The first rays of morning sunlight slipped through the curtains of Room 203, scattering soft gold across the bedsheets. Niyah stirred with a sleepy groan, rolling over as her Rotom Dex beeped quietly to life.
"Btzz, btzz, good morning, Trainer Niyah. Energy levels restored to 100%. Initiating system update… oh."
Roty's screen flashed with a brilliant blue as glowing text appeared in midair.
[System Notification: Quest Activated]
Objective: Head to the Pokémon Research Lab, explore and learn something new, avoid detection.
Reward: 30 Rare Candies + Dynamax Band
Penalty: Get caught by Champion Leon
Time Limit: 1 Day
Accept/Decline
Niyah's eyes shot open instantly. "Thirty rare candies and a Dynamax Band?!"
Mimikyu jolted awake at her voice, lifting her cloth head groggily. 'You're too loud in the morning…'
Litwick yawned, or did the candle equivalent, his flame flickering lazily. 'Dynamax Band? That sounds… fiery.'
"Fiery and powerful," Niyah said with a grin. "We're definitely accepting this one!"
She slammed the glowing Accept button.
[System Notification: Quest Accepted!]
"Alright team," she said, stretching her arms. "New day, new chaos. Let's make it count."
—
The Wedgehurst morning buzzed with activity. Trainers headed out on their morning routes, Pokémon chirped and bounded through the streets, and the smell of fresh pastries drifted through the air. The Pokémon Research Lab stood at the far end of town, its white stone walls gleaming in the sunlight, surrounded by well-tended flowerbeds.
Unfortunately, so were four very familiar figures.
"Leon…" Niyah groaned under her breath, ducking behind a nearby bush. "And that's his brother, Hop's right?"
From her vantage point, she could see the group standing just outside the lab gates: Champion Leon, with his signature cape and confident grin, chatting with Professor Magnolia and Sonia. Hop was bouncing on his feet nearby, pokéballs in hand, his Scorbunny hopping beside him eagerly.
Btzz, btzz, Roty whispered, lowering its volume. Risk factor increased by 76%. Recommendation: Stealth mode.
Niyah smirked. "Perfect. We'll sneak around back while they're distracted. If we get caught…" She paused. "Well, we won't."
Litwick flickered excitedly. 'I like this plan.'
Mimikyu's shadow twitched. 'I'll make sure no one sees us.'
They crept closer through the grass, keeping low as the sound of a Pokémon battle suddenly erupted near the front courtyard.
"Scorbunny, use Double Kick!" Hop shouted, his voice full of enthusiasm.
"Counter with Water Gun, Sobble!" Leon commanded smoothly.
A jet of water blasted across the training field, slamming into Scorbunny before it could dodge. The little fire-type yelped and tumbled backward, landing in the grass with spirals in its eyes.
"Oof," Niyah muttered. "Poor Scorbunny."
Btzz, btzz, Roty noted, "Match analysis: critical disadvantage, fire versus water, predictable outcome."
Hop sighed, pulling out his next Pokéball. "You're amazing as always, Leon! But Wooloo and I aren't done yet!"
As the fluffy sheep Pokémon bounded into battle, Niyah saw her chance. The crowd's attention was on the match, Magnolia and Sonia cheering on from the sidelines.
"Now," she whispered.
They sprinted along the side of the lab. Litwick's flame dimmed to near invisibility while Mimikyu flattened her shadow to cloak them both. Niyah slipped around a corner, finding a back door half-hidden by ivy.
"Unlocked," she whispered with a grin, pushing it open quietly.
The lab interior was bright and spotless, lined with shelves of Pokéballs, research binders, and strange devices humming quietly. Roty's camera lens flickered as it scanned the surroundings.
"Btzz, btzz pokémon research equipment detected. Historical data archives accessible through primary terminal."
"Perfect," Niyah murmured, sneaking deeper in.
She passed framed photos of Professor Magnolia shaking hands with famous trainers — Leon, Raihan, even Kabu — before finding a table piled with notes and printouts. Her eyes widened at the header:
World Tournament Series — Archives
Niyah's heart raced. The World Tournament…? Like, the one from the anime?
She flipped through the papers, scanning the list of names:
Champion Leon (Galar)
Gym Leader (Raihan)
Champion Red (Kanto)
Gym Leader Blue (Kanto)
Champion Cynthia (Sinnoh)
Champion Diantha (Kalos)
Load more…
Each entry included official portraits, battle statistics, and signature Pokémon. Her eyes stopped on a picture of Cynthia's Togekiss, elegant wings spread, glowing with radiant light mid-battle.
"Whoa…" Niyah whispered. "So graceful, but so powerful…"
Mimikyu peeked over her shoulder, tilting her head. 'That's a Fairy type, right?'
"Yeah," Niyah said, smiling. "And a strong one too. Perfect for the team."
Litwick flickered his flame indignantly. 'We're already perfect.'
Niyah chuckled. "You're perfect, just in your own… fiery way. But a Togekiss would balance the team out. Fairy and Ghost, those are my specialties."
She took a quick picture of the notes using Roty's scanner. "Btzz, btzz data recorded," it confirmed.
Outside, the muffled shouts of battle still echoed. "Wooloo, use Tackle!" "Sobble, dodge and Water Gun!"
Niyah peeked through a window just in time to see Hop cheering as Wooloo managed to land a solid hit before being promptly drenched by another spray of water.
"Yeah," Niyah said with a grin. "Now's definitely not the time to get caught."
She tiptoed back toward the exit, but paused as she noticed something else on the lab table — a sleek, metallic bracelet with red crystals embedded in its center. A Dynamax Band prototype, if the label was right.
"Guess this is where they make them…" she murmured, resisting the urge to snatch it up. "But that's for the reward. No stealing."
Mimikyu giggled softly. 'You're learning.'
"I'm trying."
They slipped back out the rear door as the battle reached its climax, Hop shouting encouragement, Leon laughing confidently.
Niyah, Roty, Mimikyu, and Litwick darted across the grass, unseen, as the crowd applauded another one of Leon's victories.
"Mission complete," Niyah whispered triumphantly once they reached a safe distance. "And we didn't get caught!"
"Btzz, btzz, objective achieved," Roty buzzed. "Learning component complete. Leon detection avoided. Progress: 100%."
Niyah grinned. "Good enough for me."
As they disappeared down the path leading back to Wedgehurst, the evening sun setting on the horizon. The next part of their journey, and their next mischief, was already calling.
—
Niyah shut the door to her Pokémon Center room behind her with a soft click, exhaling a deep sigh of relief.
"That," she whispered, leaning against the door, "was way too close."
Roty hovered nearby, screen glowing faintly. "Btzz, btzz, proximity to Champion Leon: 12.4 meters at nearest point. Stealth rating: S-tier. Success probability exceeded 87%."
Mimikyu twirled in the air, her rag-like disguise fluttering. 'We're amazing,' she said proudly. 'No one even saw us!'
Litwick puffed up his flame, flickering brighter in agreement. 'Obviously. My brilliance distracts everyone, even when hidden.'
Niyah laughed, setting her bag on the bed. "You mean your overconfidence nearly melted the grass back there."
Before Litwick could retort, Roty beeped, a familiar shimmer of light appearing above its screen.
[System Notification: Quest Completed!]
Objective: Head to the Pokémon Research Lab, explore and learn something new, avoid detection.
Reward: 30 Rare Candies + Dynamax Band
Penalty Avoided: You successfully evaded Champion Leon!
As the message faded, a small, glowing chest materialized in midair before dropping neatly onto the bed with a soft thump.
Niyah's eyes sparkled. "Rewards time!"
She opened the chest to reveal thirty glimmering candies wrapped in rainbow foil, and a sleek white wristband set with a glowing red crystal, the Dynamax Band. It pulsed faintly with stored energy, like it could sense the raw potential within her team.
"Wow…" Niyah breathed, picking it up. "It's even cooler in person."
'That's the thing that makes Pokémon powerful , right?' Mimikyu asked curiously, tilting her cloth head.
"Yep, makes you guys get real big," Niyah said, sliding the band onto her wrist. "When we get to the Wild Area someday, we'll get to try it out for real. But for now…" She looked down at the candies. "Maybe we save these for later. A new team member maybe, thirty is a lot."
Litwick floated closer, peering at the glowing pile. 'They smell powerful. Sweet too.'
Niyah smiled, gently patting his waxy head, avoiding the flame on top. "You'll get your turn soon, little flame."
She leaned back against the bedframe, twirling the new Dynamax Band around her wrist. "So, where to next?"
Roty projected a small holographic map of the region. "Btzz—current location: Wedgehurst. Nearest destinations: Route 2 leading to Professor Magnolia's estate, or backtrack toward the Wild Area through Motostoke Gate. Recommendation: train team strength before next major battle."
Mimikyu perked up. 'What about catching more members?'
"Good idea," Niyah said thoughtfully. "We've got Ghost and Fire covered, and a Fairy element through you, Mimikyu… but we'll need another Fairy-type eventually. Someone strong, cheeky, but still pure-hearted."
Litwick snorted softly, his flame flickering purple. You mean boring.
"Strong," Niyah corrected. "And maybe a little sparkly."
Roty whirred curiously. "Btzz, btzz, update Trainer Niyah's goals?"
"Not yet," Niyah said with a smile. "Just… thinking ahead."
Niyah opened the small window beside her bed, letting the cool Wedgehurst night air drift in. The city below was quiet now, only the soft hum of streetlights breaking the silence.
For the first time since she'd arrived in this world, she felt ahead of the curve — her own little team, a Dynamax Band, and the freedom to go wherever she wanted next.
"I think we'll stay one more day," she decided aloud. "Train a little, maybe explore the outskirts before heading toward Route 2. If Leon's still in town, we'll just… not exist in his line of sight."
Mimikyu giggled quietly. 'We're good at that.'
Litwick floated over to the nightstand, dimming his flame to a soft glow. 'And if anyone bothers us, I'll just set their shoes on fire.'
Niyah smirked. "Let's not start another incident, okay?"
"Btzz, btzz, incident probability: 72%," Roty announced dryly.
"Shh," Niyah laughed, lying back on the bed. She traced the edges of the Dynamax Band again, eyes glinting in the moonlight. "One day… we'll stand with the champions whose names are in that lab. Leon, Red, Cynthia…"
Her smile grew. "And when that happens, we'll make sure everyone remembers the names Niyah, Mimi, and Lumos, the most mischievous team in all of Galar."
As the room fell quiet, Mimikyu's shadow curled protectively near her side, Litwick's soft firelight flickered on the walls, and Roty hummed gently in its recharge mode.
Another quest complete. Another step forward. And somewhere deep in her mind, the image of Cynthia's Togekiss shimmered. A goal she hadn't spoken aloud just yet, but one that would soon shape the next chapter of her journey.
The moon hung high above Wedgehurst, casting a silvery glow through the Pokémon Center window. The once-bustling city had gone quiet, save for the distant hum of lights and the occasional call of a passing Noctowl.
Niyah stretched out on her bed, exhaustion finally catching up with her. Her mind replayed the day's events — sneaking past Leon, uncovering the lab's secrets, and earning her first big system reward. She smiled softly. "We actually did it," she whispered.
Roty floated to the bedside table, screen dimming as it entered rest mode. "Btzz, btzz… all objectives complete. Trainer vitals: stable. Recommendation: eight hours of rest."
"Got it, Roty," she mumbled, pulling the blanket up.
On the bed, Mimikyu had made herself comfortable by curling her disguise into a little puffed cocoon. The faint rustle of her cloth could be heard as she yawned, the shadow beneath her twitching slightly before stilling. 'Good night, Niyah,' she murmured, her voice faint but content.
Litwick hovered just above the nightstand, his blue flame glowing low and steady. He wasn't used to staying in one place, but for now, the warmth of the room and the steady rhythm of his trainer's breathing soothed him. 'Don't snore too loud,' he teased softly, earning a sleepy giggle from Niyah.
"Wouldn't dream of it," she murmured.
For a few moments, the world was perfectly still. The faint hum of the Dynamax Band pulsed once from her wrist, a quiet reminder of the power she now carried, before fading into silence.
As Niyah drifted to sleep, her last thought was simple yet determined: tomorrow would bring training, new discoveries, and another step toward the goal she hadn't yet voiced aloud.
The night embraced them in peace.