Chapter 5 – What's Bugging You?
"Welcome to the Pokemon Center, where we guarantee your injured Pokemon can be restored to perfect health!"
The cheerful, chirrupy greeting from the nurse at the building's front desk – one of many identical, pink-haired women collectively referred to as Nurse Joy – was as welcome to Hiccup's ears as the sight of the lobby's polished interior and the feel of the air-conditioned atmosphere were to his eyes and skin. Pokemon Centers were always a sight for sore Trainer eyes; they were free facilities dedicated to serving travelers, boasting top-of-the-line health care services for Pokemon as well as amenities for Trainers to use, such as beds for overnight stays and shops selling supplies at a discount. They were hospitals, markets, and inns all in one – not only was this one the perfect place for Toothless to rest up before challenging the Gym, it was also ideal for Hiccup and Fishlegs to take a much-needed rest after everything they'd been through.
The journey from Aquacorde to Santalune – counting all the times they'd stopped for meals, training, and (in Fishlegs' case) Pokemon observation – had taken them over twenty-four hours. They'd exited the Santalune Forest at sunset the previous day and camped out on Route 3, before descending the grassy, picturesque hills to arrive at the city at their foot the following morning. Hiccup's jacket and pants were covered in old dirt and grass stains, and he stank of sweat both from walking and from training with Toothless. The Bagon himself was also battered, stained, and tired, fresh bandages around his leg after the previous set had been torn during one of his workouts. Fishlegs and Meatlug fared better, having not pushed themselves nearly as hard, but were still tired and filthy.
"Finally," Hiccup muttered, as he strode past the sliding doors and into the refreshing coolness of the lobby proper. "Let's get you checked out by the nurse, Toothless. Then I can clean up and get changed before we head for the Gym."
"Bago," Toothless answered, toddling at his feet at a hurried pace to keep up.
"D-Don't forget registering for the Kalos League tournament!" Fishlegs piped up, stumbling after them. Meatlug wasn't with him – he'd sent her back to her Poke Ball. "You need to show your Trainer Card and be entered into the system before you're allowed to take on Gyms."
"Right. Thanks, Fishlegs," Hiccup replied sincerely, having forgotten all about that particular detail.
He was so busy talking to Fishlegs, and thanking his lucky stars that his mother had insisted he triple-check his bag for the all-important card that denoted him as an official Pokemon Trainer, that he barely registered his immediate surroundings. His feet carried him on autopilot toward the front desk, until –
"Ah!" he cried out, startled into snapping out of his thoughts when something roughly jolted him from the side. Toothless squawked indignantly as he almost tripped over the Dragon-type, and Fishlegs' worried exclamations added to the temporary din. Hiccup regained his balance, glancing back and forth to make sure he hadn't dropped anything or stepped on Toothless… then his brain caught up to his body, and it finally registered that he'd bumped into someone rather than something. Shame and panic flooded him, his cheeks burning with heat as he turned to face his unfortunate new acquaintance.
He found himself staring at a girl with vivid green eyes, which blinked in surprise at his unexpected appearance, and Hiccup felt the heat increase tenfold. The only thing more embarrassing than walking into another person was discovering that they were someone of the opposite sex.
"Ah… s-sorry," he said lamely, the only thing he managed to get out in his mortified state.
Fortunately, her startled expression eased. "It's fine," she replied, with a swift glance at Toothless. "By the look of you… you're here to officially enter the Kalos League?"
It took Hiccup a second to work out her shrewd assessment. "Uh… yes."
She nodded, apparently satisfied with that. "Good luck, then," was all she said in response, before resuming her walk toward the exit without another word.
"Nia!" the Pokemon with her – which Hiccup only just now realized was there – echoed its Trainer's farewell, then scampered swiftly after her. Hiccup only got a quick glimpse of its metallic, red-and-black exoskeleton before the sliding doors closed behind it.
That was… random, Hiccup thought dumbly. The encounter had been so surprising and quick that he'd barely had enough time to register when it ended.
Shaking his head to clear the confusion, Hiccup went back to the task at hand and reached the front desk, though not before he took the time to reach down and hold Toothless to his chest for the nurse to see. Said nurse, Joy – a young woman sporting an iconic pink Pokemon Center uniform and matching magenta hair – smiled welcomingly at him and his partner, already reaching behind the desk for a six-slotted tray meant for holding Poke Balls.
"Welcome to the Santalune Pokemon Center!" she chirped again. "I assume you're here to give your Pokemon a check-up?"
"Yes please – just Toothless here," Hiccup confirmed, placing the Bagon atop the counter. After a second of thought, he dug into his pocket and pulled out Toothless' Poke Ball as well – an object that didn't see much use in the Haddock household, as Toothless infinitely preferred being near his Trainer.
Joy took the Poke Ball with a nod of thanks before calling for her Wigglytuff assistant. Arriving at the front desk with a small stretcher, the pudgy Normal-and-Fairy-type fixed Hiccup with round, kind eyes and smiled invitingly, patting the stretcher to indicate where Toothless was to go. Of course, this wasn't Hiccup's first visit to a Pokemon Center – even though Valka preferred to treat Toothless' injuries herself – so he picked the Bagon up and placed him atop the cushioned seat without hesitation. He did feel a little guilty at the reluctance in Toothless' face as he was wheeled away from his Trainer; Toothless never did like being separated from him for any length of time.
"Your Bagon will be back with you in no time," the nurse said in a reassuring tone, apparently having spotted the bittersweet exchange.
"O-Oh, uh… I know, thank you," Hiccup answered. "Um… I was also hoping to register for the upcoming Kalos League tournament?"
"Of course!" Joy replied without missing a beat. "May I see your Trainer Card?"
Nodding, Hiccup took off his backpack and swung it around, holding it in one hand as he groped with the other for the smallest pocket, where he kept his most important items. When he got the zipper open, he slid his hand in and retrieved a small plastic card, upon which his ID number, birthday, region of origin and photo ID were embossed. He slid the license across the counter for Joy to receive, which she placed into a scanning machine behind her desk.
"It's not a problem that I got my Trainer Card in Galar, is it?" Hiccup inquired, the possibility of causing interference with the system dancing across his mind.
Fortunately, the last-second worry was unnecessary, as he found when Joy handed his license swiftly back. "Not at all," she reported. "It isn't often that we get Trainers from different regions with the same Trainer ID as another competitor, and when we do, it's a simple matter to contact the Pokemon League and sort it out. Anyway, Hiccup Haddock, your acceptance into this year's Kalos League has been finalized. Here's your badge case – don't lose it, as it's required to register for the tournament itself."
She slid another object towards him, this one a clear, rectangular case with the symbol of the Pokemon League on the outside and black padding on the inside. Eight depressions, each one shaped somewhat differently, lined the padded interior, representing the eight Gym badges Hiccup would need to earn to be eligible to enter the final tournament. His heart beat a little faster at the sight of those slots – they were empty now, but he could imagine what they could look like once filled, and it was a tantalizing image.
"Thanks," Hiccup said to the nurse again, and turned around with a slight grin. "Hey, Fishlegs, look what I just go–"
Yet Fishlegs was no longer there. Hiccup froze in place, blinking blankly, genuinely stumped as to where his friend might've gone. He'd been right there, walking into the Pokemon Center beside him. Maybe to the Poke Mart, the entrance of which was visible on the other side of the lobby? Or perhaps he'd seen another interesting Pokemon and –
Suddenly, the sight and sound of the automatic doors opening grabbed Hiccup's attention, where a familiar, square-shaped figure was scrambling to enter. Fishlegs looked just as he did yesterday morning just before they'd exited Vaniville, all out of breath with tiny legs stumbling as he raced to return to Hiccup's side. He skidded to a halt in front of the shocked Hiccup, hands on his knees and chest heaving.
"S-Sorry… Hiccup…!" the Ingerman boy panted. When he looked up, his face was red from both exertion and embarrassment. "I-I ran after that girl you… bumped into… I wanted to ask for… permission to take notes on… her Pawniard… I-It's a rare Pokemon and I… d-didn't know when I'd get another opportunity to –"
He stopped rushing to explain himself when Hiccup placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling with relief. "Hey, it's fine. I was just wondering where you'd disappeared to, that's all," he told him. Then, thinking it over, he amended, "Just, ah, you know… tell me next time you run off? We might accidentally get separated…"
"R-Right, good plan," Fishlegs conceded, wringing his hands with a nervous chuckle. "So, d-did you register? A-And is Toothless getting healed?"
Hiccup took moderate pride in flashing him his new badge case. "All taken care of," he replied. "Between this, and all the training Toothless did on the way here… we're probably ready to challenge the Gym."
Nodding enthusiastically, Fishlegs gushed, "I definitely saw significant improvement with Toothless' strength and speed levels during our practice! It'll be tough going up against multiple opponents, but I'm sure you can do it!"
"Well, I appreciate the confidence boost, if nothing else," Hiccup snarked lightly. "If we can win, we can probably head out of Santalune and toward our next destination later today."
"That's…" Fishlegs started to say, and then a hush fell over him, his eyes widening. It was almost as if he was too awed to speak its name at first. "… Lumiose City."
Hiccup nodded, remembering what he'd studied of his map. "That's the one. I definitely remember hearing about a Gym there… oh, and I want to visit Mom at Professor Sycamore's lab before we continue onward, just to let her know I – what, Fishlegs?"
He goggled at the other boy inquiringly – indeed, Fishlegs had only grown more quiet and spooked-looking as he talked, his hands covering his mouth as if to stop himself from blurting something out. Noticing Hiccup's stare, he instead put his hands to either side of his mouth and whispered almost reverently, "… The Professor Sycamore's lab?"
"Well, yeah… not like there's more than one," Hiccup remarked, furrowing his brow at Fishlegs' odd reaction. "Mom works there now, so I figured she'd appreciate a visit while we're in the area. Why?"
He carefully studied Fishlegs' behavior – pupils darting everywhere except in his direction, more twiddling of the thumbs and discomforted shifting, and speaking in a near-incoherent mumble. "I-It's just… you know… Professor S-Sycamore's the f-foremost authority on P-Pokemon science in the entirety of K-Kalos, so… h-he's, um, pretty famous, and… uh…"
Blushing now, Fishlegs turned away completely, to Hiccup's consternation. "N-Never mind, i-it's nothing."
Hiccup frowned at his friend's sudden withdrawing. Maybe he'd just forgotten that Professor Sycamore was one of the most respected scientists in the world, since hearing his mother talk about her new job had led him to think of the man as just her boss. Maybe Fishlegs, as the scholarly sort, idolized the guy. But still, this abrupt evasion of the topic felt strange from the boy who'd otherwise grown comfortable with him so quickly.
"Fishlegs, I…" he began, hoping for some kind of hint.
"L-Look!" Fishlegs suddenly exclaimed, pointing. "L-Looks like Toothless is all done with his ch-checkup!"
Despite himself, Hiccup looked toward the door he'd seen the nurse's Wigglytuff disappear behind. The Pokemon was returning with its stretcher, Toothless perched on top and looking more alert and energetic than ever. As soon as their eyes met, Toothless cried out in glee and leapt off the cart, startling Hiccup into running forward and catching him. He let out an "oof" when the Dragon-type hit his chest, but his partner's weight was immediately forgotten when Toothless reared up to lick him across the face.
"Yeah, I'm happy to see you too, bud!" he laughed, a mix of delight at Toothless' affection and disgust at the saliva coating his cheeks. "Thanks again, Wigglytuff."
"Wiggly!" the rabbit-eared Pokemon chirped appreciatively, then hurried to attend to some other business, taking its stretcher with it.
For a moment, an awkward silence descended over the duo. Hiccup studied Toothless – the bandages had been removed, and all traces of damage were gone – and listened to the ambience of conversing Trainers in the background, unsure of what to say to renew the conversation.
"So… the Gym?" It was Fishlegs' hopeful question that broke the metaphorical ice.
The Gym. Hiccup took a deep breath and let it out slowly, mentally preparing himself to take that next big step. If he didn't move forward… he wasn't going to become the top Dragon Tamer he always wished to be.
Finally, he nodded, his smile tense and not reaching his eyes. "Suppose I'm as ready as I'll ever be. What about you, Toothless?"
Toothless didn't answer right away – instead, he looked up at him quizzically, no doubt sensing his nerves and wondering how to respond. But Hiccup didn't have to wait long for Toothless to come to a decision, a hard glint sparking in his eye. He raised a stubby arm and belted out a sharp cry, proclaiming his support as fiercely as he could.
That single shout of "Bago!" meant the world to Hiccup. Already, the tension in his brow and his shoulders was easing, soothed by the reminder that, whatever he was going to face, he'd face it with his partner at his side.
"Thanks, bud," he said, earnestly. Then, he faced Fishlegs and, determinedly, repeated his answer – "We're definitely ready. Let's go earn that Gym badge."
The Santalune Gym wasn't far from the Pokemon Center, nothing more than a few minutes' walk down an ornate brick road and past a small square where an ornate fountain entertained passersby with the pleasant sound of rippling water. Hiccup found himself appreciating the architecture of the buildings and streets in this corner of Kalos, and it culminated in their arrival at a building unmistakable for anything other than what it was – a Pokemon League Gym. Aside from the symbol of the League stationed right above its doors, it had a distinctive design that popped against its more old-fashioned surroundings: dark green with a museum-like aesthetic, and a glass dome visible behind it.
Hiccup paused for only a couple of seconds before seizing the door handle. Here we go, he thought, and finally strode over the threshold, the door swinging smoothly shut behind him.
As it turned out, the impression he got of the Gym being a museum wasn't entirely inappropriate. The interior wasn't anything like a Gym – it was an art gallery, with a polished red floor and elaborate picture frames hanging from the walls at neatly-spaced intervals. Each frame held, to Hiccup's great interest, a photograph rather than a painting, every one of them featuring some kind of Bug-type Pokemon. Beside him, he heard a gasp and then the faint echo of boots on tile, the sound of Fishlegs being unable to resist admiring them from close-up.
Tearing his eyes away from the picturesque scenes of Bug-types flourishing in meadows and forests, Hiccup at last noticed one other person in the room, a blonde woman in a tank top and cargo pants staring with interest at the farthest photograph from the entrance. What caught Hiccup's eye was the large, professional-looking camera hanging from her neck, a clear indication that she wasn't any old visitor to this gallery. In fact, he was pretty sure he knew who she was… and so he approached her, heart pounding like a drum.
"Excuse me," he asked after clearing his throat, "but are you the Gym Leader?"
The woman turned to him with a welcoming smile. "Sure am," she confirmed. "The name's Viola. In case you were curious, I'm also the person who took these photos." She waved a hand at the walls, the nonspecific gesture prompting Hiccup to take a second look around.
"Wait… you just gestured to all of them," he noted.
"That's right," Viola answered with an inflection of pride. "Pokemon photography's a hobby of mine, so I filled my Gym with my best work to show off my love of Bug-types. I want challengers to leave the Gym with the same appreciation for them as I have. That's who you are, right? A challenger?"
"Guilty as charged," Hiccup joked. It was easy to talk with Viola, her chattiness just the distraction he needed to relax. He didn't feel tense at all anymore – rather, he felt better than ever about the battle he'd come for. "I'm Hiccup, and this is my best friend, Toothless."
He reached up to pat Toothless again, and Viola's eyes widened. "Fantastic!" she exclaimed all of a sudden, lifting her camera. "Hey, do you mind if I snap a quick pic of you two?"
Before Hiccup even knew what was going on, let alone how to respond, his eyes were assaulted by a series of flashes as the distinctive snap of a camera shutter rang through the gallery. Blinking rapidly to rid himself of the spots, his vision cleared to see the camera's screen hovering in front of him – his own face stared back, wearing a tiny smile, while Toothless cooed under his touch. He was so struck by the wholesome innocence of it that he forgot his shock at the impromptu photoshoot.
"Sorry for not asking first," Viola said, pulling the camera away. "Whenever I see a Trainer and Pokemon demonstrating their strong bond, I can't help but want to capture the moment. Of course, the best way to see the bond between Trainer and Pokemon is in battle, but something as simple as a look exchanged between two partners can still say so much. You two are just fantastic together!"
Hiccup flushed red – no stranger had ever commented on his and Toothless' friendship with such depth before. The flattery was both empowering and embarrassing to hear.
"Y-Yeah, uh, speaking of battle," he tried to shift the subject, "I've, ah, come to challenge you for a badge… is it a bad time? We could always come back later-ish…"
"Not at all!" Viola replied cheerily. "There aren't many challengers this early in the League season – I haven't battled since yesterday. As Gym Leader of the Santalune Gym, I accept your challenge!"
"Ooh! Hiccup, this is so exciting!" Suddenly, Fishlegs was there, startling Hiccup with how he seemed to appear at his side, pencil and notebook in hand, out of nowhere. The Ingerman boy was practically vibrating, unable to settle down. "My first time witnessing a proper Gym battle! Don't worry, Hiccup, I'll be sure to take lots of notes for later reference!"
Once Viola and Fishlegs were properly introduced, the Gym Leader led them to the back of the gallery, where she opened a door and led them down a dimly-lit corridor. She chatted intensely with Fishlegs all the while, who was full of comments about her handiwork, leaving Hiccup to tune out the increasingly technical conversation and reflect. His thoughts were full of how he and Toothless – them alone – would be tested on the stage that awaited them.
"Bay," Toothless said, drawing his eye. The dragonling's muzzle was curved in a thrilled grin, eyes sparkling in the dim hallway. Just like that, all such thoughts melted away, the many questions simultaneously answered by Toothless' promise. It was a simple one that Hiccup understood right away – We can do this together.
"I know we can, bud," he responded. His doubts about winning, his worries about how Toothless would fare, receded until he was able to shunt them to the back of his mind.
All at once, light flooded his eyes, and he shielded himself from the bright deluge. Rapidly adjusting, he lowered his hand to gaze upon a lush greenhouse, the contents of the glass dome he'd seen from the outside. Trees stretched to the ceiling, flowering bushes growing thickly amongst them – it seemed the perfect atmosphere for a Bug-type specialist. The center of the greenhouse was devoid of plants, so as to keep the battlefield clear for both competitors. It was exactly as the one Hiccup had battled on in Aquacorde Town, a perfect rectangle of dirt bordered by white lines. This was official, League-sponsored turf.
At some point upon entering, Viola and Fishlegs had separated, the Leader taking her position at the far end of the field and the spectator retiring behind the concrete barrier that separated the battlefield from the wild gardens. Dutifully, Hiccup took his own place opposite Viola, who stood with her hands on her hips and her welcoming demeanor gone, a daring smirk matching the fire that now burned in her eyes.
"Remember, Hiccup!" she called out now, almost tauntingly. "It's the Gym Leader's job to truly test their challengers! That's why I won't be holding anything back – my lens is always focused on victory!"
Unable to think of anything equally witty to say, Hiccup merely nodded. "Toothless and I will show you how strong our bond really is! Let's go, bud!"
"Bayyyyyy-gon!" Toothless hollered, and Hiccup stumbled as he kicked off his shoulder and landed in front of him, claws swiping at the air.
A girl wearing a striped referee uniform came through a door on Viola's end of the chamber to stand on the side of the battlefield, a colored flag in each of her hands. Without needing a prompt, she launched into an explanation of the rules: "This is a formal Gym battle between the challenging Trainer and the Leader, Viola. Each side is permitted the use of up to two Pokemon" – Hiccup gulped, trying not to wince – "and the battle will be declared over when both of one side's Pokemon are unable to continue. Only the challenger is allowed mid-battle substitutions. Are both sides ready?"
Hiccup and Viola each nodded once, no words necessary, and the referee raised her flags. "Release your first Pokemon!"
"That'd be you, bud," Hiccup said, an undercurrent of exasperation in his voice. Toothless was supposed to have waited until now to hit the field – but, eh, semantics. "Give 'em everything you've got!"
Viola's daring grin only grew as she palmed a Poke Ball. "Here we go – my first subject!"
The capsule opened with the familiar flash of light, unleashing an odd, spindly-legged insect with a blue exoskeleton and a curved spike projecting from its round body. It appeared to slide back and forth along the ground, and Hiccup regarded it with confusion. He hadn't seen anything like it before. It was likely a Bug-type, but that was all he knew. Why is there never a Pokedex around when you need one…
A shout caught his attention – Fishlegs, leaning over the barrier. "That's a Surskit, a Bug-and-Water-type! It's very nimble and is able to walk over water!"
Thank you, Fishlegs' Pokemon knowledge, Hiccup thought, disregarding his previous wish. Okay, Water-type. That means Ember won't be quite the trump card we decided it would be… still, if we can somehow trap it with repeating blasts long enough to get in close…
He abandoned his speculation and snapped to attention as the referee slashed her flags downward, her announcement ringing out for all to hear – "Bagon versus Surskit! Let the battle begin!"
"Go for it, Toothless! Ember!" Hiccup blurted instantly. He was already tense, horribly aware of an invisible clock ticking. Two against one… we have to take out Surskit as fast as possible.
But Viola wasn't going to cooperate. "Dodge, Surskit, and follow with Water Sport!"
"Bagaaawwww!" Toothless roared, and the two consecutive blasts that flew from his jaws were different than the ones he'd used before; they were compact and focused, more power in a more efficient package. In short, the results of the training Hiccup and Toothless had done in Santalune Forest.
However, those results would only be effective so long as they could hit their mark. And they did not – Surskit darted between the fireballs, avoiding the damaging heat with skate-like strides. Once the danger had passed, Surskit let out a trill and spewed water from its single antenna, acting like a living sprinkler and saturating the entire battlefield with moisture. Hiccup's eyes widened at how much faster the Bug-and-Water-type had become with a single move, perfectly at home on the muddy surface.
So her strategy is to alter the terrain to her advantage? he guessed. Suddenly motivated to meet Viola's challenge, he declared loudly, "We can make ourselves faster, too! Toothless, Dragon Dance!"
Although he slipped slightly on the wet terrain, Toothless nevertheless pulled off his Dragon Dance, the purple glow growing brighter with every jump and twirl. Viola called for Bubble Beam, a rapid stream of water-filled bubbles fountaining from Surskit's antenna, but Toothless managed to make use of the field's slipperiness and slide under it on his knees. His final dance move concluded, he stood ensconced in a menacing aura.
"Good job, bud!" Hiccup praised, impressed by how his partner had made the battlefield work for him. "Now that you match it in speed, use Rage!"
"Bagooooo!" Toothless howled, and rushed forward with every footstep kicking up mud. This Rage, though, was slightly different – inspired by his previous training, he now charged with his head lowered, his helmet pulsing with the same red light that flashed in his eyes. He crossed the field in just seconds, approaching Surskit with a final, powerful leap.
"Quick Attack, Surskit!" Viola instructed.
Hiccup's jaw dropped at what happened next – the Bug-and-Water-type seemed to almost vanish before his eyes, only a trail of white light visible when it zipped behind Toothless. Hitting only air, the Bagon stumbled and fell face-first in the muck, and then Surskit flickered again, smashing its glowing body into Toothless' vulnerable backside. He skidded a fair distance before getting up, scales stained with mud all over.
"Ember!" Hiccup shouted.
"Bubble Beam!" Viola retorted.
Toothless dutifully spat fire at Surskit as soon as it had stopped moving, but something was off. The projectiles that shot forth burned no hotter, nor flew any faster, than before, even though they should have been affected by the Dragon Dance boost. Surskit's Bubble Beam met the Ember head-on, held at bay for only a second before the bubbles extinguished the flames and hit Toothless in the chest. The pressure pushed him to the very edge of the battlefield, where he waved his arms frantically to keep from falling over.
"Water Sport doesn't just help Surskit move faster!" Viola called out. Hiccup was unsure if she was being helpful or boasting. "It increases the humidity in the area to weaken Fire-type attacks!"
Oh, good to know, he quipped in his head. The plan hasn't changed – we can only do any real damage if Toothless hits it physically. Just gotta limit its movement…
"Run while using Ember!" he yelled. "Cover as much area as you can!"
"Bayyyyy!" Toothless snarled in response, splashing toward Surskit while spraying flames at random.
"Quick Attack!" Viola responded.
"Skitskitskitskit!" the insect chirped as it weaved around the barrage, looking as though it were teleporting in bursts of light. None of the Embers came even close to hitting, every one landing on the damp field where they were instantly extinguished. Another burst of speed put Surskit directly behind Toothless, and the next thing Hiccup knew, Toothless was being sent sprawling again.
The Gym Leader pushed her advantage, calling out even as Toothless stood up, "Now use Bubble Beam!"
An idea came to Hiccup, and he desperately seized it. "Push through it with Rage!"
Growling, Toothless lowered his head and rushed at the oncoming torrent of bubbles, hitting it with an immense SPLASH. Though his progress was slowed to a crawl, he forged ahead against the onslaught, planting one foot in front of the other and using his helmet like a battering ram to push through.
Hiccup's heart leapt as he watched the Dragon-type push forward like a Basculin against a river current. "Attaboy, Toothless!"
His opponent didn't share in his good mood. "Force it back, Surskit!" Viola ordered. "Give it your best Bubble Beam!"
Surskit dug in its heels – or the tips of its legs, anyway – and increased its rate of fire with a shrill scream. The Bubble Beam now looked more like a Hydro Pump, and for a second, its force was enough to stop Toothless in his tracks. But, with a gurgling roar, Toothless took another step, then another and another. At last, Surskit reached its limit with the continuous attack and had no choice but to cut it off, and Toothless seized his chance to ram his head straight into its exposed body.
"That's it, bud!" Hiccup cheered, balling his fists with excitement. Their first hit on Surskit, and it was a big one. He glanced eagerly at the Bug-and-Water-type, spinning to a halt in front of its Trainer with a bruised exoskeleton and quivering legs. That was its weakness, he now knew – its impressive speed only compensated for poor defenses. "One or two more hits, and we've got this, Toothless!"
"Bay…" Toothless replied, and the exhaustion in his tone made Hiccup stop and take another look. Surskit's relentless Bubble Beam may have taken a toll on it, but Toothless appeared just as tired for straining against it. Though he remained standing, his posture was slumped and his jaw hung open, from which Hiccup could hear his breaths – deep and rasping, the sound of a Pokemon pushed to the brink.
Toothless… He clenched his fists harder, frustration and worry causing his knuckles to turn white. His mind raced – maybe they still had a chance to defeat Surskit, but there was still a second foe waiting in the wings. They had to take it out now, and save as much of Toothless' energy as they could for the next one. The doubts he'd done such a good job of ignoring crawled back to the forefront of his mind, and he just as stubbornly shoved them back.
We need to close the gap. Biting his lip, Hiccup took the initiative and gave another command. "Use Rage!"
"Dodge!" Viola ordered, quickly.
Fortunately, Toothless still had it in him to rush Surskit, who darted away with ease, even though its movements were slightly slower than before. When it put enough distance between them, he halted his attack and glared daggers at the flighty insect, frustrated at how it always seemed just out of reach.
"Catch it with Ember!" Hiccup tried again. The last time I did that…
Toothless gave chase again, shooting fireballs ahead of him. At a word from Viola, though, Surskit used Quick Attack to flicker out of the way of each blast that came close.
But this time, Hiccup watched Surskit carefully. If he was right, and Viola used the same tactic as last time, then there might be an opening to… there! Just as he was thinking it, the flash of light trailing from the ultra-fast Pokemon curved around and stopped right behind Toothless, revealing Surskit for only an instant.
"Go! Quick Attack!" Viola called, punching the air emphatically.
It was exactly what Hiccup had been waiting for. "Turn around with Rage!"
Even as Surskit glowed yet again, Toothless stopped mid-run, whirled around, and kicked off the ground with a spray of mud. Surskit had no chance at avoiding him, having already thrown itself forward with lightning-quick speed, and the two smashed into each other with an explosion of dust and steam as the energy from their clashing moves was released. Both Pokemon were pushed backwards, battered and gasping for breath, and Toothless' helmet started to glow an angrier red as the effect of Rage kicked in.
"Come on, bud, keep it up!" Hiccup said, throwing out his arm with a desperate energy as he spoke. "Finish it with Rage!"
"Bayyyyy…" Toothless growled, taking a single step… and stopping. His head suddenly drooped, arms going slack, exhaustion temporarily overwhelming him. Hiccup's next breath shuddered with fear – it looked like it was taking all of Toothless' strength just to remain standing.
Viola grinned widely, making a square shape with her fingers as though positioning a camera. "Looks like it's time to take the shot for a picture-perfect victory!" she announced, the declaration giving Hiccup a sinking feeling. "Surskit, wrap it up with your Ice Beam!"
It knows Ice Beam?! Hiccup's terror spiked, stiffening as though cold water had been poured down his back. He couldn't let Toothless get hit by an Ice-type move or else they were done. "Toothless, get out of there!"
"Skiiiiit!" Surskit trilled furiously, a blue glow building around its antennae before it lanced forth as a jagged, lightning-like beam. It seemed to crackle like real lightning, though the sound was closer to that of fracturing ice, and snowflakes spun off its length instead of electrical sparks.
Toothless' eyes flew wide at the Ice Beam's approach, forgetting his tired state entirely as instinct kicked in. He flung himself to the side – Hiccup watching his body twist as if in slow motion – and managed to miss the frigid blast by the skin of his teeth. It flew past him entirely to strike the wall of the greenhouse and freeze it, its passing leaving only a tiny patch of frost on Toothless' flank that melted as quickly as it formed.
"Haaaahhhh…" Hiccup's knees wobbled as he released the air he hadn't realized he'd been holding onto. "That was close."
"Excellent last-minute dodge! Wish I'd captured it!" Viola admitted, impressed. "But can you dodge another? Surskit, Ice Beam!"
Ice beats Dragon, but Fire beats Ice.
With a last-ditch plan in mind, Hiccup shot a desperate look at his partner, who'd yet to come down off his fight-or-flight-induced high. "Toothless, use Ember, and put everything you have into countering that Ice Beam!"
"B-Bago!" Toothless answered in a plaintive tone from the spine-tinglingly close miss. Drawing a powerful breath fueled by lingering adrenalin, his next series of Embers spewed forth rapidly and continuously. Individually, they weren't any stronger than before due to the humid conditions, but together, they struck Surskit's Ice Beam dead-on and held fast, proving equal in strength.
The stalemate lasted only a moment, but it was a moment that seemed to last forever. Surskit was just as worn out as Toothless after their high-speed back-and-forth, and it sagged under the pressure of maintaining its Ice Beam. A loud hiss filled the Gym as Toothless' Ember melted through the weakening ice and struck Surskit, sending it spiralling away to crash against the wall at the edge of the field.
It lay still, leaving Toothless the only one standing.
"Surskit is unable to battle – Bagon wins!" the referee announced.
The victory was a small weight off Hiccup's chest, but the weight didn't lift entirely. No, he understood all too well that the battle was only half done, and he didn't like how haggard Toothless looked after only one match. This time, when he tried to shove his doubt back in its box, it clung to him like a weed.
Maybe I should just forfeit and come back later. There's no way Toothless can fight again in the state he's in now. We'll try again after we've trained some more, or captured another Pokemon to bolster our numbers…
"Bago Bagon!"
Startled, he surfaced from his disconcerting inner monologue and looked to Toothless. The Bagon was trembling, battered, and exhausted – but he was smiling, his single fang winking in the sunlight while the purple light of Dragon Dance burned steadily around him. He hadn't given up, and wouldn't settle for giving up, not when they'd already come so far.
At last, Hiccup smiled back. "Okay, bud, if you insist," he deferred. "If you want to fight to the end, then I'm behind you."
On the other side of the field, Viola nodded in approval as she palmed another Poke Ball – Surskit was gone, having already been returned. "Good job getting this far!" she told Hiccup. "A lot of Trainers can't keep up with Surskit's tactics. The way you read its moves and had your Bagon counterattack at the last second – fantastic! I can really see the bond between the two of you front and center!
"But I still have a job to do, so it's time for my second Pokemon!" she finished, and tossed the capsule high. "Your turn, Vivillon!"
The Pokemon that emerged was an enormous, magnificent butterfly, its broad pink wings catching the sun in a way that made them sparkle vividly. In comparison, its body was small and relatively dull, apart from a pair of black eyes that gleamed brightly above a serene smile. It flexed its wings, emitting a fine dust that made the air around it glimmer.
"Okay, Vivillon… probably Bug-and-Flying-type," he muttered to himself, even as he heard Fishlegs yell something from the background – probably that exact thing. He reached out with a foot to tap the ground, and noticed that the mud had dried to the point where it was just damp soil. "And the Water Sport's worn off, too. So we can use Ember at full power… but she's probably expecting that…"
With the Gym Leader's next Pokemon having taken the stage, the referee turned to give Hiccup an indicative look. "Would the challenger like to substitute Pokemon as well?"
Hiccup actually did wince this time. Yes, he thought, but that wasn't an option – he had no choice but to say the opposite. "No, I'm… I'm sticking with Toothless."
Nodding, she declared, "Bagon versus Vivillon, then. The battle will continue!"
"Leer!" Hiccup ordered. He could feel a bead of sweat sliding down his temple. Toothless is exhausted, and Vivillon is going to stay up in the air… need to take it slow and make every move count…
Above the field, Vivillon shuddered at the sight of Toothless' intense glare, lowering its guard. Hiccup immediately called for Ember next while the lepidopteran was distracted, and the Bagon tipped his head back to volley a couple of fireballs into the air. Vivillon saw the fire coming at the last second and hastened to dodge, but it couldn't avoid both – by dodging one, it put itself in the path of the other, which exploded in a direct hit on its body.
Viola, however, wasn't concerned. "Gust!"
"Viveeeeee!" Vivillon shrilled, the edges of its wings flashing blue. Then it began to beat them, over and over again, unleashing a lashing gale that swept across the battlefield. With nowhere to escape to, Toothless was slammed by the wind as though it were a physical object, sent cartwheeling across the ground until he landed with a painful-sounding thud at Hiccup's feet.
"Toothless…?" he asked, keeping his voice to a horrified murmur. "Can you keep going, bud…?"
"Bago…" his partner growled out with significant effort, straining to pull himself back onto his feet. He was gasping and shuddering as he did so, almost certainly reaching his limit, but he stood tall anyway, head held high despite the fact his eyelids were squinted in pain. "Bay-go Bagon!"
Part of Hiccup didn't want to see Toothless go through any more abuse than he had to – he'd already endured more than enough damage, and the odds of victory were so slim that they likely weren't worth it. But another part of him, a part he never knew he had until now, wanted to keep going. There was a Gym badge waiting for him, and he didn't want to give up on it – he wanted to take the shot and grab it himself.
"Ember!" Hiccup shouted. Sorry, Toothless… we're almost there! Please just hang in there for a little longer…!
"Dodge!" Viola countered. Fire heated the air yet again, but Vivillon was ready this time, and swerved nimbly out of range.
"Dragon Dance!" Hiccup called next, his pulse beating in his ears as he did. They'd never used a second boost in battle before – he had no idea if doubling Toothless' speed and strength would be enough, or what kind of toll it might take on him later. But with their opponent prioritizing evasion at the moment, this might be their only opportunity to get the upper hand…
The soaring fireballs burnt themselves out, and Vivillon slowed back to a stationary hover. Toothless was already midway through his dance routine, the aura that already burned strong around him beginning to grow and swirl like purple flames. Hiccup saw the understanding look in its eyes, as well as the hardened one in Viola's – they weren't about to let him make use of Toothless' exponential increase in power.
"Get in close!" the Gym Leader ordered, and Vivillon obediently folded its wings and swooped straight for Toothless.
"Get ready for an attack!" Hiccup advised, and Toothless, positively seething with visible Dragon-type energy, got into a defensive stance and prepared to counterattack.
It was the wrong move to make, however – the attack Viola had in mind wasn't the kind that could be blocked. "Stun Spore, Vivillon!"
A cold tingle ran down Hiccup's back upon realizing the mistake he'd made. Flaring its wings directly in Toothless' face, Vivillon shook them out and dumped a massive cloud of dust-like yellow scales on top of him. The effects took hold immediately: Toothless doubled over and sank to one knee, a layer of golden dust clinging to his hide, over which a nimbus of electrical sparks danced like chains of light.
Knowing that the paralysis wasn't guaranteed to stay in effect, Hiccup called his next order frantically, wanting to capitalize on Vivillon's proximity before it moved out of reach. "Quick, Toothless! Fight it and use Rage!"
Snarling through the ensnaring coat of spores, Toothless stood up and lunged, the violet flames intensifying. "BAGOOON!"
"Gust!" Viola answered.
SLAM. The windstorm generated by Vivillon's wings smashed into Toothless full force, instantly slowing him to a crawl. His little legs pumped all the harder, determined to reach the enemy that hovered directly in his line of sight, but all he accomplished was running in place, all his strength required to simply hold his position.
Hiccup watched as Toothless' footsteps got slower. They dropped from a continuous run to a series of dashes interspersed with an ever more frequent amount of pauses… then to plodding, struggling steps… then they stopped entirely. Toothless lowered his head and dug in his heels, attempting to use his helmet to shield himself from the wind…
…only to, all at once, be flung aside yet again, crashing to the ground like so much garbage. Hiccup stared in horror at his shivering partner, still conscious, but barely able to move. The marathon battle was finally taking its toll.
"Our target is in focus; time to take the shot!" Viola stated, gleefully. "Vivillon, finish with Solar Beam!"
In hindsight, Hiccup would come to realize that the sunny weather outside, on top of the greenhouse's warmth, was probably what allowed Vivillon to launch its attack as quickly as it did. In the moment, though, he simply stared with resigned numbness as a yellow-orange glow spread across Vivillon's wings like spilt orange juice, culminating in a blinding orb the size of its body forming in front of it.
The Solar Beam fired, and Hiccup closed his eyes just before he could see it engulf Toothless.
When he opened them again, he already knew what would greet him. Laying in the center of a perfectly circular scorch mark burnt into the ground was his beloved partner, painted black with soot and his pitiful struggles all but ceased.
"Bagon is unable to battle – the winner is Vivillon!" the referee made it official, and Hiccup couldn't deny the wave of dread that washed over him when she turned her head toward him expectantly. "Challenger, please release your next Pokemon."
It was difficult and humiliating, but after a pregnant pause, Hiccup set the truth free with a long-suffering sigh. "I… don't have one. Just Toothless."
Another, slightly longer, pause stretched for a few seconds, with both the referee and the Gym Leader reacting with surprise to Hiccup's confession. When the shock wore off, though, the referee raised a flag and pointed it toward the Leader's side, her next decree hammering the final nail in the coffin for Hiccup's success.
"The challenger is out of usable Pokemon; the victory goes to the Gym Leader, Viola!"
AN:
The first of many Gym battle-focused chapters! Something I hope that was made clear right from the start was what inspiration, exactly, I took from the anime as opposed to the games. The Pokemon anime is really the go-to source when it comes to making the Pokemon universe feel like a world and not just a game with structured mechanics, and I borrow from it with every Pokemon fic I write. As for this one specifically, the general plot and story beats will be consistent with the game, but the majority of the worldbuilding, as well as some characters, will be much more heavily anime-based.
I really appreciated how much of a threat Viola was in the XY anime. Surskit and Vivillon aren't all that impressive in the games, but she went all out with some crazy strategies and move combinations that had even Ash's Pikachu on the ropes at first. Outside of Ash jumping off Prism Tower to save Pikachu, his loss to Viola was the first indication that XY would go above and beyond the previous series.
Anyway, stay tuned for the redemption arc! Can Hiccup and Toothless prevail next time? Please send reviews, and thanks for reading!
Next time: Heathering the Storm
