Despite saying he didn't want to, Link actually wanted to meet Ash and Pikachu, which was a kind of fangirling.
However, more than meeting them in person, he was looking forward to meeting Ash on the field and communicating through direct battles.
Anyway, he definitely needed to find a chance to visit Pallet Town…
Mastering a new move wasn't easy. After an afternoon of effort, Link and his Fennekin hadn't mastered "Magic Flame," but thankfully, their "Ember" proficiency had improved, and they could now unleash three sparks.
Knowing the importance of work-life balance, he didn't let Fennekin start playing immediately after hatching. Seeing that the rain outside had stopped, he took him to the Grand Festival venue in Moorish Town.
Even during the off-season, many coordinators would gather here daily to exchange tips on raising Pokémon or collaborate on Poké Blocks.
Poké Blocks are compressed food made by grinding and mixing different berries.
For trainers, its main function is to provide convenient and efficient food for their Pokémon, freeing up their hands.
For coordinators, the focus is on further researching the taste and nutrition to improve the Pokémon's various stats.
Handsome, beautiful, cute, smart, strong... although these are just the criteria for judging Pokémon in Contests, Link believes that the principles are the same for both trainers and coordinators.
Upon arriving at the venue, they were greeted by the rich aroma of a mixture of different kinds of fresh berries, and the sound of the berry mixer spinning at high speed.
Fennekin sniffed, her appetite instinctively whetting; even the milk, food, and Pokémon cubes it had eaten before didn't seem so appealing anymore.
"They're all Pokémon cubes, so why is there such a big difference in color, taste, and texture?
"After all, products need to consider transportation, storage, and preservation. The Pokémon cubes you ate were probably a further processed version."
However, considering production volume, industrial processing and synthesis are more likely.
"Fou~"
Fennekin looked up at Link, her eyes showing a desire for wet food...fresh food.
"Don't worry, I'll make it for you tomorrow after picking berries and branches at the orchard. We're mainly here to observe and learn today."
With that, he led Fennekin around the hall, observing the Coordinators' Pokémon and their methods of using the Berry Mixer.
After exploring half the venue, Link quickly noticed a phenomenon—even Pokémon of the same species exhibited significant differences.
Thanks to the game's mechanics, subsequent generations have largely eliminated gender differences and individual differences like Spinda within the same Pokémon species.
But the Pokémon in this world are living beings; no two leaves are exactly alike.
Leaving aside the differences in body size between individuals, the techniques focused on training will inevitably be reflected in body parts. Differences in diet will result in variations in coat color, muscle mass, and physique, while the different personalities of trainers and Pokémon will also bring about different mental states.
Even within the same species, Marill, some are plump and robust, some move with a light gait, some have dull fur, and others are full of vitality and energy.
In reality, the influence of humans on Pokémon is far greater than imagined.
"Young man, you've been wandering around the venue for ages, haven't you found someone to mix berries with yet?"
Just as Link, deeply moved, was about to go inside the venue to observe the Coordinator's training, a gentlemanly middle-aged man enthusiastically said, "Want to come with me?"
Link looked in the direction of the voice and saw Growlithe beside the gentleman. Both were Fire-type canines, so their nutritional needs should indeed be similar.
"I didn't bring any berries today. I'll come back tomorrow after picking some at the orchard."
"No problem, no problem. I still have some berries left. You can use mine."
"Fou?"
Such familiarity was a bit hard to accept, and it was also hard to refuse such kindness.
Link didn't mince words and chatted casually with the gentleman, eventually arriving at the berry mixer together.
It turned out that the other person was the younger brother of the president of the Pokémon Enthusiast Club, who often scouted for potential people and Pokémon at the club like today.
The moment he first saw Fennekin, his heart almost melted—could there really be such a cute Pokémon in the world?
"Fou..."
Fennekin instinctively dodged the gentleman's outstretched hand.
"It's only just been born, it's not used to strangers being so close yet."
Hearing this, the gentleman couldn't help but ponder, "So it's only just been born, then it's not suitable to feed it cherry berries. Overly spicy food will be too irritating to the baby's mouth and stomach. Besides, even the most professional baby Pokémon Cubes can't be suitable for all babies. Feeding it directly with cooked food is the most nutritious and healthy option."
It's no wonder he's from a Pokémon enthusiast club; once the topic of Pokémon comes up, the gentleman's words flow endlessly.
"Pokémon Cubes aren't alchemy or elixirs. All the ingredients come from berries, without any special chemical reactions, so how could they possibly have effects beyond the limits of berries?
"Its biggest advantages are actually its speed, portability, and ability to be mass-produced industrially in a foolproof way. Even an ordinary person can prepare a week's worth of food in half an hour, and using the mixer according to the recipe won't lead to any major mistakes."
"But in fact, dishes cooked by people themselves are the easiest to nutritionally balance according to the needs of elves, it's just a pity that there are too few people with this knowledge...
"And most importantly—the heart and emotion in carefully prepared meals are what elves need most."
Even experts who have studied nutrition for many years wouldn't dare say they can manage the diets of all elves.
But elves are magical creatures that transcend biological limits and possess endless possibilities; material satisfaction is far less valuable than spiritual nourishment and self-realization.
"Fou?" Does that mean the super delicious cookies are gone?
"I understand." Link nodded in deep agreement, then slapped his forehead, blaming himself for forgetting something so important.
Could feeding Pikachu more Pokémon really make it unleash a Friendship Thunderbolt with a power of 1440?
Even the most advanced and ruthless methods like feeding it Rare Sweets wouldn't make an ordinary roadside Pokémon defeat a Legendary or Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon.
"Come on, Fennekin, let's go to the market. Let me show you my culinary skills honed over twenty years of solitary effort using berries and local ingredients."
With that, Link turned and left, not wanting to linger a moment longer at the Contest.
The Fennekin, though confused, felt a surge of anticipation.
(End of Chapter)