"Listen up, everyone—nutrition is important, but if the food doesn't taste good, it won't do any good for the patients!"
As Ash spoke, he sprinkled a special blend of spices into the fruit jam he was making from freshly picked berries, stirring it thoroughly. A rich, sweet aroma soon filled the air.
Suzy, a Pokémon Breeder, sniffed the air and remarked, "This scent is really good at attracting Pokémon."
"Exactly," Ash replied with a grin. "That's why I rarely make this stuff in the wild—it tends to draw in a whole crowd of wild Pokémon. Actually, that's how I first met my old friends back on my home mountain."
He separated a portion of the jam and mixed in some bitter seasoning, causing Pidgeot nearby to drool.
"Hold on, Pidgeot, this batch is yours."
"Pidgeot!" ("You're the best, boss!")
Just as Ash was adjusting the flavors, the bushes beside them rustled, and a cluster of tiny noses poked out, sniffing eagerly at the fragrant air.
Misty blinked in surprise. "Are those… Pikachu?"
"Shh, don't scare them," Ash whispered. "Watch this."
Seeing the Pikachu twitching their noses excitedly, Ash scooped up a spoonful of jam and slowly waved it in front of them. Instantly, the little Pokémon froze, their noses locking onto the scent. Forgetting their usual caution, they emerged from the bushes, eyes glued to the spoon.
Ash smirked mischievously. "Psyduck, open wide!"
"Psyduck!"
Already drooling, Psyduck obediently opened its mouth, and Ash fed it the spoonful of jam. The moment it tasted the treat, Psyduck's face lit up with pure bliss.
"Psyduck! Psyduck!"
"Meowth says it loves it! Looks like it's ready, boss!"
Ash chuckled as he watched the Pikachu stiffen in shock, their expressions crumbling as they realized the jam was gone. "Alright, time for the main event."
He added one final, special ingredient to the jam, and in an instant, an even more irresistible aroma exploded through the forest. Then—
"Pikachu!""Pikachu!""Pikachu!"
A whole crowd of Pikachu came rushing toward Ash and his friends, their eyes sparkling as they stared at the jam. Ash grinned.
"Perfect. Step one, complete."
Pulling out a large serving spoon, Ash addressed the eager Pikachu. "Alright, everyone! If you want some, line up from smallest to biggest. Bring your own berries—this jam tastes even better when spread on them!"
The Pikachu exchanged glances before scurrying off to gather berries, then obediently lined up, waiting their turn. Meanwhile, Ash handed out portions to his own Pokémon, as well as Misty and the others.
"Pika!" ("Thank you!")
Each Pikachu politely took its turn, thanking Ash before happily scampering off with its treat. Lyn sighed in amusement. "And so it begins… Ash's food-based strategy. These Pikachu don't stand a chance."
Suzy giggled. "Only Ash could pull something like this off."
Brock and Misty exchanged confused looks. "Uh… Suzy, Lyn, what's Ash up to?"
Suzy smiled. "He's clearly got his eye on these Pikachu. And now, he's using his favorite method to win them over."
Realization dawned on Brock and Misty. "Ohhh… So that's his plan!"
Before long, every Pikachu in the area had fallen for Ash's delicious trap, growing more and more comfortable around him. Thanks to Ash's assurance that his own Pikachu vouched for them, they even started warming up to Misty and the others.
Seizing the moment, Ash crouched down and addressed the Pikachu. "Hey, guys… How would you like to eat this kind of jam all the time?"
"Pika?""Pika?"
The Pikachu tilted their heads in confusion—but after licking the last traces of jam from their cheeks, they nodded eagerly.
Ash's grin widened. "Then… how about coming home with me? My family's orchard has tons of these berries. Plus, we've got loads of jam!"
"..."
Misty and Brock stared, dumbfounded, as Ash shamelessly lured the Pikachu with promises of endless treats. Meanwhile, Lyn and Suzy just smiled knowingly.
"Some things never change…"
Watching Ash wave the jam in front of the Pikachu like a seasoned negotiator, Lyn was reminded of how he'd once charmed a group of Scyther—though in that case, he'd still had to battle them afterward. Still, the food bribery was always step one.
"Isn't it great, though?" Suzy said softly. "Just like Ash always says…"
"Pokémon are partners of the heart. If you treat them with sincerity, they'll respond in kind."
Lyn and Suzy spoke in unison, leaving Misty and Brock momentarily stunned. Then, the two of them laughed.
Misty watched as Ash haggled with the Pikachu representatives and smiled. "Maybe this is why Ash's Pokémon love him so much. I guess I still have a lot to learn from him."
Finally, Ash shook paws with the Pikachu leader.
"Deal. Oh, and do me a favor—keep my family company too, okay?"
"Pika!" ("You got it!")