The morning sun broke through the clouds over Liyue, illuminating the bustling streets filled with merchants setting up their stalls for Market Day. The air was filled with a sense of excitement as townsfolk and visitors gathered, ready to enjoy the best that Liyue had to offer. Pokémon wandered freely alongside people, adding even more life to the vibrant scene.
Lumine and Paimon had decided to explore the market, their Pokémon partners by their side. Pikachu was sitting comfortably on Lumine's shoulder, ears twitching at every new sound, while Oddish waddled along next to them, trying its best to avoid being stepped on by the crowd.
Paimon floated ahead, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Wow, look at all the stalls, Lumine! There's so much to see—and eat! Do you think they have more of those Oran Berry tarts we tried last time?"
Lumine smiled, her eyes scanning the rows of colorful stalls. "I'm sure we'll find something even better today, Paimon. Let's just try not to get too distracted. The market looks pretty busy."
As they walked through the market, they came across a stall selling beautifully crafted jewelry. Behind the stall, Ningguang stood, her Rotom hovering beside her, zipping back and forth, assisting her with setting up. Rotom's electric energy gave a flickering light to the crystals on display, enhancing their already captivating appearance.
"Ningguang!" Lumine called, waving.
Ningguang looked up and smiled. "Ah, Lumine, Paimon. It's a pleasure to see you here today." She gestured to the jewelry. "I've decided to incorporate some elements inspired by the Pokémon into my designs. Rotom here has been quite helpful."
Paimon floated closer, admiring a necklace with a delicate electric-blue gem. "Wow, Ningguang! It's so pretty! Is this gem supposed to look like a Thunder Stone?"
Ningguang nodded, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. "You have a sharp eye, Paimon. Indeed, I took inspiration from the Thunder Stone. It has become quite popular since the introduction of Pokémon here in Liyue. I thought it fitting to create something that captures its essence."
Lumine smiled, admiring the craftsmanship. Just then, a commotion broke out a few stalls over. They heard someone shout, and the unmistakable sound of objects clattering to the ground followed.
"What's going on over there?" Lumine asked, exchanging a quick glance with Ningguang, who looked mildly intrigued.
They hurried over to the source of the noise, where they found Beidou standing next to an overturned crate of exotic fruits. Her Fletchinder was perched on her shoulder, looking guilty, while Mareep was tangled up in a few of the fallen fruit crates, bleating nervously.
Beidou gave them a sheepish grin as Lumine and Paimon arrived. "Uh, hey there, Lumine. Seems like we're causing a bit of trouble today. Mareep got a little too excited about the Sitrus Berries, and, well... here we are."
Paimon giggled. "Looks like Mareep couldn't resist the market's treats, huh?"
Beidou nodded, trying to help Mareep out of the tangle of crates. "You'd think by now I'd have learned to keep a better eye on Mareep around food. Fletchinder, give me a hand here, would you?"
Fletchinder chirped in response and flapped its wings, helping to lift one of the smaller crates off Mareep. Lumine knelt down beside them, her Pikachu hopping off her shoulder to assist, tugging at some of the fabric that had wrapped around Mareep's wool.
"Thanks, Lumine," Beidou said, her grin widening. "You always seem to show up just in time to save us from a little chaos."
"No problem," Lumine said with a laugh. "It's all part of the fun, right?"
Once Mareep was free and the crates were somewhat back in order, the vendor, who had been watching the scene with a mix of amusement and exasperation, came over. "Thank you for helping out. Although, I might suggest keeping that Mareep away from the fruit next time," he said, half-joking.
Beidou scratched the back of her head, chuckling. "Noted. I'll make sure to keep Mareep on a tighter leash next time we're near anything edible."
As they continued down the market, Paimon's attention was caught by a stall that was handing out small pamphlets. The sign above read: "Pokémon Center - Now Open in Liyue!" Paimon darted over, grabbing one of the pamphlets and waving it at Lumine.
"Look, Lumine! The Pokémon Center here is fully open now! They're even offering free checkups for Pokémon this week. We should totally go check it out!"
Lumine took the pamphlet, scanning it quickly. "That's a great idea, Paimon. We could take Pikachu and Oddish for a quick checkup, just to make sure they're doing okay."
Beidou, overhearing them, perked up. "Hey, that's not a bad idea. Mareep could probably use a checkup too after today's excitement. What do you say, Lumine? We can go together."
Lumine nodded, smiling. "Let's do it. I'd love to see what the Pokémon Center in Liyue is like."
Together, they made their way to the Pokémon Center. The building was easy to spot—it had a bright red roof and a large Poké Ball symbol above the entrance. Inside, the atmosphere was welcoming and bustling with activity. Trainers were talking with the staff, while Pokémon lounged about or played in a designated area. There were a few Chansey helping out behind the counter, their kind eyes making everyone feel instantly at ease.
Lumine approached the counter with Paimon hovering beside her. The nurse smiled warmly at them. "Welcome to the Pokémon Center. How can we help you today?"
"We'd like to get our Pokémon checked up, please," Lumine said, gesturing to Pikachu and Oddish.
The nurse nodded. "Of course! It'll just be a moment. Please feel free to have a seat while we take care of them." She gestured to a waiting area where a few trainers were already sitting.
Beidou handed Mareep over as well, and they all sat down. Paimon looked around, her eyes wide as she took in the sights. "Wow, this place is amazing! It's just like the Pokémon Centers back in Mondstadt. They've even got the play area for Pokémon!"
As they watched, a few young trainers were playing with their Pokémon in the play area. A couple of Growlithe were chasing each other, while a Clefairy and a Jigglypuff were bouncing a beach ball back and forth. Paimon giggled as a Togepi waddled over, looking curiously at her before letting out a cheerful "Toge!"
Beidou leaned back in her seat, stretching her arms. "You know, it's kind of amazing how quickly Pokémon Centers have become part of our daily lives here in Liyue. I remember when we first heard about Pokémon, and now look at us—taking Mareep in for a checkup like it's the most normal thing in the world."
Lumine nodded. "It's incredible how much things have changed in such a short time. And it's not just us—the people of Liyue have really embraced the Pokémon. I think it's made life here even more lively."
Beidou grinned. "Lively is one way to put it. Sometimes it feels like every day is an adventure just trying to keep Mareep and Fletchinder out of trouble. But I wouldn't trade it for anything."
A short while later, the nurse returned with Pikachu, Oddish, and Mareep, all looking quite happy and well. "All of your Pokémon are in great health," she said, handing them back. "Just make sure Mareep doesn't overindulge in any more berries today." She smiled, clearly aware of the earlier mishap.
Beidou laughed, giving Mareep a gentle pat. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on this little troublemaker."
As they left the Pokémon Center, they spotted Zhongli walking down the street with Slowpoke trailing lazily behind him. He seemed to be in the middle of a conversation with Xiao, who looked as stoic as ever. When Zhongli noticed them, he raised a hand in greeting.
"Lumine, Beidou, Paimon," Zhongli said, nodding at each of them. "It's good to see you all. Are you enjoying Market Day?"
Paimon flew up, waving. "Hey, Zhongli! We just came from the Pokémon Center. It's so cool! And we got to see Mareep cause a little chaos at the market earlier too."
Zhongli raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I see. It seems Mareep is as spirited as always." He turned to Xiao, who had been listening quietly. "Xiao, have you had a chance to visit the Pokémon Center yet? It's quite an impressive facility."
Xiao shook his head. "No, I haven't had the need. The Pokémon I've encountered have been strong enough without requiring assistance."
Beidou chuckled. "Always the serious one, Xiao. But you should check it out sometime. Even the toughest Pokémon need a little care every now and then."
Xiao seemed to consider this for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I will keep that in mind."
As they stood there chatting, Zekrom suddenly appeared, its massive form descending gracefully from above. The crowd around them looked up in awe, some gasping at the sight of the legendary Pokémon. Zekrom landed next to Lumine, its gaze calm but observant.
"Zekrom!" Paimon said, clearly thrilled. "What are you doing here?"
Zekrom rumbled deeply, its voice echoing across the market square. "I sensed some chaos. I thought it wise to see if my assistance was required." It gave a pointed look towards Beidou, who laughed nervously.
"Alright, alright, I get it," Beidou said, scratching her head. "We've had a bit of a chaotic morning, but everything's under control now. No need to worry."
Zekrom huffed, a small spark of electricity flickering around its tail. "Very well. I shall continue my observations from above." With that, it launched itself back into the air, disappearing as quickly as it had arrived.
Paimon watched until Zekrom was out of sight, then turned to Lumine. "Wow, having Zekrom around is so cool. It's like we've got our own legendary guardian watching over us."
Lumine smiled, nodding. "Yeah, it really is something. And with everyone working together—humans, Pokémon, and even legendary guardians like Zekrom and Zygarde—I think Liyue is becoming a better place for everyone."
As the sun began to set, the group made their way back through the bustling market, ready to wrap up the day. Liyue was full of life, laughter, and the occasional bit of chaos, but it was home. And as Lumine looked at her friends and their Pokémon, she knew that there was no place she'd rather be.