You Ain't Never Had a Friend Like Me (Attn: Genie)

[Briar Rose]

Briar Rose opened her eyes when she felt her purple shawl removed from her shoulders. She was seated on a large root of an even larger tree, where she had conversed with her animal friends as she often did. Although the beautiful teenager often had a cheery disposition, she was feeling melancholic today. Her recurring dream returned the previous night, of the man whom she could love. She disliked being teased by such a false scenario, and when she explained it to her forest companions again, she had closed her eyes, rested the back of her head against the tree, and sighed. That was when she felt her shawl being snatched.

She opened her eyes and sat up to see who took her possession. She smiled and shook her head when she saw the culprit: a couple of birds, one blue and the other red. The feathered duo had grasped Briar Rose's purple shawl and began what was obviously a friendly game of chase. Upon retrospect, the beautiful maiden would recognize this as a very sweet attempt of the animals; they had attempted to keep her mind off of her inherent tinge of sadness.

"Why, you... rascals!" Briar Rose feigned shock. But the tone of her voice was soon dropped in favor of giggling. The birds chirped happily when they saw their 'victim' giving chase after her property. Elated, the birds continued to playfully remain out of her grasp, as the rest of the animals watched merrily.

If one were nearby, one would definitely hear the sound of a beautifully feminine voice laughing, and the noises of birds and animals.

[genie]

Just then a rather large, bright BLUE bear wandered in, a goofy grin on it's face. There was a gold earring in it's right ear, and it had a black ponytail on top of its head, a gold band holding the 'fur' in place. It claps happily.*

Oh boy! A game of tag! Can I play too? Who's it? Is the squirrel it? Oh, the owl! say its the owl!

[Briar Rose]

The birds dropped the shawl and flew away hastily. The rest of the animals, after reacting in horror, fled, leaving Briar Rose alone. She gasped loudly and, while keeping her wide eyes on the talking, unusual bear, stepped back slowly, ready to avoid the bear if she had to. She completely forgot about the shawl then; it was immaterial now.

Although Briar Rose loved animals and was frequently in their company, she hardly ever encountered a large and potentially dangerous animal. Especially a bear. But what she feared more than the bear's mere presence was how unnatural and bizarre it was.

"I'm, I'm--I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, pleaded. "Did I provoke you?"

Even when she appeared frightened, she was beautiful. Her shapely, willowy body belied a young age. Her eyes, even her brows, were highly expressive, and her lips were redder than a sliced fig. Her long, golden hair complimented her genuine beauty. Her voice was entirely feminine. Briar Rose was a European beauty, definitely far away from Agrabah.

[genie]

*Confused at the young lady's horrified state, as he was somewhat unintimidating, even in this form (at least to him anyway!), he scratches his head, a bit of a saddened expression on his face as he realizes he'd ruined their fun. Also it entered his mind that people around these parts had probably never seen a genie, let alone, a semi-phenominal nearly-cosmic one, at that.*

Oh! Hey...sorry, I didn't mean to scare you guys. I was just on my way to look for a gift for my friend when I heard you laughing, I was just trying to help. But if I'm bothering ya, I'll leave.

*Out of nowhere a hobo's bundle appears, and he holds it in his paw, turning to go.*

[Briar Rose]

Briar Rose stopped taking her steps as the blue bear explained himself. She gradually calmed herself, and she started feeling guilty for how poorly she treated the obviously gentle bear. The other animals, hidden, peeked from their hiding spots as their human friend actually conversed with the blue stranger.

When the bear (somehow) grabbed some kind of bundle, and turned to leave, Briar Rose frowned and hurried to the bear's side. She gently grasped the bear's left arm and very softly held onto him. "Oh, no, sir!" she apologized. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you. I was just surprised because..." Her face and voice blatantly expressed shame. "You surprised me, but I treated you rudely. I'm so sorry, sir." Her beautiful eyes looked up to the bear's.

[genie]

*Genie stopped in his tracks, turning to face the young woman, the bundle he was carrying disappeared as quickly as it had appeared in a puff of blue and pink smoke. He smiles widely, quick to accept an apology.*

No harm done! It takes a lot more than that to hurt this genie, anyway. So question, and I don't mean to poke my nose where it don't belong, but what're you doing in the middle of the woods? Not that I should be asking that... this isn't exactly my home either!

[Briar Rose]

The blond maiden was surprised by the flashy disappearance of that bundle (whatever it was). She was relieved when the blue bear was in a good mood again. She smiled and locked her fingers together, behind her back, as she looked up to the bear's humorous eyes to address him.

"I was playing a game with my friends," she answered politely. "They took my shawl, and I--" Just then, she stopped herself and turned. "Oh! My shawl!" She looked to her purple shawl on the grass. She bent, retrieved it, and brushed some dirt and sticks from her article of clothing.

Satisfied, she looked up to the bear again and asked, "Would you like to join us?"

[genie]

*The blue bear nods.*

Well, I was sorta looking for a birthday present for my friend, Al, but I have some time before I should head back! Uh, let me just change into something less hairy.

*In a small poof of smoke (He usually did more grandiose ones, but he didn't wanna scare the girl more than he had earlier), the big blue bear became a blue man with pointy ears and a pointy nose. The man was easily shorter than he was as a bear, but still, he was taller than Briar Rose. He wore a pair of blue parachute pants, and some red, curly-toed shoes.*

Hey don't get me wrong, I like the fuzzy look as much as the next guy, but fleas don't know the difference.

[Briar Rose]

Briar Rose was dumbfounded by this blue man. He was obviously magically inclined, but she never met anyone who was so flashily supernatural. She didn't know how to react at first. She expressed both astonishment and wide-eyed interest and wonder.

"Are... I'm sorry, but are you a sprite?" she asked. After her face expressed shock for a long moment, it slowly transformed into a smile.

The animals hid again after the blue bear changed his form.

[genie]

*Genie looks over at the spooked critters, giving an apologetic glance. He then turns back to Briar Rose, smiling.*

Close! Actually, I'm a Genie...sort of. More like a Semi-Phenominal, Nearly Cosmic Genie, to be honest. My last Master gave me time off for good behavior, permenently.

[Briar Rose]

Briar Rose shyly draped her purple shawl over her shoulders, as she marveled at the blue Genie. "I'm sorry to have asked. I've just never met someone so magical before."

She remembered the forest animals. She looked around and addressed the hiding creatures. "You're all safe. It's all right. Please come out and greet him." Because of how warm and gentle her voice was, it would have been very difficult, if not impossible, for the animals to disregard her request. They slowly crept into the open and closer to their human friend and Genie.

A gorgeously red bird landed on Briar Rose's right shoulder. She smiled benevolently to the bird, and then addressed Genie. "They didn't mean to run away, I'm certain."