Summary
Norman lives in Petalburg City and is the official awarder of the Balance Badge. His name originates from his specialization in Normal-type Pokémon. The layout of his gym features branching corridors that ultimately guide challengers to him. Before facing Norman, trainers encounter doors indicating the nature of the upcoming battle, such as a trainer relying on X Attack or one who excessively uses Potions. In the Ruby and Sapphire games, Norman fields a team consisting of two Slaking and a Vigoroth, whereas in Emerald, he utilizes a Zangoose and a Spinda, omitting one of the Slaking. Upon victory, he rewards the winner with TM42: Facade, a move that deals double damage if the user suffers from a status condition. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Norman’s role mirrors his video game counterpart as the father of Ruby. He is depicted as a remarkably calm individual. Originally slated to become a Hoenn gym leader five years before the main Ruby and Sapphire storyline, he and Professor Birch moved their families to the region together. A wild Salamence attacked Professor Birch’s daughter, Sapphire, but Norman’s son, Ruby, rescued her, sustaining a forehead scar in the process. This incident led Ruby to adopt a softer demeanor while pushing Sapphire to become tougher for self-protection. The Salamence subsequently fled into a nearby research facility, causing Rayquaza to escape. Consequently, Norman was barred from serving as a gym leader until he could locate Rayquaza. In the anime series, Norman serves as the father of May and Max. He holds significant celebrity status in the Petalburg area, with his skills widely rumored to rival those of an Elite Four member. His team includes a high-level Slaking paired with a powerful Vigoroth. His undefeated streak finally ends when he faces Ash, who secures his fifth gym victory. However, Max, devastated by his father’s loss, grabs the badge from Norman mid-handover and flees. Ash, May, and Norman eventually convince Max that losing is just as valuable as winning, prompting him to return the badge.
