Midsummer Nights
By Trish.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon, any remotely Shakespearish nor the songs. Chapter Title comes from (Don't You) Forget About Me by Simple Minds. Oh and many apologies go to Walt Disney and the Lion King. I borrowed a scene from the movie and twisted it for my own purposes. (grins) Jenn owns Pichu Bell
A/N: Sorry about the delay, folks! Especially to the dear reviewer who said they'd hold their breath until the next part. Real Life took over a good part - flying between cities for interviews - and finally landing my dream job in politics! Yay me! BTW Mia is going to be soooo OOC in this - but there is a reason for that.
This chapter is dedicated to Mia, Jenn, Dana & Jaime - my partners in crime.
Warning: This chapter may be hazardous to one's health (especially to a certain friend of mine). Readers proceed at your own risk.
a
Chapter Three: Don't You Forget About Me
Mia stared at the dark-haired boy standing in front of her. Why did he look so familiar? Why was he so cute? And where were her manners? "Oh, I'm sorry…my name's Mia."
"I know."
"How?"
"We met at the International Pokémon League Convention dance two years ago." Mikey winked at her. "You fell on top of me remember?"
Mia reddened, "Oh yeah." What an embarrassing way to be remembered…
"So what brings you here?"
"I'm on holidays with my friends. And you?" He's cute…
"I'm here with my brothers, Rainer, Pyro and Sparky." He held out his hand. "Care to dance?"
Mia hesitated. She wasn't much of a dancer…but still. "I'd love to."
He drew her among the crowd and she shivered as his hand rested gently on her waist.
"I was hoping I'd see you again someday."
"R..really?"
"And can I say that you're even more beautiful than I remember you?"
Mia blushed under the intense gaze of Mikey's dark brown eyes and a girlish giggle escaped her which would have turned the heads of any of her friends had they been near.
She fluttered her lashes briefly. "Don't mind if you do…"
a
Drake watched the high-spirited crowds with a host's satisfaction. Never let it be said that the Orange League didn't know how to throw a party.
A peal of laughter to his left drew his attention, and he smiled when he saw that it was from Mia, dancing with a young man her age. It was good to see the girl was enjoying herself, for the past two years had been very hard for her.
Trish will be pleased, he thought. And Dana…
Speaking of Trish, she was currently on the dance floor with his father, having promised him earlier. The two looked like they were having a good time, dancing to the golden oldie, Lloyd Price's Personality. A few minutes later, his father led Trish back over to where his son was standing. "That was lovely dancing with you, my dear. Thank you."
"Thank you, too," Trish smiled as Drake entwined his fingers with hers.
Mr. Thayer winked at the pair before walking off. "I'll leave you two alone."
A slow song began and the Pummelo Gym Leader led his girlfriend back among the dancers, wrapping his strong arms around her waist as she rested her head against his chest. "When was the last time we danced together like this?"
"I think the last time was at Ash and Misty's wedding. Over a year ago." Trish's dark eyes clouded over for a second. "We haven't seen each other since then…"
Drake sighed. "I know. You've had your work commitments in Sydney and I've had mine."
"It's not easy is it.."
"No it isn't." He kissed her gently and held her close. "But we're together now, and that's all matters."
a
Rudy scowled at the couple from across the dance floor. Life was not fair…that should be him dancing there with Trish, not Drake.
The dark-haired young woman looked very pretty in an elegant full-length chiffon gown in a deep periwinkle blue. To the Trovita Island Gym Leader, she was a vision. A vision that should have been his. After all he saw her first…besides what did Drake have that he didn't?
He was so busy scowling that he almost failed to notice the slight tap upon his shoulder. Rudy turned to see a tall, well-dressed man with wild red hair and piercing green eyes standing behind him. "Can I help you?"
Lucius smiled. "I think it is the other way around. I can help you…."
a
Elysium…
Puck walked down the corridors of the palace towards the King's private chambers. Oberon had sent a message saying that he had an important matter to discuss with his friend.
The peer was waiting by the window when he entered. "Ah…there you are, Puck."
"You wanted to see me?"
Oberon nodded and clasped his hands behind his back. "Titania and I have been talking about your situation and we would like to help you."
Puck looked a bit embarrassed. "Oh you needn't do that… "
"Nonsense!" The monarch dismissed the protest with a wave of his hand. "We want to." He turned to the young man and smiled. "How would you like a chance to become human?"
Puck was startled. Become…human? That would mean…
"But," Oberon added.
Puck sighed. There was always a 'but'…and it usually never meant any good.
"But it all depends on your lady love. She must prove that she loves you beyond all reasonable doubt. If she does you can stay. If she does not - you can never return." Oberon paused then looked at Puck sternly. "One word of warning. You cannot tell her about this test. Otherwise it would compromise her decision."
Puck took a deep breath. "I'll take the chance. Mia will come through. I know she will."
a
Mia stretched and yawned before stumbling out of bed. She grabbed the hairbrush and started to comb her dark tresses, not noticing the ring glowing softly on her left hand. The teenager padded over to the wardrobe and gazed at her collection of clothes. "What should I wear?"
She had arranged to meet Mikey for lunch and she wanted to look her best. Skirt? Pants? Dress?
Half an hour later she was dressed - a red crop top, short black skirt and black heels. "How do I look?" she asked the other two occupants of the room Ophelia and Beth.
The two Growlithe cocked their heads, puzzled. They had never seen Mia act this way before…
Mia pirouetted in front of the full-length mirror singing I Feel Pretty from West Side Story as she experimented with hair styles. Hair up or down?
Her joyous singing reached the ears of her three housemates in the kitchen.
"Mia feels pretty," Trish commented as she sipped her coffee.
"Oh so pretty," Dana offered.
"She feels pretty and witty…" Jenn trailed off as Mia waltzed past them with a cheery farewell. "And she's wearing HEELS?!?!?!"
"She's what???" The two other girls nearly fell off their chairs.
"She was wearing heels…" Jenn repeated. "Not only that she was baring her midriff, wearing a short black skirt and makeup."
"She didn't trip?" Dana asked sceptically.
"No! You two saw her!"
"We did," Trish agreed. "But I thought I might be hallucinating or something. That is so unlike Mia…"
"It could be hormones…" Jenn stated.
"Or maybe she's finally getting in touch with her inner woman…" Trish surmised.
"Mia?!?!" Dana snorted. "Since when does Mia have an inner woman?" She patted the older girl on the back. "Trish, methinks you've been having too much coffee again."
a
The gentle sea breeze ruffled the petals in the posy of flowers that lay beside Mia's plate at their table in the Verona Café. Mikey had presented her with it when she met him outside, a lovely combination of red roses and delicate little white flowers known as 'baby's breath.'
Mia was enjoying herself, Mikey was a nice guy and it was fun catching up with what he had been doing for the past two years. And he was even more handsome than she remembered, quickly losing herself in his smouldering dark brown eyes.
When the meal was over they walked along the harbour foreshore, and Mikey grasped her hand gently. "I'd really love to see you again…Are you going out with anyone?"
"No." Mia felt a sudden chill as soon as she uttered the words but dismissed it, believing it to be the effects of Mikey's captivating eyes.
Mikey smiled and drew the girl to him and kissed her firmly on the lips, Mia wrapping her arms around his neck to draw him closer.
A tall redheaded figure watched from the nearby trees. "Yes," whispered Lucius. "Things are coming along perfectly."
a
"Jenn's late," Dana huffed.
"For a very important date," Trish glanced at her watch. The three girls were due to meet Kaz in ten minutes for their introduction to the latest batch of ITEO wannabes as their division commanders.
"No time to say hello."
"Goodbye."
"She's late, she's late, she's late!" The two friends chorused in unison to some strange looks from the passing crowds.
Dana giggled. "People must think we're mad."
"Or insane," Trish said with a wry grin. "Tell you what, if I have to lay off the coffee, you have to lay off the Koolaide."
"I don't wanna," Dana whined.
"Well then I don't have to cut down on the coffee."
"Oy."
The two girls decided to split up. Dana headed off to the left while Trish stayed put just in case Jenn came along. The Australian girl shaded her eyes as she scanned the passing crowds for her friend. No lanky Yank about. So, there was nothing for it, but to do the following.
"JENN!!!" she hollered.
"You called?"
Trish turned to see a young girl dressed in a Pichu t-shirt and jeans standing beside her. The afternoon sun making her long copper red curls gleam. "No I wasn't calling you. I was after my friend."
"Oh sorry about that. My mistake." The girl walked off and Trish thought no more of it.
"JEEENNNNY!"
To her surprise, the same stranger wandered up to her again. "Um, again, I wasn't calling you.."
The stranger apologised before walking off . "My mistake - again."
The twenty-eight year old waited for 5 minutes before the third attempt. "JEEENNNNIFFFER!" And to her utter disbelief, who should appear but the Pichu girl. "No!!! Not You!!! I'm looking for Jenn. J E N N!" she cried totally exasperated.
The girl looked crestfallen and Trish felt immediately contrite. "I'm sorry," she sighed and held out her hand. "I haven't had enough coffee today and that makes me grouchy." She paused then smiled. "My name's Trish."
The girl shook her hand eagerly. "I'm Jaime."
"How do you get Jaime mixed up with Jenn?!?!"
Jaime laughed sheepishly. "Um I dunno. Call me a daydreamer."
"You don't say," Trish said dryly.
a
A few minutes later Trish had received two phone calls. One from Kaz saying that the meeting was cancelled, and one from Dana saying that she had found Jenn in Pichu Bell. She waved her new acquaintance goodbye and started to walk down the main boulevard.
She had only gone a few metres when she felt she was being followed. The dark-haired girl turned around to see Jaime a short distance behind looking like a forlorn little puppy dog.
Trish fought the urge to whistle, but soon caved in. She whistled and grinned when Jaime came like a shot. "If you wanted to tag along you should have just said so."
Jaime nodded. "So where are we going?"
"To meet my best friends."
"Plural?"
The Australian girl smiled. "You heard right. Jenn and Dana are my best friends. They're also my team mates in the ITEO."
"ITEO?"
"International Togepi Elimination Organisation," Trish explained. "Dedicated to the eradication of the Satanic Egg Thingy."
"Can I join?"
"Sure."
They reached Pichu Bell and walked in to find Jenn and Dana seated at a table with the remains of a taco before Jenn.
"Hi guys," Trish greeted cheerily.
"Hiii." Jenn and Dana looked at the girl standing behind her. "Who's this?"
"This is Jaime. A brand new friend. Jaime, this is Jenn and Dana."
Jaime waved hesitantly.
"The meeting's been cancelled," Trish informed them. "So what do we do now?"
"We go shopping!!" Jenn crowed.
"Meh, shopping…." Dana mumbled.
"But you enjoy shopping when part of the Trio!"
The redhead perked up. "True. But that's different considering the total insanity that we get up to!"
Jaime looked at the friends and scoffed. "You three don't look like you could get up to much mischief."
Dana, Jenn and Trish exchanged a glance. "You wanna bet?"
Jenn stood up and hauled her two friends to their feet. "And I know just what we can do."
a
Two days later the large group of friends were lazing on the beach, though three of their number opted to stay completely clothed.
"I'm bored," Gary complained.
"Well so are we," Dana shot back. "But unlike you we are prepared to do something about it."
"Like what?"
"We make our own entertainment!"
The three eldest girls stood up and whipped off their cloaks. Trish and Dana were dressed in crop tops over matching sarongs with their hair long and loose with a single hibiscus behind one ear. Dana was holding a ukulele in one hand.
And Jenn…Jenn was standing in between her two friends, dressed in a coconut shell bikini top and a grass skirt. A lei of fragrant flowers was around her neck and like her two companions, her hair was loose with a single flower pinned behind one ear.
"Oh my," Jaime giggled as a crowd of onlookers (mostly male) surrounded them on the beach.
Dana started playing the ukulele and Jenn began the time honoured swaying of hips and hand movements of the hula. An appreciative murmur rose from the male section of the audience as Jenn moved sensuously and gracefully.
Right on cue, Trish and Dana began to sing.
"If you're lonely and looking for a good time"
Take our buddy Jenn here because she looks diiivinnne"
Gary nudged Ash sharply when he noticed his friend's eyes linger a bit too long over Jenn's curves.
"Come wine and dine with this friend of mine"
"All you have to do is get in liiiiiiiiiiiine."
"Are you aching?"
"Yup, yup."
This got many nods from the males.
"For some dating?"
"Yup, yup."
"Jenn's a nice girl."
"Yup, yup."
"You can have a nice pinch toooooo! OY!"
Jenn gave a final and emphatic swish of the hips, and the crowd broke into applause and wolf whistles. The three girls bowed and cheerily accepted the kudos.
The trio then wandered over to Jaime who was clutching her sides from laughter. "Okay, okay," she gasped. "I give. You three are nuts."
To be continued…
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Author's Note: Ooohh…. Mia! What have you done???!!! What will Puck say??? No Puck, don't answer that…
Next chapter - more new authors, more Lu, more dodgy scenes, more Joanne and her Mew, more insanity.
Read and review - flamers fed to Tassie Devils, and hit by drop bears.