Chapter 28 – On the Origin of Mega Evolution!

The Tower of Mastery, built on a lone islet within walking distance of Shalour City's northern shore, was a striking sight at any time of day. But at sunset, when the sky turned the color of flame and the ocean waves sparkled as though coated in a thousand sequins, it struck a particularly magnificent figure.

Hiccup and Fishlegs couldn't tear their eyes from it as they walked across the land bridge connecting the mainland to the tower's exclusive grounds. The Tower of Mastery wasn't as large as Shabboneau Castle or as opulent as Parfum Palace, yet somehow managed to beat both of them in majesty, the sheer height of its four-pronged crown dominating the horizon with nothing else on the waves to draw the eye away. Beyond the thick brick wall that surrounded the islet like that of a medieval fortress, a large staircase elevated the tower's entrance to a visible level, gaping wide like the archway of an ancient temple.

All in all, Hiccup certainly felt that this great, historic building deserved the "Tower of Mastery" title through and through. He wondered how many generations of Mega Evolution users had practiced within its walls, how many Pokemon had had their inner power unlocked.

It's kind of crazy to think that Mega Evolution has been a thing for all this time, and it's only now being shown to the wider world, Hiccup mused, blinking up at the tower's crown. I wonder why it was kept a secret in the first place…

"Bay bago!" Toothless cried, putting an end to his thoughts.

"Impressive, isn't it, bud?" he said. "We're not staying long, though – just for the tournament's opening ceremony. The battles are being held at the Gym. So don't get any ideas about jumping off the top, okay?"

"Bago Bagon!" the dragonling answered indignantly, but he settled down and didn't make any more of a fuss.

"Ohhhhh, I can't believe my good fortune!" Fishlegs squealed promptly, his hands plastered to his cheeks as he danced circles on tiptoe around Hiccup. "Not only are we finally going to compete in the tag battle tournament, b-but we actually get to see the inside of the Tower of Mastery itself! I've been awaiting this moment since Professor Sycamore brought it up to us!"

"I know, you've only said that about a thousand times," Hiccup snarked good-naturedly. A chuckle escaped as he watched Fishlegs prance with exuberance that couldn't be contained any longer.

"A-And now that I'm f-finally here, I might just faint with joy!" Fishlegs went on, paying him no heed. "There must be all kinds of Mega Evolution secrets that hide behind those walls! Oh, hurry up! I need to see the interior!"

Hiccup's chuckles grew as Fishlegs dashed off across the sand, and he jogged off after him, not wanting to be left behind. He followed his ecstatic friend through the gate that had been carved into the base of the wall, and took a moment to crane his neck and admire the height of the tower before proceeding up the staircase. It turned out to be a chore and a half to lug himself up the steep flight of steps, and his legs were burning by the time he met up with Fishlegs again, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet as he waited.

Once Hiccup was ready, they proceeded through the archway and into the tower proper. A short, dim passage awaited them, and when they emerged back into the light, it was to a sight that blew them away.

The Tower of Mastery's interior was one giant chamber, with a ceiling that no doubt rose to the very pinnacle. Open windows allowed sunlight to stream inside, bathing the entire chamber in the dusky orange of twilight. Along the walls, another staircase wound upwards in a huge spiral, occasionally broken up by platforms that each seemed to lead to a side room, judging by the open doorway Hiccup could see on the lowest one. And him and Fishlegs were far from the only people present – about two dozen other Trainers were wandering about and chatting amongst themselves, all of them no doubt their fellow competitors. Almost instantly, Hiccup spotted Astrid and Stormfly, as well as Snotlout and Hookfang.

They did register before Fishlegs and I, Hiccup remembered. Still, I'm glad to see them… they're the two I'm most looking forward to battling.

Satisfied, Hiccup returned his gaze to the most prominent part of the chamber, the dominating feature that had immediately grabbed his attention the moment he stepped foot inside: the statue.

Standing atop an immense, circular pedestal with a stone door built into its base, the statue stood almost thirty feet high, filling the bottom quarter of the chamber quite readily. Carved out of stone and immaculately detailed, it was a near picture-perfect replica of a Lucario, the Pokemon that he'd seen under the Gym Leader's ownership. Yet it was undeniably different in several key aspects; the tail was bushier, its arms spikier, and it had long, ribbon-like things dangling majestically from its head. The reason for these changes became obvious as soon as Hiccup spotted the DNA-shaped symbol carved into the statue's pedestal.

A Mega Evolved Lucario, I'll bet, he thought. So it can Mega Evolve too… it hasn't even been a minute and we're already seeing something new. Fishlegs must be having a ball…

He glanced around for Fishlegs, suddenly realizing that the Ingerman boy had disappeared while he'd been preoccupied. He glanced over the crowd, briefly noticing the distinctive blonde locks of Ruffnut and Tuffnut over in the corner, but there was no square-shaped frame in sight. He frowned to himself – given how eager for Mega Evolution information Fishlegs had been ever since they'd heard of this place, he hoped that he wasn't currently looking to interrogate the owner…

A cry from Toothless made him glance up just in time to catch movement on the staircase. He recognized Fishlegs right away, waddling up the steps in a hurry. He immediately made to pursue him, pushing past a couple of Trainers with a word of apology before reaching the base of the stairs.

"Fishlegs!" he called out. "Where are you going?"

"To check out the statue!" Fishlegs answered, beaming as he waved his hand in an eager "come here" gesture. "The host hasn't arrived yet, s-so we've still got time before the ceremony starts! Come on up!"

Though he hesitated at first, Hiccup braced himself and started up the steps after his friend. Round and round Fishlegs led him along the curving path, and soon enough, the steep ascent combined with how long it was had left him gasping as he forced his aching legs to climb higher. Up ahead, the sight of Fishlegs pulling ahead, seemingly unbothered by the strenuous uphill trek, made him hang his head and groan as he clutched the railing like a lifeline.

I've heard of mind over matter, but this is ridiculous, he grumbled internally. This is worse than trekking across Route 8…

He finally caught up to Fishlegs after an almost full rotation around the chamber walls. The Ingerman boy was standing on one of the platforms in between flights, clutching the guardrail as he peered over the edge with his typical unbridled enthusiasm. The object of his fascination was, of course, the face of the Lucario statue – they were standing at its eye level, allowing them to admire the immaculate detail in which its face had been carved.

Hiccup strode forward and, grateful for something to lean on, rested his elbows on the railing next to Fishlegs. Toothless jumped on top as soon as he did, and for a moment he had to make sure the Bagon wouldn't jump. Once he was assured Toothless was content to just balance on the railing, reveling in being so high above the ground, he joined Fishlegs in staring out at the statue.

Whomever sculpted this mega-sized Mega Lucario must have been a true master, he realized. He couldn't help but marvel at it – its stony expression should have made it look even more… well, like stone, but it didn't. No, it looked startlingly lifelike, its eyes glaring through narrowed lids as though staring down some equally gigantic foe and resolving to defeat it utterly. If it weren't for the exaggerated size, Hiccup would have thought he was gazing upon the real deal.

"This really is the Tower of Mastery," Fishlegs spoke up, his reverent tone a complete contrast to the excited one he'd been using all night. "I don't know why, but the presence of that statue really… emphasizes that, I guess. Makes it seem real. I look at this giant Lucario and think 'wow, I'm standing in the birthplace of Mega Evolution'. You know?"

"Yeah… I guess you're right," Hiccup answered. Fishlegs' explanation summed up the feeling he'd had since arriving here well. "I'm not sure what I expected when Sycamore first told us about it, but this is definitely the place where we'll learn a lot about Mega Evolution."

"I kind of pictured it being just the two of us, though," Fishlegs admitted, and let out a nervous laugh. "Now that I think about it, I'm a little relieved that we came as part of a tournament. I can't imagine coming up to a historical site of such grandeur and just knocking on the door, asking to know about Mega Evolution. I don't think I could work up the nerve…"

"Well, I'm sure they'd oblige if we told them we were with Professor Sycamore," Hiccup reasoned. "But you're right, it's a lot more convenient this way. We can learn more about Mega Evolution while we compete for the right to wield it ourselves. Which is, by the way, completely insane. I never thought we'd get the chance to experience it for ourselves when the Professor set us on this path."

"I know, right?!" Fishlegs gushed. He pushed off the guardrail and turned to Hiccup with glittering eyes. "That's why we have to learn everything we can while we're here! We need to understand it inside and out if we're to use it!"

"Ah, an admirable sentiment to have."

The aged voice spoke from directly behind them, startling Hiccup out of his own intended reply. He whirled around to see an elderly man standing in front of a now-open door with amusement written all over his wizened features. He was only slightly wrinkled and mostly bald, with his comically large, sweeping eyebrows comprising most of the hair on his head. He looked comfortable in nothing but a plain grey shirt and sweatpants as he strode to the edge of the platform to join the speechless boys in admiring the Lucario statue.

"Apologies for startling you, young Trainers," he said, smiling. "In my defense, though, you were standing directly in front of my room."

"Your…" Hiccup started to say, then hesitated as the implication sank in. "If you… That is… Does that mean you're the keeper of the tower?"

"Indeed! Gurkinn is my name," the old man introduced himself gladly. "Some call me the Mega Evolution Guru. My ancestors have watched over the Tower of Mastery and practiced Mega Evolution since its inception."

Perking up at that, Fishlegs edged forward to shake Gurkinn's hand. "Oh, it's an honor to meet you, sir!" he blurted. "I'm Fishlegs Ingerman, a-and this is Hiccup Haddock… o-oh, and Toothless! We've come all the way f-from Professor Sycamore's laboratory to investigate the origins of Mega Evolution!"

Nodding at the boy politely, Gurkinn replied, "Yes, I happened to overhear your conversation. It's a pleasure to meet you both – and doubly so to hear you've come from the Professor's lab. It's good that you're so eager to understand the phenomenon, and not simply use it. The more passion one has for a subject, the more likely they are to listen."

Hiccup frowned – the cryptic way Gurkinn spoke those last few statements set him on edge. It was like he was implying that there was a lot about Mega Evolution they still weren't aware of… and, on top of that, that said knowledge wouldn't necessarily be pleasant to impart.

"Ah… what, exactly, are we supposed to listen for…?" he asked tentatively. Privately, he wasn't certain whether or not he wanted to hear the answer.

Gurkinn glanced away, a considering look on his face, before turning back to the pair with a hard glint in his eye. "Why don't you two begin by explaining all you know of Mega Evolution so far," he instructed.

An uncertain pause filled the gap that ensued while Hiccup and Fishlegs exchanged an awkward glance, neither of them sure how they should approach this sudden prompt. Finally, though, Hiccup stepped up, a tentative answer on his tongue.

"Well, uh… Mega Evolution grants Pokemon incredible power, and, um, causes them to change their appearance," he began, a vision of Sycamore's Mega Garchomp springing to mind. "It's also, ah, temporary… and you need a pair of special stones to activate it."

"Y-Yes, and the stone the Pokemon holds is called a Mega Stone!" Fishlegs interjected, his eagerness to demonstrate his knowledge overcoming his hesitance. "Each Pokemon that can Mega Evolve uses a different stone, which is made up of a mineral that their family has a special attraction for! F-For instance, a Blastoise would use a Blastoisinite!"

Hiccup nodded, remembering their find at Shabboneau Castle, before his mind drifted to Geosenge Town as he finished the summary. "We also know Mega Evolution produces a certain type of energy, and, um… the energy is connected to the monument in Geosenge. So… it's probably really old."

Gurkinn waited for them to continue, but when he realized that was all they had to share, he nodded slowly. "Indeed it is," he agreed. "You see, the Tower of Mastery was constructed a little less than three thousand years ago by my distant ancestor. Him and his Lucario, it's written, found a strange gemstone on this very soil on their travels across the region, and they eventually became the first in recorded history to master Mega Evolution.

"That is the reason why I decided to hold the opening ceremony here, exclusively for the hopeful young Trainers that are participating," he added. "The Tower of Mastery was built as a dedicated training ground for, at the time, the sole family that knew of the phenomenon as more than myth or rumor. Its history is intimately interconnected with that phenomenon – the very phenomenon that, for better or worse, is now widespread knowledge across the world. I can't help but wonder if Sycamore's decision to research it, and the League's to sponsor it, was a good one, in the end."

Hiccup was now fully uncomfortable at the grave turn the Mega Evolution Guru's speech had taken. A swift peek at the Lucario statue didn't give any respite – whereas before, its gaze had seemed determined to best an opponent, it now seemed judgemental. Like it didn't think him, or anyone else who met its glare, worthy of possessing its awesome power.

"You see, there is a very good reason why my family has strived to keep the details about Mega Evolution a strict secret – barring the few that have proven themselves skilled enough to train here," Gurkinn went on. "Mega Evolution is far more than just a power boost. I'm… not even sure if I can describe it in a way that those uninitiated can fathom, truthfully. But it's a great and terrible power that places a heavy burden upon the shoulders of those that wield it."

"Wh-What do y-you mean?" Fishlegs quavered. He was so spooked that his cheeks had turned white, and his pencil was frozen on the open notebook that had appeared in his hand as if by magic.

Toothless, too, appeared frozen, fixing the elder with an intense, unblinking stare.

"It's true that Mega Evolution blesses a Pokemon with immense power, flooding it with the energy that lies dormant inside," Gurkinn explained. "However, that power is so great that the Pokemon often struggles to maintain control of it. It's like… like…"

He stopped, frowning as though trying to find the right term, so Hiccup prompted him cautiously, "Like… what?"

"Like… a battle within the Pokemon's own mind," Gurkinn finally responded. Now that he'd found the analogy he'd wanted, his eyes sharpened and pinned the boys to the spot with their intense inner fire. "The Pokemon may even grow afraid and panic as its abilities grow to levels far above what it's used to, only making it that much more likely to lose control. Many times, I've seen what happens when an inexperienced Trainer and Pokemon attempt the process… many times, in fact, that Trainer was myself. The path to mastering Mega Evolution isn't merely difficult – it is often long and arduous, fraught with danger at every step."

By the time Gurkinn was done, Hiccup's eyes were wide and chills were running down his spine, just as spooked as Fishlegs had looked. He heard the Ingerman boy give a quiet whimper and the shuffling of his feet on the floor beside him, his nerves palpable. Toothless hopped back on top of him, making Hiccup stumble and give a surprised oof at the sudden weight; the Bagon clung to him, either to reassure him or seeking comfort himself.

Upon observing their reactions, Gurkinn's grave expression softened into a sympathetic smile. "It sounds awful, I know, and it can indeed be a precarious balance; but that's why you are there. The Trainer holds the second of two stones – the Key Stone. Their purpose is to be the Pokemon's anchor, to give it focus and ensure its powers don't run away from it completely. The entire process is reliant on the strength of the trust between Trainer and Pokemon – only with a mighty bond can you master Mega Evolution completely."

At this, Toothless gave a chirp, prompting Hiccup to twist his head toward him. The dragonling was no longer stiff and nervous – rather, his eyes glinted with bold confidence. When Hiccup realized what in Gurkinn's speech had reassured his partner, he broke into a grin, suddenly feeling like laughing out loud.

Toothless thinks there's nothing for us to worry about, he thought, almost impressed by his partner's sheer gall. If it's a matter of how strong our bond is, then Toothless is confident we won't have trouble.

Bud, I don't know what I did to deserve you.

Fishlegs, on the other hand, wasn't quite as positive. "I-I don't know… I-I'm all for making friends with Pokemon, b-but I-I'd prefer if there was a more… q-quantifiable measure of control for something s-so… risky. I-I mean, how m-much of a bond is necessary? H-How much trust? H-How can you be sure you w-won't accidentally hurt your Pokemon?"

Gurkinn's smile was wry as he looked first at the twitchy Fishlegs, and then at Hiccup and Toothless. "That is something I can't tell you, either, at least until you've tried it for yourselves," he told them. "But, perhaps, you will get the chance to experience it sooner than most, should you win the Tag Tournament. If you do, then my granddaughter and I will be more than happy to help you train – after all, that is our tower's entire purpose."

Abruptly raising a fist to cough into, he added, "Speaking of Korrina, I have to go make sure she's prepared to begin the opening ceremony. You two should go down and join the rest of the contestants – it shouldn't be a few minutes more until we're ready to get things moving along."

Stunned by the change in subject, Hiccup fumbled to answer, "Uh, y-yes… we'll get on that. And, um… thanks for the conversation. It was… enlightening."

With a final nod and smile, Gurkinn left him and Fishlegs by their lonesome once more, heading farther up the stairs presumably in search of the Gym Leader.

"Th-That was… a lot to take in," Fishlegs commented nervously, once they were alone. "I had a thought about writing everything down, but… I was just so overwhelmed, you know?"

"Yeah… I know what you mean," Hiccup replied. It wasn't a lie – in fact, part of him was still reeling, still struggling to digest all he'd heard. There was much more to Mega Evolution than he'd ever suspected… so much more. Professor Sycamore had made it look so easy, he'd sometimes reflect on it and wonder why it had taken the League until recently to "discover" it.

But based on what Gurkinn had just revealed, then Hiccup was more inclined to believe that there was, perhaps, a good reason that his family had held onto the secret for so long. All that power he'd seen surging from Mega Garchomp – as incredible as it seemed, that show of unfathomable strength had been hiding a precarious balancing act. For the first time, Hiccup wondered how that transformation had felt to Sycamore… to Garchomp. How frightened had she been, behind her intimidating snarl?

"D-Do you really believe that we can do it?" Fishlegs asked, drawing Hiccup's gaze back to him. His shoulders were hunched and his fingers tapped together, classic signs of discomfort. "I-I couldn't hurt my Meatlug… or Darkvarg, l-like Gurkinn said we might. I-Is Mega Evolution really something we can handle…?"

"Bagon Bagon bay-go!" Toothless barked loudly, as if offended at the idea him and Hiccup couldn't.

Drawing strength from his partner's adamance, Hiccup responded, "Yeah, I think we can. Even if we can't master Mega Evolution right away, it'll just take practice to get used to it. We have to trust our partners, and they have to trust us. Gurkinn said that was the key – so, if you think about it, we're kinda already well on our way to mastering it."

A hopeful glint lit Fishlegs' eyes. "Y-Yeah… Yeah, you're right," he nodded. "Let's focus on the tournament! Oh, I'll bet that because Gurkinn organized it, winning it probably really is all we need to do to prove ourselves worthy of learning Mega Evolution! So if we get to the top, we won't have a problem!"

"See? You just gotta think positive," Hiccup said, and Toothless chirped his own two cents. "And speaking of positive, if nothing else, we just got a load of information to share with Professor Sycamore. So there's that."

"O-Of course! I'll be sure to contact him as soon as possible!" Fishlegs promised. Shoving his notebook back into his coat, he straightened up and urged, "Let's get back down to the ground floor so we don't miss the opening ceremony! If Gurkinn's getting ready, there probably isn't much time left!"

Without waiting for an answer, he turned and sped down the stairs, leaving Hiccup and Toothless to gawk incredulously after him. With a frantic stumble, his boots thumped at a quickened pace on the stone steps beneath as he rushed to follow his enthusiastic neighbor to the ceremony soon to begin.

When, at last, it came time for the opening ceremony, Hiccup stood amongst the thirty-plus as he watched Gurkinn and Korrina climb up onto the statue pedestal. A murmur went up amongst the competitors as excitement spread, and every face turned toward the front expectantly. Anticipation spiked the air, prickling Hiccup's skin – at last, the moment they'd been waiting for was set to begin.

"Welcome, Trainers of Kalos!" Gurkinn cried, raising both arms for quiet. A great hush fell upon the chamber as the audience dutifully stilled. "It is my pleasure to welcome the thirty-two of you who have come to the Tower of Mastery. Here, my ancestors trained diligently to master the power of Mega Evolution – and now, you have been invited here for the chance to do the same."

"As of now, registration is now officially closed!" Korrina added, her cheery voice carrying easily across the room. "Starting tomorrow, you guys are gonna go head-to-head in a series of awesome battles to see who the best candidate for learning Mega Evolution is!"

"Yes, all of you who stand before us now are the candidates who will fight to prove their valor," Gurkinn continued, eyes sliding closed as he folded his arms behind his back in a sagely posture. "Looking upon you now, I can see that you are all Trainers that hold great promise – every one of you has the potential to one day accomplish incredible things. I hope that, during the course of this event, you rise up to reach that potential, and show the strength and fortitude necessary to wield what you've all come to claim – a Mega Stone of your own.

"Very rarely has Mega Evolution ever been practiced outside these walls… yet this year, the Kalos League will see the widespread use of this ancient art," he went on, his speech carrying a power that had every Trainer hanging onto his every word. "Therefore, as keepers of the Tower of Mastery, my granddaughter and I felt it was our duty to organize this tournament, to educate and train the next generation as our ancestors had done. By working closely with your Pokemon and your teammate to achieve victory over your peers, you will be given a chance to develop the traits integral to all Mega Evolution users – skill, discipline, comradery, and trust!"

A smattering of polite applause went up at the conclusion of Gurkinn's speech, the atmosphere suddenly surging with excitement. Hiccup clapped along, shivering as the thrill of competition seized him.

"Thanks, Gramps!" Korrina called over the low din. "Alright, now for how this shindig is gonna work! There are thirty-two of you – that means sixteen pairs! The Tower of Mastery Tag Tournament will consist of four rounds, the last one being the finals where our last two pairs go head-to-head for the right to obtain a Mega Stone, and then face me for a Gym badge! Each of you will choose one Pokemon to fight per battle, and there are no restrictions on what Pokemon you can use or how many times you can use them!"

Four rounds… one Pokemon for each, Hiccup thought, his mind immediately taking that information and running with it. If I wanted, I could use all four of the ones I have. That is, if Inferno is keen on listening to me now. If not, then someone's going to have to go twice… who would pair best with Fishlegs?

"Now, as Gramps mentioned, bonds of trust are very important for those who use Mega Evolution!" Korrina announced. As she spoke, she reached down to grab a flat, black machine of sorts that sat at her feet. "That's why we're going to pair you up randomly! This projector will do the honors, and then show you all who's teamed with who!"

Immediately, the wind was taken out of Hiccup's proverbial sails, all possible Pokemon combinations involving Meatlug or Darkvarg vanishing like wisps of fog. He wasn't the only one to be disappointed – most of the gathered Trainers let out audible groans as their own notions of using pre-prepared strategies were dashed.

"Hey now," Korrina mock-scolded, wagging a finger at the grumbling masses. "If you can't learn to trust your own partner – especially a total stranger – then how are you going to learn to trust your Pokemon to wield the awesome power of Mega Evolution? Only the Trainers who can adapt on the fly and synergize with somebody they may have never met before will have what it takes to win the Tag Tournament! Now let's power this baby up and show you who your new best friend is gonna be!"

Setting the machine down between her and Gurkinn with a clank, Korrina used her foot to give it a tap on the side, presumably activating a button or lever. Whatever she did, the projector abruptly whirred to life and produced a fountain of blue light from its top. A holographic screen formed, displaying the faces of all the registered Trainers and then sectioning them off into pairs. One of the first to catch Hiccup's eye was Fishlegs' portrait, which he indeed saw, to his chagrin, was paired with a different Trainer – and his eyebrows rose to his hairline when he saw it was Astrid.

So not only will I have to rely on someone other than Fishlegs, he thought, frowning, I'm going to have to fight him for the top spot. And I know how excited he's been for this… so he's going to battle with everything he has. Alongside Astrid, of all people.

"Bago!" Toothless vied for his attention, tapping him rapidly on the back of the head. When Hiccup surfaced from his thoughts, the Dragon-type pointed emphatically to the screen. "Bay bago!"

"What's up, bud? You find me up there?" he asked, remembering that he hadn't even found his own portrait yet. He scanned the list, noting Snotlout and the Thorston twins when his eyes drifted over them, but he didn't stop when he at last recognized his own face, positioned right next to –

No way. If he'd been surprised to see Fishlegs partnered with Astrid, then he was flat-out flabbergasted to recognize his own assigned partner. That's…! What's she doing –

"Hi, Hiccup."

He jolted hard enough to jostle Toothless, heart pounding at the voice that came from right next to his ear. Pressing a hand to his chest, he whirled around to meet the familiar green eyes and teasing grin of the girl who'd leaned in deliberately to startle him.

"H-Heather! Uh… hi, yourself," Hiccup stammered, still reeling from the revelation that she was here to begin with. "I, ah, didn't expect to see you again so soon! You look… uh, good!"

"I know, that's why I decided to sneak up on you," she giggled. "You and Toothless don't look bad, either. I can tell that your journey's been serving you well."

Distracted by the sound of her tinkling laughter, Hiccup tried to come up with something to say in return, but he was interrupted by a shrill shout that came from beneath him. Flinching again, he glanced down to see another familiar face – Heather's Pawniard, regarding him intently with her huge yellow eyes.

"H-Hey, Windshear," he knelt to greet the Dark-and-Steel-type, grateful for being saved from having to say something awkward. Making sure to avoid the blade on her crown, he stroked Windshear's smooth helmet gently, receiving an affectionate coo in return. "How've you been? Feels like we haven't interacted since Santalune City."

"Pawnia!" Windshear replied, waving her blades cheerfully, and Hiccup jerked his arm back for fear of being accidentally cut. Toothless used that moment to clamber down to the ground and give a genial bark, to which Windshear respond in kind. The last time they'd spent time together, they'd been fierce rivals, but now they seemed comfortable enough with each other to put that aside and chatter like old friends.

That was clearly Hiccup's cue to return to his own old friend, so he stood up and faced her with a smile, fully over his initial shock. "I gotta say, I had no idea you were interested in competing in something like this," he remarked. "What, are you here for a Mega Stone, too? Or, I dunno, just to get stronger for the other Gyms?"

"A bit of both, kind of. Mega Evolution is definitely something I want to investigate more," Heather confirmed, sounding almost bashful as though she were embarassed to admit it. She ran a hand through her hair and, for a second, refused to look at him – but when her eyes returned to him, they shone with a sparkle that made his heart race.

"You know, I was a bit apprehensive about entering this competition when I first heard about it," she said. "I didn't know any of the Trainers that I saw when I came to register, and I worried about what I'd do if I was paired with somebody I didn't know. So I'm… really glad it turned out to be you, Hiccup. We already proved that we make a great team, remember?"

Really glad it turned out to be you… The heartfelt honesty in her soft tone tugged at Hiccup so compellingly that he couldn't resist breaking out in an uncontrollable grin.

"Y-Yeah, that's a really good point," he agreed, choosing to focus on the logic of her statement, not how validating it felt to be wanted by a pretty young woman. "I-It's… uh, relieving to know that I'm teaming up with a friend after all. I was really looking forward to battling with Fishlegs – n-not that he's better than you, or anything! My point is, um, that you're right. And being partnered with someone I've already worked together with in the past will put us at an advantage compared to most of our opponents."

"Right, that's true," Heather concurred. Then she, too, grinned as she raised a hand to her mouth to daintily cover a sudden chuckle. "Come to think of it, it's kind of funny. Last time we met, we agreed to make time to hang out more – and now we're officially partnered in a tournament together. So I guess we're spending more time together, whether we planned it or not."

More time. Together. Hiccup flushed to the tips of his ears. Why did she have to put it like that? "Ah, yep. D-Definitely… definitely an odd coincidence, that."

Her smile growing, Heather reached out and clasped one of his hands in both of her own. He froze at the sensation of soft, cool skin tenderly caressing his fingers – the part of his body most sensitive to touch – and swallowed the squeak that rose unbidden from his throat.

"That's enough reminiscing for us. It's time to focus on winning the tournament!" Heather told him, green eyes gleaming with excitement as they bored into his. "Let's devote ourselves to supporting each other as much as we can! I promise to help you and your Pokemon out however I can – I'll even assist you if you want to spend time between rounds practicing moves."

Hiccup really hoped the bright orange twilight seeping through the window colored his skin enough to disguise the blush currently setting his face on fire. Knowing he had to respond to her… intimate declaration somehow, he forced his other arm to move, flexing numb fingers as he placed it gingerly over Heather's hand. Willing himself to ignore how clammy they felt, or how dry his mouth was, he managed a small smile and gave a single, determined nod.

"Alright, I'm… I'm in," he declared. "And, uh… I'll, ah, do my best to support you and your team, too. From now on… we're a team."

"Nia, pawnia!" Windshear agreed wholeheartedly.

"Bago!" Toothless answered, and locked arms with the Pawniard. That was an oath to work toward victory with his teammates if Hiccup had ever seen one.

Heather's smile widened, satisfied, and she finally let go of him; he stuffed his hand in his jacket pocket as soon as she glanced away, breathing a shuddering sigh. While his new (or… old, kind of) ally bent down to coo over Windshear and Toothless, he turned back to the wider chamber. In the minute or so he'd spent reminiscing with Heather, everybody in the room had gravitated toward their assigned partners, and so he found himself now surrounded by chatting couples. Nearby, Ruffnut and Tuffnut slammed their heads together in boisterous celebration; meanwhile, Snotlout and a shorter boy puffed their chests out boastfully; elsewhere, Astrid confronted Fishlegs with an accusing finger stuck sternly under his nose.

Only now did the reality of the situation sink in for Hiccup, seeing so many Trainers interacting around him in preparation for the days ahead. He was here; this was real. Tomorrow would be the start of the Tower of Mastery Tag Tournament, the biggest event he'd ever participated in in his life.

And it was certainly going to be one to remember.

Morning saw Hiccup stir awake with the dawn's first light shining through the window and onto his bed. Blinking blearily, he sat up with a yawn and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, getting his bearings groggily. At first he saw nothing unusual – just the same sparse room he'd gone to sleep in upon returning to the Pokemon Center last night. But as the fog of slumber lifted from his brain, he noticed that the bed opposite his was empty.

"Fish… legs?" he mumbled, pausing briefly as another yawn pulled his mouth open. "Where'd you –"

"Oh, morning, Hiccup!" the Ingerman boy's voice came from the other side of the room. Hiccup turned in that direction to find him seated at the table just opposite the bathroom door. "Hope you slept well! I just thought I'd get an early start today, what with the tournament and all!"

His energy quickly coming back to him, Hiccup swung his legs over the edge of the bed, adjusted his pajama shirt, and walked over to peer over Fishlegs' shoulder. Somehow, he wasn't surprised to see his usual spread of notebooks, Pokedex, and index cards on the table before him. As he watched, though, Fishlegs proceeded to paste a photograph of a Staraptor onto one of the empty cards, and that did surprise him.

"You got data on Astrid's team?" he asked, putting two and two together.

"Yep! She was more than happy to let me examine her Pokemon and take a few notes!" Fishlegs replied cheerily. "Granted, I think she figured I would be using the data to come up with battle strategies… but, w-well, what she doesn't know won't kill her, right?"

Hiccup let out a humorless chuckle, knowing very well how the no-nonsense Hofferson girl would react if she found out. "You got a heck of a partner for the tournament. How did she, ah, take the arrangement, by the way?"

"W-Well…" Fishlegs stammered at first, and his chair rattled when he shivered. "She was, um… very clear about wanting to win, to put it mildly. B-But I want to win too, so I was honest when I told her I'd fight alongside her with my full strength. E-Even if I didn't want the Mega Stone, she very much does, and as her partner, it's my duty to support her as best I can!"

"Ah, see, that's too bad," Hiccup joked, a snide note entering his voice. "I also promised Astrid I'd do my best to win, and my own partner, too. So I wish I could let you off the hook, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to beat you to the punch. Sorry, buddy."

"That's where you're wrong, Hiccup," Fishlegs turned around, grinning hard enough to make his cheeks flush. "You might be the one with more battle experience, b-but with Astrid's assistance, I'm going to be the one who reaches the top!"

They stared fiercely at one another for a few moments, before dissolving into good-natured laughter. However, it wasn't long before they stopped, the mood between them growing sober as their banter left behind a Mamoswine in the room. Though they joked about it, the reality of the situation wasn't quite so joyous.

"It's… too bad we weren't partnered up like we thought we'd be," Fishlegs spoke first, regret tinging his smile. "I had so many ideas in mind for Pokemon combinations and the like, and we were gonna have a great time winning together… but now we're against each other. We're rivals."

That was Hiccup's sentiment exactly, and he wore the same sad smile as he nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. It was true that they were forced onto opposing sides… but it was also true that they would regret losing more than they would battling each other.

"It is too bad, Fishlegs, but we can't let thoughts like that drag us down in the battles to come," Hiccup told him, and placed an invigorating hand on his shoulder. "We each have a partner that's counting on us to do our best. And Sycamore, too – he's the whole reason we're here and trying to experience Mega Evolution for ourselves, right? So long as one of us wins and gets their own Mega Stone…"

"…then it's a success for both of us, you're right!" Fishlegs exclaimed, perking up. "We've got nothing to lose, no matter which one wins! Oh, thank you, Hiccup, that makes me feel much better! I-In fact, once we face each other in the arena… it'll be the first time we'll have ever battled for real! Th-That's gonna be so exciting, isn't it?!"

"I… never thought of that," Hiccup said. They'd had plenty of sparring matches in the weeks since leaving Vaniville Town, but never a true battle. Curiosity took hold of him – he was familiar with Fishlegs' tactics, and vice versa, so who would come out on top in a proper fight? Whose bond was stronger, Fishlegs' affection for Meatlug or Hiccup's years with Toothless?

Suddenly, Hiccup was no longer distressed by the notion of competing against his best human friend. He was shaking with anticipation.

"Alright, so… no hard feelings, whoever wins?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Fishlegs took it, sealing the deal with a solid shake. "Agreed!"

They broke their handshake and followed it up with a cheery fistbump, their friendship unyielding even as their rivalry was set to begin. With both parties satisfied, they both returned to their own business, Hiccup digging in his bag for clothes and Fishlegs returning to his project.

"Are you heading out?" the Ingerman boy asked abruptly, hand hovering over his dropped pencil. "I'll meet you at the Gym when it's time for the first round, okay? I'm… kinda in the middle of something, here…"

"No problem," Hiccup replied without looking up. He got out his four Poke Balls and then his shirt and pants, laying them out on the bedside. "I was just going to go outside and let the team out. You know, psych them up a bit, plan who to use first…"

Then, it finally hit him – the reason why the room had felt slightly off ever since he'd woken up. "Wait just a… where did Toothless go?"

The answer, funnily enough, came not from Fishlegs, but from outside, as an exhilarated cry drew his eyes to the window just in time to see a small, blue form plummet past. A distant crack reached his ears a mere second later.

"Scratch that," Hiccup amended, thoroughly exasperated. "I'm heading outside, letting the team out, and then apologizing to Nurse Joy for letting that stubborn lizard wreck the concrete."

AN:

With the official start of the Shalour City arc comes a lot of preliminary stuff to establish! As such, this chapter ended up being both slow and lengthy, so sorry about that!

First up – as I've long foreshadowed, some secrets of Mega Evolution have finally been revealed. While I think that the Sun/Moon Pokedex entries for Mega Evolutions are a bit unnecessarily dark, I do like interpreting them in the same context as what was shown in the anime. I think they explain what could happen if a Trainer and Pokemon aren't in control of the Mega Evolution power, not necessarily that Mega Evolution is inherently harmful. It's just risky.

Moving on to the opening ceremony, the tag matchups have finally been announced. Fishlegs and Astrid are together, which leads directly into the establishment of a temporary Hiccup-Fishlegs rivalry that I had great fun setting up, and then we have Hiccup and Heather. Not just to continue the ship teasing that we all know won't last, but because I've come up with some great strategies for the two of them that'll help Hiccup battle more skillfully in the future.

I hope you're all looking forward to the start of the Tag Battle Tournament in the next chapter! Please send reviews, maybe give me some predictions as to how you think the tournament will go down, and thanks for reading!

Next time: Matchups Made in Heaven!