, I need your help." the gargoyle insisted. "I think we should just get to the castle so I can get home. It's been nice visiting here, but I don't think I want to live here, SkekSil." Brooklyn said.

"You could stay."

"Sorry. My clan needs me back home."

"Okay, we go." Sil reluctantly said, but if there was something that he really wanted, it was a friend, for real. He wouldn't let the others harm him if he could help it.

Brooklyn hunched down again, and Chamberlain got on again. He leaped off the cliff, with Sil not looking again. He was apparently afraid of the takeoff.

It didn't take long for the red gargoyle to land in front of the castle. Chamberlain got off his back again. All the gliding sure did give his feet a rest, and he was back home a lot faster too. It was way faster than walking.

There were two Garthim in front of the castle. They sprang to life. "Not them again!" Brooklyn exclaimed.

"I handle them." Chamberlain said. He went up to the front of them. Brooklyn watched and saw that he wasn't afraid of them.

Chamberlain raised his hand. The Garthim backed down. They would obey any Skeksis. They went back to their places. Then he turned to Brooklyn, "It's okay to go in now."

Brooklyn was still cautious about the big beetle things, but he got up behind his friend and stayed close. "You lead the way." he said.

Chamberlain smiled as they both entered the castle. Brooklyn saw how low the entrance was and instinctively folded his wings before entering.

The Skeksis saw how he did it. It was impressive. It made him look like he was wearing a cloak, and he got to see how he clasped them together. He continued to lead the way to where he thought his clan was. He was certain he knew where they were. He knew they would be settling down for the night soon, and needed to catch them all before they went to bed.

As they passed through the castle, Brooklyn looked at the rooms and the architecture. It was different than what he was used to. It was something amazing to behold.

Sil soon stopped outside the Council Chamber. He heard voices in there. He turned to Brooklyn, stopped behind him. "I found them, Brooklyn." Chamberlain said.

"Should you go in there? You said they banished you. Well, who knows what will happen if you go in there." Brooklyn whispered.

"I be fine, but they be shocked to see you, especially when they see that you are no Gelfling." SkekSil said.

"I'm used to shocked or scared impressions. Humans give me that all the time." Brooklyn said. "And they run away after that."

"They calm down after see you not threat. Skeksis tend to like creatures that might resemble you." Chamberlain wasn't sure how to describe it. Like the Teeth of Skreesh down in the underground area of the castle had the face of a gargoyle on it too.

"That'd be nice for a change. But you go ahead."

"Yes, I go in and get peace started."

Chamberlain stepped into the chamber, a little nervously, but proudly. He whimpered to get their attention.

The other Skeksis were getting ready to head to the dining hall, but then, they heard the all too familiar whimper of their most hated clan member.

"I'm back!" Chamberlain exclaimed.

"Chamberlain! You are not welcome here! Get out!" Brooklyn heard the voices. They obviously were not pleased with his return.

"I have returned with news. Creature you thought was Gelfling was not Gelfling at all! I catch up to him. I bring him here." Sil explained.

All the others were in disbelief as they didn't see the creature with him.

"Where is he if he's with you?" the High Priest asked.

"Come in." Chamberlain said.

Brooklyn knew it was his cue. He slowly came in from the hallway and stood by Chamberlain. He looked at the other Skeksis, who all looked shocked.

They had never seen such a creature before. Indeed, this was no Gelfling! He was about as tall as they were, and Gelfling were smaller, and were definitely not red skinned, or had beaks or horns. This was also the first time Sil was seeing Brooklyn in full lighting too and could see the full extent of his looks.

Chamberlain went on. "This is creature you see in Crystal. Too dark out for you to see what really look like."

"What are you, Creature?" The now Emperor, the General, demanded.

"I'm a gargoyle." Brooklyn answered. He saw why Chamberlain didn't like the new leader. He looked too mean.

"Never seen a creature like you here before." the Scientist spoke up.

"I'm not native here. I was dropped here by some kind of magical portal. Chamberlain brought me here in hopes of sending me home with a special crystal that you seem to have." Brooklyn explained.

After listening to him, the other Skeksis started talking in low voices. Brooklyn perked up his ears to try to hear what they were saying.

Then, the General spoke again, "How did this portal get you here?" he demanded.

"That part I really don't know. It all happened so fast. I was looking at a special gem at home and all of a sudden, it turned into a portal on me. It pulled me in, and the next thing I knew, I was in a swamp." Brooklyn explained.

The Treasurer was intrigued about the gem part.

"When I come to him, after Garthim attack on him, he was wounded, but it heal over daytime sleep." Chamberlain spoke up some more.

"How could that happen?" Scientist asked. "No wound heals that fast."

"Being a gargoyle, my kind of sleep heals all kinds of wounds during the day." Brooklyn replied.

"And what kind of sleep is that?" the Ritual Master asked. He knew all creatures slept. Why were they even mentioning it?

"Stone sleep." Brooklyn replied.

"He is stone in sunlight." Chamberlain said. "I see it with own eyes."

"If you turn to stone in sunlight, what about your clothes?" the Ornamentalist now talked.

"What about my clothes?" Brooklyn asked.

"Stone would tear them up."

"No. As a matter of fact, from the time I was a little hatchling, I was taught a spell that would make my clothes turn to stone with me for life." Brooklyn explained.

The Skeksis, even Chamberlain, could barely believe what they were hearing. All this talk of stone spells and stone sleep was all new to them, but fascinating, as no creatures they heard of had ever done it before.

"But, back to why I am really here. Can your crystal send me home?" Brooklyn asked.

"We will find a way." Chamberlain said.

"You know magic?" Brooklyn asked.

"We know how to use the Crystal to give us power." the Scientist replied.

Brooklyn was wary of the Chamberlain's 'family,' but this could be his only chance to go home. They were sounding like power hungry bad guys. Some of them looked mean too.

All the Skeksis were not trusting of the gargoyle at all. They just didn't know anything about him. No one trusted Chamberlain either after so many betrayals by him, but they knew him well enough, at least.

The Ornamentalist now wanted to know more about the clothes he wore again. "Are those the only clothes you have?"

Brooklyn looked down at himself. "Yeah."

"Those on your chest are intriguing. Look like hands."

Brooklyn smirked. "They are hands. The hands to my wings."

"Wings?" the Scientist questioned.

Sil got out of the way.

Brooklyn uncaped his wings. They went to clear back over his shoulders. The wings were still folded over in a relaxed position. To the Skeksis, it also looked like he had four arms too, but the ones on his back were just used for gliding.

The Skeksis all had four arms like their urRu/Mystic counterparts. Their second pair were just so small and dormant and buried underneath their clothes, high on their shoulders.

"He flew us here. We get back here fast. Walking take too long." Chamberlain said.

"I want to see them spread." General demanded.

Brooklyn looked at Chamberlain. He nodded his head.

"Okay." The gargoyle spread his wings straight out. They took up most of the space that measured across the throne and a little past on both sides. "Twelve-foot wingspan on both sides." he stated.

"You don't plan on flying in here?" the Scientist asked.

"I don't fly, I glide. And no. No room. It would have to be outside, and I have to have to have a high place to jump off of to gain the momentum to get in the air." Brooklyn explained. "But while I'm waiting for a possibility to happen about sending me home, do you uh, have any food?"

All of a sudden, that question snapped them back to what they were going to be doing before Chamberlain and Brooklyn came in.

"We were going to dinner before you and the Chamberlain came in." General said. "Care to join us?"

"I'd be happy to." Brooklyn figured he shouldn't push his luck in any way. He just wanted to have their cooperation in order that their special Crystal might be able to send him home soon, but he wanted to satisfy his hunger too. Then he could think better.

"This way. The Chamberlain will show you the way there." General declared. This creature was worthy of being treated as an honored guest rather than an enemy, at least at the moment.

The Skeksis were usually never this 'nice' to a different creature, at least not for a long time. But from his looks and all, and finding out he was no Gelfling, some Skeksis did start to welcome him more than others. They were all at least thrilled he was no Gelfling.

With Brooklyn being the most comfortable around Sil, he led Brooklyn to the dining hall with the others following, though Sil felt a bit indecent with only his minor robes being on his body. Hopefully, his robe issue would be resolved after dinner.