Ash and his friends continued their journey toward Lumiose City, leaving Camphrier Town behind and arriving at a small town along the way.
The streets were lively, and the atmosphere carried a refined charm that was quite different from the rural village they had just left.
Bonnie ran ahead energetically, weaving through the streets as she explored everything around her.
Seeing this, Clemont couldn’t help but call out anxiously, “Bonnie, don’t run off like that.
You might get lost!”
Bonnie turned back with a bright smile.
“Big brother, I know the way!”
However, just as she finished speaking, a uniquely styled Pokémon walked past her.
Ash narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed it.
“Is that… a Furfrou?”
Serena nodded after checking her Pokédex.
“Yes.
The Pokédex says this town is famous for its Pokémon grooming salons.
That Furfrou must have been styled by a professional.”
Ash tilted his head slightly.
“Pokémon groomer?”
“It’s a profession that specializes in grooming and styling Pokémon,” Serena explained.
“I heard there’s even a master-level groomer who opened a shop here.”
As she spoke, Serena took out her device and showed Ash information about the salon.
At that moment, Ash’s Aura suddenly picked up a fast-moving presence nearby.
His expression changed slightly as he called out, “Bonnie, be careful!”
Even though he reacted quickly, the incident happened too suddenly.
A Furfrou darted out from the nearby greenery and collided with Bonnie, knocking her to the ground.
Clemont rushed forward immediately.
“Bonnie, are you okay?”
Fortunately, Bonnie had only scraped her knee and was not seriously injured.
The Furfrou that had bumped into her stopped in place, its eyes showing clear guilt.
A girl hurried over, her face full of concern and apology.
“I’m so sorry.
This Furfrou belongs to me.”
After apologizing, she noticed Bonnie’s injury and quickly knelt down to treat it.
Bonnie waved her hand casually.
“It’s just a small scratch.
I’m fine!”
After tending to the wound, the group introduced themselves.
The girl’s name was Jessica, and she was an apprentice Pokémon groomer.
While Clemont was introducing himself, Bonnie suddenly had an idea.
Without warning, she knelt in front of Jessica.
“I want to keep Miss Jessica.
Please take care of my brother!”
Seeing Bonnie act up again, Clemont immediately activated the mechanical arm from his backpack, lifting her away with a flustered expression.
After this small commotion, Jessica smiled awkwardly and invited them to visit the grooming salon where she was apprenticing.
“Miss Jessica, your Furfrou hasn’t been styled yet, right?” Serena asked as they walked.
Jessica hesitated before answering, “Actually… I wanted to trim its fur and style it, but it seems resistant whenever I try.
Just now, I was going to comb its fur, but it ran off.”
Ash noticed the lack of confidence in her tone and said gently, “Furfrou is a very special Pokémon.
When its fur is properly groomed, its agility and overall condition improve significantly.
In other words, both its appearance and strength can be enhanced.
Since it still stays by your side, it means it hasn’t rejected you.
You should have more confidence in yourself.”
“Confidence…” Jessica repeated softly, clearly affected by his words.
Soon, they arrived at the grooming salon.
The elegant design of the shop immediately caught Ash and Serena’s attention.
It was exactly the place Serena had mentioned earlier, run by a renowned master groomer.
“This is the salon my teacher opened,” Jessica said proudly.
After entering, they saw the master groomer at work.
With smooth, practiced movements, she skillfully trimmed a Furfrou’s fur, her technique so refined that even someone unfamiliar with grooming could tell her level was extraordinary.
Jessica introduced her teacher.
“This is Master Domria.”
After exchanging greetings, Domria asked Jessica to guide the group around the salon and explain the profession.
As they toured, Jessica explained that Pokémon grooming was not just about styling fur.
Groomers also needed to understand a Pokémon’s physical condition, health, and nutritional balance, as all of these factors affected the quality of its coat.
They also had to study berries and other methods to adjust a Pokémon’s condition before designing a suitable style.
By the end of the tour, Ash and the others saw a fully styled Furfrou, its appearance elegant and radiant.
During a brief conversation with Domria, Ash also learned that Jessica’s biggest issue was her lack of self-confidence.
After leaving the salon, Jessica continued to guide them through the town.
However, before they had gone far, Ash’s group encountered three overly enthusiastic “groomers” setting up a temporary stall.
Ash took one look and immediately recognized them.
Team Rocket.
Instead of exposing them right away, Ash remained silent for a moment, observing.
He quickly realized that their antics might actually help Jessica overcome her hesitation.
So he allowed them to continue their act.
However, just as Team Rocket attempted to lure Serena’s Fennekin away, Ash decided he had seen enough.
“Team Rocket, that’s enough.”
James stiffened slightly but tried to play dumb.
“W-What are you talking about?”
Clemont looked confused.
“Ash, are you sure?”
Ash shook his head calmly.
“Your disguise is outdated.
Leave the Pokémon behind, and I might go easy on you.”
Seeing that they had been exposed, Team Rocket dropped their act.
Jessie immediately threw a device toward Jessica’s Furfrou.
The device unfolded midair into an electrified cage, trapping it inside.
Jessica’s face turned pale.
“Furfrou!”
Furfrou tried to break the cage with a kick, but the electric current surged through it, forcing it back in pain.
Jessie smirked.
“Take that Furfrou.
Let’s retreat!”
“Got it, Meowth!”
Meowth pressed a remote, and parts of the nearby structure collapsed, revealing their hot air balloon as it rose into the air.
At that moment, Ash turned to Jessica and said firmly, “Believe in yourself.
Isn’t that Furfrou your partner?”
“Partner…”
Memories of her time with Furfrou and her teacher’s encouragement flooded her mind.
In that instant, her hesitation vanished.
“Give me back my Furfrou!”
Ash added, “Command it to battle.”
Jessica nodded firmly.
“Right… Furfrou, use Charge Beam!”
Furfrou lifted its head and fired a beam of electricity upward.
Boom!
The device controlling the cage was destroyed, and the electrified prison vanished instantly.
Jessie gritted her teeth.
“Brat, stop interfering.
That Furfrou and Fennekin are ours!”
“That’s right.
Inkay, use Psybeam!”
James gave the order immediately.
Ash responded without hesitation.
“Gible, go.
Use Bite!”
Gible lunged forward, opening its mouth wide as it charged at Inkay.
Seeing Gible rushing toward it with such a terrifying expression, Inkay panicked and stopped its attack mid-cast.
It might enjoy eating, but it definitely had no intention of becoming someone else’s meal.