Disclaimer: I do not own Brock, Misty, Ash, or anyone/anything else mentioned in this fic.
Please note: The following chapter contains an improper example of making soup, with all sorts of disgusting ingredients being added. Do not read this on a full stomach, just before eating, or if you have a weak stomach. I am also no cook; I burn water.
How To Give A Pokemon A Bath, and other tips to raising Pokemon. Written by Brock Stone.
Part II: Feeding.
Aside from a bath, the most important thing a trainer can do to keep their pokemon happy and healthy is by providing a balanced diet. The meals must contain reasonable amounts of Carbos, Iron, Calcium, Protein, and some Zinc; all nutrients which pokemon need in order to battle, or to remain healthy in general. These can be purchased at department stores as supplementary drinks; yet not everyone can live near enough to such a store, nor can everyone afford to buy these for meals. Therefore, the most effective way of giving them to pokemon is through food...the right kind.
Pikachu sat on the couch, eating potato chips while watching TV. He didn't know what was for dinner, and he really didn't want to eat it anyway. Especially since Ash was cooking. Pikachu kind of wanted to live.
"Pikachu, where are you?" Pikachu dropped a chip, eyes wide when he heard the singsong manner that Ash used. The yellow mouse pokemon grabbed the half-empty bag of chips and ran from the room, just before Ash entered. The young trainer donned a chef's hat, carrying a frying pan which contained a very singed foodstuff.
He spotted the chip on the couch. "Have you been eating chips before dinner again?"
In order to avoid unwanted snacking in between meals, make sure to keep all snacks out of the house. Do not even buy them! I warn you of this because no matter where Ash hides the snacks, Pikachu always finds them.
Leaving behind the now-empty bag, Pikachu entered Ash's room. He sniffed along the wall, until he stopped and opened up a secret trap door containing Ash's Halloween candy. The mouse pokemon pulled out a bag of chocolate malt balls, resealed the door, and ran out of the room.
Pikachu did this a few times, then slowly snuck around the edge of the wall.
"There you are!" Ash picked up Pikachu, his hands protected by rubber gloves.
First, you must get your pokemon to the table. If your pokemon is an electric type, it should be simple enough to use rubber gloves for this job.
Ash sat the squirming pokemon in the high chair, and used the tray to lock Pikachu in place. The electric mouse tried to push the tray away as Ash grabbed the frying pan full of...some food that was unrecognizable, and scraped it onto a plate.
"Okay Pikachu, time to dig in!" The pokemon didn't even sniff it, just knocked the plate onto the floor where it shattered.
Another piece of advice: use plastic plates instead of glass for those difficult pokemon.
Ash looked as the pieces of glass sat among the broken shards of food. "Now I'll have to make something else..." The trainer pulled out another cooking utensil, a large pot this time, and set it on the stove. He poured water into it and turned on the stove.
Pikachu watched helplessly on as Ash began pulling out all sorts of food from the refrigerator and cupboards. Pikachu was sickened by the state of the vegetables removed from the fridge, all wilted and covered by fluff. The tomatoes that had disappeared from sight months ago, as well as some sort of meat, were set on the counter by the stove.
A meal must be well balanced in order to give a pokemon all the necessary nutrients. A soup made with fresh vegetables and pasta is a very acceptable example. The water must be brought to a boil, then the pasta cooked until it is flexible yet still firm.
Ash dumped a box of alphabet soup noodles into the water, ignoring the fact that the water wasn't boiling and the pasta contained several shiny beetles. He added a few chunks of the mystery meat, and the mushy tomatoes, and stirred liberally. He splashed some of the liquid onto the stovetop, which sizzled and smelt.
After the noodles are at the flexible yet firm state, add the vegetables. Stir occasionally to mix it up. You may wish to add other things to your soup, but make sure the taste is all right and the foods work in harmony with each other.
The trainer opened up a few unlabeled, rusty cans and dumped their contents into the pot. The mixture gave off a vile smell, yet Ash ignored this as he grabbed a bag of oyster crackers. He dumped the old, stale crackers into the soup and stirred. By now the water had finally come to a boil.
Ash picked up the pot and set the cold 'food' on the table.
The soup is finished when the vegetables and the pasta are soft, and the entire thing has been cooked for roughly fifteen minutes. The soup is best served hot.
Ash ladled out the still-cold substance into a bowl and set it on the table in front of Pikachu. The pokemon turned slightly green as Ash watched him.
"Come on, Pikachu. Here, let me help you."
If your pokemon is a picky eater, you may try the "plane, choo-choo, or boat" approach.
Ash took a spoonful of the soup and held it up. "Here comes the plane!" Moving the spoon around in the air, the young trainer made airplane noises as Pikachu watched on, mouth tightly closed. "It's coming in for a landing!"
Ash stopped the spoon in front of the yellow mouse pokemon's mouth, which was still tightly shut. He thought for a moment, then began moving the spoon around again, making train noises. "Here comes the train! Choo-Choo!"
Pikachu's mouth was still tightly sealed, and Ash thought again. The trainer moved the spoon around again. "Here comes the boat, ready to dock"
This time, he poked the pokemon in the arm.
"Pikachu!" The electric pokemon zapped the trainer and the surrounding area. Ash, still wearing gloves, was protected, but the plastic tray on the chair was reduced to a melted blob. The pokemon used the confusion to run off into the living room.
"What's with him? There's nothing wrong with the soup." Ash said, and took a spoonful of his soup. Then he passed out.
Another tip: Do not use the food if it is moldy, old, contains bugs, sits in an old rusted can, or is so old that you don't remember the last time you had it. Your pokemon is not dumb enough to eat it, and you will become violently sick if/when you accidentally eat it. Then your pokemon will have to fend for itself until someone shows up.
Pikachu hesitantly poked his head back into the kitchen, spotting the unconscious form of his trainer. Approaching Ash's body, he pulled out the trainer's wallet and ran to the phone in the living room. Two phone calls and fifteen minutes later, Pikachu was sitting on the couch eating pizza and the stolen candy while his trainer was being shipped to the hospital for food poisoning.
If you are somebody who cannot cook to save their life, please do what Ash Ketchum did not. Order a pizza and avoid the dangers of food poisoning.
(End)
Thank you so much for reading the second part of Brock's Handy Pokemon Guide, and thanks to the seven who reviewed last chapter!