I am very sorry about the long wait. First it was the holidays, then it was a combination of school-related stress and writer's bock that made it difficult to write anything. I find it much easier and fun to pick on Ash, and easier when Pikachu is the pokemon of focus. I am sorry for anyone offended by last chapter's incident, and want to offer the biggest thanks to anyone still reading this.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.


(Part IV: Berry Juice) Written by Brock Stone.

As every trainer knows, there are a variety of health-replenishing liquids out there for pokemon. There are man-made ones like potion (do not, repeat, do not let your pokemon drink this! It is for external use only!), soda pop, lemonade, fresh water; and then there are all natural ones like Miltank milk and berry juice.

While effective, the stronger potions can make your pokemon sick if they have a tendency to lick their fur. Soda pop is effective as well, yet it is not entirely healthy due to the high sugar content. The sugar in lemonade puts it at about the same level as soda pop, and "fresh" water is not fresh unless you actually get it directly at the source.

Today we will discuss berry juice. It is false that one needs a Shuckle in order to make this healthy drink, as a quality juicer will do the trick.

Ash carried in the very heavy-looking box and dropped it carefully on top of the kitchen table. While he sat panting in one of the chairs, Pikachu skipped happily in, eating an ice cream cone. He watched as Ash took out the pieces and began assembling them, disregarding the instruction manual. A few times the trainer stood back to admire his work, only to have the parts fall back onto the table.

With chocolate smears around his lips, Pikachu began to point and laugh at Ash. The raven-haired trainer frowned and glared at the pokemon. "As if you're helping..."

I must stress the fact that you actually have to read the instructions to put the juicer together...or at least have someone dictate them to you.

Finally, Ash managed to put together the extremely challenging puzzle known as a juicer. He sent Pikachu a triumphant smirk. "Told you I could do it." The yellow mouse pokemon merely nodded; he had just witnessed his trainer throw countless tools and tubes of superglue around the kitchen, and shout words which should never be repeated in public.

Now once the juicer is assembled, one must have a collection of berries. As long as they're edible, they'll be great. The best kind are those that are freshly picked, but certain seasons will not allow berries to grow, and store-bought ones will suffice.

"What do you mean, 'sold out'!" Ash exclaimed at the last produce department in Pallet. The guy merely pointed at the sign again and continued with his own business. Ash picked up Pikachu and they both headed for home.

"Don't worry buddy, we'll just go pick some. Plus, they're free."

So after stopping off at the house to grab a few buckets, Ash headed out into the fields to begin his quest to pick all the berries he could find. He stopped at one bush, and had already started dropping berries into the bottom of a bucket when Pikachu sniffed at the berries on the bush. The mouse pokemon's eyes widened, and he began pulling on the trainer's sock. "Pikapi! Pi pipikachu!"

The trainer looked down at the pokemon. "Pikachu, I do know a thing or two about berries, and these are not poisonous."

"Pi pipikachu!"

"Are not!"

"Pika!"

"I'll show you they're not poisonous!" Ash reached into his bucket, and began to eat his collection. He swallowed. "See, they aren't..." Ash dropped his buckets and dashed into the nearby woods.

Make sure that you know what kind of berries you are picking, and don't eat any berries that your pokemon tells you not to. Pokemon have been eating berries for ages. A handy guide to berries or an expert can tell you what is safe.

Once Ash had gotten rid of the leftover berries, he and Pikachu continued their search for berries. Once Ash had found a good bush (one which Pikachu insisted was good) he and his pokemon began picking every good-looking one they could find. The dark-haired trainer was so absorbed in his work, that he wandered a good distance away from his pokemon. It wasn't until he heard Pikachu calling him that he looked away.

"What do you mean, I'm standing in poison ivy!" In his haste to look down, Ash managed to trip, and fell face down in the horrible plant. Once he figured out that it was poison ivy he was laying in, he immediately got up and ran screaming from the spot. "It's on my face! It's on my face!"

Please pay attention to where you are walking, as poison ivy tends to grow near certain berry bushes. Wear long pants and socks, and take a shower after you return home.

The trainer had soaked himself and his clothing in the pond nearby before he returned to picking berries. It was another kind, thimbleberry, and Ash had filled up half a bucket before something caused him to pause. It was and unusual sound, a sort of dull hum that filled the air. Something nicked his cheek, and he looked upwards into a gigantic beehive crawling with...

"Bees!"

As if responding to his fear, or his cry, the bees chased after Ash. The pokemon trainer ran back towards the pond. Pikachu wondered briefly if Ash needed assistance, but then shrugged it off and started eating the berries Ash had picked.

Be very careful about bees, they like the sweetness of berries and do not like to be disturbed. Be extra careful if you are allergic to bee stings, and carry a cell phone with you.

Ash opened the door and dragged his itchy, bee bite-covered body inside. Pikachu balanced a bucket of berries on his head and brought it over to the pokemon trainer. Ash set the lone bucket onto the table as he tried not to scratch. "Okay, let's see if what I went through was worth it."

Only five berries remained. Ash's hand twitched in sync with his eyebrow. "I got sick to my stomach...fell in poison ivy...and got stung by a hive of bees...all for FIVE berries..."

Pikachu barely had enough time to duck into the cupboard before Ash began throwing a gigantic temper tantrum, complete with a list of unrepeatable words, just as his mother entered the room.

"ASSSSSHHHHH!"

Luckily, Pikachu was able to grab the five berries and leave before Mrs. Ketchum could begin her rant.

It is true that buying your berries is the easiest way to go. However with the right planning, berry picking can be, well, fruitful.

(End)


I have a few one-shot ideas for pokemon-centric fics, so I might put up a few of them later. Please be patient with the updates for this though; I find it really difficult to get working on a fic due to my seemingly short attention span. Thank yous to all who have reviewed!