Chapter 19 – Oh, the Bryony!
It wasn't long before the seemingly endless darkness began to give way to the faint glow of artificial light. Heather and her Pokemon took shape again in Hiccup's vision as the tunnel took on a warm orange hue. Only pausing for long enough to press a finger to her lips – as though Hiccup needed a reminder to be stealthy – she returned Dagur to his ball, dropped her posture to a half-crouch, and hurried forward without making a sound.
Only taking a second to do the same with Toothless, Hiccup hustled after her.
The first thing Hiccup did upon entering the brightly-lit cavern was to join Heather behind a pile of old crates near the entrance, placing his hands over his chest as though that would quiet his hammering heart. From the two-second glimpse he'd managed to get of the cave before he ducked into hiding, he'd already seen way too many Team Flare costumes milling about than he was comfortable with. But that didn't deter Heather, who scurried off with unusual haste the moment she was sure the coast was clear… which Hiccup observed with silent, terrified disbelief.
After wrestling with himself over whether or not he should risk joining her, Hiccup relented and crept from crate stack to crate stack – anticipating a Team Flare member to seize him at any moment – until he was at Heather's side again. From their new position, he was able to peek out and scan a wider portion of the cave, and what he found was… interesting. A disused mine cart, similar to others he'd noted on the way inside, was sitting on its rail at the far back of the chamber, the tracks leading into another dark tunnel. More crimson-suited grunts were entering and exiting with purpose, some of them wheeling whole wheelbarrow-loads of assorted crystals inside. Others stood over a series of large, stationary machines that projected holograms into the air above them, which displayed all kinds of graphs and lines of data.
It was as intriguing as it was bone-chillingly ominous.
"Is any of that what you're looking for?" he murmured.
"What? Oh, no," Heather replied. "But look at this… operation. It's a lot more elaborate than what I expected to find…"
"Yeah, I know," Hiccup agreed – she'd summed up his first impression of the bustle perfectly. "But aside from collecting gemstones, what do you suppose they're doing?"
"I don't –" Heather started to say, then clammed up and yanked him further behind the crates with a grip like iron. When Hiccup leaned over just far enough to peek his eye out, he understood her haste immediately.
Amidst the sea of garish red foot soldiers, there was a single person that stood out like a sore thumb. The tall woman that crossed the room to stand directly in front of the duo's hiding place was instantly notable for a couple of reasons – her short hair was bright green, for one, and her visor was narrower and sleeker than the glorified sunglasses the others wore. But her appearance was only half the story, as Hiccup immediately felt the air of authority radiating from her like fumes from a Weezing. A tingle ran up his spine, and he retreated back into cover – he knew on an almost primal level that he did not want to be seen by that woman.
Just as he was sighing with relief over the close shave, a voice spoke out above the low murmur of activity that pervaded the chamber. "Miss Bryony, you called for me!"
"Yes. Status report." That was undoubtedly the top brass – her tone so cold, clipped, and dispassionate that Hiccup felt the temperature drop five degrees just by listening.
"Our scanners have by now scoured every inch of this tunnel system, ma'am," the grunt, also a woman, responded obediently. "None of the energy readings have deviated beyond the norm. In other words, aside from the copious amount of crystalline matter we've harvested, there is nothing here."
"Hmm. Disappointing," the leader stated. Again, Hiccup shivered, her utter lack of emotion somehow scarier than a scream of rage would have been. "I suppose it's to be expected. The uncertainty in Xerosic's flimsy data was large enough that we may as well have been relying on neighborhood gossip. We can at least sell the crystals to accrue more funds for our next venture."
"Yes, Miss Bryony. The supply will be moved out immediately."
"What about the Fossil Lab researchers?" Bryony's next question made Hiccup stiffen – they were responsible for the incident. "Have you gleaned anything useful from them?"
A pause from the grunt, followed by an answer that betrayed her nerves. "… No, ma'am. All they had was their field equipment and a fossil that they excavated prior to our arrival. No information that would benefit Project AZ."
"Sell them as well," was the instant command. "Every cent we accumulate is vital to the Project. Store them alongside the crystals and get them ready for transport. And do it quickly. More interlopers like the two you captured are sure to arrive before long."
"Yes, Miss Bryony."
Interlopers. Fishlegs. Astrid. They're here.
A tap on his leg got his attention with a jolt, and his head whipped toward Heather, whose green orbs were wide with horror but also firm as they bored into his. Don't do anything, don't make a sound, they ordered him, and when he nodded, she pointed toward the exit. Follow me back to the tunnel.
The return journey was a terrifying game of red-light-green-light as the two infiltrators darted between crates to make it back to the safety of the shadows. To Hiccup, it was an incoherent blur, the fear pumping through Hiccup's veins making the several minutes it took to escape blur into milliseconds. When at last he dove into the shadows and let Heather's Inkay guide him a safe distance from the cavern, he sagged against the wall and let out the longest, most relieved exhale of his life.
"You okay?" Heather asked, concernedly.
He waved her off. "Yeah… that was only the most terrifying moment ever," he meant to joke, but it was closer to the truth than he was willing to admit. "More importantly, though… we were right. Team Flare has Fishlegs and Astrid, on top of the Fossil Lab guys. What's our plan to get them out?"
"Well, the two of us alone can't hope to defeat all of them…" she responded, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling thoughtfully. "If we had your friends with us now, we might be able to cause enough chaos to free the researchers, at least…"
Hiccup nodded along, his train of thought going down its own track. Astrid, especially, would be an incredible ally with her Pokemon League-level skills as a Trainer. And even though Fishlegs didn't like fighting, Meatlug's Protect would be great if attacks were coming at them from all angles. If they were with us… hmmm…
"If we knew where Team Flare stashed them… could we alert them and counterattack from there?" he wondered aloud.
Heather brightened. "Maybe. That tunnel the grunts were bringing the crystals into… it's the only place in the cave where they could be holding their captives. The problem will be our coordination – they need to know when to move, or else we'll be captured before they have a chance to join the effort."
"There's no way either of us will make it through that cave without being detected," Hiccup continued to muse, an idea starting to take shape. "But a Pokemon might… which one of our Pokemon is the stealthiest?"
Heather was nodding to herself now, and Hiccup envisioned the wheels in her head turning as the beginnings of a plan fell into place. Without saying anything, she took out a Poke Ball and tossed it; Hiccup was quick to protect his eyes as the flash of energy went off, and uncovered them to see a bird Pokemon who, in the limited light, appeared almost like a living shadow.
"Oswald," Heather implored, "can you sneak into Team Flare's base and locate Fishlegs and the others? You remember who Fishlegs is, yes?"
"Kraw," Oswald affirmed. Saluting, he lofted into the air without making a sound and melted away into the black. Hiccup was awed – that Murkrow was as silent as a Noctowl.
That left only one thing left to do, and as Heather leaned closer to him, Hiccup shivered as excitement permeated the air around them like an electric charge. Conspiratorially, they began to discuss the next step of their rescue plan…
Elsewhere in Glittering Cave, another, more heated discussion was going on.
"I cannot believe you right now," Astrid snarled, aiming a poisonous glare at the person sitting across from her. "I make a huge deal out of standing up and fighting our way out of that mob of lackeys, asking you for your help, and the first thing you do is SURRENDER?!"
Fishlegs yelped and almost jumped clear off the floor – an impressive feat, considering he was reclining against the cave wall with his hands and feet tied up. "I-I-I'm sorry, Astrid, b-but I couldn't help it! Y-You know f-fighting isn't my strong suit! Besides, th-there was no way the two of us c-could emerge victorious against t-ten enemies!"
The Hofferson girl turned away with a scoff, and a current of shame swam through the sea of underlying fear and uncertainty that had Fishlegs so on edge. Astrid was partially right – he had surrendered immediately to Team Flare, and now they were prisoners inside a cramped cave, and his poor Meatlug had been confiscated from him. But what choice did he have? Would it had even mattered if he'd battled alongside her? With only one inexperienced Pokemon, what could he have done to contribute?
No… the outcome would've been the same in the end. Even if he and Astrid had been able to take down a couple of lackeys – and he wasn't sure they could – they still would've stood no chance against the one that had taken Astrid down. He shuddered with revulsion at the memory; he had never imagined he'd one day encounter a new Pokemon and not want anything to do with it.
At least he wasn't alone with the fuming Hofferson girl. Actually, they had plenty of company: two men and a woman from the Fossil Lab, who'd apparently been in the middle of an excavation on this very spot when Team Flare had taken over the dig site. The three were good conversationalists, but without Pokemon of their own, they unfortunately wouldn't be any help in an escape attempt… something that contributed to Astrid's huffy mood.
"Don't put yourself down, Fishlegs," the bearded Dr. Devon said reassuringly, as he nursed a black eye. "You were concerned for the safety of you and your friend, and did what you could to preserve it. Not like me. I went down swinging… ha, and I found out that the goon whose shades I broke had quite a mean left hook, himself."
"At least they didn't hurt any of us beyond that," the second, Dr. Carbon, adjusted his glasses as he spoke. "Team Flare doesn't seem interested in any of us. We were just in the way of what they were truly after. Once they get what they want and pack up, they'll let us go. It's no difference to them, right?"
"Y-Yeah… yeah, th-that seems plausible," Fishlegs agreed tentatively. Though he didn't exactly believe Team Flare would go so far as to cut their bindings and give them a farewell pat on the head, they at least wouldn't take them prisoner. Then Hiccup, or the Sky Battle Academy instructors, or the police would be free to come in and free them.
"What makes you so sure?" Astrid's harsh tone cut through the atmosphere of cautious optimism like a winter wind. "We don't know anything about these people, or what they want, or how far they're willing to go to get it. What if they decide they don't want witnesses?"
The silence that closed over her question was horribly bleak. Fishlegs choked back a whimper as his imagination took that possibility and ran with it, cycling through a multitude of horrifying scenarios that all finished the same way… with the end. Sweat began to pour down his brow as terror squeezed his insides so fiercely that he felt as though he'd burst.
"We don't know what they'll do once they're finished," Dr. Perma, the third scientist, said, blowing at a strand of her curly hair. "So let's not panic over something that might not come to pass."
"Seriously?" Astrid snapped, and oh no, she was looking right at him! "Fishlegs, you've dealt with this gang before. What do you think they'll do?"
Flinching at the sound of his name, Fishlegs fought with his mouth to get out a coherent answer. What do I think Team Flare will do? he asked himself, frantic. I-I don't even want to think about what they'll do! Oh, Astrid, why'd you have to go and put me on the spot? I don't know anything about Team Flare, other than what I saw at the Professor's lab…
"U-Um… I… ah, th-that is…" he babbled, trying to put something together from the flashes of memory parading through his head. "I-I have to admit… T-Team Flare was b-bold enough to, um, invade the P-Professor's lab in broad d-daylight… s-so I think they're, uh… willing to g-go… far…"
If they'd tried to drag Professor Sycamore straight through his own front door, what else would they try? He whimpered at the thought, averting his eyes from everyone else's so they wouldn't see them watering.
"You see?" Astrid demanded of the researchers. "Our lives might be in danger here. Help might be on the way, but it probably isn't, and I'm not going to lounge around and wait to find out. We have to take matters into our own hands and bust out of here somehow!"
After sharing a hesitant look with his colleagues, Devon piped up gingerly, "When you put it like that… you're right about one thing. We can't be sure of what Team Flare has planned for us, so we must assume it's up to us to get out of here alive."
Carbon agreed, his voice taking on a nervous timbre now that his faith in his own assessment was shaken. "Astrid, do you have an idea of how to go about this?"
"I'm working on it," she muttered, straining against her bonds with a frustrated growl. "If I could get to my Pokemon… but I can't move my hands even a centimeter."
She swung her arms at the wall in what Fishlegs guessed was a bid to jostle the ropes loose, but all she accomplished was to bruise her hand. Her shout rebounded, startlingly loud, around the tiny chamber – and a noise from the back answered her. A tumbling, scraping sound emanated from the shadows, and as Astrid was the closest, she was so caught off guard that she instinctively scooted away on her rear.
"What was that?!" she demanded, sapphire eyes wide and alarmed.
The noise came again, like rocks clattering over top of each other, and Perma shook her head curiously. "It doesn't sound large, or dangerous…"
With a final scrape, something emerged from a hole that Fishlegs hadn't even known was there. By the time it stumbled into view, his heart was in palpitations, but he had no reason to fear. In fact, his apprehension turned to delight at the sight of the newcomer: a squat green Pokemon with a hide the texture of stone and a knife-like horn sticking straight up from its cranium.
"Omigosh, a Larvitar!" he squeaked. "Th-They're Rock-and-Ground-types that live primarily underground, and thus are very rarely seen! This one must be a native… maybe it was driven all the way back here when Team Flare came and disrupted the environment!"
"What a stroke of luck," Carbon murmured. "Maybe we can ask it to free us…?"
The Larvitar glowered at them through squinted eyelids, leery and irritated as though it had just woken up. It growled and swished its horn like a sword, clearly disturbed by their presence in the one haven it had left. It suddenly occurred to Fishlegs that it might attack them to get them to leave, and it spurred him into action, scooting frantically forward to meet it.
"No no no, it's okay!" he tried to assure it, making his smile as big and friendly as he could. "W-We didn't mean to invade what little space you have left… in fact, n-none of us are here by choice! We're being held prisoner by Team Flare… uh, the people in red!"
The growling and aggressive posturing ceased as the Larvitar blinked at him in sudden recognition. It appeared to know who he was talking about, and wasn't too happy about their mention. "Larva…" it scowled.
"Yes, yes!" he went on with enthusiasm. "We're enemies, I guess you could say, of Team Flare! S-So if you could free us, we'd be super-grateful. We could even push Team Flare out of the c-caves for you in return!"
"We'll try, at least," Devon chimed in, picking up on Fishlegs' plan.
"P-Please?" Carbon asked.
Unfortunately, the Larvitar didn't look convinced, advancing on them with horn lowered in an obvious threat display. "Larrrrrva…" it growled again, low and guttural.
Astrid rolled her eyes. "What're you even trying to do? It's a wild Pokemon, it's under no obligation to listen to you."
"Shhh!" Fishlegs shushed her, and didn't even hear her indignant reply, so focused was he on scooting over to the researchers with a series of awkward kicks. He had one more trick up his sleeve to convince the Larvitar, a trick that, to his knowledge, had never failed. "E-Excuse me, but could you reach into my pack and pull out some of the small black rocks at the bottom?"
Perma looked at him oddly, but ultimately complied, digging her tied hands into the pack and coming out with a bunch of pebble-sized stones cupped in her palms. With difficulty, he turned himself around and let her pour them into his own cupped hands, and with a word of thanks, he scooted as close as he dared toward the Larvitar and rolled the rocks over to it.
The Rock-and-Ground-type paused mid-growl to sniff the air, then suspiciously sidled over to inspect the scattered pebbles. One more sniff… then two… and then its stony face brightened, a happy bark escaping its mouth. It picked up a rock and gulped it down like a piece of popcorn, humming with bliss before diving down to devour the rest of them.
Everyone in the cavern goggled at Fishlegs with amazement. "What was that?" Perma wondered. "And how'd you know it'd like them?"
In a rare moment of self-satisfaction, Fishlegs puffed out his chest and replied proudly, "That, my friends, was granite. One hundred-percent pure igneous rock, chock-full of all the minerals a growing Rock-type needs. Meatlug can't get enough of it – and neither can Larvitar, evidently!"
This was definitely being added to his Larvitar info card as soon as he got the chance.
Quicker than a starving Snorlax, the Larvitar vacuumed up the granite treats and toddled toward Fishlegs with a smile, its aggression having evaporated like morning mist. "Vitar lar larva!" it chirped at him, beaming.
"You're welcome, little guy!" he answered, earnestly. "We're all friends here, promise! So, uh… could you maybe see to removing these bindings…?"
And just like that, they were free once more to stand up and rub at their sore wrists. Strands of rope littered the floor, courtesy of the Larvitar's strong Bite. The researchers took the time to thank Fishlegs, and he swelled a bit with pleasure – it wasn't often he was showered with such sincere praise. Then, it was Astrid's turn to step forward, and after giving him a grateful nod of her own, it was back to business.
"Okay, as I was saying," she said, "we need our Pokemon before we can consider escaping. You three, you're the most familiar with this place – where will Team Flare most likely have stored our Poke Balls?"
"This tunnel has a series of small offshoots that we use for storing our equipment and any fossils we find," Devon responded. "The lackeys barely come down here except to dump the crystals they've been collecting, so it's likely safe to inspect the chambers nearest ours."
"Alright," she said slowly, her tone suggesting that she was thinking out loud. "Without Stormfly, I only have two Pokemon, Fletchinder and Zubat. Fishlegs has his Rhyhorn…"
"Larvitar, larva!" the Larvitar, unexpectedly, piped up.
Hope and gratitude swelled within Fishlegs at what was, without a doubt, an expression of support from the wild Pokemon. "A-Are you sure? You've already done more than enough," he told it. When it shook its head emphatically, his eyes welled with joyful tears. "Th-Thank you… sniff… so much! Astrid, add Darkvarg to our Pokemon count!"
However, all she did was raise an eyebrow. "… Seriously? You're calling it Darkvarg?"
He fidgeted under her skepticism and blushed hotly; the name had just slipped out. "W-Well, um… an acquaintance of mine in elementary school had a Larvitar, too. He named him S-Smidvarg, s-so…"
She blinked at him, vexed, before turning back to the rest of the group. "… Moving on, here's what I've got so far. While Fishlegs and I get our Pokemon, you guys lure as many Flare goons in here as possible. Once they're inside, we'll trigger a rockslide to seal them in, and then make a –"
"Kraw!"
A raucous caw cut Astrid off. As one, the group whirled in the direction of the exit, and the tension in the air spiked when they realized they were being watched. A Murkrow was perched on one of the lamps set into the wall, peering down at them with inquisitive eyes.
One of the researchers – Fishlegs was too distracted to tell who – sucked in a strained breath. "Team Flare…!"
The Murkrow tilted its head directly toward Fishlegs, and he went very still under its surprisingly beguiling gaze. It then performed a mysterious gesture – touching its wing to its crest, as though tipping a hat – before taking flight and vanishing down the corridor in a flurry of feathers.
Fishlegs went very still, a sense of déjà vu washing over him. Why had it made eye contact with him specifically? And that salute… where had he seen it before?
It hit him only a moment later, and he gasped loudly enough to alert the others.
"It has to be! That was Heather's Murkrow, not Team Flare's!" he burst out, so giddy with relief that he jumped for joy. "I-I don't know how, but th-that must mean Hiccup is here, and found help! Th-They must be planning a rescue!"
Astrid raised her eyebrow at him again, but this time with consideration instead of skepticism. "You're certain of this?" she asked.
He absolutely was… he wasn't sure why, but he was confident this was Hiccup's doing. It has to be, he told himself. He's the only one that knows we came here.
Finally, Astrid's expression returned to its usual serious, focused self, and Fishlegs' heart leapt – she was convinced. "Okay, revised escape plan," she addressed the rest of the room. "We proceed under the assumption that we have backup on the way. First, we wait for them to make their move…"
Once Oswald made his return to Hiccup and Heather, and assured them that he hadn't been caught, they could iron out the final details of their rescue plan.
"From the looks of things, there are five people imprisoned in the back tunnel," Heather summarized. "Furthermore, they managed to remove their bindings on their own and are ready to fight. Oswald, do you think Fishlegs recognized you, and understood why you were there?"
The Murkrow mulled that over, then nodded and gave a sharp, affirmative caw. "Murkraw!"
"Okay, that means we can expect their cooperation when we make our move," she continued. "Hiccup, you're fine with the plan and what it entails?"
Hiccup blushed slightly underneath her hard, serious gaze and briefly fumbled his answer. "Ah, um, y-yes. Rushing headlong into a cave filled with nasty criminals who outnumber us and have no issue with kidnapping. Yep, definitely something to look forward to."
Despite herself, Heather smiled wryly at the half-snarky, half-nervous quip. "Remember, we aren't aiming to actually defeat all of them. With just the two of us, we probably can't."
"Oh yeah, thanks for the confidence booster," he fired back – his sarcasm muscle was getting a workout tonight.
Her smile, he was secretly pleased to see, broadened. "Hiccup, the point is to draw out the leader of the operation and stall her until your friends can get themselves free and join the fray. Then, hopefully, it will get chaotic enough for us to escape."
Frowning, Hiccup asked, "Escape how? You don't have a glider suit, and the researchers might not either."
At this, she cringed. "Yes, well… we'll figure something out. I can at least call the Sky Battle Academy and the Ambrette Police Department so that someone else knows what's going on. Give me a second…"
She retreated into the side tunnel to make her call via Holo Caster, and in the meantime, Hiccup released Toothless and Skullcrusher to bring them up to speed. By the time Heather returned and brought out Windshear to join Dagur, they were battle-ready, and exchanged determined nods in a wordless, resolute promise to see their mission through.
Hiccup bit his tongue to remind himself not to let his nervousness show. A glance at Heather showed an undercurrent of the same uncertainty inside of her as well – but when she noticed him looking, she immediately quashed it. Hiccup clamped down on his innermost doubts, too, shoving them into a place where they wouldn't interfere.
This is it. We're coming, guys.
They went on Heather's signal, charging back into the light of the occupied cave with faces twisted into fiercely determined scowls. Three members of Team Flare stood in their way, mouths agape in shock as they whipped around to react, but Hiccup and Heather were already giving orders. A combination of Dragon Breath, Psycho Cut, and Psybeam struck the cave floor and caused a flagrantly deafening explosion that knocked the three grunts aside.
But there were far more than three left to deal with, and the explosion may as well have been a screeching fire alarm. Hiccup swallowed thickly as he spotted more Team Flare members flocking to their location through the gaps in the smoke.
"Wh-What's going on?!"
"We're under attack!"
"More Trainers! Everyone, capture them! Cut off their escape!"
"Windshear, Dagur! Let's go!" Heather demanded. At her behest, the next grunts to storm forward were either slammed physically by her Inkay's Foul Play or forced to duck out of the way of the Pawniard's flashing blades.
Yet, still, more red suits rushed forward to replace the last, which meant it was Hiccup's turn to carve a path. "Skullcrusher, Scary Face! Toothless, Dragon Breath!"
The grunts staggered away, petrified by the illusion that Skullcrusher conjured to halt them, and Toothless' dragonfire blazed forth in a potent stream, the heat and roar of flames threatening to burn all who didn't step aside.
The frontmost wave of lackeys did just that, plastering themselves to the walls to let the flames pass. The group behind them didn't – Pokemon were called out, their own projectile attacks combining to dispel the blast into naught but rosy sparks.
Hiccup gritted his teeth. More quickly than he'd imagined, their brief window of opportunity was over. The opposition had arrived.
"Hey, I remember you!" one of the male grunts strode toward him with a prominent scowl. A Swirlix floated along behind him, baring surprisingly sharp teeth. "You're the kid from Lumiose City! I got sentenced to mining duty because of you!"
The surprise at the familiar grunt's declaration quickly faded, and Hiccup's grimace twisted into as mocking a grin as he could manage given the nerve-wracking circumstances. "Scrounging for rocks underground? Well, that fits."
"And groveling in the dirt at my feet is going to fit you!" the grunt retorted. "Your lousy Dragon-types aren't going to trick your way past us this time!"
The Swirlix advanced, along with three other small yet fearsome Pokemon. Hiccup identified them as a Houndour, Purrloin, and strangely brown Zigzagoon. They had him outnumbered two to one… yet none looked particularly strong. He struck a defensive stance, ready for battle.
"Hiccup…" Heather hissed, and he chanced a glance around him. Team Flare members had come up from behind, releasing another four Pokemon to block off their only exit. Surrounded. Their chance to turn back had long passed – only one option was available now.
"Think… think you can take those ones?" he questioned, hesitant.
"Count on it," she replied, and then raised her voice to a yell. "Windshear, Psycho Cut! Dagur, spread Psybeam!"
The space behind Hiccup was abruptly filled with the eerie whistling of Psychic-type attacks, the screams of Pokemon sent flying in their wake, and the deranged cackling of the Inkay as Psybeams continued to sing forth from its forehead. However, the spectacle was a distraction, one that Hiccup almost didn't withdraw from in time – the four Pokemon in front of him were attacking as one!
They charged forward from multiple angles, trapping Toothless and Skullcrusher against each other; the Purrloin and Zigzagoon charged forward with Scratch and Tackle, and Houndour and Swirlix hung back, filling in the gaps with Ember and Fairy Wind. The two Dragon-types stood taut and alert as attacks came from every direction at once. But Hiccup, oddly, felt calm. None of the enemy Pokemon moved with the same precision or coordination as past foes had – that was his way out, his key to barreling past these grunts.
"Toothless, Dragon Dance left!" he ordered. "Skullcrusher, duck and use Dual Chop!"
The Bagon twirled aside with a flash of his purple aura, the Fairy Wind blowing uselessly past while the Embers snuffed themselves out on inflammable rock. The Purrloin and Zigzagoon lunged the remaining distance toward Skullcrusher, only for the Axew to run underneath them at the last second. The unlucky Pokemon crashed into one another, and with a twirl of his own, Skullcrusher came back to nail them into unconsciousness with glowing tusks.
That was… easy, Hiccup thought, the encouraging result filling him with energy. So their numbers, not skill, are our biggest obstacle. Gotta take that Swirlix out fast, though, before it starts slinging more Fairy-type attacks.
The grunt in charge of said Fairy-type was clenching his jaw with frustration as two of his allies went down in a single hit. "Swirlix, Draining Kiss!" he snapped, while his remaining comrade likewise told Houndour to use Pursuit. Both Pokemon charged, the inside of Swirlix's mouth shining pink and Houndour's whole body taking on a black haze.
A stab of worry hit Hiccup at the Fairy-type's advanced, but he stayed focused and ordered his counterattack. "Headbutt and Rock Smash!"
Swirlix swooped down on Toothless with mouth open wide, but the dragonling ducked at the last second and then jumped, his legs forcing his helmet into contact with its gut. Houndour howled as it leapt for Skullcrusher, only for its Dark-type move to be beaten back with a head-on Rock Smash. The Flare Pokemon went tumbling back to land in a heap at their Trainers' feet, who both gaped in shock and anguish.
Another Psychic explosion from behind, as well as maniacal Inkay laughter, told him that Heather had trashed her opponents just as quickly, and the knowledge boosted Hiccup's confidence even further. "Alright, let us pass!" he told the grunts that now cringed before him. "We're kind of in a rush, so unless you have other Pokemon you want to waste…"
Scowling, the grunts stepped aside, allowing others to fill the void. But Hiccup and Heather were quicker on the draw with the next wave, and Dragon Breaths and Psycho Cuts laid them low before they could toss their Poke Balls. Hot blood was rushing in Hiccup's ears as he led his Pokemon further on, the knowledge that Fishlegs and Astrid awaited them less than a hundred meters away thrusting him forward that much faster. Almost there, guys! Just a little… closer…
Another volley of projectiles cleared the way to the center of the cave – where a figure with green hair stood in their path, stock-still with arms folded disapprovingly across her chest.
Hiccup's bravado was doused in icy fear, and he stopped in his tracks. Heather, too, froze, and their Pokemon growled warily, reluctant to attack again. The air was so charged with tension that it made Hiccup's skin crawl.
"So, there were others," Bryony stated flatly. "As one of Team Flare's top scientists, I am expected to perform field work swiftly and efficiently. And yet you Trainers constantly insist on interfering. That is… irksome."
Her lack of emotion was even creepier when it was at such odds with the situation; completely detached, unconcerned, while Hiccup and Heather's breaths shook as they tried not to crack under the pressure. It didn't bode well for them that their enemy was so utterly unfazed.
"You are the second group of Trainers to disrupt our work," Bryony went on, the only indication of frustration being a harsh edge to her voice. "Who are you, and how did you find out about us?"
"Same way our friends did: by accident," Heather replied, evenly. Hiccup admired how she was able to keep her cool, even if it was just a façade. "Speaking of which, we would very much like them back. Return them to us and we'll leave without doing you any further harm."
"No, you will not. Surround them," Bryony stated, and Hiccup and Heather both cringed as they heard multiple pairs of boots clatter behind them. Now both running and bluffing were out of the question. It was down to fight or surrender.
The green-haired woman began to pace in front of them, but her head remained still even as her body moved, the eyes behind her visor trained perfectly on her would-be victims. "You know far too much about our presence here," she continued, "and therefore you will be detained until we have completed our objective and left Glittering Cave far behind. Perhaps if you are lucky, you and your friends will be able to escape your bindings before you starve – it's of little concern to us either way."
Hiccup snuck a sidelong glance at Heather, and she met it, green irises glinting with defiance. We're doing this. We're fighting. Remember, make sure you last long enough for the others to…
Bryony advanced a single pace, and the click of her heel against the ground sounded ominously final. "You have already proven yourself to be more than a match for the average member of Team Flare. Therefore, the most logical method to quash further resistance is to overpower you myself. You cannot run, and you will not win. Take this chance to surrender now, or I will crush your hope beyond repair."
Instead of replying directly, Hiccup turned to Toothless and Skullcrusher. "Guys, this is it. Get ready for the fight of our lives."
"Bago!"
"Yew!"
Heather, too, addressed her Pokemon with soft encouragement. "I know you two won't let me down," she said, and got affirmative cries in return, as well.
Almost robot-like, Bryony's arms snapped out with a Poke Ball clutched in each glove. "Understood. Prepare to be destroyed."
A tremor seemed to ripple through the air when her Pokemon were unleashed. Or maybe that was just Hiccup, unable to keep from shivering when he saw them for the first time. The one on the left was a small biped with a charming face that was dwarfed by the second, crocodile-like maw emerging from the back of its head, and the second was like a taller, meaner version of Windshear, all dark red armor and glinting blades. But it wasn't just their appearances that were ferocious – power seemed to radiate from them like steam, curling out into their surroundings to stir up waves of dread in the boy that looked upon them.
We're completely out of our league here. But we can't back down. Fishlegs, Astrid, and the researchers are counting on us…
"A Mawile and Bisharp," Heather hissed. "Hiccup, can you take the Mawile? It's a Steel-and-Fairy-type, so it has a type advantage over both of us. I hate to ask this of you, but I believe we'll do much better if I take Bisharp."
"… Okay, sounds good," Hiccup replied. It really didn't, but Heather's reasoning made some sense… and it wasn't like their odds looked much better if they swapped targets, anyway.
Bryony had folded her arms again and was saying nothing, and Hiccup imagined her hidden eyes darting from one Pokemon to another, analyzing. The longer he waited, the more time she'd have to come up with a strategy, so he didn't hesitate to cry, "Toothless, start with Leer! Skullcrusher, Rock Smash!"
Likewise, Heather fired off her own orders to take advantage of their foe's slow start. "Reflect and Metal Claw!"
The four Pokemon moved as one – though only two of them actually, physically moved. Skullcrusher and Windshear rushed their respective opponents, tusks and blades glowing as they prepared to land a blow. At the same time, Dagur's body lit up and generated hazy force fields around himself and Windshear, and Toothless focused his glare in an intimidating Leer. However, Hiccup couldn't help but notice that he didn't stop there, not only baring his fang but adding a grating growl from the back of his throat.
Whatever it was, it had an effect on Mawile, causing it to take a wary pace back. Skullcrusher had reached it by then, giving it no chance to recover as his tusk struck home. But even with its guard lowered, Mawile only faltered the tiniest bit, its body not even scratched. At the same time, the CLANG of steel on steel resonated through the cave as Bisharp's gauntlet deflected Windshear's Metal Claw and pushed her aside, the Reflect barrier flashing as she hit the floor. If it hadn't been there to absorb the shock, she would've taken more damage than her opponent.
The results of the pre-emptive strike were discouraging, a sign that these Pokemon were indeed on another level compared to everything Hiccup had faced before. But he couldn't waver yet… not when Bryony was only now giving her first command.
"Bisharp, Night Slash," she droned, flicking her hand half-heartedly. "Mawile, Iron Head."
He heard Bisharp grunt and unsheathe its blades with a terrible ring, but that was all – he couldn't afford to give Heather's opponent a shred of attention now that Mawile was on the move. The Deceiver Pokemon smirked as it swung its jaws over its head, which took on a metallic sheen as it bore down on Skullcrusher. Yelling at the Axew to dodge, Hiccup felt only slightly glad when he succeeded, the Iron Head swiping the air inches from his form. Mawile's movements were nothing like Astrid's Fletchinder or Snotlout's Charmeleon – they were casual, playful even, reinforced by the way its evil grin widened when Skullcrusher stumbled away.
It's not taking us seriously, Hiccup thought. Okay, we can make that work. Arrogance is its weakness.
"Toothless, Headbutt, and Skullcrusher, Rock Smash! Hit it from different directions!" he ordered.
The Dragon-types peeled away from each other and converged toward Mawile in a pincer formation. Toothless' shining helmet and Skullcrusher's tusks closed in on it from two different angles, causing it to glance between the two as if frustrated it couldn't hit both at once. When its head swiveled toward Toothless, though, the white light from his head suddenly flared brighter, and it flinched in surprise.
Perfect! Hiccup was pleased to see the secondary effect of Headbutt come into play, giving Toothless and Skullcrusher a free shot on the unresponsive Steel-and-Fairy-type. They struck it as one, a powerful bludgeon slamming into its chest and a keen blade spearing its side. But the end result was only slightly more effective than the last blow, Mawile stumbling only a pace backwards before stabilizing.
Even worse, however, was that the joint attack had knocked it instantly from its stunned state. Its eyes cleared and flicked toward the Pokemon closest to it – Toothless, left vulnerable in the aftermath of his own attack.
"Feint Attack," Bryony said, before turning away to give a command to Bisharp as well.
Mawile's jaws whipped out from nowhere, sacrificing the power and glamour of Iron Head for a wickedly fast sneak attack that batted Toothless across the battlefield like a tennis ball. It wasn't satisfied with just him, though – it whirled on Skullcrusher next. The Axew was left out in the open as Mawile's jaws swung around, slower this time, to smack him. Certain that Skullcrusher could dodge that, Hiccup got ready to tell him just that…
… only for the jaws to change direction blindingly fast, swerving to strike a cheap shot on Skullcrusher's other side. The order turned into a hopeless cry. "Skullcrusher!"
"AXEW!" The roar that came from the Dragon-type was charged with outrage and moxie, and he moved with astounding reflexes, jumping straight up to avoid the lightning-quick swing. He landed with a growl, offended by the attempted trickery. Hiccup left briefly in awe of his Pokemon, how he'd apparently predicted how Feint Attack would be used – maybe it was because he'd come up with his own deceptive trick in the use of False Swipe.
Impressed though he was at the unexpected maneuver, the moment didn't last long. That was all it was… a moment, a single move made in the scope of a longer battle. And Hiccup was still unsure how long that would last.
We're not doing enough damage. At this rate, that Mawile's gonna crush us without ever taking a significant hit itself, he thought, gritting his teeth. I'd better change tactics and even the playing field.
"Skullcrusher, get in close again! Continuous Rock Smashes!" he shouted, pushing his doubts aside. "Toothless, use Dragon Dance!"
Tusks igniting with light yet again, Skullcrusher barreled toward Mawile in his most ferocious approach yet, jabbing repeatedly with the sword-like teeth and punctuating each with a furious shout. Mawile actually erased its smirk and backed off from its aggressor, weaving deftly around every thrust… which was exactly what Hiccup wanted. He glanced away from Skullcrusher's display of ferocity and over to Toothless, who was building his strength with continuous spins and bounds. If Toothless could finish his power boost, they might even the playing field; they had to ensure Mawile was occupied for just a bit longer…
Unfortunately, it didn't take Bryony long to figure it out. "Enough of this charade," she muttered, rolling her neck as though bored. "Fairy Wind, Mawile. Take them out."
"Mawi!" the Steel-and-Fairy-type crooned, and jumped away from Skullcrusher. Now at a distance where he wouldn't threaten it, Mawile crossed its arms and then flung them up and out, producing a sparkling gust that rolled across the battlefield. It swept up everything in its wake: dust, pebbles, and Skullcrusher, who was far too close to dodge and was slammed the length of the battlefield as if hit by a speeding truck.
Hiccup momentarily forgot how to breathe when Skullcrusher rolled to a stop at his feet, unmoving and covered in thin, coiling burns. "S-Skullcrusher!" he choked out, scarcely able to speak. "Skullcrusher, say something. Can you go on?"
With much groaning, Skullcrusher stirred back to life and pushed his way free of Hiccup's outstretched arms. The Fairy-type move had hurt him severely, but he was still able to stand and, more importantly, fight. Tiny claws curling into fists, he returned to the battlefield, and Toothless – whom had managed to avoid the Fairy Wind entirely with a Dragon Dance-enhanced twirl – looked across to his teammate with silent worry.
Something hit Hiccup as he watched Skullcrusher hobble over to rejoin the battle, a realization that brought with it a slow, suffocating chill – Bryony hadn't called another attack. She didn't have Mawile attack Toothless next, or done anything else to capitalize on Hiccup's vulnerable state. In fact, she hadn't done anything without waiting for Hiccup to make a move first; she was deliberately hanging back, content with merely reacting to Hiccup's calls.
It made him feel even more like he'd already lost.
"T-Toothless, get close while using Dragon Breath," he said. While Skullcrusher recovered, he'd keep Mawile blinded by filling the air with smoke and rock dust from afar, and then strike while it was blind. It wasn't much, but they might last another –
"Dodge them. Feint Attack," Bryony's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade of ice.
Explosions of dragonfire were going off all around Mawile, Toothless coughing out the weaker blasts like bullets to cloud the field with debris, but it wasn't hampered in the least. With quick, darting movements, the Deceiver Pokemon zigzagged around the blooming smoke clouds straight for Toothless, stopping at the last second to twirl and swing its jaws around.
Remembering what had nearly happened to Skullcrusher, Hiccup cried in warning, "Jump, bud!"
Toothless did, allowing Mawile's jaws to pass by underneath… if not for the fact that they didn't. They opened, gaping wide in a shocking flash of crooked white teeth a-plenty, and snagged Toothless out of the air, bringing him crashing to the ground with an impact that left a small crater behind. A shriek split the air, and dust bloomed upwards; when it faded, Toothless crawled from the wreckage with a cracked helmet. He looked marginally better than Skullcrusher did… but only just.
Hiccup winced as though he could feel the pain that Toothless had just went through. In less than a minute, his Pokemon had gone from healthy to barely able to stand. He glared across the battlefield at Bryony, and when he saw her lips quirk upward in the faintest ghost of a smile, it finally clicked.
No wonder he felt as though he'd already lost the battle – he had. He'd never had a shot at truly succeeding. Bryony wasn't aiming just to defeat him and Heather, but crush them entirely, so that they would give up all thoughts of fighting back and cease to be a bother to her. She could end the battle whenever she wanted to, but she held back instead, because it would send a harsher message if she let them try their hardest and fail.
Keep going, Hiccup. Remember who we're doing this for, he told himself, drawing strength from thoughts of Astrid and Fishlegs. We have to play her game for just a little longer. Fight, no matter if it's impossible to win.
"Headbutt! Rock Smash!" he shouted. "Don't give in yet, guys!"
Toothless and Skullcrusher took off with defiant roars, preparing to land their next futile strike. But, to the onlooking Hiccup's horror, they didn't make it – they stumbled. Their moves flickered weakly as they lost focus, struggling to stand. All the damage they'd taken was simply too much.
It was the moment Bryony had been waiting for. "Mawile, Vise Grip," she stated, raising her arm as she gave her first unprovoked command. Her tone was unchanged, but had a horrible finality to it.
According to her, the battle was over.
"Mawi!" Mawile's sharp cry had an undercurrent of dark laughter as it ran at Toothless, its jaws rearing over its head and yawning wide in preparation to snap shut a final time. Toothless tried to move away, but he was sluggish, barely able to take a step before the Steel-and-Fairy-type loomed over him, and Hiccup flung out his arm in a futile bid to reach him. "Toothle–"
"Yew!" A high-pitched roar precluded a green blur that rushed straight toward Toothless. The Bagon thumped to the ground, and Mawile's teeth clashed back together with a CLAP. But the Dragon-type it lifted triumphantly above its head wasn't Toothless, but Skullcrusher, who had closed the distance with speed belying his condition and shoved his teammate out of the way.
Hiccup looked up at the Axew now being crushed between two sets of steel teeth, his form scrunched in pain as the jaws constricted him, and felt admiration for his Pokemon partner cleanse him of panic. Even after spending so much time fighting, Skullcrusher saved Toothless, he thought in wonder. That's right. Because he's a protector.
"Bago…?" Toothless was frozen on the ground with shock, unable to do anything except stare up at the Pokemon that had taken a blow for him without prompting. His paralysis lasted only a second – all at once, he leapt to his feet as though he hadn't taken damage at all, his muzzle twisted into a snarl of absolute rage.
"BAGOOON!" he bellowed, his Dragon Dance aura flaring in response to his blazing temper as he charged in blind fury at Mawile. "BAGO, BAGAAAWWWRRRR!"
He jumped, sailing over Mawile's head with a primal, guttural snarl that sounded as though it had come from the depths of his gut. His maw opened, teeth blazing with white light, and he clamped down on the stem that held Mawile's jaws in place.
"Toothless!" Hiccup exclaimed as unexpected joy burst forth. "Now that's a Bite!"
Mawile actually grimaced, and made a small noise that might have been a squeak of pain. But it was its physical response that mattered most – by reflex, the Steel-and-Fairy-type's jaws cracked open, and Skullcrusher wriggled free, landing on his feet with a significant stagger in his step. Toothless dropped from where he'd clung and headed back to join his fellow Dragon-type.
Time on the battlefield seemed to stand still for a crucial moment as Toothless and Skullcrusher shared a lasting, significant look. In that span, mutual respect was exchanged between the two. Two Pokemon whose previous interactions had been civil at their absolute best now put their differences aside and acknowledged each other as allies. It was enough to warm Hiccup's heart, indulging in the satisfaction of watching his partners' friendship blossom at last.
Bryony definitely wasn't smiling now – if anything, she seemed to bristle with mild annoyance. "Mawile, Iron Head."
Now it was Hiccup's turn to call for a counterattack. "Toothless, use Dragon Dance to dodge again! Skullcrusher, False Swipe!"
Perhaps because it hadn't been expecting to be hurt by Toothless' last attack, Mawile's cruel playfulness had fallen away in favor of improved focus, surging forward with its shining jaws aimed at the two dragons. But Toothless' enhanced agility gave him the edge he needed to duck out of reach, and Skullcrusher darted into its blind spot while it was occupied, nicking it with the tip of his tusk. Mawile turned with a scowl to swing at him next – only to meet his follow-up Rock Smash, which was driven straight into its chest.
Even if it was only out of surprise, Mawile staggered at the force of the Fighting-type move, a squeal forced from its mouth. It was a victory, however small, and Hiccup dared to let a smirk flit across his face. They may have been outmatched, but they were resisting.
At last, Bryony's eerily calm mask broke, even if just a little. She bared her teeth in a scowl and balled her fists, which vibrated with frustration. "Mawile, get a grip," she bit out, and then tilted her head to the other side of the battlefield. "Bisharp, do not waver to these lesser Pokemon. Iron Defense, now."
For the first time since engaging Mawile, Hiccup allowed his gaze to drift over to Heather, who was still locked in combat with Bryony's second Pokemon. She seemed to take delight in throwing herself into her next command, grinning as she exclaimed, "Windshear, Metal Claw and don't let up! Dagur, Topsy-Turvy – reverse that Iron Defense!"
The Pawniard and Inkay were in much the same battered condition as Hiccup's Pokemon were, but they proved to have plenty of energy left as they charged Bisharp with zeal. The larger Pokemon crossed its arms so that its shining gauntlets served as a shield that repelled the repetitive slashes of Windshear's blades, but a sinister aura suddenly enveloped it, the same aura that pulsed from the upside-down Dagur like dark sound waves. Bisharp fell to its knees, its erected defense failing, and Windshear took her shot, sending her blade spearing forward at her evolved form. The punch struck its hastily raised gauntlet and send it skidding backward with a surprised grunt.
Bisharp slid to a halt at Mawile's side, a thin scratch clearly visible along its otherwise pristine armor. The sight made Heather's almost malicious smile grow. "Well? What's the matter?" she taunted breathlessly. "Are we putting up more of a fight than you predicted?"
"Yeah, I thought you said something about 'crushing our hopes beyond repair' earlier," Hiccup added, emboldened to offer a sarcastic quip of his own.
Though her burning rage was palpable, her form shaking like a volcano about to erupt, Bryony never screamed or lashed out. Her anger manifested in a far worse manner; her already cold voice turned positively frigid, as deathly and unfeeling as an arctic blizzard.
"I've had quite enough of you nuisances," she hissed. "Finish them. Metal Sound and Fairy Wind."
A glare blazed to life in Bisharp's yellow eyes as it moved to obey, clashing its arm blades together to emit an unbearable screech of steel on steel. It stabbed deep into Hiccup's ears, and he instinctively clapped his hands over them in an ineffective attempt to block out the noise. Even as the Metal Sound ripped through his very mind, he could see that the Pokemon were even worse off, all four of them hunched over or curled up in fetal positions on the ground. Then, while both Trainers and Pokemon were powerless, Mawile made its move, flinging its arms to send out a wave of sparkling wind enormous enough to cover the field. Toothless, Skullcrusher, Dagur, and Windshear were too distracted by the Metal Sound to even scream – they were blown backwards, fresh burns scorching their hides, and dropped into unconsciousness.
Just like that, it was over. All at once, Hiccup's determination and resolve were torn away to leave only a hollow emptiness behind. A look at Heather revealed that very same despair reflected in her dull eyes and sombre frown.
Fishlegs… Astrid… At the thought of his friends, Hiccup mustered enough frustration to grimace and stomp his foot, before slumping back into despair. There was still no sign of them – him and Heather hadn't lasted long enough for them to join the fray.
Bryony, having regained her composure, spoke out to them in as flat a tone as ever. "You will interfere with Team Flare no longer. Recall your useless Pokemon and do not resist further. You, and you," she turned to a pair of grunts, "tie their hands and leave them with the other prisoners. Mawile, Bisharp, accompany them so that the children are not tempted to struggle."
The grunts saluted, and her Pokemon gave short replies, before advancing to surround Hiccup and Heather. They sidled closer together, instinctively putting up the last bit of resistance they could, but it of course did nothing to dissuade their captors from pulling their hands behind their backs.
Wincing at the rough way his digits were being handled and roped, Hiccup muttered, "Last chance to come up with a Plan B…"
"Well…" Heather murmured back. "There's always…"
Whatever solution she was about to suggest never made past the first couple of words.
"KRAAAWWW!"
With the subtlety of a sledgehammer meeting glass, a god-awful din shrieked through the still air loudly enough for everyone, Bryony included, to flinch. As the terrible squawk reached its apex, a black bullet flew across the cavern on a trajectory straight toward Mawile and Bisharp. Too quickly for anyone to lift even a finger to oppose him, the mad Murkrow slammed into the Steel-types' heads with glowing wings, stunning them, and then flopped to the ground with a slackened beak and dazed expression.
"… Oswald," Heather finished, flabbergasted.
She was wrong, though. It wasn't just Oswald. His seemingly futile attack was only a distraction… a distraction from the real threat.
"STARRRRAPTOR!"
A gust of wind tore through the stagnant cave air, and suddenly, Stormfly was there. Huge and furious with feathers ruffled and talons ready to rend, she descended upon the now-panicked Steel-types in a flurry of blows. Her wings flapped and sliced, her talons kicked and slashed, and it was all Mawile and Bisharp could do to defend themselves from her merciless rain of blows. And still, her Close Combat decimated them, pummeling them to the point where their metal skins were dented and bruised all over. They counterattacked weakly with teeth and blades, but their feeble resistance did nothing to stop Stormfly's rage. She was holding her own… she was winning!
Holy crap, was all Hiccup could think as he gaped at the display of power. Well, that and, Suddenly I feel really sorry for Snotlout and Hookfang.
"What are you idiots standing around for?!" Bryony was seething, fingers curled into claws as her voice rang harshly above the sound of metal folding to flesh and bone. "All of you, stop that wild –"
Suddenly, a tremor rocked the cavern, faint yet unexpected enough to dislodge several Team Flare grunts. Hiccup and Heather, too, just barely caught themselves before they fell over, and when they stood up again, it was with uncontrollable grins splitting their faces in half.
Our stalling paid off! Hiccup crowed inwardly, scarcely able to believe it. That's…!
"Woo! Exemplary Rock Slide, Darkvarg! Look, there's the cave! I hear fighting up ahead, guys, just a little farther!"
Hiccup was so glad to see Fishlegs and Astrid, accompanied by three adults, emerge from the back tunnel in a great plume of rock dust that he almost wept. The newly-freed Trainers wasted no time in tossing Poke Balls and adding a Rhyhorn, Fletchinder, and Zubat to the fray, as well as a small green reptile that Hiccup could've sworn was a Larvitar.
"The prisoners have escaped!" the call went up among Team Flare, and the lackeys that recovered first from the tremors palmed their own Poke Balls. "Defeat them and –"
"I don't think so!" Astrid snarled. "Zubat, use Supersonic! Fletchinder, Acrobatics!"
"I'm not surrendering this time!" Fishlegs declared. "Meatlug, rapid fire Smack Down! Darkvarg, Thrash!"
It was exactly as Hiccup had envisioned their rescue mission as he planned it with Heather – absolute pandemonium. Pokemon attacks flew every which way, exploding over the floor and the walls with tiny tremors of their own, and Team Flare goons toppled in droves, some of them screaming and some already knocked out. Those few Pokemon that they managed to call to their aid were swiftly dispatched by the Larvitar, which threw itself into the middle of them and simply thrashed them into submission, and Fletchinder, who pinballed like a lightning bolt from one victim to the other with its Acrobatics.
It was beautiful.
A mighty CLANNNGGG tore through the cacophony as Stormfly's Steel Wing and Bisharp's Night Slash suddenly collided, flinging both combatants back with incredible force. Bisharp came flying toward Hiccup, who scrambled to scoop his Pokemon into one arm and yank Heather back with the other before the blade-covered menace could land on top of them. His concerned gaze trailed over to Stormfly, who'd flown in the opposite direction to hit the wall, and before she could recover from her disoriented state, Mawile plowed its Iron Head into her breast to finish her off. Then it, too, succumbed to its wounds, collapsing atop the Staraptor in a heap.
A red beam lanced across Hiccup's vision to absorb the thoroughly dented Bisharp, drawing his eye to the middle of the chaos. Bryony, stoically still, pocketed both her Poke Balls and took out a different object – it looked to Hiccup like a remote control, and the way she raised it with cold indifference sent a foreboding chill coursing through his veins. He tried to shout a warning to the others, but his voice was lost in the sea of shouting voices.
With a click of the detonator, all of Team Flare's various machines burst with ear-shattering roars. The explosions ripped apart what had once been sophisticated computers and mining drones, and their shattered remnants gushed smoke and belched flames that swiftly filled the cavern with sweltering heat and suffocating smog. The cavern-wide battle ended immediately, all combatants too preoccupied with the smoke that stung their eyes and saturated their lungs.
In ears still ringing from the chain of detonations, Hiccup vaguely caught Bryony's voice calling from somewhere within the oily curtain. "Team Flare, retreat! There's no point in wasting any more time on a fruitless venture. Back to base!"
The seconds crept by as, gradually, the chaos died down. Visibility returned, and Hiccup blinked watering eyes at the sight that was revealed. The smoldering wreckage of Team Flare's machines was everywhere, smoke still lightly drifting from their mangled forms. Toothless, Skullcrusher, and the other Pokemon littered the ground in front of him – Astrid ran to Stormfly, and Heather bent over Oswald, while Fishlegs crouched and clutched Meatlug for comfort. The three Fossil Lab researchers stood awkwardly on the sidelines, confused and out of place.
But of Team Flare themselves, absolutely no sign remained.
AN:
Team Flare – they're simultaneously one of my favorite evil teams and one of my least favorite. I love their aesthetic and the way the XY anime built them up in the last third of the story, but game-wise, they have a lot of wasted potential and generally come across as haphazardly implemented. I wanted Team Flare to come across as properly threatening in this story, hence the attempted raid on Professor Sycamore's lab as their introduction, and now their appearance in Glittering Cave as the first real conflict with the main characters.
Additionally, the scientists – not admins – in both the games and anime felt more or less like the same character split into four, so I've attempted to give them a bit more personality. Bryony is the cold and calculating one, based on her battle animations coming across as dissociated and uncaring.
That's enough about Team Flare for now. What did you think of their first major appearance, readers? They'll certainly be back, but for now, please send reviews and look forward to the next chapter!
Next time: The Secret of the Saurus Rock!