As evening crept closer, clouds gathered over the Dusty Bowl. A low rumble echoed across the dry horizon.
"Guess we're camping in a storm," Niyah sighed.
But as lightning flickered in the distance, something caught Golett's eye, a faint blue glow emanating from beneath a collapsed ruin.
Golett raised its hand and hummed lowly, like recognizing something ancient.
"What is it?" Niyah asked, stepping closer.
The glow pulsed again. And then, slowly, a massive figure stirred beneath the dust. A second, smaller Golett, cracked, worn, its chest seal flickering faintly rose from the sands.
Niyah froze. "Oh. Oh no."
The wild Golett let out a distorted metallic bellow, the symbol on its torso flaring red instead of blue.
"Bzzzt, hostile reading detected! Wild Golett energy unstable!"
Eon moved in front of Niyah without hesitation. The ground trembled under its feet.
The two Automaton Pokémon faced each other, a mirror of calm and fury.
"Alright," Niyah breathed, eyes narrowing. "Everyone else, back. Eon, this one's yours."
The storm howled louder.
The two Golett clashed.
The first strike came fast, wild Golett launched Stomping Tantrum, the shockwave scattering sand and rattling nearby stones. Eon blocked with Iron Defense, its chest symbol glowing brighter as it absorbed the impact.
"Now counter with Shadow Punch!"
Eon's arm blurred, a dark fist streaking through the storm. It connected, sending the opposing Golett staggering.
But the wild one didn't retreat. Its red seal flickered violently, it had lost control.
It raised both fists, summoning rocks from the ground. Rock Slide!
"Use Ice Punch to shatter them!" Niyah shouted.
Eon obeyed. Frost-coated fists slammed through the falling boulders, sending shards of frozen debris into the sand. Lightning crackled above.
The wild Golett lunged again, its energy seal beginning to split.
"Drain Punch!"
Eon struck cleanly, light flaring with the impact. The unstable Golett's energy dimmed, the red glow fading to gray. It fell back with a low groan and went still.
Silence followed, broken only by the storm's fading rumble.
Niyah stepped forward, placing her hand gently on Eon's cold, stone shoulder. "Good work. You did it."
"Bzzt, battle analysis: flawless victory! Damage minimal. Team morale high."
She smiled faintly. "We're really getting good at this."
The defeated Golett's body slowly turned to faint energy, dissolving into the wind. For a moment, Eon lowered its gaze, like mourning something only it understood.
—
When the storm finally passed, the Wild Area was painted in sunset light. The group set camp at the edge of a cliff overlooking the plains. Togekiss circled above, painting white streaks against the sky.
Litwick rested near the firelight, his blue flame pulsing slowly. Mimikyu played shadow games against the cliff wall, occasionally startling Roty just to make it spark.
"Bzzt, unnecessary cruelty detected!"
Niyah laughed softly. "Relax, Roty. It builds character."
Then she looked over to Golett. The Automaton Pokémon sat at the cliff's edge, silent, eyes glowing faintly as it watched the horizon.
"Hey," she said, walking over and sitting beside it. "You okay? That fight must've been weird for you."
Golett didn't answer, but a faint rumble echoed from its chest, a sound that somehow felt like I'm fine.
Niyah leaned back on her hands, the wind catching her hair. "You're part of this family now, you know. And no one, no storm, is gonna change that."
Golett's light brightened in response.
"Bzzt, friendship confirmed. Trainer sentimentality: dangerously high."
"Shut up, Roty," Niyah said with a grin.
—
The morning rose soft and shimmering, spilling warmth across the rolling plains that stretched between Hulbury and Motostoke. A light breeze carried the scent of damp grass and the faint tang of salt from the distant sea. Dew glimmered on the wildflowers, and for the first time since leaving the coast, Niyah's laughter echoed freely through the open air.
She walked at the head of her little troupe, bag slung over her shoulder and Roty floating lazily beside her.
"Bzzt, alert! Team alertness at 100%! This squad's energy output is ridiculous today!" Roty chimed, flashing its small screen like a cheerleader.
"Don't jinx it," Niyah teased, stretching her arms overhead. "We're still a long way from Motostoke, and I don't want anyone slacking."
Behind her, the group answered in their own way, Mimikyu gave a sharp flick of her ragged ear and squeaked, "Mii!"; Litwick's flame pulsed a bright blue; Togekiss fluttered her broad white wings and let a warm gust swirl through them all; and Golett rumbled softly, its stone frame grinding like gentle thunder.
Despite its size, the Golett moved with steady restraint, careful not to shake the earth too much. Every step felt deliberate, like it had spent years practicing gentleness.
Niyah smiled. "You've really got a good rhythm now, Eon. See? Traveling's not so bad."
The Automaton Pokémon tilted its head, eyes flickering faintly with light, and let out a mechanical hum that almost sounded pleased.
"Bzzt, team progress report! Everyone's bonding level up by approximately… hmm… three friendship points!"
Niyah snorted. "I'm starting to think you make these numbers up, Roty."
"Bzzzt, numbers are relative to vibes, and I am extremely good at measuring vibes."
Niyah stretched her arms high with a quiet yawn. "Alright then, everyone, Motostoke's not going to walk to us, let's pick up the pase!"
Above her, Togekiss flew lower, the soft shimmer of morning light catching the edge of her feathers. The Togekiss gave a cheerful trill when Niyah reached up to pat her stomach.
Mimikyu, perched on a rock, crossed her tiny arms and tilted her head with mock annoyance. "Mimiii!"
"Don't start," Niyah teased, smiling. "You'll get your pets too."
Litwick floated lazily in the air, his soft blue flame flickering in the daylight. He made a sound that could only be described as a ghostly sigh, drifting just enough to hide behind Niyah's shoulder.
And finally, at the back, Golett the newest member, stood perfectly still, as if carved from the ancient stones it resembled. Its glowing eyes flickered faintly beneath the carved helm of its head. When Niyah turned toward it, it raised one massive arm in a slow, careful wave.
"Hello you too, Eon," Niyah said warmly. "You're looking… solid as ever."
"Bttzzt! Analysis: joke detected. Success rate… 67%! Suggest: better pun next time," Roty chimed, buzzing around her shoulder.
"Excuse me, I'm hilarious," she huffed, scooping Roty gently out of the air to poke its lens. "And you still owe me for calling me a 'reckless organism' yesterday."
"Bzzzzt! Correction: technically true statement."
"Technically rude statement," she fired back.
Mimi let out a giggle like squeak, hiding behind her ragged cloth as if sharing an inside joke.
—
Their route wound through some fields, where flocks of Wooloo grazed lazily and Dottler gleamed faintly under the sunlight. Niyah's boots crunched against pebbles and moss, the air filled with the occasional distant roar of a Dynamax Pokémon far out in the restricted zones.
As they passed a stream, Niyah crouched down, letting the water run between her fingers. "This region never gets old. I swear the wild changes every time I blink."
Togekiss landed nearby, folding her wings with an elegant rustle. "Toge…kiss!"
The Togekiss's aura radiated warmth, enough to draw nearby Lotad and Bunnelby closer, curious but cautious.
Golett moved to guard the smaller Pokémon of the team instinctively, positioning itself between them and the wilds. It wasn't hostile—just protective, always watching.
Litwick flickered brighter. "Wick!"
"Yeah, I know," Niyah murmured. "You're watching too." She tilted her head toward Golett. "He's not so different from you, huh? Just a big, quiet candle."
Golett's light blinked once. Roty buzzed softly.
"Bzzt—correction: giant, heavy, occasionally terrifying candle."
"Helpful," Niyah muttered, rolling her eyes.
They continued on, encountering Pokémon in the tall grass—Baltoy spun aimlessly nearby, and a few Scraggy scurried away at Eon's heavy footfalls.
At one point, a particularly bold Sandile popped its head out from a dune and hissed at them, tail whipping like a metronome.
Niyah crouched, analyzing it with an almost instinctive curiosity. "Ground type… kinda cute… but you'd fight with Eon over who gets the best dirt patch to nap in."
"Bttz, compatibility score: 34%. Too many attitude conflicts."
"Yeah," she said, standing again. "Pass."
The path ahead stretched wide, winding between low cliffs and shimmering lakes. Pidove fluttered across the sky, and the distant silhouettes of Corviknight patrols cut against the blue.
Eon walked with heavy, rhythmic steps, each one thudding like a heartbeat through the soil. Its sheer weight left small impressions in the dirt, but its gentle movements kept the others from worrying. Occasionally, a curious Skwovet or a Nickit peeked from the grass, only to flee once they saw the towering Golett looming behind Niyah.
Roty's lens whirred. "Btzz, species analysis: travel companions growing stronger. Trainer emotional output, steady. However… bzzz… hunger levels, high."
Niyah groaned. "I'm fine! We had breakfast like.." she paused, squinting at the sky, "uh, five hours ago?"
"Miii." Mimikyu pointed her tiny arm toward her trainer's bag, eyes narrowing.
"Okay, okay! Snack time it is!"
They stopped beneath a tree near a small pond, where the reflection of the sky shimmered bright and deep. Litwick floated nearby, occasionally releasing lazy rings of blue flame that danced over the water. Togekiss preened her feathers while Golett knelt down to let smaller Pokémon from the wild rest against its arm, something Niyah had noticed it doing often.
She couldn't help smiling softly. "You really do have a big heart for a rock," she murmured.
Golett turned, the runes on its chest glowing faintly before dimming again.
"Bttzzt! Correction: clay, not rock," Roty corrected helpfully.
"Roty, no one likes a fact checker during emotional moments."
"Bzzt! Counterpoint: emotional moments improve with accurate data."
"Do you want to get dunked in that pond?"
Silence. Then: "Bzz… request denied."
—
As the day stretched on, the group crossed fields where wild Pokémon roamed in every direction.
Niyah found herself face-to-face with a bold Mudbray that refused to move from the path.
Mimikyu floated forward, hands on its cloth hips. "Miii…"
"Oh no you don't," Niyah warned, stepping between them. "We're not battling every Pokémon that looks at us funny."
The Mudbray brayed loudly in protest before trotting off, tail flicking.
Next came a curious Trapinch, snapping its jaws like a living bear trap. Niyah crouched beside it, tilting her head. "You're adorable, but… nah. Not a ghost or fairy type."
"Btzz! Confirmed: Trapinch does not meet current team requirements, Ground type. Compatibility: low."
"See? Even Roty agrees," Niyah said.
"Kyu!" came a sharp sound of disapproval.
Niyah grinned. "Don't be jealous Mimi you're still the main star."
They moved on through changing biomes, the rolling grasslands gave way to rocky outcrops where mudslides flew. Litwick hovered close, his faint light keeping the haze around them warm and navigable.
The world felt alive. Pokémon darted through every corner: a group of Carkol rolling down slopes like burning boulders, a school of Tympole splashing in puddles, and a distant Braviary circling high above.
Golett occasionally paused to watch, its ancient eyes glowing faintly. Its chest sigil pulsed whenever another Ghost-type passed nearby, like an unspoken kinship.
—
The wind was calm again by evening, and the trail had narrowed into a path hemmed by tall, glittering cliffs. Niyah stretched, her team walking ahead in relaxed until Roty buzzed sharply.
"Bzzzt, approaching lifeform! Energy levels… smug. Very smug."
"What?" Niyah frowned.
And then she saw him, a boy with a large jacket, sharp eyes and an expression that looked permanently unimpressed. His silvery hair caught the light, and he held a Poké Ball as though it were a royal scepter.
He looked her up and down with a sigh. "Oh. A baby, rookie trainer wandering around? Don't tell me you think you can actually defeat the Motostoke Gym Battles with you age."
Niyah blinked. "...And you are?"
"Bede," he said, like the name alone carried weight. "Endorsed by Chairman Rose himself."
Roty buzzed. "Bttz, ego detected at 110% capacity!"
Bede's brow twitched. "Is that… Rotom Dex mocking me?"
"Yeah," Niyah said sweetly. "It does that sometimes. You'll get used to it if you're around long enough, which, hopefully, won't be the case."
The air went still. Niyah's Lxury balls made grinding sounds that resembled chuckles.
Bede straightened his coat. "You clearly don't understand your place. Perhaps a battle will help illustrate it."
Niyah smirked. "You're on. But don't cry when I wipe the floor with your team using just one of mine."
"Bzzt trainer sass level: optimal."
—
"Go, Solosis!" Bede's first Pokémon emerged, its body shimmering with psychic energy.
Niyah's grin sharpened. "Mimi, let's show him how we do things."
Mimikyu floated out of Niyah's shadow, her tiny claws flexing.
"Psywave!" Bede commanded.
Energy rippled out but Mimikyu flickered aside, vanishing like smoke.
"Shadow Sneak!"
Before Bede could react, Solosis was struck from behind, spiraling across the field. One-hit, down.
His eyebrow twitched. "Tch, you just got a lucky shot. Go, Gothita!"
The small Psychic-type materialized with a pout, its eyes glowing blue. "Confusion!"
"Don't give it the chance, Wood Hammer!"
Mimikyu darted again, wood hammer glowing green as it slammed down with precision. The ground shook, Gothita fainted instantly.
Bede grit his teeth. "Ponyta! Show them elegance!"
The pastel pony pranced forward, its mane glittering like stars.
Niyah's eyes widened. "Oh my Arceus… it's so cute! I need one!"
"Focus," Roty buzzed.
"Right, right, Mimi use Astonish!"
Bede smirked. "Dodge and counter with Psybeam!"
The Ponyta twirled gracefully, beams of color bursting forth but Mimikyu was faster. It reappeared right under Ponyta's hooves, eyes glowing red, spooking it to staggered backward.
"Now Play Rough!"
A flurry of ghostly pink energy surrounded Mimikyu, and with one spinning uppercut, Ponyta collapsed in a puff of glittering dust.
Only one remained, Bede sent out Hatenna.
"Don't let your guard down," Bede hissed, though his voice cracked slightly.
Mimikyu looked back at Niyah and nodded once. One last Shadow Sneak and the battle ended.
The silence afterward stretched long.
Bede stood frozen, his jaw tight. "You…you just got lucky!"
Niyah crossed her arms, smirking. "Sure. Let's call it luck."
"Bzzzzt, statistical probability of luck that consistent: 0.4%," Roty added.
"Roty, I love you," Niyah said sweetly.
Bede's face flushed red as he turned sharply, returning his Pokémon. "Don't think this means anything. I'm leagues above you!"
"Uh-huh," Niyah said, laughing slightly. "You might wanna check your ego's HP."
Mimikyu giggled, tugging its rag as if mocking Bede's posture.
Bede stomped away, muttering to himself.
Niyah watched him go, her grin curling. "He's so gonna regret meeting me."
[System Notification: Quest Completed]
Objective: Travel to Motostoke and make a new rival.
Reward: Psychic Ability Boost - Mind Control
Niyah hummed as she felt her mind expand, soft pink lights swirled in her eyes. She took a deep breathe, "This could be useful in the future.
"Bttzzt! New sub-quest suggestion: prank rival Bede accept?"
"Oh, definitely accept it."
—
As the sun sank behind the cliffs, Niyah climbed onto Togekiss' back. She returned the rest of her Pokemon and took off.
Below them, the world of Galar stretched vast, every shadow hiding promise, every light leading forward.
"Motostoke, here we come," she whispered, determination burning bright in her eyes.
"Bzzzzt… adventure level: rising," Roty hummed softly.
And together, they took off into the sunset.