This is totally a filler chapter. So if you get bored to tears because you don't like Kimono Girls and Silver, don't say I didn't warn you.
Sorry about the late update; it couldn't be helped. I spent a lot of today totally rewriting the last few pages of this chapter.

Ah, and I have something important to announce. On August 3rd, I'll be on a two-week absence. I don't think I'll have access to the internet, but since I have my laptop back I can write TST in the meantime. However, I can't guarantee that I'll write; after all, this trip is a final chance to relax entirely from everything before school starts again. (Groan...)

Enjoy.

Chapter 56
A Little Visit

"...And that's how I won against the Olivine Gym Leader!"

"I never get tired of hearing about your achievements, Marina!"

"You sure were lucky you caught a Lapras."

Marina, Jackson, and Marina's mother were settled at a low-rise table with cobalt cushions as chairs. A light, oriental remix of the common Christmas themes mingled with their talk as the three ate lunch. A spicy soothing cinnamon scent wafted in the air, stimulating and relaxing the nerves of those who smelled it. Brilliant Kimono Girls were scattered about the open theater room, tending to very few other guests they had or getting the spotless stage prepared. Since there weren't any other places in Ecruteak City nearby open on Christmas Day, Marina and the others resulted to eating a late lunch in the Dance Theater rather than at the Pokémon Center.

"Eheh," giggled the blue-haired girl after she had finished eating a rice ball. "Battling Steelix would have been a lot harder without her."

"How on earth did you come across that Lapras?" Caroline inquired. Unlike the last time Marina had seen her in Olivine City, she wore conventional red and green attire that suited a mother of three. Her brown locks were no longer in high-tied ponytails, but held down by a modest hair clip.

"Um..."

"I always wondered that too. Lapras are extremely rare," Jackson interjected into the conversation, watching Marina with wide-eyed curiosity. "Did you see more than one?"

Marina released another small laugh. She quickly shook her head. "Nope. Just one!"

"That's odd; Lapras travel in packs..." Jackson appeared surprised. Yet seconds later, his grin resurfaced, giving him enough time to say one more thing before he gobbled down a rice ball. "But if Marina says so, I believe it!"

Caroline smiled sweetly at her daughter. "I'm sure your father would be so impressed when I tell him about it. You're becoming quite the Pokémon capturing professional!"

"Maybe! I like battling more though." Marina took a long sip of milk from her glass, her eyes trailing back to her mother. "What's May and Dad doing today? I know they couldn't come, but..."

A gentle expression reappeared on the woman's face. She patted Marina's shoulder softly in reassurance. "They said they'd be spending the day together, and told me to wish you a Merry Christmas."

Marina grinned a little. She turned to Jackson. "Jackson, did you call Kenta to ask if he can come?"

Jackson froze up, only moving to swallow the last of his meal. "Uh..." Under pressure of Marina's focused attention at this response, he smiled sheepishly. "Oops."

"'Oops'?" Marina repeated, disheartened. "Jackson, I told you to call him yesterday!"

"Well, I guess I was so occupied with showing you my new Shiny Magnemite that...the thought slipped out of my mind!" he admitted quickly at the end.

Marina sighed, putting her hands on her hips. "Geez. You're the only one that has his PokéGear number, Jackson. I can't call him."

"I know! I'm so sorry, Marina! I'll never forget about anything you say again, I promise!"

"Actually," Caroline chimed in, rather amused. "You could've just asked me to call Kenta's mother. She should have his number."

"What?" Marina turned to her mother, gasping. "I didn't even think about that!" She drained her glass completely, sighing again yet keeping her lips on the cup's rim.

Geez. I hoped that Kenta would come… Oh well, she pondered in defeat, slightly downtrodden.

Naoko, the elegantly red-clothed Kimono Girl, neared the table with Flareon promenading at her heels. Marina and the others looked up at her just as Naoko gazed upon the young girl. "It's time for your shift, Marina."

"Really?" Marina blinked, surprised, and checked her PokéGear. After doing so, she stood and complied, "Guess you're right."

"Ohh!" Jackson gasped. "So you're going to change now?"

"Yup, I'm going into waitress mode until the recital starts," she cheerfully turned to her mother, "Mom, can you take pictures with the camera you got me?"

Without hesitation, Caroline lifted a shiny pink and purple camera from under the table. "Can do, Marina. I can't wait to see you!"

"Mmhm! Thanks!" Nodding, Marina turned and followed after the fluttering sleeves of Naoko's kimono. "I'll be sure to visit as soon as I'm done!"

The cloth belts, accenting the opulent curves snaking through her bluish lavender kimono, were tightly bound at her torso. Tingling sensations quivered through her arms as the cool fabric brushed against her arms. The wooden sandals on her feet, as always, were stiff, but they were warm from the hours of serving visitors.

Marina sighed, but carefully. One of the Kimono Girls took the gesture without notice, continuing to apply the white powder and other such makeup onto Marina's face. The layer of powder felt awkwardly caked on her cheeks, but she had learned to bear with it and ignore its presence.

"All done." At last, the woman pulled away and moved onto the next girl that awaited the makeup treatment in the room behind the theater.

"Thanks. So..." Marina scanned around at the six other Kimono Girls. She spread her arms wide and twirled, spinning into the center of the room and settling into a perfect posture. "How do I look, everyone?"

The temperamental woman in the golden yellow kimono took the time to look away from brushing her Jolteon. Eying her intensely, she stood and leaned closer to get a better view. "Well, the makeup is perfect. You look good. But..."

Marina raised a hand to delicately pat one of her ponytails, both which were wrapped in almost perfect spheres. "Is it my hair?"

"No, no, that's not it." At once, the woman crossed her arms. "It's that purple rag you have in your hands."

Marina looked down at her other hand, at the bandana she held, and gasped. "Don't call it that! It's not a rag, it's a bandana!" she protested, holding it close defensively.

"I don't care what it is; it's an eyesore compared to the kimono."

"It is not! It's purple too; I think it matches perfectly!"

"Just look at that thing, it's too plain and it's the wrong shade. It doesn't match! You're such a stubborn child. What's so important about that thing?"

"I like it," Marina muttered back with a pout.

The Kimono Girl grunted a sigh.

Only a few glances were spared by the other ladies. They were accustomed to this argument that was rather typical during Marina's practices, but there was no time to intervene. The recital was about to begin, and the chatter of people traveled well into the backstage. But Naoko stepped in and scanned the both of them patiently. There was a tense sparkle in her eyes; she was not going to tolerate any unnecessary drama tonight.

"Let us have none of this today," she ordered.

Marina turned to her, frowning.

"Please put it away. It's safer if you keep it back here. You may retrieve it once you leave the stage," Naoko replied, much to the grinning of her yellow-clothed colleague.

"Okay. Sorry for causing trouble." Marina sighed, defeated and unwilling to argue with her. After she went to her small pile of clothes and gently placed the light purple bandana on top, she turned and rose back to her feet when she felt a presence behind her.

A Kimono Girl in a black kimono stood at ease with her Umbreon and Marina's Espeon. She was the youngest of the Kimono Girls—though still older than Marina. The girl handed her a folded-up fan. "Here."

"Thanks," Marina replied. She took and opened it a little to take a peek at its intricate sun patterns.

A rhythmic melody snuck into the room, the jingling of bells and drumming of drums growing louder. Both Marina and the girl turned, as did the rest of the Kimono Girls as the music continued.

"That's the cue. You're both to go on stage," Naoko announced, rushing toward them and pushing them along with a simple touch.

"Yes, Naoko," the Umbreon's Kimono Girl said, walking ahead of Marina at an even pace.

With a nod, Marina mimicked her movements and followed down the hall. She managed to pat Prince, her slightly tense Espeon, before entering the heated theater room.

"Let's do our best, Prince," she said to him.

"Eif," he hummed and straightened his pose.

They climbed the stairs onto the sleek wooden stage. Almost simultaneously, the girls and their fox Pokémon paused and turned toward their audience, who grinned and whispered admiring comments about their youth and traditional appearance.

When the whistling of a flute joined into the culture-drenched music, the two Kimono Girls opened their fans and danced perfectly with their Pokémon. They represented a fundamental opposite of the natural world; brilliant day and peaceful night.

Soon after, they were accented by the emerald green and light blue of the Kimono Girls wielding a Leafeon and Glaceon, bringing about the elements of the lively leaves and the bitter ice. The neutral Eevee then entered with its earth-toned dancer, followed shortly by the remaining three Kimono Girls who frisked gracefully with the bold colors of flaring red, ocean blue, and sparkling golden yellow.

All of them elegantly took command of the stage and everyone's attention, especially once they retrieved the adorned parasols that they had avoided and danced around on the floor. They twirled in such precision that, once they were finished and rested their closed umbrellas on their dainty shoulders, they left their crowd speechless.

The awed silence lasted briefly before they erupted in applause. The overwhelming volume and power of their glee was astounding. By the time the Kimono Girls had retreated backstage, they beamed and congratulated each other for a performance well done. Marina was smiling so much that her cheeks were numbed through.

When Marina had finished washing off the makeup—as the overwhelming amount of it was already starting to make her face itch—she changed back into her waitress kimono and rushed back into the main room to find the majority of it empty. Many people had left, while some conversed with the Kimono Girls. Amongst those who stayed behind were obviously Jackson and Marina's mother, who came rushing the moment Marina walked over to their table.

"You were amazing, Marina!" Jackson literally bellowed as he straight-up hugged her at full run, almost making her lose her balance.

"Thanks, Jackson," Marina laughed as she broke the embrace. But she made no effort to object when Caroline took the opportunity to deliver a hug of her own. When Caroline moved away, she patted her daughter's head with an overjoyed smile.

"That was wonderful, Marina. You fit in so well with the other girls, I didn't even notice a single mistake," she praised.

"Thanks! I think I made a couple, but Prince was just great! His timing really improved." Marina glanced down at her Espeon, who was ready to take a well-deserved nap on one of the table's cushion seats. Grinning warmly again, she turned back to her mother. "So did you get any pictures?"

"I've been clicking away since you got on stage. See?" Caroline held out the camera, standing beside Marina to show her the pictures on its little screen. They looked through the slide show together, starting with Marina, Prince, and the Kimono Girl with the Umbreon, and then continuing through the entire recital.

Marina giggled. "That makeup really did look as weird as it felt. I look kinda creepy!"

"Nonsense!" Jackson argued, though optimistically as he looked at the photos as well. "You looked fine! That girl next to you with the Umbreon looked more like a ghost because of how much black she was wearing. See, look right there!"

"Now, now, that isn't nice to say. She did very well, too," Caroline playfully said.

"Yeah, she was far better than I was," Marina replied.

"But if you keep going with this, I'm sure you'll be even better once you get to her age."

"I absolutely agree!" Jackson exclaimed.

Marina giggled. "I'm not planning on it. It's fun and all dressing up, but it's so uncomfortable! The girl with the Eevee is trying to evolve her Pokémon in an Espeon anyway, so when that happens I won't need to come back."

"Whaaat? Really?"

"It's fine; I was just filling in anyways."

"Marina!" The interrupting voice, unfamiliar to the conversation, caused them to turn with a start. One of the Kimono Girls, the black-clothed Kimono Girl they had talked about earlier, hurriedly made her way toward them with her Umbreon. She looked particularly worried and uncertain. "May I talk to you for a moment?"

"Um...sure." Marina followed her away from her family and friends, who watched curiously for a few moments. "What is it?"

"It's...um," she started awkwardly at first, but continued with a fixed composure, "There's someone here that says he knows you."

"Oh! Really?" Marina asked, immediately interested.

Who is it?

"Yes, but...I'm sorry, but I just couldn't believe him. I mean...he just seemed so...so unlike someone you could call a friend," the Kimono Girl uttered. Her Umbreon twitched its ears in an unsettled manner, probably because of how jittery its Trainer was.

Marina thought for a moment. "Let me guess... he has long red hair, right?"

"...Yes."

Wow, he actually came here?

"Yup, that's Silver. I was expecting him," she said, though she was genuinely surprised to say it. The boy had likely seen more than enough of her after their unusual visit at the Ruins of Alph, so Marina had prepared herself to simply not expect him to come. He had said he would drop by, but Marina thought he had only agreed to get her out of his hair faster.

Embarrassment soon ensued on the Kimono Girl's apologetic face, and she bowed once or twice. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I had no idea you were expecting anyone other than your...um...nicer friends and family." At this, she bowed one last time. "Sorry! He is...how do I say it…"

"Kinda a jerk?" Marina guessed.

"He acted polite, but he looks mean...and quite impatient."

Meanwhile, Marina scanned the area for her rival. This proved to be no difficult task, as the near-empty theater and Silver's crimson hair certainly made him stand out.

"Don't worry. He's not bad if you don't bother him," she said to the girl before sprinting off in his direction. "Hey, Silver!"

As if dreading her voice, Silver tensed for a moment as he turned to her. His neutral look morphed into a guarded glare as she neared. Once Marina was close enough to reach him, she grabbed his arm with a laugh despite the unpleasant look of surprise he made.

"You made it, Silver! You did see me dance on stage, didn't you?"

"No."

"Oh... Then how long have you been here?"

"I don't know, five minutes or something," Silver tugged his arm out of her hands, "And I told you that I wasn't going to come here to see you dance. You promised me a free dinner."

"And you're straight to the point. You could lie, you know. You sound selfish just asking for the food," she said and managed a giggle.

"That's all I came here for," he retorted.

Hesitant, Naoko approached Marina. Though she wasn't nearly as dumbfounded as the black-clothed Kimono Girl, she appeared to hide some minor disbelief—and, perhaps, some dislike toward the boy. "Marina, I do not mean any offence, but you do know this boy?"

"Yeah," Marina responded. "Don't worry; he talks this way to me because I annoy him sometimes—."

"Sometimes?" Silver asked. This reaction caused Marina to let out a restrained giggle, something he took with discontent. He rolled his eyes and started turning toward the exit.

Seeing this from her peripheral vision, Marina whirled around and once again gripped hold of his arm. "Hey, wait! You're still going to get your dinner, don't worry!"

Silver glared at her and her kimono quietly for a moment. But before he could reply—.

"HEY!"

Marina paused and turned, grinning halfway as she saw Jackson running toward them at full-speed. Mild apprehension arose in her chest. "Uh oh."

Silver seemed especially annoyed. "Ugh. You hang out with that loser?"

"Yeah," Marina replied, choosing to ignore his insult. She shifted a little closer to him, but only to serve as a blockade as she held out a hand in Jackson's direction. "Stop!"

Jackson stumbled to a halt in front of her, appalled. "Gah! Marina, what are you doing?"

"I know what you're going to say," the girl began. With a hint of seriousness, she put her free hand on her hip. "But don't! I was the one that invited Silver to come here, so he's my guest."

"What...b-but..." The brown-haired boy waved his arms like a madman. His commotion even caused a few of the Kimono Girls and other guests to look their way in bewilderment. "Marina, have you forgotten who this guy is? He's the jackass that took your Totodile—!"

"No, he didn't!" she protested heatedly. "He's a legitimate Pokémon Trainer with a Pokédex given to him by Professor Oak, and Wani-Wani was supposed to be his in the first place."

"For the last time, it's not named Wani-Wani," Silver muttered, a comment that went unnoticed.

Jackson appeared to become more in disbelief as time passed. If he were a cartoon character, his jaw would've dropped onto the floor at this point. "But...How did you find that out, Marina? Did my Dad tell you?"

At an instant, Marina pointed at him. "Aha, Silver was right! So you did know, but you never told me!"

"I, uh...!" Jackson frowned. In sudden defeat, he bowed his head low and clapped his hands together in apology. "I'm sorry, Marina! Please forgive me! I won't keep anything from you ever again!"

Marina smiled, satisfied as she patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, I forgive you."

He looked up instantly. "Really?"

"Yup! You always forgive me, so it's okay. So long as you stop harassing Silver and causing a scene," she said. Beside her, Naoko nodded sternly.

A relieved grin washed over Jackson's upset face as he nodded apologetically, but he soon began to a frown again as he looked over the girl's shoulder. "Hey, what's so funny? Why are you smiling like that?"

"Smiling? Silver's smiling?" Marina immediately turned around. Her eyes were met by the skeptical Silver, who appeared to be busy glaring at Marina because she still had an unyielding hold on his arm. He scowled at both of them.

"I think he's crazy," he said. However, the very moment that Marina turned back to her old friend, a smug smile began sneaking back onto his face.

"Oh okay. Jackson, are you crazy?"

Jackson gasped at her in disbelief. "No! Just because he's right about one thing doesn't mean he'll be honest about everything! Just—See? He's doing it again!"

"But Silver doesn't smile, he smirks!" Marina said matter-of-factly.

"Definitely crazy," Silver muttered, his tone mocking. "You should have him checked out. He's obviously lost his mind."

"Shut up! I'm not crazy!"

"No more shouting," Naoko interjected, causing Jackson to bite his tongue and apologize once more.

"Naoko's right. Enough joking around," Marina laughed and looked at the both of them. "Let's go get Silver a seat."

"Finally," the red-haired boy said as he focused his attention away from the hotheaded Jackson.

Jackson sighed loudly. "If you say so, Marina. But I'm coming too!"

"Humph. Great."

An hour or so after the Silver's arrival, everyone had dinner and Silver prepared to make his leave. After much effort to shake Jackson off for a moment, Marina tailed him through the exit, shivering a little as she was met by the cold winter air on the theater's front porch. But she endured it, maintaining her posture with her hands hidden behind her.

"See? The food here is pretty good, isn't it?" she asked.

The red-haired boy glanced over his shoulder, but looked away. "It was okay. I would've had a better time if, I don't know, that idiotic friend of yours wasn't breathing down my neck the entire time," he grumbled.

"You don't like him, do you?"

"That goes without saying. I'm glad he's the weakest, because even you are less annoying than that dimwit."

"Sorry. I tried to make him stop bothering you, but I guess that only made it worse." The girl grinned, watching as her white breath faded into the chilling breeze. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, whatever."

"It's just something that's been nagging me..." Marina tilted her head to the side. "You already know my reason for going to the Ruins of Alph, but why were you there?"

Silver was quiet for a moment. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his black jacket, eventually turning his piercing gaze back toward her.

"I saw one of the Legendary Beasts," he said.

"One of the...? You mean Suicune, Entei, and Raikou? No way!"

"I was chasing it, but I lost its trail at the Ruins of Alph. That's when you called. It seemed to be too much of a coincidence that I was in the place that you wanted to go, so that's why I tolerated you," he sneered, "I saw Entei."

"Oh, I get it now. That's so cool! For some reason, Entei seems to suit you," Marina giggled.

"Suit me? With its power, I could conquer all the Gyms with a single blow." The arrogant comment increased the strength of his smirk, and Silver turned away to snicker. "I bet you wish you could see one of them, but you're far too weak to even—."

"For your information, I've seen Suicune. Twice!" Marina interrupted. Then, with a second's hesitation, she added in a whisper, "And don't tell anyone else, but I've also seen Entei and Raikou too. I was the one that woke all three of them up."

Silver faced her quickly; he was more than just taken aback, but also skeptical. However, before he could get a word in to criticize her, Marina pulled out a box from behind her and shoved it into his face. The box was wrapped in red wrapping paper, topped with a shiny gray ribbon. He eyed it with mild irritation, as it was all he could see.

"What's this supposed to be?" he asked.

"A present!" Marina lowered the gift box, grinning. "It's Christmas, after all."

"Who's it for?"

She laughed. "You, obviously! I wrapped gifts for everyone; even for Kenta, and he's not here."

The boy's gloved fingers touched the box at first, but he took it and looked down at it silently. Neither of them spoke, oddly enough; Silver simply not uttering a word and Marina waiting for him to say something. The whistling wind again made the girl shiver, and she turned to head back inside.

"Well, I've gotta go. I'm freezing out here."

"Hey," Silver sharply turned to her, "I have questions I want to ask you."

"About the Legendary Beasts?" Marina shook her head. "Forget it. Not even Jackson knows about it, so don't tell anyone, okay?" She delivered him another small grin from over her shoulder. He stared her down with a neutral glare.

"...Funny. You make a big deal about that idiot keeping a secret from you, yet you think it's fine to hide things yourself. That's a little hypocritical, isn't it?"

Marina paused. Her smile withered away, and she peered inside the theater through the glass door.

"Something like that shouldn't be hidden; it should be bragged about. If you're telling the truth, that is," he added.

"Yeah... I guess it should."

There was another short-lasting pause, in which only the theater's faint music and the cooing of the wind served as the only filling to the silent space between them. Footsteps and the creaking of wood caught Marina's ear, and she turned to watch as Silver descended the flight of stairs onto the street.

"Silver, are you going to come back here?" she asked him. "I'll probably stick around until the Mahogany Gym Leader comes back, so you're more than welcome!"

"I'm not coming back. I have better things to do." Silver continued walking without stop, his figure becoming shadowy with the exception of the street lights. But he slowed for just a moment, gripping the shiny package in his hand. "...Thanks. For the dinner, and the gift."

He glanced over his shoulder one last time, putting on a forced scowl. "Don't get any ideas; that's all the acknowledgment you're getting. Bye."

"Oh, um, goodbye! And happy holidays!" Marina's eyes lingered on Silver's retreating back. A light, bittersweet smile curved in a subtle manner on her face, and she quickly turned to rush back inside into the relieving comfort of the warm and spicy-smelling interior of the Ecruteak Dance Theater.

Maybe Silver's right. I should be a bit more open about all this...maybe. But how I should do it?

Had to take out the rival battle I initially planned to put here. Sorry, everyone, but even I was surprised at how long this chapter ended up getting. This was filler...and I didn't expect myself to even like writing it.
But I like it. lol

Until next time, my dear readers, where we receive a history lesson and a crystal bell...