On a bright and sunny afternoon, Brock, Ash, and Xiao You stood at the entrance of Beauty Street, gazing at the bustling street before them, exclaiming in awe.
"Wow, is this the legendary Beauty Street?" Xiao You's eyes widened as she looked at the dazzling array of Pokémon beauty salons lining both sides of the street. Each shop entrance was adorned with colorful flowers and sparkling decorations.
Brock held a slightly yellowed photograph tightly in his hand. It showed a young woman with a gentle smile, with this very street as the background. "According to my investigation, Ms. Xiao Xue's shop should be in the middle section of this street. She has been rated as a Super-Grade Breeder by the Pokémon Breeder Association for four consecutive years!"
"Then let's go find her quickly!" Ash said excitedly, his Pikachu on his shoulder echoing him with two "Pika Pika" calls.
The trio walked along the street, their eyes occasionally drawn to the beautiful Pokémon displayed in the shops. A pink-furred Eevee stood elegantly in a display window, attracting many trainers to stop and watch; in another shop, a Butterfree's wings were meticulously painted with exquisite patterns, sparkling in the sunlight.
"These beauty techniques are truly amazing," Xiao You couldn't help but exclaim, "I wonder what kind of skills Ms. Xiao Xue will teach us."
Just as they were walking and looking, a sudden commotion came from ahead. A luxuriously decorated shop was surrounded by people, its signboard read "Beauty Salon" in large characters, with a big red "R" logo next to it.
"That's..." Ash frowned.
"Team Rockets!" the three said in unison.
Pikachu immediately perked up its ears, and the electric sacs on its cheeks began to flicker with faint electricity. Brock held back Ash, who wanted to rush forward: "Wait, let's find Ms. Xiao Xue's shop first."
They bypassed the bustling crowd and continued walking forward. Soon, under a large tree full of pink flowers, they found a small shop that looked simple yet cozy. A wooden sign with "Xiao Xue Pokémon Beauty" hung at the entrance, but compared to other shops, it seemed particularly deserted.
"This is it!" Brock's voice trembled with excitement. He straightened his collar, took a deep breath, and pushed open the shop door.
The bell on the door chimed crisply. The light inside the shop was soft, and the air was filled with a faint herbal scent. A woman with shoulder-length dark green hair was facing away from the door, meticulously grooming a Vulpix's fur.
"Welcome..." She turned around, and her words stopped abruptly when she saw who had arrived. Her eyes were as gentle as those in the photograph Brock held, but there was a hint of fatigue and worry in her brows.
"You... are you Ms. Xiao Xue?" Brock's voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"Yes, I am Xiao Xue." She smiled faintly, gently placing the Vulpix on the ground, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
Xiao You eagerly stepped forward: "Ms. Xiao Xue, we came specifically to find you! Both Brock and I are Pokémon breeding enthusiasts, and we've always looked up to you as our idol!"
Xiao Xue seemed a little surprised, her cheeks flushing slightly: "This... this is too much praise. The way I am now..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the Vulpix suddenly ran to Brock's feet and affectionately rubbed against his leg. Xiao Xue watched this scene in surprise: "Vulpix rarely gets so close to strangers."
Brock squatted down and gently stroked the Vulpix's head: "Hello there, little one. Your fur is so beautiful, it looks like Ms. Xiao Xue takes very good care of you."
Just then, the shop door was pushed open again, and three familiar figures swaggered in.
"Look who it is~" Jessie sashayed in, followed by James and Meowth.
"The twerps actually found their way to a shop that's about to go out of business~" James sneered.
Meowth jumped onto the counter, saying smugly: "Now the most popular beauty salon on this street is our Team Rocket Beauty Salon, meow!"
Ash immediately stood in front of Xiao Xue: "Team Rockets! What evil deeds are you planning now?"
"Evil deeds?" Jessie dramatically spread her hands, "We're legitimate business people~ Ever since our beauty salon opened, the entire trend of Beauty Street has changed!"
Xiao Xue lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously intertwining: "They're right... Ever since the Team Rocket Beauty Salon opened, my customers have become fewer and fewer. Trainers nowadays prefer that... exaggerated style."
Xiao You noticed Xiao Xue's dejected expression and stood firmly by her side: "Ms. Xiao Xue, you are a Super-Grade Breeder for four consecutive years! Your skills and experience are incomparable to those flashy things!"
"Hehehe~" Jessie let out a sneering laugh, "Since you're so confident, how about a little competition?"
"Competition?" Brock frowned.
"Exactly!" James pulled out a flyer, "Tomorrow, we will hold the 'Most Beautiful Pokémon' Contest in the plaza, and passersby trainers will vote to decide the winner. If you have the guts, bring this 'former' Super-Grade Breeder to participate~"
Meowth jumped onto James's shoulder and added: "The loser has to leave Beauty Street forever, meow!"
Xiao Xue's body visibly trembled: "I... I don't..."
"We accept the challenge!" Xiao You suddenly exclaimed loudly, everyone looked at her in surprise. She turned to Xiao Xue, her eyes sparkling with determination: "Ms. Xiao Xue, please believe in yourself! And please believe in us!"
Ash also clenched his fist: "That's right! We will definitely help you! Pikachu will also cheer you on, right?"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder, its cheek electric sacs flickering with electricity.
The Team Rockets trio exchanged glances, and Jessie smirked disdainfully: "Then it's settled. Tomorrow at noon, at the plaza. I hope you won't chicken out then."
With that, they laughed loudly and left the small shop, the bell making a harsh sound as the door closed.
A brief silence fell over the shop. Xiao Xue sat weakly in a chair: "You shouldn't have agreed to them... I... I've lost confidence."
Brock walked up to her and said earnestly: "Ms. Xiao Xue, I've observed your Vulpix, and its fur condition is much healthier than those over-groomed Pokémon on the street. A true Breeder should prioritize a Pokémon's health, shouldn't they?"
Xiao Xue looked up, a glimmer of light flashing in her eyes: "You... you really think so?"
"Of course!" Brock nodded firmly, "And Xiao You has a lot of talent in Pokémon beauty, she will definitely be able to help."
Xiao You squatted down and gently stroked the Vulpix's fur: "Ms. Xiao Xue, can I see how you usually care for Vulpix? Maybe we can come up with a way to win the competition together."
Xiao Xue looked at the sincere young people in front of her and finally showed a genuine smile: "Alright... Let me first show you the basic grooming steps."
The next day at noon, the plaza was already packed with onlookers. Team Rockets had set up a magnificent stage, adorned with various sparkling decorations and colorful beauty products. Jessie, dressed in an extravagant sequined outfit, was waving to the audience.
"Trainers! Welcome to the first Beauty Salon 'Most Beautiful Pokémon' Contest!" Jessie announced loudly, "Today, we will witness the showdown between a rising star in the beauty world and a traditional conservative!"
When Ash and his group arrived at the plaza with Xiao Xue and Vulpix, the audience began to murmur.
"Isn't that Ms. Xiao Xue? Her shop hasn't had much business lately..."
"I heard Team Rockets' beauty techniques are especially avant-garde. My Eevee got a styling there last time, and it got so many compliments!"
"But my Clefairy's fur stayed shiny for a really long time after grooming at Xiao Xue's..."
Xiao You heard these comments and leaned into Xiao Xue's ear: "See, there are still many people who recognize your skills."
Xiao Xue took a deep breath and nodded: "I'll do my best."
The competition officially began, with the first round being a basic grooming demonstration. Team Rockets sent out a scruffy Meowth, while Xiao Xue's side had her Vulpix.
"The competition rules are simple," James announced, "within ten minutes, complete basic fur care, and then the audience will vote to decide which Pokémon looks healthier and more beautiful!"
As the starting whistle blew, both sides immediately sprang into action. Team Rockets took out various sprays and electric tools, quickly grooming Meowth's fur; while Xiao Xue unhurriedly first gently combed Vulpix's fur with a special comb, then applied her homemade natural conditioning oil.
"Miss Xiao Xue's technique is so skilled…" Brock watched intently, "Every movement is just right, neither hurting the Pokémon nor achieving the best effect."
Xiao You noticed that Team Rockets used a lot of chemical products, and although the effect was immediate, Meowth was clearly squirming uncomfortably.
Time was up, and the two Pokémon were brought to the center of the stage for display. Team Rockets' Meowth had fluffy, shiny fur that almost reflected in the sunlight; while Xiao Xue's Vulpix exuded a natural, healthy luster, with soft and elastic fur.
"Now, please, audience, cast your votes!" Jessie announced loudly.
The voting results were quickly revealed: Team Rockets led by a narrow margin.
"How could this be…" Xiao You couldn't believe it, "Vulpix's care was clearly healthier and more natural!"
Xiao Xue smiled wryly and explained, "Trainers nowadays prefer that kind of immediate 'stunning' effect, and few people care about the importance of long-term care."
The second round of the competition was creative styling design. This time, both sides could freely choose any Pokémon for styling creation.
"Let me help this time!" Xiao You volunteered, "I often designed styles for Pokémon when I was in school, and I have some special ideas!"
Xiao Xue looked at Xiao You's enthusiastic eyes and nodded, "Okay, we'll do it together."
They chose a long-haired Eevee as their model, while Team Rockets chose a Jigglypuff.
"Competition time, twenty minutes, start!"
Team Rockets immediately sprang into action, taking out various dyes and styling gels, and began to work extensively on Jigglypuff. Xiao Xue and Xiao You, however, first carefully observed Eevee's fur texture and body structure before starting to work.
"I think we can preserve Eevee's natural cuteness," Xiao You suggested softly, "but do some special braided styling on the ears and tail…"
Xiao Xue's eyes lit up, "That's a great idea! We can use natural plant dyes to create some gradient effects on the tips of the fur, which will be both beautiful and won't harm the skin."
The two cooperated tacitly, with Xiao You responsible for creative design, and Xiao Xue using her exquisite skills to realize these ideas. As time drew to a close, their Eevee underwent a Refresh:
The fur on its ears was meticulously braided into delicate pigtails, the fur at the tip of its tail showed a natural pink gradient, and the overall styling not only retained Eevee's original cute temperament but also added a touch of elegance.
"Time's up! Please show your works!"
Team Rockets' Jigglypuff became a mobile rainbow ball, its entire body dyed seven colors, and its hair styled into an exaggerated explosion. Gasps of amazement rose from the audience.
But when Xiao You walked onto the stage holding Eevee, there was a moment of silence, followed by even more enthusiastic applause.
"This Eevee is so beautiful! It's unique and yet natural!"
"Look at the details of the braiding, it's so exquisite!"
"How did they achieve the gradient effect? It doesn't look like it's dyed at all!"
The voting results were undisputed, and the combination of Xiao Xue and Xiao You won this round with an overwhelming advantage.
"Darn it!" Jessie gritted her teeth, "It was just luck! The last round is the decider!"
The final round of the competition was an instant challenge, where both sides needed to design the most suitable care plan for a randomly selected Pokémon on the spot.
"We drew… an elderly Snorlax!" James announced.
The audience gasped in surprise. Snorlax is large and has special skin, so conventional beauty methods are difficult to apply.
The Team Rockets trio exchanged glances, clearly a little flustered. But Xiao Xue showed a confident smile, "I'm good at this."
She stepped forward, carefully observed Snorlax's skin condition, and then took out several special ointments from her bag.
"Older Snorlax's skin tends to be dry," she explained as she gently applied the ointment, "and needs especially gentle care. This ointment is a blend I made from various berries and natural oils, which can deeply moisturize without irritating the skin."
Xiao You meticulously cleaned the dirt from Snorlax's nail crevices and skin folds: "These areas are prone to accumulating dirt and need special attention."
After just twenty minutes, the Snorlax, which had looked a bit haggard, was invigorated with new vitality. Its skin was noticeably shinier, and even its eyes brightened considerably. It purred comfortably and gratefully rubbed its big head against Xiao Xue.
Team Rockets, on the other hand, were in a flurry, trying to use sprays meant for small Pokémon to care for Snorlax, which not only had poor results but also made Snorlax grunt in displeasure.
When the judge announced that Xiao Xue's team had won with an absolute advantage of three to zero, the entire square erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.
"Impossible!" Jessie shrieked, "You must have cheated!"
"That's right, Meowth!" Meowth jumped up, "We object, Meowth!"
James suddenly pressed a button in his hand, and several mechanical arms suddenly emerged around the stage, attempting to grab the nearby Pokémon: "Since we lost the competition, we'll just snatch these Pokémon directly!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash immediately shouted.
"Pika—chu!" A dazzling electric light flashed, the mechanical arms were blown to smithereens, and the Team Rockets trio were electrocuted black.
"What a nasty feeling, Meowth~" With the familiar line, they vanished like shooting stars in the sky.
Calm returned to the square, and the audience gathered around Xiao Xue to express their congratulations and admiration.
"Miss Xiao Xue, your skills are truly amazing!"
"I'll bring my Pokémon to your shop tomorrow!"
"Could you please teach me those natural care methods?"
Xiao Xue was a little overwhelmed by the sudden attention, and Xiao You quietly held her hand: "See, everyone finally realizes what truly excellent Pokémon care looks like."
After the event, back at Xiao Xue's shop, she looked at Xiao You sincerely: "Thank you for today. Your creativity and enthusiasm helped me regain my confidence. I have an idea… would you be willing to stay and run this shop with me? We can turn it into a training center for breeders and groomers."
Xiao You's eyes widened in surprise, and she subconsciously looked at Ash. Ash was focused on playing with Pikachu, completely unaware of her gaze.
"I…" Xiao You hesitated for a moment, but finally shook her head, "Thank you for the invitation, Miss Xiao Xue. But I still want to continue traveling and see more different Pokémon and breeding methods. Perhaps… after my journey ends…"
Xiao Xue smiled knowingly: "I understand. Young people really should see more of the world." She turned to Brock, "Brock, could I ask you a favor?"
"Please say it," Brock replied seriously.
"I'd like to ask you to temporarily take care of Vulpix." Xiao Xue stroked the Vulpix nestled at her feet, "It seems to have a special connection with you. And… I think traveling with you for a while would be a very good experience for it."
Brock delightedly took Vulpix: "It's my honor! I will definitely take good care of it."
As the sun set, the three bid farewell to Xiao Xue and embarked on a new journey. Xiao You looked back at Xiao Xue, who was standing at the shop door waving to them, and silently made a promise in her heart: one day, she would return with more experience and stories, and together with her mentor, pass on the true way of Pokémon breeding.
"Let's go," Ash said enthusiastically, "the next Gym is waiting for us!"
"Pika!" Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder, and Vulpix also barked excitedly in Brock's arms.
The trio, with new companions and abundant gains, moved forward along the road under the setting sun, where new adventures awaited them.