Alex passed the time before the show by grabbing a meal from the local food stalls, Espeon and Zoroark quietly flanking him as he ate.
Despite the city's traditional, almost old-fashioned atmosphere, the food was anything but outdated. Every dish was steeped in generations of practice, using time-honored recipes and techniques passed down through families. The flavors were deep and carried the weight of local history in every bite.
After a few hours of wandering tours and sampling food stalls, Alex finally made his way to the Dance Theatre for the evening show.
The stage was modest, framed by wooden beams and softly lit by paper lanterns that cast a warm amber glow across the large room. Rows of floor cushions were packed with visitors from all across Johto, seated shoulder to shoulder. Alex sat at the very front, a prime spot handed to him by Midori herself.
The lights dimmed, and the music began. A traditional koto strummed softly before being joined by the deeper rumble of taiko drums. The stage shimmered as a pair of sliding doors parted, and the first performer stepped out.
A Flareon burst through the door first, full of energy, with a dancer in a red and yellow kimono close behind. The air rippled with heat as flames spun through the performance space. They moved with the rhythm of a flickering flame, graceful motion and abrupt flashes.
Then came a girl in lavender, her Espeon floating beside her like a whisper. Psychic energy lifted petals into a slow, graceful orbit around them. Her steps were light, each one timed with the drifting swirl of color.
A dancer in black and gold followed, her Umbreon gliding at her side like a shadow. The lights dimmed until only a faint spotlight remained. They danced with slow, deliberate steps that played with the light. Umbreon's glowing rings blinked in and out of view, casting shifting silhouettes across the floor. The performance was all flickers and absence, more shadowplay than movement.
The pale blue of the next kimono shimmered with each step as a Vaporeon glided into view. Water coiled around them like ribbon, twisting into waves and bubbles in rhythm with her calm, swaying movements.
Then the static came. A Jolteon darted ahead of its partner, who arrived in bright yellow and lit up the room just by their presence. Sparks followed every beat until Jolteon jumped, letting loose a flash that burned itself into everyone's vision.
White and soft blue stepped in next. A Glaceon padded lightly across the frost it left behind. The girl beside it moved with precision, quiet and cold. Ice crystals drifted lazily in the air, and the whole show felt like a breath held too long.
A pink kimono entered with petals fluttering from her sleeves. Her Sylveon moved like silk, wrapping its ribbons gently around her, lifting and guiding her across the stage. It was practiced, intimate, and full of charm.
Then came Midori in vibrant green. Her Leafeon leapt ahead to the beat of wooden drums and flutes. Leaves shot through the air, sharp and controlled, always curling just before they could hit. Her movements were grounded but wild, confident in the way of someone who could let loose but didn't.
Last was a girl in all brown. No tricks, no spectacle. Just her and an Eevee, moving in sync. The two of them circled each other with soft, mirrored steps. It was plain, quiet, and strangely honest. No one expected it to stand out, but it did.
For the finale, all nine returned to the stage and formed a wide circle beneath the lantern light. The music took on a steady rhythm that felt more like a ritual than a performance. Their movements were slow, deliberate, and quiet. The elements were presented in flashes, such as a flicker of fire, a swirl of petals, or a pulse of shadow, but held back as if they were showing respect. It wasn't meant to impress. It was meant to mean something.
When the lights returned to full, the Kimono Girls stepped forward once more, each standing beside her partner for a final bow. The crowd broke into cheers and applause. What they had seen wasn't just a dance. It was somewhere between art and reverence, shaped by tradition, and quietly spoke of the bond between human and Pokémon.
Alex sat through it all, surprisingly captivated. It wasn't something he'd normally enjoy, but he couldn't help but respect the precision, the training, and the sheer showmanship.
As the crowd began to disperse, he stayed in his seat just a moment longer. He had a feeling Midori wasn't done with him tonight.
A few minutes later, Midori and the rest of the Kimono Girls came back out, with Midori leading the way.
"This is Alex. He met with Celebi a few days ago," she introduced.
"Hello, ladies. You performed wonderfully tonight," Alex complimented with a smile.
"I can feel more than just Celebi's aura on him," the eldest Kimono Girl said, stepping forward. Her kimono was all black, embroidered with golden rings, with Umbreon standing stoically by her side. "It's faint… but there's something older. Wilder."
The others murmured in agreement. One tilted her head, another folded her hands, and the last narrowed her eyes slightly, as if trying to see past the veil of the ordinary.
Midori looked at Alex thoughtfully. "I felt that too, the first time we met. It's like you brushed against something that didn't belong to this world."
"What is Celebi known for?" Alex decided to ask.
"Celebi is closely tied to forests and natural life. It is said to appear during peaceful times and lush forest growth, often marking the area as sacred or blessed. Conversely, its absence can mean imbalance," one of the girls answered. "It's been known since ancient times to reside within the Ilex Forest, which is why a shrine was placed there to thank them."
"Celebi is also revered as the guardian of time, ensuring we are kept safe across all of time," the eldest added, before suddenly realizing what Alex had been through. "You've crossed time with Celebi."
"Something similar," Alex admitted. "It sent me back in time to save it. Back to a time when Pokémon were even more dangerous than before. Back to a time when humans couldn't bond with Pokémon yet. It wasn't anything dangerous. I just had to rescue Celebi from some humans. It sent me back once I was done. I even made a friend along the way, which is probably the aura of wildness you're picking up."
The Kimono Girls listened in silence, their expressions shifting subtly with curiosity, concern, and a touch of reverence. Even the Umbreon beside the eldest tilted its head, yellow rings pulsing faintly in the dim light. Then they all exploded into excitement as they asked question after question, and Alex answered diligently.
He didn't mind exposing his adventure to these girls when they were clearly in tune with legendaries. Besides, his adventure was nothing new. There were likely others who had gone through similar experiences that hadn't been shared with the public. These girls likely knew about them as well.
It took a while to quell their curiosity before they were satisfied. By the time Alex finished his story, it was already getting late, and so the others left, leaving only three behind.
"You have been blessed by the legendaries," the eldest whose name was Zuki said as she rose from the cushion and made her way out. "May they continue to guide your path."
"So…" Naoko began, her voice soft and deliberate. "I couldn't help but notice you carry quite a strong Psychic aura. Celebi was a Psychic type as well, wasn't it?" Her fingers traced slow, idle circles along her Espeon's sleek fur as she looked up at Alex with a glint of intrigue.
"You're really going to do this?" Midori said in a scolding tone. "You know our rules."
"What? Maybe he wouldn't mind a little extra company on such a cold night."
Midori simply continued to stare at Naoko, her gaze sharp and accusing, until Naoko finally relented.
"Fine," Naoko said, rising to her feet. "Have fun, you two."
As Naoko got up and left, her Espeon following along by her side, Alex was left alone with Midori and her Leafeon in the cushion-filled section of the theatre where the audience had sat.
Alex turned to Midori with a look that silently asked for clarification. She blushed under the weight of his stare, fingers fidgeting in her lap.
"We have a tradition," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "of bedding men who've met legendaries. It's said to bring luck." Her gaze dropped. "Only if they accept, of course."
"I wouldn't mind," Alex said, his tone even. "But you should know I don't do romantic relationships."
Midori looked up at him, eyes steady now. "I don't mind."
A beat of silence passed between them.
"Then I don't mind either," Alex said simply, before his eyes drifted to Leafeon, who was sitting beside Midori with an oddly expectant look.
He reached for Espeon's Poké Ball and released her in a quiet flash of light. She materialized beside him, blinking once before turning her sharp eyes on him with a puzzled tilt of her head.
"Would you mind keeping our friend here company?" Alex asked.
Espeon glanced at Midori, then at Alex, then finally at Leafeon, who was staring at her with a vacant, dopey expression that bordered on worship. She gave a long, slow blink, rolled her eyes, and let out a faint sigh before padding off toward the back of the stage. Leafeon stood quickly and trotted after her.
The room grew quiet again.
Now there were only the two of them, and a tension hanging in the air that had nothing to do with mystery or myth.
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R-18 chapter of Alex's wild night available.