Chapter 52: 18th Birthday

"It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesties."

"Same to you, Prince Bradley." Caroline said.

"Our guards will give you a tour of the castle." Norman said. "We hope you enjoy your visit and if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Bradley bowed. Once he stood up straight again, his gaze moved to Kiara. "I look forward to making friends with fellow royals."

"Yes. We hope you can find yourself getting along with our daughters." Norman said. "You can talk to them whenever you'd like during your visit. They'll be sure to allow that."

"Okay then." Bradley said. He turned around and started leaving the Throne Room, followed by two guards who are his tour guides.

"You two will be kind to Prince Bradley, right?" Caroline asked May and Kiara.

"Of course, Mom." May said, standing up. "He's another Prince to be friends with, and you know how much I like making new friends."

"Right. Well, please help him enjoy his stay in Hoenn."

Kiara stood up. "We're on it."

May is riding on Rapidash through Petalburg City. They're making sure everyone is happy like always. And they're about to head back to the castle after walking through the entire city.

"Okay. It seems like there's no problems today." May said. "Head back home."

Rapidash continued walking. They then heard a sound. Rapidash stopped walking.

"Did you hear someone cry?" May asked.

Rapidash neighed in agreement. They listened for the sound again.

"Loetta~!" A weak cry came from around the corner.

Rapidash was about to walk when a Pokémon swiftly walked in front of them from around the corner. Rapidash backed up, looking down at the Pokémon. May looked at the Pokémon too.

They both saw the Pokémon wobbling and then fall down on the floor. May gasped and hopped off of Rapidash. She ran to the Pokémon, bent down, and lifted it up in her arms.

"You're going to be just fine." May said. She placed a hand on the Pokémon's forehead. "Fever." She walked back to Rapidash and hopped on her. "Back to the castle." Rapidash started walking to the castle.

In the sky above Petalburg City…

"Carpet, down there." Drew said. He's riding the magic carpet to the castle and he sees May down there. The carpet started flying down towards May.

May just entered castle walls and Rapidash walked to the stable. May got off of Rapidash and started walking to the castle as Rapidash entered the stable.

May stopped walking because she saw the magic carpet stop in front of her. Drew hopped off of it. "Hey." Drew said, walking to May. He noticed the sick Pokémon. "A Meloetta…"

May looked down at Meloetta. "That's what this is?"

"Yeah. It's a rare Pokémon."

"Loetta…" Meloetta said weakly. It's eyes are still closed.

"What's wrong?" Drew asked.

May looked up at Drew. "Fever. I'm going to treat it. Follow me." She started walking off. Drew and the carpet followed May to the backyard.

They walked to the center of the backyard. "Comfey, come here real quick." May said. Her Comfey was close by and she flew over to May.

May kneeled down and placed Meloetta on the grass. "Use Floral Healing." May said.

Comfey's body glowed a faint white and flowers bloomed all around Meloetta. Flower petals and grass blew in the wind. Drew just watched as Meloetta was getting healed.

May pulled out her scepter. She pointed it at a berry bush that's at a wall of the castle. "Berry...teleport." May said. An Oran Berry from the bush just appeared in front of May.

Comfey ended Floral Healing and May put her scepter away. Meloetta opened her eyes halfway. She looked at May. "Loetta." Meloetta said.

May held out the Oran Berry in front of Meloetta's mouth. "You'll feel better with this."

Meloetta took a small bite of the Oran Berry. After swallowing that bite, she smiled and took another bite.

Drew watched in awe as May fed Meloetta the rest of that berry. ("She's so amazing…") Drew thought. ("Even with wild Pokémon, she shows kindness.") He smiled. ("That's my Princess.")

The fever went away fast on Meloetta. She opened her eyes completely. "Loetta, Meloetta!" She said as she flew up. She flew around May happily. "Etta, Loetta!"

May smiled, seeing how Meloetta recovered so fast. "The fever went away fast, huh?" May asked.

Meloetta now hovered in front of May. "Etta, Loetta!" She answered happily.

"Wow…" Drew said. May looked up at him. "I'm impressed."

May smiled. "I'm just doing my job." She said, standing up. She walked to Drew and Meloetta hid behind her.

May turned her head. "Meloetta, there's nothing to be afraid of. Drew's my fiancé."

"I don't think she knows what that is." Drew said.

"Right. Drew's my friend." May said instead.

"Etta?" Meloetta questioned.

May nodded to Meloetta. "He's...a very important friend."

Meloetta flew in front of May, coming out of hiding. She looked at Drew for a moment.

"I won't hurt you, Meloetta." Drew said.

After a moment, Meloetta smiled and flew around Drew happily. "Etta! Loetta!"

"Meloetta, do you have a trainer?" May asked.

Meloetta hovered in front of May. She shook her head. "Etta, Loetta. Meloetta, Etta, Etta."

May smiled after understanding what Meloetta said. "You want to stay here?" Meloetta nodded. "Of course you can stay here. I won't catch you. We'll be good friends, okay?"

"Etta-!" Meloetta answered happily.

"Did you get that, Drew?" May asked. "Don't go catching Meloetta."

"Don't worry. I won't." Drew said. "It was nice meeting you, Meloetta."

"Etta, Etta!" Meloetta said happily.

"So, the greenhouse is over there." May pointed. Meloetta looked in the direction of where May is pointing. "That's where you can sleep if you want. I'll have the guards add a new bed for you."

Meloetta looked at May and flew to her. "Etta, Etta."

May looked at Meloetta. "What?"

"Meloetta, Loetta!" Meloetta said, shaking her head.

May smiled. "Well...I guess you can sleep in my room if you want." Meloetta smiled and nodded. "Okay then. I'll have the guards bring a Pokémon bed for you up there."

It's been at least one week since Prince Bradley came to Hoenn and started staying at the castle. He would talk to May and Kiara, getting to know them as friends. It's now May's birthday and the gang is visiting the castle right now. Everyone is in a party room, celebrating May's birthday. They sang happy birthday already, May opened some presents, and now...

"Thank you guys for coming." May said.

"It's your birthday, so of course we'd come!" Dawn said.

"And June…" Drew started. "To celebrate your 18th birthday," he took her hand. "I have something very special to sing to you."

May blushed and smiled. "Really?"

Drew nodded and released May's hand. He turned around and walked to the end of the room. There's a stage and he walked up on it, taking his place behind the microphone. His guitar is on him and he locked eyes with May.

Everyone in the room looked up to the stage. May smiled shyly under Drew's emerald eyes stare.

"This is going to be so romantic!" Dawn whispered excitedly.

Drew looked to his guitar neck, knowing that he has everyone's attention, and he started strumming a beat.

(This song is "365 Days" from Victorious.)

Drew made eye contact with May again and he started singing. "Monday, well baby, I fell for you. Tuesday, I wrote you this song. Wednesday, I bring you a red, red rose." May smiled. "Take you to your favorite spot."

"Seven days a week. Every hour of the month." Drew continued. "Gotta let you know where my heart is comin' from. Gotta find a way just to make you see. Gotta find a way just to let you know."

Drew turned and started walking to the stairs of the stage. "I will try everything to make you come closer to me." He started walking down the stairs. "And baby do you believe it's not just a phase?" He's on ground level and he walks towards May with all eyes on him and his eyes focusing on May's. "How can I get it through that I'm the one you can't lose? I will try 365 days, 365 ways to stay with you." He stopped in front of May.

May blushed at Drew's words. "To stay with you." Drew repeated.

"You say you got me all figured out." Drew sang. "Think you can read my mind. Think I'm the type to play around. But baby, you'll see in time."

"Seven days a week. Every hour of the month." Drew continued, slowly walking backwards. May started walking forward towards him. "You're the only one that I'll ever want. Gotta find a way just to make you see." They both stopped in the middle of the 'dance floor'." "Gotta find a way just to let you know."

"I will try everything to make you come closer to me." Drew sang as he started walking around May. May slowly started spinning around, smiling and watching Drew's every move. "And baby do you believe it's not just a phase? How can I get it through that I am the one you can't lose? I'll try 365 days." Drew stopped in front of May and they stared into each other's eyes. "365 ways to stay with you. To stay with you."

"Every second, every tick tick of the clock." Drew sang. "I want you all to myself. Every single second until my heart stops. I swear there ain't nobody else. Every second, every tick tick of the clock. I want you all to myself. Every single second until my heart stops. I swear there ain't nobody else."

"I will try everything to make you come closer to me." Drew sang. "And baby do you believe it's not just a phase? How can I get it through, that I'm the one you can't lose. I'll try 365 days, 365 ways to stay with you." He sang, finishing the song.

After a moment of silence, everyone in the room applauded for Drew. May smiled up at Drew. Drew returned the smile.

"Happy birthday." Drew said.

"You've made this birthday the best one so far." May said.

Drew took off his guitar and placed it carefully on the floor. May and Drew stared into each other's eyes for a bit longer before Drew leaned in and…

They kissed. Drew's lips got planted on May's and their eyes are closed. May wrapped her arms around Drew's neck and Drew's arms held her back.

Once they backed away from each other, Drew ran his hand in May's hair on the side, tucking strands behind her ear. They both smiled at each other.

"So Drew…" May started, breaking the small silence that filled the room. "Is the song my only present or…?"

Drew chuckled. "You really like presents, huh? And here I thought that the song would be enough."

"It is, Drew. I'm just kidding." She said, giggling. "Just having you with me is always the best present you could give me."

Drew lowered his hand. "Well...it's not all I got you." He walked away from May towards the table with the gang.

"It isn't?" May asked, turning to look at Drew walking away.

"Nope."

May started walking towards Drew. Drew stopped at the table and bent down, picking up a present. He stood up and faced May, holding out the present to her.

May accepted the present. "You really got me two presents again? You...didn't have to."

"I know." Drew said. "But I also know that I love your reactions when you receive a present from me."

May blushed. She looked down at the box.

"Open it up!" Dawn said.

"Let's see what it is." Kiara said.

"Come on. What are you waiting for?" Drew asked.

May looked up at Drew. She looked back down at the rectangular box. It's fairly big and the wrapping paper is pink with green diagonal stripes that say "Happy Birthday" in glittery red letters.

May kneeled down on the floor, putting the box down. Everyone watched as she tore the wrapping paper off, revealing a black box.

May took off the lid of the box and gasped at what was inside. A plushie. An extremely cute plushie. She pulled it out and looked at it. It's an Eevee plush that's in the sitting position. It's two feet tall. There's a red rose on the upper portion of her ear. And the expression is a really cute and happy one.

May looked up at Drew. "It's so cute! I love it, Drew." She stood up and hugged her new plushie. "So adorable!"

"I'm glad you like it." Drew said.

May put the Eevee plush on the table behind Drew and then she wrapped her arms around Drew's neck, pulling him to her in an embrace. "Thank you, Drew!" May said happily.

Drew hugged May back by wrapping his arms around her waist. "I found it in the mall with that rose on and I knew that I had to get it for you." He said. "And also, you're as cute and adorable as an Eevee."

May blushed a scarlet red at Drew's words. "C-cute?" She stuttered, pulling away from Drew.

Drew nodded and then smiled. May smiled shyly.

"Thank you for the presents." May said. She looked up and around at everyone else in the room. "And thank you all for coming and celebrating my 18th birthday with me."