"This is Scissor Street... Ash, what are we even doing here?" Sabrina asked with a raised eyebrow. After defeating the Saffron Gym, Ash and his group had started thinking about their next destination and somehow ended up here—on a street famed for beauty salons and boutiques.
Earlier, after leaving the gym, Brock had mentioned returning to Joe in Celadon City. Ash had agreed without protest. With Sabrina's clan now managing the Saffron Gym, it wouldn't be left unattended.
"We're here to look for a breeder named Suzie," Ash replied casually. "Since Brock flew off with Joe to spend time together, we need a new breeder to help take care of our Pokémon. And no offense, but I doubt any of you know how to make Pokémon food."
Hearing that, Cynthia gave a soft, slightly awkward laugh. "I'm definitely not as good as Brock…"
"You think?" Ash muttered with a twitching expression. "I want someone who can give our partners the best food and care. They chose to follow me—the least I can do is make sure they're well taken care of."
"Hmph." At that moment, Sabrina suddenly slid between Ash and Cynthia, letting out a cold snort. Clearly, she wasn't thrilled with the way they were talking.
Ash frowned slightly and turned toward her. "Sabrina, I've been meaning to say this—floating around with psychic power all the time isn't good for your health. You're traveling with us now. Try walking, at least occasionally!"
"It's fine. You'll take care of me," Sabrina said coolly, leaning closer to Ash. Her feet didn't touch the ground, but her voice had a strange softness to it. While some passersby glanced at the floating girl, none made a scene—psychic powers were rare, but not unheard of.
Cynthia smirked. "Wow, looks like someone's quite the ladies' man. You're not even married yet and you already have concubines."
"I want to be the main wife, not a concubine," Sabrina cut in, matter-of-factly. She wrapped her arms around Ash's left arm, her chest pressing tightly against it, sending a jolt through his nerves.
"Unfortunately, that's not happening." Cynthia's smile was graceful but firm. "Ash and I have a family arrangement. I'm destined to be the main wife."
Ash broke out in cold sweat, unsure whether to feel proud, panicked, or both. Still, he kept quiet. In this world, having multiple partners wasn't unusual, and apparently, both women had already accepted that—though not without competition.
"I found it! This is the place." Ash pointed to a neat, modest shop at the end of the street. According to the information he got earlier, this was where Suzie worked.
"It's not luxurious, but it looks reliable," Cynthia noted with a nod.
"Welcome! Do your Pokémon need a massage?" a soft, polite voice greeted them as they stepped inside. A young woman in a nurse's uniform stood at the front. She had dark green hair, a gentle temperament, and a beautiful face that rivaled Cynthia and Sabrina.
"Hello, I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. These are my companions—Cynthia, Champion of the Sinnoh Region, and Sabrina from the Saffron Gym," Ash said with a polite smile.
"You're the famous Cynthia! And Mr. Ash, the pharmacist!" Suzie gasped with delight. She clearly recognized them.
Suzie was twenty years old, an orphan who had built a name for herself with her natural talent for breeding.
Her specialty was Pokémon massage, and while she wasn't certified in pharmacology, her technique and dedication as a breeder had earned her a solid reputation. Financial struggles had kept her from becoming a full-fledged pharmacist—after all, the resources needed for that path weren't cheap.
"Would you mind giving a massage to my Pokémon first?" Ash asked. He didn't want to come off as pushy, so he chose to let his Pokémon try her services before inviting her to join.
Unfortunately, Steelix had to sit this one out. Its rocky body meant massages had little effect.
"This… This is Suicune! The Legendary Pokémon of the North Wind!" Suzie was starstruck as soon as she saw Suicune. The graceful aura of the Legendary Pokémon had completely captured her attention—clearly, Suicune's charm outshone even Ash's!
"You might as well invite her now," Sabrina said quietly as Suzie began massaging Ash's Pokémon. "With your reputation, she's unlikely to say no."
"Still, it feels presumptuous to just ask outright," Ash replied. "It's better to let my Pokémon experience it first. If they're happy, then I'll ask."
As he spoke, Pikachu and the others were already making happy, relaxed sounds under Suzie's expert hands.
"Are you sure it's not just because she's beautiful?" Cynthia teased, arching one brow with a sly grin.
"No way! Gender was the main reason I wanted a female breeder. I don't want another guy tagging along. Luckily, Brock's off with Joe now—so I didn't even have to bring it up."
Ash scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed by his blunt reasoning.
"Wha—what are you even thinking?!" Cynthia blurted out, her cheeks flushing red. She gave Ash's left arm a playful smack, her voice turning into a soft mutter by the end.
"Hmph." Sabrina let out a cold snort at the sight of Ash and Cynthia's growing closeness. Clearly uncomfortable, she said nothing, but it was easy to tell she wasn't pleased. Though she understood Ash well, they still needed more time to adjust to each other.
It took more than an hour for Ash's Pokémon to enjoy their full massage session. By the time it was over, all of them looked completely refreshed and energetic. Seeing his partners so full of life again, Ash couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
"So, how was it?" he asked them. Pikachu and the others responded with cheerful nods and happy cries, clearly impressed by Suzie's skill.
"Thank you," Ash said sincerely, turning to Suzie. "They've been through a lot lately. It really helped them relax."
"You're welcome," Suzie replied, a bit flustered by the praise. Considering Ash's identity—backed by two of the most powerful families and an elite trainer in his own right—she couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Suzie," Ash continued gently, "aside from letting my partners unwind, I actually came here with another reason in mind."
Suzie blinked, surprised.
"I'd like to ask you to travel with us. As you've already seen, I don't have a breeder in my group. I need someone like you—someone who can properly care for my partners while we travel and challenge Gyms."
His tone was serious now. Ash had little time to spare—he wanted to challenge more gyms as quickly as possible. And with the Copy Card already in hand, the anticipation burning in his heart made it difficult to wait any longer.
...
TN:
⚡ Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin