"Gulu… really?"
"Of course it's real. Lumina, just like your name, you're already beautiful. Today's makeover is only meant to make you even more beautiful—but you were never ugly to begin with. Do you understand?"
Girls understood girls best. When Ash said the same thing, it sounded like comfort. But when Green said it, it somehow made its way straight into Milotic-to-be's heart.
When Green noticed that, deep within Lumina's gloomy, self-conscious gaze, a faint—almost imperceptible—spark of confidence had begun to appear, she immediately seized the moment and asked gently,
"Lumina, before this… was there anything about yourself that you disliked? Anything you wanted to change?"
"Gulu… everything. All of it. There isn't a single part of me that looks good."
Thinking back to how different she was compared to her former companions, Lumina clenched her fins slightly and answered with a mixture of bitterness and self-denial.
"Huh? How could that be?" Green widened her eyes in exaggerated disbelief.
"Lumina, how could you think that? I think every single part of you is beautiful. The reason you were different from your old companions wasn't because you were uglier than them—it's because you were more beautiful than them."
"They just couldn't stand it," Green said decisively. "They were jealous."
"Gulu… really?" Lumina sounded uncertain.
"Of course it's real," Green replied without hesitation.
"When you were living with them before, did other wild Pokémon ever stare at you? Or whisper about you?"
"Gulu… yes." Lumina nodded. She didn't quite understand why Green was asking.
"See? That proves it." Green smiled.
"Your companions weren't good-looking themselves, so of course they envied you. And after I'm done with your makeup today, I guarantee you'll be even more stunning than before."
"Gulu… mm-hmm!!"
After Green's steady stream of encouragement, Lumina finally felt a small but undeniable boost in confidence about her appearance.
"Then let's begin."
"If you feel that every part of you can be improved, I'll design a full makeover for you today."
As she spoke, Green picked up her stylus and began working on her computer using a PS program.
"Let's start with your scales. Normally, Feebas have that dull, earthy yellow coloring—very muddy and unappealing. But yours, Lumina… yours are a beautiful purple. It's absolutely stunning."
"Do you know what purple represents?" Green asked.
"Gulu… I don't."
"Hehe~ Purple represents nobility. It was the favorite color of ancient royalty and aristocrats. That alone proves it—those companions with their dull yellow scales were the ones who weren't pretty. You, Lumina, are truly extraordinary."
"Purple doesn't just symbolize nobility. It also carries a sense of melancholy, mystery, depth, maturity, and romance. I can guarantee that if a photographer were standing in front of you right now, they wouldn't be able to stop themselves from taking photo after photo."
"And if a painter were here, they'd surely be captivated by your beauty and beg you to let them paint your portrait."
"So, Lumina, you shouldn't dislike these purple scales of yours. They're actually the most beautiful part of you. Today's makeup won't cover them up—we'll only add a bit of refinement and embellishment."
"For your purple scales, I plan to add just a touch of shimmering crystal powder. The final effect will look like gemstones scattered across purple velvet… or like brilliant stars sprinkled across a night sky."
"Wow!! Lumina, your scales are so beautiful."
As Green described her creative vision, her hands moved swiftly across the digital canvas. With just a small amount of crystal powder added to the painted purple scales, the difference was immediately striking.
In the basin of water, Lumina's eyes sparkled with astonishment—bright and glittering—as if she couldn't believe that the reflection she saw was herself.
"And these deep-purple markings on your body," Green continued, "they're gorgeous too. They're like little islands scattered across a mysterious purple sea."
"So instead of concealing them, we should highlight them—bring out their charm."
"To match the crystal accents on your scales, I'll use a fine crystal-line brush to refine and outline the shapes of these darker patches."
"Wow!! The effect is amazing—so beautiful!"
"Gulu…!"
"Next, let's work on your fins."
"The gray-blue tone of your fins is very elegant. It adds a sense of cool aloofness to your already noble and mysterious purple scales."
"To emphasize that cool elegance—and to echo the purple crystal accents—I'll use silver crystal powder mixed with a small amount of purple for the detailing."
"Wow!! Lumina, your fins are beautiful too!"
"Gulu…!"
"Now for the eye makeup."
"I really love the purple of your scales and the gray-blue of your fins, so I'm going to blend these two colors together."
"Oh my goodness… this blue-violet eye makeup suits you perfectly. It's mysterious and incredibly elegant."
"Not only does it completely cover your dark circles, but the gradient at the edges makes it impossible to tell you're even wearing makeup…"
"Lumina, you're truly stunning. Why did you ever think you weren't beautiful? Why did you feel inferior? You're obviously gorgeous. With just a little makeup and refinement, you're breathtaking—so beautiful that even I can't help but feel a bit jealous~"
"Gulu…!"
"Scales, markings, fins, dark circles—we've done all of that. Now, for the final step… let's give you a beautiful, sexy lip look~"
"And I have to say, Lumina, your pink lips are both sexy and adorable."
"So for the lips, we'll keep it simple. No need for heavy lipstick—I think lip gloss or lip tint will be perfect."
"Your natural lip color already blends sexiness and cuteness flawlessly."
"Lip gloss is lighter and more moisturizing, making your lips look like ripe peaches—shiny and juicy—highlighting your adorable charm."
"Lip tint, on the other hand, has richer color and lasts longer. It deepens your lip tone slightly, which reduces the youthful cuteness but brings out a more mature, seductive allure."
"I think both are wonderful. You can switch between them depending on the occasion."
"Lumina, which one do you like more?"
Seeing Lumina gradually build confidence in her appearance, Green now actively involved her in choosing her own makeup. That sense of participation made Lumina trust Green's words even more—and truly believe that she was beautiful.
In less than an hour, Lumina had developed a remarkably strong sense of confidence in her own appearance.
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T/N:
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