Midsummer Nights

by Trish

The third instalment to the Midsummer Series. Chapter Thirty Nine now up.

13. Chapter Twelve: A Loyal Friend Is Hard T...

Midsummer Nights

By Trish.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon, Shakespeare or Savage Garden. Darn. I do own the story, Callie, Flory, Poppy, Poptart. Lu is co-owned by Mia. Ashura the Mew is owned by Dragoness.

A/N: The characterisations of many of the authors that appear within is not true to life. This is a story concocted out of my imagination for the sole purpose of entertainment. Do not take it seriously. Plus many thanks go to Jenn for her help on this work, she often makes little additions here and there which I feel enriches the story.

~*~

Chapter Twelve: A Loyal Friend Is Hard To Find

When you feel all alone

And a loyal friend is hard to find

You're caught in one way street

With the monsters in your head

When hopes and dreams are far away

And you feel like you can't face the day.

Crash & Burn – Savage Garden

Mia, Chris, Ash and Jenn watched as Trish stormed back inside the villa.

"Does that mean I'm off the hook?" Jenn asked hopefully.

"NO!!!" came the answering retort from inside the house.

"Darn."

"Mia, you and Chris better try to calm Trish down before she goes to rip Drake's head off, until I get his side of the story," Ash suggested. "Jenn can go and get into some dry clothes."

"Should I pack the rest?" Jenn asked, half-jokingly.

"Don't be silly, Jenn," Chris reassured the older girl before running after Mia. "You'll be fine. You know that Trish can never stay mad at you for long."

"There's always the first time," the blonde shrugged then looked towards the villa. "That's one seriously pissed off tiger in there. And tigers are all big with the teeth and claws y'know!"

"You'll be fine," Ash went to give her a quick hug, settled for a reassuring smile. "Trish just needs time to calm down. She'll soon be back to her reasonable self again."

"Do you think a peace offering of coffee would work?" Jenn sighed, thought over her words, and came up with the answer. "Nah, not at this moment."

Meanwhile, Chris and Mia had managed to catch up with Trish just as she was heading for the front door.

"Whoa there," Chris grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "I know you want to go to the Gym and tear Drake a brand new hole; and I fully sympathise with that; but I can't let you do it."

"Why not?" the Australian glared at him.

"Because being violent is so unlike you. I know it and you know it. You've always been the most level-headed of all the group; preferring to hear both sides of a story before casting judgement. You're the most sensible one."

"Well maybe I'm tired of always being the sensible one!" Trish snapped, pulled her wrist away then sighed. "You're right. I don't know what came over me…I guess I just got so mad that I just snapped."

"It was scary seeing you act that way," Chris admitted. "You know what they say – it's always the quiet ones you've gotta watch."

"Sorry Lil Bro. I didn't mean to scare any of you. And don't worry, I'm not about to flip my lid and go psycho on you." The dark-haired girl led the way back into the living room and sat down. "I can't believe that I could get that mad, and over Drake too. I mean, he's just a guy…"

"But not just any guy," Mia chimed as she sat beside her. "In fact he's the guy for you."

"True," Trish conceded. "But lately, things haven't been so good between us. Main problem being that he doesn't seem to trust me anymore. And you can probably chalk up this outburst to that…"

"You have been under a lot of stress lately," Mia soothed. "What with that going on and this illness which still hasn't been cured."

"Add your boyfriend and your best friend to the mix and ka-boom!" Chris added and sighed a bit too thoughtfully at his words.

"What do I do guys?" Trish asked wearily. "Things have been so strange that what once I thought was fact isn't anymore. I never thought Drake would be the type to get jealous over Danny visiting; especially when he knows that I've been so sick that I can't get out of bed. I never thought I'd ever see Jenn drunk either, but there she was the other night – so drunk she passed out on the couch! I would like to believe Jenn, after all she's my best friend and she's always been there for me…but…"

"But?" Chris prompted.

"How do I know what she was up to when she went out while I've been sick? You know how secretive Jenn can be when she wants to."

"True."

"I know, I know, presume innocent before being proven guilty. But we all know that Jenn's always fancied Drake and we also know that you can never force Jenn to do something against her will."

"She's stubborn as a mule," Mia agreed with a grin.

"So you're saying that Jenn was perfectly aware that she was grinding her hips against Drake?" Chris asked eagerly.

Trish winced at his words whereupon Mia hit him on the arm. "A little more tact here, please?!"

"Sorry," the young man had the grace to look sheepish.

"Excuse me for interrupting," a hesitant voice came from the back door. "But is it safe for me to enter or will I be getting a ten second head start before you set your Growlithes loose?"

The three looked up to see Jenn standing in the doorway with Ash and Pikachu. The blonde had quickly changed into some dry clothes, with her damp hair pulled into a bun. She still managed to look like a deer caught in the headlights, her blue-grey eyes wide with fear.

"Come in Jenn," Trish said with a slight smile. "I'm not about to kill you. I'll wait to hear what Ash finds out from Drake."

"I'm not sure how much if that makes me feel good or bad," the girl slunk into the living room, feeling a mix of dread and relief.

"But…," Trish raised a finger. "You are still partly to blame for this."

"Trish, how I can be blamed for my actions when I was drunk?" Jenn implored, dropping into a very plush recliner. "I didn't know what I was doing, honest!"

"You could have said no when he offered to buy you a drink." Trish raised an eyebrow. "It's as simple as that."

The blonde leaned back in the chair and found the ceiling suddenly very fascinating. She knew Trish was right. She could have said no to Drake. What could have possessed her to accept? Possessed…

"Maybe it was Lu!" she sat forward and blurted out. "Maybe he put a spell on me to make me drink! After all, he's cast tons of spells on all of us. I'm, like, one of the few he hasn't cast a spell on."

"True, I guess we can ask Puck to find out. He's dropping by later," Mia mused, smiling at the thought of seeing him.

"I'd better get going," Ash looked at his watch. "Drake should be out of his meetings by now. I'll come back as soon as I can."

"Thanks," Trish smiled.

"I'll see you to the door," Jenn offered and walked with him to the entrance. The blonde leaned against the doorframe as she watched the Grand Master walk down the path. She hoped fervently that Puck would be able to confirm the presence of a spell on her. Because if he didn't, she was in even deeper trouble with Trish.

~*~

Later…

Puck stared intently at Jenn as the blonde mentally kept up a string of please to whatever higher powers that existed that he would be successful. Her spirits plummeted as the chestnut-haired Fae shook his head.  "No trace of any spells."

"What?!" the American girl gasped. "Try again, you must have missed it!"

Puck sighed. "There was nothing."

Jenn glanced uneasily at Trish who was sitting across from her. "Uh, well you can never be too careful, I always say."

"No you don't," Puck said. "As a matter of fact…"

"Try. Again," Jenn ground out. "There's no way I did this on my own."

Puck stared back with flashing eyes. "That was the third time I checked!"

"Third time's the charm?" the blonde said hopefully, then narrowed her eyes. "No, wait, that was the third time…Uh…fourth time's the charm?"

Just then Mia entered the room, with Ash and Chris in tow. "Ah just the person I wanted to see," Jenn exclaimed. "What did Drake say?"

"Well," Ash chose his words carefully. "He said that you two had sex before you went to the Chikorita Club."

The blonde blanched and sank down into the seat as far as she could go. "Okay you're so not the person I wanted to see right now." She risked a peek towards her best friend and waited for the explosion that she knew would come. It's what she would do if the situation were reversed. Of course, Jenn wasn't exactly dating anyone and Trish wouldn't have laid a thought on Gary, much less a finger and…Why wasn't Trish sending a Growlithe on her tail? Trish was strangely calm. Jenn blinked and waved a hand in front of her friend. "Uh…aren't you about to explode? You know how much I hate suspense – kill me now and get it over with!"

"He's lying," the dark-haired girl stated matter-of-factly. "Jenn was here with us,  panic-stricken about what she should wear to meet Ash."

"Ki…" Jenn paused. "Huh?"

"True," Mia blinked. "She was really not sure of what to wear."

"So what are you going to do?" Chris asked.

"I'm gonna make it real easy," Jenn growled out,  her eyes narrowed. "I'm gonna KILL HIM! Trying to get me in trouble with my best friend! What did I ever do to him?"

"You are a frequent pincher of his butt." Mia offered.

"And that's going straight on my New Year's Resolution list of things not to do."

"But it's nowhere near New Year!" Mia laughed.

"No sense in waiting for the last minute," Jenn said. "Now, for when I kill him…"

"Wait a sec Jenn," Trish shook her head. "You can't kill him."

"Why not?" the blonde protested.

"Because I have dibs on that honour," Trish said grimly. "As his girlfriend, I get to kill him first!"

~*~

Ash had just left the villa when a pink bubble suddenly appeared in front of his face. "Huh?"

The bubble burst and a small blue Mew hovered in its place, staring at him intently. A young brunette then rushed up to him. "There you are, Ash! Ashura was looking all over for you!"

The Grand Master blinked. Ashura? Then it dawned on him. "Hey you're that fan of mine, Joanne isn't it – with that crazy blue Mew!"

The Pokémon pouted as it transformed into a blue tennis ball. "Why do people always say that?!"

"Well, look at you," Ash gestured towards the legendary creature. "You're blue, and you're a tennis ball."

"That's because I'm really bouncy and I'm always a real hit?"

"Oy," the humans both groaned

The tennis ball then morphed back into Mew, suddenly serious. "I'm glad I've found you Chosen One…"

"What's happened?"

"A great evil exists in the world, Chosen One. An Evil Fae by the name of Lucius plans to hurt a great many people. He needs to be stopped."

"I know that, but how can I stop it? I'm not a magician or anything like that – how can I hope to defeat him?" Ash spread his hands in frustration.

"You can only try."

"And we don't even know what his next move is going to be or when…"

~*~

The subject of the conversation was at that very moment plotting his next move. Things were going very well with his chosen victims. The relationship between the Orange Crew Leader and his girlfriend was extremely strained, close to breaking point. Mia was very worried about her big sister as Lu had hoped; and therefore Puck was worried.

Lu smiled to himself as he put the final touches to his plan. He only hoped that his lowly minions would carry out their parts right.

~*~

Two nights later…

Drake sighed as he followed his colleague Rudy through the crowds. The Trovita Island Gym Leader had come to his office and insisted that his boss come with him; for he had something important to show him.

"This better be worth it," the dark-haired man growled. "I've got a whole pile of paper work waiting for me." He was not in a good mood, he had been doing paperwork all day and what's more, Trish had refused his invitation to have dinner that night. She had said she would be very busy.

"Oh it's very worth it," Rudy reassured the man. He smiled to himself. Oh it was going to be so worth it.

The Gym Leader turned into a quiet street, then led Drake through a large garden of a white brick bungalow. "Keep to the shadows," Rudy whispered as they crept along the side wall. "And keep quiet or they'll hear us!"

"Who do you mean by they?" Drake hissed as they rounded the corner and came to a large window. Rudy just indicated for him to take a look. The dark-haired Crew Leader crept closer and peered in; his dark eyes widening at what he saw.

For Trish lay on the bed, held in Danny's arms, the silk sheets entwined around the slumbering lovers.

~*~

Meanwhile…

"Can someone remind me just what we are doing here at the mall at 10pm at night?" Trish said tiredly.

"Cuz I had a sudden craving for cheese sticks from Arbys?" Jenn wisecracked brightly.

"Are you sure you're not pregnant?"

"NO!!!" Jenn looked horrified.  "Trishy that's not only mean of you, but absolutely impossible!" Her expression darkened. "I'm not even with anyone at the moment. It would be an immaculate reception."

"Don't you mean conception?" Trish shook her head in amused annoyance, then demanded, "Well what did you drag me along for?"

"I like company? Besides you weren't doing anything. Crazy you didn't want to go out with old what's his face."

"After that stunt he tried to pull – what else did you expect?"

The blonde was about to reply when she spotted someone making their way towards them. "Oh look, it's Drake's lil sis Becca! Hi!"

"How about saying hi to your little brother too," a male voice came from behind them. They turned to see Chris sulking like a little kid.

"Hi Chris," Jenn patted his head then turned to the young dark-haired girl who had just joined them. "Hey Becca."

"Hi Trish, Jenn," the twenty-four-year-old hugged both girls. Chris looked hopeful for a hug too; but alas all he got was a handshake. "So what are you all doing here?"

"Jenn has a craving for cheese sticks," Trish indicated towards her friend. "I just got dragged along for the company."

"Aww, would a coffee make you feel better?" Jenn asked then sighed as a familiar glint came into her twin's eyes at the 'c' word. "Ahh…stupid question wasn't it?"

"Very."

"Then how about we all have something to eat? The more the merrier!"

~*~

The next night…

Jenn fiddled with her napkin as she watched the revellers dance and enjoy the party atmosphere. The latest in a long string of League dances, it was being held in the cavernous ballroom at the Pummelo Island Function Centre. Drake had once described this place as being 'little'; however as Jenn well knew, the definition of 'little' in the Orange Islands was the exact opposite.

'This place is the size of a football field' the blonde thought as she gazed around at the myriad of multicoloured balloons that filled the ceiling as well as the large arrangements of exotic native flowers that graced each table; their delicate perfume filling the air.

All in all it made for a very enjoyable atmosphere, however the blonde was not sharing in it.  She could not shake the feeling that something big was going to go wrong tonight. Though what exactly that something was; she couldn't tell.

She sighed and smoothed down the skirt of her burgundy red beaded evening gown. Jenn decided to go in search of her best friend; maybe they could gossip and bitch about some of the dresses that were being worn tonight.

On the other side of the ballroom, Drake accepted congratulations from another guest; then continued to scan the sea of faces for his girlfriend. He had not been able to erase the memory of what he had witnessed last night from his mind; nor had he had the chance yet to confront either of them. Finally he spotted the two a few metres away talking.  Perfect, he thought, now it's time to find out the truth.

He had nearly reached them when Danny walked off with a little wave, leaving Trish standing alone. She turned at his approach and smiled. "Hey Drake, I was wondering where you were. I've hardly seen you all night!"

~*~

Jenn spied the brilliant emerald green of her best friend's gown in the midst of all the people, and then blanched when she saw that Trish was talking to Drake. Hurriedly, she began to squeeze through the dancers to where the two were. This could be the beginning of the big bad.

~*~

"Yeah, well I've had a lot of people I needed to talk to," Drake said rather stiffly.

Trish frowned. "Are you all right? You've been very quiet all evening. Is there something wrong?"

The dark-haired man gave a short bitter laugh. "Something wrong? I'll say there is. Like when were you going to tell me about the baby? A baby that isn't mine."

Trish was completely flabbergasted; but quickly recovered. "How DARE you!" she gasped, turning pale.

Just then Jenn bounced up to them with a cheery smile. "Hey guys!" Her smile faded as she noticed the steely gaze in both their eyes; and the fact that neither one seemed to notice her at all. "Er…I've come at a really bad time haven't I?" she said quickly. "Don't answer that! I'll just take my goddess self away and come back later..."

The blonde only managed to take two steps before she found her wrist held in a tight Australian grip. She turned to face two blazing dark brown eyes and gulped.

"You, Missy, are not going anywhere," Trish gritted through her teeth before turning her full attention back to Drake.

"Yes Ma'am," Jenn said meekly. "You're the boss. I mean, why would I want to go anywhere else? And for that matter, why would I need my wrist to function properly? Who really needs a wrist anyway?"

"How dare you," Trish repeated as if there had been no interruption, but let go of Jenn's wrist. "How dare you accuse me of being pregnant with another man's child!"

"How dare I?" Drake shot back. "I'm not the one who tried to hide a doctor's test results, which were positive I might add, from her boyfriend!"

"What positive test results?" she squeaked. "They were negative!!! Who did you get this from?"

"Jaime." Drake crossed his arms over his chest.

"Jaime?!"

By this time a large crowd had gathered around them; one man with a moustache and a goatee beard was scribbling away furiously in a notebook.

"Yes, Jaime." Drake glared at her. "Jaime and Rudy were kind enough to inform me that you have been having an affair with Danny behind my back for quite some time now. It's Danny's child you're carrying within you isn't it?"

"Leave Danny out of this."

"Protective of your lover aren't you?"

"I said to leave Danny out of this!" the dark-haired Australian gritted her teeth. "These problems are just between you and me. This has nothing to do with him!"

"This has everything to do with him!" Drake growled out. "Is it true that you spent time with him in Sydney in April?"

"It's true. But it's not the way you think!"

"And how do you explain away the fact that I saw you sleeping with him last night?"

"That's a damn lie! I was nowhere near Danny last night! I was at the mall with Jenn and Chris…"

"She's telling the truth there," a familiar voice cut in.

The two turned to see Drake's younger sister, Rebecca Thayer step out of the crowd. "I ran into them at the mall. Jenn had a hankering for some cheese sticks and then we all went for coffee."

"You stay out of this Becca!" her brother grated and the girl flinched.

"That's it!" Trish finally lost her temper. "I've had enough of all this nonsense! How dare you accuse me of cheating on you when you know that I've been confined to bed for the past few weeks sick as a growlithe!  For your information, Danny was just keeping me company; we never did anything since I was asleep most of the time!"

"What about the doctor's results?" Drake shot back.

"I don't where the hell Jaime got them from, but the original results were negative! Negative! And the only candidate for the father would be you! I've been throwing up lots, yes – but that's because I'm sick with some mystery virus that the doctors can't figure out! I never told you because I didn't want to worry you!!!"

"You're lying."

Jenn saw her best friend flinch at those harsh words. "I'm not lying! Ask Jenn, ask Chris, ask Mia – even Becca knows I'm not lying and she's your sister!! Plus you have the utter gall to call me a liar – when you lied about what you did with Jenn!"

"Yeah," Jenn glared at the tall gym leader.

"I don't care," Drake shrugged. "I believe what I saw and what Rudy and Jaime have told me. They're good friends."

Trish shook her head. "I don't believe you could take the word of Rudy and Jaime over mine and your sister's! And you know something Mister Thayer? I don't need to put up with this treatment at all. I don't need this and I don't need you either." She suddenly grabbed a drink off a nearby guest and threw it on the Pummelo Island Gym Leader. "Guess what? We're officially through. Finished. Kaput. Over. And if you ever come near me again, I'll set my growlithes on you."

The dark-haired girl stormed through the crowds towards the exit. Drake was shocked to feel a second ice cold splash and turned to see Jenn glaring daggers at him. "That's for giving me alcohol the other, other, other night! Do you have any idea how hung-over I was?" Without further ado, she ran after her best friend.

In the crowd, a lean, red-haired Fae smirked. "Just as I wanted it…"

~*~

There was the sound of pounding feet behind Jenn and she turned to see Mia and Chris come running up to her.

"Jenn, wait up," Chris panted as he bent over, resting his hands on his knees.

"Yeah," Mia puffed out. "We want to make sure that Trish is all right as well."

"Oh sure, ignore the pained blonde."

The two darted past her, engulfing Trish in a group hug. Jenn rolled her eyes. "No respect."

"Nope!" Chris's voice floated back.

"Hey, I was hurt too!!! Drake used me," Jenn complained, crossing her arms and pouting. "I had a hangover."

"Come here, Sis," Mia beckoned the older girl over. "Group hug! Share the pain."

"What pain?" Chris blinked then nodded. "Oh yeah watching you and Drake dance was really painful."

"Shut up, Chris!" Jenn growled as she was pulled into the little huddle.

After a while they let each other go, and Trish brushed away a stray tear and sighed. "Okay, I'm fine, I'm okay."

"No, you're not," Jenn disagreed, then murmured, "And me, not fine either. Kinda really pissed, actually."

"I said I'm fine, okay?" Trish glared at her friend who backed away slightly. "I can do this, after all he's just a guy. One of millions out there. Just a pathetic, good for nothing, jerk that I can do without. All men are useless!"

"Right!!!" the two other girls chorused.

"Uh…do I have to be counted in on this?" Chris asked hesitantly.

"That's okay, Chris, you don't have to," Jenn patted him on the arm. "We know you're okay. After all, we often forget you're a guy sometimes."

"Thanks…I think." Chris looked as confused as he felt.

"Seriously, Trish - are you okay?" Mia asked.

"I'm fine. I'm not mad, not mad at all," Trish said with the ghost of a smile. "Just very, very pissed."

The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Not mad at all, huh? I'd hate to see you when you are really mad."

"I think you already have," Chris smirked. "Remember the pond?"

Jenn blinked then wrinkled her nose. "Oh yeah, right. Well then, let's go home." She had a feeling that this was going to be a very long night.

~*~

The next morning Jenn padded out to the kitchen wearily; eyes half-lidded with sleep. It had been a very long night as she had correctly foretold herself. Trish needed someone to just listen and who better than her twin. The dark-haired girl alternated between crying then damning Drake to the fiery depths of hell, and asking Jenn for a voodoo doll. The blonde shook her head at the memory – and people said that she was crazy; just wait until they met the Aussie when she was upset.

Mia and Shannon were already seated around the table, glancing up when Jenn plopped herself down.

"How is she?" Shannon asked quietly.

"Still sleeping," the blonde yawned. "I checked on her as soon as I got up."

"Good," Mia nodded as she indicated the newspaper. "Cuz it's all over the news this morning..."

"Oh great," Jenn groaned. "Just what we don't need. The scum of the universe spreading more lies about her. I suggest we don't let her see that."

"Yes Ma'am," Mia saluted, tossing the paper into the garbage bin.

There was a moment's silence before Shannon broke it. "Do...you think Trish is telling the truth about Danny?"

Both her companions blinked. "Of course she is, Shannon!" Jenn said confidently. "How could you think otherwise? Trish was with me the whole time the other night; and I was there during that time in Sydney and it was completely platonic!"

"Just wondering, that's all," Shannon shrugged.

The phone rang shrilly, startling the trio before Jenn grabbed the receiver.

As Mia and Shannon watched, the blonde's eyes narrowed before she spat out a single sharp "NO!" and slammed the phone down.

"That was the Telegraph," she growled in answer to their unspoken question. "Wanting an exclusive interview with Trish about last night's rumours."

"Oh gawd, and so it starts," Mia buried her face in her hands.

Jenn pulled the plug on the phone. "And this is where it ends! That's all we're gonna get for the next few days so I'm disconnecting it. Any friends or family would know our cell phone numbers anyway."

"True."

"Listen, I'm gonna go out for a bit. Look after Trish if she wakes up, okay?"

"Sure."

Shannon watched the tall blonde leave and had a passing thought. But what if an interview was a good thing? If there is nothing to hide then why not?

~*~

Jenn was browsing in the confectionary section of a department store. Chocolate, as she well knew from her own disastrous relationships, was the number one comfort food for broken hearts.

"Jenn."

The tall American girl turned to see Liana Thayer, Drake's youngest sister standing there. The twenty-two-year-old looked tired and pale as if she had little or no sleep.

For a second the blonde was torn. Should she treat her normally or ignore her? After all Liana was related to 2003's Asshole of the Year. Then again, Trish would probably get pissed at her if she did ice out Liana. It wasn't Liana who shouted out so cruelly on Trish. The poor girl just had the bad ass luck to be related to a mangy maggot excuse for a Gym Leader.

"Uh, Jenn?" Liana asked hesitantly.

Jenn blinked, then looked steadily at the girl. Her mind was made up on how to treat the Thayer. "Hey, Liana. How did you know I was here?"

Liana looked relieved at the friendly reception. "I didn't really. I rang Trish's cell phone and Mia answered. She told me you were out shopping and, being that sweets are a cure all for a wounded heart, I guessed that you would be in the confectionary section." The dark-haired girl's shoulders then slumped. "Anyway I just wanted to say I'm really, really sorry for what happened last night. Bec is too."

"How is Becca?" Jenn asked carefully, remembering the cutting remark the loser had made towards his sister.

"She's extremely upset. I spent half the night calming her down; that's why she's not here, she's taking a nap." Liana turned dark pleading eyes toward her. "Could you please tell Trish for us? We have no idea what got into Drake last night - it's not like him. Mom and Dad send their apologies too."

"I will," Jenn quickly reassured the distraught younger girl. "But how about you and Bec come over to the house. Uh, like sometime tomorrow? I'm sure Trish would love for you guys to drop by."

"You think so? I mean would she want to even see us?" Liana was doubtful.

"Sure she would," the blonde nodded confidently. "Trish isn't mad at you two, just your idiot brother.."

"Okay then..."

"Give me a call on my phone about ten in the morning."

"I will," Liana turned to leave. "See you tomorrow."

"Bye."

Jenn looked around a bit more before she finally spotted what she wanted on one of the lower shelves. The American picked up a box and studied it for a few moments before heading off to the cash register. It was just perfect.

~*~

The girl arrived home to find her best friend up and about. Trish was seated in the living room with a cup of coffee; looking tired and wan; Mia and Chris sat on either side, offering silent support.

"Trish!" Jenn sauntered over and gave the dark-haired girl a tight hug. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Like I need to breathe?"

Jenn stepped back, releasing the dark haired girl. "Sorry." She looked anything but. "So, you're feeling like…"

"About as crappy as I look," Trish gave a wry smile as she indicated her outfit which consisted of very old grey tracksuit pants and a worn white Snoopy t-shirt. "But I think I'll live."

"Good," the blonde sat her down again and withdrew two small boxes from her bags which she placed on the coffee table. "And these will make you feel much better!"

Curious, the Australian girl opened the first to reveal a small cloth voodoo doll complete with pins. "You were saying last night that you wanted one," Jenn grinned. "And I knew just the shop to get it at."

"Hmm..." Trish picked up one of the pins and hovered it over the doll.

Chris's eyes widened and he grabbed his friend's arm. "Ah...I don't think you really want to jab there..." he said hastily. For Trish was about to stick the needle in the male doll's most private parts...It made him wince just thinking about it!

"Open the other one," Jenn suggested, her eyes bright. "I guarantee that you'll love it!"

Her best friend did so and withdrew a medium sized and very cute chocolate man. "What's this?"

The blonde gave a dramatic flourish. "Behold the Perfect Man! He's smooth, he's sweet, and you can chew his ears off!!!"

Mia giggled. "That is perfect!"

"So perfect I got one for you, me, and Shannon!" Jenn grinned, then looked apologetic. "Sorry, Chris, but they sold out before I could get one for you."

Chris just rolled his eyes in response, his fingers tapping a fast rhythm on his knees as he wished he had a cigarette. "No worries. I'll just steal yours when your back is turned."

Jenn stuck out her tongue. "In yer dreams."

Chris smirked.

"Or nightmares," Mia laughed as she took a bite out of her chocolate man. "Mr. Headless here isn't going to have any dreams."

"Or nightmares for that fact," Shannon shook her head, amused at the banter.

As soon as Trish finished her coffee, the blonde hauled her to her feet. "Come on let's get you changed..."

"What for?"

"I know just the thing to cheer you up."

~*~

A few minutes later, Trish walked out of her bedroom clad in a pair of old blue jeans and a t-shirt that had "Bugger Off."

"What?" she demanded as Jenn stared at her. "There's nothing wrong with this."

"True," the American girl allowed. "It's just that I know you're in a crappy mood, but do you really think its necessary to advertise that?"

"Yes!"

"Anyway..." Jenn shrugged and placed a small silver laser gun in Trish's hands. "You and I are going Egg Hunting...since you haven't been able to go since you've been ill." The blonde had taken over Trish's duties as head of the ITEO or International Togepi Elimination Organization while her best friend was confined to bed; keeping her up to date on never-ending battle against the pest Pokémon.

The dark-haired girl fingered the weapon gingerly. "Do you think this is such a good idea? I'll probably be very rusty with my aim..."

"No such chance," Jenn snorted. "Once a slayer always a slayer..."

"I hope you're right..."

"Since when have I been wrong?" she paused, "I mean when it counts..."

The two friends left the villa from the back entrance, a sharp-eyed Mia having spied the first signs of paparazzi lying in wait outside the front door. Jenn kept a stream of merry chatter in an attempt to placate a seething Australian. "When we see some Eggs then you can use the gun. Take your aggression out on the Eggs. As much you'd dearly love to take out a few of the reporters, and I would normally encourage such behavior, it would not be good for your current public image to do so."

"You're no fun, you know that?"

~*~

Reaching a forest clearing where Jenn's Pokedex indicated the presence of Eggs, the two girls knelt down behind some bushes. "Now all we have to do is wait..." Jenn said brightly.

"I'm depressed, not blonde..." came the droll reply.

"Saaaaay…"

A few minutes passed before Trish raised one hand for silence. She inched forward slowly through the bushes to her right where she had heard some faint cries, taking care to make as little noise as possible. Finally she reached the spot and raised her head a tiny bit over the bushes.

A Togetic and four Togepi had surrounded a young Espeon and backed it up against a large tree trunk. It had been badly hurt, Trish could see many red gashes over its small body.

"Togggetic" the leader snarled and the rest 'Priiied' baring their razor sharp teeth. The Togepi were all lined up in a row.

Trish calmly raised her weapon, positioning the little red dot right in the center of the side of the nearest Egg. She depressed the trigger, and the deadly beam passed through all four Eggs at once, vaporizing them.

The Togetic shrieked in anger before Trish took out the Satanic Chicken with one shot.

Behind her, she heard Jenn chuckle. "In reference to the whole rusty thing...Mind if I say I told ya so?!"

"No," Trish started to lead the way out into the clearing. "And you were right, it did feel good."

The blonde cheered and struck an Ash Victory Pose. "She admits it!!! Of course I'm right, the Goddess is never anything else!"

"Sure."

Jenn pouted. "Chu are so mean!"

Trish slowly approached the injured Pokémon, hands by her side so as to not alarm it. The Espeon whimpered and shrank back.

"It's okay," the Australian girl soothed as she carefully grabbed the Pokémon and lifted it into her arms.

"Esp!" The Psychic Pokémon uttered a short yelp as it struggled feebly. In answer there was a faint cry of "Umb" from the bushes to the left which caused the Espeon to struggle even harder.

Holding her struggling charge close to her with one arm, Trish parted the bushes and her eyes widened at what she saw. "Jenn! Come here quickly!"

The willowy blonde rushed over to her friend's side and saw a battered and bloodied young Umbreon lying on its side; its ebony chest heaving with every gasp.

"Oooh those evil, evil Eggs," she breathed out as she knelt down and scooped up the nearly unconscious Pokémon. "So glad that you got rid of them, Sis."

"Yeah, lets get these poor babies to the Pokémon Centre."

~*~

An hour later the two girls were hanging around Nurse Joy's private office. The strawberry-haired nurse had made the offer after noticing how uncomfortable Trish was waiting in the general area with most of the crowd staring at her and whispering.

The two jumped slightly as the door swung open; but relaxed when they saw it was only Nurse Joy.

"Good news. Your Pokémon twins will be just fine," she announced with a tired smile.

"Twins?" Jenn echoed.

"Yes, the two females are from the same litter, they just evolved differently."

"So that explains why the Espeon was so anxious to get free," Trish understood.

"That's right. I'd like to keep them overnight for observation but you should be able to take them home in the morning."

"Thank you Nurse Joy."

"No problem. Its what I do," the nurse beamed.

Outside the Pokémon Centre, Jenn pumped her fists. "I caught an Umbreon!!! Well...not officially as yet but who's counting," she amended as Trish looked at her.

Just then James and Meowth came running up to them. "Hey girls!"

The lavender-haired man then took one look at Trish and turned around. Meowth caught his leg with his claws. "Hey where'd ya think you're goin?"

"Well it says 'Bugger Off'" James pointed to her t-shirt. "So I was just going to..."

Both girls and the Cat Pokémon sighed. "Noit you, Jimmy."

"But it said..."

"It's a figure of speech."

"Oooh," James gave that falsetto squeal for which he was renowned. "Do you really think I have a great figure?? I always thought that I looked better in a dress than Jessie!!!"

"Ever wonder how he manages to reach that high pitch?" Trish muttered to her companions.

"He wears pants dat are a size too small dat's why," Meowth whispered back.

"Too much on the 411 there, Meowth," Jenn grimaced.

"Anyway what are you guys doing here?" Trish asked.

"Oooh!" James stopped in mid prance and blinked. "That's right! Ash wanted us to ask you girls if he could stop by later, see how you're doing."

"Of course he can! I need..." the blonde said a bit too eagerly before she caught herself. "I mean, Trish needs all the support she can get from friends and that."

"Guess I'm the latest social leper," Trish said gloomily.

Ash's PA blinked. "Social leopard? I've never heard of that before...Is that some kind of new fashion?? OWWW!!!"

The two girls blinked to see Meowth had whacked a huge paper fan out of nowhere onto James' head. "She said leper NOT leopard you numskull!!" The Scratch Cat Pokémon grinned. "I borrowed dis off Jessie. It coimes in handy..."

"Aww and here I was hoping it was some new kind of Pokémon," Jenn sighed just before she got whacked by Meowth.

~*~

Ash Ketchum signed his name to the Blackthorn City Gym Annual Expenses Report before putting down the pen and rubbing his eyes tiredly. The Grand Master was seated in the large spacious office in the Orange League Headquarters that was kept for his specific use when he was in the vicinity. Today the crap had really hit the fan as the news of last night's fight spread. Drake refused to answer any calls, and Danny had gone to ground somewhere(as you would); which left Ash to field all the calls from a concerned Luanna and Cissy; as well as fielding the questions from a frenzied media pack. He handled the latter by issuing a short terse press release which stated that what happened was a private matter for the Orange Crew Leader. It had absolutely nothing to do with the Orange League; and as such the media had no business pursuing it. The Orange Crew Leader as well as the other people involved should be left alone to sort it out privately. End of Story.

The black-haired trainer sat back in the leather armchair and sighed. He really hoped that things could be sorted out between Drake, Trish and Danny. Otherwise things would be rather uncomfortable for the other three Orange Crew members.

Teamwork, Harmony and Co-operation were vital elements a League needed to run smoothly. All of the Gym Leaders needed to be able to work together, much like their Pokémon. Ash wondered if the Navel Island Gym would soon be treated like the Trovita Island Gym; tolerated and only contacted if absolutely necessary.

Speaking of the Trovita Island Gym Leader, Ash thought Rudy was acting very strangely. He was the only member of the Orange Crew who didn't lament last night's events; and it seemed very odd that he would go all out to be nice to the one man who had, in his view, stolen his rightful girl. It seemed even odder that Drake wasn't even the slightest bit suspicious of his colleague's motives.

Ash recalled how, on his journeys, how suspicious he was whenever his archrival Gary was even remotely nice to him. Now while Ash was known for having dense moments; Drake was not, being regarded as a very intelligent man. So what was going on??

Plus it seemed to Ash, that the charges leveled against Trish were absolutely ridiculous. The dark-haired Australian was not the type to cheat on anyone, let alone her boyfriend. Nor was she the gold-digging type. If she was, she would have flung herself at Ash - being the only one higher in the Pokémon League than Drake who was at the head of the Orange League. But she was not the slightest bit interested in him romantically, she left that as the sole domain of her best friend Jenn.

Ahh Jenn... Ash started to visualize the tall, slender American when he was interrupted in his musings by two enormous big blue eyes peering upside down at him. "Mew?"

To be continued…

Author's note: A belated Happy New Year to all. Things are really heating up and what on earth could happen next!

To all my loyal readers(if I have any). Many thanks for all your encouragement and support. I never realised how hard it is to craft a good story until I started writing fanfiction. I couldn't have kept this up without you!