The sun had long since dipped below Hulbury's horizon by the time Niyah reached Nessa's apartment. The rhythmic crash of waves against the pier followed her like a lullaby, soft and steady, a song of victory humming beneath the gentle night breeze.
She didn't rush this time.
No mischievous teleporting. No quick step around the corners. Just quiet satisfaction.
Her badge case newly heavier with the polished Wave Badge clinked softly in her pocket. It still didn't feel real. The cheers, the lights, and the faint electric hum that had lingered in the air when Togetic unleashed that final Thunderbolt. It was the kind of battle she used to watch in another life, not live.
She climbed the steps to Nessa's apartment slowly, still replaying every moment in her head. Her new badge shimmered like captured sunlight when she opened the case and tucked it beside Milo's badge.
Two badges.
Two victories.
And a promise she could feel tugging at her from somewhere unseen.
—
When the door clicked open, the scent of sea salt and clean linen greeted her. The lights were dim, the living room lit only by the faint blue glow of the aquarium along the far wall. Nessa wasn't home yet, but there was a note left on the kitchen counter in her neat, looping handwriting:
"Dinner's in the fridge, have to deal with gym. Don't stay up too late."
– Nessa
Beside it lay a small, velvet-lined box.
Niyah didn't need to open it to know what it held. Her fingers brushed the cool metal of the clasp, heart stuttering slightly when she saw the soft shimmer of the Shiny Stone nestled inside. Luminous and pure, its light refracting across the counter in soft rainbow arcs.
For a long moment, she simply stared at it.
Her team deserved this, Iris deserved this.
She set the stone down gently and released her Pokémon one by one.
Litwick appeared first, flickering cheerfully before realizing how late it was and dimming his flame out of respect for the calm. Mimikyu materialized next, stretching her arms with a little yawn before flopping lazily onto the couch, still pretending she wasn't pleased by her victory earlier.
And finally, Togetic floated out of her Pokéball, her wings glimmering faintly in the soft aquarium light, her expression warm and sleepy.
"Hey, you," Niyah whispered, crouching beside her. "You ready for this?"
Togetic tilted her head curiously, eyes landing on the Shiny Stone. A soft hum escaped her throat, almost like a lullaby.
Niyah smiled. "You've earned it, Iris. Let's do this together."
She lifted the stone carefully. It was lighter than it looked, smooth as polished water under her fingers. The instant it touched Iris's feathers, light spilled across the room, radiant, ethereal, alive.
Litwick's flame flared instinctively. Mimikyu sat up, wide-eyed.
Togetic glowed, her body stretching upward as the air shimmered around her. The transformation wasn't loud or explosive, it was serene, almost sacred. Her small wings unfurled into wide, elegant plumes that caught the glow of the aquarium like shards of dawn. Her eyes, brighter now, reflected the same gold that burned faintly within the stone that evolved her.
When the light faded, the newly evolved Togekiss stood before her, a creature of grace and quiet power.
Niyah's breath caught. "You're beautiful Iris," she murmured.
Togekiss chirped softly, drifting forward to rest her wing against her trainer's shoulder. The faint hum of her aura filled the room with warmth, a gentle pulse that seemed to say thank you.
"Guess you're not so little anymore, huh?" Niyah added, her voice trembling just enough to betray her emotion.
Mimikyu gave a small approving nod from the couch. Litwick, though trying to stay cool, couldn't stop his flame from flickering brighter, proud and protective.
—
For a long time, they sat together in the quiet glow of the room. The world outside felt distant, the sound of waves muted, the city lights fading behind drawn curtains.
Niyah's fingers brushed against her backpack. The Rusted Sword pulsed faintly from within, almost in response to the evolution. Its light was subtle, but there.
She frowned slightly. "You again…" she whispered under her breath.
It didn't answer, not really. But for a fleeting instant, she thought she heard a faint whisper at the edge of her mind. Not words exactly, but a feeling. A promise.
Soon.
Then, silence.
Niyah exhaled slowly, shaking her head. "Yeah… you and I need to have a talk someday."
But not tonight. Tonight was for celebrating her team.
She gathered them close, Mimikyu leaning lazily against her arm, Litwick flickering quietly at her side, and Togekiss folding her new wings around them like a blanket.
"Good job today, everyone," Niyah whispered. "Rest up. Tomorrow… we start something new."
Outside, the waves crashed gently against Hulbury's shores. Inside, the little family drifted to sleep under the glow of the aquarium. Their reflections shimmering faintly in the glass, a portrait of peace before the storm.
And as Niyah's eyes closed, the faintest glint of gold rippled once more through the seams of her bag, unseen and unheard, but waiting.
—
The cheers from the crowd had long since faded, replaced by the rhythmic hum of Hulbury's waves.
Nessa stood alone in the now empty gym, the faint echo of footsteps long gone. Only the sound of water dripping from the battle platforms filled the silence, mingling with the salt-sweet air.
She exhaled slowly and leaned against the railing overlooking the arena. Even now, faint traces of the earlier battle lingered, scorched metal where Litwick's flames had boiled through torrents of water, faint cracks in the tiles from Mimikyu's wood hammer barrage, and a lingering, humming pulse in the air from those Metronome attacks.
Nessa's lips pressed into a line. That energy wasn't just Fairy or Ghost, it was something older. Wilder.
"Who are you really, Niyah Soleil?" she murmured to herself.
From the stands, a Rotom Drone floated down, humming a cheerful, oblivious tune as it recorded post-battle analytics. "That was one for the highlight reel, huh, Boss? Youngest challenger you've mentored in years! Think she'll make it to Raihan's level?"
Nessa didn't answer immediately. Her eyes lingered on the faint shimmer of residual light from Togetic's fairy dust. "She doesn't fight like a beginner. She feels her battles. Every command she gives is instinctive, like her Pokémon hear something deeper than words."
The drone beeped, trying to interpret her tone. "So, that's a yes?"
A small smile tugged at her lips. "That's a 'we'll see.'"
She picked up her bag from the bench, her motions practiced but thoughtful, before heading back toward her office. The sky outside was painted in streaks of rose and violet as the sun dipped below the sea, Hulbury's harbor glowing like molten glass in the twilight.
When she reached her office, her phone buzzed. Incoming Call: Champion Leon.
She sighed, already anticipating why. "Of course it's him," she muttered, swiping to accept.
The holo display flickered to life, Leon's familiar grin appeared first, though it was smaller tonight, his cape nowhere in sight. Behind him, she could make out Raihan lounging with his arms crossed, Sonia flipping through energy readouts, and Professor Magnolia watching them all with quiet, analytical intensity.
"Hey, Nessa," Leon greeted. "Heard about the battle. Congratulations, you've got the whole region buzzing. That kid of yours might just be the story of the season."
Nessa arched an eyebrow. "She's not my kid."
Raihan snorted, resting his chin on his hand. "Funny, 'cause Sonia told me you've been housing her, cooking her meals, nagging her about breakfast. Sounds pretty adopted-core to me."
"I'm looking after her," Nessa said evenly, though a touch of defensiveness crept into her tone. "She's too young to be traveling alone."
Sonia glanced up from her notes. "And too strange not to keep an eye on. The readings from today's match are off the charts. Her Litwick's flames reached heat signatures usually reserved for advanced Fire types, and that Mimikyu, its speed and stamina were beyond normal ranges for that species. Not even Allister's has reached that level."
Magnolia interjected softly, her old voice calm but firm. "And that Togetic. Such control over Metrenome is unheard of. The data of the girl herself shows resonance, matching traces of ancient power. The same frequency as the Rusted artifacts."
That last word made Nessa's pulse skip. "Artifacts," she repeated. "You mean the Rusted Sword and Shield?"
Leon's expression grew serious. "Exactly. Which brings us to why we called. Hop's been acting… off."
Nessa frowned. "Off how?"
Leon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You know awhile ago, I told you he said he had a dream. In it, he met a girl, small, sharp tongued, silver-eyed. They wandered through a foggy forest and found somethings. Well, today he came to me yesterday after his third gym win. Told me he'd been keeping this for awhile."
He reached off-screen, lifting an object that shimmered faintly in the light, the Rusted Shield. Its aged metal glowed with a dim azure pulse.
The sight made the air feel colder.
Raihan whistled low. "Now that's a souvenir. Guess we've got ourselves a little legend wielder."
Sonia muttered under her breath. "And if Hop's got the Shield…" Her gaze flicked up to Nessa. "Then the Sword's energy spike we traced earlier wasn't coincidence. It was Hulbury. It was Niyah."
The silence that followed was heavy. The ocean's distant roar filled the gap.
Magnolia folded her hands neatly on the desk. "We've been waiting decades for signs of these relics returning. And now, within weeks, two children, both untrained, both connected, emerge bearing their signatures."
Leon's tone softened as he looked directly at Nessa. "You've spent the most time with her. What do you think?"
Nessa looked out the window, toward the horizon where the sky kissed the sea. "…I don't know. Sometimes, when she talks, it's like she's remembering things she shouldn't know. Other times, she seems like any other twelve year old, impulsive and stubborn."
She hesitated. "But sometimes, when she looks at me… it's like she's not really here. Like part of her is somewhere else, or someone else."
Sonia's pen paused mid-note. "You think she might be channeling something?"
"I think she might be split," Nessa replied quietly. "Between this world and something older."
Magnolia nodded thoughtfully. "A temporal or spiritual echo, perhaps. If her connection is tied to the Sword's power, she may not just be its wielder, she could be its anchor."
Raihan grinned, half teasing but not unkind. "You're saying she's walking around with a god's Wi-Fi connection."
Leon shot him a look, though even he couldn't suppress a small laugh. "Not exactly how Magnolia would phrase it, but close enough."
Sonia leaned forward. "If Niyah's bonded to the Sword's essence, and Hop to the Shield, then history's rewriting itself. The heroes of Galar reborn but this time, in kids who barely understand the power they've got."
Nessa's jaw tightened. "Then we need to guide them. Not use them, not test them, but protect them."
Leon's eyes softened with something like pride. "That's why we trust you, Nessa. You've got the discipline to keep her steady."
Raihan smirked. "And the patience of a saint, apparently."
Nessa rolled her eyes. "Barely."
The group chuckled, but the levity was thin, a fragile shell around the unease they all shared.
Magnolia spoke again, her tone grave. "We must tread carefully. These relics, these children, are entwined with ancient forces. If the balance tips, Galar could face echoes of the Darkest Day once more."
The mere mention of it made Nessa's skin prickle. That old legend, the storm of energy, the beasts of light and shadow, felt suddenly closer than it had in years.
Leon cleared his throat. "For now, I'll keep an eye on Hop. Sonia, see if you can trace the energy readings further north. Raihan-"
"I'll check Hammerlocke's vault, see if I can find anything," Raihan finished for him.
Leon nodded. "Good. And Nessa, keep doing what you're doing. Stay close to her. But if you notice any more… anomalies, let us know immediately."
Nessa met his gaze through the holo screen, her tone steady but her thoughts racing. "You really think this could spiral into something that big?"
Leon's answer was simple, and heavier than she wanted. "It already has."
The call ended soon after. The light from the holo screen faded, leaving the room dim once more.
Nessa leaned back in her chair, exhaling a long, tired breath. She closed her eyes, letting the sound of the sea outside fill the silence.
In her mind, she saw flashes of the battle again. Togetic's radiant wings, Mimikyu's darting shadows, Litwick's relentless flame. And at the center of it all, Niyah, eyes burning with determination, smiling like she'd known victory before the first attack was called.
That smile stayed with her as she rose, turning off the last of the lights.
She paused at the door, glancing once more toward the harbor lights beyond the window. Somewhere out there, the girl slept, small, strange, and already far too important.
"…Rest easy, kid," Nessa whispered. "Tomorrow, the currents shift again."
The waves outside whispered back, distant and eternal, their rhythm carrying the same secret hum that had haunted the battle arena.
A resonance deep beneath the calm.
And though she couldn't name it, Nessa felt it in her bones.
Something ancient had woken.
And it was watching.