The sun was barely beginning to rise over Rustboro City as Noah stood at the edge of the Pokémon Center, watching the sky shift from deep blue to warm hues of orange and pink. He took a deep breath, adjusting his bag straps. It was time to move on.
Last night, after his conversation with Brock, Ash, May, and Max, Noah had spent some time thinking about his next steps.
He had won his first gym badge, defeated Ash in battle, and learned a few things about Aeris that still lingered in his mind.
Was she truly an Alpha Pokémon? Or was she just a particularly strong Pidgey?
Either way, it didn't change the fact that he needed to get stronger.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to get moving."
Before he could take a step, he heard a familiar voice call out.
"Hey, Noah!"
Turning around, he saw Ash and the rest of the group approaching. Ash looked excited as always, while May and Max seemed more relaxed. Brock carried a small bag, likely filled with supplies.
"Leaving already?" Ash asked.
Noah nodded. "Yeah, I want to make some progress before the day gets too hot."
Brock smiled. "Smart. The routes around here can get pretty rough in the noon."
May tilted her head. "Where are you heading next?"
"Through Petalburg Woods again," Noah said. "But before that, I want to explore the rocky areas outside Rustboro to see if I can find any Rock-types."
Brock raised an eyebrow. "Looking to catch one?"
"Maybe." Noah shrugged. "I don't have a solid strategy for my team yet, but having a strong Rock-type could be useful."
Max adjusted his glasses. "You're really planning ahead, huh?"
Noah smirked. "You kinda have to."
Ash grinned. "That's the right attitude! Well, I hope we meet again soon. We should battle again next time!"
Noah nodded. "Sure."
May stepped forward. "Take care, alright?"
"Yeah, yeah," Noah said, waving them off.
Brock handed him a small container. "Here. Some extra Pokémon food. Figured you might need it."
Noah took it, slightly surprised, before nodding. "Thanks."
With that, he turned, heading down the path out of Rustboro.
Behind him, the group waved as he walked away.
Rather than taking the standard route back toward Petalburg Woods, Noah veered toward the rocky cliffs on the outskirts of Rustboro.
The terrain was uneven, with jagged stones and patches of dirt scattered between them. Small caves lined the cliffsides, and he could hear the distant sound of Pokémon rustling within them.
It was the perfect place to find Rock-types.
Noah kept his eyes sharp, moving carefully over the rough ground. If he was lucky, he'd find something worth capturing
Aeris flew beside him, her wings kicking up dust with each flap. She was oddly quiet, scanning the area with sharp eyes.
Sage, now a Dottler, rested comfortably in his Poké Ball, while Noah remained on high alert.
Then, as he turned a corner near a larger rock formation, he spotted it.
A small, sturdy-looking Pokémon with a large, red, triangular nose. Its body was made of stone, and it remained completely still, blending into the rocky surroundings.
A Nosepass.
Noah smirked. "Alright. Let's do this."
Pulling out Sage's Poké Ball, Noah tossed it forward.
"Alright, Sage—time to shine!"
With a bright flash, Sage materialized in front of him, its shell glistening faintly in the morning light.
The Nosepass remained motionless.
Noah narrowed his eyes. "Sage, use Struggle Bug!"
Sage's body pulsed with energy, releasing a wave of glowing green energy toward Nosepass.
The attack collided, sending dust flying—but as the debris settled, Nosepass was completely unharmed.
Instead, it slowly turned its head toward Sage, eyes glowing faintly.
"Great," Noah muttered. "That thing's got some serious defense."
Nosepass suddenly moved, sending out a burst of magnetic energy. Rocks in the surrounding area trembled, drawn toward the Rock-type as it activated Magnet Pull.
Then, it lunged forward.
"Brace yourself!" Noah called out.
Sage held firm, but Nosepass slammed into it with a heavy Tackle, sending Sage skidding back.
Noah gritted his teeth. "Alright, new plan. Use Sticky Web!"
Sage pulsed again, releasing thin, silk-like strands that spread across the battlefield, making the terrain harder to navigate.
Nosepass stepped forward, but its movements were slightly slower now.
"Good. Now, use Confusion!"
Sage's eyes glowed with psychic power, surrounding Nosepass in a faint aura.
Nosepass froze mid-step.
For a moment, it struggled, trying to resist—but then, with a flick of Sage's mental energy, the Rock-type was slammed into the ground.
The impact kicked up a cloud of dust.
As it cleared, Nosepass slowly pushed itself up, shaking slightly.
Noah didn't waste a second.
Pulling an empty Poké Ball from his belt, he threw it forward.
The Poké Ball hit Nosepass, opening up and sucking it inside in a flash of red light.
The ball dropped to the ground, shaking once…
Twice…
Three times…
Click!
Noah grinned.
"Nice. Welcome to the team."
After retrieving the Poké Ball, Noah released his newly caught Nosepass.
The Rock-type stared at him.
Noah stared back.
Aeris, still perched on a rock nearby, tilted her head
"…So," Noah began, crossing his arms. "You're part of my team now."
Nosepass didn't react.
"…You don't talk much, huh?"
Silence.
Noah scratched the back of his head. Well, this was awkward.
With Aeris and Sage, things had been different. Aeris was feisty and expressive, and Sage—while quiet—had a clear presence.
But Nosepass just stood there.
Noah sighed. "Alright, let's try this another way."
Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small container of Pokémon food.
Nosepass didn't move.
Noah blinked. "…You eat, right?"
Still nothing.
Aeris let out an amused chirp.
Noah sighed, setting the food down on the ground. "Okay, fine. If you want it, it's there."
After a few seconds, Nosepass finally moved forward, inspecting the food. Then, very slowly, it began to eat.
Noah watched, feeling a small sense of relief.
"Well, at least you're not completely unresponsive."
Aeris fluttered down beside him, glancing at Nosepass. She let out a short chirp, but the Rock-type didn't react much.
Noah smirked. "Looks like you two are gonna get along great."
Aeris squawked in protest, flapping her wings.
Noah chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let's get moving. We've got a long way to go before we reach the next gym."
With that, he recalled Nosepass, adjusted his bag, and set off toward Petalburg Woods once again.
This journey was just getting started.
The sun hung high in the sky as Noah walked along the rocky path leading back toward Petalburg Woods. His newly caught Nosepass followed behind at its own slow, deliberate pace, its large, triangular nose pointed due north, as if locked onto an invisible force guiding it forward.
Noah studied his new Pokémon carefully, recalling his battle against Roxanne's Nosepass.
Her Nosepass had been larger, sturdier, and more experienced. It had withstood multiple hits from Ash's Pikachu, standing firm even after taking a Thunderbolt head-on before eventually falling.
Noah's Nosepass, by comparison, was smaller and noticeably less battle-hardened. Its movements weren't quite as rigid as Roxanne's but still slow and methodical.
"Not exactly the powerhouse I fought in Rustboro," Noah muttered, glancing down at the Pokémon.
Aeris, flying beside him, let out a small chirp as if in agreement.
Despite the differences, Noah knew this Nosepass had potential. The question was—how would he bring it out?
After walking for a while, Noah decided to stop for a break. He found a flat stretch of rock and set his bag down, rolling his shoulders.
Nosepass came to a halt as well—but didn't move again.
Noah frowned. He waved a hand in front of its face.
Nothing.
Aeris landed beside him, tilting her head at the Rock-type's unmoving form.
Noah sighed. "Do you just… stop moving when nothing's happening?"
Still no response.
He leaned closer and placed a hand on Nosepass's rough, stone-like body.
The Pokémon didn't flinch. Didn't blink. Didn't react at all
Then—a tiny movement. A slow, almost unnoticeable shift of its body—but still facing north.
Noah exhaled. "Right. Magnetic field stuff."
Roxanne's Nosepass had the same tendency, always orienting itself toward the Earth's magnetic poles
Aeris let out an amused squawk.
Noah sat back, studying his new partner. "Well, if we're gonna be traveling together, I should at least figure out what you can do."
Pulling out his Pokédex, Noah scanned Nosepass. The screen lit up, displaying its current moveset:
Tackle – A basic physical move. Nothing special.
Harden – A defensive technique, increasing durability.
Rock Throw – A ranged Rock-type attack, decent against Flying-types.
Block – Prevents an opponent from fleeing battle.
Noah rubbed his chin
"Rock Throw's good, but it's not as strong as Rock Slide or Stone Edge," he muttered. "Tackle is whatever. Harden's useful, but we'll need more than just defense."
He stared at Block, wondering how often he'd even use it. It was great for stopping wild Pokémon from running away but had limited applications in a Gym battle.
Still, defensive Pokémon could become walls with the right strategy.
"Guess we'll have to train you properly," Noah said, tucking the Pokédex away.
Nosepass remained motionless.
Aeris flapped her wings and squawked, as if mocking the Rock-type's lack of energy.
Noah sighed. This was going to be an uphill battle.
Noah rested his arms behind his head, staring at the clouds.
Naming Pokémon wasn't something he did immediately—he had waited with both Aeris and Sage until he understood them better.
With Nosepass, things were different. It was quiet, unmoving, and sturdy. A literal rock.
Still, he wanted to name it. Something strong. Something fitting.
His mind drifted back to oceans and rivers—how water slowly shaped even the hardest stone over time.
Then, it clicked.
"…Tide."
Aeris tilted her head at Noah, then at Nosepass, chirping as if considering it.
Noah smirked. "Yeah, I think that fits. You're as slow as the tide, but you'll shape into something stronger over time."
For the first time, Nosepass twitched slightly.
Not much. Just the faintest movement—but Noah took it as acknowledgment.
Aeris ruffled her feathers approvingly.
Noah grinned. "Tide it is, then."
Nosepass—now Tide—remained still. Noah just laughed awkwardly.
Wanting to test Tide's abilities, Noah took a few steps back and pointed toward a large rock nearby.
"Alright, Tide, let's see how strong your Rock Throw is." For a moment—nothing.
Then, slowly, Tide began to move.
A faint glow surrounded its rocky form as it lifted small stones into the air using magnetic force.
With a slow but deliberate motion, the stones hurled forward—smashing into the boulder with a solid crack.
Noah raised an eyebrow.
"…Not bad."
The attack wasn't incredibly powerful, but it was precise. With training, Tide could turn Rock Throw into a dangerous weapon.
Aeris let out an amused chirp, clearly unimpressed by the slow attack speed.
Noah smirked. "Don't judge. Tide's gonna get stronger, just like you did."
Aeris flicked her wings but didn't argue.
Noah cracked his knuckles and adjusted his bag. "Still got a long way to go before the next Gym, though."
Tide stood silently.
Aeris took off into the air, circling above.
Noah stretched, feeling the excitement of training a new team member.
"Alright," he said, exhaling. "Let's get moving."
With his new Rock-type partner named and a plan for training, Noah continued his journey—unaware of what awaited him next in Petalburg Woods.
Noah had quickly learned one thing about Tide—training it wasn't going to be easy.
The Rock-type was sturdy, slow, and difficult to motivate. Unlike Aeris and Sage, who were eager to battle and improve, Tide didn't seem to care much for anything other than standing still and facing north.
Noah wasn't about to let that slide.
"If you're gonna be part of my team, you're gonna train," Noah said firmly, standing in front of Tide with his arms crossed.
Tide remained motionless.
Aeris, perched on a nearby rock, chirped in amusement.
Noah sighed. "Alright, let's start with something simple. Rock Throw again, but faster this time."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, Tide slowly gathered small stones using its magnetic field and sent them flying toward a nearby boulder.
Crack!
The impact was solid, but too slow. An opponent would see it coming and dodge easily.
Noah rubbed his chin. "We're gonna need to fix that."
Aeris fluttered her wings and let out a loud squawk.
Tide didn't react.
Noah exhaled sharply. This was going to take time.
For the next few days, Noah intensified his training routine.
Aeris practiced precision strikes with Gust while strengthening her tackling power.
Sage worked on sharpening Confusion and laying down Sticky Web traps faster.
Tide… was a struggle.
Noah pushed it to move faster, throw rocks quicker, and react to incoming attacks.
The results? Slow progress.
Even when Noah commanded Tide to dodge, the Rock-type would barely shift before getting hit.
Aeris had gone from weak and hesitant to a fierce battler. Sage, once nervous and uncertain, had grown stronger and more confident.
But Tide?
Tide still moved like a living statue.
Noah scratched his head in frustration. But he wasn't ready to giving up.
Alongside training, Noah continued hunting with Aeris and Sage.
Wild Wurmple, Caterpie, and Sentret were common prey, with Aeris growing sharper and deadlier with each hunt.
Noah had even grown more skilled at preparing their meals—the initial discomfort of cutting and cooking Pokémon meat slowly fading.
But Tide?
Tide never ate any of the prey.
At first, Noah thought Rock-types simply didn't eat often.
But after a few days, he started to notice something.
Whenever they stopped near rock formations, Tide would wander off slightly—not far, but just enough to reach the base of certain boulders. Then, it would press its large triangular nose against the stone.
At first, Noah thought Tide was just staring blankly as always.
But then he saw it—tiny bits of the rock breaking off and disappearing into Tide's mouth.
"…Wait. You eat rocks?"
Tide didn't respond.
Noah knelt down, running a hand over the stone Tide had just licked. It felt rougher, eroded.
Noah's eyes widened. "You're eating minerals… like an actual wild Rock-type would."
Aeris chirped in disbelief, hopping closer to inspect the chewed-on rock.
Noah pulled out his Pokédex and checked the dietary habits of Nosepass.
Wild Nosepass sustain themselves by absorbing minerals from rocks rich in iron and other nutrients. They require consistent exposure to natural stone to remain in peak condition.
Noah sat back. That explained everything.
Tide wasn't sluggish because it was lazy—it was underfed.
Unlike Aeris and Sage, who ate meat and plant-based supplements, Tide needed a completely different diet.
And Noah had been neglecting that.
"…Okay. That's on me," Noah muttered, rubbing his temples. "I didn't even think about Rock-types needing something other than normal food. I'm very sorry man"
Aeris chirped in agreement—almost smugly.
Noah groaned. "Alright, let's fix this."
Now that Noah knew Tide's nutritional needs, now he had to find the right kind of minerals.
He didn't know much about rocks, but he knew Tide had been choosing specific ones—so he watched carefully, noting the type of stone it kept going back to.
Most of them were darker, rough-textured rocks with tiny metallic flecks.
Noah compared them to the smoother stones nearby—ones Tide ignored completely.
That meant not all rocks were the same.
"Alright, so you like iron-rich rocks, huh?" Noah muttered, picking up one of the rougher ones.
Tide twitched slightly—a rare reaction.
Noah nodded a few. "Yeah, that got your attention, means I'm right?"
He set the rock down near Tide, watching as the Pokémon pressed its nose against it, absorbing tiny fragments.
It was eating.
Aeris huffed, clearly unimpressed with a diet of rocks.
Noah chuckled. "Hey, if it makes Tide stronger, I don't care what it eats."
From that moment on, Noah made sure to collect iron-rich stones for Tide whenever he could.
And the results?
Tide started showing more energy. Not much—just small movements, tiny improvements in reaction speed.
But it was progress. Noah smiled. They were getting somewhere.
With Tide's dietary needs solved, Noah now had to push its training even harder.
Rock Throw had to become faster and more precise.
Defense needed to be combined with counterattacks.
Endurance training was a must.
It wouldn't be easy.
Tide still moved at its own slow pace.
But now?
Now, he had a rough idea.
Aeris let out a sharp cry, soaring into the sky as the sun began to set.
Noah stretched, cracking his neck. "Alright, that's enough for today. We'll hit training even harder tomorrow."
Tide, as usual, remained motionless.
Noah rolled his eyes. This Pokémon was impossible to read.
But despite the challenges, he couldn't help but feel excited.
Tide wasn't just another Pokémon on his team.
It was a completely new challenge.
And Noah was ready to overcome it.