Chapter 48: Kiara Wakes Up

"So...she's stuck at the castle?" Dawn asked.

Drew nodded. "Yeah. And it's my fault."

Drew just explained to the gang what happened between May and Kiara. He mentioned that May's scepter is magical. And about how May is now forbidden to exit castle walls again. He also told them about the genie and magic carpet.

"Why is it your fault?" Misty asked.

"Because of how I am around May." Drew answered. "Her parents don't like that I kissed her on the forehead or even hugged her."

"It's not your fault that you're close to May." Dawn said.

"Yeah...we all are." Ash said.

Drew sighed. "I've never seen King Norman look so mad before though."

"He's just overprotective of May." Dawn said.

"And another thing...why hasn't she told us before that she has a sister?" Gary asked.

"We'll have to ask her that when she's able to leave the castle again." Drew said.

"Have you tried calling her?" Misty asked.

"I talked to her on the phone yesterday and all of a sudden, during the conversation, she said she had to go and she just hung up without giving me time to ask questions about everything." Drew said. "I'm going to try calling her again today."

"Ooh! And do you think we can meet the genie and magic carpet?" Dawn asked excitedly.

"Umm...maybe some other day…" Drew said. "Oh! How about on my birthday? You all are invited to the mansion for my birthday. You'll see them then."

"Yay! Can't wait!" Dawn said happily.

Ring ring ring. Ring ring ring.

Norman looked at the phone on the table in his room. He sees Drew's face and name on the screen.

Ring ring ring. Ring ring ring.

Norman picks up the phone and accepts the call without saying anything afterward. Drew speaks first once he noticed that the ringing stopped.

"May, I wanted to call you to see why you hung up so suddenly yesterday. And I also want to make sure you're okay."

Drew didn't hear a response for a while.

"May?" Drew questioned.

"Hello Drew. This is King Norman." Norman finally said.

Drew froze. "Y-your Majesty."

"May won't be able to talk to you for a while." Norman said. "So don't try calling her, because I have her phone."

"But I…"

"Just leave my daughter alone. She wants nothing to do with you or your friends anymore."

"What…?" Drew muttered to himself. He heard the call end. Drew pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at the screen. "He hung up."

"Ouch. Talking to King Norman instead of Princess May. That's gotta hurt." The genie said.

Drew turned around and glared at the golden genie.

"Thanks for making me feel better." Drew said sarcastically.

"You're welcome." The genie said smugly.

Drew rolled his eyes and sat down on his bed. He sighed. "I guess getting in contact with May will be impossible."

"You never know."

"Hmm...maybe there is a way…" Drew said.

"How is she?" May asked the nurse.

"There's still been no movement since she passed out." The Nurse answered. "Feel free to go inside and see her."

"Thank you." May and Dahlia enter the hospital room where Kiara is laying on the bed.

They're in the castle infirmary 3 days after the whole "Queen of Mean" incident. From what the Nurse said, Kiara hasn't moved one bit since she passed out after turning back into her normal self. And May knows why. When May uses the powers of her scepter, they drain energy out of her. When Kiara used the power that she used, trying to defeat May in a magic battle, she must've lost way too much energy and she passed out from it. That staff of hers had too much power for Kiara to control.

May and Dahlia are looking at the unconscious Princess.

"Still not moving…" Dahlia said.

"Nope…" May said sadly. "That staff really drained all of her energy out. It was too powerful."

"I'm still amazed that your scepter has that much power in it as well." Dahlia said. "And that magic even exists."

May chuckled a little. "Me too. It's crazy to think about. Me, harnessing magic from a scepter." She added as she lifted up her scepter and looked at it.

"I can't wait to see what else it could do."

"Me neither." May said. "But first…" May placed a hand on Kiara's and looked at her face. "We need to make sure she's alive. After years without her, she can't leave right when she returned. She just can't."

May and Dahlia didn't notice it, but the jewel on the scepter started glowing its pink color.

"Please be okay." May muttered.

The heart jewel glowed brighter until…

"May?" Kiara questioned, eyes half open.

May gasped. "Kiara."

The heart jewel stopped glowing.

Kiara opened her eyes completely and she looked around. "W-where am I?"

"The castle infirmary." May answered. "How do you feel?"

Kiara slowly sat up on the hospital bed. "I'm...fine." She answered. "How long was I out?"

"3 days." May answered. Kiara's eyes widened.

"Th-three days?!" Kiara questioned. May nodded.

May looked at Dahlia. "Dahlia, could you go tell the Nurse that Kiara woke up and if she's able to leave?"

"Of course." Dahlia said. She left the room.

"So...how did I pass out exactly?" Kiara asked.

"You really don't remember?" May questioned.

"My head's a little foggy."

"Well...I'll explain everything."

And so May did. She explained everything that happened three days ago. May told Kiara about when she turned into an evil Queen with a powerful staff. May mentioned the part when she transformed as well to stop Kiara. She told Kiara about when she sent Drew to drown in the ocean. At this part in the story, Kiara's eyes were starting to get watery, remembering all the bad things that happened. May told Kiara that she trapped the Royals in the dungeon and that she took control of the royal guards. And then was the battle. May talked about how they had a heated battle with their magical tools. And then the part when Kiara finally gave up on trying to rule Hoenn and defeat May, and how Kiara passed out after her transformation back.

"So that's how it went…" May said after the long story.

"I...was worse than I thought." Kiara said. She looked down sadly.

"Hey, at least you're back to normal, right?"

"Yeah...I guess…"

"Everything is going to be okay." May said. "You'll be a Princess that everyone loves again."

Kiara looked up at May. "Thanks May. But what will Mom and Dad say about what I did?"

"Oh. They'll definitely be mad at you."

"Is that supposed to help me feel better?" Kiara questioned.

May chuckled lightly. "But they'll also be glad to have you back." She added.

Kiara smiled. "So what's the worst that could happen, right?"

"Right."

The door opened and Dahlia walked in with the Nurse. May and Kiara looked in their direction.

"Princess Kiara, how are you feeling after that long nap?" The Nurse asked.

"I'm feeling good actually." Kiara answered.

"Then I'd say you're good to go now."

"Thanks." Kiara said. She got off of the bed.

"And...something to think about…" The Nurse started. "I think the citizens will love to hear that you're awake and maybe you should apologize to them. You did cause them a lot of fear."

"R-right...I'll do that."

The Nurse nodded. "Take care, you all."

Kiara took a deep breath. May, Dahlia, and Kiara are right outside of the Throne Room where Kiara will apologize to her parents for everything that happened three days ago.

"Everything will be okay. We're right there with you." May said.

Kiara looked at May and smiled. "Right."

May looked at the two royal guards to the sides of the doors and nodded. The two guards opened the large doors and May, Dahlia, and Kiara entered. Norman and Caroline watch as they walk closer. Once they stop a good distance from the thrones, Dahlia is the only one that curtsies.

"Mom, Dad, I…" Kiara started.

Norman and Caroline waited for Kiara to finish that sentence.

"I umm…" Kiara said.

"We're glad you're awake now." Caroline said.

"Yes umm…" Kiara said.

"Apologize." May whispered.

"Do you know how hard it is to speak to a King and Queen, even if they are our parents?" Kiara whispered back.

"Yes I do. Just apologize and get it over with."

"All right then…" Kiara took a deep breath. "Mom, Dad, I want to...say that I'm sorry for what I did three days ago. I was completely consumed by evil magic that...I...couldn't control."

Norman and Caroline just listened to Kiara's apology.

"I tried to rule all of Hoenn as Queen, but I guess I understand now why I'm not exactly suited to becoming the next Queen." Kiara said. "May's been told over and over again by you about what her future holds with her on the throne. She's the first born after all and it wasn't right to be jealous and blame her for taking the throne from me, when it's hers to begin with."

"So you understand now how a Queen must act then?" Caroline questioned.

Kiara nodded. She looked over at May. "During that battle, May taught me the qualities that make a good Queen. A Queen is kind to all citizens of the region, she's compassionate, caring, and...she has a good heart." May smiled.

Kiara looked back up at her parents. "May is all of those things. Which is why she really will make an amazing Queen."

Norman and Caroline both smiled. "She sure will." Caroline said.

"So again...I'm truly sorry for trying to take over." Kiara apologized. "I will take whatever punishment you choose to give me." She bowed her head.

"Hmm...no need for that." Norman said. Kiara looked back up. "Unless…" Norman turned his gaze to May. "Maybe May could think of something that you can do to make it up to her."

"Me?" May questioned. "But...why me?"

"The battle involved you in it." Norman said. "Sure, Kiara did terrible things to us, but...it's really you who deserves the apology."

"But…"

"I'm sure you can think of something that might count as a punishment for Kiara." Norman said.

"Well...I guess so…"

Kiara faced May. "Well, where should we start?"

"Wait, but…" May started. "What I have planned is in town."

Norman and Caroline looked at each other. After their silent conversation, they look back at May.

"Very well then." Norman said. "You're able to leave castle walls."

May's expression turned into a happy one.

"But," Norman added. "You'll always be accompanied by two royal guards."

May's expression changed and she sighed. "Okay then…that's fine by me."

"So, now that you've enjoyed a good meal after your long nap, let's head to my room." May said. "You've got something to explain to me."

"I do?" Kiara asked.

"Mm hm."

May, Kiara, and Dahlia walk out of the dining room and they start walking to May's room.

"So...I want an explanation of why you had control of a genie." May said.

"Oh...right." Kiara said. "Well...I've known about the genie for a long time. And so I went looking for it when I was away from the castle."

"And you always planned on finding it to help you become Queen?"

"Well...yes." Kiara answered. "I've been away from home for three years. I probably only heard about the golden rose two years ago. And that's when I started looking for it."

"That's what the genie lives in? A rose?"

"Yes. But it's golden in color. And there's only one in the entire Hoenn region. Speaking of...do you know where the rose went?"

"I thought you still had it." May said.

"No. Someone must've taken it away or something when I passed out."

"Hmm…" May hummed, thinking. "Maybe it's with Drew."

"Your boyfriend?"

May blushed. "No. He's not my boyfriend."

"Why not?"

May sighed. "I'm sure you remember the rule that I have to marry a Prince and I can't be with a commoner."

"Oh...right. That's too bad. You two seemed close the last time I saw him."

"Yeah…" May said sadly.

"Well anyways, why would the rose be with him?"

"Because when you turned evil, the genie told me by mouthing words that he's Drew's friend."

"So I guess he's the genie's original master before I stole the rose."

"Yeah...there's still a lot you have to tell me about that." May said as Dahlia opened May's bedroom door for them. They all walked inside.

"Well, let me tell you more."