punchandkiss | Third Viking Assault. [Video]

[Astrid is sitting somewhere in Violet City when she turns her camera on, leaning her back against a wall. Her Axew is seated next to her, holding a pokemon egg between his legs as her Sentret sits on his head, chittering at everyone who walks by.]

[She's apparently added a new member to her team, as there is a rather tiny Shinx sitting in her lap. The little blue pokemon is gnawing on Astrid's thumb, her eyes intent, even as Astrid uses her other hand to rubs her fur between her ears. The teen doesn't even seem to realize she's doing it, her attention on the camera itself. She looks...frustrated.]

Okay, I know this place is pretty big, but how long does it actually take to get to Ecruteak from Violet?

[When you've spent your whole life in one village, distances can be a bit hard to wrap your head around.]

I need to get there. It's kind of an emergancy.

[She hesitates, her eyes narrowing as she studies the gear for a moment.]

Right. Someone told me I can use this to talk to just one person? Instead of...well, everybody. ...Can't figure out how, though. So, if anyone can let me know? I'm trying to reach a kid named Hiccup again.

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Er... Didn't I tell you it would take a while? [Fiddlesticks, he knew he'd forgotten something important... Still, though. An emergency to get to Ecruteak? He might be taking that as a boost to his ego.]

What did you want to talk to me about?

I just didn't realize how long, that's all.

[She frowns, and almost looks sheepish for a moment before she answers.]

Just...I was just checking on you. 'Cause your sick.

Well, you're definitely better at traveling than I ever was, if that makes you feel better.

[And at that, HE GETS A GIANT DORKY GRIN ON HIS FACE.]

Oh?

Are you surprised by that?

[She smirks, because modesty was never one of her strong suits, but then that 'Oh' seems to make her bristle.]

Yes, Hiccup. You have horns, of course I'm worried.

[Hiccup hadn't been a slouch about exploring back home--he'd known the woods back to front, and his childhood was spent on chasing dreams of trolls, goblins, fairies, and giants. He doesn't comment, though, willing to give her that small victory.]

Oh. [This time, it's much less smug.] Right, that.

[Hey, he's great at Dragon's and she's great at other stuff. She needs that for her ego, dang it! And she can't help but grin when he looks a tad deflated, though she doesn't want him to actually feel bad.]

Right, that. Plus we're trapped in some strange world, aren't I supposed to be worried about you?

I guess. But I've been here for-- [Hold on, he has to do a mental count.] --nine months. Exactly, actually. I'd be more worried about you.

[And he does, for that reason, even if he knows how tough viking women are (her especially.) He's seen her not helpless, but...softer.]

[He has seen that and he better not mention it to anybody.] I'm managing fine, Hiccup. I've been traveling with a girl named Utena.

[And then she frowns. She knew he'd been here a while, but 'a while' wasn't the same as...well, nine months.]

You've been here how long?!

[He's pleased to hear that she's travelling with someone--and even more pleased to find out that it's not some hunky man she's gone gooey-eyed for. That just wouldn't do.]

Nine months isn't so bad. Plenty of people have been here longer.

[Yes, he misses home, but it's not like he's just going to show that outright. He is viking! Hear him roar!]

...No, that's not- [Nine months sounded awful, but that wasn't what she meant.] I meant, I saw you a couple hours before I was brought here, Hiccup.

[Hiccup looks surprised at that--not because he finds what she says hard to comprehend, but because he can't believe that no one has explained this little oddity of Johto to her.]

Yeah, it-- It does that. [His mouth presses into a thin line as he tries to think how best to explain.] See, we can all be taken from different times, when we're brought here, I guess. Time for us will then 'freeze' until we go back, so we don't miss anything going on back home, and people back home won't miss us. For them, we're still there.

[It hasn't come up. There hasn't even been a reason for it to come up.]

...Okay. You realize how crazy that sounds, yeah?

Of course I do. But crazy's the new normal, around here.

[She sighs.]

I'm never going to get used to this, Hiccup.

Sure you will! [He's earnest, not just because he wants Astrid to cheer up again, but because he really does believe in her.] If I did, you can. You can do anything!

Maybe. [She does smile faintly though, but she's honestly worried. This is more of a 'Hiccup' thing, really. Adapting to a strange new world, discovering fascinating new things. That's all Hiccup. Astrid might have been able to adapt, but not the same way he does.]

I mean, I have to right? I'm stuck here.

You will.

[He's not touching that second part.]

Hey, if you say so, how can I argue?

[She manages a better smile.]

So, anyway. I'm thinking about catching a pidgey, do you know anything about them?

[He grins, just to further prove that she can't.]

Pidgey? [Hmmn...] Just general stuff, like they're a cross between a normal and a flying type. I'm pretty sure Carmen has a fully-evolved one, and I know another trainer uses his Pidgeot to deliver things like eggs. She seemed pretty strong, too.

Yeah...she said I should get something that can learn to fly. [Because priorities. Flying is important!] And they seemed...okay.

They're chubby little things though, aren't they?

[Hiccup nods--flying isimportant!]

I guess they are... They're not as round as Hoothoots, but they are kind of just balls of fluff.

...There's one called Hoot Hoot.

[Astrid is NEVER going to get used to this.]

[HANG IN THERE, ASTRID.]

...It doesn't stay ridiculously named. It evolves into Noctowl--that's what Laila is, if you remember her.

I remember her. Just...Hoothoot. Really? And there's some absolutely ridiculous little dog squirrel thing called a Bidoof.

Third Viking Assault. [Video]

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