The Golden Throne

Chapter 19: A baron's dream

"Golurk, return!"

Hilbert glanced around to double check if his assailants were really unconscious.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, his guards escorted him to the City Hall- or so he thought. He was brought to a less active part of the city and was shoved into a dark alley by the very men who were meant to protect him. They were then joined by Zaff soldiers that descended upon Hilbert from the rooftops. Everything happened so fast that before he knew it, guns donned with silencers were aimed at him. If it wasn't for quick thinking, reflexes and a little bit of luck, he wouldn't have been able to send Golurk out in time to save his life.

Hilbert stepped out of the alley and onto the street. The Zaff were in the city and the people had to know before it was too late. It seems Ripley's plan to keep things quiet wasn't going to work out. Hilbert made his way through the streets of Adaru.

"The Zaff are in the city!" Hilbert ran to a crowd and yelled frantically. "Save yourselves! Get out while you can!"

Hilbert was met with dozens of puzzled faces

"Weirdo," Hilbert heard someone among the crowd say.

"Momma, what's that boy saying?" asked a boy.

"Oh he's just crazy, dear," a woman's voice replied.

Everyone turned away and ignored him. They were too preoccupied with the festival and continued to drink, laugh, and chat among themselves.

"You have to listen to me, the Zaff are in the city! Help me spread the word," Hilbert approached a group of girls.

"Ew, creep," they said and maneuvered away from him. For the next several minutes or so, Hilbert ran from person to person, child to senior citizen- but all thought Hilbert was some lunatic.

"Is there a problem?" A guard slapped his heavy palm onto Hilbert's shoulder from behind. Hilbert spun round and took a step back. He wasn't sure whether this was a real guard or just a Zaff soldier in disguise. "Master Hilbert?" The guard muttered in puzzlement, "Where have you been sir? You're expected at the City Hall, and... Where is your robe?" He asked.

"The Zaff are in the city," Hilbert told him bluntly, still unsure as to whether this man could be trusted or not. "We have to tell everyone to leave."

"That's ridiculous, the city is heavily guarded," the guard informed him. "You're still expected at the City Hall. Come with me," the guard said as he kept a firm grip on Hilbert's shoulder. Hilbert tried to jerk his shoulder free but the guard tightened his grip and kept Hilbert in place.

Hilbert's eyes slowly met the guard's and he saw his mouth break into a grin.

***

"Ripley was a fool to send you to me. To send you to your death," Leon chuckled as he took a step onto the Battle-Room's arena. Hilda scowled at the man and reached for a Pokeball.

"Uncle, I... I don't understand," Kye mumbled. "What's going on?"

"After tonight," Leon faced his nephew, "Adaru City will be nothing but a memory."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Hilda said.

"If you want answers," Leon pulled out a Pokeball, "try to survive. Tangrowth, obey your master!" Leon shouted.

A Pokemon whose body was a hulking mass of vines emerged from Leon's Pokeball. With slime dripping form its body, it lurched towards Hilda with a sloshing sound.

"Ugh," Hilda grimaced, "Ferrothorn, I choose you!"

"Forrthorferr..." Ferrothorn growled.