Scissor Street

The gang was currently walking down a street that was aptly named Scissor Street. Brock wanted to visit it.

"So why exactly are we here Brock?" Ash asked.

Brock wasn't listening; he was just staring at the stores on Scissor Street.

"I know why." Misty said. "Scissor Street is another name for Breeder's Lane."

"Oh." Ash said. "But didn't Brock want to be a Pokemon doctor though?"

"He does." Misty nodded. "But sometimes a breeder's technique can be useful if you want to be a Pokemon doctor."

While they were walking down the street, Ash saw a lot of beauty parlors. He noticed some of the Pokemon were looking a bit stylish with makeup. Misty thought they looked cute, but Ash was another story. He believed Pokemon looked cute without that stuff on. Then Misty saw something that caused her to squeal.

"How cute!"

In the window was an Ekans wearing a pink and yellow dress with decorations on and a green ribbon. There was also a Koffing wearing a yellow frilly tutu, a ton of makeup and an orange ribbon.

"Okay, is that a Pokemon or a Christmas tree?" Brock asked, whispering to Ash.

Ash was irritated now. To him this was totally wrong. A woman came out of a beauty salon and her Dodrio and Raichu had the most disgusting makeover Ash had ever seen. Raichu and Dodrio didn't like their makeover either. They had too much makeup on and Dodrio's hairstyles looked awful.

Misty was about to queue up for the salon when Brock rushed to another salon shop. It was run by a woman named Suzy and she did massages for Pokemon.

"This is the one I'm looking for." He said.

Inside a woman with long hair was massaging a Chansey. Chansey looked gorgeous after a good massage, then it's trainer picked it up, paid Suzy and left.

"Can I help you?" Suzy asked.

"We're just looking around." Ash answered. "But I'm interested in one of my Pokemon being massaged."

"Of course." Suzy smiled. "Just tell me anytime when you want your Pokemon massaged."

Misty saw something that caught her eye. A Vulpix was fast asleep in the middle of the salon. Ash smiled and thought about his Vulpix. Misty picked Vulpix up, exclaiming how cute and beautiful it was. But Vulpix blew fire into Misty's face.

"I apologize." Suzy apologized. "But Vulpix doesn't like to be picked up by strangers."

"Why are we here anyway?" Ash asked Brock.

"Suzy is quite famous in the Pokemon breeding world. She's won awards for four years in a row. Her Vulpix also won awards." Brock explained.

Ash was amazed and understood that Brock could learn something from a great Pokemon breeder.

The gang had tea with Suzy.

"What's up with the beauty salon we saw earlier?" Misty asked Suzy.

"That beauty salon is brand new." Suzy said. "But the owners of the salon only think about how Pokemon should look on the outside. And it's making trainers forget about what's on the inside."

"To me, it's really stupid." Ash said. "A Pokemon's true beauty is found within, just like it's strength. Anyway, showing off your looks isn't important."

Misty raised an eyebrow.

"But some Pokemon like to show off." She said.

She stared at Pikachu and imagined it wearing a dress and a little bit of makeup. Ash saw the look on her face and snapped her out of her fantasy.

"Don't even think about it, Misty." He said. "Do that to your own Pokemon, not mine."

"Okay I will." Misty said. She released her Oddish.

"Come on Oddish, we're going to get a makeover."

She left the salon with Oddish in tow.

Suzy started to have doubts about her massages.

"Maybe I should change my methods." She said.

"No way." Brock argued. "Your methods are fine. We just need to give an audience a demonstration of your massages and what they do for Pokemon."

"I agree and we're going to help you." Ash said.

"I appreciate it." A grateful Suzy thanked Ash and Brock for their help.

They gave a demo on the street. Ash helped Suzy with massaging Pikachu, while Brock spoke through the microphone. The crowds were amazed with Suzy's massaging; Pikachu looked adorable without any makeup on.

"As you can see." Brock told the crowd. "This Pikachu being massaged has become cuter than ever."

The people looked at their made up Pokemon and sighed.

Meanwhile Misty and Oddish were in the salon. The owners gave Misty a makeover first, even though Misty said they needed to do Oddish.

"Wow how cute!" Misty exclaimed, liking the new hairstyle and clothes. Then the owners put makeup on her, but Misty started to look weird.

Just then Meowth came in.

"How's it going?" Meowth asked.

When Misty heard Meowth ask that question, she realized that Team Rocket was running the salon. She tried to escape, but Team Rocket tied her to a chair.

"The other twerps will come for her." James said.

"And once they do, we nab their Pokemon." Jessie added.

"Oddish!" Misty called out, but Oddish was nowhere to be seen.

Oddish had seen everything and had gone for help. She ran to where Ash and Brock were and spoke to them.

"Misty's probably in trouble." Ash said.

He, Brock and Suzy followed Oddish to where Misty was. They saw Team Rocket and Misty tied to a chair. Misty's makeup made her look funny, but Ash and Brock didn't laugh. Now wasn't the time for that.

"Let Misty go!" Ash shouted.

"Oh we'll let her go." Jessie said. "But you have to hand over your Pokemon."

"Or I could just burn you to a crisp." Ash threatened as steam was forming in his mouth.

Jessie and James sent out Ekans and Koffing, who were still wearing the dresses and makeup.

"Fire Dragon Roar!" A jet of fire propelled itself towards Team Rocket.

Koffing tried to counter the attack with Sludge, but the makeup and dress got in the way so it was charred by Fire Dragon Roar. Ekans tried to run away, but the dress and makeup slowed it down.

"Now time to end this." He said with his fist lit on fire.

"I'll handle this." Suzy intervened. "Vulpix, Fire Spin!"

Vulpix's Fire Spin created a fiery cyclone, which not only sent Team Rocket flying but destroyed the fake salon as well.

The people who saw everything were amazed by that.

"There you see everyone!" Brock shouted. "The makeup and clothing not only ruined Ekans and Koffing's image, but prevented them from battling properly."

Everyone knew Brock was right and took all the makeup and accessories off their Pokemon. As for Misty, Oddish freed her by cutting the rope with Razor Leaf.

After everyone was back to normal, the gang got ready to leave Scissor Street.

"I can't thank you enough." Suzy said. "You helped me regain my confidence and you helped me prove a Pokemon's true beauty."

"We're glad we were able to help you." Ash said.

"What do you plan to do now?" Brock asked.

"I've decided to travel and learn more about Pokemon." Suzy told him. "Oh and Brock."

She picked her Vulpix up.

"Will you take Vulpix with you?" Brock was puzzled.

"You see." Suzy said. "I believe you will raise Vulpix better than I did. So will you do it?"

Brock was touched and accepted, happy to receive Vulpix.

"I'm happy for you." Ash smiled.

So with Vulpix in tow, the gang left Scissor Street.