The dense canopy of Petalburg Woods stretched overhead, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow along the forest floor. The further Noah traveled, the thicker the underbrush became, the sounds of chirping Pokémon filling the humid air.
He had trained hard over the last few days. Aeris, Sage, and Tide were growing stronger, and now he wanted to focus on navigation and survival—preparing for the unknown challenges ahead.
But today?
Something felt… off.
Noah walked cautiously like something would spook him out. Aeris, ever watchful, flitted between branches, her sharp eyes scanning the forest. Sage clung lightly to his shoulder, unmoving as usual, while Tide… well, Tide simply trailed behind, as slow and unbothered as ever.
Then, a twig snapped.
Noah froze.
Aeris tensed, wings bristling.
A soft, cackling noise echoed between the trees. It wasn't the chirp of a Wurmple, the scuttle of a Zigzagoon, or even the rustling of a Shroomish.
Noah narrowed his eyes. "Who's there?"
Nothing.
Only the whisper of leaves shifting in the wind.
Then—something small darted past his vision.
Aeris screeched and dived, but her talons caught nothing but air.
Noah's heart pounded. He turned in a slow circle, scanning the trees.
And that's when he saw it.
A strange, impish Pokémon peeked from behind a mossy trunk.
The creature was unlike anything Noah had ever seen.
Small, goblin-like, with an oversized grin stretching across its dark face. Its eyes glowed with mischief, and its pointed ears twitched as it giggled softly, as if it had just pulled off some great prank.
Its body was a light blue—which struck Noah as odd, but he couldn't put his finger on why.
It stared at him, unblinking.
Noah reached for his Pokédex.
Impidimp, the Wily Pokémon.
A mischievous Pokémon that feeds on negative emotions. It lures people and Pokémon into annoyance and frustration to absorb their energy.
Noah frowned. "Impidimp? Never heard of it.
The Impidimp snickered again—then, before Noah could react, it darted forward reached Noah in a second, swiped something from his pocket, and bolted into the bushes.
Noah's eyes widened.
"HEY!"
Aeris let out an enraged cry and shot after it.
Noah tore through the underbrush, pushing aside branches and vines as he chased the little thief.
Aeris swooped low, her wings kicking up dust as she tried to cut off the sprint of the trickster Pokémon.
But Impidimp was fast. It ducked and weaved between trees, laughing wildly, its tiny feet barely making a sound.
Noah could feel frustration rising in his chest. That thing was toying with him.
Sage, still clinging to his shoulder, suddenly glowed faintly—his eyes flashing.
Then—Impidimp stumbled.
Noah blinked. "Did you use Confusion on it?"
Sage twitched but didn't answer.
Either way, it worked.
Impidimp, momentarily disoriented, skidded to a halt near a tree.
Noah didn't hesitate.
"Aeris, Gust!" Aeris beat her wings fiercely, sending a strong burst of wind right at the Impidimp.
The trickster yelped, flipping through the air before landing hard on the ground.
Noah wasted no time—he reached into his bag, pulled out an empty Poké Ball, and threw it.
The ball hit Impidimp, sucked it inside with a flash of red light, and snapped shut.
Noah stood completely still, heart racing, watching the ball shake.
One shake.
Two shakes.
Three shakes.
Click.
The forest went silent. Noah let out a deep breath.
Aeris landed beside him, feathers ruffled, staring at the Poké Ball.
Noah bent down and picked it up, turning it in his hands.
"…What the hell did I just catch?"
Sitting at their newly made makeshift campsite, Noah released his new Pokémon.
With a flash of light, Impidimp materialized—now sitting cross-legged on the ground, looking pleased with itself.
It didn't seem scared or upset about being caught. If anything, it looked like it had just won a game.
Noah sighed. "Alright, let's get one thing straight—you don't steal from me."
Impidimp tilted its head, grinning innocently.
Noah narrowed his eyes. "Don't try to act cute. I know you knew exactly what you were doing."
The little Pokémon let out a soft giggle.
Aeris, still annoyed, flapped her wings aggressively at it.
Impidimp stuck out its tongue. Aeris screeched.
Noah groaned. "Oh boy… this is gonna be a problem, isn't it?"
But despite everything, he found himself smiling. He had never seen a Pokémon act like this before.
It was… fun.
"Now that I caught you you are part of team and that means you need a name," Noah said thoughtfully while Aeris looked at him in a way that asked if he actually was letting this weirdo in their team. "Something that fits your sneaky, annoying personality."
Impidimp grinned wider seeing Aeris's expression.
Noah thought for a moment, watching the mischievous little Pokémon snicker to itself.
"You're definitely a troublemaker," he muttered. "Always playing tricks, stealing stuff, messing with Aeris…"
The Impidimp stuck out its tongue again, wiggling its fingers in amusement.
Noah smirked. "Alright then… how about Grimm?"
The little Pokémon paused, tilting its head.
Then, after a moment, it let out a satisfied chuckle and gave a firm nod.
"Grimm it is," Noah said, crossing his arms. "Welcome to the team, you sneaky menace."
Aeris huffed, still annoyed, while Sage remained as still as ever on Noah's shoulder. Tide, slow as always, finally wandered over, giving Grimm a long, unreadable stare.
Noah had no idea just how special Grimm really was. That revelation would come soon enough.
The journey back to Petalburg City was far less daunting than when Noah had first left. His team had grown—not just in numbers but in strength. Aeris soared confidently above, scouting ahead, her larger-than-normal size more apparent than ever. Sage, perched on Noah's shoulder, remained calm and observant. Tide, though slow-moving, trudged alongside him, a silent but steady presence. And then there was Grimm.
The Impidimp was nothing short of a menace. He darted between trees, occasionally swiping berries, sometimes flicking tiny pebbles at Tide just to see the large Pokémon react. He even tried clinging to Aeris's talons once, much to her irritation.
Noah had to scold Grimm several times, but the little Pokémon seemed to thrive off the attention. Despite the mischief, Noah couldn't deny that Grimm had a sharp mind. He learned quickly and adapted even faster. Noah was sure he would be an invaluable teammate—once he learned some restraint that is.
By the time the sun had begun its descent, Noah spotted the familiar entrance to Petalburg City. His legs ached, his body craved food, and he was ready for a well-earned rest.
"Alright, guys," Noah sighed, glancing at his team. "Let's get to the Pokémon Center first. You all deserve a break."
Aeris chirped in agreement and flew ahead, while the others followed at their own pace.
The Pokémon Center was a welcome sight, its warm interior casting a comforting glow as Noah stepped inside. The familiar hum of healing machines and the soft murmur of trainers filled the space. Nurse Joy greeted him with a kind smile, taking his Poké Balls and allowing Aeris to rest on a nearby perch.
"You've been traveling a lot," she noted as she worked. "You should make sure you're pacing yourself too."
Noah gave a small chuckle. "Yeah, I probably should."It wasn't long before his team was restored to full strength. With a quick word of thanks, Noah stepped out into the cool evening air, stretching his arms behind his head. Now came the part he had been looking forward to—visiting Norman.
The Petalburg Gym was quiet at this hour, but Noah still approached with some uncertainty. Gym Leaders had their own lives outside of battling, and he didn't want to intrude.
Still, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door swung open, revealing Norman himself. His expression was neutral at first, but as recognition dawned, his usual composed demeanor shifted into one of welcome.
"Noah," he greeted. "You've returned sooner than I expected."
Noah rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I made some good progress and figured I'd come back for more advice."
Norman nodded approvingly. "Good. Come inside."
The gym was as pristine and organized as before, though the battling arena was dimly lit. It was clear that training hours were over. Noah followed Norman through the main hall until they reached a cozy living space.
"I assume you've had your first Gym battle?" Norman asked as he gestured for Noah to sit.
Noah sat down, nodding. "Yeah, I won against Roxanne."
Norman showed no surprise, merely leaning back in his chair. "Tell me about it."
And so Noah did. He explained how Sage took on Geodude, using its infestation to wear it down before finishing it with Struggle Bug. He described Aeris's battle against Nosepass, where she had used her speed and agility to gain the upper hand.
Throughout the explanation, Norman listened carefully, occasionally nodding in approval.
"You adapted to this lifestyle well," Norman finally said. "But there's always room for improvement. Gym battles get progressively harder, and strategy becomes even more important."
Noah expected as much. "I was hoping you could give me some advice."
Norman crossed his arms. "Of course. But first—have you eaten yet?"
Noah blinked at the sudden question. "Uh, not really."
Norman stood up. "Then join me for dinner. A trainer needs to take care of himself just as much as he does his Pokémon."
Noah hesitated, not because he didn't want to join, but because he hadn't expected such an offer. Then again, free food was free food, and he had learned from traveling that good meals weren't always easy to come by.
"Sure," he agreed.
With that, Norman led him toward the dining area, and for the first time in a while, Noah felt like he was exactly where he needed to be.
Noah followed Norman into the dining area, where the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air. A simple yet hearty meal was laid out—a spread of roasted vegetables, grilled fish, and a warm soup that immediately made Noah's stomach growl.
Norman smirked slightly at the sound. "I take it you haven't had a proper meal in a while."
Noah shrugged. "Been mostly eating what I could hunt or buy on the road."
"Good," Norman said as he took a seat. "That means you're already getting used to a trainer's life. Surviving on your own is just as important as battling."
Noah sat across from him, reaching for some food but stopping just before taking a bite. His team had been fed at the Pokémon Center, but he still felt odd eating without them.
Norman seemed to read his hesitation. "You can let them out if you want. It's important to eat together when you can."
Noah didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed his Poké Balls and released his team. Aeris stretched her wings proudly before settling beside Noah, while Sage remained still, observing the surroundings. Tide took his usual slow steps before settling down near the table.
Then there was Grimm.
The mischievous Impidimp wasted no time climbing onto the table, reaching for a piece of food.
"No," Noah said firmly, grabbing Grimm by the scruff and setting him down beside the others.
Norman chuckled. "You have an interesting team." His gaze lingered on Aeris for a moment before he added, "Especially your Pidgey. She's… quite large for her species."
Noah stiffened slightly. He had heard that before from Brock, but he still hadn't figured out exactly what it meant.
"She's just grown a lot," Noah said simply, trying to brush it off.
Norman hummed in thought but didn't push the topic. Instead, he turned his attention to Grimm, who was now sulking after being stopped from stealing food.
"And this one… Impidimp, right?" Norman asked.
Noah nodded. "Yeah, I found him in Petalburg Woods. He's been a handful."
Norman's eyes narrowed slightly as he examined the small Pokémon. "Let me see something."
Noah frowned, watching as Norman stood up and took out his own Pokédex. He scanned Grimm, and the device beeped, displaying the Pokémon's information.
A moment later, Norman's eyebrows raised slightly.
"Huh," he muttered.
"What?" Noah asked, now feeling a bit uneasy.
Norman turned the Pokédex screen toward him. "Your Impidimp is… different."
Noah leaned in, scanning the data carefully. Then, his eyes widened as he saw the color classification.
Shiny Variant.
For a few seconds, Noah just stared.
"Wait… what?" he blurted.
Norman nodded. "Shiny Pokémon are extremely rare. They're born with unique colorations, and sometimes, they even have slight differences in growth or abilities."
Noah turned to Grimm, who was now watching them with an amused expression, as if he had known this the entire time.
"…So you're telling me this little thief Pokémon is some kind of rare Pokémon?"
"More than that," Norman said. "Some trainers go their whole lives without seeing a single Shiny Pokémon, let alone catching one."
Noah exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He had no idea. He had just thought Grimm was weird. Grimm, of course, was now preening, looking smug as ever.
Noah groaned. "Great. Now he's going to be even more full of himself."
Norman smiled. "That's up to you to handle. A Shiny Pokémon doesn't mean much if it's not trained properly."
Noah took his time and nodded, letting the information settle. It was a lot to take in, but in the end, it didn't change much. Grimm was still part of his team, and Noah would treat him just like the others.
Still… it was nice to know that he had caught something rare without even realizing it.
After the surprise revelation, the meal continued with easier conversation. Norman asked Noah about his travels so far—what he had learned, what he had struggled with.
Noah answered honestly. He told Norman about the battles he had fought, the wild Pokémon he had faced, and the different ways he had trained his team.
Norman nodded along, occasionally offering small pieces of advice. He emphasized the importance of balance—not just in battles but in training as well.
"Pushing your Pokémon too hard can backfire," Norman explained. "They need rest just as much as they need training. Overworking them can slow their growth rather than help it."
Noah absorbed the advice carefully, making a mental note to adjust his training schedule if needed.
Eventually, as the meal wound down, Norman leaned back in his chair. "So, what's next for you?"
Noah thought for a moment. "I plan to challenge the Dewford Gym next."
Norman nodded. "Brawly is a strong opponent. His Fighting-types are powerful, and he trains them under harsh conditions to improve their endurance. You'll need a solid strategy to counter that."
Noah tapped his fingers against the table. "I'll need to prepare for that. Aeris can probably handle most of his team, but I want the others to be ready too."
Norman smiled slightly. "That's a good mindset. Make sure you train well before heading to Dewford."
Noah nodded. He was already forming a plan in his mind.
After dinner, Norman offered Noah a place to stay for the night, which he gratefully accepted. Sleeping in an actual bed after days of traveling was a luxury he wouldn't refuse.
As he lay down, his Pokémon resting nearby, Noah found himself staring at the ceiling, thinking about everything he had learned.
Aeris's unusual size.
Grimm's Shiny status.
Norman's advice about balance.
There was still so much he didn't know. So much he needed to learn.