punchandkiss | Seventh Viking Charge [Video]

[Astrid is sitting on a bench outside of one of the big stores in Goldenrod, looking...a bit cross. After a minute of glaring at the camera, she reaches off screen and holds up a blue and yellow guitar.]

Whoever told me you could buy axes in Goldenrod, if this is what you meant...

[Yes, she's cross!]

This is not an axe! It's some kind of music...thing. I don't know. I asked for an axe and the guy sold me this. I don't even know what to do with it! I thought maybe it was a carrying case for an axe, some kind of modern...trick.

But it's not!

[She huffs and sets her guitar back down in her lap, plucking irritably at one of the strings.]

I don't suppose anybody does know what to do with it? I bought it, I have to do something with it.

[Another pause, and then she seems to remember something.]

Oh right, also. There's a thing that teaches pokemon to fly? A disc or square or...I don't know, whatever the word is. Someone said you can use it more than once, does anybody in goldenrod have one I could borrow for a couple minutes?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sure. I mean, enough to stay with him a while.

...I'd probably go back, too, if all of you guys disappeared.

Well that's not going to happen. [Pointed look.]

I guess I could ask him, anyway.

[He doesn't say anything to that because by this point, he knows anything could happen. But it makes him happy to hear her say it, anyway.]

Right! No harm in asking. And even if he doesn't know, I bet he could point you in the direction of someone who does.

Why, do all musicians know each other?

[It's...hard to tell if she's kidding or not.]

Well, birds of a feather flock together, and all that.

I guess.

[She shrugs, then looks at the cubone.]

So what's with the skull baby thing?

[The 'skull baby thing' squirms a little to get more comfortable. It was a miracle she could consider Hiccup 'comfortable' at all, really, with how twiggy he is.]

Oh, Val? She just likes it when I carry her around. And, uh, cries if I don't. Cries at a lot of things, really...

So you've spoiled her.

[Well, it's kind of embarrassing when it's put that way.]

I don't know... She was like that in September when she hatched. I guess I just got used to treating her like this.

Not like I mind, though.

[Astrid can't help but smile faintly at that, since it is the least surprising thing ever.]

If you always give her what she wants she'll never learn to work for things, Hiccup.

She's just a baby, Astrid. [And he...likes spoiling her...] A hiccup, too, if the pokedex is right about how big Cubones are supposed to be.

[Okay, she can sort of get that. Kind of. Astrid wasn't exactly the biggest viking either.]

Okay, whatever, Hiccup. Have you been training her at all?

Er... No, not exactly...

[Why send this angel-faced little napper into battle?]

[She's not surprised, but it's still weird to her.]

But that's how they get stronger.

I have plenty of strong pokemon already. [Sigh. They had a very different approach to this whole pokemon thing.] If Valhallarama decides she wants to train when she's a little older, then I'll let her train.

...Valhallarama. [Don't laugh. Don't laugh!]

But she should at least be able to protect herself.

Well, yeah. [BEST TO NOT EXPLAIN THE POKEDEX ENTRY.] I figured I already had a pokemon named after my dad, so why not my mom, too? Even if I didn't really know her.

She doesn't really leave my arms, usually... Even if she does, she's by someone who can protect her.

[Well, she couldn't argue with that.]

She might like training though. It can be fun, and babies love games.

Not everyone enjoys fighting as much as you do, Astrid.

[She just rolls her eyes.]

But you don't know if she likes it if you don't let her try it.

Seventh Viking Charge [Video]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]