The morning sun was barely peeking over the horizon when the Liyue market began to come alive. Stalls were being set up, fresh vegetables and fruits were being arranged, and the smell of fried dough wafted in the air. The festive mood from the Lantern Rite preparations was still hanging around, and there was a tangible buzz of excitement throughout Liyue. Today, however, was special for another reason—Hiroshi had decided to bring some of the Pokémon out for a special showcase at the market.
Hiroshi stood near the center of the market, his Pokémon Emporium banner hanging proudly over a small makeshift stage. Zekrom stood behind him, his imposing figure drawing the attention of many passersby. Hiroshi knew that Zekrom's presence always helped attract a crowd. The plan for today was simple: demonstrate the unique abilities of different Pokémon to the people of Liyue and show how these creatures could be both helpful and delightful companions.
"Hiroshi," Zekrom rumbled, his voice resonating deeply, "it seems like we're already drawing quite the crowd."
Hiroshi smiled, looking at the gathering marketgoers, a mix of curiosity and excitement on their faces. "That's exactly what we need, Zekrom. Today, we'll show them just how amazing Pokémon can be."
As more people gathered, Hu Tao bounced her way into the scene, her Shuppet floating close behind her, its eerie eyes looking at the growing crowd. Hu Tao waved cheerfully at Hiroshi. "Hey there, Hiroshi! Looks like you've got something exciting planned! Shuppet and I just had to come and check it out!"
Hiroshi nodded. "Good timing, Hu Tao. We're going to be showcasing some Pokémon abilities today. Maybe you'd like to participate?"
Hu Tao grinned widely, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Oh, count me in! Come on, Shuppet, let's show everyone your spooky skills!"
Shuppet twirled in the air, clearly excited about the idea. Hiroshi looked around, spotting Chongyun arriving with Duskull. Chongyun seemed a bit wary, his eyes darting to Hu Tao as if trying to gauge just how much mischief she intended to cause today.
"Chongyun! Perfect timing," Hiroshi called out, waving him over. "We're going to do a Pokémon showcase. Would you and Duskull like to participate?"
Chongyun hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But let's try to keep it... safe. No scaring people too much, please." He gave a pointed look at Hu Tao, who just laughed and gave him a cheeky wink.
"No promises, Chongyun! But don't worry, we'll make it fun!" Hu Tao teased, her laughter light and playful.
Hiroshi clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone! Welcome to the Pokémon Showcase! Today, we're going to show you some of the amazing things Pokémon can do. Each one has unique abilities that make them special. We'll be starting with Hu Tao and her Shuppet!"
Hu Tao skipped to the center of the stage, Shuppet floating beside her. She turned to the crowd, her voice full of enthusiasm. "Ladies and gentlemen of Liyue! Get ready to witness the ghostly charm of Shuppet! Shuppet, let's give them a little ghostly dance!"
Shuppet began to float in circles, its wispy body twisting and twirling through the air. It let out a soft, ghostly "boooo," but instead of scaring the crowd, it seemed to delight them. The children in the audience giggled, clapping their hands as Shuppet made funny faces and danced around Hu Tao.
"That's right! Shuppet isn't here to scare you—it's here to entertain!" Hu Tao said, twirling along with her partner. The crowd responded with laughter and applause, clearly charmed by Shuppet's antics.
Next, Hiroshi gestured for Chongyun to step forward. Chongyun took a deep breath, his serious expression softening slightly as he nodded at Duskull. "Alright, Duskull. Let's show them your trick."
Duskull floated to the front of the stage, its single eye glowing. Slowly, it phased out of sight, disappearing completely. The crowd gasped, looking around in awe. Chongyun waited a moment before raising his hand, and Duskull reappeared right above him, giving a playful wave to the crowd.
The audience broke into applause, and Chongyun couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. "Duskull might be a ghost-type, but he's friendly. He likes to play tricks, but they're never meant to harm anyone."
As the showcase continued, other familiar faces made their way to the stage. Beidou arrived, her Fletchinder flying confidently above her. She waved at Hiroshi, her voice loud and cheerful as always. "Alright, Hiroshi, what's going on here? Seems like quite the gathering!"
"We're showcasing some Pokémon abilities today," Hiroshi explained. "Would you and Fletchinder like to participate?"
Beidou grinned, looking at her Fletchinder. "What do you say, Fletchinder? Want to show everyone how high you can fly?"
Fletchinder chirped enthusiastically, taking to the sky in a burst of flames. It soared above the marketplace, leaving a streak of red and orange as it flew in wide arcs, its movements graceful and powerful. The crowd watched in awe, many of them cheering and pointing as Fletchinder circled back and landed gracefully on Beidou's shoulder.
"That's my partner! Fast, fierce, and ready for anything!" Beidou declared, her pride evident.
The showcase continued with more demonstrations. Ganyu and her Snorunt showed how Snorunt could create small ice sculptures, shaping delicate snowflakes that floated down to the delighted audience. Xingqiu demonstrated how Finneon could create gentle splashes, making patterns in the air with its tail, while Yanfei's Bellsprout used its vines to hold and juggle several small fruits, much to the crowd's amusement.
Ningguang also made an appearance, her Rotom lighting up a series of lanterns with controlled bursts of electricity, creating a beautiful display that left the audience speechless. The synchronized lighting effect gave the entire market a festive air, and the crowd erupted in applause as the final lantern lit up.
---
As the event wound down, Hiroshi took a moment to address the crowd. "Thank you, everyone, for coming to our Pokémon Showcase! I hope you enjoyed seeing what these amazing creatures can do. Pokémon aren't just companions—they can help us, entertain us, and bring joy to our lives. If you're interested in learning more about Pokémon or getting a partner of your own, come visit the Pokémon Emporium!"
The crowd cheered, many of them looking intrigued and excited at the idea of having their own Pokémon partner. Hiroshi felt a swell of pride as he looked at the gathered people, all of them smiling and laughing. It was moments like these that made him realize how far they had come in introducing Pokémon to Teyvat.
As the crowd began to disperse, Hu Tao approached Hiroshi, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "That was a lot of fun, Hiroshi! But I think Shuppet and I might have one last trick up our sleeves..."
Hiroshi raised an eyebrow, looking at her warily. "Hu Tao, please... nothing that will scare the children."
Hu Tao giggled, waving her hand dismissively. "No, no, nothing like that! I just thought it would be fun to have Shuppet help clean up a bit."
Before Hiroshi could respond, Shuppet floated over to a pile of scattered decorations, its eyes glowing as it used its psychic abilities to lift them into the air. The decorations floated around for a moment before neatly arranging themselves into a box. The crowd that was still lingering clapped at the display, clearly entertained.
Hiroshi let out a relieved sigh. "Alright, Hu Tao, I suppose that's fine. Just... no more surprises today, alright?"
Hu Tao grinned, giving him a playful salute. "You got it, Hiroshi! Come on, Shuppet, let's go get some almond tofu to celebrate!"
As Hu Tao skipped away, Chongyun approached, Duskull floating beside him. "Today went well," Chongyun said, his tone sincere. "I think people are starting to understand Pokémon better."
Hiroshi nodded, looking around at the happy faces of those still in the market. "Yes, they are. It's a slow process, but we're making progress. One step at a time."
Zekrom, who had been watching the entire event in silence, finally spoke up. "You are doing well, Hiroshi. The people of Liyue are beginning to see the value in Pokémon. Today was proof of that."
Hiroshi looked up at his partner, a smile forming on his face. "Thank you, Zekrom. It means a lot to hear that." He glanced back at the market, watching as Ganyu and Ningguang spoke with some curious onlookers about their Pokémon. "We still have a long way to go, but today was a good step forward."
Zekrom nodded, his gaze softening as he watched the people of Liyue interacting with their Pokémon partners. "Yes. And with each day, the bonds between humans and Pokémon will grow stronger. That is the true magic of this world."
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over Liyue, Hiroshi knew that they were on the right path. The journey was long, but with moments like today, he felt confident that they could achieve their goal—to make Pokémon a cherished part of Teyvat, one person at a time.