Chapter 8: Small Confessions

"Come home? Does...that mean…"

May nodded. "Yes, Drew. I'm the Princess of Hoenn."

Drew's eyes widened. "I...I...y-you're...the...Princess?"

"Yes. Here's the story." May said. "When I was fifteen, my parents, the King and Queen, started telling me that I need to choose a Prince to marry. I kept telling them that I don't want to marry some Prince. But then at the age of sixteen, they decided for me. They chose the 'perfect Prince' for me and I just couldn't do it. I was not going to spend the rest of my life with someone that doesn't even know me. And so I ran away with my Rapidash during the night." May looked at Rapidash.

Rapidash walked forward and turned 90 degrees. May opened the saddlebag and took out her tiara, placing it in front of Drew. Drew picked it up and stared at it.

Drew looked up at May. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to know for sure that I could really trust you." May answered.

Drew furrowed his eyebrows and he didn't know what came over him, but-

"Did you know how worried I was when you left?" Drew asked angrily.

"Drew, I-"

"You left so suddenly. Why did you leave a day earlier?"

"It was-"

"And without leaving a note or anything!"

"I...I'm sorry."

"I was worried about you, May!" Drew yelled. "I saw some drops of blood in your room after you left and I figured that your wound opened up again. You should've told me, May!"

"I was in a hurry, Drew!" May started yelling as well.

"But why?!"

"Because of Harper!"

Drew froze. "What did she do?" Drew asked, anger gone and replaced with sadness."

"I don't have to answer to you."

"But May-"

"It's 'Your Highness' to you." May took her tiara back from Drew and put it in the saddlebag. She stood up.

"Wait. Where are you going?" Drew asked.

"I'm going home."

"But...I thought you didn't want to be forced to marry a Prince. Just like I don't want to marry Harper."

"Why do you care who I marry? Do you actually want me all to yourself?"

"No. I'm not like that." Drew said. "I...want to protect you and keep you safe. And that's why you can't marry anyone by force. I only want you to be happy. And going home won't make you happy."

May looked away from Drew. "Thanks for the hospitality. But I've made up my mind."

"May-"

"Stop trying to stop me." May cut Drew off. "I've been away from home for too long and...I need to go back."

"But you make the decisions, May. I mean, Your Highness. You don't have to listen to them-"

"Yes I do." May said quickly after Drew. She looked at him. "I have a duty to uphold. I'm going to marry and we'll become the next King and Queen of Hoenn."

Drew felt heartbroken at May's words. His heart was hurting. He didn't want May to marry someone and be unhappy. He could honestly say that...he doesn't want her to marry anyone at all. Something inside is telling him that...he possibly likes her. Maybe even loves her. Only knowing her for a week has changed his life. Since she came into his life, he's been beyond happy. He loves her smile, her sapphire eyes, her laugh...he loves everything about her. And she's going to leave him.

"Goodbye, Drew." May said. She started walking towards the door with Rapidash.

Drew watched her leave the room. He didn't know what he could've said to change her mind. She's the Princess. She's kept that information hidden from him. All of Hoenn had forgotten Princess May since she disappeared more than 2 years ago. And Drew's been friends with her for a week without knowing that she's royalty. Looking at her clothes, no one would ever think that she could be a Princess. But Drew saw it in her eyes. And she's sad. She's clearly sad to leave.

Drew has to do something. Telling the Princess you like her though…

No. Drew has to do it. She has to know before she's gone from his life forever. Drew stood up and ran out of the room.

When he got out of the mansion, he was just in time to see May on Rapidash, running towards the gates. He figures that they're going to make that huge jump like before. He ran forward and called. "May! I need to tell you something!"

May heard the call and she pulled back the rein. Rapidash stopped under May's command. Drew saw them stop and he ran to them.

May jumped off of Rapidash and faced Drew. "Drew, is something wrong?"

"No. Everything's fine." Drew said. "I just have something to tell you."

"What is it? If this is about me staying…"

"I like you." Drew said. The words slipped out of his mouth without him knowing. But now he knows and he probably should've thought about what to say before saying anything. Oops.

May looked at Drew in confusion.

"I...like...like you." Drew said.

May's eyes widened, realizing what Drew meant.

"I know it's not much that I had to say, but I just had to tell you." Drew said. "And I...want to wish you luck with whoever you marry."

"Drew...I…"

"Please. You don't have to say anything. Confessing to the Princess is...crazy. And I'm sorry for stopping you before you left."

May took a step closer to Drew. She blushed slightly. "I like like you too, Drew."

"You do?" Drew asked incredulously.

May nodded. Drew blushed. "You're…" May started. "Cute...handsome...kind...and...I feel comfortable around you. I feel like I can tell you anything. And you always understand what I'm feeling."

"Same back to you." Drew said. "Instead of handsome though...you're beautiful."

May's blush deepened. "T-thank you."

"Thank you too. But...what now? I don't want you to be unhappily married to someone."

"I don't either, but…" May frowned. Drew's face fell too. "I have to."

"May…"

"I've just...run away from my problems for the last two years. So I have to go back and face them."

"I...understand." Drew said.

They stayed there. Silent. They're just both looking sadly into the others eyes. May then took a step closer to Drew and tiptoed slightly, placing a kiss on his cheek. She shyly smiled once she backed away. Drew returned the small smile.

May turned around and climbed on Rapidash. Drew walked to the gates and opened them. Rapidash walked off of Drew's property.

"Bye, Drew." May said.

"Bye...Princess." Drew said.

Rapidash started running on May's command. They ran out of the city and started making their way back home. Drew watched them leave, a single tear sliding down his face.

("I love you...May.") Drew thought. ("Maybe...we'll see each other again some time. I hope whoever you marry will make you happy.")


Tears were finally falling down May's face as they ran. Running away from Drew. Running away from the one she loves. Running back home. When she left those 2 years ago, she was positive that she never wanted to return. But here she is...going to her future.

May will be forced to marry the Prince that her parents chose for her. Prince Brendan. She'll continue the royal tradition and become Queen, married to someone who isn't Drew. She loves him. That she knows. Sure they had an argument earlier, but Drew was just worried about her. He knows now that she's the Princess of Hoenn. It felt good to get that off her chest.

May wonders if she'll ever see Drew again. Will he miss her as much as she'll miss him? Will he think about her?

"...you're beautiful."

May blushed, thinking back to their little confession to each other. Yes. He'll definitely miss her as much as she'll miss him. She can count on that. But no matter how much she wants to believe this isn't happening, it is. And she can't do anything about it. If she stays out in the wild, the Royal Guards will always be looking for her to bring her back. And she can't handle the pressure.

A new life...a new role to play...a future that's waiting for her. But not a good one. She definitely won't be happy with a forced marriage, but she'll just have to deal with it, in hopes that she might see Drew in the future.

Saying goodbye to Drew was hard. Saying hello to home is hard too. But...maybe there's a chance to change her parents minds.

"Absolutely not." King Norman said.

Or maybe not.

"Dad, I've come home, but…" May said. "I'll tell you again. I don't want to marry him."

"We're glad you're finally back home." Caroline said. "But May...you refused to choose your Prince, so you'll just marry the one we chose for you."

"But it's not fair." May said.

"What's not fair?"

"Being forced!" May yelled. "None of the Princes I've met ever try to know me as a person! They just see me as the Princess!"

"That's because you are the Princess."

"But they just care for my looks and title." May said. "I want to be with someone who really makes me feel unique and special. Different from all other Princesses. And he'll be different from all other Princes. I want someone to know what my personality is like. Or at least try to know more about me."

"But May, the Princes do try."

"Do they? I don't think so. There's only one guy who does!"

"And who might that be?" Norman asked.

"Drew." May answered. "I met him last week and he already cares a lot for me."

"He's not a Prince, huh?"

"No, he isn't. But he's better than the other Princes. Please don't make me marry someone else."

"May." Norman said with anger in his eyes. "You don't have a choice."

May felt tears fall out of her eyes. She swiftly turned around and ran out of the Throne Room.