Chapter 38: Prince Andrew

"So...three wishes…" Drew said as he paced back and forth. "I'm going to have to think about it."

"Tell you what. Take a seat." The genie said. The magic carpet flew to Drew and Drew sat on it. The genie transformed into his human form.

"That's cool." Drew said.

"Like it? When we go back to the city, I can just be another one of your friends."

"Are you sure? I don't think you should. You might embarrass me." Drew said.

"Pfffff…" The genie laughed. "I won't embarrass you, kid."

"Drew." Drew corrected.

"Right. Drew." The genie said. "I will be completely behaved."

"Sure…" Drew said sarcastically.

"Hey, don't give me that sarcasm." The genie said. "You'll see later when we go to town."

"Mm hm." Drew hummed sarcastically.

"Anyway," the genie continued. "What is it you want the most?" He pointed when he said "you."

"At the moment...nothing." Drew said.

"What do you mean nothing? People always want things from me."

"Well, not this person." Drew said.

"Hmm…" The genie hummed. "You really are not the kind of person I thought you'd be."

"What kind of person did you think I was?"

"Well…I thought you were...umm...never mind." The genie shooed the question away.

"You really don't need anything?" The genie asked.

"Not right now." Drew answered. "I have everything I could ever want already." He said while looking into space, smiling.

"Ooh...I know that look." The genie said. He quickly made a chair appear and he teleported into it, with his hands holding up his head. "Who is she?"

Drew exhaled. "She's the Princess."

"Aren't they all?" The genie said dreamily.

"No. I mean she's the actual Princess." Drew said.

"And you two are together?"

Drew shook his head. "No...not yet at least." He answered. "But she knows that I love her."

"So why are you two not together?"

"I told you. She's the Princess. The rules are that I'd have to be a…" Drew's voice trailed off.

"A what?" The genie asked.

"A...Prince, but…" Drew said.

"I can make that happen." The genie said.

"I don't know Genie…" Drew said. "She knows that I'm not a Prince, and if I pretend to be someone I'm not just to be with her…"

"Hey, if she fell for your charm, as a Prince, you should be able to make her fall for you again." The genie said.

"But, won't she recognize me?"

The genie shook his head. "She shouldn't. That's how genie magic works. People see what they're told to see."

Drew looked down, deep in thought. "I don't want to lie to her just to get us together." He said quietly.

"Hey, it's your choice." The genie said. "A Princess...forced to marry a Prince...separated from the guy she truly loves for eternity…"

Drew looks up and furrows his eyebrows. "Not helping."

"Aren't I?" The genie questioned.

Drew thought about what the genie said.

"Do you have your first wish?" The genie asked.

"Genie." Drew said.

"Your wish has to start with the words 'I wish'."

"Okay." Drew breathed. "Genie. I wish...to become...a Prince." He said carefully.

"And he's made his first wish!" The genie said. "Time to get my magic on!" The genie ran around Drew extremely fast, yellow smoke surrounding Drew.

When the genie stopped and backed away from Drew, the smoke cleared and revealed Drew with a new outfit on. His outfit was all different shades of green. He had a complete royal look that screamed "prince", including a crown.

"I like it. I like it." The genie said floating around Drew, looking at his outfit.

Drew looked down at his royal outfit. "Wow…"

"Yep. Green is definitely your color." The genie said. He made a full-length mirror appear in front of Drew. "So, what do you think?" He said excitedly.

Drew looked in the mirror. "Wow...it's amazing Genie."

"I know." The genie said smugly.

"What's the next part of this transformation?" Drew asked.

"Next...your entourage…"

A gust of wind came and blew the roses, petals flying everywhere. "What?" Drew asked, looking around at the petals.

"Just go with the flow…"

The genie teleported them to the entrance of Petalburg City. They decided that Drew's Prince name will be Andrew. The genie told Drew that he is from the Rose Region, because, you know, roses are his thing. They start heading towards the castle, like Prince Ali from "Aladdin", but without a song.

"Please welcome, Prince Andrew of Rose!" The human genie yelled loudly, so that everyone in Petalburg City heard. Everyone on the road to the castle looked out their windows, or watched from the sidewalk.

"Genie, I'm having second thoughts on this." Drew whispered while riding in a carriage.

"Don't worry." The genie said. "The Princess shouldn't recognize you, that Crown is extremely large to cover your green hair." Drew rolled his eyes. "And all you have to do is charm her like before."

"But she never likes any of the Princes that visit. She'll feel the same about me." Drew said.

"That...is a problem." Genie said.

"You think?" Drew asked sarcastically.

"Shh...we're here."

Drew looked up at the tall castle walls. The large gates opened and Drew's huge entourage entered. They exit the carriage and enter the castle.

"Okay, remember, just act like a Prince." The genie whispered.

"How do I do that?" Drew asked.

"You'll figure it out."

"You're impossible."

"I know." The genie said smugly.

"Welcome, Prince Andrew, to Hoenn." King Norman said.

Drew bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesties."

"There you go." The genie whispered.

Drew stood up straight again. "Shut up." He whispered.

"Allow us to introduce our daughter...Princess May." Caroline said. The large doors at the top of the stairs opened to reveal the brunette Princess. She started walking down the stairs slowly with Dahlia to her left.

"Wow…" Drew said quietly. He stared at May as she gracefully walked down the stairs.

May got to the bottom and looked like she didn't want to be there.

"Speak." The genie whispered.

"R-right." Drew said. "Your Highness." He bowed. "Pleased to meet you."

"Yes. Same to you as well." May said, not a bit happy that a Prince decided to visit on her birthday.

"Well, we'll leave you two alone to talk." Caroline said. "We have something to do." Norman and Caroline walked away.

It was silent for a while before May spoke.

"So...Prince Andrew, what reason do you have for being here?" May asked.

"I umm…" Drew said. "I...want to get to know you."

"To get to know me? I thought your answer will be more along the lines of… 'I came here to win your heart', because that is always what the other Princes say."

("They say that they want to win her heart?") Drew thought. Drew couldn't help but feel jealous of the many Princes that May meets.

The genie clears his throat. "Say something."

"Umm...I'm not like the other Princes." Drew said.

"You're not?" May said, tilting her head. "I'll be the judge of that."

"Right umm..." Drew said.

"We have gifts." The genie whispered.

"Did you plan that?" Drew whispered back.

"Mm hm." The genie hummed a yes. He clapped his hands loudly.

May and Dahlia flinched from the loud clapping. The front doors of the castle opened and several people carrying jewels and things walked inside.

"We have gifts for you Princess." Drew said. "We've got jewels and exotic things that are only found in the Rose Kingdom."

"Thank you, I guess, for the gifts Prince Andrew." May said. "You can have your servants leave them to the sides and I'll have people take them to their appropriate places in the castle." May started walking back up the stairs.

"Wait! Princess!" Drew called.

"You'll have to wait to speak to her again." Dahlia said. She started following May up the stairs.

"Umm...okay." Drew said. May and Dahlia walked away and the doors closed.

"Well, wasn't she just pleasant?" The genie asked.

"She is." Drew said. "Once you get to know the real her as a person and not a Princess."

"So, what'd you think of Prince Andrew?" Dahlia asked.

"I don't know Dahlia...I just don't like any Prince." May answered.

"But he at least didn't say that he wants to win your heart."

"True, but I know he's thinking it." May said.

"I don't know May. I think this one is different."

"Well, I'll have to see about that." May said. "And why would he think of coming on my birthday?"

"He's from a different region, so he didn't know."

"There are still tons of posters in the city." May said.

"True."

May sighed. "I just wish to be with Drew. He's better than any Prince in the world."

"I need to go to her room." Drew said. It's now dark outside.

"Woah, hold on. You can't just sneak in her room." Genie said.

"And why not?"

"Do you not remember that she wanted nothing to do with you earlier?"

"I need to see her. Carpet!" He called.

The pink and green magic carpet flew from the other side of the room to Drew. Drew climbed onto it.

"You sure you want to do this?" Genie asked.

Drew nodded. "I'm sure." He rode the magic carpet up to May's balcony.

Drew stepped onto the balcony quietly. "Hide." He whispered. The carpet hid himself underneath the balcony. He knocked on something.

"Come in!" May called, thinking that somebody knocked on the door.

"I'm already in." Drew said. May looked to the direction of the voice. Drew walked from behind a pillar.

May gasped. "Don't. Move." She said. Drew froze. May's Ninetales was there and was growling at him, teeth showing. Ninetales slowly walked towards Drew.

Ninetales smelled a familiar scent. Roses. And she stopped growling and nuzzled her head on Drew's leg.

May watched as Drew pet Ninetales on her head. ("He's...not afraid.") She thought.

Drew looked up at May. "I think she likes me."

"Yeah...I think so too…"

They looked at each other for a while. May's eyes widened.

("Emeralds…") She thought.

Drew looked away. "Umm...I'm sorry for coming in here uninvited, but I had to see you again."

"And why is that?" May asked.

Drew looked back at May. "Just to...chat."

May smiled. "Then lets."

"I have an idea." Drew said. He started walking back out onto the balcony.

"Where are you going?" May asked.

"You'll see." Drew said. May followed him and watched him climb over the railing.

"What do you think you're doing? May asked, walking faster and sounding worried.

"You said we could chat, right?" Drew asked.

"Umm...right, but…" May answered.

"So follow me." Drew said. He jumped off of the balcony.

May gasped. "What just happened?"

May saw Drew slowly fly upward. May walked to the edge of the balcony, looking at what Drew is flying on. She gasped.

"Is this…?" May asked.

"A magic carpet?" Drew finished. May looked up at him.

"How is this...possible?" May asked.

"I thought the same exact thing when I saw it." Drew said. He held out his hand. "All I know is that they exist and they're really fun to ride."

"Is it safe?" May asked.

"Of course it is." Drew answered. "Do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do you trust me?" Drew asked again.

May stared into his eyes. "Yes." She said as she slowly took his hand. He helped her onto the carpet and they slowly started flying away from the castle.

May closed her eyes, afraid of falling. She felt a hand hold hers. She opened her eyes and saw Drew's hand on hers. She blushed.

"You don't have to be afraid." Drew said.

May looked at Drew. She stared into his eyes.

"I'll make sure that you don't fall off." Drew assured.

May smiled. "Thank you."