The day began with a gentle breeze sweeping across Mondstadt's rooftops, ruffling the banners of the Knights of Favonius. It was shaping up to be a peaceful morning, but inside Hiroshi's Pokémon shop, chaos was brewing—quite literally. A flurry of black and blue rushed around the shop, knocking over displays and startling customers.
"Kaeya! Your Zorua is at it again!" Hiroshi exclaimed, his voice a mix of frustration and amusement.
Kaeya, who was leaning casually against the counter with a cup of dandelion wine, smirked as he watched his Zorua, the illusion fox Pokémon, had taken a liking to transforming into various forms, causing much mischief around the shop.
"Oh, come now, Hiroshi," Kaeya drawled, his icy blue eye twinkling with mischief. "Zorua just wants to have some fun. Besides, isn't that what these Pokémon are all about?"
Hiroshi sighed, rubbing his temples. "I knew giving you a Zorua was going to be a challenge, but I didn't think it would be this much of a handful."
Zekrom floated nearby, shaking its head. "This one's affinity for chaos seems to match its trainer perfectly," the legendary Pokémon remarked with a chuckle.
Zorua, now transformed into a perfect replica of Paimon, was darting around the shop, mimicking her voice and saying, "Buy me that plushie, Lumine! Buy me that plushie!" in a high-pitched voice.
Paimon, who had been sitting on a stool near the counter, let out an indignant shriek. "Hey! That's not fair! Paimon doesn't sound like that!" She flew over, trying to catch the imposter. "Get back here, you little rascal!"
Lumine stood beside her, barely able to contain her laughter as she watched the scene unfold. Pikachu, perched on her shoulder, was giggling in its own "Pika-pi!" way, enjoying the antics of the mischievous Zorua.
Kaeya took another leisurely sip of his wine, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Zorua, enough teasing. Come back here," he finally said, his voice commanding yet amused.
Zorua, still in Paimon form, stuck its tongue out at Paimon before dashing behind a stack of Poké Balls. With a flicker of blue light, it reverted to its original form and hopped up onto Kaeya's shoulder, rubbing its head affectionately against his cheek.
"Honestly, Kaeya, I don't know who is worse—Zorua or you," Lumine said, shaking her head. "This shop will be in shambles if we leave you two alone for too long."
Kaeya grinned, giving Zorua a gentle pat. "I suppose we do make quite the pair, don't we? But I think Mondstadt could use a little more fun. Besides, it's all harmless... mostly."
Hiroshi, after ensuring that nothing in the shop had actually broken, approached Lumine. "I was thinking of doing a small Pokémon demonstration today, just outside the shop. More and more people are curious about Pokémon, and I think showing how they can interact with people could be beneficial. What do you think?"
Lumine's eyes lit up. "That sounds like a great idea, Hiroshi. Maybe Pikachu can show off some of its moves!"
Paimon chimed in, now more enthusiastic than indignant. "Yeah! Pikachu can show everyone its super-cool Thunderbolt attack! And maybe Kaeya's Zorua can do some tricks too."
Kaeya chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure Zorua would love to show off. It does have a flair for theatrics, after all."
---
A few hours later, a small crowd had gathered outside Hiroshi's Pokémon shop. Word had spread quickly through Mondstadt that there was going to be a demonstration involving the magical creatures that had recently become the talk of the town. Children, merchants, and even a few knights had gathered, their eyes filled with curiosity and excitement.
Hiroshi stood in front of the crowd, his voice carrying over the excited murmurs. "Welcome, everyone! Today, we wanted to give you a glimpse into the world of Pokémon. These creatures aren't just adorable—they're also powerful companions, capable of amazing feats."
Pikachu stepped forward, hopping off Lumine's shoulder and facing the crowd. Lumine smiled, giving it a nod. "Alright, Pikachu, let's show them a Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu's cheeks began to spark, a small smile on its face. "Pika... CHUU!" it called out, releasing a bolt of electricity that arced across the square, lighting up a nearby lamp post with a brilliant flash. The crowd gasped, their eyes widening in awe.
"Whoa! It's so powerful!" a young boy shouted, his eyes practically sparkling.
"Incredible! I've never seen anything like it," one of the merchants whispered, shaking his head in amazement.
Paimon floated up, doing her best to act as an announcer. "See? Pikachu is not only cute but also super strong! Who else wants to see more?!"
The crowd cheered, and Hiroshi gestured to Kaeya. "Kaeya, why don't you and Zorua show everyone what makes Dark-type Pokémon so unique?"
Kaeya stepped forward, Zorua leaping down from his shoulder and trotting to his side. Kaeya gave it a nod, and Zorua's form shimmered, transforming into an exact copy of Kaeya. The crowd gasped, many of them laughing in delight.
"Look, it's two Kaeyas!" someone called out, drawing more laughter from the crowd.
Kaeya, both the real one and the Zorua copy, gave an exaggerated bow. "As you can see, Zorua has the ability to create illusions. Quite the handy trick, wouldn't you say?"
The crowd applauded, clearly entertained by Zorua's antics. One of the children stepped forward, eyes wide. "Can I pet it?"
Kaeya glanced at Zorua, who returned to its original form and gave an excited bark. Kaeya smiled. "I think Zorua would love that. Just be gentle."
The child approached hesitantly, reaching out and patting Zorua's head. Zorua closed its eyes, enjoying the attention, and the crowd "aww"ed at the sight.
As the demonstration continued, more people stepped forward, asking questions and interacting with the Pokémon. Jean arrived partway through, her Litleo in tow, and offered to answer some questions about training Pokémon and the responsibilities of being a Pokémon trainer. The children listened with rapt attention, and some of the adults seemed genuinely interested in learning how to get a Pokémon of their own.
Hiroshi watched the scene unfold, a smile on his face. This was exactly what the [Pokémon Popularization System] was all about—creating connections, bringing people together, and spreading the joy that Pokémon brought to everyone they met.
---
Later that evening, after the demonstration had ended and the crowd had dispersed, Lumine, Kaeya, Jean, and Hiroshi gathered back inside the shop. Zekrom hovered in the corner, its eyes glowing faintly as it observed the group.
"That went better than I expected," Hiroshi said, leaning against the counter. "People seem to be really warming up to the idea of having Pokémon in Mondstadt."
Jean nodded, Litleo curling up at her feet. "It was wonderful to see so many children smiling. I think Pokémon have the potential to bring a lot of positivity to our city."
Kaeya smirked, his gaze shifting to Zorua, who was now curled up in his lap. "And a bit of mischief too. But I suppose that's what makes it all fun, right?"
Lumine laughed, reaching out to scratch Pikachu behind the ears. "It's definitely never boring, that's for sure. I think today was a big step forward."
Paimon floated around, her arms crossed as she nodded sagely. "Paimon thinks we should do more demonstrations! Maybe next time, we could have a battle! Pikachu versus Litleo! Or Zorua! Or even..." She paused dramatically, her eyes widening. "Zekrom!"
Zekrom let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "I think a battle between me and Pikachu might be a bit unfair, Paimon. But I appreciate your enthusiasm."
Everyone laughed, the warmth of their friendship filling the room. As the sun set outside, painting the sky in hues of pink and purple, they all knew that this was just the beginning. There were many more people to introduce to the wonders of Pokémon, and many more adventures waiting for them in the future.
Hiroshi looked around at his friends, his heart swelling with pride and happiness. He had come to this world with a mission, and now, surrounded by laughter and the bonds of friendship, he knew that he was on the right path.
"To more adventures," Hiroshi said, raising an imaginary glass.
"To more adventures!" everyone echoed, their voices filled with excitement for whatever lay ahead.