The sun had barely begun to rise when Noah set off from Petalburg City, his Pokémon well-fed and rested after their stay at Norman's home. He adjusted his bag, ensuring he had all his supplies, and took a deep breath. The familiar road leading back to Oldale Town stretched before him.
Aeris flew slightly ahead, enjoying the early morning breeze, while Tide and Sage followed beside him at a steady pace. Grimm, ever the mischievous one, occasionally darted between the trees, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he watched the others.
Noah glanced at his team with a small sense of pride. They had grown a lot since he had first set out. Aeris had become stronger and more confident, Sage had evolved and gained new abilities, and Tide was proving to be a sturdy and dependable addition. As for Grimm… well, he was still Grimm.
Norman's advice still lingered in his mind. Balance. He needed to make sure he trained efficiently, but also that he didn't push them too hard. They needed to be strong, but they also needed time to rest and grow naturally.
The road back to Oldale was peaceful. Noah took his time, stopping occasionally to allow his Pokémon to stretch and train lightly. He didn't encounter many wild Pokémon, but that was fine—this wasn't about battling, but about keeping his team in top shape.
Aeris took the opportunity to practice her flying. She had been getting faster, and her control over her Gust attack was improving. Noah watched as she swooped down toward the ground before sharply pulling up, her wings beating powerfully.
Sage, on the other hand, seemed more focused than before. His movements were sharper, and he was starting to anticipate Noah's commands before they were even spoken. The evolution had clearly made him more aware of battle tactics.
Tide was still slow-moving, but he was as sturdy as ever. Noah had started carrying small mineral-rich rocks with him, letting Tide eat them whenever they stopped. It wasn't the most convenient diet, but it was necessary.
As for Grimm… Noah still wasn't quite sure how to train him properly. The Impidimp was tricky—his moves were disruptive rather than directly offensive, and his playfulness often got in the way of focused training. But there was something about him, something sharp in his eyes that told Noah he was watching and learning in his own way.
As Noah walked through a shaded part of the route, he suddenly heard rustling from the bushes ahead. He instinctively reached for a Poké Ball, but Aeris had already landed on his shoulder, alert and watching.
A moment later, a wild Taillow darted out from the underbrush, its wings flapping rapidly as it tried to escape something.
Then, with a low growl, a Poochyena leaped after it.
Noah blinked in surprise. Taillow was injured, its flight unsteady, while the Poochyena looked determined to bring it down.
Instinct kicked in. "Aeris, Gust!"
Aeris immediately responded, flapping her wings and sending a blast of wind toward the Poochyena. The wild Pokémon yelped as the force of the attack knocked it back, sending it scrambling into the bushes.
The Taillow, exhausted and unable to stay airborne, crashed onto the ground.
Noah rushed over, kneeling beside it. Its small body was trembling, and there were scratches along its wings.
He hesitated for a moment before carefully scooping the bird into his hands.
"You're okay," he murmured. "I've got you."
The Taillow let out a weak chirp, its body limp in his grasp.
Noah frowned, debating what to do. He wasn't sure if it would survive on its own in this condition.
He glanced at Aeris, who was watching the Taillow with something close to concern.
"Let's get it to Oldale," Noah decided.
Aeris nodded, and together, they hurried toward town.
By the time Noah arrived in Oldale, the sun was high in the sky, casting warm light over the small town. It felt different returning here after everything he had experienced.
He made his way straight to the Pokémon Center, pushing open the doors and heading to the counter.
Nurse Joy looked up and immediately noticed the Taillow in his arms. "Oh dear, what happened?"
"Got attacked by a wild Poochyena," Noah explained. "Can you help it?"
Nurse Joy nodded. "Of course. Please, give it to me."
Noah carefully placed the injured bird in her hands, watching as she carried it toward the back.
With that done, he exhaled and finally let himself relax. He hadn't realized how tense he had been until now.
Aeris landed beside him, preening her feathers, while the rest of his team settled down near the waiting area.
For the first time in days, Noah allowed himself to take a break. He was home. At least, for now.
Noah sat in the Pokémon Center's waiting area, resting while his team recovered from their journey. He leaned back in his seat, watching as Aeris preened her feathers, Sage rested beside Tide, and Grimm—ever the troublemaker—was trying to climb onto the counter while Nurse Joy wasn't there.
"Grimm, get down," Noah sighed, pulling the Impidimp back before he could cause any trouble. The mischievous Pokémon pouted but didn't resist.
The door to the medical wing slid open, and Nurse Joy stepped out holding the Taillow he had rescued. The little bird looked significantly better—her scratches had been treated, and she seemed far more energetic than before.
"She's doing well now," Nurse Joy said with a smile. "She just needs some time to regain her strength."
Noah held out his arm, expecting the Taillow to hop onto him. Instead, she turned her head away, fluffed her feathers, and let out a chirp of protest.
He blinked. "Uh… okay?"
Nurse Joy chuckled. "She might still be a little wary. Would you like to take her home to rest for a while?"
Noah thought for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, that's probably for the best."
Noah hadn't been back to his house in a while. As he stepped through the front door, the familiar scent of home cooking filled the air. His mother was already in the kitchen, preparing what looked like a hearty meal.
She turned when she heard the door open and smiled. "Noah! You're back sooner than I expected."
"Yeah, just passing through before I continue traveling," Noah said, setting his bag down. "I, uh… also have a guest."
He stepped aside, revealing the small Taillow held in his arms. The little bird hesitated for a moment before fluttering down to the kitchen table, tilting her head curiously at Noah's mother.
"Oh my, what a little sweetheart," his mother cooed, reaching out carefully. To Noah's surprise, the Taillow didn't shy away. Instead, she hopped closer, chirping softly.
"She was injured, so I brought her to the Pokémon Center," Noah explained. "I thought I'd let her rest here before letting her go."
His mother nodded in understanding. "Well, let's make sure she's well-fed, too."
She went to grab some Pokémon food from the pantry, crushing up softer bits for the Taillow. The bird eagerly began eating, her eyes never leaving Noah's mother as she worked.
Noah sat back, watching the scene unfold. It was strange—this Taillow had barely tolerated him, but with his mother, she seemed completely comfortable.
After finishing her meal, the Taillow hopped onto his mother's arm and fluffed up her feathers, chirping happily.
His mother laughed. "Well, aren't you affectionate?"
Noah rubbed the back of his head. "She, uh… didn't do that with me."
"Maybe she just needed a motherly touch," she teased.
The Taillow chirped again, rubbing her head against Noah's mother's sleeve.
Noah narrowed his eyes slightly. "She's not… getting imprinted on you, is she?"
His mother laughed. "It certainly seems like it."
Noah watched as the bird settled on her shoulder, looking perfectly at ease. He had planned on releasing her once she recovered, but now… well, it looked like she had already chosen where she wanted to stay.
That evening, as Noah sat at the dinner table with his mother, the Taillow remained perched comfortably by her side.
His mother ran a gentle hand over the small bird's back. "You know, I wouldn't mind taking care of her. She seems to like it here."
Noah glanced at the Taillow, who was now nuzzling into his mother's sleeve. There was no denying it—she had made her choice.
He let out a small chuckle. "Guess I don't have much of a say in it, do I?"
His mother smiled. "She'll be in good hands."
Noah nodded. "Yeah. I know."
With that, the little Taillow officially found her home—not as part of Noah's team, but as part of his family.