Chapter 2 – Reach for the Sky!
Trying to hide how nervous he was, Hiccup stood his ground as the scowling Trainer approached him and Fishlegs menacingly. He spared a single glance toward the unconscious Charmander resting on Meatlug's back – it didn't take a genius to figure out that this was probably the Charmander's Trainer, the one on the losing end of whatever battle had been going on. The right thing to do would be to return the fallen Pokemon graciously, but it was difficult to be so bold when the Trainer bearing down on him looked so much like a storming thundercloud.
The angry Trainer stopped in front of Hiccup's face, revealing their heights to be equal – a fact Hiccup only noticed because the dark eyes burning with rage before him were aimed directly at his own, as well as the fact that the Trainer was significantly more muscular than he was. They stared at one another, Hiccup frozen to the ground and the stranger fuming silently, for several seconds, both seemingly waiting for the other to act.
At last, the tense silence stretched to an awkward enough point that Hiccup felt prompted to say something. "Ah… uh, so… is this your Charmander, or…?"
"Obviously!" the Trainer burst out, flecks of his saliva spattering against Hiccup's face. "Now stop being useless and move it so I can get my Pokemon!"
Flinching at the volume of the sudden shout, Hiccup sidestepped to allow the Trainer free passage to Meatlug's side. Without bothering to thank him, or acknowledging the growling Rhyhorn, the Trainer stormed past and snatched the Charmander up in his arms, the Fire-type's head and tail flopping limply over his elbows. He turned around to leave, only to notice Fishlegs watching with unblinking, fearful eyes.
"What're you looking at, Fishface?!" he glowered.
Hiccup was well aware of Fishlegs' timidity around other people by now, but it was still a bizarre sight to see a boy as large as he was practically jump with terror at the threat of confrontation. He glanced left and right, as though contemplating running, before raising a hand in a tentative wave. "H-Hey, Snotlout. Um… s-sorry you lost again…?"
"Zip it, Fishface!" Snotlout exploded, his face turning an even deeper shade of red as his anger built. "Get this into your brain – Hookfang and I don't lose! We could've totally crushed that girl if we wanted to, but we didn't! We let her win!"
Before he could stop himself, Hiccup rolled his eyes and snarked, "Sounds like losing to me."
Snotlout whirled, absolutely seething at this point, but before he could so much as yell, his Charmander abruptly bolted awake. Regaining awareness, its tail flared anew and its head snapped upwards, only to lunge and sink its teeth into Snotlout's arm. The boy made a noise that was part scream and part growl, his face scrunching in pain.
"Hookfang!" he cried, and the Charmander let go, its own brow wrinkling with annoyance. A faint humming noise from Hiccup's right told him that Fishlegs had just barely held in his laughter – and, frankly, Hiccup didn't blame him.
Snotlout's glare returned, though more muted than before, agony dulling his anger. "Just you two wait," he insisted, raising his voice to a loud boast. "Hookfang and me are gonna work our way to the top of the Kalos League and become the next Champion, and once we do that, we'll never lose again! Got that?! This is just the startling line for Snotlout Jorgenson!"
Before Hiccup or Fishlegs could open their flabbergasted mouths to reply, he took off at a sprint, hollering a boastful cry of "Snotlout, Snotlout, oi oi oi!"
He vanished around the side of a building, and Hiccup was left staring after him, trying to wrap his head around all that had just happened.
"You, uh… know that guy?" he asked Fishlegs.
A sigh answered him, half-relieved and half-exasperated. "Yeah, that's just Snotlout. He's, um… well, suffice to say we don't get along."
"No kidding," Hiccup muttered. He thought back to Snotlout's parting claim, focusing on their meaning with waning enthusiasm. If he was also taking on the Kalos League, then it was more than likely Hiccup would cross paths with him again. If this first meeting was any indication, then it wasn't going to be a happy reunion.
"I just wonder who he was battling," Fishlegs added, wearing a thoughtful frown. "I hate admitting it, but Snotlout's actually not that bad of a Trainer. Who could've beaten him so badly?"
In all the commotion, Hiccup had totally forgotten the battle that they'd been so curious about. Fishlegs' observation brought that curiosity back in full force, and he nodded his agreement vigorously.
"The other Trainer might still be around," he said. "We should check out the battlefield before they leave."
"No need for that. I'm right behind you."
Hiccup stiffened at the voice that, indeed, sounded from directly behind him. Fishlegs' reaction was a bit more animated, scampering away with a high-pitched yelp. The speaker, Hiccup was surprised to see, was a pretty blonde girl wearing a blue jacket over a short-sleeved top, with matching pants and a traveler's pack strapped around her waist. Her hair was kept in place with a simple gold headband, though some stray bangs fell over her right eye. A brown falconer's glove covered her left arm, upon which sat a truly impressive brown-and-white bird Pokemon with a fearsome hooked beak.
What Hiccup found himself drawn to most, though, was the look in the girl's eyes. They were narrowed in what he could only describe as bored curiosity, accentuated by her casual posture. But contrasting that was the sharp glint in those sapphire-blue orbs – she was more interested in the two of them than she let on, sizing them up as potential opponents.
Whoever this girl was, she gave off the aura of a seasoned Trainer, something that Hiccup felt awed standing in the presence of. He shot a glance at Toothless – the Bagon was definitely interested, too, but the girl's obvious strength made him tense and wary. He didn't know if she was trouble or not.
"Sorry for sneaking up on you," the girl apologized, more out of obligation than honest remorse. "I came over to see who that idiot was bragging to and was interested in your Pokemon. A Bagon and Rhyhorn, huh? They your starters?"
"Uh…" Hiccup briefly fumbled with his tongue before answering the unexpected question. "Y-Yes, Toothless is my partner. We're planning to take our first League challenge soon."
"B-Bay bago!" Toothless himself shook off his apprehension in favor of pride at being called his Trainer's first.
The avian on the girl's arm looked amused at the dragonling's bravado. "Starra Staraptor!" it replied, flicking a wing in greeting.
"Really?" The spark in the girl's eyes seemed to intensify, and her mouth twitched with the beginnings of a challenging smirk. Her needling gaze was starting to make Hiccup feel like a Skwovet that had been spotted by a bird of prey – appropriate, considering her choice of Pokemon.
"I'm Astrid Hofferson – just came here a couple days ago from the Sinnoh region," she continued, providing an introduction at last. "I'm here to challenge the Kalos League – I got pretty far in my last challenge, but I could've done a lot better. I heard the competition in Kalos is pretty intense, which made it the perfect next step for Stormfly and I to hone our skills."
"Staaaaar!" the Staraptor, Stormfly, crowed confidently.
"You took on a League?" Fishlegs spoke up at last, his voice hushed with awe. "That explains how you were able to beat Snotlout so easily! The power required to launch even a small Pokemon into the air like that is…!"
"Nothing," Astrid interrupted him with a shrug, then gave her eyes an irritated roll. "That Snothat, or whoever he was, wasn't nearly enough of a workout. I haven't had a decent battle since arriving.
"So, how about you two?" she asked, out of the blue, skewering the two of them with her sharp, assessing stare. "Either of you up for a quick one-on-one?"
Hiccup and Fishlegs grew very still, exchanging an indecisive look, and Hiccup felt a disconcerting dread swim up from his gut. Him, battle this… this cool, experienced Trainer? He'd never even battled at a Gym before – would he even stand a chance against someone who'd battled in a League tournament, maybe even gone up against an Elite Four?
Astrid was patient as she waited for an answer, her casual demeanor only partially offsetting the way her eyes darted between them with practiced efficiency. Fishlegs was the first to bail, shrinking back with an apologetic grimace and the excuse that he and Meatlug weren't really big on Pokemon battles. Case in point, the Rhyhorn had fallen asleep on the spot and was snoring peacefully.
Disappointed, though not surprised, Astrid shrugged and turned back to Hiccup. "What about you? You're starting your journey – feel like getting a taste of what the League is like?"
He balked, eyeing Stormfly with the caution of a Sizzlipede creeping through a Corvisquire nest. "I-I don't know," he confessed. "I don't exactly have any Pokemon to match your, ah… level."
After a baffled pause, Astrid let out a laugh. "You really think I'd make you battle Stormfly?" she chuckled. "The only reason I used her against that other guy was because he kept demanding I didn't hold anything back. Muttonhead…
"No, I'll have you battle against a Pokemon that I just caught," she told him, drawing a Poke Ball from her pack. "If you don't have any battle experience, it's best you go up against a Pokemon that doesn't have any either, right?"
That was a relief. Hiccup slumped with a soft sigh before addressing his Pokemon with an eyebrow cocked. "What do you say, bud? Want to kick off our journey with a battle against Astrid?"
He already knew what Toothless' answer would be. "Bago bay bago!" he hollered, dashing forward and scraping the ground with his paw eagerly.
That settles it, then, he decided, giving Astrid a firm nod. "We're ready to go when you are."
Smirking, Astrid tilted her head toward the battlefield in a clear prompt for him to follow. "We'll use the standard battle rules," she stated matter-of-factly as they walked. "One Pokemon each, battle ends when one is knocked out. Try to make sure it isn't yours."
Hiccup caught the challenging smirk she shot him, and an unmistakable rush of fizzling energy spread up from his core. He gave her a tiny grin of his own and responded, "May the best Trainer win, then."
Nodding her approval, Astrid went ahead to take her position at one end of the battlefield, while Hiccup stood at the other. The battlefield was decorated identically to the ones he'd seen in Galar – a simple white-lined rectangle with two smaller boxes where the Trainers were meant to stand, and a circle in the very center. Looking across the field to see Astrid standing in a battle-ready posture opposite him, Hiccup couldn't deny how impatient he now felt, energy building up inside of him that wanted to be released in the coming battle.
I've always wanted to stand on one of these fields, he thought. His grin spread wider as the thrill overtook him. This is it. A real battle with another Trainer.
Toothless leapt onto the field, letting out a rather adorable-sounding roar – Hiccup appreciated the attempt. On the other side, Astrid flicked her hand to shake Stormfly off, who circled a couple of times before landing off to the side. Following the Staraptor's movement, Hiccup's eyes were eventually led to Fishlegs, who was… doing more than just sitting down to watch.
"What's going on there, Fishlegs?" Hiccup asked, confused.
His expression bright, Fishlegs waved the notebook he'd brought out over his head. "O-Oh, I just thought I'd use the opportunity to take some observation notes!" he said, blushing slightly pink. "This'll be my first time seeing a Dragon-type battle with my own two eyes! Ooh, this is so exciting!"
Hiccup chuckled as the other boy settled down and placed the tip of a pencil on the open page, looking as focused as though he was about to take an exam. The more he learned about his new friend, the more convinced he was that he was looking at a Pokemon researcher-in-the-making.
At last, he turned to Astrid and gave her a single, serious nod. "Okay, we're ready!" he declared, hoping he sounded bold and not cocky. "What Pokemon are you going to use?"
The girl palmed the same Poke Ball she'd revealed earlier and glared straight across at Hiccup, the look in her eyes nothing short of intense. A shiver prickled down his spine. She's treating me like she would any other opponent, he realized, swallowing thickly. She's taking this super-seriously. We'll have to do the same if we want to win – we're not chasing off a wild Pokemon, we're fighting a Trainer this time.
As he screwed up his courage and determination, Astrid hurled the Poke Ball wordlessly. The distinctive pop and flash of blue light preceded the appearance of a small Pokemon, a red-and-white bird with a forked black tail and narrowed, gleaming eyes. It twittered a bubbly song that, in any other context, would've sounded soothing, except for a fearsome edge that served as a warning.
A Fletchling, right? She must be a Flying-type specialist – a Bird Keeper, Hiccup thought. He took a deep, steadying breath. Okay, this is our opponent. We can do this.
"Let's go, Toothless," he told his partner, sending him an encouraging smile. "It'll be just like hitting Rookidee back home."
Raring to go, Toothless opened his mouth wide to display his single fang, releasing a challenging cry. "BAYYYYY-GO!"
Apparently, Astrid took that as permission to call the first attack, as she initiated the battle with her next words. "Fletchling, Quick Attack."
The Normal-and-Flying-type's response was instant, folding its wings and shooting toward Toothless with a plume of white light trailing behind it. It wasn't called Quick Attack for nothing – as Hiccup tried to utter a command in reply, Fletchling had already struck Toothless, the impact causing him to skid backwards. Hiccup winced at the sight of the blow, knowing it was his fault for letting it happen.
Come on, Hiccup, focus, he told himself.
Fletchling was peeling off from its attack flight, its back to them as it put distance back between it and Toothless. Hiccup seized the moment to call out a counterattack – "Now, Toothless! Ember!"
"Bagooooon!" With a cry that incorporated the hiss of flames, Toothless spat fire as a volley of small, bullet-like projectiles of condensed heat. They rapidly approached Fletchling's tail, the bird turning its head in time to see them almost on top of it.
Hiccup clenched a victorious fist. Yes, it noticed too late! It shouldn't be able to dodge!
But even if Fletchling wasn't ready, Astrid was. "Counter with your own Ember!"
"Liiiiing!" the robin shrieked, turning around with a snap of its wings and launching its own volley of embers. The two waves struck each other and canceled out perfectly, though Fletchling was tossed by the proximity of the resulting explosion. It sank lower in the air, shaking its head to clear the dizziness.
Seeing another chance, Hiccup took the initiative this time. "Use Rage, bud!"
Growling, Toothless glowed red and he took off at a sprint, intending to ram the disoriented bird with all his might.
If Astrid was worried, she didn't show more than the slightest deepening of her frown. "Dodge and Peck!"
Fletchling attempted to dart out of the way, but it was too slow to avoid damage entirely. Toothless' claw lashed out and struck it, though not directly, and it soon recovered enough to carry out its Trainer's command. A swift, pointed beak struck Toothless with precise jabs to the neck and chest, forcing him to back off.
The Bagon, though, didn't like that, and snarled with an aggression that went beyond mere pain. His red glow became brighter and angrier, wavering like a heat mirage.
The more Toothless is hit, the more Rage builds in strength, Hiccup remembered, calling upon what little experience they had. "Don't let up, bud!" he called. "Another Rage!"
"Fly up!" Astrid countered, and Fletchling obeyed, lofting out of reach of Toothless' next lunge. "Now dive!"
Again, Fletchling folded its wings and descended, though not nearly as fast as before. Knowing that it'd soon be within range again, Hiccup shouted, "Intercept with Rage!"
Toothless jumped to obey, his glow maintaining its furious hue as he rushed toward his plummeting opponent.
But Astrid wasn't done. "Growl!" she snapped, and the instant before Fletchling and Toothless were to meet, the former stopped and flared its wings directly in the latter's face.
"FLEEEEETCH!" it screeched, a hazy red sound wave emanating from its parted beak.
The combination of startling noise and visual intimidation made Toothless falter, his eyes widening as the Rage-induced aura flickered and faded. The hesitation lasted only a second, but it was enough for Fletchling to lash out with its talons and grab Toothless by the snout.
"Peck!" Astrid's command was short and harsh, and her Pokemon followed it to the letter. It hammered the Dragon-type relentlessly with an onslaught of Pecks – no matter how desperately Toothless flailed his arms and whipped his head from side to side, it held fast and continued to batter him.
Beads of sweat slipped down Hiccup's brow as he watched his partner get beaten without mercy. Guilt seized his heart when he saw how Toothless' eyes were squeezed shut, an instinct to protect his eyes from Fletchling's beak, which may as well have been a dagger at his smaller size.
Think, Hiccup! he scolded himself, wracking his brain. Rage is out, and Ember is useless at such close range. That leaves two other options…
"Toothless!" he called out, fervently. "Listen to me, bud! You need to stop panicking and concentrate – look right at Fletchling and use Leer!"
Incredibly, Toothless stopped struggling, stock still even with Fletchling's continuous attacks. For a couple of seconds, nothing happened – then he did it, ignoring his own safety and peeling his eyelids open. A vicious yellow glare hit Fletchling point-blank, and it was its turn to succumb to instinctive fear, flapping away to get as far from the blazing Leer as possible.
"Great job, bud!" Hiccup praised. "Now, follow that up with Rage!"
Toothless' next lunge was fueled by eagerness for payback, slamming bodily into Fletchling before it could get too far away. The Normal-and-Flying-type emitted a plaintive chirp as its small form tumbled through the air, regaining control of its wings only just before it hit the ground.
"Hmm… not bad," Astrid said, contemplatively. "Fletchling, Quick Attack!"
"Ember!" Hiccup responded instantly, impressed at how his reaction time had so swiftly improved.
Though Toothless was equally swift in how he spat his fireballs, Fletchling was still faster – Hiccup could only pick up on a white streak of light that swerved around each fireball in the volley before striking Toothless solidly in the gut. This time, he actually flipped over to crash on his belly, visible bruises marring his blue scales. He got back on his feet, but it was a visible struggle for him to do so, a sight that filled Hiccup's heart with smothering dread.
No, he's still standing. The battle isn't over yet, he told himself, and drew confidence from the thought. Toothless might be in bad shape, but they still had a fourth move up their sleeve that might turn things around. Just need a chance to use it…
"Use Ember!" Hiccup yelled.
"You too, Fletchling!" Astrid countered.
Two sets of fireballs flew across the battlefield to impact in the middle, exploding in a large cloud of smoke that – only momentarily – obscured Fletchling from Hiccup's view. A plan quickly sprung to mind, and he grinned. They could turn things in their favor!
"Ember again!" he shouted. As he uttered the command, the smoke thinned enough for him to see Fletchling through the holes in the cloud.
"Seriously?" Astrid scoffed, flipping her bangs derisively. "Fletchling, block them again."
They launched the same attack, with the same result. Smoke spread over the battlefield, this time totally hiding the opposite side from view – but Hiccup knew that the same was true for them, too. This was the opening he'd needed, and he called his next order with renewed vigor.
"Use Dragon Dance!" he told Toothless, clenching a victorious fist.
"Bago!" Toothless affirmed, and he began to dance, leaping and tumbling and twirling in a series of graceful movements. He took on a different glow, this one a vivid purple, and as it built in intensity his moves became faster and sharper.
"Get in there! Quick Attack!" Astrid's voice was heard behind the smoke cloud, the urgency in her tone making it clear that she hadn't expected Dragon Dance. Immediately, Fletchling punched a hole through the smog and flashed past Toothless, the combination of smoke and Toothless' increased speed throwing off its aim.
"Aim and use Ember!" Hiccup ordered, pointing after the bird.
Toothless inhaled, tracking Fletchling with his eyes until its Quick Attack faded, then spewed a single large fireball from between his teeth. Fletchling tried to dodge the projectile, but it struck a glancing blow nonetheless, the Normal-and-Flying-type coming away on a much shakier flight path. Smoke rose in thin wisps from its feathers.
By now, the field had cleared, and Hiccup could see Astrid clenching her jaw at the unfavorable state her Pokemon was in. "Quick Attack!"
"Rage!" Hiccup answered without hesitation, narrowing his eyes as Toothless charged and Fletchling turned. With enhanced strength and speed, he was sure the Bagon could win head-to-head. The damage Toothless had taken was already substantial… they needed to put an end to this.
Dragon and bird collided with a mighty thud, the clashing forces of their attacks proving equal and hurling the two away from one another. Toothless' scales were battered and scratched, but Fletchling's feathers were disheveled – they were both on their last legs, something Astrid seemed to have noticed based on the narrowing of her eyes.
"Fly up, Fletchling!" she commanded, and Hiccup paused when she turned her gaze directly on him. It was a direct challenge for him to fight his best: she was planning to finish the battle with her next attack.
That's okay. She's done this before, Hiccup thought, and for the first time met Astrid's challenging glare with one of his own. Toothless could win this. He could!
"It's flying up to gain height," he muttered. "Then it's going to dive and use the momentum to power its next attack… Toothless! Slow it down with Ember!"
"Dive and use Growl!" Astrid ordered right after.
The robin plunged like a feathered arrow as Hiccup had predicted – what he hadn't, however, was the addition of a disarming shriek that caused Toothless to falter before spewing his Embers. The projectiles were closer to his ordinary tiny blasts than the huge fireball he'd conjured under the influence of Dragon Dance. As the Embers soared upward, Fletchling jinked out of the way of most, and although a few were lucky hits, it plowed through without losing speed.
Hiccup gritted his teeth, frustrated by the surprise Growl. If he attempted to intercept, Toothless would likely take a lot more damage than he'd planned… no. He couldn't hesitate, not with his partner on his last legs and their backs against the wall. However uncertain victory was, they had to take the shot.
Summoning the remainder of his determination, he yelled one last order – "Finish it, Toothless! Use Rage!"
Toothless' body, having returned to an ordinary blue after losing his power boost, surged anew with the bright crimson of Rage. Just as eager to take the win as his Trainer was, he rushed Fletchling with all the ferocity of a proper Dragon-type. "BAGOOOOON!"
But, past the fiery haze, Hiccup saw Astrid's eyes flash with what looked to be satisfaction. In the half-second before she next spoke, a bolt of panic split his resolve.
"Fletchling, Quick Attack!"
The order drove into Hiccup's ears like a nail being hammered into a coffin. White light burst around Fletchling, and it pulled out of its dive to surge forward with a cushion of air visible around its head. It struck Toothless, the light briefly hiding the Bagon from view, and it was at that precise moment that Hiccup's hope sank for good.
Indeed, when the light faded, he watched Fletchling wheel to land on its Trainer's glove while Toothless' fallen form was left behind, horribly small and vulnerable on the empty battlefield.
"That's game," Astrid declared, satisfied. Fletchling gave a triumphant chirp before it disappeared back into its Poke Ball.
Hiccup's knees felt weak, but his concern for Toothless was great enough for him to push past that and run to his fainted partner's side. Kneeling in the dirt, he tenderly gathered the Dragon-type in his arms and set him in his lap with head propped up. A lump formed in Hiccup's throat at the state of him, eyelids closed in peaceful slumber despite the numerous bruises riddling his body.
We lost. It sank in just then, and the knowledge hurt more than Hiccup had thought it would. He'd seen Toothless hurt before, by the wild Pokemon they'd sometimes battled back home, so this shouldn't have fazed him… but this was different. They'd gone up against another Trainer for the first time, their pride on the line, and it stung so much.
The sound of hurrying feet, the rasp of harsh gasps, and a shadow falling over him told him that Fishlegs had rushed to his side. "Oh my gosh, is he okay?!" the Ingerman boy blurted out in a panic. "He's gonna be fine, right?! Fletchling wasn't that much more powerful than him, so it shouldn't have… even so, those wounds look… should we get help?! O-Oh, actually, I have something! H-Here, I carry them for Meatlug!"
Something was thrust clumsily into Hiccup's hand, and he opened it to find a round, blue fruit sitting in his palm. Recognizing the Oran berry, he hastened to cram it into Toothless' mouth. It wouldn't heal him – they'd have to go to a Pokemon Center, or back home, for that – but it would at least give him energy enough to revive him.
Indeed, when Toothless swallowed the berry, its effect was instantaneous – he twitched and raised his head, fully awake in seconds. He looked up at Hiccup inquisitively, the action coaxing a relieved smile out of him.
"There you are, bud," he said kindly. "Feeling okay? You got kicked around a bit more than I would've liked."
"Bagon, bay," Toothless replied. He attempted to sit up, only to wince and let out a whimper, quickly returning to his resting position. The lingering pain had caught him by surprise. Of course it had – he hadn't battled this fiercely before and wasn't used to this level of injury.
The sight pricked at Hiccup's heart, and he forced himself to maintain the comforting mile. "Easy there," he soothed. "You should relax until we can get you home. Mom will fix you up, alright?"
A second shadow fell across his face before Toothless could answer. He looked up to see Astrid standing over him, her hand extended in a polite gesture. Awkwardly shifting Toothless into the crook of his arm, he reached out and allowed her to pull him to his feet, where she gave him an approving nod.
"You put up a pretty good fight for a rookie," she informed him. "That Dragon Dance can definitely be a powerful tool if you use it correctly. I'd recommend polishing your moves and catching a few more Pokemon before you start challenging Gyms, but you and your Bagon have potential, for sure."
"Oh, uh… thanks," Hiccup replied, thrown off by her sudden critique. "Your Fletchling was, um, very impressive too. It's obvious you've trained it really well."
Beside him, Fishlegs nodded vigorously, looking as though he was barely holding himself back from blurting out a gushing tirade.
However, Astrid responded to his praise with a dissatisfied sigh. "Maybe, but we still have a long way to go. That last dive should've been faster, and our timing was off on those dodges. Our first Gym battle in Kalos is soon, so Fletchling needs to be perfect."
The insistence in her voice gave Hiccup pause, uncertain as to why she was being so hard on herself when she was the one who'd won. "Well, you've got a lot less work to do than us," he joked, idly reaching out to rub Toothless under the chin. "I'm surprised we got as far as we did, honestly. Our first battle with another Trainer and we almost won, bud!"
"Bay-go!" Toothless agreed, puffing out his chest.
He froze, though, when he saw how Astrid was regarding them. Her eyes flicked between him and Toothless – who was now purring from the chin scratches – she wore a severe frown that gave him pause, uncertain. Had he said something wrong, or…?
"If you're serious about challenging the Kalos League, you shouldn't coddle your Pokemon like that," she told him, her tone neutral. "The time after a loss should be spent figuring out how to improve and stop it from happening over again. Your Pokemon won't get any stronger if you're satisfied with how they did and not how they could have done."
Her advice only left Hiccup more confused. "I can't not encourage him. He's my best friend," he explained. "I mean, yeah, we could've done a lot better. But I have to make sure that Toothless understands he did all he could right now and that I'm proud of him. That way, we'll work extra hard and be ready for next time."
"There won't be a next time if you don't toughen up!" Astrid lost her patience and snapped, her glare piercing and her frown becoming a distasteful scowl. "You think we're the only two Trainers aiming for the Kalos League? There're going to be dozens, if not hundreds, of others all climbing their way to the top, and the very best of the best will compete directly for the chance to challenge the Elite Four in the final tournament. If you really want to earn a spot in the League, then you'd better work as hard as you can and work your Pokemon even harder. Otherwise, you should just forget about earning Gym badges at all and stay out of the way of the rest of us."
She backed off, composing herself enough to give Hiccup a curt nod of farewell. "Come on, Stormfly."
Just like that, she dashed off and vanished over the stairs at the opposite end of the square. Stormfly hastened to follow, letting out a squawk as she pursued with powerful wingbeats. Soon the Staraptor had disappeared as well, leaving Hiccup and Fishlegs alone with a heavy silence pressing uncomfortably down on them.
"W-Well," Fishlegs finally spoke up with a quaver in his otherwise lighthearted tone. "She was definitely, um… interesting."
Automatically, Hiccup opened his mouth to reply, a sarcastic remark already on its way. But, strangely, he found himself reluctant to speak it, the words dying before they could leave his tongue. He frowned – normally, he had no trouble making light of an unpleasant circumstance. Now, though, Astrid's parting words were filling his head, dragging his spirits down and impeding his sense of humor.
Something about her scolding shook him, and it wasn't just a matter of harshness. There was something in how she'd meant it… but he wasn't sure what.
Forget it, he scolded himself, giving himself a shake that made Toothless bark in protest. She's just a weirdly serious Trainer, that's all. There's something we came here to do, and we've wasted enough time as it is.
"Alright, then," he said aloud, turning to Fishlegs. "We still have to replace your mom's flower pots, right? Let's do that before we get distracted again."
His friend nodded, but cast a concerned glance at Toothless. "Um… shouldn't we, you know, get Toothless l-looked at by someone? I-I know it isn't as bad as it looks, but…"
"Bago bay bay-go!" Toothless insisted, looking offended. He raised his head proudly, only to wince when his bruises twinged in protest.
Seeing this, Fishlegs' eyes hardened slightly. "N-No, you should go back home, Hiccup. I can buy the pots and you can pay me back later. Toothless is your priority."
"You sure?" Hiccup asked, and when he got a firm nod in return, he relented. "Alright. Thanks, Fishlegs. We'll see you later?"
The other boy answered affirmatively, then waved goodbye and wished Toothless well. He took off at a run, calling for Meatlug, and Hiccup smiled gratefully after him. Only a day in Kalos and he already had such a good friend.
"Well, bud," he said, peering down at the reclining Pokemon. "What do you say we head back and stay home the rest of the day?"
Toothless, of course, had no objection, and with his partner's approval, Hiccup headed out of the square to begin the long walk back to Vaniville Town.
"There ya go, Toothless, good as new. Make sure to take it easy until tomorrow, ya hear?"
Valka finished spritzing the last of Toothless' wounds and set him back down on the couch, where he finally allowed himself to get some rest. He slumped exhaustedly against Cloudjumper's wing, the Altaria staying put to support the smaller Dragon-type like a faithful older brother. Looking upon the pair's bond with a proud smile, Valka stood up and retreated to the kitchen to dump the empty bottle of medicinal potion, which she made sure to keep a healthy stock of even for the only two Pokemon in the house. In the case of the Pokemon conservationist, old habits died hard.
Hiccup was also lounging on the sofa, leaning on his arm as he cast a sidelong glance over at the resting dragons. The sight of Toothless' face, completely clear and unbothered by pain, was deeply comforting to him, but he couldn't even bring himself to muster a smile. There was a weight on his soul that burdened him, a sensation that he'd noticed since leaving Aquacorde…
… No, it went back further than that. It was because of what Astrid had said to him before parting ways. The more he reflected on the scathing words she'd uttered to him, the more they nagged at him, and at last, he was beginning to realize why.
If you really want to earn a spot in the League, then you'd better work as hard as you can and work your Pokemon even harder.
It was more than just a scolding she'd given him. What people said often reflected what was in their hearts, and this was no exception. Whoever she was, whatever her motivations, Astrid… didn't see Pokemon as her friends, a notion that Hiccup found jarring. He didn't know what, exactly, she did see her Pokemon as, but it was easy enough for him to figure out that her ideas of what a Trainer-Pokemon dynamic should be differed greatly from his. And that was… unnerving.
For whatever reason, Astrid believed his relationship with Toothless was not ideal, that it would hold him back. Did other Trainers see it the same way as her? He certainly couldn't imagine that Snotlout character being a close friend to his Charmander. Maybe this mindset was normal. Maybe most Trainers distanced themselves from their Pokemon the way Astrid did, so that they wouldn't hesitate or be reluctant to send them into potentially dangerous situations. The Galar League, Hiccup knew, was certainly competitive enough to breed such Trainers, as even the Gym Leaders got involved every year to vie for the title of Champion.
Contrasting that with how distressing the sight of Toothless' limp, battered form had been today, Hiccup understood why some would think he wouldn't stand a chance in a League. He was beginning to think that, himself.
Can I still be the Trainer I want to be when I care so much for Toothless? he asked himself. He looked again at the Bagon, so small and peaceful nestled against Cloudjumper, and a lump rose in his throat. Will our friendship get in the way of our dream? Can we fight on equal footing against Trainers like Astrid, who won't be held back by worry for their Pokemon's well-being?
He surfaced from the mire of discouraging thoughts when Valka came back, gently lowering herself to sit next to him without disturbing the snoozing dragons. "What're ya broodin' about, Hiccup?" she asked with a soft smile. "Still feelin' down about your loss against that Astrid girl? Every Trainer loses a battle now and again. Ya shouldn't let it bother ya."
Hiccup gave his mother a wry smile in turn that didn't quite meet his eyes. "Yeah, uh… it wasn't fun," he replied, evasively.
She picked up on it immediately, and gave him a shrewd look. "But that's not all, I'm guessin'," she deduced. "Alright, son, out with it. What else is eatin' at ya?"
Fighting the urge to roll his eyes at his mom's powers of perception – not that he was the best at keeping secrets to begin with – Hiccup relented and confessed to her the true nature of his inner woes. Once he was done explaining the worry that burdened him, he finished with, "So I was just thinking to myself… can Toothless and I get as far as we're aiming? With the way we are now, I mean?"
"Short answer? Yes, ya can," Valka answered, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I've always had high hopes for ya and Toothless, ever since ya first came to me with the announcement ya were goin' to train him to fly. I encouraged your relationship with Toothless from the beginnin' because it's the same as what Cloudjumper and I had – and I don't hafta tell ya about the mileage we got outta our friendship, certainly."
Hiccup felt the weight lift a little. "So Toothless and I can just… do as we've always done, and still accomplish what you have? Our friendship is… the right way?"
"No, not necessarily," Valka shook her head, confusing him. With a wink, she elaborated, "Hiccup, ya hafta understand that there ain't any one 'correct' way to raise Pokemon. There are as many methods for trainin' as there are Trainers – for every person that relies on toughness and discipline, there's another that relies on kindness and understandin'. That Astrid girl does it one way, and it seems to work for her, and you train Toothless your way, but neither of ya are right or wrong.
"Hiccup," she went on, "no matter what, you're goin' to face many challenges on your journey. There'll be points where ya struggle and try as hard as ya can to overcome an obstacle, only to fail. Ya might hafta watch your Pokemon get injured, and will probably experience some devastatin' losses."
At this point, what had started as an inspiring speech was beginning to wear thin on Hiccup, who rolled his eyes at how she placed unnecessary emphasis on how he might fail miserably. "Thank you for summing that up…" he muttered.
Valka flicked him on the ear to reprimand him for interrupting. "You'll endure all of that," she picked up from where she left off, "and in those moments, you'll realize somethin'. You'll realize that the most important thing to do when you're at your lowest, and ready to quit in the face of hardship, is to pick yourself up and keep goin'. No matter what happens to ya, no matter who tries to tell ya different, no matter how impossible the path forward seems, remain true to yourself and always do what ya believe is right. That's how you'll become the master Dragon Tamer you're aimin' to be."
And just like that, Hiccup felt a carefree smile return to his face unimpeded. The weight lifted, his mother's encouragement floating it away as though it were as light as Cloudjumper's wings. He knew in his heart that she was right. As he often did, he found himself admiring how easy she made it sound, the confidence in her words reassuring him that his dream was attainable. Part of that was probably experience – she'd already done what he was aiming to do, after all – but there was also belief, genuine belief in him and Toothless.
And that made it easier for him to believe in himself.
"Thanks, Mom," he said earnestly. "Thanks for… always being there for me."
"Wouldn't be much of a mother if I wasn't," she quipped, and reached out to envelop him in a hug. "Just remember that even on your journey, when I'm not with ya, I'll still support ya wherever ya go."
"I know," he replied, and meant it with all his heart.
They separated, and Valka stood up with a huff. "Well, son, if tomorrow is gonna be the big day, ya should really get packin' for the journey now. Ya don't want to wake up tomorrow in a panic and throw everythin' together at the last minute."
"Right," Hiccup answered, hopping out of his seat as well. "Most of what I need is in my room. I'll go get it organized and then come down for Toothless' Pokemon food."
"Ya go do that, then. I'll fix ya both a snack in the meanwhile," Valka nodded.
Cloudjumper raised his head as she walked off, dutifully following her toward the kitchen. Unfortunately, the Altaria had apparently forgotten that Toothless was sleeping next to him, as the Bagon's head thumped unceremoniously against the sofa cushions hard enough to startle him awake. Grinning at the amusing sight, Hiccup picked up the wide-eyed Bagon and brought him comfortably to his chest.
"You catch any of that, bud? We're leaving on our journey in the morning," he told him. "Want to help me get my stuff together?"
Shifting immediately from confused to ecstatic, Toothless flapped his arms in a show of excitement. As always, the little reptile was firmly in Hiccup's corner – another loyal supporter that Hiccup knew would be with him through anything and everything.
"Race you up the stairs," he gave a good-natured smirk. "Winner gets the loser's extra fish at dinner."
"Bagooooooon!"
Night fell over Vaniville, plunging the already quiet town further into silence. In the Haddock household, everything had been put away and everyone put to bed. All except one – Hiccup remained awake, staring up at the ceiling from his bed while Toothless curled up beside him, dead to the world.
The events of that day replayed in his head. Befriending Fishlegs, meeting Astrid, watching Toothless go down in defeat, preparing for his journey… and all the emotions that came with those things. Yet what kept him awake now was one, simple fact – that his journey would begin in the morning, only a few short hours away. While his mother, Cloudjumper, and Toothless all slept soundly, anticipation prevented him from joining them.
Tomorrow, he set out for the Kalos League. The path would be long. It would be hard. It would challenge him over and over again. And Trainers like Astrid would be waiting to test him along the way; to test his ideals and his commitment to his goal.
That night, Hiccup made himself a promise – he would keep a firm eye on that goal. He would keep his mother's wise words in mind and never again waver, no matter who or what threatened to shake his confidence in himself. He wasn't just carrying his own hopes for success, but Toothless' as well, and so it was for both of their sakes that he needed to press on.
I'm going to be the best Dragon Tamer. I'm going to evolve Toothless and teach him to fly. And nothing's going to stand in our way.
Finally, Hiccup closed his eyes and fell asleep.
AN:
A lot more to establish in this chapter, the first of which is the debut of everyone's favorite obnoxious muttonhead (my favorite, at least), Snotlout. I love writing him and Hookfang so much – their slapstick routines are absolutely classic.
The biggest development in this chapter is of course, Astrid, who will be a major character going forward. Instead of keeping her original outfit like I did with Hiccup and Fishlegs, I put Astrid in the Sinnoh Bird Keeper uniform – partially because I think she'd rock it, and also because I made her a Flying-type specialist. I think it fits her, since she rides the most bird-like dragon in canon and is very skilled in precise combat both aerially and hand-to-hand, which suits a type focused on speed and sharp senses. (The fact it appeals to my own love of Flying-types and massive pro-bird bias is just a bonus.)
I had a lot of fun establishing the start of Hiccup and Astrid's dynamic. I took inspiration both from their early relationship in the first movie as well as Ash and Paul's rivalry from the Diamond & Pearl series. The two are going to be important for each other's character development further into the story, but for the moment, they're simply rivals.
This chapter marks the end of the prelude to Hiccup's journey – in the next chapter, the adventure officially starts! Thank you for reading, and please review!
Next time: Two Heads are Better Than One
