The Golden Throne

Chapter 5: Stranded

Something rough nudged the back of Hilbert's head. In his semi-conscious state, he didn't really take notice at first. The sound of waves crashing onto a shore steadily seeped into his senses. Then the nudging continued several more times until he could slowly open his eyes. Directly in front of his face was... sand!? In a state of slight disorientation, Hilbert lifted his face off the sand. He spitted out the grit that found its way into his teeth. His vision was still blurry from just waking up but he was able to perceive that everything was bright.

He turned his head around and--

"Agh!" Hilbert groaned in pain as the sun's glare hurt his eyes. As his vision began to adjust, he could perceive his surroundings more clearly now. Standing in front of him was his Haxorus. The Pokemon had a more relieved look on his face now that Hilbert was awake. So that's what's been prodding me. But for how long? Hilbert thought. How long was I unconscious?

Hilbert slowly turned his body and sat upright. He looked around his surroundings and noticed that he had to squint from the unusually bright sun. Facing him was the sea- stretching all the way from the horizon from his right to his left was one endless shoreline. Each time the waves crashed onto the shore they would continue to move directly ahead until they reached Hilbert's feet in tiny ripples. He could feel the heat slowly hurt his skin now. It was abnormally hot. When Hilbert turned around he finally found the answer why.

Behind him, as far as the eye could see was an endless desert. Hilbert slowly stood up, taking in the reality in front of him. Debris, wreckage and metal parts that likely belonged to the S.S Supremacy were washed up here as well. Then he remembered the events of the night before- the ship, the storm, the massive wave. Am I dead? Did Haxorus and I drown?  Were the thoughts that raced through Hilbert's mind. This was exactly the kind of place a scholar told Hilbert one would go to after they die: A place with no direction where your soul would wander forever. Just an endless wasteland. Somewhere called limbo.

Then as Hilbert felt the sensation of the sun's rays eating through his skin, he realized that of course he was still alive. Haxorus saved me from drowning and swam me here, he concluded.

"Poor guy," he said as he looked at Haxorus who was also having trouble accepting the predicament of being in a desert. "You must have swam for hours," Hilbert gave him a light hug on the neck. "Don't worry pal, Zekrom will just fly us outta he-"

Hilbert's face froze in fear. His hands felt around his Pokebelt as he dared not look.

One, two, three, four, five... six? He slowly gazed down and saw the empty sixth Pokeball.

A wave of dread swept through Hilbert's body. His eyes widened and his heart began to beat faster. No... no this can't be happening! He tried to remember exactly what happened the night before: he let Zekrom out, Zekrom flew off into the sky, then the wave hit. But where did Zekrom go?! Hilbert didn't remember returning him to his Pokeball.

"Zekrom!" Hilbert cried out anxiously. "Zekrom where are you!?" He yelled as he ran along the shoreline as if his voice could be heard more easily if he moved around.

After half an hour of hopeless shouting, Hilbert began to lose his strength until he collapsed on the sand.

"Zekrom... Zekrom... Zekrom..." he whispered over and over between pants now. The scorching sun was sapping his strength. If he kept on yelling like this, he'd be dead in a few hours. He was hot, tired, hungry and most of all thirsty.

Thirsty...

Hilbert gulped at the thought of the word. He slowly picked himself up and gazed at the sea thinking it would be wonderful to just drink it all up. Heck, with this thirst, Hilbert felt like he could gulp down the entire next wave. Haxorus approached his master and saw Hilbert staring at him with teary eyes. Hilbert was crying now.