The Pokémon region of Pleasuredea

Seventy sixth encounter: Golem

Marlene squinted at her Pokémon translator, trying to coax it back to life. It had died out hours ago, leaving her to guess what her Pokémon were trying to communicate. She muttered a few frustrated words under her breath, shaking the device in her hand, but it remained silent. Cinderace, her trusty bunny Pokémon, hopped around her, clearly enjoying the outdoors.

"Come on, work!" Marlene huffed, tapping the translator against her palm. She looked up, scanning the rocky terrain. The mountains were quiet today, but that wasn't unusual. After all, she was hoping to capture something pretty powerful.

"You know what I think?" Marlene said to Cinderace, grinning mischievously as the fiery rabbit hopped over to her side. "Today's the day we catch something big."

Cinderace twitched his ears and gave a little spin, clearly excited by the challenge. Marlene had been after Golem for a while now, a strong Rock/Ground-type that was known for its durability and power. It had been spotted recently near these mountains, and Marlene, ever the determined trainer, was sure she was going to be the one to capture it.

As they ventured further into the rocky terrain, Marlene could feel her pulse quicken. They were getting closer. Cinderace stayed close to her, his fiery body brightening the otherwise dim rocky landscape. And then, in the distance, she saw it—Golem.

The massive creature stood like a stone guardian in the middle of the path, its broad body dotted with rocky plates and a face carved into its rough surface. Its arms were thick and muscular, and the deep rumble of its voice echoed as it noticed them.

"Alright, Cinderace, this is it," Marlene whispered, her heart pounding with excitement. "Let's catch this Golem!"

Without missing a beat, she grabbed a Pokéball from her belt and tossed it into the air. The Pokéball burst open, releasing a burst of light. Cinderace immediately took the lead, charging forward with a quick Blaze Kick aimed right at Golem's stone body.

Golem grinned, unfazed by the attack, and retaliated with a thunderous Earthquake, sending tremors through the ground. Marlene gripped the translator, hoping it would start working so she could get a better sense of what Golem was saying, but it still remained lifeless.

"Great, guess we'll have to figure this out ourselves," Marlene muttered, watching Cinderace dodge the shaking ground expertly. "Cinderace, use High Jump Kick now!"

With a burst of speed, Cinderace leaped into the air, aiming for Golem's chest. The kick hit with precision, but the powerful Golem barely moved, its stony exterior showing little sign of the blow's impact.

"He's tough," Marlene said, an eager grin spreading across her face. "Just how I like 'em!"

Marlene tossed another Pokéball, aiming it directly at Golem. The ball hit the massive Pokémon and shook once... twice... three times. Would this be it? Would Golem become hers?

As the Pokéball rocked back and forth, its red light flashing on and off, Marlene's grin widened. She was so close, but just as she was about to get her hands on Golem, a sudden voice echoed through the mountains, pulling her attention away from the tense moment.

"Heh, but will Golem really be ours?" The voice was unmistakable—Riff Raff, the mysterious figure who seemed to pop up whenever things got too quiet or when chaos was about to unfold.

Marlene's head snapped to the side, finding him standing there, leaning against a rock, a mischievous smirk playing across his face. His silhouette was a contrast against the afternoon sun, looking all too comfortable in this untamed landscape.

Riff Raff chuckled, his sharp eyes twinkling. "Or will madness... take its toll?" He added, his voice carrying an eerie edge that made the air feel thicker. His cryptic words left a strange chill running down Marlene's spine.