The Golden Throne

Chapter 35: The highest honour

"How do you do it, Hilbert?" the Emperor asked.

The Emperor and Hilbert were seated on a balcony overlooking the vast palace garden. Before them were groves, fields of green grass and bushes trimmed to look like Pokemon. A white marble pathway lead through the garden and circled a large fountain in the centre. Hilda, Ripley and Empress Helena were playing with the Emperor's four children at the garden below.

"Do what?" Hilbert took a sip from his glass of Errion Mambo Juice.

"You defeated Team Plasma, survived the Molani Desert, beat the Macabre Twins and put an end to the Zaff. I am at a loss for words for a character like you. What's your secret?" the Emperor chuckled.

"I don't know," Hilbert shrugged. "My Pokemon? And my friends and family? They keep me going. Without them, there isn't anything to fight for," Hilbert said, seeing Hilda pick up the Emperor's young son and spinning him around. A smile broke out on Hilbert's face.

The Emperor smiled as well when he saw who was Hilbert looking at. "Ah, yes. Hilda. She's a rare one, I'll admit. A strong character with a gentle heart."

"Yeah," Hilbert muttered, still smiling and eyes on her. The Emperor took out a cigar from a wooden box and lighted it. He sucked it, formed a circle with his lips and alternated the size of his mouth from big to small. He slowly puffed out the smoke as he did this, forming an 'O' shaped puff of smoke out of his mouth.

"Not bad," Hilbert nodded.

"Do you want one?" the Emperor offered Hilbert a cigar.

Hilbert looked at the Emperor awkwardly. "I appreciate the offer, your majesty, but I... err... it's against the law for someone my age to smoke."

The Emperor looked at Hilbert unamusingly.

Oh crap, Hilbert thought.

"I am the law," the Emperor blurted. Hilbert gulped and mustered the strength to reach for the cigar. Suddenly, the Emperor burst out laughing, "HAHAHA! Got you!"

"Ahaha! Yes you did!" Hilbert laughed awkwardly. PHEW.

"You should've seen the look on your face!" the Emperor wiped a tear from his eye. "Don't worry, Hilbert. I won't force you."

"Ehehe," Hilbert took a sip from his drink. The Emperor puffed his cigar again and reached for a radio on a desk to his right. The Emperor inserted a disc into the radio and pressed the Play button. The sounds of an acoustic guitar playing a C came on.

"Hilbert, I hope you don't mind, but I'm a fan of country music," the Emperor said.

Hilbert tilted his head curiously as his ears picked up the intro of the song. "Hey, I know this song! It's, ah, what's its name? Sunshine something."

"Sunshine Hearts," the Emperor corrected.

"Yes! By, um... Jim Jeremy!" Hilbert snapped his fingers. "This is a Unovan song. You listen to Unovan country music?"

"One of my favourite things about Unova," the Emperor chuckled. The Emperor then began singing along the first verse of the song together with the radio.

"Ohhhh baby! Why is it such taboo!

For me to miss you?Come here, baby! Let's make a baby!"

Hilbert laughed and joined in.

"Because like sweets and tarts, we'll be Sunshine Hearts!"

The both of them laughed and continued with the song. They sang and sang their heart out until the song reached its finishing guitar solo. Hilbert quickly began air guitaring while the Emperor used the nearest two pencils he could find as drumsticks. The palace maids passing by gawked at the sight of their leader and a teenage boy doing this.

"Thank you, everyone!" Hilbert spoke into an imaginary mic, and they both laughed. "Man, I've always wanted to be in a band," Hilbert chuckled.

"You're not the only one," the Emperor sighed. He started thinking about his childhood. He thought about all the good memories he had as a kid. A face popped out in his mind's eye. It was a face he missed very much, yet thinking of it wracked him with guilt. The face of the man who was the light of his days as a boy. Zultan's face.

"Hilbert," the Emperor murmured. Hilbert turned to the Emperor attentively. "I am sorry for my hostile behaviour towards you whenever you brought up Zultan. I was so tormented by guilt that I never wanted to hear any mention of him again. I wanted to forget that he ever existed, because I thought that doing so will ease my anguish. But deep down inside, I know my hands are covered in blood.

"I wish... things were different. I know it's useless for me to say this now, but.. I have my regrets. If I had forgone my childish selfishness and saved his family like a real leader should, none of this would have ever happened. Zultan would have never been consumed by rage and madness," the Emperor mumbled. Hilbert looked at him and saw the Emperor's lips trembling. A streak of water trailed down his cheek.

"Your majesty, all I can say is: the past is the past. We must live with the mistakes we've made. Learn from it, and use that knowledge to be our best selves."

The Emperor turned to Hilbert and smiled. "I am going to miss you, Hilbert."

"And I, you." Hilbert nodded.

"Are you sure you want to decline my offer to make you a high-ranking citizen here? After Odara is made a region, we'll have our own gyms, along with a Pokemon League. I'd instantly appoint you as Champion."

"Thank you, your majesty. But my heart belongs to Unova," Hilbert said politely.

"Very well, but remember: you are always welcome here,"

Hilbert smiled. "I know, your majest-"

"Please," the Emperor cut Hilbert off, "call me Sam."

"Alright... Sam," Hilbert chuckled.

"Hilbert, I have a favour to ask of you," the Emperor said.

"Sure,"

"There is a tradition in Odara that has been practiced for the past 600 years where the Emperor engages in a special duel with the greatest living warrior in the land. It is a friendly duel, and is recognized as the highest honour one who fights alongside Pokemon can achieve. My father, grand-father, and his father before had their chance to practice it. And I, in my final days as Emperor of Odara, would like to experience it for myself.

So... will you be my challenger?" the Emperor moved his robe aside and revealed his Pokebelt.

Hilbert broke into a smile. "When do we begin?"