The morning air shimmered faintly with dew as Niyah stepped into the grassy outskirts of Wedgehurst. The sun was just beginning to rise, streaking gold and rose across the fields. Her small team, Mimikyu and Litwick, hovered nearby, eager but focused.
Niyah grinned and clapped her hands once. "Alright, you two. Today's all about training, no pranks, no shortcuts. Time to push past limits!"
Mimikyu let out a muffled cheer, hopping once on before levitating next to Niyah, while Litwick's flame flared in smug agreement.
Their first opponent was a wild Nickit - Level 15, sleek and cunning, with a mischievous glint in its eyes. It darted between tufts of grass, sizing Mimikyu up.
"Remember, Mimi," Niyah said, crouching slightly, "this one's about keeping your Disguise ability intact for as long as possible. Move smart, not fast."
Nickit made the first move, springing forward with a Quick Attack. Mimikyu phased through the attack, cloak flaring, and melted halfway into her own shadow. The fox's attack grazed only air.
"Good! Use the environment!" Niyah called.
Nickit growled and spun, sand kicking up in a Sand Attack. The particles filled the air, making visibility poor. Mimikyu vanished completely into the shadows under the trees. For a heartbeat, silence.
Then — BOO!
Mimikyu popped out from behind, her disguise trembling with suppressed giggles. Nickit yelped and stumbled back, its fur puffing up. But Mimikyu didn't attack, she retreated into another patch of shadow, keeping her Disguise perfectly intact.
"Focus," Niyah warned, "keep your energy low until it's time to strike."
Nickit grew impatient and lunged again, this time aiming wide. Mimikyu countered with Double Team, creating three shimmering illusions of herself. Each one moved differently, and Nickit didn't know which was real.
Finally, with perfect timing, Mimikyu used Draining Kiss, her true body shooting forward like an arrow through darkness. She hit Nickit squarely, then retreated back into cover before the fox could react.
Niyah smiled proudly. "Disguise intact. That's what I call efficiency!"
Mimikyu danced happily in the shadows, her disguise still untouched, her little form glowing faintly from the pride of perfect defense.
The battle ended shortly after, Nickit bowing its head in playful defeat before darting away.
—
After a short break, Mimikyu's next sparring partner appeared, a Rookidee - Level 12 swooping down from the trees, chirping eagerly. Its wings gleamed with the energy of flight.
"Alright, Mimi," Niyah said, brushing her hair from her eyes. "This time we're practicing your Thunder Wave, it's all about control. No wild shocks, just precision."
The Rookidee dove, wings tucked tight, ready to peck. Mimikyu extended her tiny shadowy arms, crackling faintly with static. She released a faint pulse of electricity, a Thunder Wave so delicate it barely hummed through the air.
The pulse brushed past Rookidee's wing, and it stiffened midair but didn't crash. It flapped unevenly, slowed, but was still conscious.
"Perfect! Not too much, not too little," Niyah encouraged. "Again!"
Mimikyu adjusted her stance, pulling sparks around her body like threads of light. She twirled them, shaping the current and released another. This time the arc curved, following the air currents before tagging Rookidee on the tail.
The little bird wobbled and landed awkwardly, chirping indignantly. Mimikyu giggled, the electricity dancing softly over her disguise before fading.
Rookidee, annoyed, flapped hard and used Peck. Mimikyu ducked, barely grazed her focus still on her electric control. She tried again, this time spreading the static across her entire body before compressing it into one tiny spark that zipped forward like a needle.
Zzzt!
Direct hit. Rookidee froze mid-hop, legs trembling in paralysis.
"Excellent! That's the kind of control a true trickster uses!" Niyah cheered.
When the bird finally managed to shake off the paralysis and retreat, Niyah knelt down beside Mimikyu, patting her gently on the head. "You're getting stronger and smarter. Keep this up, and you'll be unstoppable."
Mimikyu twirled happily, sparks still flickering faintly around her cloth as the morning breeze carried the smell of fresh grass and victory.
—
Their next challenger was a Blipbug - Level 13, a jittery bug Pokémon digging near a rock mound. Its oversized antenna twitched at every sound, and when Mimikyu appeared, it froze for a second before raising its head, ready to fight.
"Alright, Mimi," Niyah called out. "This one's about mixing your power moves. Astonish is strong but predictable and Shadow Sneak's faster but less impact. Let's fuse them!"
Mimikyu nodded and slid into the grass, her disguise fluttering faintly in the wind.
Blipbug wasted no time it used Sticky Web spraying string through the air. The ground exploded with it, but Mimikyu vanished into her shadow just in time.
Then — BOO!
Blipbug jerked back in shock as Mimikyu appeared right behind it, eyes glowing white as she used Astonish. The bug's whole body stiffened, clearly startled. But Niyah raised a hand. "That's too slow! Use the fear, move with it!"
Blipbug recovered, spinning with a Struggle Bug, narrowly missing Mimikyu. The little ghost growled softly and dove backward into her shadow again.
Her form vanished, leaving faint traces of ghostly mist behind. Blipbug blinked once, twice, scanning for her.
Then Mimikyu's shadow stretched. It slithered up from the ground and behind Blipbug's own, wrapping around it like dark silk. When she appeared, her attack came as both sound and movement. The scream of Astonish and the snap of Shadow Sneak hitting perfectly in sync.
The soundwave and strike landed simultaneously, a terrifying combination of fear and force. Blipbug's body locked up, eyes wide with shock, before tumbling into the grass.
"Nice! You got the timing right!" Niyah cheered, pumping a fist. "If you can blend that fear energy into your sneak strikes, you'll control the rhythm of the whole battle."
Mimikyu twirled proudly, the air still echoing faintly with the haunting note of her Astonish. She gave a happy chirp, disguise bobbing from side to side.
Niyah knelt beside her, grinning. "That was beautiful, Mimi. Scary, but beautiful."
Roty's screen flickered:
[Training Data Updated: Astonish + Shadow Sneak combination detected. Flinch success rate increased by 23%.]
—
The final test came as the sun began to dip, the world tinted gold and violet. Niyah wanted one last opponent, one that could test everything Mimikyu had learned.
As if on cue, a Pancham wandered in from the nearby woods, gnawing on a leaf stem and looking for a sparring partner. It spotted Mimikyu, smirked, and pounded its fists together.
"Perfect," Niyah whispered. "He looks tough. Alright Mimi, all or nothing. Use everything you've trained for today!"
The air grew heavy as both Pokémon squared off. Pancham charged with Tackle, surprisingly fast for its small size. Mimikyu shifted into her Double Team, splitting into five illusions that danced around the field. Pancham struck through one, then another, its confusion growing.
"Now, Thunder Wave, minimal charge!"
Mimikyu extended her tiny arms, releasing a ripple of golden electricity that danced through the air like fireflies. Pancham blinked in surprise as a small spark tagged his arm, not enough to paralyze, but just enough to slow him down.
Then came Mimikyu's next move, Astonish! She reappeared behind Pancham, screaming a distorted "Miii!" that made the panda stumble. As his body stiffened from the flinch, Mimikyu immediately dived into Shadow Sneak, turning into an afterimage of darkness that struck Pancham's back before he could recover.
"That's it!" Niyah called out, voice bright with pride. "Now keep it up, maintain flow!"
Pancham shook off the paralysis, throwing a Karate Chop forward. Mimikyu ducked, the blow missed by inches. Pancham followed up with Power Trip, hitting twice before she could fade away, and her Disguise cracked, the faint illusion shattering like glass.
For a heartbeat, Mimikyu froze, then her shadow rippled with defiance. The loss of her Disguise didn't make her retreat; it made her fierce. The electric aura she'd learned to control flared around her disguise, faint blue sparks crawling across the frayed edges.
"Final combo!" Niyah shouted. "Shadow Sneak into Astonish then paralyze on the rebound!"
Mimikyu vanished completely, reappearing beneath Pancham's shadow, boom, the hit landed dead center. Before Pancham could even gasp, she appeared again on his left with a shriek of Astonish, her voice cutting through the evening stillness like a ghostly bell.
When Pancham stumbled forward, Mimikyu finished the combo, sending a single spark of Thunder Wave that froze him in place.
The panda froze mid-step, body trembling with electricity before collapsing, breathing heavily but smiling faintly. Mimikyu tilted her head, giving a proud wave of her disguise's "arm."
Roty beeped softly.
[Training Complete: Mimikyu's Shadow Sneak, Thunder Wave, and Astonish fully synchronized. Disguise efficiency improved by 19%. Flinch probability optimized.]
Niyah knelt down, scooping Mimikyu up gently. "You did incredible, Mimi. You're becoming a real trickster queen."
Mimikyu hummed happily, pressing her cloth cheek against Niyah's hand, sparks still faintly glowing across her shadow.
As the sun dipped completely and the first stars appeared, Niyah looked out at the darkening fields. "Your turn next, Lumos," she said with a smirk. "Think you can top that?"
Litwick's flame flickered in challenge, his eyes gleaming like yellow embers. 'Watch me.'
—
The sun had nearly set when Niyah called Mimikyu back to rest. The fields outside Wedgehurst were now washed in orange light, and the shadows stretched long and thin across the grass. The world smelled faintly of smoke, pollen, and the sweet hum of energy that always surrounded training Pokémon.
Litwick floated forward, his small blue flame flickering brighter in anticipation. He'd watched Mimikyu's sessions with quiet pride, but also a bit of competitive fire of his own.
Niyah smirked. "Alright, Lumos. Your turn to show off."
The candle Pokémon's glow flared, his eyes narrowing. 'Watch and learn.'
—
The first opponent came unexpectedly, a Skwovet - Level 14 drawn by the faint smell of burned berries from earlier. It waddled forward, chittering proudly, cheeks puffed full of nuts.
"Perfect warm-up," Niyah said, hands on her hips. "Literally."
Litwick floated higher, the wind stirring his flame. "Goal one," Niyah reminded him, "is to raise your own fire power, safely. That means you're going to let your flames burn hotter, even if it stings. Ready?"
Litwick's flame flickered once, a silent yes.
Skwovet charged with Tackle, its tiny feet thudding over the grass. Litwick countered with a pulse of Ember, but he didn't stop after one shot. He poured more heat into it his flame expanding, crackling into white-blue brilliance.
The Ember burst collided with Skwovet's chest, knocking it back. But the extra energy scorched the air, licking back toward Litwick himself. He flinched, his own waxy body hissing from the heat.
Niyah frowned. "Good! Don't pull back, learn to channel it, not suppress it!"
Litwick grit his metaphorical teeth, focusing. His flame bent inward slightly, flickering like a heart beating faster. Then, with a steady inhale of ghostly energy, he reignited, brighter than before.
Skwovet tried again, this time using Bite to clamp its jaws down on Litwick's base. Litwick winced but refused to retreat. Instead, he let his internal fire surge downward, the heat flaring so intensely that Skwovet yelped and released him, smoke curling from its fur.
"Excellent!" Niyah said, grinning. "That's Flash Fire kicking in. Use that pain, it's power now."
Litwick's body gleamed faintly from the effect of his own burn, his attacks now carrying that extra spark of ferocity. He twirled, released another Ember, and this time the flames shimmered gold-white intense, clean, perfectly controlled.
Skwovet, panting, backed away and fled into the grass.
Roty beeped.
[Data Updated: Fire Output Efficiency increased by 30%. Self-resistance threshold raised.]
Litwick hovered in place, panting faintly but glowing with satisfaction. 'Not bad for a warm-up.'
—
After a short cooldown, Niyah led them to a nearby pond surrounded by tall reeds. Litwick floated above the water, his reflection shimmering in ripples of light.
Their next challenger was a Chewtle - Level 16, drawn by the movement above the surface. It barked sharply and snapped its jaws, eager for a fight.
"Goal two," Niyah said, crouching. "Reinforce your defenses. Acid Armor's not just a panic move, it should flow with you. Make your body fluid, solid, and unbreakable."
Litwick nodded, flame burning low in concentration.
Chewtle wasted no time it lunged with Water Gun, a dangerous move for a fire type. Niyah's eyes widened. "Litwick, Acid Armor, now!"
In an instant, Litwick's wax softened and shimmered. His body melted and stretched, a glistening layer of wax armor spreading across his small form. The water hit but instead of sizzling into steam, it rolled harmlessly over the slick coating and splashed into the pond below.
"Yes! Keep it up!" Niyah shouted.
Chewtle growled, angry its attack had failed. It leapt again, snapping with Bite. Litwick spun, letting his molten wax twist around him like a shield. The turtle's teeth sank into the outer layer, but the wax hardened instantly, trapping its jaws for a moment.
Litwick grinned, or the candlelight equivalent of one. 'Your move, friend.'
Then he fired an Ember point-blank, the flame reflecting off the watery surface below. The burst sent Chewtle skidding back into the pond with a splash.
Litwick floated proudly, the surface of his wax gleaming faintly, cool now but fortified. The molten layer shifted smoothly, hardening where needed and softening elsewhere, perfectly adaptable.
Roty flickered again.
[Defensive Integrity Increased. Acid Armor efficiency: 87%. Resistance to environmental damage: +15%.]
Niyah folded her arms, smirking. "Nice work, candlelight. You're learning to stay cool under pressure."
Litwick's flame flared in amusement at her pun, though he'd never admit he liked it.
He turned to the horizon, where the last of the sunlight bled away. His flame glowed brighter against the darkening blue, a little ghostly star in the night.
"Alright," Niyah said softly, looking toward Mimikyu, who watched from the sidelines. "Two more to go. Let's see how bright you can burn next."
—
The night deepened across the Wedgehurst outskirts. Stars glittered faintly, and a thin mist crept in from the forest edge. The training field shimmered faintly under the pale glow of Litwick's flame, the only real light for miles.
Mimikyu sat calmly nearby, her disguise fluttering slightly in the cool wind. She hummed softly while watching her partner prepare.
Litwick floated higher, his blue fire glowing larger than before, calm, controlled, yet unmistakably stronger.
"Alright," Niyah said, her voice steady but excited. "The next goal is to control the burn. Will-O-Wisp can be chaotic, but I want you to command it like a painter with a brush. Precision over power."
Litwick's flame pulsed faintly in understanding. 'Understood.'
—
From the dark underbrush emerged a Wooloo - level 12, curious and fluffy as ever. It blinked at Litwick, bleating softly.
"Careful," Niyah warned, "this one's got a lot of wool! Keep the burn light or you'll set the poor thing ablaze!"
Litwick floated forward, and the Wooloo pawed at the ground nervously. It rolled forward in a surprising burst of speed — Tackle!
Litwick spun forward, phasing through gracefully, and extended his flame. Wisps of pale blue fire drifted down like snowflakes, Will-O-Wisp in its purest form. They touched Wooloo's wool gently, igniting tiny motes of harmless fire.
The sheep blinked, surprised but unharmed, as the embers glowed faintly along its coat. Its movements slowed as the ghostly burn settled into its skin, weakening its strikes but not hurting it.
"Perfect," Niyah said softly. "Keep that level of control. Not too hot, not too cold."
Litwick's flame swirled elegantly, maintaining a steady output. But Wooloo wasn't done yet. It bleated in frustration and used Defense Curl, tucking itself into a tighter ball before charging again.
Litwick closed his eyes. His flame dimmed almost to nothing, then flashed brilliantly white-blue. The new Will-O-Wisp flickered downward, hotter, narrower, faster. It didn't spread like before. Instead, it struck Wooloo in a clean spiral around its wool, forming a glowing circle of fire that shimmered before dissipating into smoke.
The burn left no mark but Wooloo's wool smoked faintly, energy drained, its movements heavy but calm.
Roty's screen beeped:
[Will-O-Wisp mastery increased. Intensity control achieved. Burn stability: 93%.]
Niyah grinned. "Now that's the mark of a master. You're turning fire into art."
Litwick gave a small, proud flicker, basking in her words. The Wooloo, tired but unharmed, gave a bleat before trotting off into the grass.
—
The air grew colder as the night deepened. Niyah could see her breath now, and the wind whispered through the trees. For their last spar, she wanted something that would push Litwick beyond comfort. A challenge that demanded everythinghe'dlearned.
From the darkness, a shape emerged, a Corvisquire, tall, sleek, and fierce, wings glowing faintly in the moonlight. It gave a low caw, eyes locked on the flickering candle Pokémon.
"Strong one," Niyah murmured. "Alright, Lumos let's combine combine all you've learned. Heat, defense, control. Don't overpower it, outlast it."
Litwick floated forward, calm as moonlight. His flame flickered steady, unwavering.
Corvisquire struck first with Peck, swooping fast. Litwick countered with Acid Armor, his wax melting into a liquid sheen. The bird's beak glanced off the softened form harmlessly, leaving a trail of steam.
Before Corvisquire could retreat, Litwick unleashed Will-O-Wisp, five pale-blue orbs spiraling upward like souls released from lanterns. They danced around the bird, weaving a pattern that made even Niyah blink in awe.
The bird squawked as one orb grazed its wing, a precise burn that sapped its energy, slowing its flight but not harming its feathers.
"Excellent control," Niyah called. "Now increase the heat, show me your fire power!"
Litwick spun in midair, and his blue flame shifted toward a blinding white core. Ember erupted from his body, not as scattered sparks, but as a focused beam that shot upward, chasing Corvisquire's shadow.
The bird dodged, just barely, then retaliated with Fury Attack, striking again and again. Litwick snickered under the barrage, the hits phasing through his small frame. His light stayed consistent and he didn't falter.
Instead, he let the hits feed his inner fire. The moment the Corvisquire's wings brushed his flame, his Flash Fire ability triggered, power surging through his molten form.
The next Ember he released wasn't a simple flare. It was a burst of heat shaped like a spiraling candle flame, twisting upward to meet the bird mid-dive. The attack hit cleanly, the blue fire wrapping around Corvisquire in a halo of ghostly heat before fading into harmless smoke.
The bird, exhausted and singed, landed on the grass, wings trembling. Litwick hovered above it, his flame soft and steady again, no longer wild but refined.
Roty's screen glowed faintly in the dark:
[Training Complete: Fire intensity mastered. Defensive integrity stable. Burn control optimal.]
[Level increase detected: Litwick Lv. 21.]
Niyah exhaled slowly, stepping closer with a smile of quiet pride. "You did it, Lumos. That's control, not chaos. You've turned raw fire into purpose."
Litwick's flame pulsed, pride and warmth radiating outward. 'Told you I'd top her,' he teased telepathically, glancing at Mimikyu.
Mimikyu rolled her little cloth eyes but giggled softly, flicking her shadow in his direction. 'You barely kept up.'
Niyah laughed. "You're both incredible, unstoppable as ever."
The wind carried their laughter through the night as the team gathered, their training complete, the fields of Wedgehurst glowing faintly under Litwick's calm, blue light.