The Golden Throne

Chaper 11: Eburo's Dusk

"Glad you could join us gentlemen," Lord Tyrrell shook Looker and Hilbert's hands.

"Ah well, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Hilbert said.

After saying goodbye to Ripley earlier, Hilbert returned to the hospital. There, Looker offered to buy some new clothes for Hilbert. His original clothes and blue jacket were worn down from travelling though the desert. Looker said that it was no problem. After all, Hilbert didn't have any money. Hilbert showered and slipped into a new black shirt and a pair of dark green trousers. He was looking forward to a wonderful night of an Odaran celebration. The sun was beginning to set now and they were back at the palace.

"So, Ripley insisted that you should hitch a ride with us, and I said why not right?" Tyrrell chuckled. "Come on, our transport is this way," Tyrrell led Hilbert and Looker past the palace courtyard and onto a large open space where a helicopter was prepared for them. Ripley was already sitting inside and she waved eagerly at Hilbert. Hilbert smiled and waved back.

"Your grace, we'll be travelling by air?" Hilbert asked. 

"Of course we are! Lake Aeri is half a continent away. But we won't be landing there, we'll be landing at a village near the lake. That's where the ceremony will begin," he answered.

At the door of the helicopter, Tyrrell gestured Hilbert and Looker to go in first. "Ladies first," the old man joked. As they got inside, Ripley saved a seat next to her for Hilbert. She was wearing a new set of green robes for the occasion that matched her father's. Hilbert sat next to Ripley and the two were facing Tyrrell and Looker who were also seated side by side. "Here," Ripley handed Hilbert a headset with a mic on it. Hilbert wondered what it was for. After all, he's never flown in a vehicle before. All the flying he's ever done in his life was by Pokemon, namely, Zekrom.

"Alright let's go!" Tyrrell ordered the pilot. The helicopter slowly came to life. The propeller's blades rotated unhurriedly at first but after a few moments they began to pick up pace. Before Hilbert knew it, the propellers were spinning rapidly, producing a howling sound as they did. No wonder we had to use headsets, Hilbert realized because speaking over the sounds of the howling propellers was impossible now.

The helicopter lifted up steadily into the air, released from the chains of gravity. Soon, they were high above the palace. Up in the air, Hilbert could see the entire palace more clearly now. It was more massive than Hilbert could have ever expected. Its most common feature were its many balconies that were overlooking the sea. Hilbert could see many other small planes, helicopters and even some people on their Pokemon flying to a particular direction- the same direction their helicopter was headed to. "Where is the Emperor?" Hilbert spoke into the mic of his headset.

"He left an hour ago. He's at Sisiru village now preparing his speech," Tyrrell answered.

"Look," Ripley tapped Hilbert's shoulder. "That's Thamis City," she pointed at the window. Hilbert looked and saw that down below them was a city located in the middle of a lake. It wasn't placed on an island or anything like that. Instead, it gave off the impression that it was floating. Concrete buildings rose out from the water, and connecting the buildings above the water were roads and streets. The sun was slowly setting and the city appeared like a bright, twinkling star in the center of the dark lake. Looker gasped in admiration.

"We're headed for another lake. Lake Aeri. It's half a region away," the pilot informed Hilbert and Looker. In the distance, Hilbert saw two mountain peaks that rose above the clouds. Above the clouds and nestled near the tip of one of the mountains was another settlement.

"What's that?" Hilbert pointed.

"That is Skywatch," Tyrrell said. "It is Odara's only town that's 4, 096 meters above sea level."