Once again, thanks go to all the reviewers! This one focuses on Misty, with two apperances by Ash.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Pokemon.


(Part III: Swimming Lessons) Written by Brock Stone.

I'm going to take a break from the health tips for pokemon, and focus on a safety tip. Everyone knows that swimming lessons are necessary in order to prevent yourself from drowning, so I am going to tell you how to go about teaching your pokemon to swim. If your pokemon are mainly of the fire, rock, ground, or any type that is weak against water, this advice is not for you. It is best to get your pokemon in their pokeball until you get to dry land.

Misty carried the yellow duck pokemon to the side of the Olympic-sized swimming pool. The Psyduck held its head as the water trainer set it down and eased herself into the water. She submerged herself, then faced her pokemon.

"Okay, Psyduck. Since you haven't learned how yet, I'm going to show you how to swim."

The pokemon tilted its head to the side. "Psy?"

The redheaded trainer held on to the pokemon, and slowly put it in the water. She held on so the pokemon wouldn't start thrashing around.

The first step is to get your pokemon used to the water. The best place for this is the standard swimming pool at any rec center or friendly neighbor's backyard. Also, your pokemon will be calmer if you get in the pool with it.

"Now Psyduck, I want you to kick your feet gently." Misty coaxed. The pokemon tilted its head. "Psy?"

Misty held the duck pokemon with one arm while she moved the Psyduck's foot with the other. "Like this, only with both feet." Psyduck moved the one foot slowly for a minute.

"Great! Now move the other one just like that!" The redhead smiled. And Ash said it was impossible to teach Psyduck anything.

After receiving a demonstration of what needed to be done, Psyduck was kicking its 'feet' at a nice, even pace. The redhead felt more confident.

Begin by starting with the basics. This includes the kicking of the 'feet', and the arm movements.

Psyduck was now kicking its webbed feet at a reasonable pace, and Misty began moving on to the different types of strokes. Misty was halfway through with this when Ash floated by on his back. He splashed some water in the girl's face as he passed.

"Ash! What are you doing here?"

"Dunno, I just sorta walked in and started swimming." The black-haired boy commented lazily. "How's Psyduck? It drown yet?"

Misty growled. "I'll have you know that Psyduck has just learned how to move his arms and feet!" Ash went under the water, then popped up a little farther away.

"I'll just be over here while you continue." He said, then gestured for his pokemon to jump in as well.

Teaching your pokemon to swim takes a lot of patience, and is best done in a calm atmosphere. This is beneficial for the pokemon, and is less taxing on the teacher's nerves.

Misty just managed to teach Psyduck how to move its arms and feet at the same time, after getting hit in the head with a beach ball for the eleventh time in ten minutes. She turned to glare at the group on the other side.

She spotted Tododile suddenly exit the pool and mumble something in pokemon speak to Ash. The boy paled and exited the pool quickly. He was followed by the other pokemon.

"Well Misty, it's about time we left. Thanks for letting us use your pool." The trainer paused. "And you might wanna do something about the water before you continue. Tododile left something I don't think you want."

"EEEEEWWWWWW!"

Make sure your pokemon get enough potty breaks to ensure a sanitary pool for everyone.

Misty stood on the beach with her Psyduck, letting the sand slip through her toes. "Now let's try beach swimming out now that you know the basics." And, Misty thought, Since Ash's pokemon contaminated the pool.

She brought Psyduck out into the water and guided it while the pokemon swam. She decided it was time to teach him to go underwater.

"Now Psyduck. Let's practice holding our breath." The redhead demonstrated first, then had her pokemon do it. Psyduck had a little problem with knowing when to stop, but it was easily fixed.

Teaching your pokemon not to be afraid if they should go below the surface of the water is a good idea.

Misty was now ready to teach Psyduck to duck under the water, when a familiar-sounding scream drowned out the cawing Wingulls.

"SHARK! There's a shark!"

Pandemonium ripped across the beach. People ran desperately from the water. The panicked sunbathers abandoned their towels and ran for the safety of their cars, while the food stand was looted and set on fire. Cars, trucks, and SUVs collided. Everyone ran around in circles, screaming.

Misty stood stunned as the IQs of the people around her dropped. Ash snickered in his hand behind her. "Look at what I did!"

She wheeled around, and only then did Ash realize his mistake: Never call out 'shark' on a beach when Misty Waterflower is teaching a pokemon how to swim.

Psyduck nearly learned how to swim completely, Ash was left in a coma, and Coral Beach was closed for the rest of the summer. It all goes to show that even when doing things right, it only takes an idiot to ruin it.

(End)


I wrote this chapter to give another character besides Ash a shot at 'teaching'. It was really hard to get moving on it though.