Chapter 16 – Mystery from Prehistory!
It took an entire extra day of traveling before Hiccup and Fishlegs reached their destination. But, on the morning after, that only made their relief all the sweeter as they turned a corner and found themselves looking upon the buildings of Ambrette Town.
The natural slope in front of them had been replaced by a staircase that let them descend into the town proper – a mountainside settlement built directly on top of the complicated topography, consisting of multiple cliffs and plateaus all connected by staircases, escalators, and even a simple monorail system. As they ventured down the steps, Hiccup was privately impressed by how the original founders had managed to fit a town as large as Aquacorde onto such uneven ground.
"Okay, so, Pokemon Center comes first," he said, spotting the distinct red roof less than a block away. "We'll drop our Pokemon off and go looking for a place that sells mountaineering supplies. We can probably start our expedition to Kalos Canyon today if we hurry. Does that sound good to… uh, Fishlegs?"
When he got no reply, Hiccup spun around to see the Ingerman boy trailing behind him, his pace slowed down by the extensively dog-eared book in his grasp. When Hiccup stopped and waited, he began to hear his friend's rapid mutters, like he was thinking intensively out loud.
"Fishlegs?" he asked again, and a tap to his shoulder got a startled yelp out of him. "Great, now that I've got your attention, care to share what's got you so… like that?"
"O-Oh, uh, ha… yeah, about that," Fishlegs giggled nervously, cheeks burning with embarrassment at getting caught in such a trance. "Th-The thing is, I-I was kinda hoping we could… um, delay our journey to Wild Dragon Cliff until t-tomorrow?"
Hiccup blinked, not expecting such a request from his Pokemon-obsessed friend. If anything, he'd been just as excited as Hiccup was to visit the Cliff and its Dragon-type inhabitants, even though he wasn't planning on catching any. So to hear such sudden reluctance from him…
"You don't have to be nervous, Fishlegs," he assured him. "It'll be rough getting there, sure, but that's why we're going to properly stock up. Plus, we have Meatlug to help us out, remember?"
"O-Oh! It's not that I'm scared!" Fishlegs corrected, waving his hands as though to sweep away such a notion. "It's just that Ambrette Town has an, um… sort of an educational attraction I really want to visit. I-If that's not too much trouble…?"
Curious now, Hiccup asked the obvious: "What kind of an 'educational attraction'?"
He immediately regretted it, because the question led to him being smacked in the face by the open book that Fishlegs shoved at him.
"R-Right here! It's the Kalos Fossil Lab!" Fishlegs started to ramble delightedly, while Hiccup spluttered and pushed pages away from his nose. He went on without even stopping to breathe, "I-It's a facility dedicated to the study of Pokemon fossils and prehistory, and open to any Trainer interested in palaeontology! They collect fossils found from all over the world, both to put on display and to study for a better understanding of the ancient past, and th-that isn't all! Using the latest in c-cloning technology, they actually revive some of the fossils into living, breathing Pokemon, which are housed in time-appropriate enclosures and observed intensively in order to advance humanity's knowledge of the history of life! It's awesome!"
Backing away to preserve his personal space, Hiccup laughed and raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, easy there, Fishlegs! That actually sounds really cool… just… relax. If you're that passionate about going there, then I don't mind postponing our trip to the canyon."
"Oh, Hiccup, you're the best friend ever!" Fishlegs squealed and, to Hiccup's alarm, flung his arms around in him a smothering bear hug. Fortunately, a growl from Meatlug got Fishlegs to drop him before he suffocated and dote on her instead. "S-Sorry, girl. The best friend ever after you, of course!"
"A-As long as we remember to save some time in the day for buying equipment," Hiccup finished, after taking a second to gasp for air. "I'd like to start as soon as possible tomorrow."
"Of course!" Fishlegs repeated, beaming.
"And we need to stop at the Pokemon Center, don't forget," he added. "Toothless and Skullcrusher especially need healing."
"Naturally! I wasn't about to forget the Pokemon – just who do you think I am?" Fishlegs admonished, though his gleeful mood never dampened. "Besides, we need to keep our Pokemon somewhere for when we visit the aquarium and Fossil Lab. Neither of them allow free-roaming Pokemon."
Though at first there was much grumbling from Toothless, even the stubborn Bagon relented when the injuries he'd built up over the past couple of days began to smart. As they walked the short distance down the street toward the Pokemon Center, he allowed Hiccup to send him back to his Poke Ball with glowering reluctance. Meatlug, too, was returned to her ball, who didn't put up nearly as much a fuss.
The sliding doors opened to grant them passage into the air-conditioned lobby. At the counter, the Nurse Joy present accepted their three Poke Balls and sent them off with her Wigglytuff; she also agreed to hold onto them for the day while Hiccup and Fishlegs explored the town, insisting it wasn't any trouble. After thanking her, they stayed just long enough to check their map and confirm the locations of the two facilities, then headed back out…
… only to almost run into someone coming the other way when the doors opened.
"Ah! Sorry about –" Hiccup paused, instantly noticing something recognizable about the figure in front of him. It took only a moment of disbelief for him to fully register just who it was, and when he did, he blurted her name: "Heather?"
"Hi, Hiccup. Fishlegs," the black-haired girl smiled, surprise fading to be replaced by pleasant happiness. "It's been a little while, hasn't it? I take it that means you won your rematch at the Santalune Gym?"
"Yes, I did. Badge Number One, under my belt," Hiccup said jokingly. "Thanks again for your help. Toothless and I couldn't have done it without you and Windshear."
"Pawnia!" Startled by the noise, Hiccup looked down to find the Pawniard herself standing at Heather's feet, helmet tipped up so he could see her yellow eyes glinting eagerly at him. "Nia, pawnia!"
"Hey, Windshear! You're looking well!" Fishlegs greeted the Dark-and-Steel-type, bending down to pat her. He changed his mind immediately when she swiped a blade at him in annoyance.
"No, Windshear, not now," Heather chastised her Pokemon lightly, then turned to the boys with an apologetic grimace. "I'm sorry about her. I think she wants another battle – but, judging from how abruptly you came through the door, I'm guessing that you already have plans?"
Hiccup rubbed the back of his head, self-conscious. "Sorry to disappoint, but… yeah. We've got places to be right now. Maybe another time?"
Windshear let out a huff in disappointment, and jumped aside when Heather used her leg to give her an admonishing nudge.
"Sounds like a deal," Heather agreed. "Are you going to Cyllage City for your next Gym battle, Hiccup?"
"Oh, um, n-no, not yet," Hiccup replied, shooting a glance at Fishlegs. The Ingerman boy was staring at him with an odd expression, which went away when he nodded in agreement. "I want another Pokemon before I try the next Gym, so we're actually preparing to go out to Wild Dragon Cliff."
"Y-Yes, Hiccup's been wanting to go there for a while!" Fishlegs added. "But before we do that, we were just about to check out the Fossil Lab! I-It's the best place in the region to learn about p-prehistoric Pokemon, y-you know!"
Heather laughed at how thrilled he sounded, smiling kindly at them both. "That all sounds like a lot of fun. I don't want to delay you any longer, so… I should get out of your way. I really hope you enjoy your day."
Abruptly, an idea burst to life in Hiccup's head – he wasn't sure what triggered it, but it immediately felt like a really good one. As Heather began to turn back toward the Pokemon Center, he stepped forward and suggested, eagerly, "Hey, why don't you come along and join us? The way Fishlegs was telling me about it, it sounded like something I wouldn't want to miss. So how about it? Fishlegs?"
He looked at him funny again, but it was quickly overtaken by honest excitement. "You're absolutely welcome to join us, Heather! We've got room for anyone interested in learning about Pokemon!"
This time, Heather's otherwise charming smile didn't quite reach her eyes, which swam with regret. "It's very nice of you two to offer," she told them. "But I'm afraid I can't join you. I have something else to do today."
Her declination was disappointing, to be sure, but Hiccup wasn't expecting it to hit him as hard as it did. He forced his own smile and tried to shrug as nonchalantly as possible. "
"Ooh, what is it you're doing? Can you tell us?" Fishlegs asked, curiosity fully piqued. "Are you training Windshear or one of your other Pokemon? Catching something new?"
Heather's next smile was a perplexing combination of amused and coy. "Just business," she said simply, and that was enough to shut Fishlegs up.
Hiccup blinked, her answer having cleared nothing up, but she didn't elaborate. Oooookay… he thought. I don't want to sound nosy, but… I kind of wanted to know, too.
"So, then, uh…" he began, feeling compelled to cough into his fist as he got his thoughts back in order. "Good luck with… whatever you're doing… and, ah, see you around?"
"Of course. Good luck to you, as well," Heather echoed, turning to address him and Fishlegs as one. "I hope your excursion goes well."
"I-It will! I-I mean, it probably will…" Fishlegs blushed. "Take care of yourself, Heather. A-And Windshear, too!"
Nodding, Heather turned as if to head inside the Pokemon Center… then stopped as though something had just come to mind. Before Hiccup could figure out what was going on, she strode right up to him and leaned in close. He froze, horribly aware that the girl was in his personal space, and a fiery heat blazed to life in his cheeks as she spoke to him in coy tones.
"Maybe next time we meet… if I'm free… I wouldn't mind taking you up on your invitation," she murmured in his ear.
Wha…?
With a bounce in her step, Heather pulled away, a mischievous little smirk playing over her features as she gave them a wave and disappeared inside the Center. It happened too fast for Hiccup to even think of a response – he was in too much turmoil, left juggling feelings of bafflement and secret pleasure.
He noticed that Fishlegs was definitely goggling at him now. His luminescent blush only burned brighter with the knowledge that eyes were locked on him, and he self-consciously whirled toward the street so that he didn't have to gaze back at his friend's fixation.
"So…" he tried to remain casual. "We were, um… we were on our way to the Fossil Lab. It's, uh, just on the other side of town, right? We should really… get going… what, Fishlegs?"
He didn't get any response, and against his better judgement, turned back to regard his friend again. Fishlegs had by now averted his eyes, staring out at nothing with an unreadable expression. When Hiccup called his name, all he did was sigh.
"Lucky…" he groused.
The implications of that single melancholy word made Hiccup flinch in a jolt of panic. "What?!" he protested, voice going up a whole extra octave. "What about me is 'lucky'?!"
"D-Don't tell me you don't know!" Fishlegs burst out, a blush of his own rising to stain his face cherry-red. "How is it that we're only a week into our journey and you've already got such a beautiful girl interested in you? I'm so envious!"
If Hiccup's adolescent brain had been pushed to the brink by Heather's parting words, then this was enough to drive it completely over the edge.
"I– No– Tha– It isn– me?!" he squawked, then burst out into nervous laughter. "Nonononono, y-you've got it completely wr-wrong! W-W-We're friends! Sh-She doesn't think of me l-like… th-that…"
"Hiccup, that was totally her flirting with you just now!" Fishlegs insisted, wide-eyed with… Hiccup had no clue. Some fanatic mixture of envy and horror and fascination and awe. It freaked him out.
"Th-That was just… j-just…" Hiccup shook his head even more frantically, shoving the very real possibility that she might've been into the deep recesses of his mind. If he considered it for even a minute, he'd cease functioning, he knew it. It was just too mortifying to think about.
"Sh-She was j-just promising to take us up o-on our offer n-next time! F-Friends do that all the time!" he protested, though it felt hollow even to him. "I-It's nothing like… c-come on, interested? In me?! Pfffft, nooooo, th-that's crazy talk…"
All he got was a nondescript hum in return, Fishlegs striding away with a skeptical look. Mortified by his dismissal, Hiccup hurried after him down the street, shouting to his retreating back in increasingly desperate tones.
"F-Fishlegs, hey! I'm telling you, I'm not… stop looking at me like that! C-Come on! This isn't funny…!"
The Kalos Fossil Lab was in the southernmost part of Ambrette Town, on one of the lower plateaus that made up the town's foundation. To save time, Hiccup and Fishlegs took a short train ride there, maintaining an amazed silence the whole trip as they gazed out the windows at the sea beyond the rising and falling natural platforms. Fishlegs especially was plastered to the glass, for once speechless at the water that stretched all the way to the edge of the sky, and Hiccup didn't blame him. He'd only seen the ocean a couple of times in his life, and this was the best view he'd gotten of it, by far.
When they stepped off the monorail and began to walk the last few blocks, the Fossil Lab stuck out easily as a tall, rectangular building surrounded by a collection of dome-shaped structures. The property itself was enormous and ringed by chain-link fences, giving the pair a good view of the parked trucks, warehouses, and workers milling about as they trailed along the edge of the fence. Fishlegs still wasn't saying anything, but Hiccup could practically feel him vibrating with impatience.
Whatever high hopes he had, though, were destined to be dashed the moment they reached the front gate, where a large sign with bold red lettering had been posted.
"'Not admitting visitors until further notice'?!" Fishlegs wailed. Utterly crestfallen, he sank his face into his hands and moaned in anguish. "Oh, of all the rotten luck!"
"Well… there's nothing we can do," Hiccup said, giving him an empathetic pat on the back. He peered past the fence at the building he assumed to be the research facility, spotting two men in lab coats engaged in conversation in front of the door, and an idea came to him.
The least we can do is get some answers, after coming all the way here, he reasoned. He cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Heyyyy, excuse me! Can you tell us what's going on?!"
The researchers' heads jerked in their direction, and they came over in a rush. "Sorry, kids," one said, "but we're not giving tours for the foreseeable future."
Hiccup fought the urge to roll his eyes, but couldn't quite suppress his sarcastic drawl. "Yes, we figured that out ourselves, thanks. What I mean is, can you tell us why, or at least when you'll be opening again?"
The second scientist shook his head, looking almost as mopey as Fishlegs. "Truth be told, we're in quite a bind. You two are Trainers, right? Maybe you could help us ou–"
Hiccup and Fishlegs started to nod, but were cut off by the first researcher, who smacked his companion lightly with his clipboard. "Hey, we shouldn't be dragging anyone else into this! I told you, the police said they would take care of it."
"But you heard them!" the other man said. "The canyon is so difficult to cross that it might take them another few days! We can at least ask these two to hear us out in the meantime – they'll be able to cross if they stop at the Academy…"
As the two continued to bicker, Hiccup stole a glance at Fishlegs and saw his own dread mirrored in his eyes. Already, a foreboding feeling was beginning to creep up on him, chilling him as though it were digging icy claws into his bones. What had at first sounded like an innocent request from the one researcher had, in less than a second, turned into something far more sinister-sounding, and it made his gut clench uncomfortably. A question that he wasn't sure he wanted the answer to pounded against the inside of his skull:
What problem of theirs could be so big that it involves Kalos Canyon… and the police?
The scientists appeared to finish their argument – the first's unhappy yet relenting expression told Hiccup that the second had managed to convince him. "Alright, we'll let you know what's going on," he grumbled. "So, a few days ago, a bunch of our colleagues went off on a digging expedition to the Kalos Canyon. We have a number of designated dig sites there, so it's pretty routine for us to go back and forth between them for new discoveries."
"Okay… that doesn't sound too bad," Hiccup mused, wrinkling his brow. "So… something went wrong there?"
"Yeah. We, um… h-haven't heard from them since they left," the second researcher answered, wide-eyed, and his nervousness made Fishlegs whimper. "No calls on the videophone or Holo Casters, and when we checked in with the Trainers at the Academy, they reported that they hadn't seen any sign of them in the area."
"We called the police immediately after that," the first one continued, "but they said that it would take them a while to look into it. The Kalos Canyon isn't exactly a picnic to traverse on the best of days, and the site in question – Glittering Cave – is particularly remote. So we're completely in the dark while they prepare the necessary personnel."
Fishlegs whimpered again, biting his nails like he was listening to a scary story, but Hiccup made no move to do so. Numbness stole over him, locking him in place, and his vision lost focus, the researchers becoming a white blur. Their story would've been awful on its own, but it came on top of the suspicions that he'd already had, suspicions he'd been dwelling on more and more since he'd begun trekking through the mountains.
Is it just a coincidence that we hear of this happening after encountering all those Pokemon that had fled from this area? he asked himself. His mind raced, but all it could do was spin in circles, unable to come up with a clear answer. The Snorlax, Meditite, Whismur, and Skullcrusher were all forced from their environment… now people going missing in the Kalos Canyon? Are they connected?
"A-Anyway," the second scientist spoke up again, glancing permissively at his disapproving counterpart, "you two look like you're capable Trainers…"
"W-We do?" Fishlegs said, surprised by the assessment.
"…so we were hoping that you would – o-or know somebody who would – help us out," the man continued, heedless of the Ingerman boy's reaction. "We're not asking you to take any unnecessary risks – just go to Glittering Cave and confirm the situation there while we wait for the authorities to take action."
Frowning, Hiccup cast his gaze to the cliffs directly to the east. Just before reaching Ambrette Town, they'd come across a fork in the road, one passage leading west to civilization, the other leading southeast. At the end of the latter path lay the Kalos Canyon. Hiccup had been so looking forward to going – but now he knew that far more than a potential new Dragon-type for his team awaited him deep in the wilderness. Whatever had spirited the researchers away, whatever had driven all those Pokemon from their homes… he would find the answers to those mysteries within the canyon, too.
"U-Um, a-actually, Hiccup and I were p-planning to head r-right to Cyllage City after today," Fishlegs stammered, forcing out a laugh that was high-pitched with nerves. "S-So we really, um, c-can't go investigate f-for you. R-Right, Hiccup? … H-Hiccup?"
Setting his mouth in a firm line, Hiccup made up his mind, a flare of determination banishing all but a morsel of fear. Ignoring how it settled in his stomach with a faint queasiness, he hardened his resolve and looked at Fishlegs, who paled quickly upon interpreting his serious expression.
"H-Hiccup!" he repeated in a squeak, aghast. "D-Don't tell me you're actually p-planning to go there a-anyway! D-Didn't you h-hear what th-they said?! Wh-What if we d-d-disappear next?!"
"Fishlegs…" Hiccup hesitated, unsure how to express his conflicting thoughts. "We should go and check it out. We were heading to Wild Dragon Cliff anyways, and… well, remember the Snorlax and all those Pokemon we theorized had been driven out of the mountains? What if… whatever caused them to flee is the same disaster that made the researchers disappear?"
His reasoning stilled Fishlegs, the fear on his face giving way to shock. His eyes flickered, and Hiccup saw conflict there – on the one hand, the terror at what dangers the canyon might hold repelling him, and on the other, his love of Pokemon compelling him to act. Seconds passed without an answer, every gaze present leveled at the silent, quivering Ingerman boy… and then, finally, his posture slackened with a weary sigh.
"O-Okay…" he acquiesced. "O-Okay, w-we'll go. B-But just to investigate! Th-The minute things s-start to get d-dangerous…!"
"I understand, Fishlegs," Hiccup replied, giving his friend a gentle smile. "Thank you."
The first researcher stepped forward, his frown grave. "Well, if you two are really going to do this… then the first place you're going to want to go is the Sky Battle Academy. You won't miss it – big building, directly at the end of the path leading to Kalos Canyon. The instructors there should grant you access to the deeper parts of the canyon."
"Glittering Cave is very near Wild Dragon Cliff," the second offered with a significant glance at Hiccup. "Once you clear things with the Academy, head south along the main body of the canyon until you come to a cave with gemstones ringing the entrance. The dig site is in there."
"Sounds good," Hiccup nodded to the duo, confident now that they had directions. "Fishlegs, I know you wanted to take the day off, but this…"
"I-I know, this is more important," he replied. He, too, looked a little bit more resolute despite the way he was still shaking like a leaf. "We'll spend the day how you wanted, instead. We'll head back to the Pokemon Center for our Pokemon, then pick up as much gear as we need to brave the canyon."
"Make sure Meatlug is good and ready," Hiccup recommended. "We're going to be relying on her to carry us there and back."
"Oh, Meatlug will be ready," Fishlegs answered, a grin peeking through his apprehension. "She's as excited as we are to get moving to the canyon!"
With that clarified, Hiccup said to the researchers with utmost sincerity, "We'll check things out for you and report back. It'll take… one or two days to get there, probably, but expect a call from the Academy. We'll find your colleagues, no problem."
"Th-Thank you very much," the second researcher gave them a wobbly smile. "Here's our number – c-call us as soon as you return from your search."
"I still don't approve of you kids walking into danger like this…" the first grumbled, then let out a hefty sigh. "But… I'm too worried about the expedition team to argue. Thanks for doing this… we're counting on you."
The day wore on. Morning became noon, then afternoon, and the tranquil Ambrette Town had long since shrunken into the distance, replaced by a rugged landscape of treacherous cracks and unforgiving crags. And still Hiccup and Fishlegs had yet to reach their destination.
After scrambling to retrieve their Pokemon and stocking up on all manner of equipment – waterproof jackets, tough boots with extra grip, safety harnesses, and a proverbial ton of rope – they'd left town that very morning and turned down the southern path, at last on their way to the long-awaited Kalos Canyon. The topography began to worsen soon after that, the path completely vanishing as they crossed the boundary between civilization and true wilderness; only barren, rugged rock remained where dirt had once existed, forcing them to rely on the position of the sun and the shape of the cliffs in the distance to guide their route.
Hiccup and Fishlegs tried to walk as far as they could, but their legs tired quickly on the bumpy terrain, and when a ledge they'd been attempting to climb down partially crumbled underneath their feet and almost plunged them into a crevasse, they finally decided to bring out Meatlug to carry them the rest of the way. To say that the Rhyhorn was ecstatic at the sight of nothing but bare rock was an understatement; Fishlegs had to calm her down before she galloped off and left them behind. Clambering aboard her broad back, the boys advised her to take it slow and careful, and she granted their wish as best she could, tempering her excitement so that she trudged forward at her equivalent of a casual jog.
When Meatlug really got going, though, Hiccup swore that meeting Fishlegs on that first day in Vaniville Town had been a blessing from some higher power. Ridges, boulder fields, small gulleys… Meatlug crossed them all with the confidence and unwavering stride of a Rock-type. Perched safely atop her back, Hiccup sat back and marveled at how steep inclines became gentle hills, rugged obstacle courses became leisurely trails, and boulders became mere speed bumps. Even the sharpest drop-offs that would've shattered every bone in his body if he jumped were child's play for Meatlug, who landed hard enough to crater the earth below but never suffered a single broken leg.
He couldn't imagine not having a Rhyhorn to cross all this. Meatlug singlehandedly made the impossible journey possible, and that thrilled him even more.
But though his and Fishlegs' hearts fluttered wildly with anticipation of reaching their goal, it wasn't just excitement that fueled their racing pulses. They were no longer here just to sightsee, or to collect new Pokemon – they had an additional mission now, one that saddled them with a sense of foreboding. While it was true that Hiccup scanned his surroundings frequently as Meatlug plodded onward, it wasn't because he was overwhelmed by the awe-inspiring scenery. No… he was being vigilant, searching for any sign of environmental disturbances, anything that would hint at a reason for the strange occurrences they'd been encountering since Camphrier Town.
"Nothing out of the ordinary so far," Hiccup piped up after scrutinizing the landscape for the umpteenth time and still not spotting anything other than rocks. "
"It's weird," Fishlegs remarked, shuddering slightly. "This place is so peaceful and pristine. Yet all the Pokemon we've seen… and the researchers' dilemma… I can't enjoy any of this at face value. I just can't shake this notion that there's something lurking just under the s-surface of it all, y-you know?"
"Yeah… there might be," he replied, glancing at a deep crack in the earth that they passed by. With a shudder of his own, he pushed the ugly thought from his mind and turned his head in the opposite direction – the sky. "Look at how dark it's gotten already. The sun's setting… and we still haven't even seen the canyon yet, let alone the Academy the scientists mentioned."
The crinkling of paper told him that Fishlegs had unfolded a map, the one they'd gotten with the rest of their gear. "We've been traveling for most of the day. According to this, we should be getting near, and if we hurry, we should make the Academy by nightfall…"
"'Should'?" Hiccup parroted, raising his eyebrows.
Fidgeting, Fishlegs glanced back at him uncertainly, "W-Well, I-I'm estimating! I don't know the area th-that… oh, M-Meatlug! What's wrong, girl?!"
Hiccup looked up, finally noticing that the Ground-and-Rock-type had stopped. No – they were sliding backwards. In front of them, the ground sloped upward into the steepest incline they'd seen so far, and Meatlug was panting as she struggled to take even one more step. With every foot she planted into the ground, gravity dragged her straight back down, and her progress slowed and slowed until she was moving at a Slugma's crawl.
"I-I'm so s-sorry! Y-You must be exhausted from w-walking for most of the day!" Fishlegs wailed, hastening to hop off her back and give her a hug around the neck. "Poor, poor Meatlug! I-I'll never work you this h-hard again!"
"Focus, Fishlegs!" Hiccup told him, feet hitting the ground with a clattering of pebbles. "We need to get her over this hill! Toothless, Skullcrusher, come help us out!"
The Poke Balls popped open when he lobbed them into the air, releasing their occupants. Grasping the situation immediately, Toothless and Skullcrusher braced themselves against Meatlug's back legs and pushed. Hiccup joined them, placing his hands firmly against her backside and digging his heels in. He slid back the tiniest bit, pebbles giving way underneath his soles, but his feet nonetheless held firm.
Thank goodness for these hiking boots… Hiccup thought, and pushed again with a grunt. "Come on, Meatlug, work with us here... hey, Fishlegs!" he suddenly called out. "Tie some rope around her middle and pull!"
He strained to keep Meatlug from sliding any farther while Fishlegs worked hastily to fasten a length of rope around her huge torso. Once it was secure, he ran back to the front and started to pull. And Meatlug herself – perhaps responding to the sight of her Trainer fighting to help her up the hill – began to move again with tremendous effort. Puffs of steam shooting from her nostrils as she exerted herself, she took one slow, deliberate step forward after the other. Her claws thudded against the ground and heavy breaths rasped from her lungs as she climbed.
"R-Rhy… h-hooorn… rhyyy… hooooorn…"
On the other side of her, Hiccup could hear Fishlegs grunting and groaning as he pulled his beloved Pokemon from the front. "Oh… M-Meatlug… haaaah… j-just… a little bit… m-mooooore…!"
All at once, Meatlug moved. Her legs thrashed into a sudden sprint as she heaved her bulk the last few meters up to the top, kicking dust into Hiccup's face. Suddenly, he found himself pushing against nothing, and overbalanced into a painful faceplant on the ground where the Rhyhorn used to be. Mumbling "ow" into the ground, he rolled over and waited for the sting to fade, meeting the curious eyes of Toothless and Skullcrusher in the process.
"I'm fine, you guys," he told the Dragon-types. "And thanks a ton for your help with Meatlug. Speaking of which…"
Sitting up, he glanced up the slope inquisitively. "Hey, uh, Fishlegs? You good up there? Meatlug didn't run you over, did sh–"
"Hiccup! You've got to take a look at this!"
His worries assuaged by the amount of energy in the Ingerman boy's reply, Hiccup got to his feet and trudged up the remaining hillside. He was huffing and puffing by the time he arrived at the summit, and was joined immediately by a sparkly-eyed Fishlegs, pointing excitedly at something in the distance.
"We made it, Hiccup!" he cried, trembling with giddiness. "Look, look, isn't it breathtaking?!"
Bemused, Hiccup turned in the direction he was indicating – and stopped breathing.
Underneath the brilliant orange sky and painted by the light of the setting sun, the landscape parted before Hiccup's awestruck gaze, the ground falling away to form a truly gigantic, gaping gash in the earth's crust. The gorge's great walls consisted of layers and layers of rock worn away by millions of years of erosion by water and wind, and its floor was so distant that it may as well have been another world. Indeed, the immense drop made Hiccup dizzy the longer he looked at it, and he backed away before his stomach could do one too many backflips. Staring at the towering rock formations that dotted the center of the canyon brought his gaze back to the surface, where he followed the canyon as it snaked unevenly along the surface. At the end of it, he found himself gawking at the horizon itself, where the canyon's end no doubt continued for many, many kilometers.
"The Kalos Canyon…" Fishlegs whispered reverently, as if Hiccup still needed to be told where they were.
"See that, bud? Skullcrusher?" Hiccup asked his Pokemon. Both of them were still, stricken with amazement as their little eyes bulged wide to take as much of the sight in as possible. "That's where we're going to find Wild Dragon Cliff. One of the greatest natural Dragon-type sanctuaries in the world… and we're going to see it for ourselves."
"And look there!" Fishlegs exclaimed and pointed again, this time off to the left. "That must be the Sky Battle Academy!"
Somehow, Hiccup had been so transfixed by the Kalos Canyon's majesty that he'd completely neglected to spot the massive white building standing to the distant west. It contrasted its rusty orange-brown surroundings magnificently, sitting on a great [tableau/clearing] that had been smoothed and paved, and framed by the rising cliffs of the mountains. To Hiccup, it looked more like an airport than a training facility – it had a runway that ran right off the edge of the canyon, and the tower that speared above the main building was like some kind of air traffic control.
"If it's not, I'll eat my boot," Hiccup remarked dryly. "Now let's get going. It'll be dark soon, and if we want to find those researchers then we have to –"
A powerful gust of wind suddenly tore across the badlands, Hiccup's words cut off as he ducked and tried not to stumble off balance. It blew from the canyon, directly into his face, and only when it died down did he look out across the gorge to see a phalanx of bird Pokemon flying in from the distance. Except, when he looked closer, they weren't all Pokemon – some were human, all wearing glider suits with membrane-like sheets of fabric stretching between their arms and legs. As he witnessed the extraordinary sight, the group of Trainers and Pokemon turned on the wind in perfect V-formation and touched down on the Academy's runway.
"Th-Those must be the Sky Battle Academy's students!" Fishlegs blurted, equally impressed. "I get it now! It must be a facility dedicated to training Flying-type Pokemon, to the point where the Trainers are taught to fly alongside them!"
You can do that?! Hiccup suddenly felt like Toothless always did whenever the subject of flight came up, uncontrollable excitement surging through his body like an electric shock. He always had been enraptured by the thought of flying, but that had always been more along the lines of one day riding on Toothless. The possibility of lifting off himself had never crossed his mind – and now it was at the top of his bucket list.
"Come on, Fishlegs!" he called, suddenly unable to sit still. "If we want to get to Glittering Cave, we need to talk to one of the instructors. They'll give us permission to cross the canyon!"
Fishlegs flinched, all the wonder suddenly draining out of him as he quailed and asked, "And h-how are we g-going to do that…?"
Without waiting for him or Meatlug, Hiccup started forward at a brisk pace, the ground around the canyon flat enough for him to do so safely. Joy and laughter ringing in his voice, he called back over his shoulder, "We're going to learn how to fly!"
That was all Toothless needed to hear. "BAGO!" he cried out in delight, and Hiccup needed to restrain him from scurrying all the way to the Academy without them.
Up close, the Sky Battle Academy was even more impressive. Most of its area was outdoors, with lines of paint drawn on the pavement indicating various zones where training exercises were held. As they made their way toward the main building, Hiccup found himself craning his neck to where several Flying-types were darting around in some sort of aerial ring toss game. Among them was a Pokemon he was surprised to see, an enormous Corviknight that bulldozed straight through its smaller competition to score a point on the central tower with a victorious croak.
He was forced to take his eyes off the fascinating new sights, though, when they approached the Academy's front doors and encountered another familiarity. One that made him stop in his tracks.
There were two Trainers present at the entrance, deep in serious conversation with one another. The first was a stranger, a woman with long red hair – Hiccup guessed from her height and air of authority that she was an instructor. She had a large red bird with her, equally unknown to him, its forked tail feathers and slicked-back crest giving it a sleek, fearsome appearance.
But it was the second Trainer that gave Hiccup pause. Even before she noticed the newcomers and turned around, the girl's blonde braid and pinched features were unmistakable, as was the Staraptor at her side. When she did turn, her sharp sapphire eyes only sealed the deal.
Once again, Hiccup found himself pinned under the skewering glare of Astrid Hofferson.
AN:
Another transitory chapter here, covering all the necessary set-up before Hiccup and Fishlegs make the long-anticipated journey across the Kalos Canyon. It's a relief to write something relatively short after the last couple of chapters.
To get the shipping stuff out of the way first, I personally don't mind Heathercup much. I think it could work in the right circumstances, especially if you throw Dagur into the mix (how delighted would he be to actually become Hiccup's brother, haha?). However, I did spoil in the summary that Hiccstrid is the endgame, so… the ship isn't going to go far beyond teasing. It's going to be fun to tease, though.
The rest of the chapter is a mix of game and anime content. The missing Fossil Lab researchers are of course meant to give Hiccup more incentive to get to Wild Dragon Cliff, and the anime-inspired Sky Battle Academy is there to provide the means to reach it. But what, oh what, could possibly be going on deep in the canyons? Hmmmmm…
That's all I wanted to say. Please send your reviews and any feedback you may have, and thank you for reading!
Next time: They'll be Flying 'Round the Canyon!