Chapter Two - Departure
The festival days that followed were filled with utmost tension for Helio. Whilst he and his sister were going to be free to leave at the end of the week, the anticipation was killing him. Afterall, there were still so many unknowns. The major question was who he would be travelling with.
Presumably, it would be Pokémon he knew, and… he believed he had an idea who one of the Pokémon he was going to be travelling with is. Under the employ of the house was an old Sawk known as Sebastian. He'd served the family longer Helio could remember, and he always did so with a professionally neutral smile on his face. Sebastian was a tough nut to crack and the very picture of the perfect butler.
Ever since Helio had proposed to leave to his mother, however, the Sawk had been acting incredibly odd and out of character. Whilst normally never seen drunk on duty, Sebastian was often seen throwing himself into celebrations through Whitecap. Either the poor Sawk had suffered a mental break after being fired, or he was simply enjoying the time he had left in Whitecap before being shipped off to wherever Helio decided would be a good place to settle down on his travels. …if he decided to settle down.
The others, however, would stay a mystery. Until, of course, the final day of the Sun Festival. It was marked by a feast at sundown, outside in the fields surrounding Whitecap. A giant gazebo had been erected through the week, with benches placed beneath it for Pokémon to eat, drink and be merry as they watched the sun set on the longest day of the year.
It was a spectacular sight - Helio flitting between benches as he ate his fill of the various foods on offer. A Grumpig-sausage roll from one table, a slice of apple pie from another. The atmosphere was lively - with bards singing ancient legends and stories of heroes. The most popular tale that was sung was that of the brave Knights who tamed Solgaleo and Lunala to slay the evil light-eater Necrozma.
The legend says that, by keeping vigilance through the year, Solgaleo and Lunala take turns guarding the world. In the summer, to help the crops grow, Solgaleo extends his watch over the lands. As recompense, Lunala spends most of her time guarding the long wintery nights.
It was an engrossing legend no matter how many times he heard it, and as Helio listened to a bard speak, an incredibly loud and booming voice just assaulted his mind.
"Fair people of Mercia, I have an announcement for you all." Despite the voice being seemingly all in his head - he could recognise who it was. His mother, speaking to the crowd telepathically. Or she was. With everyone quietened, she spoke up physically.
"Today marks an auspicious day for our fair nation. The end of the Solar Festival is afoot, another bountiful year completed for us all. It marks the day that my children become adults. My beloved Helio and Hylia become a man and a woman, respectively.
And to mark that…" His mother's voice, usually sharp and commanding sounded strangely weak to the Ralts as he looked across to her. Was she… on the verge of tears? Despite that fact, his father was still with her, a paw placed on her shoulder.
"...They are to embark on a great expedition at sunrise tomorrow. They are not to be alone, however… Venturing with them will be three of our nation's finest Pokémon. Rise, our chosen champions." Seeing that he was the reason that they were heading off on this great adventure, Helio stood from his bench and moved towards his mother, looking around to try and find other Pokémon doing the same.
"First… Sebastian Blake the Sawk. The most trusted of servants to house Solstrider." Just as Helio expected, the Sawk would stand up and head to the small stage at the head of the Gazebo, kneeling before Ceres with a bowed head. He mouthed something to the Gardevoir before him, but Helio just couldn't make it out. "He will be tasked with ensuring that they remain safe on their journey. Keeping them in good health and out of trouble.
Next up, Cornelius Skywing the Staravia. The winner of the junior aerial races and the pride of house Skywing." Just like Sebastian, Cornelius arose from the crowd and landed by the stage, wings spread out as he gave a bow of respect to the countess. "His task will be to provide news and support for both us and the expedition group. His weekly reports will surely provide vital information for us all.
Last, but certainly by no means least, Erin Ellora." Wait, what? Helio blinked as he heard just what his mother had said. Erin?
She was sending what was, in essence, 4 juniors off on an expedition with only Sebastian as a guardian? Sure, he and Hylia were now technically adults, but-
"Erin is a wonderful Pokémon. Dedicated, ruthless and determined. There is no greater Pokémon to leave on this journey than her. She will, without fail, drive the group forward at all times." Helio watched as the Pawniard moved forward, matching her new companions in kneeling before the Gardevoir. With all the travellers gathered, Helio finally emerged from the crowd - spotting Hylia doing the same. For the first time, all five members of the expeditionary force were here together.
Helio, Hylia, Sebastian, Erin and Cornelius all bowed before Ceres Solstrider, her eyes closed and head bowed. Now that he was in front of his mother, Helio could feel a torrent of emotion flowing from her. It was a wonder she was able to keep anything close to a composed face.
"...May the light of the great Solgaleo guide you all to your destination fair and true." The Gardevoir opened her eyes and smiled, placing a hand on the head of everyone, releasing a small burst of light against their forehead in the form of a blessing.
"Good luck and safe travels… all of you."
With that, Ceres backed away from them, allowing them to stand and mingle with everyone again. They would be leaving at dawn, so it was a vital chance for everyone to say goodbye to their family. Their companions all gone, Helio and Hylia nodded across to each other, moving to sit and eat with their mother and father. The former of which was staring down at her plate, breathing rhythmically. Even being near her was like a tidal wave of sadness and… pride.
"Mum...?" It was Hylia that spoke up, sitting down on the bench next to the Gardevoir and leaning against her with a hug.
"Are you-?"
Ceres' left arm wrapped itself around Hylia's back, gently stroking her side. She smiled down at Hylia, a gentle mist in her eyes.
"I'm… fine, little light. This is a day I always expected would come, and yet…" She blinked, looking away for a moment and using her right hand to wipe away the stray tears that had chosen to run down her face in the process.
"My duties may keep me busy so often, little one, but I am so proud to call both you and Helio my children. You both… mean so, so much to me.
Knowing you are both to leave, it rips my heart in two. Any mother would act the same… look around - whilst the matron of house Ellora might be smiling alongside Erin and Karstedt, I can feel the twinges of pain in her heart. The same is true for lady Skywing. When I broke the news to the pair of them this Thursday, it… was tough on them. Both of them." Ceres' arm squeezed Hylia, bringing her into a tight hug.
"These emotions are all normal, Hy, I assure you. You should… go and enjoy your final sun festival. Who knows how long you'll be gone?"
This, then, is where Helio chose to step in, sitting down on the other side of the Gardevoir and smiling across at her.
"We are going to enjoy our final sun festival, mother. We can't have our most recent memories of you be a frown, can we?" Ceres blinked again with what Helio said and gave a small smile and laugh in return, bringing Helio into this tight family hug.
"Alright, you two, there really isn't much point in this sadness, is there? Come on, let's go find some mischief to make, shall we?"
It was an exhausting rest of the night for Helio. The three psychic pokemon were a whirlwind of merriment. Singing, feasting, dancing. Whilst exhausting, it was exactly what they all needed. A positive final night before they all left. So they didn't need to see their mother in tears.
The following morning, the sky was clear - orange rays bathing the land and bringing warmth to all. At the gates of the city of Whitecap, most everyone had gathered to watch the greatest departure most had ever seen in their life.
Most everyone excluding Ceres Solstrider. Despite the five brave adventurers waiting patiently, Helio's hopes for seeing his mother this morning were growing ever thinner. Did she just want to leave them with the positive experience of the prior night? Were they simply expected to just… leave and figure things out? No, surely not.
As the buzz of their departure started to wane, Helio figured it was best to just… start walking. Apparently they weren't going to be seen off by his parents, after all. He meandered along the heavily trodden road, head held low until the distinct sound of hooves made itself known.
He looked around to see what it was. Perhaps just a visitor from another village arriving late for the sun festival. But… no.
There was a cart, pulled by a Rapidash of both Galarian and Kantonian heritage, and piloting it…
"Mother!" All of Helio's heartbreak faded as he ran up the trail to get to his mother, being dragged up to sit next to her with psychic energy.
"You didn't think I was going to let you leave without anything, did you?" The Gardevoir smiled and the cart soon stopped before the gates of whitecap, ready to turn around and begin its long journey onward.
"Brave adventurers, our Mercian Expeditionary force, I leave you with one final boon.
A cart, from my own collection, alongside two of my most trusted steeds.
Mathilda and Clive are a worthy pairing for you, Helio… Hylia.
You'll find various supplies with the cart, as well, to keep your early journey as stress-free as possible."
With a saddened smile on her face, Ceres floated down from the cart and towards the gathered crowd, ready to wave off the Expeditionary Force.
Still up at the front of the cart, Helio waved the adventurers up with him. Hylia gently patting the side of the Galarian's snout as she climbed aboard to join Helio. Cornelius found himself perched with the luggage, Erin sitting on the back… and Sebastian took the reins from Helio, sitting between the pair of Ralts.
Helio… felt like he had to say something, as the leader of this expedition. As the one who posed this idea in the first place.
"People of Whitecap! Of Mercia! I promise, I shall return with stories of glory and wisdom.
Order of the Burning Star… let's go!" …okay, the name of this little group was very impromptu, but he liked it. He smiled at himself, noticing a slight smirk on Sebastian's face. With a pulse of the reins, the two Rapidash began to move. Away from Whitecap, and on a truly great adventure…
Author's Note: Volume One
Hey all, Locke here! Hope you enjoyed your double pilot of Squire of Light!
this is a story I've been thinking about for a while, and I'm happy to finally put pen to paper and share it with you all.
I'm aiming for monthly updates on this story, but the university lifestyle may leave me behind every once in a while.
Here's to many more chapters to come! See you all next time
