Chapter 10 – The Flutes of Our Labor!

Route 5 was no different from the rest of central Kalos; it shared in the green, hilly, rolling topography that gave the area around Lumiose its simplistic charm. Like the other routes, it was easily traversable despite the hills, with well-maintained pathways that passed by idyllic fields of grass and stands of trees. According to Fishlegs (who turned out to be a history buff on top of a Pokemon enthusiast), these gentle roads were designed three millennia ago during the time of the monarchy, who would ride to and from the illustrious Parfum Palace in which they lived and ruled. In modern times, though, its rustic beauty was enjoyed solely by Trainers and other civilians, who would spend the better part of a day traveling on foot between Lumiose City and the smaller Camphrier Town just admiring the scenery.

Hiccup and Fishlegs, however, cleared the distance in a little under half a day. One of them was in quite the rush.

"H-Hiccup…!" Fishlegs called helplessly from behind, and Hiccup turned to find him crawling on his hands and knees at the bottom of the hill, nudged along by Meatlug. "We just had lunch… can't you slow down even just a little?"

Chuckling, Hiccup ran back down and helped Fishlegs up, keeping a grip on his hand as he guided him back up to the hill's crest with him. At the very top of the slope, the tiny Camphrier Town surrounded by wide tracts of farmland could be seen resting at the foot. Close by, a high cliff soared high above the northern end of town, a stone castle sitting regally at the apex.

"See, Fishlegs, we're already here!" Hiccup told him, grinning. "Just a day or so more, and we'll reach the mountain pass!"

"Bago bay-go!" Toothless agreed from Hiccup's shoulder, and they exchanged an identical look – the Bagon's pupils gleaming with the same exhilaration that coursed through his veins.

"B-But…" Fishlegs gasped, struggling to adjust his heavy backpack. Meatlug finally caught up to them with her plodding pace and growled up at them, concern in her tender eyes. "But why are we in such a rush? You barely gave us any time to finish lunch – and you even skipped your usual flight practice with Toothless!"

At the reminder, Toothless shot Hiccup a significant, "I told you so" kind of look.

"Next time, bud, I swear," he told the dragonling, patting him on the helmet. "But come on, you have to admit that this is worth missing a few flight sessions for!"

"What is worth missing them for?!" Fishlegs whined. "Cyllage City is still a long way away – we have to cross the mountains and journey up the west coast! We won't get there any faster just by skipping breaks!"

Hiccup started to chuckle. "It's not the Gym, Fishlegs," he explained, a grin pulling at his lips as the name of his destination – the destination – sprung to mind, waiting to be spoken at last. "It's on the other side of the Kalos Canyon – Wild Dragon Cliff!"

Fishlegs didn't react to Hiccup's enthusiasm: he did nothing but stare, his face blank and uncomprehending. But Hiccup's grin didn't falter at the lack of fanfare. In fact, he was delighted to explain himself to his confused friend.

"Wild Dragon Cliff is an area within the Kalos Canyon that's supposed to be home to a really high concentration of Dragon-types," he described, eagerly. "Toothless and I have wanted to go ever since we found out we were moving to Kalos! We'll get to see tons of Dragon-type Pokemon in their natural habitat!"

"No, no, I know what the Cliff is," Fishlegs clarified, still looking bewildered. "It's just… well, isn't that place… you know, dangerous? And it's supposed to be located in one of the deepest parts of the canyon…"

"Well, yeah," Hiccup conceded, "but there's no better place in Kalos for Toothless and I to search for a new teammate or two! I got lucky at the Santalune Gym, but I can't rely on Toothless alone – we need as many Pokemon as we can find."

Toothless looked at him grouchily, and he shrugged, "It's true, bud. You can't do everything. We need other Dragon-types to help you handle longer battles."

Letting out a sigh, Fishlegs readjusted his pack and managed a small smile. "Well, I can't argue with that… o-or deny that I want to pass up the chance to observe wild Dragon-types. J-Just promise me we'll prepare really well before going that far into the wilderness? A-And you won't make any of the b-bigger Dragon-types angry?"

Hiccup's grin grew wider – he knew the ever-curious Fishlegs would come around to his way of thinking. He turned on his heel and started to continue down the path as it descended toward the town in the distance. "Now that that's settled – come on, Fishlegs! Let's stop at the Pokemon Center before we move on! If we're lucky, we can get to the mountain pass before dark –"

"W-Wait!" Fishlegs cried, the urgency in his tone making Hiccup turn around to face him. He stumbled after him down the slope, eyes wide with alarm. "I-I know you want to get to the Kalos Canyon as soon as possible, b-but can't we at least stay in Camphrier Town a little while?"

"And do what? Train?" Hiccup asked as he began to walk more slowly to accommodate Fishlegs' preferred pace. "I'm not going to neglect Toothless – I figured we'd train as we got closer to the mountains so he'd be prepared to battle the other Dragon-types…"

"No, Hiccup, we can't pass through Camphrier Town without making a visit to Shabboneau Castle!" Fishlegs exclaimed, sounding almost aghast at the thought of missing out.

Now it was Hiccup's turn to regard him blankly, searching his mind for the name "Shabboneau Castle" and coming up with nothing. Upon getting no reply, Fishlegs gaped at him and exclaimed, "I-It's only one of the most significant pieces of Kalosian history in the region! Th-The lords of Shabboneau were historically very close allies of the monarchy, which is why their palace was built so close to the town! I told you all about it on the way here – w-weren't you listening?"

Hiccup flushed. "Sorry, Fishlegs, I guess I was too caught up in my excitement to reach the mountains," he confessed. "So, what's in this castle that you want to see so badly?"

"Well, as you know, the ground floor of Shabboneau Castle was converted into a museum that has been open to the public for decades," Fishlegs began to lecture, and Hiccup nodded along – he hadn't known, but there was no need to admit it. "It's a treasure trove of relics from the medieval age, all kinds of historical artifacts that give us a glimpse into the ancient lives of the people and Pokemon at the time! But even if that wasn't enough, it may hold a few clues as to the secrets of Mega Evolution!"

"Um… are you really sure of that, Fishlegs?" Hiccup asked, skeptical. It sounded more to him like Fishlegs just wanted to go for the sake of marveling at the exhibits. What information about Mega Evolution was there to be found in an old castle?

Indeed, Fishlegs faltered at first, cheeks briefly turning rosy with embarrassment. "W-Well… no, not one-hundred percent certain… but remember what Sycamore said! He told us to investigate any historical sites we come across because they might just be connected to the history of Mega Evolution!"

Hmmm… Hiccup cast his gaze out at the horizon, which was by now blocked by the walls and buildings of the town that they were now only a kilometer or so from. The mountains, though, were still visible beyond it – they looked impossible to climb, but Hiccup knew from maps that the main roads through them only ran about midway up their height, more than comfortable enough for Trainers to cross. The peaks beckoned to him, and he could only imagine how many different Dragon-types were waiting for him to find amongst the crags and gullies. He wanted to move on; he wanted to catch something, to make that next leap of progress toward his goal.

"Please, Hiccup?" Fishlegs asked. "I-I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think it was important."

Starting, Hiccup realized he'd been distracted, giving the Ingerman boy the impression that he was uninterested. Fishlegs' eyes were wide and pleading, anxious that he'd say no and tell him to move on. He hadn't meant to appear reluctant, too wrapped up in his own motives to accommodate his friend's wishes. Feeling self-conscious at his selfishness, he gave a sheepish laugh.

"Sorry, Fishlegs – I've been letting my impatience get the better of me," he told him, rubbing the back of his head. "Of course we can… hmm? Toothless?"

Toothless had just stiffened with a cry of "Bago!" and was pointing with his stubby arm at the sight that lay in front of them. The front gates of Camphrier Town were open, yawning wide to accept any and all visitors, and just inside, the familiar red roof of the local Pokemon Center stood out brightly against the comparatively drabber buildings around it. That wasn't what was so unusual, however – it was the small crowd of Trainers that were gathered outside its glass doors that Toothless had noticed. Hiccup took in the activity with an air of bewilderment.

"There seem to be a lot more Trainers in one place than normal," Fishlegs commented thoughtfully. "Is there some sort of event going on?"

The Pokemon Center doors opened to let a young man wearing a helmet and rollerblades exit, and Hiccup, wanting context, jogged forward to meet him. "Hey," he said quickly, earning an acknowledging glance, "What's going on here? Why the crowd?"

The Trainer blinked at him. "Just arrived yourself, have you?" he asked him and Fishlegs. "So have I. All of us want to move on to the next town, but the only other path out of Camphrier has been blocked by a Snorlax. It hasn't budged in days, and we're all stuck here because of it."

Snorlax… Snorlax… Hiccup fought to put a face to the name, which he'd heard before, but the Pokemon itself was unfamiliar to him. Thanks to Valka, he was at least vaguely aware of the Pokemon from his home region, but this one was not native to Galar and thus out of his knowledge base.

To his right, Fishlegs plunged his hand into his jacket to retrieve the Pokedex. His fingers danced around the mechanism deftly, having spent most of the trip across Route 5 getting acquainted with the device, and it was only a few seconds before he found the necessary reference in its database.

"Snorlax, a Normal-type Sleeping Pokemon!" he recited, eyes lighting up as they scanned the corresponding lines of text eagerly. "It does little more than eat and sleep. It can eat almost its whole body weight in food every day, and can digest basically anything edible, no matter how spoiled. When it goes back to sleep, very little can force it to rise."

He lifted the Pokedex to let Hiccup see – the picture on the screen showed an enormously fat bear-like Pokemon with stubby fangs and claws. "But its habitat is listed here as being closer to the mountains," he added with a frown, nose wrinkling as he scrutinized the text further. "Why would it come all the way down to this elevation and make a nuisance of itself?"

"Oh, that's easy," the Trainer informed them, piquing Hiccup's interest. "Snorlax come to Camphrier Town yearly to eat the remnants of farmers' crops after the harvest. The Lord of the town comes down from Shabboneau Castle to wake them up with a Poke Flute so that they return to the mountains.

"Problem is," he continued, gravely, "this Snorlax has come far earlier than usual, and without anything to eat, it's parked itself right in the middle of the bridge leading out of town. The only Trainers able to get past have Water-types that can carry them across the river, or Flying-types that can lift them over it entirely. The rest of us are stuck until Snorlax wakes up."

"Which could be forever, for all we know," another Trainer interjected, sniffing with annoyance.

"Does… does the Lord know?" Hiccup asked, cautiously. "Has anyone tried to speak with him?"

"No idea. Only the first floor of the castle is permitted to outsiders," the first Trainer shrugged. He begun to skate in the direction of the town gates, looking forlornly back at them as he went. "I'll try my luck at going back to Lumiose and heading north instead. Though I've heard that the blackouts are making even that difficult… anyway, I suggest you guys do the same. Good luck."

Hiccup and Fishlegs stared after his passing, a thick and uncomfortable weight settling over them in the resulting silence. With the revelation that their journey had been roadblocked, possibly to a point that rendered all their plans moot, an unspoken question was left on the air – What do we do now?

"Bago?" Toothless asked, casting an uncertain gaze up at his Trainer. Meatlug, too, appeared worried, nudging hers with a melancholy rumble.

Coming out of contemplation at the sound of Toothless' voice, Hiccup absentmindedly stroked the little Dragon-type and regarded Fishlegs with an imploring look. "… So, Fishlegs, any ideas? Should we, maybe, do what he said and… just head back to Lumiose? Take another path?"

Fishlegs looked back at him doubtfully. "I don't know… what about Wild Dragon Cliff? You still need another Pokemon, and that might be the only reliable location to visit for one."

Yeah… Hiccup deflated a bit when he metaphorically prodded that sore spot, and looked longingly toward the still-visible mountains rising in the distance. They seemed farther away than ever.

"… What can we do, if that Snorlax is as unmovable as that guy said it was?" he finally replied. "Going around or over is out, since we don't have the right kinds of Pokemon. I'm guessing the other Trainers have already tried battling it, so that's out. The only one who can solve it, apparently, is the owner of Shabboneau… Castle…"

Like the first rays of dawn, an idea rose in Hiccup's mind that shed light over the shroud of uncertainty. "Actually, why don't we go?" he suggested, conviction strengthening his voice. "Let's head up to Shabboneau Castle. Just like you wanted, Fishlegs."

Not expecting the proposition, Fishlegs flinched and looked at him dubiously. "A-Are you sure? B-But if you're thinking of asking the Lord… what happens if you're just turned down? Outsiders aren't permitted, he said…"

Hiccup was nonplussed, countering, "Why not? Worst-case scenario, we'll get a 'no' and that'll be that. And we can still search around for clues about Mega Evolution in the meantime."

That settled it – Fishlegs' excitement at the prospect of learning emerging through the mask of doubt. With him leading the way, the pair left town and headed toward the cliff where Shabboneau Castle was perched, an ever-present monument that cast its shadow over the town beneath as though protecting it. With Meatlug's help, they climbed the steep slopes and soon found themselves upon a wide plateau, with the stone castle looming in front of them. It had high, fortress-like walls that seemed impenetrable, the only opening being sealed by a massive iron gate that guarding the shadowed entrance to the castle's innards. Banners rippled magnificently in the wind on either side of the gate, striped red and gold, while flags of identical color flew from the parapets above, stationed evenly like soldiers. Rising above everything was a single tower that reached for the sky – where the Lord himself resided, Hiccup supposed as he craned his neck to look up at it.

As they approached the drawbridge that lay flat over an artificial moat, an enormous metallic CREEEEEAK made both boys jump. As if sensing their arrival, the great gate was lifting upwards to expose the gaping throat that led within. A hunched, elderly figure melted out of the darkness to greet them in the sun, his white hair and moustache well-groomed and his dark, old-fashioned suit of impeccable quality.

"Greetings, visitors," the butler rasped, bending at the waist in a polite bow. "I trust you are both Trainers, here to visit our museum of historical artifacts?"

"Y-Yes sir," Fishlegs quavered excitedly. Hiccup, feeling quite out of place, nodded on the sidelines.

"Good, good." The old man coughed lightly into a handkerchief and stepped out of their way with an arm extended in welcome. "Simply head straight down the entrance hall and you will reach our exhibition room. Do note that all other areas of the castle are strictly off-limits, and that you will need to keep your Pokemon inside their Poke Balls as you browse our collection. Thank you for your understanding, young sirs."

There was some grumbling from Toothless, but Hiccup placated him with a promise of flying practice to make up for skipping it that morning. Once the complaining Bagon was safely inside the capsule, he turned to the butler and asked, "Excuse me, I was wondering if you knew anything about –"

A dusty sigh was his answer. "The errant Snorlax, yes," the butler said, his already tired voice even heavier with regret. "You aren't the first to ask about it, but unfortunately, my liege Lord has been oddly reluctant to address the matter. I haven't the barest hint as to what he is thinking, but as his humble attendant, it not my place to pry. My sincerest apologies, young sir."

Though the disappointment stung, Hiccup thanked the butler and proceeded indoors with Fishlegs (now Meatlug-less). Their footsteps, at first clacking over the drawbridge, became silent as they crossed onto a red carpet that covered the entire length of the great passageway that now extended before them. Cold, hard walls of thick stone enclosed them, lined with decorative suits of polished steel armor. The corridor would have looked lonely, even slightly creepy, if it weren't for the electric lights installed at regular intervals along the walls, designed to look like oil lanterns and casting a cheery glow over their surroundings.

"So authentic!" Fishlegs marveled, glancing every which way as if he couldn't decide what to look at first, even though everything looked the same.

If there was any lingering dejection over the Snorlax issue left in him, then it was abandoned entirely when they walked through the open threshold at the end of the passage. Hiccup watched in real time Fishlegs' expression go from merely admiring to positively ecstatic at the contents of the room – which, admittedly, were impressively diverse. Banners, crests, and paintings filled the walls with colors and symbolic imagery. Glass display cases contained a variety of old coins, chipped pottery, and jewelry. Swords and ornate shields were mounted on wooden stands and roped off to prevent onlookers from touching, as were mannequins showing off priceless robes and elaborate cloaks that looked as though they once belonged to royalty. Even Hiccup couldn't help but stop and take everything in.

The high-pitched squeal from beside him told Hiccup that Fishlegs was pleased by the smorgasbord of artifacts – a fact that was soon confirmed when his wide frame pushed past him to race towards the nearest display. Soon Fishlegs was darting around the chamber like a kid in a candy store, oohing and aahing at whatever caught his eye next.

Hiccup proceeded into the room after him, with a sidelong glance at the only other occupants – a pair of Trainers that were crowded around a rack of swords, who whispered to each other when they caught Hiccup looking. Nothing else in particular interested him, so he contented himself with following after Fishlegs, glancing at whatever items his boundless energy brought them to.

"This is amazing, Hiccup!" he gushed when he noticed that Hiccup had joined him in studying a case filled with jewelry. "Everything here was once worn or used by the ancient Kalosian monarchy! These artifacts are our only remaining connections to a long-gone civilization!"

Idly, Hiccup dropped his gaze to the rows and rows of multicolored gemstones and gold ornaments, his own admiration limited to how pristine the millennia-old jewelry still was. They were pretty to look at, but that was about as far as his interest went. Still, he was glad that Fishlegs enjoyed their true significance as much as he did, and nodded along in detached agreement. Satisfied, Fishlegs dashed off to appraise some other relic, and Hiccup gave the jewel display one last look as he followed.

Before he could leave, though, one gemstone stood out to him. He stopped, the sense of déjà vu taking him by surprise, and bent to scrutinize the curious stone more closely. It was a perfect sphere, like a pearl, and its pale white hue was translucent enough to reveal a sash of color at its center. This twisting spiral, almost like a DNA double helix, was a deep ocean blue. For a second, Hiccup stared at it, unsure what about it he found so familiar.

Then, it hit him. He'd only gotten a glimpse of it, but…

He checked the card underneath the gem's resting place, which read in simple font: "Blastoisinite stone. Originally belonging to the Shabboneau family's personal treasury, this mineral is best known for its mysterious relationship with Pokemon of the Blastoise line, which have an affinity for it that is not yet understood."

"Fishlegs," Hiccup called out without looking up. When he felt Fishlegs join him, he pointed the pearl out and asked, "Is it just me, or did Sycamore have something just like this? He used it to Mega Evolve Garchomp, didn't he?"

As soon as he said it, Fishlegs gasped. "That's right!" he exclaimed. "Professor Sycamore mentioned that Mega Evolution is triggered through the use of a sort of stone. And according to the description here, this stone is apparently meant to be used by a Blastoise."

An image of the large turtle Pokemon ran through Hiccup's head, but when he tried to imagine what a Mega Evolved one might look like, he couldn't picture it. "So that means," he instead mused, "that you can't just use any stone on any Pokemon. Each species has its own unique stone."

"In conclusion," Fishlegs added, digging out his camera and snapping a photo of the display, "the first step toward mastering Mega Evolution involves finding the correct stone, and determining if it's compatible with the Pokemon you wish to Mega Evolve."

As he put away the camera and exchanged it for his notebook, Hiccup regarded the Blastoisinite with a final glance. It looked so… small and ordinary. If it weren't for the double helix at its center, he might've mistaken it for any other gem. It was fascinating and a little unbelievable that something so delicate-looking could unlock such immense power as he'd seen Sycamore's Garchomp wield.

"What would it be like to use Mega Evolution?" he murmured in a speculative tone, trying to picture it. "The Professor said it's going to be used in the League tourney from now on, so maybe it'd be worth looking for one of these stones…"

"Well, we already know that Garchomp can do it," Fishlegs piped up. He briefly looked up from his sketch of the Blastoisinite to compare it with the real one. "And we might learn of more Mega Evolution-capable Pokemon at the Tower of Mastery. Perhaps there are other Dragon-types that can do it!"

"Yeah, I guess," Hiccup replied with a noncommittal frown. "But trying to track down one of those Pokemon will be hard enough, let alone looking for its specific –"

A husky cough broke through the discussion, Hiccup's words halting mid-speech as surprise overtook him. He turned around to see who it was, only for the question of who to be replaced with why. The wizened face of the butler from the castle's entrance was there to greet him, peering at him and Fishlegs with an unreadable expression.

"Young sirs," he said before either of them could speak. "I have received word from the Lord of Shabboneau Castle… he wishes to meet you in person."

Up several empty stairwells that echoed with their footfalls and down many winding corridors, Hiccup watched as the halls of Shabboneau Castle progressed from bare to resplendent. The upper floors were far more befitting of a castle than the ground floor was: windows framed by vibrant drapes, vast and detailed portraits of past noblemen and women, and glass cases much like the ones in the museum, holding onto collections of priceless antiques. The butler shuffled past it all in dutiful silence, leading the befuddled guests further and further into the castle's center.

"Why does the Lord want to see us?" Hiccup asked into the silence as they turned another corner.

"W-We haven't done anything wrong… have we?" Fishlegs worried. He didn't know whether this was a privilege or a punishment.

"He did not give a reason for summoning you," the butler replied. "But fear not, young sirs. You have not done anything to warrant a scolding. I highly doubt his reasons are anything other than innocent."

Finally, they arrived at an immensely tall, spiralling staircase that Hiccup realized must lead to the castle's central tower. At the very pinnacle of the steps, they reached an enormous set of doors with engraved gold knockers. The butler gave it a firm rap and, with a gesture to the boys, opened the doors with the drawn-out creeeeaaaak of ancient wood. Together, Hiccup and Fishlegs at last passed into the domain of Lord Shabboneau himself.

Aside from the size of the chamber, it looked very much the same as the rest of the castle; carpets and curtains of red and gold, suits of armor lining the walls, fine china and antique weapons displayed on polished wooden tables. The only difference was the small throne resting on a dais at the back of the room, and the equally small individual sitting importantly atop it. The Lord of Shabboneau Castle was a short and pudgy man, robed in all the extravagant trappings of a traditional Kalosian noble, and he regarded the two boys with interest, bushy moustache twitching and tiny eyes glittering from above plump cheeks.

The butler bowed deeply before stepping aside and gesturing toward Hiccup and Fishlegs. "Lord Shabboneau, my liege, I present to you the two Trainers you requested… er… Your names, please, young sirs?"

Fishlegs stepped forward first, mirroring the butler's bow perfectly and announcing, "Fishlegs Ingerman, Your Majesty."

Utterly bemused and feeling very underdressed in his ordinary shirt and pants, Hiccup tried not to blush as he dipped his head. "Hiccup Haddock the Third… um, my lord."

Lord Shabboneau hopped off his throne with a slight bounce in his step, smiling brightly. "Splendid, splendid! It is a pleasure to welcome you both to my abode. Because…"

Just as quickly, the smile faded, and Lord Shabboneau drooped with a heavy, despairing sigh. "… Because, truth be told, I am in desperate need of your assistance."

Whatever Hiccup had been expecting from an audience with the Lord, it certainly wasn't this. "With… what, exactly?" he asked through his confusion. A swift peek at Fishlegs showed the Ingerman boy's brow was creased with the same consternation.

The Lord coughed and raised his nose, as though attempting to make up for his earlier undignified slip. "I understand that you, like many Trainers that have come here in the past few days, have been inconvenienced by the Snorlax that showed up unexpectedly to block passage to and from the western side of Camphrier Town," he said, strutting back and forth pompously. "Usually, on the yearly occasion that this happens, it is my duty to wake up the Pokemon and send them back to the mountains they call home. I would like nothing more than to fulfill this duty once again, but unfortunately… I cannot this time. And so you must help me, Trainers, to recover what I've lost."

"Lost?" Fishlegs blurted, at the same time Hiccup was thinking it. "You mean… the Poke Flute, right?"

"Correct!" Lord Shabboneau gave a sage nod. "It caught me completely by surprise when I heard that a Snorlax had appeared at such an irregular time of year. And it couldn't have come at a more inopportune time, as my Poke Flute is currently in the possession of my good friend Lord Parfum – the owner of Parfum Palace. I loaned it to him on his last visit, thinking nothing of it… and then this happened, mere days later to boot."

"I wasn't aware of this…" the butler mused, stroking his chin. "So, my liege, I assume that the reason you have summoned these travellers now is because you have finally come to a decision."

"Indeed," Lord Shabboneau confirmed, and marched forward to stand before Hiccup and Fishlegs. As Hiccup awkwardly observed that the man was only half his height, the Lord pulled from his sleeve a letter stamped with a wax seal and held it out to him. "Please, Sir Haddock and Sir Ingerman, deliver this to Parfum Palace and retrieve my Poke Flute. The letter will grant you an audience with Lord Parfum, and upon reading of the situation Camphrier Town is in, he will gladly return the Flute."

Delicately, Hiccup plucked the letter and stashed it inside his jacket, patting it to assure Lord Shabboneau that he would keep it safe. As he did this, though, he briefly marveled at their luck – for the Lord to decide on his own to help them with the very prpblem they'd come here to address, so soon after having their hopes dashed at the gates, was almost too good to be true. How fortunate, too, they'd still been in the castle to be called upon in the first… place…

A frown wormed its way onto Hiccup's face as a question occurred to him. "Pardon me for asking, Lord Shabboneau," he piped up, "but, ah… you wouldn't rather ask for the Flute back personally? For something of such importance, I doubt he'd mind…"

But Lord Shabboneau became aghast, plump face twisting in anguish as he hugged himself protectively. "No, no, perish the thought!" he wailed. "Can you imagine how it would look for me to arrive at his front door to beg for the very item I graciously lent him only days ago?! The humiliation! The indignity!"

O… kay… so we're involved because it's more convenient to send some errand boys, Hiccup thought, none too pleased about how they were being roped into this. But the Lord had clearly made up his mind, and he supposed that there was no sense in complaining when him and Fishlegs would, technically, be helping to solve the Snorlax issue themselves.

Fishlegs was, predictably, eager to accept. "We would be honored to act in your stead to get your Poke Flute back!" he said, bobbing his head so fast it looked in danger of flying off. "Hiccup and I will bring it to you in a flash! You can count on us!"

"Excellent!" Lord Shabboneau celebrated, applauding in his giddiness. "Simply take the north road out of Camphrier Town to reach the Palace – you cannot miss it. I will be eagerly awaiting your return, good Trainers!"

Hiccup and Fishlegs bowed to him, then turned as the butler approached them. "Please allow me to escort you out of the castle and back to the town gates. On behalf of all of Shabboneau Castle, that you've agreed to take on this errand makes us more grateful than words can describe."

"Hiccup, have I ever told you how glad I am to have gotten to come with you on this journey?" Fishlegs asked out of nowhere.

"Once or twice," Hiccup replied playfully. "Why, what's made you feel like telling me again?"

Fishlegs jumped in front of Hiccup even as they continued strolling down the shaded road, his face alight with the utmost wonder. "Just… all of this!" he burst out, flinging his arms out as if to indicate the carefully cultivated neatness of the evenly-spaced trees and flower bushes of alternating colors. "Right now, we're on the road to Parfum Palace, a site whose cultural importance is as great as that of Shabboneau Castle, whose owners descend from the Kalosian monarchy itself and almost never open their gates to common folk! And we're here on business of direct order from Lord Shabboneau himself! That doesn't happen to everybody! And I'm the one it's happening to, all because I met you and wanted to follow you on your adventure!"

When he put it like that, Hiccup began to agree that this situation was pretty extraordinary. He clutched at the letter hidden in his jacket, still hyperaware that he was an ordinary person caught in an extraordinary circumstance. It was a weird, nervous sensation – yet Fishlegs was taking it in stride, celebrating what seemed to him an unbelievable privilege. It made him forget, let him find some enjoyment in the nuance of it all.

Grinning, he gave Fishlegs a nudge. "What, so I'm your good luck charm?"

"Oh, please. That would imply all of this was predetermined to happen to you exclusively, which isn't scientific at all," the Ingerman boy waved off his sarcasm. "I'm just saying that I wouldn't be here if you weren't such a good friend. And every time I experience something new, I'm reminded of it."

"I try," he snarked. His smile soon faded, though, and he went on more seriously, "I wouldn't call it good luck, anyway. The only reason we got wrapped up in this is because that Snorlax happened to block the only road west out of Lumiose. Exploring palaces and meeting lords is more of a silver lining than genuinely fortuitous."

"I've been thinking about that, actually," Fishlegs commented. His musing tone prompted Hiccup to swivel his head in his direction, curious to hear his insight. "According to what we've heard, Snorlax itself isn't an unusual visitor to this town… it's the timing of its arrival that's odd. What would cause this one to come down long before it has anything to eat?"

It was a smart question, one that got Hiccup instinctively harkening back to what he'd picked up from Valka about Pokemon ecology. "When a Pokemon appears where you don't expect it to, that usually means something's wrong," he thought out loud, echoing a lesson his mother had given to him on a day when they'd discovered a group of stray Rolycoly that had fled the mines their kind so loved. "Something must have happened to drive them from their usual habitat. A natural disaster, or a battle over territory… even human interference, sometimes."

"You're saying that this Snorlax was driven from its home," Fishlegs summarized. "What do you think it is?"

"Could be anything," Hiccup muttered. On his trips with Valka, he'd seen a lot of different Pokemon hurt for a lot of different reasons. "We'd have to check out the habitat ourselves to be sure. But right now, all we can do is help Lord Shabboneau wake Snorlax and hope it goes on to find a better home. It'll be up to nature to sort things out, after that."

"R-Right," Fishlegs replied, a bit unnerved.

"Bago Bagon!"

A cry from up ahead jolted Hiccup out of the conversation, and he lifted his head to stare down the length of the road. It was as straight as an arrow and shaded by the rows of trees standing guard on either side, so there was no obstructing bushes or glaring sunlight to hide blue dragonling up ahead. Hiccup had released Toothless as soon as they'd set foot on this path, allowing him to explore the trimmed gardens to his heart's content, but now he stood out like a sore thumb against the dirt, vying for his Trainer's attention.

"What is it, Toothless?" he called, quickening his pace. As soon as he did, Toothless in turn scurried farther down the road, but he recognized that this wasn't an idle game of tag. There was purpose in Toothless' movements; he was leading them somewhere.

And so Hiccup chased after his partner, the rest of the route blurring into shades of green and brown as he ran. The trees and shrubs raced by in an exact pattern, making the path's rigid, deliberate orderliness even more noticeable. Dimly, Hiccup was reminded of the so-called Route 4 en route to Lumiose City – designed to be eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing over wild and suitable for Pokemon. This "route" was the same, an inviting pathway meant to welcome those traveling to the palace that lay beyond its shady confines.

That was also why the trees were designed to stop as abruptly as they did, flooding Hiccup's eyes with light all at once as he emerged. When his vision adjusted, the sight before him was nearly indescribable.

A pristine, flat lawn of soft green grass extending forward and to the right as far as the eye could see. To the left, the calm waters of a vast, sparkling lake spread out in what was the very picture of tranquility. The path continued on its straight, narrow trajectory until it reached a pair of opulent golden gates, images of winding serpentine Pokemon blending with their bars. Behind them, Parfum Palace itself rose like a glittering jewel from the ground – whereas Shabboneau Castle had been built like a fortress, Parfum Palace was a place of luxury, built of nearly white brick and bejeweled with row after row of windows as pure blue as the lake. In fact, the only thing it had in common with its neighbor were the red-and-gold banners and flags flapping magnificently in the wind, signifying its association with the ancient Kalosian royalty.

"That's a palace, alright," Hiccup commented, picking Toothless up even as he gazed at the monument to extravagance and excess. "I think it could give Hammerlocke Stadium a run for its money."

"This is as far as most people go," Fishlegs breathed, nearly overwhelmed with awe. "To think… to think we might actually p-pass through the gates…!"

Movement by said gates caught Hiccup's attention, tearing his eyes from the Palace to focus on what was in front of it. "Fishlegs…" he warned, pointing. "It looks like somebody is already trying."

Two figures stood before the gleaming gates, almost invisible in comparison thanks to their drab clothing. From behind, they looked almost identical, each with waist-length blonde hair and hats with fake horns attached. As Hiccup and Fishlegs cautiously crept closer, they began to hear their voices, and only then did they realize the difference between the two: one gravelly tone was male, and the other female.

"Now that is one big house," the girl was saying, casually.

"It is indeed, sister. C'est une maison magnifique," the boy replied. "That's what the Kalosians say."

"Uh, I don't know where you heard that from," the girl grunted. "This region speaks the same language as every other one."

"Yeah… well… enough about that," he deflected, turning back to the gate. "So what do we do with this? Knock?"

"What are you, stupid?" she retorted, swatting him. "Like anyone's going to hear your bony little fists tapping on metal! We should climb the wall!"

"And you think my idea's stupid?" he swatted her back. "You couldn't pull your weight over that wall with those scrawny girl arms even if you paid me to help!"

She responded with a punch. "I'll pay you to go jump in that lake!"

He landed a blow in return. "You need that bath more than I do!"

"Moron!"

"Simpleton!"

"Grimer!"

"Wimpod!"

As the fists began to fly and the presumed siblings threw themselves to the ground in a chaotic wrestling match, Hiccup and Fishlegs halted their approach and exchanged a slightly repulsed look. Neither was sure they really wanted to make themselves known to the duo currently trying to strangle one another… but at the same time, they were between them and the palace. Maybe, if they moved quietly, they could tiptoe around the brawl and slip inside…

Unfortunately, just as Hiccup and Fishlegs started to proceed, the brother suddenly happened to look up from inside his sister's chokehold and let out a gasp. "Halt, Sister Nut! A common enemy!"

To their shock, the siblings immediately stopped their feud and jumped to their feet, leaning against each other and smirking as though they'd never descended a fistfight in the first place. Hiccup froze and Fishlegs squeaked at this unexpected turn of events, suddenly finding themselves the preferred targets of these unknown hooligans and staring down a pair of grins that wouldn't have been out of place on hungry Liepard.

"Oho! I see, Brother Nut!" the girl crowed, folding her arms smugly. "Mayhap they seek the same thing we do?"

"This is no mere happenstance, sister-of-mine," the boy agreed, mirroring her pose. "Two more approach the hallowed grounds of Parfum Palace, as we have so done. But they are soon to discover that they are too late, for we have already staked our claim on this prize. And we shall have that steak and eat it, too, leaving no scraps for our feeble rivals!"

Hiccup was too exasperated at their theatrical posturing to want to speak – but somebody had to ask, and so he reluctantly opened his mouth. "Ah, so… who are you, exactly?"

The girl's evil smirk widened. "They wish for an introduction, brother."

The boy matched hers with his own. "And so we shall oblige them!"

At that announcement, he swaggered forward with a cocky salute. "Buenos dias, mi amigos desafortunados," he sneered. "If you're looking for a certain Poke Flute, you're far too late."

"And why is that?" the girl asked, spinning a Poke Ball on her fingertip. "For we are the great, the mighty, the legendary…"

"Tuffnut Thorston!"

"And Ruffnut Thorston!"

"Tag battle prodigies!"

"And today, esteemed emissaries to the Lord of Shabboneau Castle!"

AN:

Finally, ten chapters in, I get to introduce the last of our crossover characters. Astrid, Snotlout, Heather, even Stoick made their debut before them, but I am pleased to announce the arrival of the final two Dragon Riders – Ruff and Tuff! It took me this long to introduce the twins because, frankly, they're the least significant of the HTTYD crew in this story. Similarly to canon, they're primarily gag characters that will show up once in a while to assist (or unintentionally harm) our protagonist.

Anyway, the Snorlax sidequest in the games was pretty fun, a nice reference to the Gen 1 games as well as an opportunity to explore some of the more unique locations in Kalos. And it got its own episode in the anime, from which I borrowed some influence for this chapter.

Speaking of references, Wild Dragon Cliff is a location from the HTTYD books, which I decided to introduce as a promising location for Hiccup to search for new Pokemon. I do recall that there are a fair few Dragon-types on the routes leading to Cyllage City.

Please send reviews, and thank you all for reading!

Next time: In It to Twin It!