Sixteenth Flight. [audio/action for travel party.]

[newberktown]

[Among the background bustle--familiar sounds for anyone who's set foot in a Pokemon Center--there's a small whine from an Eevee, almost like a prompt for Hiccup to speak. After another second or so, he does.]

Uh... Has anyone ever, uhmm. [There's another pause. How should he put this...] Lost...half their pokemon? [He clears his throat before continuing, quicker this time like an excuse.] I still have all their pokeballs, and those are registered to all of them still, according to the people at the Center. But I can't find them anywhere...

[Hiccup sighs, and there's a subtle clunk as he moves his hand to the 'gear to shut it off. Before he does, though, there's one last mumble.]

I can't believe this is happening again...

Comments

[video] I'm suddenly not sure if she's with them or not? I get so confused about travel.

[punchandkiss]

...What do you mean lost, Hiccup? I'm pretty sure they can't just...run off.

[Here, have Astrid and Fuzzball the Sentret both giving really puzzled looks at the camera.]

[video] She should still be with him and Carmen in Blackthorn!

[newberktown]

[Since it's Astrid, he switches to video after brief hesitation. The top of Leap Year's head can be seen at the bottom of screen.]

Well, they did. And a part of me-- [Wait. As far as he knew, Astrid came from a Berk still living harmoniously with dragons.] ...I've been spending a lot of time in the Dragon's Den. Maybe they got tired of me.

[video]

[punchandkiss]

Hiccup, your pokemon adore you. [Well, most of them.] They wouldn't leave without some kind of reason.

[video]

[newberktown]

Great, so they found a reason and ditched me. That really helps.

[Oops, he's not exactly being cooperative right now...]

[video]

[punchandkiss]

No that's not- [She lets out a frustrated breath.]

Look, they have to be around here somewhere. We'll go look for them, okay?

[video]

[newberktown]

[He doesn't look too enthusiastic about that, either, but... Looking for them, even if he didn't find them again, was better than doing nothing.]

Yeah... Okay. [He sighs.] Hey Astrid? You didn't notice anything...weird, right? Like either my pokemon acting oddly or somebody being suspicious?

[video]

[punchandkiss]

No...not really. Not at all.

[video]

[newberktown]

Alright. That's good, I guess... [Though it didn't leave him any clues to follow.] I'll check with Carmen just to make sure, but... Yeah, I didn't really, either. Though with me spending my time in the Dragon's Den, that's not really a surprise.

[video]

[punchandkiss]

Maybe they're back there? At the den.

[video]

[newberktown]

Not unless they snuck it while I was leaving.

[Pause. Well, technically...]

...Some will be there, though. Midgardsormr, Rockbiter, and the twins. And Fish and Flip. But that's their home, now. They're going to keep things in order.

[And yes, he does sound like he's regretting that a bit, now.]

[video]

[punchandkiss]

[Astrid frowns.]

Wait you mean you left them there? For good?

[video]

[newberktown]

Mhmn. [He sighs.] The dragons wanted to stay. It's practically dragon paradise over here, and without them, there could be another fight between the local dragons.

I always said I would release Fish, someday. He was never happy having a trainer--but I think he's glad he and Flip are free, now.

[video]

[punchandkiss]

Oh man.

I can't imagine just...letting mine leave.

[Astrid is pretty attached to her pokemon.]

[video]

[newberktown]

[Hiccup shrugs.]

At least if they're here, I know where to come back to visit him.

[After a pause, he manages to offer her a weak smile.]

Sounds like you're almost used to this pokemon trainer thing.