The Golden Throne

Chapter 30: Burying the past

"We need to see the Emperor. Now," Hilbert said to the guards at the palace's front entrance.

"Right this way, sir," the guards said and led Hilbert, Hilda, Kye and Zeno into the throne room. There, the Emperor was seated on his throne and Ripley next to him. The both of them could smell Hilbert coming.

"Hilbert, do not step into my throne room with that awful stench!" The Emperor pinched his nose.

"I'm very sorry your majesty, but this is important. We came here to give you this," he took the precious book, the Analects of the Past, from Hilda and presented it to the Emperor.

Ripley squinted from her seat to have a better look at it, "the Analects of the Past?" she muttered curiously.

"This morning," Hilbert began, "the Zaff stole this book's counterpart from the Fimde La Bouf."

"That is correct," the Emperor muttered, "that still does not explain why you have walked into my palace smelling like piss!"

Hilbert continued, "they broke into Madam Zeno's house," he gestured to Zeno, "to steal this one."

"Why would they do that?" Ripley leant in closer.

"The two books hold the key to finding the lost city of Ris'dra. And the Zaff aims to awaken the legendary Pokemon of Ris'dra to take over the Empire." Hilbert imparted.

The Emperor let out the heartiest laugh he has ever made. "You're telling me that the Zaff are chasing fairy tales?" he covered his mouth with one hand.

"Ris'dra is no fairy tale, your majesty!" Hilbert huffed in annoyance. "I am telling you the truth, it's real! I've been there when I was lost in the desert!"

"Hilbert, please do not waste my time," the Emperor raised his hand to silence him.

"Your majesty, I can vouch for Hilbert. Ris'dra is real," Zeno spoke up.

"Madam Annika Zeno Pichler," the Emperor glanced at her with familiarity, "you and your family would vouch for anything mythological. How are your parents? Still chasing legendaries?"

"That is beyond the point, your majesty," Zeno said, "Ris'dra is real. And Zultan was determined to find it!"

"Zultan?" Ripley's eyes grew wide and she glanced at Hilbert. Hilbert nodded to her in return.

"Zeno!" The Emperor gasped, "do not say that name in front of me!"

"Stop running away from the past, your majesty, "Hilbert interjected. "I know about the September 13th Tragedy, and I understand that it is a memory you want to bury, but right now, Zultan is alive and plots to destroy the Empire! You can't turn a blind eye to something like that!"

The Emperor's mouth was wide open in speechlessness. "He's right," Hilda spoke up. "We saw him with our own eyes!"

"Zultan is the leader of the Zaff!" Kye jumped in.

"He kidnapped Zeno and ransomed her for this book. The rendezvous was deep in the Philoria sewers. There, he and his men laid a trap for us but we escaped by the skin of our teeth; with Zeno and the book," Hilbert explained.

"He threatened to kill me if they did not deliver the book," Zeno said. "That is how serious he is to get his hands on it."

"Your majesty, it needs to be kept safe in the palace where he won't find it," Hilbert said.

The Emperor looked around uneasily. He turned to his advisor, "Ripley?"

Ripley nodded. "Hilbert is right. We should keep the book somewhere safe."

"You too?!" The Emperor muttered in disbelief. He turned back to Hilbert and the gang. Finally, he closed his eyes and let out a sigh, "I am many things, but not an unreasonable man. If my Philosopher says that the book should be kept in here, then by all means. Ripley," he glanced at her.

"Yes, your majesty," she stood up from her seat and bowed at him. She approached Hilbert, "I'll take that," and walked a few steps before looking at him over her shoulder. "By the way, you should really take a bath," she giggled.

"You think?" Hilbert grinned at her. "Well, it looks like our job here is done," he turned to Hilda, Kye and Zeno. "Thank you for your time, your majesty," and they turned to leave.

"All of you, wait!" the Emperor called out to them. Hilbert and the gang turned around to face him. "I want you to know that I'm very grateful for what you've done," he admitted.

"Ready to serve, my lord!" Kye saluted.

"My royal birthday party is just around the corner. It will be a grand and memorable night. All of you are invited," the Emperor smiled.

Hilda let out an excited gasp. "Did you hear that?!" she turned to Hilbert with the brightest smile on her face. "We're going to a royal birthday party!"

"Super!" Kye exclaimed.

Hilbert looked at the Emperor, "thank you," he nodded.

"You're welcome. Now go take a bath," the Emperor replied.

***

The four youngsters left the palace and stood outside of the palace gate. "Zeno, we're sorry about what happened to your house," Hilda mumbled as she scratched the back of her head. There was something Hilda had been wanting to ask her, "do you live alone?"

"Yes, but a few repairs will fix things," Zeno said softly. "And it's Madam Zeno," she corrected Hilda.

"Where's the rest of your family?" Kye asked.

"I'm an only child, and my parents are in a far away land searching for legendary Pokemon," she told them.

"That's pretty rad," Hilbert told her. He walked up to her with his hands in his pocket. "If you need--"

"--Please don't come so close to me," Zeno cut him off. She pinched her nose.

Hilbert was startled by her rudeness, but he complied and took a step back. "What I was gonna say was, if you need a place to stay while your house is being repaired, you could always stay with us. We live in Errion's southern district."

"No thank you," she said. "I'll do just fine," and she sent out her Aerodactyl. She mounted her Pokemon and glanced at Hilbert, Hilda and Kye for one last time. "But thank you for saving me. We'll meet again during the Emperor's birthday party. Goodbye for now." And she was off.

Hilda watched her and her Pokemon fly away into the distance, "she's a proud one huh?" Hilda mumbled. Kye silently watched Zeno fly away. Hilda noticed Kye's silence, "Kye? Is something up?" she turned to Kye.

Kye was snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at her, "it's nothing."

"Hey, I don't know about you guys, but I'm heading home for a bath," Hilbert said to them. With another job well done, the three headed home for a much needed rest.