The sun shone brightly over Mondstadt, and the gentle breeze carried with it the pleasant scents of freshly baked bread from the local bakeries. Lumine was strolling through the market square, with Paimon floating happily beside her and Pikachu trotting along at her feet. They were enjoying a leisurely day, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city. The relaxed atmosphere was exactly what they needed after the excitement of their recent battle.
"Lumine, look! They've got fresh berries over there!" Paimon exclaimed, pointing towards a fruit stall. "We should totally buy some and make something yummy! Maybe a berry pie or a berry tart! Paimon's in the mood for something sweet!"
Lumine chuckled, amused by Paimon's enthusiasm. "Alright, alright, let's go check it out," she said, following Paimon to the stall. Pikachu's ears perked up at the mention of food, and it let out an enthusiastic "Pika!" before scampering along beside them.
The stall owner greeted them with a friendly smile as they approached, his stand overflowing with all sorts of berries—some native to Teyvat, and others that Lumine recognized from Hiroshi's Pokémon shop. There were Oran Berries, Sitrus Berries, and even Pecha Berries, each one looking plump and delicious.
Paimon's eyes practically sparkled as she looked over the selection. "Wow, look at all these berries! Paimon wants to try them all!" She turned to Lumine, her eyes wide with excitement. "Lumine, let's buy some and make a delicious berry feast!"
Lumine smiled, shaking her head in amusement. "Alright, Paimon. But you'll have to help me cook this time. No sneaking off to eat all the ingredients while I'm not looking."
Paimon gasped, her expression indignant. "Paimon would never!" she declared, though the mischievous glint in her eyes suggested otherwise. Lumine merely raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile on her face.
After purchasing a basket full of berries, the trio made their way back to the Knights of Favonius headquarters, where they were allowed to use the kitchen for their cooking endeavors. Lumine set the basket down on the counter, looking around at the various ingredients and cooking utensils they had at their disposal.
"Alright, Paimon, Pikachu, let's get started," Lumine said, tying an apron around her waist. She handed a smaller apron to Paimon, who struggled for a moment to put it on before giving up and simply draping it over her shoulders like a cape.
Pikachu watched with curiosity, its ears twitching as it sniffed at the berries. "Pika?" it asked, looking up at Lumine with hopeful eyes.
Lumine laughed, patting Pikachu on the head. "You can have some, but only after we've made something, okay?"
Paimon floated over to the counter, her hands on her hips. "Alright, let's do this! Paimon will be the taste tester!" She reached for one of the berries, only for Lumine to swat her hand away playfully.
"Not yet, Paimon. First, we need to wash the berries and prepare the dough," Lumine said, giving her companion a gentle smile.
Paimon pouted but relented, helping Lumine wash the berries while Pikachu tried to help by carrying small bowls of berries over to the counter. However, Pikachu's tiny paws weren't quite steady, and it ended up spilling berries across the floor more than once.
"Oops! Pikachu, be careful!" Paimon scolded, though her tone was more amused than upset.
Pikachu looked up at Paimon, its ears drooping slightly. "Pika…"
Lumine knelt down, picking up the spilled berries and giving Pikachu a reassuring pat. "It's alright, Pikachu. We all make mistakes. Just try again, okay?"
Pikachu's ears perked up, and it gave a determined nod, picking up the bowl once more and carefully placing it on the counter. Lumine smiled, ruffling Pikachu's fur. "There you go. Good job."
The trio continued their preparations, with Paimon attempting to roll out the dough while Lumine handled the berries. However, Paimon quickly found herself struggling, the rolling pin proving to be a bit more challenging than she had anticipated. She grunted in frustration, trying to keep the dough from sticking to the pin.
"Why is this so hard?!" Paimon complained, her cheeks puffed out in frustration. "Lumine, how do you make this look so easy?!"
Lumine couldn't help but laugh at Paimon's struggle. "You just need to use a bit more flour, Paimon. Here, let me help you." She sprinkled some flour onto the dough, and Paimon tried again, this time with more success.
Pikachu, in the meantime, had taken an interest in the berries again, sniffing them curiously before giving one a tentative lick. Lumine noticed and gave Pikachu a gentle warning. "Not yet, Pikachu. We need those for the pie."
Pikachu pouted, but it obediently stepped back, watching as Lumine began to mix the berries with sugar and spices. The smell of the sweet mixture began to fill the kitchen, making both Paimon and Pikachu's mouths water.
Once the filling was ready, Lumine carefully poured it into the pie crust that Paimon had finally managed to roll out. She covered it with another layer of dough, cutting small slits into the top before placing it in the oven.
"Now we just have to wait," Lumine said, wiping her hands on her apron. She looked at Paimon, who was eyeing the leftover berries with a hungry expression. Lumine shook her head, smiling. "Alright, you two can have some of the extra berries while we wait. Just don't eat them all."
Paimon let out a cheer, grabbing a handful of berries and popping them into her mouth. Pikachu followed suit, happily munching on the sweet fruit. Lumine watched them with a fond smile, leaning against the counter as she waited for the pie to bake.
---
After a while, the delicious aroma of the baking pie began to fill the kitchen, drawing the attention of a few curious onlookers. Amber poked her head into the kitchen, her eyes widening as she took in the scene.
"Whoa, Lumine, are you baking a pie?" Amber asked, stepping inside with Swablu perched on her shoulder. Swablu let out a cheerful chirp, clearly intrigued by the smell.
Lumine nodded, smiling. "Yeah, Paimon and I decided to make something with all the berries we bought. It should be ready soon."
Paimon floated over, her cheeks still stuffed with berries. "It's gonna be delicious! Paimon helped make it, so it's definitely gonna be the best pie ever!"
Amber laughed, reaching out to pat Paimon on the head. "I'm sure it will be. Mind if Swablu and I stick around for a taste?"
"Of course! The more, the merrier," Lumine said warmly.
As they waited for the pie to finish baking, the group chatted and laughed, with Swablu and Pikachu playing together on the counter. Paimon, of course, took the opportunity to brag about her "culinary skills," much to Amber's amusement.
"Alright, it should be ready now," Lumine said, putting on oven mitts and carefully taking the pie out of the oven. The golden crust was perfectly baked, and the berry filling was bubbling slightly, the scent making everyone's mouths water.
"It smells amazing!" Amber said, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Lumine set the pie on the counter to cool, and Paimon floated over, her eyes practically sparkling. "Can we eat it now? Please?! Paimon's been waiting forever!"
Lumine laughed, shaking her head. "Alright, alright. Just let it cool for a minute, and then we can dig in."
Once the pie had cooled enough, Lumine cut it into slices, serving a piece to everyone. Paimon took a bite, her eyes widening in delight. "Mmm! This is so good! Lumine, you're the best cook ever!"
Amber nodded in agreement, her own slice half-finished already. "You really outdid yourself, Lumine. This is amazing!"
Pikachu let out a happy "Pika!" as it took a bite of its slice, its cheeks sparking slightly in excitement. Swablu chirped in agreement, clearly enjoying the treat as well.
Lumine smiled, taking a bite of her own slice. The sweet and tart flavor of the berries mixed perfectly with the flaky crust, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in their creation.
"You know, Lumine," Amber began, looking at her with a grin, "with skills like that, you could open a bakery. I bet people would line up for your pies!"
Paimon gasped, her eyes lighting up. "Paimon thinks that's a great idea! We could call it 'Lumine's Legendary Pies'!" She floated around excitedly, clearly already imagining the possibilities.
Lumine laughed, shaking her head. "I think I'll stick to adventuring for now, Paimon. But I'm glad you all enjoyed it."
Amber grinned, giving Lumine a thumbs-up. "Well, if you ever change your mind, you know Swablu and I will be your first customers."
The group shared a laugh, the warmth of their friendship filling the kitchen as the sun began to set outside. It was moments like these that reminded Lumine why she loved Mondstadt so much—the sense of community, the joy of simple pleasures, and the bonds she had formed with the people (and Pokémon) around her.
As the day came to a close, Lumine looked at Pikachu, who was now dozing contentedly on the counter, and Paimon, who was still nibbling on the last of the berries. She smiled, her heart full.
"Let's make more memories like this, together," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth.
Paimon looked up, her mouth full of berries, and nodded vigorously. "Absolutely! Paimon's always ready for more adventures—and more food!"
Amber stood up, stretching her arms. "Well, it's getting late. Swablu and I should head back. Thanks for letting us crash your cooking party, Lumine. It was a blast."
Lumine nodded, standing up as well. "You're always welcome, Amber. Thanks for joining us."
Amber gave a final wave before heading out, Swablu perched happily on her shoulder. Lumine watched her go, then turned to Paimon and Pikachu, who was now fast asleep, curled up with a content expression.
"Looks like it's time for us to call it a day too," Lumine said with a gentle smile. She carefully picked up Pikachu, cradling the sleeping Pokémon in her arms.
Paimon floated beside her, yawning. "Yeah, today was exhausting... but totally worth it! That pie was amazing!"
Lumine nodded as they began to leave the kitchen. "We should do this more often, Paimon. Simple days like this remind us of what really matters."
Paimon smiled, her eyes closing as she floated beside Lumine. "Yeah... more pie... and more fun..." she murmured, already half-asleep.
Lumine chuckled, her heart feeling light as she carried Pikachu and walked back to their quarters, with Paimon dozing by her side. The evening sky outside was painted with hues of pink and orange, and the stars were just beginning to peek through.
It had been a day of small, happy moments—of friendship, laughter, and shared experiences. And as they made their way back, Lumine knew that these were the memories she would always cherish, even amidst all the adventures and battles that awaited them in Teyvat.
"Goodnight, Paimon," Lumine whispered softly as they entered their room.
"Night, Lumine..." Paimon mumbled, already drifting off.
Lumine placed Pikachu gently on a soft pillow, then lay down herself, a peaceful smile on her face.
Tomorrow would bring new adventures, but for now, she was content—and that was more than enough.