Oh my. I'm a bad girl. ):
I delayed a little longer than usual for chapters, and the reason...I've been editing chapters again. Basically re-writing them all, but nothing much has changed except the descriptions. I plan to replace them all at once...the ones in need of editing, I mean. But if there's ever an extreme or important change, I'll mention it.

Chapter 43 start!

Chapter 43
Jasmine's Honest Request

Monday, December 1st, 11:47PM

Dear Diary,

This'll be the second entry I've written to you today, but there's a lot I have on mind and I'm a little bored sitting here watching TV. King and Amber make me laugh though; they get along well.

I'm still feeling really down about May. I never got to say goodbye to her and I never called her in the end. It's driving me mad with guilt, and I can't call her now even with my PokéGear charged at full battery. I really need to stop thinking like this though… Regretting just makes it more painful.

But it isn't just that. Other things are bothering me. I mean the dream I keep having with the crying girl in the strange darkness... I think that it was a warning. Because when I think about it, the girl does look a bit like May, but today my mother was wearing pigtails EXACTLY like hers. The idea makes me feel even worse about it. If I was being told about it beforehand... I don't know. I can't help it; I feel that it's my fault that May felt bad enough to leave Johto.

Then there's Kenta…but I've already written a lot about him. I didn't see him today, and I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

Well, I did have fun spending a lot of my day with my mom, at least. We went out to eat lunch and explored Olivine a little, and after that she made sure that I was good on money, my Trainer clothes were washed, and that my bag was organized. (And I couldn't find my Neo Ball anywhere. I re-checked everything so many times, but it never turned up. I hope I didn't lose it...) We talked a lot about things I mentioned in my earlier entry; it was nice having her around, and it was kinda hard to say goodbye when she had to leave. I'll be keeping my PokéGear on more often in case she calls me back. Maybe then I can speak to May...

Oh, it's almost midnight now. But it's weird; I'm EXHAUSTED, but at the same time I'm wide awake. I even called everyone on my PokéGear because looking through my Pokédex drove me batty seeing all those empty slots. Jackson was thrilled, the Professor was WAY too excited about Amber, Gina (who I met on the route south of Goldenrod City) was delighted and we talked for about an hour until she had to go, and then Latios...I couldn't reach him. I just got a message saying that his number didn't exist anymore. Was his PokéGear somehow a fake too? Who knows?

There's just one more thing I want to say, and that's what I saw while I was watching the news for once.

The other is that another tropical storm is coming and it's expected in a few days. It makes me excited since I'll stay here for the storm, unless I pull a Silver and travel to Cianwood. Maybe I should try that! ...But I'm just scared that I'll get caught in the storm before I get to Cianwood.

I'd love to keep writing to you, diary, but not anymore today. I written enough, don't you think? My hand kind of hurts, too. Tee hee.

That and I need some air, so I'm going to go outside for a while; it's quiet out there now. But tomorrow I'll write, for sure!

Love,
Marina

When Marina left the Pokémon Center, a freezing breeze swept against the harbor. Ocean waves lapped at the piers and sailboats without much disturbance. She hugged her arms and looked out at the scenery, glancing at the boat that was parked carelessly nearby in the water. It was especially quiet, and with a thoughtful frown she gazed at the sky. Free of clouds, the waxing moon gleamed in the navy-black sky. There appeared to be a faint ring of light that surrounded it like a halo.

The struggling traces of optimism eventually vanished from Marina's face. Her hand somberly reached for her neck, and with a gentle touch she felt the accessory that lay under the collar of her new, crimson long-sleeved shirt that her mother had bought for her.

"Geez," Marina murmured.

I can't stop thinking about that dream… The girl, the Suicune, the Tauros and my Lapras, she mused, Especially the dark-colored Suicune.

The girl was supposed to represent May...If not, then I don't know who. The Lapras and Tauros are themselves... Both are Pokémon that feel strange, and had weird things happen when I saw them.

But Suicune...What on earth could that dark Suicune represent? Marina searched her thoughts. The Suicune I met in the Burned Tower...? Why?

She slipped from her heavy thoughts as she heard footsteps from behind and then stopping beside her. For a while, she remained unmoving as she looked down at the unsettled ocean. But her curiosity got the best of her as she shifted her evergreen eyes to her right, twitching with a start.

With his hands in his jacket pockets, Silver stared at the ocean, his expression unreadable.

If Marina hadn't been burdened by her constant thinking, she would have turned to him and greeted either happily or at least politely. But instead she continued to look at him with her gaze never once returned. This created an awkward atmosphere between them, at least to her.

What is he doing here? She wondered, puzzled. He wants to talk to me again? Well, if he did, then he would've said something already, right? Maybe he still wants to know about Suicune, Entei, and Raikou… I have no idea.

At last, Silver's eyes caught hers for a moment before looking back at the harbor.

"You look worse than you did earlier," he muttered. His tone contained his usual annoyance.

Catching this, the girl turned her head to him, nodding a little before she could stop herself. But she made a weak smile as she laughed a little.

"But I took a shower so I'm not all muddy anymore," she pointed out.

There came no reply from the boy, and for some time they watched the mildly calm ocean. The waves crashed against the shore, accompanied with the cold breeze that refused to let up. Marina could barely feel the chilly weather through her shirt, but even so she shivered. She tried to pick up her optimism again and turned to Silver.

"I'm surprised that you came out here to talk to me—."

"I'm waiting for someone," Silver cut in irritably.

"O...Oh." She turned away and began playing with her hair. "I see."

Again they were silent, until Silver moved to cross his arms. "Humph. Sure you don't want to share why you look down?"

"Are you sure that you want to fulfill your side of the deal if I do?" Marina returned merrily. She laughed as the boy looked away and muttered a disgruntled, "No." When she stopped giggling, she faced the ocean again

"Silver, do you still think I'm naïve?"

"Definitely."

"Then am I oblivious?"

He shrugged and rolled his eyes. "Yes, you are."

"Cowardly?"

"Look. Let's just make this easier for you: assume my answers are all 'yes'."

Marina forced another laugh. Of course. She brushed her fingers through one of her pigtails without a reply. But the boy again spoke, voicing an afterthought.

"You're better than I thought you were, I'll give you that much. But your Pokémon are stronger than you are." He turned his head to her, his crimson mane nearly covering one of his silver eyes as it normally did.

"Because you're so annoyingly naïve, it's noticeable," he added grumpily.

"You're just upset that you can't beat me," she teased.

"Yet," Silver added. "I will defeat you next time."

Marina smiled honestly. "We'll see about that! I may be naïve, but I won't go easy on you. You're my rival, after all."

"Humph."

Their exchange was disrupted by a muffled ringing sound. Distinguishing it as a PokéGear's ring, Marina looked down at her own, but it remained undisturbed as it rested on her chest. She watched as Silver dug his hand in his jacket pocket. He pulled out a dark-colored PokéGear that nagged at him noisily, reading its glowing screen. He turned away and distanced himself from her. Even so, the person on the other end could easily be heard when he answered the call.

"Hi, Silver," a peppy girl's voice greeted him. "Are you waiting at the place we agreed on?"

"Yes, I am." Silver's tone hushed as he spoke into the phone. Any sign of the irritation that confronted Marina was now absent from his voice, but it sounded as if he were straining himself to appear pleasant.

"Hm! I'll be there soon. I can see Olivine from where I am now."

"Alright. See you then."

"Later! Be a good boy until then!"

A discerning beep terminated the call, and Silver swiftly stuffed his PokéGear back into his jacket. He grunted in irritation. However, he didn't move nor did he cast a look at Marina, who watched after him curiously. She tilted her head as a bubbly curiosity stirred within her.

"Was that—?"

"No," Silver shot down. He pivoted and walked back to the spot previous to the phone call's interruption.

"But… I didn't even finish the question!"

"It's obvious what you were going to say."

"Hmph! No it isn't," Marina replied with a mock anger. He rolled his eyes and refused to look at her. She couldn't help but smile at him.

He's always trying to act tough, she thought. Maybe there really is a nicer part to him. If there is, he just doesn't want to show it.

"Then who was it?" she asked.

"She's just a—." He paused, yet answered gruffly, "My sister."

"You have a sister?" Marina gasped, almost in laughter as she leaned closer. "I never thought that you'd have a—! …sister…"

There was an abrupt pause, and she quieted down and turned back to the ocean.

Silver looked at her, puzzled by her eccentric halt at mid-sentence. The silence didn't last long, however, as Marina grasped her PokéGear.

"You know," she turned to him again with a slightly different bounce in her step, "I never used my PokéGear that often at all so far in my journey; in fact, just a week or two ago the battery went dead for the first time because I never even charged it. But now I'm going to use it a lot more from this point on."

"That's great, I don't care," Silver sardonically remarked.

"You would if we traded PokéGear numbers." She took off her white cell phone-like device while the skeptical boy raised an eyebrow.

"I don't need your number," he declined, "Nor do I want it."

"Come on," the girl coaxed.

"No."

Marina placed a hand on her hip, while the other held the PokéGear in front of her rival. "The next time you want to battle me, you can just call me to see if I'm around. You won't have to wait for hours in a tree like you did that one time in Ilex Forest."

"I was trying to ambush you," Silver argued.

"Doesn't matter. I won't leave until I get the number. Oh, maybe I can meet your sister, too!"

Silver hesitated, and Marina looked at him expectantly. But he gave in and slipped the PokéGear out from his pocket.

"If it gets you to leave," he said finally. She heard him mutter under his breath, though she only smiled as she turned on her PokéGear. The process didn't take long, and as soon as their names were added to the other's phone register, he swiftly put his phone away again.

"See? That wasn't too bad," said Marina with a satisfied nod.

The boy did just the opposite as he glowered at her. "You got what you want; now get out of my hair."

"Alright," she yawned, "I'm off to bed, then. So…" She gave him a wave and she turned away to leave.

"Goodnight," Silver uttered suddenly.

Marina looked over her shoulder, somewhat surprised. Grinning, she nodded again.

"Goodnight."

The next morning, Marina stretched as she stepped outside of the Pokémon Center with Amber in her arms. She left her somewhat heavy backpack in her room, and not having to lug it around felt great on her shoulders. The climate was chilly but the girl didn't need her jacket, as her the sleeves of her newest shirt covered her arms and even extended past her wrists.

She sighed, feeling the salty noon winds spiraling from the ocean on her once, she turned to her left and headed for the lighthouse that elegantly held its ground a good distance away from her.

First, I'll go to the Glitter Lighthouse, she planned. If the Gym Leader's still there with her Pokémon, maybe I could talk to her and see what's going on.

She cast a glance at the entrance of the large port meant for the S.S. Aqua and other traveling boats. Her little Pokémon looked around drowsily, having just eaten lunch. But as she craned her head to see the large body of water at their side, her chocolate brown irises widened in awe. Not a moment later, she wriggled to pry herself from her Trainer's grip only to be held to the girl's chest protectively.

"Hey, don't go off on your own yet! We're still walking," Marina gently chided her.

"Plaaa!" Amber flailed to sit upright and pointed her paw at the mysterious expanse of azure blue. For a few moments, Marina looked at her blankly as she approached the beacon of Olivine. However, she smiled and slowed to a stop when she reached the concrete pier.

"That's right, you haven't seen the ocean ever before, have you?" She turned to the sea and knelt at the edge of the dock, still holding Amber tight. Amber leaned closer in wonder until the water splashed up at them. She cried in alarm with an appalled look.

"It's not going to hurt you," laughed her Trainer.

Moments later, they arrived at the gigantic lighthouse. The massive stone beacon was almost intimidating because of its size compared to Marina, who looked up at the very top. Amber did the same, her eyes wide.

"That's going to be a lot of stairs."

"Plasu…"

Marina forced the unlocked storm door open and walked inside. Lining the curved walls was the floor that gradually slanted upwards. The walls, dotted with occasional windows, were made of solid stone bricks. For a few moments the girl gazed at it before walking further in, keeping next to the wall as she traveled up the spiral.

But when she approached the next flat platform that lead to a short flight of stairs, a formal-looking woman stood by the staircase conversing with a bulky sailor. They turned to her as she came close, smiling typically.

"You're here to talk to the Gym Leader too, aren't you?" asked the man.

"I am," Marina replied with a nod. Amber gazed at them with a curious expression, timidly snuggling in her Trainer's shirt while watching them from the corner of her eye.

"So many diligent young Trainers about nowadays," the woman commented airily. Then, with almost a hint of tired outlook, she glanced at the two people. "In the past, Pokémon used to light the sea around Olivine at night."

With interest, Marina tilted her head. "Really?"

"Yes. This lighthouse was made in honor of those Pokémon, but now..."

"People also train at this lighthouse. It's not easy to climb because of all the Trainers about, 'specially these days," the man mused.

"How long has it been since the Gym Leader's been here?" Marina asked.

"You mean Jasmine?" The woman confirmed, again without much surprise. "A few weeks; even stayed through hurricane Maura... That's why there's so many Trainers scouted out here. Jasmine refuses to leave no matter the reason and stays with her Pokémon. Poor soul."

"Well, you must be impatient hearing us talk," interjected the sailor after his acquaintance was finished talking, "Run along now."

"It's alright," the Trainer replied with a smile. As she turned to the stairs she said a short goodbye and ascended.

The next floor was, more or less, identical to the one before it, and Marina strolled up the slanted floor with her Pokémon. However, she gawked with puzzlement at a rectangle-shaped hole next to the wall, which was left wide open to reveal the floor below.

A hole? That's dangerous, isn't it? What if someone falls? She thought and was sure to evade the hole as if the floor around it would cave in.

Halfway through her ascent of the level, a gentleman clad in a classy suit turned to her from one of the windows. A fluffy mustache covered his upper lip and he tilted his cap in acknowledgment. Marina, remembering her manners, returned it with a short nod.

"Good afternoon," he greeted.

"Good afternoon," Marina replied. She walked closer and made eye contact with the man. "Are you a Trainer?"

"Indeed I am." At this, the gentleman held out his only Poké Ball. "I can tell that you are as well, so a battle we'll have here."

Marina nodded and moved to unclip one of her Poké Balls on her waist. "Alright. My name's Marina."

"And mine is Alfred." In a swift motion, Alfred threw his Poké Ball in the empty air between them. A large brown owl, taller than Marina by nearly a foot, settled on the ground with its wings spread wide. It appeared to have a wise, unanimated glare as it waited.

"A Noctowl," Marina murmured the name of the Pokémon.

What a time to not have a Pokédex, she thought afterwards.

"Pla!" Amber gasped with her mouth wide open, her expression again almost cartoon-like in its exaggerated poses. Her Trainer smiled, knowing this would happen, as she tossed her own Poké Ball at her feet.

"Go, Muu-chan!" As Misdreavus appeared, the little ghost turned her head to her. "Let's do our best, Muu-chan," Marina told her encouragingly.

"Muu." Misdreavus served a little smile on her face as she confronted the Noctowl.

"Amber," Marina looked down at her Pokémon, "Watch closely so you know what to do, okay?"

The little yellow and red Pokémon stared up at her, twitching her long ears. "Plasu!"

Three floors and a handful of Trainers later, Marina managed to reach the top of the lighthouse. She held onto the railing beside the staircase as she ascended from the last step. The room was bright and the walls around her were of crystal clear glass, revealing Olivine City and the beautiful ocean down below. Marina would have taken in the sight on an ordinary day.

Toward the center of the rounded room was a homely setup with a miniature kitchen and a bed that was already occupied. At the bedside was a young woman, who turned to Marina the moment she entered. Her long, light brown hair extended down to her waist, while two locks that bashfully stuck upward were held by round, orange hair clips. As her uncertain eyes met Marina's, she quickly stood and her loose white dress wavered from the quick motion.

"H-Hello," she greeted uncomfortably.

Since her features matched the descriptions of the Olivine Gym Leader that other Trainers in the lighthouse had given her, Marina inclined her head a little. "Hi, I'm Marina Shimizu from New Bark Town."

"Erm..I-I'm Jasmine, the Gym Leader of this city."

Marina looked at the shy girl curiously, holding her hands behind her. She walked closer, smiling still. "Nice to meet you, Jasmine. I heard that you were here."

"I'm sorry," Jasmine suddenly spoke up, "But...I-I'm not taking any challenges from Trainers right now..."

"I've heard that too," Marina replied. She glanced at the bed, where a lump in the sheets breathed unsteadily. "Your Pokémon is sick...right?"

"Yes..."

The troubled Gym Leader gazed at her yellow Pokémon, and Marina stood beside her to get a better look. With its eyes squeezed shut, its cheeks were burdened by an intense shade of pink as it shuddered. The large ruby gem on its forehead flickered faintly.

"An Ampharos," Marina murmured.

"My Ampharos, Amphy," Jasmine trailed off meekly.

Marina's smile turned into a concerned frown. She remembered Moo Moo, the Moo Moo Farm's Miltank who was also ill when she arrived. The Miltank stayed resting in the barn for weeks, breathing heavily with a terrible fever, though it had gotten almost all better due to the berries that Marina collected throughout her stay at the farm. She turned to Jasmine.

"How long has Amphy been sick?"

"Um...a couple of weeks."

"Have you tried giving it berries?"

"I...I have, but it doesn't work. No type of ordinary medicine will work..."

"Oh..." Marina's gaze returned to Amphy, whose eyes looked at her weakly before shutting in pain. It uttered a soft, rasping cry as it twitched and breathed with difficulty. The girl touched her own Pokémon, who were locked safely in their Poké Balls. Silver's words rung in her head.

"...if the Pokémon is this sick for so long, just give up and let it go."

Her hand clutched King's Poké Ball as a soft scowl twisted on her face. You're wrong, Silver, absolutely wrong...

"Um...I'm sorry," Jasmine apologized again when she noticed the gesture, "I...um...I'm not going to battle anytime soon as long as Amphy is sick."

With a start, Marina turned to her and her glower vanished. "Oh, no that's alright! I wasn't thinking about that." Her eyes lingered on Amphy, and she felt her heart sink.

If nothing works...then what can we do? Just let it... She paused, biting her lip. No. I have to do something.

"Jasmine," Marina turned to the bashful lady, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Um..." Jasmine looked at her for some time, glancing at her sick Pokémon before making eye contact again. "There is one thing...You see, there's a pharmacy across the sea in Cianwood City. I've heard that they have a strong kind of medicine that can cure anything...But with all the storms, no boat will take anyone there. M-My Pokémon can't take me, either..."

"So you want me to go in your place?"

"...If you want to. Y-You don't have to if it's too much an inconvenience..."

"I'll do it," Marina proclaimed with a determined nod.

For a moment, Jasmine looked at her with a quiet astonishment. She fiddled with the large decorative bow on her dress. "Are you sure?" At another nod from the girl, she put her hands together and bowed low. When she stood upright again, she wore a hopeful smile. "Thank you so much...!"

"I was planning to go to Cianwood today, and now I have more of a reason to go," Marina grinned, "I'll stop by the pharmacy first thing!"

"Thank you...W-Wait. Let me get my PokéGear." Jasmine nearly bowed again and made her way to the table beside them, her delicate fingers grasping a shiny, gray and pink PokéGear. When she made her way back to Marina, Marina held her own. Moments later, they exchanged numbers. "Um...When you get to Cianwood, call me so I know you made it there safely."

Using her PokéGear to salute, Marina smiled, which Jasmine grinned back honestly. "I certainly will!"

Chapter 43 end!

I'm more similar to Jasmine than I ever thought. I forgot she was so shy...Though I don't stutter nearly as much.
I ought to play through Crystal again. My Diamond version bores me, anyway... actually, it doesn't, I just say so only because I want to mock the Sunyshore Gym Leader: mister Hokage—I mean Volkner. (Cough)

And a thanks to all who've reviewed thus far!

Until the next time we meet, dear readers, out in the vast sea...