To Ari, Scissor Street looked as if all the buildings had been dipped in pots of pastel paints, then decorated with flashing neon signs.
"Why'd we come here?" Ari asked.
"You'll see." Brock smiled.
"There are a lot of beauty parlors," observed Misty. "Isn't Scissor Street also called Breeder's Lane?"
Breeder's Lane. Now it all made sense. Of course Brock would keep up with the latest trends in Pokémon Breeding.
Brock marvelled at every storefront. "Some of the best Pokémon Breeders have shops here."
Misty sprinted to the closest salon advertisement. "How cute! This must be the latest fashion!"
A sign depicted a Koffing and Ekans, all glammed up. Ari had to admit that anybody who could make those Pokémon beautiful and appealing had serious talent... if not in Pokémon Breeding, than certainly photoshop.
They couldn't enter; there wasn't room to swing a Meowth in the crowd outside the advertised salon.
A man projected his voice to the masses. "You won't believe how beautiful a Pokémon can be! Be dazzled by the expert artists here at Salon Roquet!"
Inside Salon Roquet, the two beauticians worked frantically.
"We'll make your Pokémon a pretty-mon!" They boasted.
However, their Pokémon customers seemed quite embarrassed by their over-the-top makeovers, but were swept away by their satisfied Trainers.
Team Rocket's Meowth counted the money Jessie and James had made through their beautician exploits. "You're spending too much on advertising!" He complained. "We're supposed to be doing this for profit, so there's more funding for Operation R!"
"We know what we're doing!" Jessie snapped. "If we hype up this place, we get more customers! Customers who'll empty their wallets for fashionable Pokémon!"
Jessie seethed at Meowth, until another customer walked in, and she fixed a sickeningly sweet smile onto her face. "Welcome to Salon Roquet!"
Brock held little interest in Salon Roquet, and persisted in searching for his intended destination.
"It's there!" He exclaimed, leading Ari and Misty over.
"This is the place you've been looking for?" The salon didn't seem like anything special to Misty. It wasn't as flashy as Salon Roquet.
Brock steeled himself to enter. The shop wasn't as densely packed as Salon Roquet, but the atmosphere was kinder. Collating the two was like comparing the cosy campfire to a searing bonfire.
A young Breeder with teal hair was styling a Chansey. She was dressed nicely but not lavishly; it was a modest look that created an impression of sincerity, like a hospitable neighbor.
Chansey was beaming at her makeover. As Chansey's Trainer left, they called, "Thank you, Suzie!"
The Breeder turned to Brock and friends. "May I help you?"
Brock couldn't believe it; Suzie was Kanto's most accomplished Pokémon Breeder.
"Pinch me," he whispered to Misty.
Misty knew this went beyond Brock's usual infatuation with girls. "Brock, who is this?"
"Su-Su," Brock stammered, internally debating if his own Pokémon Breeding skills afforded him the merit to utter Suzie's name. He couldn't risk besmirching it with his unworthy tongue.
She's staring at you, Brock realised. Stop gawking and say anything. Words. Say words.
Brock had barely opened his mouth when Misty shoved past him. "Isn't that Vulpix the cutest thing?"
Brock blinked. The Vulpix lounging on a nearby chair had initially eluded his attention.
Ari directed her Pokédex at Vulpix. Vulpix, the Fox Pokémon. A Fire-type. Both its fur and tails are alluring. It grows three more tails when it Evolves.
"Don't touch her," Suzie warned.
Misty scooped Vulpix up, only to be charred. Vulpix yawned and returned to her nap.
"She doesn't like being picked up by strangers."
Misty quavered, "Wish I'd k-known that sooner."
Brock finally found his voice. "My name's Brock. Nice to meet you, Suzie. I wanna be a Breeder like you!"
"It's very nice to meet you, Brock-," Suzie began.
"Suzie, I'm begging you to accept me as your pupil!" Brock burst out.
The following confused silence was so thick that a customer entered and nervously backed out before the awkwardness suffocated him.
"I don't have pupils, Brock," Suzie said gently. "Breeding occupies all my time."
"What makes her such a good Breeder?" Ari wondered aloud.
"The sensational Suzie of Scissor Street has won the Pokémon Breeder's Contest for three consecutive years!" Brock gushed. He turned his attention to Suzie's Vulpix. "And Vulpix is one of the hottest supermodels in the world!"
Suzie invited Brock, Misty, and Ari for a meal during her break. The sandwiches she served were delicate and filling.
"Brock makes food for all of our Pokémon," Misty said, certain Brock would want to be slathered with compliments in front of Suzie. "It's his own recipe."
"My career began with Pokémon nutrition," Suzie shared.
Her Vulpix strut over to where Ari's, Brock's, and Misty's Pokémon were devouring Brock's homemade food.
Eevee offered some of her food to Vulpix. The Fox Pokémon sniffed it, then took some elegant bites. Her face lit up.
"Vulpix never eats food I haven't prepared myself," Suzie revealed. "Impressive."
"I'm going to faint," Brock breathed.
"Suzie, we saw some super fancy Pokémon when we were walking down the street. Is that really the latest trend?" Misty wanted an expert opinion.
Suzie sighed. "Ever since Salon Roquet opened recently, some Trainers here have been trying to make their Pokémon as flashy as possible. A good Breeder always strives to bring out a Pokémon's inner strength and personality. This new fad is about standing out, not what's inside."
"It's pretty stupid to waste time showing off," Ari said. She'd been trying to be more considerate since the Celadon Gym incident, but this was pushing it.
"Sometimes Pokémon like to get dressed up, just like us," Misty interjected. "Right, Eevee?"
Eevee tilted her head. Clefairy, however, abandoned her food to happily cry, "Clef-fair!" at Misty's knees.
Ari stroked Clefairy's head. "It's what's on the inside which counts," she advised.
"Outside too," Misty commented.
"Inside!" Ari argued.
"Outside!"
"Should we stop them?" Suzie asked.
Brock chuckled. "They only just made the leap from frenemies to friends. Let them bicker."
"If you think fashion's so great, why don't you take your Psyduck to that salon?" Ari shouted.
"What a great idea!" Misty said. "Come on, Psyduck!"
"We'll see who gets the last quack," Ari laughed at Misty's retreating back.
"Psyduck will be even cuter than Eevee and Clefairy!" Misty vowed, prompting Ari to snort.
"Salon Roquet makes me question my methods," Suzie said quietly. "If what's inside truly is most important."
"If they want style over substance, we'll give them style!" Brock said. "Let's get to work."
A crowd gathered for the lecture Susie held in her salon.
"Each Pokémon needs your special care and attention. An injured Pokémon should be given a therapeutic massage." She demonstrated by massaging Ari's Charmander and Brock's Geodude, who had been sparring together.
"This volunteer and her Eevee will demonstrate the techniques from today's lecture," Suzie said. "Like many quadruped Pokémon, Eevee has to be light on its feet during Battle, so it's paws should be closely attended to afterwards."
Ari massaged Eevee's paws, just as Suzie taught her. Eevee relished the treatment. Clefairy ambled to the table.
"You too, Clefairy," Ari chuckled, massaging Clefairy's back. "How does that feel?"
"Cleffar!" Clefairy spread her arms joyfully. Eevee's tail wagged.
"Any technique is only as good as the person who uses it," Brock said. Zubat fluttered onto his shoulder and rubbed up to him affectionately. "Good communication between people and Pokémon is important."
Several Trainers who had arrived from Salon Roquet glanced at their pampered Pokémon and questioned if they had made the right choice.
At Salon Roquet, Team Rocket tended to a Squirtle. Meowth remembered learning from television that Squirtle's shells resembled old coins. When Squirtle's Trainer forked their cash over, he was certainly going to be seeing money.
Jessie admired their work. "Voila! This Squirtle shell has become the perfect advertisement for our latest line of Pokémon fashion!"
"Another masterpiece from Salon Roquet!" James agreed.
They had painted a rose on Squirtle's shell with the most delicate brushwork. Squirtle sighed as its Trainer payed up and strolled out the door.
Misty entered; she lingered uncertainly on the threshold before Jessie and James shoved her into their workspace.
"Time for a makeover!" They chimed, placing Psyduck upon the counter.
"Forget the makeover! That girl hangs out with the twerp. We gotta grill the kid to figure out how to capture Eevee!" Meowth hissed.
Misty narrowed her eyes. Realisation shot through her, as sharp as lightning. "You're Meowth!" She realised.
"Stater of the obvious," Meowth spat. Admittedly, dressed only in a blue jacket and sunshine-coloured shirt, he was pushing it trying to pass for human, especially in comparison to other disguises.
"No, I mean you're that Meowth. Team Rocket's Meowth!" Said Misty. "I should've known. You haven't had a nose since Ari punched it flat!"
"I've never had a visible nose!" Meowth wailed. "Even if other Meowth did, it's not like the readers can see-,"
He was cut off when Jessie and James converged on him.
"You just blew our cover!" Jessie screamed.
Misty backed towards the door, but James grabbed her wrist. "You better tell us where Eevee is if you don't want your face painted like Frankenstein."
For the first time in recorded history, somebody used green paint as a threat.
Misty squirmed. "I really don't want that!"
"You better spill the beans, then, or everybody will see you green with envy!" Heckled Jessie.
After the lecture wrapped up, the door flew open. Psyduck tripped over himself as he entered, having escaped Salon Roquet unoticed. He quickly caught the attention of Eevee and Clefairy.
Psyduck told them everything.
Eevee pawed at her Trainer's heels.
"Eevee?" Ari asked, but Eevee, Clefairy, and Misty's Psyduck were already out the door. "What's Psyduck doing here without Misty?" Ari had a bad feeling about this.
Eevee paused outside Salon Roquet, which had been closed. Hardly pausing to think, Ari broke down the door, and took in the scene: Misty, her face painted with thick layers of clashing makeup, tied to a chair, surrounded by a gloating Team Rocket.
"What took you guys so long?" Misty complained. To Ari's relief, Misty appeared more humiliated than hurt.
"Let Misty go, right now!" Ari growled.
"Sorry, but we're conducting important beauty research," James said.
Suzie stepped foward. "It's the beauty inside that counts. Every Pokémon is beautiful; we just have to help them discover it!"
"What's she talking about? It's obviously the outside that counts. What do you know about pretty Pokémon?" Jessie taunted.
Meowth scratched her. "What do you know about Pokémon Breeding? This whole Salon Roquet idea was supposed to be a scam for Operation R, remember?"
Operation R. Ari's pulse quickened. She could hear her mama as clearly as if Sunni had been whispering in her ear. We're getting wind that they're planning... something. Just keep your guard up.
Then Ari's eyes fell on Misty's distressed face, and any thoughts of interrogating Team Rocket faded.
"Let her go." Ari clenched her fists. Eevee and Clefairy stepped foward to Battle.
Jessie laughed mirthlessly. "How about a trade? Eevee for the unsensational sister?"
Ari gave them her answer. "Swift attack!"
Team Rocket ducked for cover (leaving Misty to yelp and throw her restrained self to the ground) as Eevee shot stars over their head.
Jessie threw a Poké Ball as she straightened up. "Dazzle them, Ekans!"
"Knock 'em dead, Koffing. You too, Weepinbell!" James said.
Team Rocket's Pokémon were dressed in flashy outfits.
"Go, Geodude!" Brock added the Rock Pokémon to the Battle.
Suzie selected Vulpix, who observed the conflict as if it were beneath her.
"Seismic Toss!" Ordered Brock.
Geodude tossed Ekans across the room, but Ekans retaliated by rolling into Eevee.
"Clefairy, Disarming Voice!" Ari yelled, but Ekans, Koffing, and Weepinbell repelled the attacks by spinning like tops, as if their costumes were shields.
"Give them a cute Sludge makeover!" James said. The vile gunk sprayed over Eevee, Clefairy, and Geodude, blinding them.
"Vulpix and I will take care of them." There was a spark in Suzie's throat and fire in her voice.
Team Rocket's Pokémon charged towards Vulpix, but tripped on their own costumes.
"Time to teach you a lesson on inner strength!" Susie roared. Vulpix took a deep breath, then roasted Team Rocket with a Flamethrower.
"We're blasting off again!" Team Rocket lamented, propelled through the ceiling and towards the stars.
Ari wasted no time freeing Misty. Ari's Squirtle cackled unkindly at Misty's face, but washed the makeup off upon realising angering Misty was not advisable for a long lifespan.
"I'm not indebted to you now, am I?" Misty said.
Ari smiled. "Don't give me ideas."
Suzie cleared her throat. "Thanks to all of you, I have confidence in my beliefs again."
"It's not hard when the person you're helping is as great as you," Ari said.
"I have a lot to learn regarding Pokémon Breeding. It looks like you and I both have journeys ahead of us."
"You're leaving? But what about your salon?" Ari was shocked.
"There are things we can only learn out there, in the world. Which is why... I'd be grateful if you took care of Vulpix for me, Brock."
"Huh?" Brock couldn't believe his ears.
"You're the first person other than me that Vulpix has been friendly with. For now, I believe you could do a better job raising Vulpix than me."
Brock bent down to Vulpix. "I promise I'll take good care of you."
Vulpix nipped his fingers affectionately. Suzie passed Brock the Fox Pokémon's Poké Ball. Ari thought she saw a tear slide down Brock's face.