Wally woke up the next morning bright and early. His nurse fed him some breakfast and the boy waited for his mother to come visit him.

"Did you have a good time with your father yesterday?"

Wally shrugged, "He read me a story. It's not very interesting."

Wally's mother smiled at him and stroked his hair, "Is that so? Does that mean you would mind if your father visited you again today?"

Wally shook his head, "No, I still want him to read to me."

"I'm glad to hear that," came a voice from the doorway. Wally's father fiddled with his glasses and patted his wife's shoulder as she left the room.

"I'll see you later Wally," she said.

"Goodbye mother," Wally called out.

Wally's father settled himself in the same chair he occupied the day before and opened the book, "Now, where was I?"

Wally said, "The part where Princess May was talking to her Skitty."

Wally's father's eyes gleamed in amusement, "Ah, I see it now. Okay, so-"


"Hey Skitty. I found out something pretty cool. Maybe I'll show it to you later."

Skitty mewed happily while the Princess picked up a book on her bedside table. Princess May was used to being confined in her room. She had toys to play with, dresses to put on, and her Beautifly and Skitty to talk to. She also had many, many books to read. Her father, one of the most intelligent kings in history, always advocated reading and learning to his children. So May, at a young age, had learned to read.

And she loved it. May especially enjoyed reading her fairytale books. She loved how easily she could relate to the young, beautiful and perfect princesses in the stories. And so she dreamed of a handsome prince to fall in love with her and whisk her away to his palace.

It doesn't look like that will happen to me though, thought the princess as she sighed over her arranged marriage. But maybe her father would be right; maybe she would learn to fall in love with Brendan. It wouldn't be anywhere close to true love, but it would be love right?


And so, the next day, the princess started her wedding preparations. She reported to the ballroom where dozens of tailors rushed at her and took her measurements for various wedding dresses. Then May would have to decide which colors she liked for which dress, which material she wanted to wear, and then later think about which design best suited her. Or should I say her mother? Really it was she who said that the dress had to be white despite May wanting it to be red. It was she who said that the dress had to be silk when May thought it could be fine with just satin. It was she who said that the dress had to have lace and frills when May just preferred it to be as simple as possible. In the end, May wasn't really needed at all. Her mother took care of her dress.

So then May had to go to the kitchen to look at the different designs for her wedding cake. Did she want a three-tiered cake or a four-tiered cake? Did the princess like flowers on her cake or ribbons? In the end, it didn't matter either; her father decided that she would like that cake with that type of icing and those kinds of decorations.


Wally's father turned the page and stole a glance at his son. Wally's eyes were closed and he was resting his head against the pillow.

"You look like you're sleeping," his father commented.

Wally replied, "I'm about to. You're on the boring part again."

Wally father heaved a sigh and he closed the book, "Well, if you don't want me to read, then I'll just-"

Wally's eyes snapped open and he looked at his father with a look of annoyance, "Don't stop. I want you to read more."

His father peered at him over his glasses, "Even the boring parts?"

Wally rolled his eyes, "Even the boring parts."

Wally's father nodded in approval, "Alright then," and he flipped through the pages once more.

"So -"


Princess May returned to her chambers quite happily. They didn't need her for her own wedding since her parents were doing all the work. May grabbed a random book from her bookshelf and sat on her bed. Skitty jumped onto her shoulder to read over her and Beautifly sat on top of May's head.

The book's title read, The Next Journey.

May smiled, "I haven't read this in a long time. I forgot what happens in it."

Skitty and Beautifly urged their trainer to read it to them and May smiled and obeyed their wishes.


(A story in a story within another story... cool)

There lived a poor old man with his old wife and they were happily married. One day, the old man became gravely ill and was on his deathbed. Since they had little to no money, they were unable to get help for him. His wife then revealed the secret she had been holding for decades: she was of royal descent. Surprised, the old man asked his wife why she married him, an unsuccessful fisherman, rather than a handsome noble who could give her a life of luxury.

His wife replied, "Because I did not love him. And I did not want to marry a man I did not love."

So the old man asked, "But why did you not tell me this earlier?"

His wife responded quietly, "If I did, you would not see me as the woman you loved, but a woman of a higher status than you. You would not love me the same way I loved you."

The old man smiled, "You gave up so much for me. You are a fool."

His wife watched as the old man passed into the dark void, and spoke to him one last time, "I am a fool in love. What would you do?"

The old woman entered the other room of their small hut and she wrote her last will.

She added, 'You need not be sad for us. We have lived a full happy life and the next journey will be yet another adventure.'

The following day, their friends found the dead couple and buried the two next to each other, just as the wife requested in her will.

For in death, they would still be together.


The princess closed the book and looked at her two Pokemon curiously.

"Wow," she said, "That was a good story. I liked it."

Her Pokemon agreed and May smiled at them.

She heard a knock on her door and her nurse maid said, "Princess, your mother and father request your presence in the ballroom."

May called through her door, "Thank you," and faced her Pokemon, "Be right back."

May was a bit surprised to see Brendan and her parents both in the ballroom. After curtsying to them, she told Brendan, "I thought you were back in Johto."

Brendan smiled at her, "I came back as soon as I was done with my duties. I wanted to see you."

May blinked in surprise before saying her thanks. Her father then said, "I want you two to spend the remainder of the day together. Don't worry, we'll be going through your wedding carefully."

The two nodded and Brendan took May's hand and gently led her through the grand ballroom doors.

After a few minutes, May pointed at Brendan's left breast. There were many medals and badges hanging.

"You have a lot of awards."

Brendan smiled, "They're mostly Pokemon League Badges and some Champion Medals."

May raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Wow, you must be a skilled trainer."

Brendan shrugged, "I'm pretty good I guess."

May smiled, "I want to battle with you."

Brendan faltered, "I-I don't think your parents would approve. It's not very 'princess-like' to battle."

May pouted, "Oh, that's right."

There were a lot of restrictions in being a princess now that May thought about it.

Brendan took notice of his princess' sad expression and told her, "I'm going to this restaurant outside of Petalburg. Would you like to go?"

May's expression immediately lit, "Yes, I would."

Brendan laughed, "As you wish."

The entire carriage ride consisted of May's face pressed against the "attack-proof" windows. The princess rarely ever exited the palace perimeters, but when she did, she didn't want to miss anything.

Many people waved to their beloved princess and May happily waved back. She saw people buying food ("Is this how people get their food?" she asked Brendan) She saw many children playing in the dirt (She asked, "Don't they mind getting dirty?") And she saw many new and strange Pokemon ("What's that Pokemon called? The one with a weird, green bulb on its back.")

"That's a Bulbasaur," The Duke said as he took May's hand to help her down the carriage.

"It's very cute, I like it," May said as they entered the very crowded restaurant.

Brendan explained, "This is one of the most famous restaurants in all of Hoenn. I dare say it won't be as good as the palace food, but it'll come close."

Brendan approached the waiter and indicated two people. He immediately nodded and put their names first on the line.

The princess felt someone tugging her dress and she looked down in surprise. It was a little girl, no more than three or four.

The little girl smiled at her, "Are you a weal princess?"

May smiled and crouched down to meet the little girl's eye level, "Yes, I am. And what's your name?"

The girl smiled brightly, "Ma name's Vivi!"

May nodded, and heard a stern voice cry, "Vivi!"

Vivi looked up and saw her mother's angry face, "Hi momma! Look, it's a real princess!"

Vivi's mother immediately scooped up her daughter and bowed her head, "My apologies, Princess. My daughter doesn't know the rules of formality."

May stood up and shook it off, "It's quite alright. It was nice meeting with you Vivi."

Vivi's mother smiled to May, "Thank you Princess."

The woman walked away and the little girl waved over her mother's shoulder, "Bye-bye Princess!"

May giggled and waved goodbye to the little girl. Brendan put their hand on May's shoulder and said, "Let's go. Our table's ready."

Brendan took May's hand and the couple followed the waiter to the back of the restaurant. Brendan pulled back the dining chair and May sat down, fixing her dress as well.

Brendan commented, "You were talking to that little girl."

May smiled at the memory, "She was very cute."

Brendan smiled at her, "It's a dangerous world out there. You can't expect the same kind of respect and kindness from everyone."

May frowned, but then the waiter came and placed their food in front of them.

"I hope you don't mind," Brendan said, "I ordered for us."

May looked at the food in front of her, "Of course. It's not like I wanted anything else anyways."


May returned to the palace and headed to her chambers. After closing the door, she grabbed The Next Journey and read it again. Beautifly and Skitty jumped on her bed and urged her to read it to them again. May smiled and obeyed once more.

That night, while in bed, May thought over her life. She thought of how she was confined to her home when she wanted to go on an adventure. She thought of how everyone, even Brendan, told her the world was unsafe and dangerous. She thought of the old woman who had given up everything in order to be with the man she loved. And she thought of Brendan.

The princess determined, I don't think I'll ever fall in love with him.

And another thing she determined: The princess would run away. Run away to seek adventure; runaway to escape her confined life; runaway to find her true love.


Wally's father closed the book and Wally cried out in protest, "But you're not done!"

Wally's father nodded, "I know. But I'm hungry, and I think you are too."

Wally's stomach betrayed him and growled hungrily.

"Right on time too," his father muttered as the nurse carried in a tray of food for Wally.

"I'll be back soon," Wally's father assured him, "I want to try out the hospital cafeteria food. I hear it's pretty good."

And he left with the book in his arms.


The Next Journey is something I made up. It's not a real fairytale xD