Chapter 15: I Will Be Your Last Master, May (Part 3 of 3; with Epilogue)

"Wish Upon a May!" 3-Part Halftime Finale

The three young lads walked a little bit further from the castle ruins and stopped on a random spot in the middle of the sea of sand. That random spot happened to be the exact spot where May was killed by the enemy and the same spot where she made the contract of another life in exchange for an eternal obligation to fulfill other people's desires.

"This is the spot, you guys." May stood on the spot and lied down on the sand; depicting the exact events of her demise 5,000 years ago.

"I'm amazed at the technology back then. I can't believe a flaming rock hurled from a catapult tower could reach as far as this." Kelly said. "Are you sure it was a catapult and not a trebuchet?"

"By the time the trebuchets could even get in range, they would have escaped." Drew replied. "Besides, medieval trebuchets are bigger than the castle towers themselves."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense." Kelly said. "Well then, shall we begin the ritual?"

May took a few steps back; fear written all over her face. Kelly, instead of asking what's wrong, gave May a smirk.

"How…how did you know about the ritual?" May asked.

"You're not the only one with a guide, May." Kelly replied. "It won't turn you into sand, don't worry."

"Of course, it won't! Master will start taking orders from me if that happens!"

"Didn't you wish to be free in the first place? For what reason have I been scouring the city library for weeks on end?"

"I really want to, Kelly. But I can't. I don't want people to suffer just because of my selfishness. I'm not doing the ritual."

"But May—"

"My decision stands."

It seemed that the brunette girl's decision was absolute and there was nothing Drew and Kelly could do to change it. That was until Drew decided to take matters into his own two hands.

"It's okay if you don't want to, May." Drew said.

"What? What are you talking about? Whose side are you on?" Kelly replied in shock.

"Just let me talk to May alone, okay?"

The purple-haired girl never said a word after that. Drew turned his attention back to his magical assistant. He wanted to settle this once and for all.

"I just feel that it's my turn to fulfill your wish. It's the least I can do for fulfilling my wishes." Drew continued. "Sure, most of the time you screw up and a lot of mishaps happened during my stay. But it doesn't matter. It was fun while it lasted."

"Master…" May replied; somewhat touched by what her master said.

"How about starting over a new life as a normal human being? What do you think?"

"Master, I…I…I don't…know…what to…say."

"You need not to say anything, May. It's a simple yes or no."

Judging by May's sudden muteness, her decision would require some time. Drew told her that he was willing to wait even if he had to camp out in the middle of the desert where there is little food and water; or face a terrible sandstorm and risk being buried in feet of sand. All of it was mere metaphors just to describe how willing Drew is to go the distance. Contrary to the estimation, the decision-making didn't take more than half-a-minute.

"Let's do it, Master." May's smile returned to its proper home.

"Okay then." Drew replied; using his third wish. "I wish that we do this ritual to set you free."

"Drew's wish is May's command!" May winked.

---0---

At the very center of the spot, Kelly counted three steps from the center and at the third step began to draw a continuous line around the duo until it formed a full circle around them. As soon as the two stepped out of the circle, May began drawing strange inscriptions and shapes in the sand before using her magic to solidify the circle in a sturdy platform to stand on. Everything was in place and ready for the ritual but one.

"Okay Drew, time to take a blood sample of you." Kelly grinned; holding a syringe with a long needle attached at the end. "Just a little will do."

"Whoa! W-Wait, are you even qualified to take my blood?" Drew said.

"Just hold still and it'll all be over quickly."

"W-Wait a minute; you haven't answered my question."

"I've never done this before so hold still."

To be frank, Kelly wasn't really qualified to take a blood sample of Drew or anyone. Heck, she's a Pokemon coordinator; not a doctor. However, she needed to do it because Drew was too shaky to make a small and shallow cut in his arm with a knife so she resorted to a syringe with a needle. So the next time you want to have your blood sample taken, bring it to a doctor.

"Here you go." Kelly smiled. "Just push the syringe down at the right moment."

"Darn it, Kelly! Leave blood sampling to the professionals!" Drew cried.

"Well, you were too much of a sissy to cut your own arm. At least May has the guts to do it."

"At least May is immortal!"

As soon as everything was set, the ritual began with the ceremonial dropping of blood in the circle. May and Drew dropped a bit of their red river of life in the solidified platform. A light barrier lit up and surrounded the two of them. The next step was mentioning their names.

"Princess May of the Desert Kingdom…"

"Drew Hayden…"

"Come to think of it, is Hayden really Drew's family name? More importantly, is Maple really May's family name" Kelly asked herself. "I thought some fan made those two names up. Oh well, no use of thinking about it anyway."

The light barrier shone even more brightly afterwards. The final step was next…and yes, it involved kissing to seal the contract.

"So I guess we have to kiss each other now." Drew said.

"Yes, Master…" May replied; blushing. "So that we can confirm our resolve…"

"I know you want to. You're blushing."

"Well, I…um…ah…"

"Okay, okay, let's get this over with."

Kelly saw the kissing scene and began building up a sense of jealousy inside of her. Although she should be feeling proud for both of them, the feeling was inevitable and unavoidable. As soon as their lips came in contact, the light barrier suddenly shone brighter than a flash bang grenade. Kelly looked away from the blinding light until it died out and regained a visual of her two friends. But much to her surprise, nothing seemed to happen.

"What's going on? We followed the steps correctly. Why is Drew still Drew and May still May?" Kelly said.

"Did I do something wrong? I think I did something wrong." May panicked.

"No, you did well May." Drew replied. "I mean, Mistress."

"Quick! Wish for something, May."

"Um…I wish…uh…I wish for a doll that looks like Kelly."

"May's wish is Drew's command."

"Ugh, it sounds so awkward."

---0---

After a bit of dancing with the music, a doll appeared in mid-air and landed on May's hands. It reminded her of Drew's first wish as her master. May moved one of the doll's arms and coincidentally Kelly's arms moved depending on what arm was moved in the doll.

"ACK…! This is just like mine!" May gasped. "I…I can't believe it!"

The brunette girl continued moving the doll around. Just like before, Kelly went with the flow. May even took the doll for a spin…literally.

"Whoa! Whoa! May, I'm getting…noxious…whoa!" Kelly cried; spinning in mid-air like a mace.

"Wow, this is so much fun!" May ignored her friend's plea and continued to play with the doll. "It's been a while since I played with a doll or two."

"May…stop…that…spinning…getting…ugh…!"

"Ah! Oh no, I'm so sorry! I'm really sorry!"

May dropped the doll gently on the ground and at the same time Kelly landed softly on the sand. That alone proved that the ritual actually worked. Drew and May finally switched places as the genie and the master respectively.

"Ugh, I feel terrible." Kelly said. "I guess the switch worked."

"I'm sorry if you have to go through this, Drew." May apologized. "You could've said no. It's okay."

"Nah, I knew the risks and went for it. It's all worth it." Drew said. "You're finally free as a normal person, Mistress."

"I feel kind of bad for you. If we do the ritual again, it will only be a never-ending cycle."

"You're right. I wish there was something I could do."

May still felt that it's her fault for turning Drew into something he disliked. That was the reality during that time; and it seemed that there was nothing all of them could do to change it. That was until a few minutes later.

"So let me get this straight." May said. "Drew is already taking my place, right?"

"That's correct." Kelly answered.

"And I'm already taking Drew's place, right?"

"That's right."

"And he just became a genie, am I right?"

"I suppose so. But where are you getting at, May?"

"Then I wish for Drew to be back to his normal self again."

---0---0--- EPILOGUE ---0---0---

The rainclouds cleared the next morning and the sun was allowed to shine on the drenched city. A rainbow appeared across the sky above the city skyline; its seven colors sparkling high above the skyscrapers. Inside the Hayden manor, Drew woke up the moment the clock struck at seven in the morning and the irritating alarm forced him to rise and shine. The first thing he did was going to the kitchen for a well-deserved hearty breakfast. Now that he had done his grocery shopping a few days ago, he'll stop being dependent on foods-to-go. There he saw his meal already prepared and behind the table was his magical assistant May; wearing a pink apron.

"Good morning, Master!" May smiled. "Your breakfast is ready."

"I'm not your master anymore, May." Drew replied. "You're free, remember?"

"I know. I just got used to that."

Suddenly, Kelly let herself through the front door and greeted a jolly good morning to all.

"Hello! Good morning, you guys!" Kelly said.

"Hello, 911? There's a strange-looking life form in my house." Drew picked up the phone but didn't actually call 911; just plain old sarcasm.

"Darn it, Drew! Is that how you greet somebody good morning?!"

"Not really, it's how I call for help in case of an emergency."

"You just ruined a quarter of my day, Drew."

The three sat down and talked about what happened last night over breakfast. They were all smiles; no frowns allowed. Judging by their joyful mood, something good must have happened last night—particularly the moment May wished for Drew to return to his normal self.

"I'm glad everything worked out last night." Kelly said. "You two don't have to take orders from anyone anymore."

"For a minute there, I thought Master would turn into a boatload of sand." May giggled.

"For a minute there, I thought YOU would turn into a boatload of sand." Drew smirked.

"Since Drew is not 5,000 years old when he became a genie, he didn't turn into sand. That was some nice thinking, May."

"I couldn't have done it without you and your research."

"It's too bad you're not a genie anymore. I had quite fun with your magic."

"You're right. I guess it's not going to be the same without magic."

The brunette girl begged to differ; giggling lightly. "I wouldn't be sure about that, you two."

"Huh?" Drew and Kelly replied in unison.

With a snap of May's fingers, a small flame appeared on top of her pointing finger. Drew and Kelly couldn't believe their eyes; May still had some magic left under her turban.

"The ritual was supposed to turn you into a normal human, May." Kelly said in shock and awe. "What's going on?"

"I already had magic since birth!" May giggled and winked.

END OF FIRST HALF

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Stay tuned for the second half. Now Drew has to deal with both the real May…and a magical May. Contestshipping has never looked so…magical.

"Wish Upon a May! Second Half: Rolling Star"

And yes: Drew's wish is still May's command! Coming this winter 2009.