Election Week

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokemon, a creation of one Satoshi Tajiri, and is produced domestically (in the United States) by Pokemon USA/The Pokemon Company, and internationally by Shogakukan and OLM. I personally own nothing and make nothing by writing this. Please do not flame.

(Chapter 10- A Little Help From My Friends, Please)

The backyard porch is the ideal place for a few of May's friends to just lounge before everyone is expected back for lunch at about 11:30a.m. For Drew and the newly-arrived Brianna, it's especially great because they don't have to go that far for entertainment.

In a 'Battle of the Bands' competition being held down by the beach, they can clearly hear several of their favorite songs from the various genres out there, including a favorite that they both apparently have in common in a classic song cover known for its unique use of steel drums. They take turns back and forth dancing to the decades-old music and singing the lyrics about drug habits, feeling naked without a wig, not knowing what love is and the promise to 'kick tomorrow'. By the time the band finishes their cover, they get a resounding applause from the crowd that came to see them and the commendation of both coordinators on the porch who sit down right after the song ends.

"That was fun," Brianna comments. "You don't hear songs quite like that one anymore."

"Indeed not. That's a song that makes you just want to get up and dance and I don't know of any song that has done that since the Macarena," Drew says leading his female counterpart to burst into a quick fit of laughter. "So, Brianna, aside from a vacation, was there any other reason for you coming here?"

"Well, I don't know. If nothing else, I'm here to just relax see some old friends and see some new friends. But honestly, I just need a bit of a break from coordinating."

"So how are things going in the Sinnoh region? I hear from the papers that you're doing well and what not with results, but do you like it? I mean, it's difficult going over there for sure with the different rule changes and added emphasis on showmanship."

"I'm holding my own," Brianna admits. "It's a change of pace, no doubt, but I'm getting better each day. And to be honest, despite the change, Sinnoh is a lot of fun. Zoey is a freaking trip! She and Reggie both are…just made for each other and competing against her is a lot of fun."

"Speaking of which, do you have anyone special in your life?"

"Nah, I'm single and…not really loving it, but okay with it. Honestly, the love lives of my friends are enough for me to realize that love is something I need to seriously consider before getting back into the game, per se."

"Yeah," he says simply. "We've got some…really interesting relationships here at the house. They all make me wonder, because none of them are what I'd call traditional. Either there's a big age gap, or they're with a partner of the same sex or both, or…whatever. Now forgive me if you think I'm going too deep with it, but I suppose that my situation with love makes me wonder sometimes. Do you think that tradition is dead, Brianna? Are the days of the…flashing young prince and the blushing young girl over forever?"

'Speaking of being very blunt…' she thinks while seriously contemplating his question. In her mind, the question posed to her by Drew is one to end all questions about tales of boy meets girl. "Well, it's no secret that you got the short end of the stick when you felt you were in a 'traditional' romance. Sometimes it just doesn't work out, but you should be happy that you got the chance to be with a real class act like May. I had a few dates with her some time back and thought they were cool. I didn't consider us as girlfriends during that period, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have fun."

"I am thankful," Drew concedes, "but with what I told you earlier, she's gonna need the help some real class friends."

"I still can't believe it! I have trouble dealing with attempting to find one boyfriend or one girlfriend, but May has two and they come to her? Unreal!"

"So as you guys can see, I am really going to need your help with my situation," May speaks to both Grace and Ranger Jack Walker, who arrived to the house not that far apart from each other. May has just told these two about her situation with Ash and Kelly. As expected, both of them could not believe that she found herself in such a state of affairs through no fault of her own. What was also expected was that they would come to their friend's aid, which they show by nodding their heads to May's request. "I can't really reveal anything about my plan until I have everyone hear to listen to it, but I know that I can count on you two to not let me down."

Chuckling for a bit before she blushes, Grace responds, "Oh, May! You know I'll be there for you, especially for something this important, but out of curiosity what qualities do we have that make us the best for this job?"

"Reliability is the number one trait. Jackie, as a Pokemon Ranger, you are called on to stop criminals and help keep this land looking beautiful as time goes on. Grace, you've always been a great coordinator and a powerful woman. Even now, you're an inspiration to me and many others, and you've always stayed cool under pressure or a shocking situation. Not to mention that Medicham is still a very cool pokemon." This final comment by May causes all three of them to laugh quite heartily before they hear somebody knocking on the front door.

Both Grace and Jackie follow May through the hallway leading to the steps which lead all the way through the kitchen and to the front door. Checking through the peephole, May sees the last expected guest of the vacation and lets her in by opening the door completely.

She does this because the young woman walking into the house wearing her sunglasses, a yellow and purple basketball jersey and denim shorts is also walking with crutches and a large cast on her left foot and ankle. After a few movements forward with the crutches, she thanks May for opening the door so she could get inside of the house on her own and then says hello to both Jackie and Grace.

"Oh it's no problem, Sandra," May says. "I know that not even an injury playing soccer will slow you down. Can I get you something? A seat on the couch? A drink? Anything?"

"May, I'm injured, not crippled," Sandra responds almost sarcastically. "I'll be fine, but thank you. Anything that I need my…companion will get for me, no questions asked. In fact, check outside and you might see him with my bags."

"Whoa!" someone exclaims outside and afterwards, the sound of a few large bags crashing to the concrete walkway leading to the house was heard by those near the front door.

May, Jackie and Grace all make their way outside to find several suitcases laid out on the pathway and a young, adult male trainer on the ground tending to his right shoulder as a precaution. Sandra turns her body around to check outside and see the trio help up the young man bringing all the bags in the house.

While he gets up, Sandra states to the guests, "Everyone, this is Richie. You might recognize him from league championships some years back."

"Richie?" May questions. "Ash Ketchum talked about you all the time when we were together! What are you doing here with Sandra?"

"Sandra's mom saw me against her at Goldenrod City about a month ago. We're good friends from a while back when she started training, and Savannah just wanted someone to keep her daughter company for the week. Someone…recently familiar."

"You know, I was about to say…I don't know if you've seen Ash in a while. Do you know that he's here at the house this week?"

"No kidding!" Richie glows. May nods her head causing him to exclaim "Man, this is the best! It's gonna be great to see him again." Going inside the house, he asks May, "Say, where is the son of a gun?"

"He's out on the beach with Misty, Brock, Kelly, Katie, Reggie, Paul, Zoey…my brother Max and his wife Solana."

"So is everyone here for the trip?"

"Pretty much," May answers as she brings the last of Richie and Sandra's bags into the house. For some reason, as she comes back inside, she can see a very big smile on the face of the woman on crutches. Ignoring it, May asks "Uh, why don't you all come in? I do have something important that I have to tell you two and after that, we'll sit down for lunch and…I have some news that I'm sure everyone will be interested in hearing."

A/N: I know; short chapter, but it sets the ground for the big chapter (number twelve) where May's plan is revealed to all. There is a reason for all of this as she will explain to a select few. The next chapter deals with Reggie and Zoey finding out the truth about Dawn's breakup with May. Until then...