Chapter 9 – Where Dreams and Adventures Begin Again!

The enemy forces calling themselves "Team Flare" clustered together with hesitant expressions as Sycamore strode toward them, tossing his Poke Ball with all the poise of a Champion. "Come out, Garchomp! If they're so insistent, let's give them a taste of our research!"

The spiny, shark-headed Dragon-and-Ground-type appeared with a flash of light, and Hiccup shuddered. Though he'd certainly found her intimidating before, now she was a downright terrifying presence, her powerful form radiating aggression from every muscle. Ready for combat, she spread her wings and thrashed her tail with a guttural snarl. "Gaburrrr!"

It was one Pokemon against six… six much weaker ones, but the numbers difference was still great. Hiccup and Fishlegs exchanged uncertain glances, both asking the same silent question – Can he really defeat them alone?

That was when Sycamore reached into his pocket and produced another object – the marble-like stone he had displayed in the examination room, the focal point of his research. A single phrase echoed in Hiccup's mind at the sight of the mysterious stone… Mega Evolution. He grew very still, and he held his breath, suddenly transfixed on what he knew was to happen next.

Sycamore closed his fist around the stone, and beams of radiant pink light flashed from the gaps in his fingers. From a second stone that had been attached to a tiny bracelet around Garchomp's tail – only now did Hiccup notice the adornment – identical beams suddenly flashed, reacting to Sycamore's stone. Both sets of beams changed into winding tendrils that snaked toward one another and fused, brightening to orange and then to blinding white as the transformation progressed.

And what a transformation it was. Hiccup felt his jaw drop, and he never bothered to close it as, with a final rainbow-colored flash, the Mega Evolved Garchomp was revealed. Her skull had deepened, with a far more prominent lower jaw that no doubt sported a far stronger bite. Two rows of spines ran down her chest and a pair of larger, thicker ones sprouted from her knees. Her tail fin was longer and more sharply curved. But the most noticeable difference were her arms – their fins had enlarged and sharpened into scything blades with crimson edges.

It was, in short, a process that had left Hiccup spellbound with awe. And Garchomp hadn't even done anything to demonstrate the power that he could sense in every movement.

For that, however, he didn't have long to wait.

"Team Flare, rally!" the member with the Swirlix, who seemed to be the leader, tried to motivate his teammates. "We still have the advantage! If we attack all at once, we can still defeat it and claim what belongs to us!"

The rest of Team Flare hesitated, however, and that crucial second was all Professor Sycamore needed.

"Mega Garchomp," he ordered with a slow, final sweep of his arm, "use Dragon Claw!"

"Gaburrrrr…" she growled, the sound rolling like a dark chuckle throughout the room as she raised a single one of her claws. A sea-green aura enveloped its bladed edge, building in power even as she raised it higher. When at last her arm's reach eclipsed her head… she swung downwards.

It happened faster than Hiccup could blink. A flash of green blinded him for a split second, and a tremendous CRASH of shattering wood blasted through his ears. When he opened his eyes again, Team Flare and all of their Pokemon were gone, disappeared out the now-open doorway whose fancy wooden doors had been knocked off their hinges. He blinked several times, refusing to believe it, but the vision before him never changed. This was reality; that had happened.

Garchomp took out six Pokemon and their Trainers in a single blow, he thought, numb with shock. If this is Mega Evolution… it's certainly something, alright.

A shout from outside pulled Hiccup out of his reverie. Though still dazed, he was at least comprehending enough to recognize the voice of one of Team Flare, and raced to the doorway to see what had happened. He looked out over the front of the property, where the double doors now lay splintered against the fence… and saw no-one. The street was empty, not a hint of flamboyant red in sight.

They're gone. It was a realization that only numbed Hiccup even further, and he dragged his feet back into the foyer, only able to manage a stumble. They came so quickly, I could barely understand what was happening… they were criminals. We were attacked by actual criminals, and… they escaped, just like that.

He caught Sycamore's inquiring eye and shook his head. That was all the confirmation the Professor needed, a tense frown pulling at his handsome features.

"Hiccup!" Suddenly, his mother was there, jostling him as she cupped his cheeks in her hands and examined him with wide, darting eyes. "Oh, son, thank goodness you're okay. What were ya thinkin', chargin' into the thick o' things like that? If those people had done anythin' to ya…"

Uncomfortable at her prodding, Hiccup wrested himself free of her grasp and protested, "Mom, it's okay, I'm fine. If there's anyone you should be worried about, it's Toothle– Toothless!"

He raced to reunite with his partner, an electric bolt of fear coursing through him at the sight of the Bagon. Toothless tried to smile as he leaned into Hiccup's lap, but it was pained, and it looked like it took all his strength to resist the sting of his ugly, coiling wounds and keep standing.

"Hey, bud," he murmured, stroking Toothless' helmet soothingly. "You did great. Sorry you had to take that Fairy-type move head-on… how're you feeling?"

Toothless moaned, and Valka knelt beside him to take him into her own arms. "Fortunately, it isn't anythin' that I can't fix," she determined after examining him. "He only looks in such rough shape because he's never encountered a Fairy-type before. He's just havin' trouble copin' with the pain for the first time."

"So this is something we can get used to," Hiccup said, and was relieved when his mother nodded. "Thank goodness. See, bud, this is the worst it's going to get. Soon you'll be fighting Fairy-types like they're nothing at all."

"B-Bago," Toothless flashed him a wobbly grin, encouraged.

His immediate concerns laid to rest, Hiccup finally looked up and examined the rest of the room. It was trashed from the impromptu battle that had just been waged; the massive scorched hole that Toothless' Dragon Breath had burnt through the carpet stuck out in particular. Glancing over to where Fishlegs was, he met the Ingerman boy's watery eyes and felt glad that the terror seemed to be draining from him, restoring color to his face. Meatlug was gone, as was Garchomp – both having presumably been returned to their Poke Balls. On the other side of the room, Sycamore was helping tear through the sticky bindings that held two of his assistants – they must have been slumped against the wall where Hiccup couldn't see them initially.

As soon as she'd been freed, the woman with the dull pink hair exited the foyer. "I'm going to contact the police," she announced over her shoulder. "Whoever those red-suited people were, we need to ensure that they're captured as soon as possible."

Sycamore nodded after her, approving her decision, and the other, dark-haired assistant asked what was currently on everyone else's minds. "Who were they? I've never heard of this 'Team Flare'. The only thing I remember them saying was that they wanted your Mega Evolution research – nothing else made any sense."

Valka stood up next. "I've heard of similar criminal organizations operating in other regions," she offered, "but nothin' like them has existed in Galar as far as I'm aware. I've got experience with small-time poachers and Pokemon hunters… not anythin' on this level."

"They were confident enough to make a move in broad daylight," Sycamore added cautiously, nodding at both women with a considering expression. "And they mentioned having a goal… though it was very vague and sounded like nonsense. Whoever they are, they aren't just your standard robbers. It's likely that their organization is larger than we realize."

Hiccup thought back to the encounter with the criminals, whom he now realized in hindsight had been extremely odd. Their garish uniforms and matching visors, the almost business-like way they operated, their talk of… what had it been? They had mentioned needing the Professor's research for something, but all he could remember was that it, like their fashion sense, was very out of the ordinary.

Fashion sense… He frowned, déjà vu sweeping over him as some half-remembered tidbit struggled to surface from his mind.

"Fishlegs, haven't we seen those red suits before recently?" he asked.

His suspicion was right on the money – Fishlegs gasped with realization and replied, "Y-Yes! We caught glimpses of them on the way here, on the streets! They were just… you know, part of the crowd… very unusual."

"Come to think of it…" Sycamore muttered, stroking his chin in deep thought. "I have seen those uniforms before. I think I first noticed them a few months ago… I would spot them every so often around the city, talking amongst each other outside cafes or passing out flyers on the street. I thought they were some new charity group, or a business with an unorthodox dress code. I never imagined…"

"I doubt we'll be seein' much more of 'em in such casual settings," Valka said shrewdly. "Doesn't matter if they were part of this incident or not, their whole organization is associated with criminal behavior now. The authorities will be lookin' for 'em."

"B-But…" Fishlegs stammered, unable to keep silent as a question came to mind. "If they've been present for a while, wh-why would they suddenly start causing problems so openly?"

"And if they were willing to risk discovery to obtain your research, Augustine," Sycamore's assistant added, looking grave, "then it's likely that they'll make another move against us eventually. What should we do?"

"Hmm…" Sycamore thought. "In addition to the police, I think the Lumiose Gym Leader should be notified. I could ask him to upgrade our security, in case they go for a subtler approach and try hacking the computers…"

"That might be difficult – he's been busy addressing the recent blackouts," the assistant replied. "But I'll get in touch with him and see what he says."

"And even though I'll be spendin' most of my time in the field, Cloudjumper and I will do whatever we can to protect the lab as well," Valka promised, her voice full of the resolute firmness that Hiccup usually only heard when she talked about protecting Pokemon. Cloudjumper agreed with a strong, melodic chirp, the dust patches and faint bruises speckling his feathers not dampening his image even a little.

Giving his staff a grateful smile, Sycamore shifted his attention at last to the utter mess that lay strewn around the foyer. "Well, with our future conduct decided upon," he sighed unhappily, "I suppose we should start making the place look presentable again. Sophie, where do we keep the brooms and dustpans again?"

And just like that, the conversation was dissolved, the adults all heading toward different exits with nothing else but the mundane task of cleaning on their minds. Hiccup blinked, a bit slower to put away the thoughts that the troubling discussion had dredged up. Perhaps he remained standing in the middle of the room a bit too long, as Valka soon noticed him and came over to crouch and look him in the eye with a worried frown. He suspected her expression mirrored his own right now.

"Are ya all right, son?" she asked, quietly.

He hesitated at first, questioning if he should burden her with his worries on top of her own. He tried to chuckle, which came out more like a cough, and fibbed, "Uh… yeah, actually. Toothless is fine, so, um… all's well that end's well, right?"

His mother quirked an eyebrow, and he winced – he'd never been much of a liar.

"Honestly… that attack was really shocking," he admitted. "I still haven't gotten over what just happened. It's… weird and scary to think that I just got involved with actual criminals… only three days into my journey, no less."

Eyes filled with sympathy, Valka, softly, asked him, "Do ya… do ya still want to continue your travels after this? I'm scared, too, and I wouldn't blame ya for wantin' to lie low for a while until this all blows over…"

The amount of caution and fright in her voice struck Hiccup, stopping him from answering right away. A part of him was still shaken by the sudden, violent intrusion… a part of him which only grew stronger when he looked down at Toothless, conscious and standing but hurt and clearly resisting the urge to express his pain. But another part recoiled instantly at the idea of abandoning his journey. It was such a cowardly notion – him and Toothless had barely gotten started, experiencing only a tiny taste of what a Trainer's adventure was like. He couldn't stop now. He'd pledged to become a great Dragon Tamer and to help Toothless achieve his dream of flying, and to back out after one unlucky encounter? So long as he had a choice in the matter, it wasn't going to happen.

"… Yeah, I'll keep traveling," Hiccup decided, looking up at her with a renewed grin. "Like you said, Team Flare probably isn't going to show themselves again after this. The police will find them and put a stop to whatever they're planning. We'll be fine."

Valka nodded at that, the apprehension fading. "So long as you're sure," she told him, ruffling his hair. "You're right, this'll probably settle in a week or two. But remember to stay safe out there, Hiccup."

Toothless crooned happily, and she reached out to pick him up fondly. "Let me care for Toothless for the time being," she implored. "I'll treat him myself so ya don't have to walk all the way over to the Pokemon Center."

"Perish the thought," Hiccup replied dryly. "We haven't needed to use a Pokemon Center until we came here to Kalos. I'm pretty sure I only know what the ones in Galar look like because of the time Dad showed me the one near his workplace."

"Just goes to show how good I am at my job, eh?" Valka winked. "Don't get used to it, though – I can't exactly accompany ya on your travels, now can I?"

Hiccup watched her carry Toothless out of the room, letting the silence thicken comfortably around him. Well, not entirely comfortably – a nagging sensation was poking at the back of his mind, as if to tell him he was forgetting something. His conversation with his mother must have jogged his memory enough to –

It hit him all of a sudden. "Mom!" he called, and she stopped in the threshold of the adjacent hall to listen. "Does the Professor have a videophone? I, uh, just realized that I'm overdue to make a call…"

"HICCUP!"

The overjoyed bellow blasted through the room and probably out into the hall, coming out distorted from the videophone's speakers because it was too loud for the poor machine to take. Hiccup winced at the volume and at the close-up view he was getting on the screen, which was absolutely filled by voluminous red beard hair that only parted for a nose and barely-visible pair of twinkling eyes.

"I was wondering when you'd call, son!" Stoick "the Vast" Haddock exclaimed less explosively, toning it down to the point where Hiccup could actually hear him clearly. "Your mother assured me ya would when ya started your journey, but it's been agonizin', waitin' for half a week to hear from ya!"

"Um… yeah… sorry about that, Dad," Hiccup muttered, finding it hard to look at the screen right now. Memories were flooding back to him from past times spent with his father – the fishing trips, the company tours… the frustrated arguments about his future. He loved his dad as much as any son did, but sometimes – more often, now that he was a teenager – he found it… hard… to relate to him. He took far too much after Valka and her love of Dragon-types than he did the musclebound mountain of a man and the steelworking company he managed.

Taking a deep breath, he managed to look up in time to watch his father retreat enough so his whole head was finally in view. "So, son, how're ya finding Kalos? Traveled far, I trust?"

"Yeah, uh, I'm actually calling from Lumiose City," he answered. "I even beat the Gym in Santalune on the way."

Stoick grinned broadly through his facial hair. "Well done, Hiccup! All the way from Vaniville to Lumiose in just a few days, and with your first Gym badge under your belt! At this rate, I'd bet you'll have circled the region and won all eight by the end of the month!"

Warmth bubbled up inside of him at the sound of such pride in his father's voice, and he chanced a smile. "Thanks, Dad, that means a lot…"

"And of course," Stoick plowed on, too exuberant to hear him, "the faster you finish your journey, the sooner I'll get to welcome ya back! The house isn't the same without ya and your mother… and I've got some new projects that I'm sure'll tickle your fancy!"

And there it is. Hiccup fought the urge to sigh, the contentment he felt from being able to just chat with his dad disappointingly short-lived. He hated to admit it to himself, but this was part of the reason he'd left Galar in the first place – as he was unable to get a sponsorship for the Galar League and thus achieve his dream, Stoick had begun to pressure him into working with him and his Steel-types at the machine factory he owned. He meant well and cared for his son enough to want to provide a future for him, Hiccup could see that well enough… the problem was that it was, well, Stoick. Once he set his mind to something, there was no convincing him otherwise, and even though he'd eventually caved to Valka and let him pursue his dream in Kalos, he'd still argued enough against it to make their parting… awkward, to say the least.

Even now, he was waiting for Hiccup to come rushing back, convinced that he'd be satisfied after he got what he wanted at the Kalos League. Hiccup couldn't even look at him without being reminded of his expectations and refusal to understand. The proud, beaming expression on Stoick's face only made him feel hollow.

"By the way," Stoick abruptly calmed down, giving him a searching look. "Where's Toothless hiding? You two are usually joined at the hip… ah, so to speak."

"Mom's treating him after we got into… um, a rough battle," Hiccup said carefully. The last thing he needed was to mention Team Flare and give his dad another reason to want him on the next plane to Galar. "I'll tell him you said hi, though?"

"Yes, do that," Stoick nodded. "You train him well, son. The next time we talk, I want to see just how big and strong he's gott–"

The speakers suddenly crackled again as another loud noise was just barely filtered through, and the holographic screen buzzed with static. Stoick whirled around in alarm to check something behind him, then turned back to Hiccup with a resigned sigh.

"I wish we could've talked longer, but I have to get back to work," he explained. "It looks like Gobber's Coalossal gave the machines too much juice again."

Before Hiccup could reply, the man in question stuck his bald head and singed moustache through the doorway in the background. "Stoick, ye've gotta come quickly! The place is aboot ta blow!"

"Yes, Gobber, I was just on my way there," the elder Haddock answered firmly.

Gobber's eyes met Hiccup's, and his terrified expression brightened. "Oh, it's wee Hiccup! Been a while since ye and yer mum came by the place! Say hi ta her for me, won'cha?"

"I thought we had fires to put out!" Stoick yelled, prompting the other man to zip away with an "Aye, chief!"

Facing the screen one last time, Stoick forced his frustrated scowl into a curt smile. "Always a pleasure to hear from you, son," he said kindly. "I should be going now, so… feel free to call me again whenever you like, and… hope to see you soon."

"Me too, Dad," Hiccup responded, privately hoping he meant in general and not with any specific location in mind.

With a final wave, Stoick cut the connection on his end, leaving Hiccup staring at a screen filled with static. He shut off the machine and let out the air in his lungs with a faint, weary groan, finally able to relax. There was always this automatic tension that seized him when he spoke with his father, like his body was bracing for an inevitable collision.

Whatever, he dismissed the matter with a shake of his head. As long as we're in Kalos, Toothless and I can work as much as we want toward our own goals without worrying about who approves or who doesn't. Still plenty of time to just enjoy being a Trainer… exploring the region, making rivals, having adventures.

"That said…" he murmured aloud, glancing toward the room's exit. "Where did Fishlegs get to? I never thought to check up on him after the incident…"

After a few minutes spent wandering through the lab – briefly passing through the foyer again, where Sycamore's assistants were still sweeping debris – Hiccup passed a room that warranted a closer look. The gold-lettered plaque spelling the Professor's name indicated that it was his office, and the door was slightly ajar, affording him a peek inside. He obliged, and it looked pretty much as expected: a neat interior, a large wooden desk in the center, large bookshelves covering one wall, chairs for visitors lined up against the other…

…one of which was harboring Fishlegs, angled so that his back was to the door. Smiling at the pleasant surprise, Hiccup rapped his knuckles against the door as he entered and sat down in the chair beside his friend. Though he flinched at the knock, Fishlegs settled down and offered a wobbly smile when he recognized him.

"H-Hey," he greeted, glancing around rapidly. His smile faltered when he didn't find what he was looking for. "Wh-Where's Toothless? Is he okay?"

"He's with Mom," Hiccup assured him. He glanced over him in turn, searching for any sign of anything out of the ordinary. "What about you and Meatlug? How're you holding up?"

Fishlegs seemed fine, but when he adjusted himself in the chair, Hiccup noticed an odd lean in his posture, almost as though he was deliberately keeping his left side hidden. And it was an unjustified nervousness with which he spoke, even though they were alone in an accommodating space.

"I-I'm doing a lot better, thanks," Fishlegs quavered. "M-Meatlug, um… she's in her Poke Ball. She took a few more hits than I would've liked, so P-Professor Sycamore told me he'd get one of his s-staff to heal her… I don't know if you've noticed, but battling isn't really our strong suit."

"I… did notice," Hiccup mused. He did recall how easily they'd folded, but for a short time, though, they'd also fought with surprising fierceness. Leaning further toward Fishlegs to give him a friendly nudge, he added, "But I also noticed how you and Meatlug held your own out there. I think you're a better Trainer than you think, Fishlegs."

The Ingerman boy hummed noncommittally, and Hiccup immediately noticed how he adjusted his position. What began as a suspicion was now confirmation that Fishlegs was deliberately trying to conceal something, and this time, Hiccup's interest was too great to ignore.

"Is everything really okay?" he asked, doing his best to come off as well-intentioned and not nosy. "Listen, if you're still scared about Team Flare, no-one's blaming you for –"

"N-No, it's not th-that!" Fishlegs was quick to clarify, shaking his head at the misunderstanding. But he leaned all the harder to his opposite side, until he was almost sitting on his hand. "I-It's just… I, ah, I h-have a little…"

He hemmed and hawed, deliberating, before finally letting out a despairing sigh. "L-Look, never mind," he mumbled. "Y-You'd just find it stupid… everybody does."

Now Hiccup had to know what Fishlegs was hiding. His passion for knowledge had done nothing but impress Hiccup so far, and beyond that, it had even been helpful. So it was with the utmost sincerity that he said, "Fishlegs, nothing I've ever seen you do or say has been stupid. Haven't I already told you how cool your research hobby is, or thanked you for helping me and Toothless train? Whatever it is you're so reluctant to show, I'll probably be interested. I won't laugh, at least."

"A-Are you sure? This is geeky, even for me," Fishlegs insisted.

When Hiccup insisted, he seemed to wrestle within his own mind for a decision, before at last relenting and uncovering his other hand. Grasped between his palm and fingers were a set of flash cards, about six or seven. Tentatively, he handed them over to Hiccup, and what he saw, at first, confused him. Each had a photograph of a Pokemon with an appropriate label, and went on to list various bits of data about it – type, height, weight, habitat, diet, and so on. The backs of the cards were more sparsely covered, with large empty sections headed with phrases like "training tips" and "combat strategies". Only one card was fully filled out, the Rhyhorn card, featuring a picture of Meatlug.

"What are these?" Hiccup asked even as he skimmed through the detailed information. He almost didn't hear Fishlegs' response, so absorbed was he in reading the impressive amount of writing that had been stuffed onto the paper.

"Th-This is my… my pocket-sized Pokemon field dictionary," Fishlegs informed him, sitting up a little bit straighter as he tried to inject confidence into his explanation. "Or the start of it, anyway. Y-You know all that information you saw me writing down as we traveled together? M-My intention is to collect as much of that field data as I can and then condense it into card form. It's a project I've thought about for years, but only decided to make a reality fairly recently."

Hiccup looked up from the point form notes about Rhyhorn grooming to ask the obvious. "What is it for? Why go to all this trouble to rearrange all the notes you already took?"

"Well… this is the stupid part," Fishlegs confessed, then closed his eyes, steeling himself. "I want to make these cards widely available to Trainers, as sort of a… a quick and easy reference guide for raising new Pokemon. Even though I'm not much of a Trainer myself, I-I thought it would help those who are really into training and battling. I've always been kind of frustrated that information like this is so hard to find, especially on the road – traveling Trainers can't exactly lug around biology books for whenever they need to reference something. The only real way to access that kind of information conveniently is with a Pokedex, and only Pokemon Professors have the authority to give those out. So… th-this is my solution."

By the time Fishlegs was done talking, Hiccup was fully invested, eyes wide with surprise. This was more than just accumulating knowledge for its own sake… no, Fishlegs wanted more accessible knowledge for the benefit of all. He had a real goal in mind for his seemingly personal research – Hiccup even remembered now the conversation they'd had in Santalune Forest, when Fishlegs had first alluded to it.

"I've always wished information like this was more widely available to aspiring Trainers, you know? Not everyone can get a Pokedex, after all."

Perhaps he'd remained silent for too long, as Fishlegs hung his head, dejected. "See? I-It's dumb. M-Maybe I'm just kidding myself… it's unrealisti–"

"Whoa, Fishlegs!" Hiccup interrupted, realizing his mistake. "I think it's a great idea! I was just… really impressed with you."

Fishlegs blinked at him, uncomprehending. "Huh?"

"I mean it," he continued. "It's great that you have a dream of your own you're striving for. I… I guess I never expected that from you, because you seemed content with just traveling and seeing new Pokemon for the fun of it. But this… if you got this idea rolling, maybe with some help instead of doing it by yourself in secret, a lot of people would benefit from it."

"I agree."

Hiccup jumped, and Fishlegs yelped, at the sudden appearance of Professor Sycamore in the doorway, who had the grace to look sheepish at his intrusion. "My apologies for eavesdropping," he said. "I was en route to my office and happened to overhear Fishlegs' fascinating explanation. Fishlegs, may I perhaps see what you have of this 'field dictionary'?"

Squeaking, Fishlegs thrust out his hand and allowed Sycamore to take the cards, Hiccup passing him the one he'd been reading as well. Tense silence fell as Sycamore pored over the notes, as though the room was holding its breath – though that was probably just Fishlegs, who quivered with anticipation as he awaited the Professor's judgement.

Finally, it came, preceded by a thoughtful whistle as Sycamore turned over the Rhyhorn card. "This is marvellously well-thought out," he remarked. "'Must include minerals in its feed for a balanced diet'… 'Check daily under armor plating and clear of debris'… My, you've even included feeding and grooming tips! Tell me, is this from personal experience caring for your own Pokemon?"

"… Y-Yes, kind of…" Fishlegs managed to answer.

"And you plan to compile equally detailed notes for every Pokemon?" he asked further.

"W-Well, I-I don't know if I'm going to get that far…" Fishlegs confessed, but gave a tiny nod nonetheless. "B-But maybe eventually."

Wearing a satisfied smile, Sycamore handed the cards back to Fishlegs. "I must say, the amount of information you've compiled so concisely, and the amount of personal research you've clearly done to obtain it, is nothing short of marvelous. I think this idea of yours has a lot of potential – and, as Hiccup said, it will be a great asset to other Trainers to have Pokemon identification and simple training advice at their fingertips."

Gobsmacked, Fishlegs gaped at the Professor and his compliments. "Y-You really think so…?" he uttered in a tiny voice, almost too overcome to speak at all.

"I do," Sycamore replied. "In fact, if you decide to continue your project, I would be interested in seeing more of it. The next time we meet – after you and Hiccup have journeyed across more of Kalos – feel free to show me the progress you've made. Anything from a more complete set to a finalized design. If I like what I see, I'd be more than willing to lend my support to making your Pokemon field dictionary a reality."

Now Fishlegs was truly overwhelmed, his cheeks warming and chin wobbling as his eyes gleamed brightly with awe... as well as with welling tears. It looked as though he would break out in happy sobs right then and there, but he maintained his composure and wiped his eyes to look up at the Professor again with renewed certainty.

"O-Okay!" he stated resolutely. "I-I'll work hard, and by the time we come back to Lumiose, I'll have an entire set of completed info cards to show you!"

"I'll hold that to you, Fishlegs," Sycamore laughed amicably, then strode over to his desk to riffle through one of its drawers. "Oh, while I'm here, I believe Valka is starting again on… whatever her plans for dinner are, so you shouldn't have to wait much longer before it's time to eat."

He exited with a small stack of papers and a grimace at the thought of Valka's cooking skills, and Hiccup felt the urge to joke in lieu of goodbye, "Don't worry about your kitchen, Professor, it's been years since she blew up her last oven."

His parting words got the reaction he'd been hoping for, and he chuckled at the pained expression that constituted his last glimpse of the Professor before he slipped back through the doorway.

As soon as they were alone again, Hiccup's lingering amusement was abruptly wiped away by a jolt of consternation when two meaty hands seized his shoulders. Before he could so much as scream out loud in shock, he was roughly swung around to face Fishlegs, whose bright, starry-eyed, exuberant face was shoved close enough to take up his entire field of view.

"Omigosh Hiccup can you BELIEVE it?!" Fishlegs cried in an excited rush, shaking him back and forth with each syllable. "Professor Sycamore himself thinks I can do it! H-He thinks my project has actual p-potential! It's not just dumb and geeky after all! ThisissowonderfulHiccupIcouldjust –"

His head flopping about like that of a ragdoll with how he was being manhandled, Hiccup fought off his growing nausea long enough to protest, "That's great, Fishlegs, but if you could just put me dowwwwwwn…!"

Fishlegs pulled back like he'd been scalded, allowing Hiccup to regain his bearings. Once the room had stopped spinning, he went on, significantly calmer and more coherently, "I-I should really th-thank you, Hiccup. All my life, I've been surrounded by people that didn't understand me or my interests, a-and it led me to think I could never make real friends b-because of it… until you came along and became my friend anyway. I-If you hadn't l-let me come on your journey, been s-so encouraging of my research hobby, a-and asked me for help training Toothless… I don't think I would've been comfortable enough to show you my project, and the Professor would never have seen it and t-told me it was worth s-something.

"This is seriously the best thing that's ever happened to me, Hiccup…" he finished, sniffling as his tears welled back up. "So… thank you so much!"

For the second time in as many minutes, Hiccup found himself being seized, and his startled yelp turned into a wheeze when he was dragged into a backbreaking hug. Fishlegs' arms gripped him so tightly that he couldn't even move his own to return it – all he could do was gasp into his friend's ear that he needed air. Mercifully, he was released on request, where he patted his body down to make sure his bones were all intact.

"You're, ah, welcome, Fishlegs…" he replied breathlessly. "I would've guessed that getting to watch Mega Evolution in person was the best thing that's happened to you, before now. I guess having the most well-known authority on Pokemon science validate your secret life's work kind of trumps that, huh?"

Scrunching his brow thoughtfully at the semi-sarcastic observation, Fishlegs soon answered, "True, I never expected to get to see Mega Evolution for myself. That was the second-best thing that's ever happened to me. I-I mean, if not for Sycamore and Garchomp leaping into action, I'd still be petrified over that whole T-Team Flare ordeal. That was real Mega Evolution, Hiccup! I-It was like nothing I ever imagined! How cool was it, though?!"

Hiccup grinned as the Ingerman boy's voice grew rapidly from contemplative back to excited, and this time, he found himself getting swept up in his shameless gushing. It was cool, incredibly cool. A chill coursed through him when he thought back to the flashy transformation, the release of power surging throughout the room, the Pokemon's changed appearance and the way it demolished six other Pokemon with one blow. A Pokemon becoming so strong that power practically rose off it like heat waves… it was like something out of one of those mythical tales about Legendary Pokemon, only real, and captivating in a way that gripped Hiccup like nothing else ever had.

If Sycamore was right, and Mega Evolution could only be mastered through partnership and trust, then witnessing it was like witnessing the culmination of the bond between person and Pokemon itself. That was what made it so tantalizing, Hiccup realized: the idea that certain Pokemon would be able to turn friendship into incredible, tangible might… the idea that he might one day obtain a Dragon-type that could do that.

"Fishlegs," he said, firmly enough to give him pause, curious at his tone. "We already decided on this before, but… we are absolutely visiting the Tower of Mastery and learning everything we can."

He had a reinvigorated curiosity, a newfound resolve to find out more about this phenomenon, and possibly achieve it himself. Fishlegs let out an overjoyed whoop at his professed desire, seemingly celebrating Hiccup's newfound commitment to their destination, and reached out to bump his fist enthusiastically against Hiccup's. It felt like more than a friendly gesture – almost like a promise.

"I'm going to go check on Meatlug's progress," he explained, his ear-to-ear grin suggesting that he was barely reigning himself in. "Let's definitely talk more about this later, okay? Okay!"

He raced out of the building before Hiccup could confirm, leaving him with a bewilderment that eventually morphed into what he could only describe as exasperated fondness. Somehow, he thought, I know that you'll be doing most of the talking…

Hiccup and Fishlegs stayed overnight at the Lumiose Pokemon Center, not for one night, but two. As they crashed into bed the night after the Team Flare attack and dinner at the lab, they agreed unanimously that they still wanted to experience the rest of Lumiose City before moving on toward the next Gym in Cyllage City. So they stayed an entire extra day in Kalos' capital, exploring the streets and doing whatever they fancied. They didn't just goof off, though – most of their time was spent browsing shops tailored towards Pokemon Trainers, stocking up on supplies that they would need as the wilderness ahead grew tougher and wilder. Though they bought only medicine and Pokemon food, that didn't stop them from browsing the many other unique items they came across on their shopping trip, and geeking out at them in Fishlegs' case.

At one point, their travels took them closer toward the center of the city, and Hiccup decided to use the opportunity to visit Prism Tower. The landmark was an iconic symbol of Kalos for a reason, its slender form and lofty peak giving it an awesome and beautiful presence, but Hiccup didn't want to merely sightsee – he wanted to check out the Gym. It was there, however, that Hiccup and Fishlegs learned of the blackouts, a problem that had plagued the northern half of Lumiose for the past few days and hadn't yet been resolved. The Gym was currently closed, as the Gym Leader had decided to take time off and focus his efforts on solving the crisis. Hiccup was disappointed, but knew better than to complain about circumstances outside of his control and resigned himself to returning on his next visit. He'd been planning to challenge it only after he'd caught a larger team, anyway, he reasoned as him and Fishlegs left the plaza to continue their tour.

The day passed by in a flash… and the entire time they were out, they didn't see a single red uniform. It was as Valka had said – Team Flare had seemingly gone into hiding. For some reason, Hiccup couldn't bring himself to think they'd disappeared for good without feeling uneasy.

It was only on their second morning in Lumiose did Hiccup and Fishlegs finally make preparations to leave. With Toothless and Meatlug at their sides, long since recovered from their last harrowing battle, they left the Pokemon Center and headed back to Professor Sycamore's lab for a last brief visit. Valka, and the Professor himself, saw them off at the gates.

"Be extra careful on the path westward," Valka stressed as she enveloped Hiccup in a short, yet tight, embrace. "It will be easy at first, but past the lake the terrain will get much rougher. And especially so around the Cliff."

"I know, Mom. Toothless and I will be fine," Hiccup replied, putting a little extra strength behind his arms as he returned the hug. "Toothless and I will have looped all the way around to the Tower of Mastery and back to Lumiose before you know it."

There was a lump in his throat; a sadness welling up in him that hadn't been there when they parted in Vaniville. Back then, he'd known he'd see her again soon in Lumiose; this time, he understood that it'd likely be a long time before their next meeting. And so it was with a voice slightly wavering with melancholy that he said goodbye. When the two Haddocks at last parted, Toothless cooed sadly, and Valka gave him a comforting chin rub.

"I know ya will," she replied. "Good luck to ya both. Keep forgin' ahead, train together, and make lots of new Pokemon friends. Be sure to prepare yourselves well for every challenge ya face."

"Please don't worry, Mrs. Haddock!" Fishlegs added, for once with utmost confidence. "I'll be helping him train, and the difficult terrain ahead won't be any problem for Meatlug! You can count on us!"

"Rhyyyyy," Meatlug agreed loyally, earning a pat from her Trainer.

Valka smiled appreciatively and brought him into a hug as well. "And good luck to ya, too, Fishlegs," she told him, before looking appraisingly at the four of them. "So long as you all work together, you'll be able to accomplish things ya'd never be able to alone. Go out there and see all Kalos has to offer… and even when you're workin' hard, remember to have fun, as well."

Sycamore took that as his cue to step forward, placing his hands on them both in a show of support. "I don't believe I ever thanked you two for helping to protect the lab the other day," he told them, clapping their shoulders jovially. "You were both a huge help, and I'm grateful… but that doesn't mean you can go out and solve any dangerous problem you come across in the same manner, alright? Be sure to keep your noses out of unnecessary trouble so you don't worry Hiccup's mother."

As Hiccup and Fishlegs let out embarrassed chuckles and assured him they wouldn't, the Professor let them go and plunged a hand into his pocket, subsequently drawing something out. "Now, back to my thank-you… I have something here that the pair of you will find quite useful on your adventure."

He held the object out to them, and even without Fishlegs' tremendous gasp, Hiccup easily recognized the bright red casing of an official, Pokemon Professor-issued Pokedex. It looked very different from (and much cooler than) the simple phone-like devices he'd seen used in Galar, more of a retro game system complete with screen and button arrangement. He took the rectangular device carefully in hand and pressed the largest button – the screen lit up and immediately displayed his Trainer ID.

"I've registered it to your Trainer license, of course," Sycamore explained. "It should help greatly in your quest for the Kalos League, as well as Fishlegs' research."

"Wow…" Hiccup breathed, turning the Pokedex over in his hands before lifting his chin to properly acknowledge the man's generosity. "Thanks a lot, Professor, really."

He turned to the silent Fishlegs, not surprised to see the Ingerman boy gazing in utter beguilement at the expensive device, wonder and envy written all over his open-mouthed expression. It didn't take long for Hiccup to figure out what to do with the gift, and his friend grew still with disbelief when he held it out to him.

"Fishlegs?" Hiccup asked wryly, waving the Pokedex teasingly before his nose. "You'll hold onto this for me, right?"

Slowly, reverently, Fishlegs extended his cupped hands and took both sides of the Pokedex, bringing it before him as though it were made of glass. "Y-Y-Yes," he finally breathed, looking upon the device with such awe that Hiccup got the feeling he wouldn't voluntarily part with it anytime soon. "I-I'd be honored to keep it safe for you, H-Hiccup…"

"Marvelous!" Sycamore proclaimed, satisfied. "Now go out there and do your best, both of you! Light the way into the future with your strength and knowledge, and show Kalos what the union of a budding Dragon Tamer and Pokemon researcher are capable of!"

It was an overly dramatic performance, but Hiccup didn't complain – in fact, he thought it a fitting note to leave on, as he turned and strode out of the gate. Beside him, Toothless toddled along at an eager pace, and Fishlegs and Meatlug tried frantically to catch up to their head start from behind. Hiccup took a deep breath through his nostrils, the cool air invigorating him to march all the faster toward his finish line.

It had been two days since he'd last been on the road. As every step took him closer to Lumiose's western gate, Hiccup felt far more certain, more confident than he had when he'd left Vaniville Town. Lumiose City hadn't just been a pit stop for him and Fishlegs, but a revealing experience: they had new goals to strive for, new perspectives to light the path for them, new incentives pushing them forward along that path. Before, they'd had only a vague picture of their ultimate destination and the desire to, somehow, reach it. Now, they could see clearly the marathon ahead, and it no longer seemed as difficult as it had before.

The first part of the journey was over. This was where it begun anew.

AN:

This chapter was a bit slower by necessity – originally, most of the events covered here were supposed to happen in the previous and following chapters, but the journey's been progressing pretty quickly and the characters needed time to process things.

That isn't to say this chapter isn't significant in its own way, though. Mega Evolution has been showcased for the first time. The full extent of Fishlegs' goal, which has been hinted at previously, is now in the open. Finally, we get to see Stoick for the first time, whose interaction with Hiccup is another hint of events to come. The main aim of this chapter was for Hiccup and Fishlegs to become newly motivated to continue pursuing their dreams. The chapter's title is a reflection of this – it's named after the first episode of the XY anime as it was dubbed in English.

As always, please send reviews, and thank you for reading!

Next time: The Flutes of Our Labor!