Niyah awoke with a sharp gasp. For a long moment she didn't move, lying still under the soft weight of the borrowed blanket in Nessa's guest room. The world outside was quiet morning light barely filtering through the curtains, the distant sound of Wingull cries blending with the hush of waves against the docks.
But her mind was anything but quiet. The fog, the wolves, the boy.
Her fingers twitched as she slowly sat up, pressing her palm to her forehead. "That wasn't just a dream," she murmured to herself, voice hoarse with sleep. "It couldn't have been…"
Her eyes drifted to the backpack leaning against the wall. The Rusted Sword, faintly pulsing with a soft, silvery shimmer, sat hidden within. Even without touching it, she could feel it, something ancient humming beneath her skin.
Roty blinked awake from the nightstand with a cheerful chirp. "Bzzt, good morning, Trainer! Your heartrate is elevated. Did you experience a nightmare?"
Niyah rubbed her neck. "Not sure if I'd call it that. It felt… real."
Mimikyu and Litwick stirred beside her, the latter hovering slightly above the bed with his small flame flickering brighter than usual. Togetic fluttered down from the curtain rod, stretching her wings and yawning a musical "Toge~."
They all turned to her, sensing the strange mix of awe and confusion in their young trainer.
"I saw a boy," Niyah began softly. "Kinda older, maybe fifteen? Y'know the one we saw battling Leon back at the Lab? He said his name was Hop. And there were these… wolves. The same one from before, and another like it but different, darker, heavier. They said something, but I couldn't really understand. Then Hop said we were like siblings."
Mimikyu tilted her head, fabric body swaying slightly. Litwick's light dimmed, a thoughtful pulse of blue flickering within the flame. Togetic fluttered, chirping softly.
"Bzzt, possible psychic projection or dimensional link," Roty offered. "Cross-dream synchronization between chosen individuals has precedent in ancient Galarian legends. Keyword: 'heroes of sword and shield.'"
Niyah frowned. "Heroes, huh? Don't really feel like one." She leaned back on her hands, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm just a girl trying to get stronger and maybe pull a few pranks on the way."
The Pokémon giggled softly, Mimikyu's shadow trembling with amusement, Togetic's wings glittering faintly in the sunlight.
"Still," Niyah whispered, gaze hardening with quiet determination. "If that dream means what I think it does, I can't ignore it. If I was chosen… then I'll figure out why."
Roty hummed thoughtfully. "Bzzt, recommendation: continue personal growth and combat efficiency. Increased strength may clarify the link."
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Niyah said, grinning faintly as she jumped out of bed. "Let's get ready. Time to make sure we're unbeatable before the next badge."
She stretched, energy returning, the strange weight of the dream settling into purpose. The morning air that drifted through the cracked window smelled of salt and seaweed and possibility.
Litwick's flame flared with excitement. Togetic fluttered happily in circles, and Mimikyu hopped down from the bed, eyes gleaming behind her disguise.
"Bzzt, objective identified: Prepare for Hulbury Gym Challenge." Roty announced with mock ceremony. "Sub-objective: training modules Ghost/Fire, Ghost/Fairy, and Flying/Fairy units, beginning with Lumos."
Niyah nodded, her grin widening. "Then let's start with our little candle. You ready, Lumos?"
Litwick bobbed eagerly, his tiny flame burning hotter, no longer just blue and purple but tinged with white at its core.
"Good," she said, grabbing her bag and slipping on her shoes. "Because we're going to turn that water gym into a steam bath."
And with that, the young trainer and her ghostly team stepped out into the brilliant morning light, the calm before another storm of training, laughter, and something far bigger than even Niyah yet understood.
—
Morning light spilled through the windows of Nessa's apartment, gilding the soft blue tones of the living room. The sea breeze drifted through the cracked balcony door, carrying the smell of salt and kelp.
Nessa, halfway through her coffee and still tying her hair back, barely had time to look up before a blur of purple and silver darted through the room.
"I'm going training!" Niyah shouted, already halfway out the door, backpack bouncing against her shoulder.
Nessa blinked, utterly caught off guard. "You're what?"
"Don't wait up!" came the echo from the hallway, followed by the telltale beep of Roty's navigation mode activating.
The Gym Leader let out a long, resigned sigh, setting her mug down on the counter. "Arceus above, that girl's faster than a Pelipper on espresso…"
—
The docks were already bustling by the time Niyah arrived, fishermen unloading crates of fresh catch, sailors calling out directions, Wingull gliding in lazy circles overhead. The surface of the water shimmered like glass, reflecting the clear morning sky.
Litwick floated beside her, flame flickering in rhythm with her footsteps. Togetic twirled playfully in the air above, while Mimikyu trudged behind, muttering a ghostly huff at the brightness.
"Alright, team," Niyah said, hands on her hips as she surveyed the coastline. "We need somewhere quiet enough for a training session but close enough to water types to make it fun."
"Bzzt, possible training locations detected," Roty chirped, displaying a holographic map. "Option one: the tidepools east of Hulbury. Option two: the lower docks behind the seafood market. Option three: abandoned buoy station near Route 5."
"The buoy station sounds fun," Niyah mused, tapping her chin. "Quiet, abandoned, probably haunted. Perfect."
Mimikyu nodded approvingly, while Litwick's flame pulsed brighter with anticipation.
It took them about fifteen minutes to reach the spot, a weathered wooden dock jutting out over deep water, surrounded by barnacle-coated buoys that clanked softly with the tide. A faded warning sign read: 'Caution: Strong Currents.'
"Perfect," Niyah whispered with a grin. "Let's see how water-types handle a little heat."
—
The first opponent came to them almost immediately: a wild Chewtle, its small jaws snapping as it paddled toward the dock, curious about the strange glow reflecting off the water.
"Lumos," Niyah said softly, kneeling by the edge. "Let's test that focus. Remember your goal isn't just to burn. You're turning water to steam."
Litwick bobbed forward, flame flaring into a white-hot cone.
The Chewtle spat a quick Water Gun, a clean blue stream that hit dead center but instead of extinguishing the flame, the water erupted into a hiss of vapor, cloaking the dock in mist.
Niyah smirked. "Nice. Hold it, don't let it falter."
The candle Pokémon wobbled, then stabilized, his flame burning hotter, whiter. The mist thickened.
"Now, Ember!"
The small burst of fire collided with the fog, exploding into a burst of superheated vapor. Chewtle yelped, retreating slightly, blinking through the haze.
"Keep the pressure on Fire Spin!"
The dock filled with spiraling rings of flame that whipped the water into a vortex of bubbling heat. The Chewtle panicked, diving beneath the surface.
When it resurfaced a moment later, dazed but unharmed, Niyah called, "Good! Now, let it go. Don't overheat your wick."
Litwick floated back to her shoulder, flickering gently, the light warm but stable.
"Not bad for round one," Niyah praised. "We'll get you strong enough that even Nessa will think twice."
—
A few curious fishermen had gathered near the far end of the pier, whispering to each other about the tiny ghost with the impossible flame. One older man, a wiry fellow with a bucket of Pokéballs at his side, finally stepped forward.
"Hey, kid," he said, tipping his hat. "Mind if I help test that fire of yours? Got a few water types who could use a warm-up."
Niyah grinned. "You're on."
He tossed a Pokéball, releasing a Goldeen that shimmered like molten gold in the morning sun.
"Alright, Lumos let's see if you can handle something quicker."
The Goldeen darted forward, horn glowing as it used Peck, skimming across the water.
"Smokescreen!"
The air around the dock darkened, clouds of soot and vapor obscuring vision.
"Now, float up and stay mobile!" Niyah ordered.
Litwick obeyed, hovering just above the haze, waiting. The Goldeen pierced through the smoke only for Litwick to twist midair and release an Ember, hitting dead center.
The fish Pokémon retaliated with Water Pulse, the rippling ring slamming into Litwick. For a split second, the candle's flame sputtered but then it steadied, glowing white-blue, vapor bursting outward from the impact.
"Nice recovery!" Niyah shouted. "Now boost your defense, Acid Armor!"
Litwick's form shimmered, turning slightly translucent as his outer body hardened. The next Water Pulse hit and dispersed like droplets on glass.
"Follow with Will-O-Wisp!"
Ghostly blue fireballs drifted toward Goldeen, circling it. When the burn took hold, steam rolled across the surface again, obscuring everything in a dense, shimmering fog.
From within it, a single bright light, Litwick's flame, burned unwaveringly.
When the mist cleared, the Goldeen floated weakly, eyes swirled.
The fisherman whistled low. "Well, I'll be… that candle's got bite."
Niyah smirked. "Told ya. He's waterproof now."
—
At this point, the day stretched long and warm. The tide came in higher, the air thick with the smell of salt and vapor. Litwick's training continued, Niyah meticulously balancing attack strength with endurance, forcing the candle Pokémon to hold flames against water streams longer each time.
Roty dutifully recorded everything, chirping updates like a personal coach:
"Bzzt, heat resistance increased by seventeen percent."
"Bzzt, wick stability optimal."
"Bzzt, Trainer enthusiasm: excessive but effective."
Niyah just grinned wider with every update. "We'll keep going until the sea itself gets jealous."
—
By noon, the ocean had grown restless. The once-calm surface now rolled with gentle waves, the distant hum of Wingull replaced by the splash of unseen swimmers.
Niyah sat cross-legged on the edge of the buoy dock, notebook open on her lap and a half-eaten sandwich beside her. Litwick hovered nearby, his flame steady despite the wind.
"Alright," she said, brushing crumbs off her page. "We've got endurance down. Time for pressure training. You ready?"
Litwick's flame pulsed brighter, as if answering yes.
Roty buzzed beside her, projecting readings onto the air.
"Bzzt, target hydration density optimal. Scanning for nearby water-type opponents…"
Before the little device could finish, a Corphish burst out of the water with a chittering cry, claws snapping menacingly.
Niyah grinned. "Ask and you shall receive."
"Let's start simple with Ember!"
Litwick fired a burst of flame that Corphish easily deflected with a claw. Steam hissed up where the flame met seawater.
Corphish retaliated with Bubble Beam, pelting Litwick with a barrage of high-speed water orbs. Each hit hissed against his waxy body, dimming his glow slightly.
"Don't give ground!" Niyah shouted. "Compress the heat just like we practiced!"
Litwick floated still, his small flame narrowing into a sharp blue point. The next volley of bubbles struck and instantly burst into vapor. The dock filled with mist once again, swirling and thick.
"Now spin Fire Spin!"
A column of rotating flame erupted around Corphish, sealing it in a blazing spiral. The crustacean tried to scuttle out, only to be pushed back by a sudden surge of heat that turned the seawater around it into froth.
"Perfect," Niyah murmured, eyes gleaming. "You're forcing the steam pressure higher, just like we planned."
Corphish burst free with a Crabhammer, water cascading off its claw like a blade. It struck Litwick dead on only for the candle's body to shimmer.
Acid Armor.
The blow passed through, leaving behind only a faint ripple.
"Finish it with Will-O-Wisp!"
Ghostly blue fire engulfed Corphish's claw, and the crustacean backed off into the waves, letting out a disgruntled hiss before disappearing.
Roty chimed, "Bzzt, opponent incapacitated. Flame integrity: ninety-five percent stable."
Niyah scribbled in her notes, grinning. "We're getting close, Lumos. Just one more breakthrough."
—
The next challenger was a Shellder, bobbing innocently near one of the buoys until it shot a jet of water so powerful it splintered part of the dock's railing.
"Oh, it's that kind of battle," Niyah said, standing up with a mischievous grin.
Shellder launched another Water Gun, but Litwick countered with a Smokescreen, the two attacks colliding and forming dense clouds.
"Lumos, concentrate the heat under your flame. Don't burn outward boil the air itself."
The little candle Pokémon pulsed brightly, and for a heartbeat, the air shimmered with invisible force. Then whoosh the mist exploded outward in a ring of superheated steam.
Shellder shrieked, clamping its shell tight, but it was too late, the pressure wave pushed it backward into the sea.
Roty beeped rapidly, excitement in its tone.
"Bzzt, temperature spike detected. Recorded peak heat exceeds prior levels by thirty-two percent!"
Litwick's body flickered with radiant energy, his wax no longer soft from heat, but dense, solidified under the surface.
Niyah whistled. "So the hotter you burn, the tougher you get… good to know."
—
By late afternoon, dark clouds rolled in from the west. Rain speckled the water, and a sharp scent of ozone filled the air.
"Perfect conditions for a finale," Niyah said.
Their final opponent of the day floated nearby: a Qwilfish, its spines pulsing with toxic glow. It glared at the tiny candle with something close to insult.
"Alright, Lumos," Niyah said softly. "This one's all about pressure control. Don't let the rain dampen you."
The first attack came in fast a Water Pulse rippling across the waves. Litwick's flame flickered, dimmed… then reignited with a deep, blue-white burn.
Steam rose instantly, the raindrops around him hissing away before they could touch.
"Confuse Ray, go!"
A shimmering, ghostly light flickered from his flame, twisting through the mist. Qwilfish jerked mid-spin, dazed, its toxic spines firing erratically into the water.
"Now! Fire Spin!"
Litwick's flame swelled, then detonated outward into a spiraling ring of fire that coiled around the Qwilfish, trapping it in a whirlpool of heat and vapor. The ocean boiled at the edges, sending waves crashing against the dock.
"Hold steady and channel that heat back inward!"
The spiraling fire tightened into a glowing sphere. The steam condensed, forming a translucent shell of vapor around Litwick.
When the Qwilfish finally fainted, the protective steam sphere lingered, shimmering faintly like glass before fading.
Niyah stared, eyes wide. "You just made armor out of steam…"
Roty buzzed approvingly. "Bzzt, new defensive state recorded: Thermal Barrier. Efficiency rating: exceptional."
Lumos floated back to her side, flame small but blazing white.
"Nice job, little candle," she said softly, holding up a hand. "You're officially seawater-proof."
Litwick bumped her palm with his waxy body, and a thin wisp of steam trailed between them like a handshake.
—
By the time Niyah reached Nessa's apartment, the docks were dark and the air smelled of brine and rain. The sound of distant waves followed her up the steps.
She opened the door quietly, expecting to slip in unnoticed only to find Nessa at the counter, arms crossed, eyebrow arched.
"You were gone all day," the Gym Leader said, voice calm but firm. "Care to explain?"
Niyah froze mid-step, half-smile creeping in. "Training?"
Nessa sighed. "Training doesn't usually involve coming home after sunset covered in seawater and soot."
"I'm just… thorough," Niyah replied with a grin, setting her bag down.
Nessa rolled her eyes, motioning toward the table. "Dinner's still warm. Sit before it's not."
They ate together in companionable silence for a few minutes grilled fish for Nessa, a plate of curry rice for Niyah, and small bowls for her Pokémon lined up neatly along the counter.
"So," Nessa said finally, tone casual but eyes sharp. "Want to tell me what you've been working on?"
Niyah looked up mid-bite, chewing slowly. "You'll see at the Gym battle."
"That's not ominous at all."
The girl just smiled. "You'll like it, promise."
Nessa leaned back in her chair, pretending to frown. "You're infuriating."
"Everyone says that. I take it as a compliment."
—
After dinner, Niyah helped clean up, mostly to prove she could, then stretched with a yawn. "I'm gonna crash. Big day tomorrow."
"Training again?" Nessa asked, crossing her arms.
"Maybe," Niyah replied mischievously, already halfway to her room.
As she passed the hallway mirror, she caught sight of her reflection, windblown, smudged with soot, but smiling. Behind her, Litwick's small flame flickered softly, steady even in the drafty room.
"Good work today," she whispered.
He gave a low, content hum in return.
Inside her room, Niyah dropped her bag beside the bed and flopped onto the covers, eyes drifting to the corner where the Rusted Sword rested. It gave off a faint glow just enough to cast a shimmer across the walls.
She felt its quiet hum in the back of her mind again, like distant thunder over calm seas.
"Not yet," she murmured, eyes closing. "I'll figure you out soon enough."
The candlelight dimmed. The waves outside rolled in gentle rhythm.
And somewhere deep beneath the surface of Hulbury's waters, the faintest blue glint, the echo of a wolf, flickered and vanished.