Mondstadt was bathed in the soft light of an early morning, with the sun just beginning to rise over the city walls. The air carried the faint scent of flowers from the surrounding fields, and the city streets were slowly coming to life as shopkeepers opened their doors and children began their play. In the midst of this peaceful scene, Sucrose, the assistant alchemist, hurried through the streets, her head buried in her notes, oblivious to the activity around her.
Sucrose had always been fascinated by unusual phenomena, and ever since Pokémon had been introduced to Mondstadt, she had found herself intrigued by these mysterious creatures. Their abilities, the bonds they formed with people, and even their elemental affinities—all of it fascinated her. She had gathered notes and observed many of her friends' Pokémon, but now she was finally ready to take the next step. Today, she was going to visit Hiroshi's Pokémon shop and find a partner of her own.
She reached the shop, barely managing to avoid running into a barrel as she focused on her notes. Outside, Zekrom stood as always, its imposing presence unmistakable. Sucrose glanced up, giving Zekrom a polite smile.
"Good morning, Zekrom," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Zekrom looked down at her, its deep voice rumbling. "You seek a partner, young alchemist. The curiosity within you is strong."
Sucrose blushed slightly, adjusting her glasses. "Y-yes, that's correct. I've read so much about Pokémon, and I think it's time to experience it firsthand." She gave a nervous smile before stepping inside.
The shop was calm, with Hiroshi arranging a few items behind the counter. He looked up as Sucrose entered, giving her a friendly wave.
"Sucrose! It's great to see you here," Hiroshi said warmly. "Are you here to find a partner today?"
Sucrose nodded, holding her notebook close to her chest. "Yes, I… I've been researching Pokémon for some time now, and I think it's time I had a partner of my own. I want to understand them better, and what better way to do that than by forming a bond myself?"
Hiroshi smiled knowingly, leading her to a row of Poké Balls displayed on the shelves. "I think I have the perfect partner for you, Sucrose. One that shares your curiosity for exploration and discovery." He selected a Poké Ball and handed it to her. "Go ahead, meet your partner."
Sucrose took the Poké Ball, her hands trembling slightly. She pressed the button, and in a flash of light, a small, bug-like Pokémon appeared in front of her. It had a blue body, with large, curious eyes—a Joltik.
Sucrose gasped, her eyes widening as she knelt down to get a closer look at the tiny Pokémon. "A Joltik… It's so small! And it's Electric-type… fascinating." She reached out a hand, and Joltik climbed onto her palm, looking up at her with a curious tilt of its head.
Hiroshi nodded, smiling. "Joltik is a great partner for you, Sucrose. It's curious, just like you, and it has the ability to generate electricity, which might be useful for your experiments."
Sucrose beamed, her eyes sparkling behind her glasses. "Thank you, Hiroshi. I think Joltik and I are going to learn a lot together." She looked at Joltik, who chirped happily, and she couldn't help but feel her heart swell with excitement.
Hiroshi handed her a Pokédex, as well as six Poké Balls and a pouch of Pokémon food. "Here you go, Sucrose. This will help you get started. Don't hesitate to come by if you need any advice."
Sucrose nodded, taking the items and placing Joltik on her shoulder. "Thank you. I'll take good care of Joltik." She left the shop, her mind already racing with ideas for experiments she could conduct with her new partner.
---
Later that morning, Sucrose returned to her alchemy lab, Joltik perched comfortably on her shoulder. She set her notebook on her worktable, turning to Joltik with an excited smile.
"Alright, Joltik, let's see what we can learn together," she said, adjusting her glasses. "I want to understand how your electricity works—how it's generated, and what makes it different from elemental energy." She paused, looking at the small Pokémon, who was watching her intently. "Would you be willing to help me with that?"
Joltik chirped, its tiny body sparking with excitement. Sucrose giggled, feeling a rush of joy. She picked up a small metal rod, holding it out to Joltik. "Okay, let's start with a simple test. Can you generate a small spark for me?"
Joltik nodded, its body glowing slightly as it focused. A tiny spark of electricity shot from its body to the metal rod, causing Sucrose to gasp in delight. She quickly jotted down some notes, her mind buzzing with excitement.
"That's incredible, Joltik! The energy output is different from elemental energy… it's more stable, more controlled. This could have so many applications!" She looked at her partner, who was watching her curiously. "Thank you, Joltik. I think we're going to make some amazing discoveries together."
---
A few hours later, Albedo entered the lab, curious about the commotion he had heard from down the hallway. He found Sucrose sitting at her worktable, surrounded by notes, her Joltik perched on her shoulder. Sucrose was so absorbed in her work that she didn't even notice Albedo's presence until he spoke.
"Sucrose, it seems you've made a new friend," Albedo said, his voice calm and measured.
Sucrose jumped slightly, turning to face her mentor. "Oh! Master Albedo! I… I didn't see you there. Yes, this is Joltik, my new Pokémon partner." She smiled, holding Joltik in her hands. "Isn't it fascinating? I've been conducting some tests, and the electricity it generates is unlike anything I've seen before."
Albedo stepped closer, examining Joltik with a curious eye. "Indeed, it is quite an interesting creature. I've heard about the Pokémon, but I haven't had the chance to study one up close yet." He looked at Sucrose, a small smile on his lips. "I see that you're already making progress in understanding it."
Sucrose blushed, nodding. "Yes, Joltik has been very cooperative. It's so small, but its abilities are incredible. I think there's so much we can learn from Pokémon… they're different from anything we've encountered before."
Albedo nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting to the notes scattered across the table. "It seems you have a lot to work with. Perhaps, when you're ready, we can conduct an experiment together. I'm curious to see how Pokémon abilities interact with alchemical processes."
Sucrose's eyes widened, her excitement palpable. "Really? I'd love that, Master Albedo! There's so much potential here… I can't wait to see what we can discover."
Albedo smiled, placing a hand on Sucrose's shoulder. "Take your time, Sucrose. It's important to understand your partner fully before diving into complex experiments. But I have no doubt that you'll make great strides."
Sucrose nodded, looking down at Joltik, who chirped in agreement. "Thank you, Master Albedo. I'll do my best."
---
As the afternoon turned to evening, Sucrose decided to take Joltik for a walk around Mondstadt, wanting to give her new partner a chance to explore the city. She wandered through the streets, Joltik perched happily on her shoulder, its eyes wide as it took in all the sights and sounds.
They eventually made their way to the city plaza, where they ran into Bennett, who was sitting on a bench, his Charmander dozing beside him. He looked up as Sucrose approached, giving her a friendly wave.
"Hey, Sucrose! I didn't know you got a Pokémon too," Bennett said, his eyes lighting up as he noticed Joltik. "Whoa, it's so tiny! What kind of Pokémon is it?"
Sucrose smiled, holding Joltik out for Bennett to see. "This is Joltik. It's an Electric-type. I've been studying its abilities, and it's been incredibly fascinating."
Bennett leaned in closer, his eyes wide with curiosity. "That's so cool! Charmander and I are still getting used to battling and stuff, but I think we're getting better. Maybe someday we can have a friendly match—you know, just for fun!"
Sucrose blushed slightly, her eyes widening. "A battle? Oh, I… I don't know if I'm ready for that. Joltik and I are still getting to know each other."
Bennett grinned, giving her a thumbs-up. "No worries! There's no rush. Just let me know whenever you're ready. I think it'd be a lot of fun."
Sucrose looked at Joltik, who seemed to chirp in agreement, and she smiled. "Alright, maybe someday. I think it would be a good way for Joltik and me to grow."
Bennett nodded, his smile bright. "Exactly! Pokémon are all about helping each other grow. You and Joltik are gonna make an awesome team, Sucrose. I just know it."
As they chatted, the bells of the Cathedral rang out, signaling the end of the day. Sucrose looked up at the sky, the sun dipping below the horizon, and she felt a sense of contentment wash over her. She looked at Joltik, who was now snuggling into her shoulder, and she knew that this was just the beginning of an incredible journey.
"Let's go home, Joltik," she said softly, her heart full. "We have so much to learn together… and I can't wait to see where this journey takes us."