Leyn had arrived home with Pikachu on his shoulder swinging his tail lazily. He opened the door, greeted by the waft of dinner and the noise of conversation.
Rhea looked up from setting the table. "Welcome back, sweetheart. How was the lab today?"
Gerald smiled from the couch. "Did Professor Oak make you clean all the Tauros pens again?"
Leyn chuckled, hanging his bag near the door. "Not this time. Actually, something good happened!"
Both of his parents heads tilted with curiously.
"Professor Oak said that since I want to go and do businesses he'll help me with it," Leyn said proudly, sliding into his seat. "Now I'll work five weekdays at the lab, and I'll get two days off to do on Saturday and Sunday and to do whatever I want. Also…" he leaned forward with a grin, "my allowance increased to 400 PD per day"
Rhea's eyes widened as she said. "Four hundred? That's a big jump!"
Gerald laughed. "Well, look at you, already getting promoted."
Leyn smiled sheepishly. "It's not really a promotion, Dad. But we came up with a plan for the weekend."
"A plan?" Rhea asked as she placed a plate in front of him.
Leyn nodded. "Yeah, me, Leaf, Blue, and Gary are preparing a performance for Saturday. We're going to make a small show for the townspeople — with Pikachu as the main star!"
Pikachu puffed up its chest proudly. "Pika!"
Gerald raised an eyebrow, amused. "A performance? Like a battle?"
"Kind of!" Leyn said, eyes sparkling. "We'll make it like a story — how Pikachu defeated that Fearow back then, but as a performance. With props, acting, and everything!"
Rhea chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You really never run out of ideas."
Gerald smirked. "You're turning into a businessman already."
Leyn laughed. "I just want to make things fun while earning something."
His mother smiled at that. "Well, make sure it's safe, alright? No real Fearows this time."
Leyn raised a hand dramatically. "Promise."
---
Later that night, after brushing his teeth, Leyn sat on his bed, deep in thought with Pikachu beside him.
"If this works, Pikachu," he muttered, "we might actually earn something. But we need to make it good. Something people will remember."
Pikachu tilted its head, then suddenly stood up on the bed and bowed elegantly — like a seasoned performer taking a stage bow.
Leyn blinked — then burst out laughing. "Haha! What are you doing?"
"Pika pika!" Pikachu said proudly, striking another pose.
Leyn grinned, shaking his head as if a Host of a show . "Alright, performer Pikachu. Let's see what you've got." He reached for a small notebook and made a microphone gesture towards Pikachu this caused Pikachu to laughed and leyn said seriously.
"We'll have to practice tomorrow you're timing, movement, balance. You'll need to make your Thunder Shock look neat, not just flashy."
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded, looking determined.
Leyn switched to a serious face, tapping his pen. "And maybe you could try forming shapes with Thunder Wave?"
Pikachu gave a confident grin.
"Good. Let's work hard together," Leyn said, lying down beside him. "We'll make everyone smile."
Falling asleep as hugging Pikachu they fell into a deep sleep.
---
The next morning, Leyn met up with Leaf outside her house.
"So," Leaf began walking beside him towards the lab asking , "what's your plan for the performance part? We can't just make Pikachu zap random things and we still don't have a concrete plan for it."
Leyn nodded seriously. "Yeah. I was thinking maybe we make it look like a story — like the 'Battle with Fearow' — but with some new moves mixed in."
Leaf tapped her chin. "Hmm… what if Pikachu creates a lightning bolt shape in the air? You know, make the Thunder Shock explode upward, then make a big flash?"
Leyn scribbled the note eagerly. "Yeah, like an aerial finale! And maybe we can build little platforms for Pikachu to jump on during the performance"
Leaf smiled. "Exactly! Pikachu could jump, fire the Thunder Shock midair, and land on the last platform just as it explodes into light."
Leyn looked at leaf, impressed. "You're a genius, Leaf."
Leaf smirked playfully. "Took you long enough to notice."
---
When they reached the lab, they were surprised to see Gary and Blue — not arguing for once — sitting on the floor sketching something together.
"…What's going on here?" Leyn asked, confused.
Gary looked up, grinning. "We were brainstorming too."
Blue nodded. "We thought maybe we can help with props and timing — make it look cooler."
Leaf blinked. "You two… cooperating?"
Gary frowned. "Don't sound so surprised."
Leyn chuckled. "Well, whatever this is, I'm all for it."
They spent the morning finishing their usual chores cleaning, helping feed the Pokémon, organizing Pokéballs and once everything was done, Leyn gathered them around the small outdoor area behind the lab.
"Alright," he began, opening his notebook. "Here's the gist of what Leaf and I came up with. Pikachu jumps on these platforms, forms a lightning bolt midair, then finishes with an explosion of sparks."
Blue raised an eyebrow. "An explosion?"
"Not a real one," Leaf explained quickly. "Just a bright flash that can momentarily blind suprised everyone to closing their eyes and Pikachu can control it."
"Got it," Blue said.
Leyn turned to Pikachu. "Alright, ready, partner?"
Pikachu stood proudly. "Pika!"
He released a small Thunder Wave, then another — trying to shape it into something like a bolt. But the current wobbled, fizzled, then formed something resembling a squiggly noodle.
Gary immediately snorted. "Is that supposed to be lightning or spaghetti?"
Blue burst into laughter. "That's the weirdest shape I've ever seen!"
Leaf tried to hold it in but couldn't — she laughed too, covering her mouth.
Pikachu's ears drooped, and Leyn scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Okay, maybe not the shape we wanted…"
He crouched beside Pikachu and patted him. "Don't worry, buddy. We'll figure it out."
Standing up, he turned to the others. "So this part — the basic jump and thunder combo — we can do. But after that, we need something extra. Any ideas?"
Gary crossed his arms. "What about something like… an act? A little play?"
Leaf blinked. "You mean… a reenactment of the Fearow battle?"
Gary nodded. "Yeah. We can make a cardboard Fearow. You and Blue can hold it up, and Leaf can narrate the story."
Blue smirked. "And I can control a couple of cardboard Spearows for backup!"
Leyn tilted his head. "Wouldn't that be too hard to move around?"
Blue grinned. "Not if we attach poles at the bottom. Me and Gary can move them like puppets while hiding under a big cloth."
Leyn hesitated. "You guys sure about that? That sounds like a lot of work."
Gary shrugged. "We're friends, aren't we? Besides, it'll be fun."
Leaf nodded, smiling. "And I'll narrate the whole story since I was there when it happened."
Leyn smiled gratefully. "Thanks, everyone. Let's do it together."
They spent the afternoon cutting cardboard, painting feathers, and laughing as they tried to make the Fearow look "intimidating." The result… looked more like a grumpy Pidgeot with oversized eyes.
"This looks so bad," Blue groaned, holding up the Fearow head.
Leaf giggled. "I think it's cute."
Pikachu tilted his head and squeaked, "Pika?" clearly unimpressed.
By the end of the day, they had one "Fearow," two small "Spearows,"that look like a derpy version with them and a rough plan to go with. "
---
The next day, the four children gathered again early morning. This time, the discussion wasn't about the show itself — but how to get people to come.
Leyn sat cross-legged on the grass, tapping his pencil. "So, how do we make both kids and adults come?"
Gary thought aloud. "Adults won't care much unless their kids drag them."
Blue smirked. "So we use the kids."
Leaf blinked. "Use them how?"
"Simple," Blue said, grinning. "We make the show sound super cool. Like something they'll beg to see."
Leaf crossed her arms. "And how do we do that?"
"Flyers," Leyn said suddenly, snapping his fingers. "We make flyers and spread them around town."
Gary nodded. "Good idea. But they have to look appealing."
Leaf raised her hand. "I can draw! I'll make Pikachu look heroic!"
Blue leaned forward, already sketching letters. "And I'll do the writing — something bold!"
A few hours later, they were done. The flyer read in big, bright letters:
> THE AMAZING PIKACHU THAT DEFEATED A FEAROW!
> Come watch a thrilling reenactment of the legendary battle!
> Tomorrow, 4 P.M. at the Pallet Town Park!
> Tickets: 20 Pokédollars per person
The illustration below showed Pikachu mid-jump, lightning flashing behind him, while a cartoonish Fearow loomed above.
Leyn looked at it and laughed. "This actually looks amazing."
Leaf smiled proudly. "Thanks!"
They spent the afternoon posting flyers across town putting on houses mails and posting it in playgrounds so that kids could see it. Kids passing by pointed and whispered excitedly.
"Look, it's that Pikachu from the Fearow thing!"
"Whoa! They're doing a show!"
"Mom! Dad! Look! The Pikachu that defeated a Fearow! We have to see it!"
One by one, they could hear the same cries echoing through Pallet Town the sound of children begging their parents to come to the show.
Leyn's group exchanged glances, trying and failing to hold back their grins.
Blue was the first to snicker. "I can't believe it actually worked."
Gary folded his arms proudly. "Of course it worked. Kids are basically walking advertisements!"
Leaf tried to sound innocent, but the smirk on her face betrayed her. "It's not our fault parents can't resist their adorable children."
Leyn leaned back against the fence, looking at the group with a sly smile. "So, in short… our plan succeeded perfectly."
Pikachu, catching onto the mood, crossed its tiny arms and made a mischievous "Pika~!"
All four of them — Leyn, Leaf, Blue, and Gary — broke into laughter, slowly turning into exaggerated villain cackles.
"Mwahahaha!"
"Our marketing genius is unstoppable!"
"Behold the power of strategic manipulation!"
Even Pikachu joined in with an adorably evil smile "Pika! Pika-pi!"
A nearby passerby blinked at the strange sight of four kids and a Pikachu laughing maniacally under the sunset, holding a pile of half-empty flyer stacks.
Leaf quickly cleared her throat and said, trying to look serious, "Ahem. Anyway, tomorrow's going to be amazing. Let's just say... our audience is secured."
Leyn grinned, rubbing his hands together. "Stage, props, Pikachu tricks, and now the crowd. Everything's in place. Tomorrow… we make history."
They all high-fived, their laughter still sounding out loud with Dusk had settled with Leyn and Pikachu stood by the park. The stage was still just grass and it would still be tommorow but he felt it was like a theater now for him.
He sat beside Pikachu, smiling. "You ready for tomorrow, partner?"
Pikachu puffed out his chest and gave a confident "Pika!"
Leyn grinned. "Then let's make it our best show yet."