Journey Through Kanto | ✅

Chapter 26: Beauty is Pain

"Zia, why are we at Scissor Street again?" Sky asks the girl as they walk down the crowded street, dozens of stores lined up for Pokemon fashion. Zia smiled a bit and glanced at Emmy and Sky. "I thought that maybe we could all just have a nice spa day." She answered.

"Do you have a place in mind?" Emmy questioned, excited now. After a couple days of nonstop walking, it'd be nice to just relax today. Zia tilted her head in thought. "There was one place I heard about that seemed nice. It wasn't to extravagant and expensive. I just need to find it." She chuckled, looking around for said place.

The other two just shrugged and followed her, not sure what the place looked like. However, they did stop and look at a gigantic line that had formed going into a particular salon. Zia checked the windows where there was a poster planted.

"Salon Rocket? Interesting name." She muttered and finally looked at the picture of a Koffing and Ekans dressed up in even more interesting clothing. "Is that... a Christmas tree?" Emmy asked as she peered at the poster beside her trainer. "I'm not sure." Zia replied before walking away, her Pokemon following her.

Although, she didn't walk very far before perking up. "There it is!" She exclaimed and walked over to a little shop hidden in the corner of a building. "This is it?" Sky asked, looking at the door with a picture of a Vulpix on it. Zia nodded and opened it, walking inside.

"Hi. Can I help you?" The voice of a woman asked them as they looked to see a pretty blue haired woman massaging a Chansey. "Relax. Release all your tensions. Now you'll have more energy." The woman said to the Pokemon as she finished. The Chansey was practically glowing as it admired itself in the mirror.

Suddenly, another person walked in as Zia moved to the side. "Chansey! I've come for you, darling! Ah! Don't you look precious!" They yelled in delight. "Thank you for brining Chansey to my salon." The woman, presumably the owner, said. "See you soon, Suzie." The customer said as they left.

"May I help the next customer?" The owner, Suzie, suddenly asked Zia as she looked over. "I was hoping you'd care for my two Pokemon, we've been traveling around so much that we haven't had much time to relax." Zia answered as she smiled at the girl. "Of course! I'd be happy too, my name is Suzie by the way, I'm the owner of this little salon." The owner introduced as they all walked further into the shop.

"I'm Zia, and these are two of my Pokemon, Emmy and Sky." Zia replied as she pointed at the Servine and Luxray respectively. "They seem very well taken care of. I'm impressed." Suzie complimented. Zia waved her off though. "It's nothing special. I just make sure to feed them good food and groom them regularly when I have time." She said. It was then that the younger girl noticed something from the corner of her eye.

"That's an adorable Vulpix you have." Zia stated as she gazed at the sleeping fox Pokemon that sat on a red throne at the back. Zia walked over and was about to pet it. "Don't touch it!"  Suzie suddenly yelled, surprising the girl. "Why? What could go wrong?" Emmy muttered to herself as she poked the Vulpix. It cracked it's eyes open. "Hi! I'm Emm-Y!" The Servine yelled at the end as the Vulpix used flamethrower on the grass type.

Then the Vulpix went back to sleep. "Are you ok Emmy?!" Zia asked, worried. "I-I'm fine. Just a little toasty." Emmy replied, shaking it off. Of course, Suzie couldn't understand her so she still looked concerned.

"Please pardon Vulpix. It doesn't like to be picked up or touched by strangers." Suzie apologized. "No, it's not Vulpix's fault. Emmy should've realized that it was a bad idea since you warned us." Zia indirectly chastised as she glanced at the Servine, getting a guilty look in return.

"Actually, I feel like I've seen you somewhere before..." Zia muttered, gazing at the older woman. Suzie tilted her head, confused. Suddenly, Zia remembered as her eyes lit up. "You're that famous breeder that's won Trophy of Excellence at the World Pokemon Breeder's Contest for three consecutive years. I also think that the readers of Pokemon Friends Magazine named you the most popular breeder for four years running. You also have a hugely popular website that's records 10,000 hits day... Right?" Zia ranted out, wondering if this was her.