Morning mist hung thick over the Slumbering Weald, coiling between the ancient trees like soft smoke. Sunlight fought to pierce through the fog, scattering into silvery beams that danced across the moss-covered ground.
Niyah stretched, her Rotom Dex hovering behind her, and Mimikyu floated quietly at her side, eyes glowing faintly beneath its disguise.
"Alright, Mimi," Niyah said, taking a berry out. "Yesterday's pranks were fun, but today's about training. We're gonna make that Shadow Sneak of yours unstoppable."
Mimikyu tilted her cloth head, voice echoing faintly in Niyah's mind. Like… super sneaky unstoppable?
"Exactly! You'll strike, vanish, and never get hit back. Like a shadow that bites. Roty here will help with the actual calculations."
Roty buzzed. "Btzz, btzz affirmative, battle analysis starting!"
[System Notification: Quest Activated]
Objective: increase priority efficiency and recovery rate post-shadow phase."
Reward: Psychic Ability Upgrade - Healing
Penalty: None
Time Limit: None
Accept/Decline
"Ooh healing, that sounds useful! Accept obviously!"
—
Hours later, the minimal sunlight that managed to get through the fog is steadily fading. Mimikyu is now level 17, from the experience she gained through the multiple battles.
"All right Mimi, I think you almost got it!" Niyah chirped in encouragement, handing Mimikyu an Oran Berry to restore her energy. They had been battling various Pokémon of the forest to train Shadow Sneak, although most of them have been slower in speed. So now they needed one fast Pokémon to test against.
They didn't have to wait long.
A Rookidee swooped down from the trees above, cawing a challenge. Its feathers gleamed a sharp steel-blue, and it circled overhead before landing lightly on a nearby stump.
"Perfect!" Niyah grinned. "Rookidee's fast, ideal for your final testing Shadow Sneak timing. You ready, Mimi?"
'Always.'
"Use Shadow Sneak!" Niyah called.
Mimikyu's eyes flared violet as its shadow stretched unnaturally long, splitting into dozens of thin tendrils. The ghost disappeared into the darkness beneath the ground, but the moment it emerged behind Rookidee for a strike, the bird was already spinning midair, wings slicing the air, getting ready to use Peck.
The attack connected. Mimikyu stumbled back, its disguise cracking as she bent at the head.
"Too slow," Niyah muttered. "You've gotta fade back faster , before your target can counterattack."
Mimikyu grumbled, brushing off dirt with its tiny claws. It's hard! Shadows are heavy!
Niyah tilted her head. "Then stop thinking of it like moving through shadows. Think of it like you are the shadow."
That gave Mimikyu pause. Its trembling stopped, eyes flickering thoughtfully.
The second attempt went better.
"Shadow Sneak, but this time, melt into the ground," Niyah said.
Mimikyu sank smoothly into the shade of a fallen log, vanishing into the mist. The ground rippled faintly, and a split second later, Mimikyu erupted from Rookidee's own shadow, striking it squarely on the stomach.
"Nice hit!" Niyah cheered.
But before Mimikyu could retreat, Rookidee let out a sharp Caw! and countered with Power Trip, wings glowing with dark energy. Mimikyu barely phased back in time, the attack clipped its side, sending it spinning into the grass.
"Better!" Niyah called, running over. "You're timing it right, but you've got to anticipate the counter, not react to it. Shadow Sneak isn't about hiding. It's about predicting."
Mimikyu looked up, panting slightly. 'Predict… got it.'
Now, the forest had gone still. The mist felt heavier, thicker, as though it too was holding its breath.
Niyah pointed ahead. "One more time. You got this."
Mimikyu nodded silently, disappearing into the fog. Its body dissolved completely, shadow melting like ink across the moss.
Rookidee spun, eyes darting, searching for its target, but there was nothing. Just silence.
Then, a flicker. A ripple of movement beneath Rookidee's talons.
Before the bird could take flight, Mimikyu erupted from its shadow, claws glowing with ghostly energy as it struck cleanly.
The attack landed perfectly. Rookidee stumbled back, disoriented , and before it could retaliate, Mimikyu's body blurred and vanished back into the ground. Before reappearing and hitting the Rookidee with Draining Kiss sending it sprawling to the moss ground.
Mimikyu then reappeared behind Niyah's legs, eyes gleaming triumphantly.
Niyah's grin widened. "You did it."
Roty buzzed approvingly. "Btzz, btzz, Shadow Sneak proficiency level: Mastered. Execution time reduced by 42%. Retaliation window: 0.7 seconds."
Mimikyu puffed up proudly. Told you I could do it!
Niyah crouched beside her partner, giving the little ghost a high-five. "You didn't just do it. You owned it."
[System Notification: Quest Completed]
Objective: increase priority efficiency and recovery rate post-shadow phase."
Reward: Psychic Ability Upgrade - Healing
A soft light shimmered over Niyah's hands as the notification faded. Warmth spread through her fingertips, not burning like fire, but gentle, like sunlight on skin.
"Whoa…" Niyah whispered. "This feels… different."
Roty buzzed excitedly. "Btzz, btzz, congratulations! You can now accelerate the healing process of Pokémon by channeling your psychic energy. Temporary side effects: mild dizziness, glowing hands, and possibly fainting."
"Sounds perfect," Niyah said with a smirk, flexing her glowing fingers. "Guess I've got the hang of this psychic thing."
Mimikyu bobbed in the air beside her, cloth head tilting curiously. 'So now you can fix me when I break my disguise again?'
"Exactly."
The mist around them shimmered faintly, like something, or someone, was watching. The faint smell of smoke drifted through the trees, curling at the edge of the forest air.
Niyah straightened, frowning. "That's weird… smells like something's burning."
Roty's sensors blinked red. "Btzz, btzz detecting minor heat signatures ahead. Unknown source."
Mimikyu tilted its head. 'Fire-type?'
Niyah's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Let's go find out."
And together, they stepped deeper into the fog, following the soft bluish-purple flicker that danced between the trees like a candle flame in the dark.
—
The two continued through the forest until the scent of smoke returned, stronger now, curling through the mist like a whisper of warning.
"Stay sharp you two," Niyah murmured.
Then she saw it: a flickering bluish-purple glow dancing between the roots of an old tree. It wasn't just fire, it was alive.
A candle flame peeked from behind a rock, its tiny white body flickering with pride. The Litwick giggled, a sound like crackling embers, and suddenly the ground beneath Niyah's shoes ignited in a harmless but startling burst of flame.
"Hey! Watch the shoes!" she yelped, teleporting backward in a flash of pink light.
Mimikyu huffed. 'Rude!'
The flame snuffed out, only for a dozen more tiny fires to spark in a circle around them, glowing brighter and brighter until the mist shimmered bright blue.
Roty spun in alarm. "Btzz, btzz, warning, warning! Local temperature rising! Suggest immediate—"
"Shh," Niyah whispered, eyes narrowing. "He's playing."
Sure enough, a flicker of movement darted between the flames, Litwick's laughter echoing through the air. He was showing off, dancing just out of reach, the tip of his flame forming teasing shapes in the fog.
"Oh, so you wanna play rough, huh?" Niyah grinned. "Mimi, Thunder Wave!"
Bolts of crackling energy shot forward, but Litwick simply melted into a stream of smoke, reforming behind them with a cheeky snicker.
"Wow. Confident much?" Niyah said dryly.
Mimikyu's eyes narrowed. 'He's not confident, he's compensating.'
The words hit like a slap. Litwick froze midair, his flame sputtering indignantly. "Wick! Lit-wiiiick!" he barked angrily, puffing up his fire until it burned a vivid bluish-purple.
Niyah smirked. "Guess you found his weak spot."
[System Notification: Quest Activated]
Objective: increase priority efficiency and recovery rate post-shadow phase."
Reward: 3 High Quality Dusk Stones
Penalty: You Don't Catch Litwick
Time Limit: 1 Hour
Accept/Decline
"I accept! Alright, Mimi," she said, taking a stance. "Let's do this."
Litwick's flame flared higher, and with a sharp cry, he launched Ember, small bursts of fire raining through the mist.
"Mimi, Double Team!"
Mimikyu split into four identical copies, darting through the flames as the real one vanished into the forest shadows. Embers scorched nearby logs, but none hit their mark.
"Now, Shadow Sneak!"
From beneath Litwick's flickering light, a shadow elongated suddenly, Mimikyu erupted upward, striking Litwick hard before fading back into the darkness.
Litwick spun, wobbling midair, but quickly retaliated with a sharp Astonish that burst outward in a shockwave of ghostly energy.
The force blew away Mimikyu's illusions and clipped her disguise, cracking it slightly, the Disguise ability shattering with a sharp snap!
Mimikyu hissed softly but refused to back down.
"Hang in there!" Niyah called. "Use Draining Kiss!"
Mimikyu glowed pink, darting forward to steal back some of Litwick's strength. The candle Pokémon sputtered, his flame dimming slightly, but he grinned, eyes glowing mischievously.
"Lit!" he cackled, releasing Confuse Ray!
A ring of light spiraled around Mimikyu, making her stumble as her movements grew erratic.
"Fight through it!" Niyah urged, her telepathic voice reaching through the haze. "You've mastered this before, you are the shadow."
Mimikyu steadied herself, glowing faintly with psychic focus. The mist around her warped.
Litwick flared again, sending another Ember straight toward her, but this time, Mimikyu vanished just before it hit.
The Ember passed harmlessly through empty air.
Then, from directly beneath Litwick's own body, Shadow Sneak!
Mimikyu shot upward like a blade of darkness, her attack connecting in a burst of shadowy energy that knocked Litwick spinning through the air.
He tried to recover, sputtering smoke and embers, but collapsed in the end. The battle was done. Mimikyu hovered proudly beside Niyah, her shadow stretching long and triumphant.
Roty buzzed. "Btzz! Opponent fainted. Victory confirmed. Level increase consistent with expected parameters."
"Nice work!" Niyah said, grinning.
Mimikyu puffed up, 'Easy win.'
'No fair,' Litwick growled weakly, glaring before floating closer, trying to look unimpressed.
"You put up a great fight," Niyah said gently, holding out a Luxury Ball. "But maybe you'd be stronger with us."
Litwick glared… but after a moment, sighed dramatically and bumped the ball with his tiny wax head.
Click.
The Luxury Ball wobbled once, twice, three times and clicked shut with a flash of light.
[System Notification: Litwick Caught!]
Reward Claimed: 3 High Quality Dusk Stones
"Btzz, btzz, Niyah congratulations! Would you like to give the newly caught Litwick (Male) a nickname?" Roty buzzed excitedly with Mimikyu around her head.
"Yup, this little guy will be called Lumos? That fits with all of his evolutions! I won't even have to worry about finding a stone in the future." Niyah chirped in excitement.
"Btzz, btzz, nickname selected, welcome to the team Lumos! Would Niyah like to look at Lumos' summary?" Roty buzzed.
"Yup, lemme see it!" Niyah looked excitedly at Roty's screen.
[Pokémon Summary]
Name: Lumos
Gender: Male
Personality: Prideful
Species: Litwick
Category: Candle Pokémon
Type: Ghost/Fire
Height: 1'05" (Average 1'00")
Weight: 7.3lbs (Average 6.8lbs)
Potential: Champion-Tier
Flash Fire (Raises the power of the bearer's Fire-type moves by 50% if hit with a Fire-Type Move)
Hidden Ability: Infiltrator (Ignores the effects of Reflect, Light Screen, and Safeguard)
Moves: Astonish (Mastered), Ember (Mastered), Smokescreen, Confuse Ray, Acid Armor (Egg Move), Will-O-Wisp (Mastered),
Level: 13
Training Plan:
Focus on burning self with own flames to continuously raise fire power.
Increase defense gained from Acid Armor
Increase intensity of burn from Will-O-Wisp
Strengthen Astonish's flinch chance
Feed a diet of Spelon Berries to increase fire power and Kee Berries to increase Defense.
"Wow, I guess this little guy has reasons to be so confident! Champion-tier is crazy lucky
The ball burst open a few minutes later, releasing Litwick's small, irritated flame. He turned away with a huff, refusing to meet Niyah's eyes.
Niyah chuckled softly. "Oh, don't be like that."
Reaching out her hand, her psychic energy glowed a faint golden pink, the Healing ability activating. The warmth radiated over Litwick, mending his wax and strengthening his tiny flame.
He blinked in surprise, the light reflecting in his yellow eyes.
"There," Niyah said softly. "Better?"
Litwick blinked once… then twice… and finally gave a small, begrudging nod.
Mimikyu floated closer, smirking. 'Told you she's good.'
Litwick's flame flickered in annoyance, but this time, he didn't argue.
Roty buzzed overhead. "Btzz. Team expansion successful. Emotional dynamic: chaotic but balanced. Potential for future combustion: 98%."
Niyah laughed, standing proudly between her two Pokémon. "Welcome to the team, Litwick. You'll fit right in."
The little candle huffed again, puffing a spark that almost hit Mimikyu — who giggled and puffed one right back.
Niyah smiled, shaking her head. "Oh yeah… this is gonna be fun."