The wind that blew over Mondstadt was gentle and sweet, carrying the fragrance of freshly baked bread from Sara's stall and the distant echoes of the Cathedral bells. Hiroshi had just arrived in the city, looking up at the towering statue of Barbatos that seemed to watch over the bustling town. Beside him was Zekrom, the mighty dragon, its dark form imposing yet somehow blending comfortably into the liveliness of Mondstadt. Hiroshi took a deep breath and adjusted his shop's banner, the Poké Ball logo shining brightly against the morning light.
"Zekrom," Hiroshi said, looking at the dragon. "This is going to be our new home for a while. Time to spread the magic of Pokémon here."
Zekrom nodded, its voice echoing directly in Hiroshi's mind. "A city of freedom. This could be interesting. Let's see how these people react to Pokémon."
The duo walked to the corner of Mondstadt's main street, where Hiroshi had set up a quaint little shop. The storefront was charming, adorned with Pokémon decorations that Hiroshi had brought from Liyue, hoping to attract the attention of the curious citizens. It wasn't long before the first Mondstadt visitor arrived—and it was none other than Amber.
Amber, the Outrider of the Knights of Favonius, was drawn by the bright colors and the unfamiliar creatures displayed on the posters. Her eyes widened with curiosity as she saw Zekrom looming quietly beside Hiroshi. She approached cautiously, her eyes shifting between the powerful-looking dragon and the friendly smile on Hiroshi's face.
"Hey there! I'm Amber, the Outrider of the Knights of Favonius!" she said, giving a friendly salute. "What... exactly is all this?"
Hiroshi smiled. "Welcome, Amber! This is a Pokémon shop. I'm Hiroshi, and this here is Zekrom."
Amber blinked at Zekrom, then back at Hiroshi. "A shop? For... these creatures?" She took a step closer to Zekrom, inspecting it, and then gave a thumbs-up. "Whoa! That thing looks amazing! Can anyone have one of these?"
Zekrom lowered its head slightly, its eyes gleaming. "I am not a 'thing,' but thank you."
Amber jumped back in surprise, her mouth hanging open. "Wait, it can talk?!"
Hiroshi chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Only certain Pokémon can communicate like Zekrom does. But yes, Pokémon are creatures that people here can become partners with, like companions. Would you like to meet one yourself?"
Amber's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Absolutely! Sign me up! I'm always up for trying something new."
Hiroshi handed her a Poké Ball, and Amber stared at it for a moment before tossing it in the air. In a burst of light, a small, blue, and adorable creature appeared, with a fluffy cloud-like body. It was a Swablu.
"Aww, it's so cute!" Amber squealed, her eyes practically twinkling. She crouched down, extending a hand towards Swablu, which chirped and flapped its wings happily. "What's your name, little guy?"
Swablu hopped onto her arm, nuzzling her cheek. Hiroshi smiled as he watched the scene—the magic of introducing Pokémon to new partners never got old.
"Swablu seems to like you," Hiroshi said. "It's a Flying-type, just like you enjoy gliding. I think you two will get along great."
Amber grinned. "Flying buddies, huh? You're definitely coming with me on my next gliding patrol!" She looked at Hiroshi, her expression turning serious for a moment. "I think Mondstadt is really going to love these Pokémon. Can I tell the other Knights about it?"
"Please do," Hiroshi replied. "I'd love for everyone to come and meet them."
---
By midday, news of the strange new shop had spread around Mondstadt. Word had traveled quickly, thanks in part to Amber's enthusiastic excitement. Soon, the shop was bustling with a stream of curious visitors—one of whom was Kaeya, the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius.
Kaeya sauntered up to the shop, his eyes taking in the strange decorations and the sight of Zekrom standing tall. His smirk widened as he approached Hiroshi, who was busy showing a group of children how to toss a Poké Ball.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Something from Liyue making its way to Mondstadt?" Kaeya asked, his voice smooth as silk.
Hiroshi turned, giving Kaeya a polite smile. "Welcome! I'm Hiroshi, and this is a Pokémon shop. I brought these creatures from Liyue, and now I'm here to share them with Mondstadt."
Kaeya looked intrigued. "A Pokémon shop, you say? And what exactly do these creatures do?"
Before Hiroshi could answer, Zekrom's voice rumbled into Kaeya's mind. "We are companions, not pets. We can fight alongside our partners, help with tasks, or simply provide company."
Kaeya raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "A talking dragon? This just got interesting." He turned back to Hiroshi. "I suppose I should see what all the fuss is about."
Hiroshi handed Kaeya a Poké Ball, and after a brief moment of consideration, Kaeya threw it. A flash of light revealed a dark, fox-like creature with a mischievous grin—a Zorua.
Kaeya chuckled, kneeling down to look at the Zorua, which immediately leaped onto his shoulder, nuzzling against his cheek. "Ah, I see we have a trickster here," Kaeya said, patting Zorua gently.
Hiroshi nodded. "Zorua is known for its illusions. I think it suits you well."
Kaeya gave Hiroshi a knowing smile. "I do like to keep people guessing. You've got me curious, Hiroshi. I think this partnership will be quite... entertaining."
---
Meanwhile, at the Good Hunter, Sara was busy serving lunch when she noticed a familiar figure approaching—Jean, the Acting Grand Master. Jean had heard from Amber about the new shop and had decided to take a look herself. She was, after all, responsible for ensuring that anything new coming into Mondstadt posed no threat to the city's safety.
When Jean arrived at the shop, she was greeted by the sight of Kaeya playing with his new partner, Zorua, while Amber was chasing her Swablu around, laughing all the while. Hiroshi turned and saw Jean, immediately recognizing her from the descriptions Amber had given him.
"Welcome, Acting Grand Master Jean!" Hiroshi greeted warmly. "I'm Hiroshi, and I've come to introduce Mondstadt to Pokémon."
Jean nodded politely. "Amber and Kaeya have told me about your shop. I wanted to see it for myself."
Zekrom stepped forward, bowing its head slightly. "Greetings, Jean. We mean no harm to Mondstadt. We only wish to share our companionship."
Jean looked up at Zekrom, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of the impressive dragon. "A talking creature... This is certainly something new." She turned to Hiroshi. "I'd like to learn more about these creatures. Would you mind if I tried?"
Hiroshi handed her a Poké Ball, and after a brief hesitation, Jean released the creature inside. Out came a small, fiery lion cub—a Litleo. The little Pokémon let out a playful growl, bouncing towards Jean and nuzzling her leg.
Jean's expression softened, a gentle smile forming on her lips. "Hello, little one," she said, kneeling down to pet Litleo. "You're quite the spirited creature, aren't you?"
Hiroshi watched the scene, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Each person in Mondstadt seemed to be bonding well with their new partners. He could already envision Pokémon becoming an integral part of life here, just as they had in Liyue.
---
As the day drew to a close, Hiroshi sat on a bench near his shop, watching the sunset over Mondstadt. Beside him, Zekrom rested, its eyes half-closed in contentment.
"It went well today," Hiroshi said, smiling. "The people here are curious, and I think they'll come to love Pokémon just as much as the people in Liyue do."
Zekrom nodded, its voice gentle. "This city has a good spirit. I believe we will find many worthy partners here."
Just then, Amber came running up, Swablu perched on her head. "Hiroshi! I just wanted to say thank you again. Swablu and I had the best day ever! We even helped a kid who got his kite stuck in a tree!"
Hiroshi laughed. "I'm glad to hear that, Amber. That's exactly what Pokémon are for—to help, to befriend, and to make life a little more magical."
Amber gave him a thumbs-up. "You bet! I'm going to tell everyone in Mondstadt about this. Soon, everyone will want a Pokémon partner!"
As Amber ran off, Hiroshi looked at Zekrom, who gave a small, amused snort. "It seems our work here is just beginning," Zekrom said.
Hiroshi nodded, looking out over the bustling streets of Mondstadt, where laughter and excitement filled the air. "Yes," he agreed. "But I think it's going to be a lot of fun."