A Threesome's Tales

[EmeraldSky]

The Kanto Trio

in

"A Threesome's Tales"

Tale 1: The Trickster King (Ash)

(real tale: The Clever King (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20010114))

"Here we are, gang!" a red haired girl smiled as she led her companions into the park. "A whole week of swimming, fishing, hiking, and generally enjoying the wonders of nature!"

"Let's not forget sharing songs and stories around the campfire!" a black haired boy agreed before some crunching in his bag got his attention. "Pikachu, you weren't supposed to get into the chocolate bars yet." he sighed when he found the small electric mouse happily munching on a chocolate bar.

"What happened?" an older boy with brown hair and tan skin asked as he began pitching his tent on near the center of the camp site.

"Pikachu found the chocolate bars we were going to use for s'mores, Brock." the boy explained.

Brock stooped down to Pikachu's eye level. "How many of those did you eat?" he asked.

"Pika pi." Pikachu replied, holding up the single bar's wrapper as proof.

"Okay, you can have that one, seeing as you're half done with it." Brock warned before getting up. "But no more until tonight, okay?"

"Pika." Pikachu replied.

The girl, meanwhile, studied a piece of paper. "Let's make sure we didn't forget anything...tents?"

"Check!" Brock reported before entering his tent.

"Food, check." the girl mused as a small pink humanoid brought her a bag of food.

Brock smiled at the humanoid. "Thank you for helping Misty with the food, Happini."

"Pini pi." Happini replied before running out to assist someone else.

"I have cooking supplies, first aid, and my guitar." Brock reported as he brought over a cooler. "Ash should have the s'mores ingredients...."

"I also brought more food, some games and toys, and fishing gear." Ash added before shooing Pikachu from his bag and pitching his own tent. "And I didn't forget the whistles and my Pokeflute either!"

"Great!" Misty smiled. "As for me, I brought some more games, first aid supplies, a park guidebook, and my fiddle for jamming around the campfire.

"That's everything, at least for me!" Ash smiled. "This'll be the best campout ever!"

That night...

The mood was festive around the campsite that night as the three friends celebrated being together for the first time in a while. Brock had made his special chili to complement the hamburgers and hot dogs, with s'mores for dessert. Once the meal was finished, music--both played and sung--filled the air.

The set list was endless as ancient songs from long ago rolled into beloved melodies from the 50's, 60's and 70's, only to be followed by spirited dance tunes, which led into haunting solos. Then the voices would return, and the cycle would begin anew.

It was when Ash concluded his rendition of "Traveler Among the Stars" that the first story of many was told. "There was once a boy who lived with his sister. While she did most of the chores, the boy--I'm gonna call him Todd--was well known for playing tricks, but not much else."

"So, did his sister tell him to go seek his fortune, or what?" Misty asked, fascinated.

"She told him to go seek his fortune, and the first place Todd went was the royal palace." Ash continued as he set his Pokeflute by a rock. "Now, the king of the land was very vain, and believed he was the very best at everything."

"Now who does that sound like?" Misty gave Brock a sly smile.

"Ash may be a great trainer and musician, and not too shabby a storyteller, but I don't know if he's the best at everything..." Brock mused.

Ash ignored his friends' commentary and continued his tale. "When the king saw Todd outside the royal palace, he challenged Todd to try and trick him. Todd told the king he'd left his bag of tricks at home, and it was too far away to walk all the way back there."

Pikachu, Azurill, and Happini laugh at this. "So the king gave Todd a Ponyta, but as soon as Todd got to town, he sold the Ponyta." Ash continues. "Understandably, the king was mad when he found he had been tricked."

"And then?" Brock asks, interested.

"However, Todd was prepared for this sort of situation--he first boiled a pot of water, and when he heard the king and his men coming, he set the pot on the floor, and started stirring vegetables." Ash explains. "The king wondered why a cooking pot was on the floor, and Todd said it was a magic pot. The king immediately offered to buy it, but Todd said it was not for sale. The king kept offering more and more gold, until Todd finally relented. The king threw a big party that night, and filled the pot with water, meat, and vegetables. But when the royal cook stirred it, the pot didn't boil. Everyone howled with laughter when they saw the king had been had."

Everyone laughs as they picture the king's reaction. "This is too funny!" Misty comments as she wipes away a tear of laughter.

"Keep it up, Ash--you're doing great!" Brock agrees.

"Pini pi?" Happini asks.

"Todd was taken to the palace and sealed in a barrel." Ash explains. "The barrel was taken to a high cliff, where it would roll into the sea in three days." He pauses his story to retrieve a whistle from his bag. "What the king didn't know was that Todd had a whistle with him in the barrel, and he spent the next two days playing any and every dance tune he knew."

Misty leads the clapping as Ash plays a set of tunes for effect. "The music attracted a rich miser, and asked Todd what he was doing in the barrel." Ash continues. "Todd explained that the king was sending him on a grand journey to the heavens. The rich miser was intrigued at what the heavens were like, and paid Todd a thousand gold pieces to take his place. Todd then went out and bought all manner of fancy clothes, jewels, and other finery."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, stifling a giggle at the king's likely reaction.

"The king nearly did a double take when he saw Todd all dressed up, and wondered how in the world he survived being thrown into the sea." Ash replies. "Todd explained that he had met Manaphy, the Prince of the Sea, and received all his finery as a gift. The king was enamored at Todd's stories of the undersea kingdom, Manaphy's palace, which gleamed with gold, silver, and jewels, and how generous Manaphy was. So the king sealed himself in a barrel, and it went rolling into the sea."

Brock's laughter is the loudest as Ash concludes. "Todd was then crowned the new king, and invited his sister to serve on his court. He ruled for many years with a kind and just hand, and the people of that land remember him as the trickster king."

"Bravo!" Misty led the applause.

"I have trained you well as a storyteller, Ash." Brock smiled. "Keep practicing, though!"

"Well, now that we've heard your apprentice tell, why don't we hear from the master?" Misty suggested, her eyes shining with excitement at what sort of story Brock would tell...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 2: The Gold Berries (Brock)

(real tale: Gourds of Gold (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20021215))


"Once a man--we'll call him Kosei--was coming home from the market when thieves ambushed him and stole the food and Pokemon he had just bought." Brock begins. Misty gasps in horror, but Brock quickly assures her "Although he was quite battered, Kosei didn't despair--he knew that Arceus would give the thieves their just desserts."

"You know what they say--what goes around, comes around." Ash agrees as he adds a log to the campfire.

"Usually a little too quickly." Misty whispers. She and Ash giggle in agreement.

Brock just ignores the whispering. "When Kosei got home, he learned that many of the townsfolk had been robbed in that place. The trees and brush grew large and thick, making it the perfect spot for a thief to hide. But Kosei declared that he had a plan to catch the thieves." he quickly notes.

"Pika pikachu?" Pikachu asks.

"The other townsfolk, however, were concerned--these thieves were strong and too fast for anyone to catch." Brock tells Pikachu. "But Kosei was quick to point out that they were greedy too--and that was how he would catch them."

"If only we could catch Team Rocket like that..." Misty muses.

"So, what was Kosei's big plan?" Ash wonders

"First, Kosei bought two Deerlings and took them home." Brock explains. "Then, he returned to the place where he had been robbed, where an Aspear tree stood. He then hollowed out two of the biggest Berries on the tree and filled them full of coins. When Kosei's wife--we'll call her Saiban--heard about her husband's plan, she wanted to help out as well. They sacrificed one of their Tauros to Arceus for good luck, and Kosei concealed a skin filled with Tauros blood inside Saiban's clothing."

"And then?" Misty wasn't so sure Kosei's plan would work.

"Kosei then asked his friends to prepare a cot by the Aspear tree." Brock continues. "While his friends thought Kosei was nuts at first, they prepared the cot anyway, figuring it was a part of Kosei's plan."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Kosei laid on the cot and pretended to doze." Brock replies "Sure enough, the thieves returned, and asked him what he was doing in the road."

In character as an older man, he intones "I'm guarding our Aspear trees."

As himself, he continues "The thieves laughed at this--why would you need to guard a Berry tree? But Kosei gave the thieves the coin filled Berries, and no sooner had they cut them open, did coins spill everywhere!"

"I bet they were shocked!" Ash muses. A grin forms on his face as he pictures the thieves' reaction.

"Oh they were." Brock replies. "The thieves offered Kosei gold and jewels in return for what they thought was a magic tree. It was only when they offered the items that they had stolen earlier that Kosei finally relented."

Giggles fill the air at this. "It didn't take long for the thieves to find out they'd been had--they hurried to catch up with Kosei and demanded the food and Pokemon back." Brock continues. "Kosei agreed, but as it was almost dinner time, he invited the thieves to join him for dinner. He then told the Deerling at his side to tell Saiban that they had guests. When he turned the Deerling loose, it ran straight into the woods."

More laughter goes up at this. "Kosei led the thieves to his house, where Saiban and the other Deerling were waiting." Brock continues. "But before they could say anything about the seemingly magical Deerling, Kosei took a knife and stabbed at the spot where the skin of Tauros blood was, making Saiban appear to die as the thieves watched in horror."

Misty gasps at this. "Azu azu?" Azurill asks.

"No, Saiban only pretended to die." Ash assures all three Pokemon. "That's what the skin of Tauros blood was for."

"But then, Kosei took a stick..." Brock pauses to pick up a stick of his own. "and waved it over Saiban's 'dead' body as he appeared to cast a spell." He proceeds to wave the stick over the imagined body as he sings Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

Sighs of relief fill the air as Brock continues "The thieves were stunned when Saiban seemingly came back to life, and immediately offered a thousand gold pieces for the Deerling and the stick."

He concludes "The thieves didn't know that Kosei had asked some of the royal guard to capture the thieves, and no sooner had the thieves started down the road with the stick and the Deerling, were they promptly arrested. Kosei and Saiban were hailed as heroes, and no one in that region was bothered by thieves for some time!"

"Bravo!" Ash leads the applause.

"Nothing less from a master!" Misty agrees.

"Ash and I have each told our first tale of the night, now it's your turn." Brock tells Misty.

Misty swallows hard at this--her only experience with stories is reading out of a book to Azurill. "I may not be the best storyteller, but I can try."

"That's the spirit!" Ash smiles. He watched as Misty took a few deep breaths to clear her mind and calm her nerves...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 3: The Great Feast (Misty)

(real tale: The Vizir's Feast (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20060423))


Misty's mind raced as she racked her brain for a tale to tell the boys. I've never really told a story from memory before, so what's an easy one for me to remember that the boys would love?

The chili pot hanging over the campfire gave her an idea. "In a far away land, the people could not stop complaining about their vizirs."

"Azu?" Azurill asks.

"That's what an official is called in some lands." Brock explains.

"As I was saying, the people of this land could not stop talking about their vizirs." Misty continued, trying oh-so-hard to ease the Beautiflies in her stomach. "The reason? They argued over anything and everything, and once they started arguing, it was anyone's guess as to when they would stop."

"Mm-hm..." Brock nods. "Go on..."

"Now, the vizirs knew what the people were saying, and they took it upon themselves to show their people they could conduct affairs in a civil manner." Misty continues. "So one day, they went into town, making small talk amongst themselves and saying hello to all they met."

"And then?" Ash is interested--he's never seen Misty play the role of storyteller before.

"Suddenly, they found a rare black pearl embedded in the sandy road." Misty continued. "Their first thought was to debate what to do with it, but they remembered their promise to conduct affairs civilly. They decided to hold a great feast in honor of their friendship."

"Pika pi?" Pikachu asks.

"So the ten vizirs all went down to the food shop and used the black pearl to buy enough food for the whole city to be fed for a week and still have leftovers." Misty explained. "There were potstickers, and puddings, meats both from the land and the sea, vegetables of all kinds, nuts, Berries, and a bewildering array of desserts."

Pikachu notices Ash is drooling at the thought of eating all the food Misty described, and gives him a gentle shock as a reminder to pay attention. "Just hearing about all that made me hungry too." Brock smiles as he helps himself to another hot dog. "And then?"

"Just before the vizirs could sit down to their massive meal, the ninth vizir saw that the palace gate was open." Misty continued. "He told the sixth to shut it, but he believed the first vizir should shut it. The first told the eighth, the eighth asked the fourth, and before long, all ten vizirs were fighting over who should shut the gate."

"So, who broke it up? They have truckloads of food waiting..." Ash wondered as he retrieved a soda from the cooler.

"The tenth vizir finally broke it up by saying the next person to say anything or stand up would close the gate." Misty replies. "So the ten vizirs began to eat, not saying a word to each other or getting up for seconds."

Brock chuckles as he pictures what the vizirs will fight over next. Ash just sighed dreamily at the scene of the ten vizirs eating enough food to feed Pallet Town for a year.

"The open gate lured hundreds of Pokemon into the palace." Misty continued. "and they wasted no time in devouring all the meat. When every piece of chicken, beef, and fish was gone, they moved on to the vegetables, fruits, cheeses and desserts. But the vizirs just sat there, oblivious to the Pokemon eating their food."

Brock stifles a chuckle at the imagined chaos. "Just then, a Growlithe mistook the tenth vizir's lip for a piece of meat, and bit down hard!"

Ash spits out his drink, and Brock and the Pokemon howl with laughter at this. "When the others told him he had to shut the gate, they looked around and realized the food was gone, and there was now no point in closing the gate." Misty concluded. "They went their separate ways, not wanting to argue about the matter any more...at least until the next day!"

Brock leads the applause. "Not bad for someone who's never had a lesson!"

"Oh, that was so funny!" Ash agrees as he applauds.

"I just made that one up, but I know a few my sisters once told me too." Misty assures the boys. Come to think of it, this storytelling thing isn't so bad!

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 4: Beautifly's Wedding (Ash)

(real tale: The Butterfly's Wedding (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20110717))


"Hey, Brock?" Ash asked. "May I try performing that story May gave me the bones to on her last visit?"

"Sure." Brock replied. "If you feel confident enough to perform it in front of Misty and me, go for it."

Ash took a deep breath to calm his nerves, then began. "Once upon a time, a Beautifly flew across the skies, and everywhere she went, every Pokemon looked up at her--not only was she physically beautiful, but she had a beautiful heart as well. She was kind, gentle, and never interfered with anyone nor demanded anything from them."

"Not bad on the beginning, but you're rushing a little." Brock interrupts. "Speak slowly and clearly so we can understand you."

Ash nods, and continues his tale. "On this particular day, the Beautifly--let's call her Mariposa--was looking for a mate. She wanted to raise some Wurmples, who would eventually become more Beautiflies. Ho'oh met Mariposa as she began her daily flight across the sky, and wished her well on her quest."

"Azu azu ri?" Azurill asks.

"Mariposa landed on an aster, and as she sipped at the aster's nectar, the aster couldn't help but smile. 'You are sweet, like me...Mariposa, will you marry me'? Mariposa blushed and replied 'Love you as I do, you're not the one for me.' Ash continues, making sure he is not speaking too quickly. "As Mariposa flew over the world, hundreds of Pokemon begged her to marry them. Mariposa loved them too, but she knew in her heart all her would be suitors were not the perfect mate."

"So did Mariposa ever find a perfect mate?" Misty wonders.

"One day, Mariposa met a male Beautifly--we'll call him Osumare--and the two fell wings over heels in love with each other." Ash continues. "The wedding was a grand affair--Pikachus, Spinaraks, Mareeps, Persians, even Shaymin--they and many more Pokemon came to wish the two Beautiflies well. Of course, every guest brought flowers, so the nectar flowed freely."

"Aw..." Brock sighs dreamily.

"A few weeks later, Mariposa asked Osumare to bring her some water." Ash continues. "As Osumare flew down by the riverbank, he lost his balance and fell into the water. A Magikarp was quick to swallow him!"

"Oh no!" Misty gasps, fearful for the two Beautiflies.

"A Yanma saw the whole thing, and relayed the terrible news to Mariposa." Ash then notices Brock bringing his hands together--his signal to slow down. "Mariposa burst into tears, but the other Pokemon did what they could to help."

"Pika?" Pikachu is interested.

"The Ledybas scoured the river, the Lotads searched the lilypads, and the Pidgeottos flew low, looking for the Magikarp." Ash explains to his audience and Pikachu. "The Duckletts went nuts, so the noise awakened the wisps of the forest, who began glittering wildly. But the Deerlings thought everyone was making a big fuss over nothing, so they started laughing. The laughter prompted the Magikarp to surface and open his mouth, allowing Osumare to fly out, unharmed."

Misty heaves a sigh of relief as Ash concludes "Mariposa was elated Osumare was all right. She laid many eggs that year, which hatched into Wurmples, who in turn became more Beautiflies, beginning the cycle anew."

Brock leads the applause. "Very good! Just be careful not to rush while you're telling--we can't understand you if you're going a hundred miles an hour."

Ash sweatdrops. "I need to work on not talking too fast...."

"Well, if it helps, I want you to watch how I speak clearly and pace myself in this next tale..." Brock suggests as Happini adds a stick to the fire....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 5: The Haunted Pond (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 18, story 2)

"Just a word of warning--this tale might be a little scary." Brock cautions.

"Oh, a ghost story!" Misty gasps with excitement--usually Brock only tells ghost stories around Halloween.

"Bring it on!" Ash demands.

Brock just smiles at his friends' bravery. "In a certain land, there stood a pond that brimmed with Goldeens." He then catches himself. "Actually, the Goldeens only came out at night--any would-be angler that went fishing during the day wouldn't get a single bite!"

"That IS odd..." Misty notes--usually Goldeens stayed out at all hours of the day and night.

"If anyone tried to leave the pond with their catch, they would hear a ghostly voice saying..." Brock then switches to one of his go to "spooky" voices. "Leave it there...leave it there..."

Ash swallows hard. "W-was it really a ghost?"

"Just listen and you'll find out." Misty assured him.

"Because of this, no one wanted to fish there." Brock explains. "So one day, a brave man in the nearby town--we'll call him Kane--decided to fish in the haunted pond. His wife and the townsfolk tried to talk him out of it, but Kane wouldn't take no for an answer."

Misty nervously giggles at this. "Kane went to the pond, and didn't get a bite all day." Brock continues. "But when night fell, the Goldeen were biting like no tomorrow!"

"I bet he caught a zillion!" Ash smiles.

"He caught enough to fill two buckets before calling it a day." Brock replies. "As he departed with his catch, he heard the ghostly voice in the distance." In his "ghostly" persona again, he intones "Leave it there...leave it there..." As himself, he continues "But Kane paid the voice no mind and continued home."

"A-and then?" Even Misty is worried for Kane's fate.

"Kane passed by a willow tree, where a girl in a blue robe and glowing veil was resting." Brock continues. "She noticed the Goldeens Kane carried and asked him..." In character as a girl, he asks "Those Goldeens you have look tasty...won't you share with a poor traveler?"

"I caught these fair and square!" he retorts as a young man. "They will be my dinner tonight!"

Misty and Ash laugh at this. "Despite the girl's pleas, Kane refused to part with his Goldeens. But when he lifted the girl's veil to directly refuse her, he was shocked to discover she had no face!"

"AUGH!!!" Ash yelps, much to Misty's and Azurill's delight.

"Pika pika pikachu, Pikapi." Pikachu assures his master, but Ash is shaking in fear.

Brock is unfazed. "Kane ran home as fast as he could, with a death grip on his Goldeens all the while. When he got home, he told his wife what had happened as he roasted one Goldeen over the fire. But when he got to the part about his encounter with the faceless girl, the lights went out."

"Uh oh..." Misty eagerly smiles as she waits to hear what happens next. Ash, meanwhile, clings to Misty in fear.

"He suddenly heard a voice say..." In character as a girl, Brock asks "One taste?" He continues as himself. "When Kane looked to see who was in the room, he saw the faceless girl!"

"Not so hard, Mr. Scaredy-meowth..." Misty grumbles as Ash grips her back even tighter in fear.

"In his rush to get away from the faceless girl, Kane left his Goldeens and his rod behind." Brock concludes. "They say he didn't go fishing for a long time after that!"

"Now, see? Kane lived." Misty assures Ash as she peels him off of her. "For my next tale of the night, I'll tell something to calm Mr. Scaredy-meowth down...." Ash just blushes as the Pokemon laugh....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 6: The Celestial Harp (Misty)

Let's see, a story that won't scare Ash... Misty thinks for a moment as to what sort of story her sisters have told her that the boys would like.

"Azu azu ri rill?" Azurill asks.

"Well, some of them I read in books, and some of them I learned on my travels." Brock replies.

"You know, in olden times, wandering minstrels would sing songs and tell stories for people--because back then, songs and stories were not written down." Ash explains. "So sometimes, when Brock is telling stories on a stage, he will portray this kind of character."

"Azu..." Azurill gets stars in her eyes.

"They typically used an instrument similar to a guitar called a lute..." Brock adds before edging a smaller case to him, opening it, and taking a small silver crescent-shaped harp from inside. "Or one of these."

"Pika..." Pikachu gasps as he admires the gold inlays and sapphires decorating the harp.

Brock tuning the harp gives Misty an idea. "Say...you think you could play a little while I try out this original story?"

"Sure--I'll play when you tell me someone plays a harp." Brock replies.

Misty just begins her story. "Once upon a time, in a fair away land, there lived a king and queen. They had a son--I'll call him Alex--who dreamed of being a great hero like the minstrels sang about." Brock adds a soft chord on the harp for effect. "When Alex was old enough to choose a bride, he asked his father the king where the most beautiful princess in the world lived."

"Pini!" Happini is excited at the mention of a princess.

"So the king took Alex into the royal gallery, where the portraits of many beautiful princesses from all over the world hung." Misty continues.

"I bet Alex had a tough decision to make..." Ash muses.

"Alex looked at all the portraits very carefully...." Pikachu giggles as Misty examines a tree by the campsite, as if she is Alex examining a portrait. "He finally saw the portrait of the princess of Azulona--I'll call her Mina--and fell deeply in love with her. So with his mother and father's blessings, he left on a great journey to ask for Princess Mina's hand in marriage."

"And then?" Ash is piqued.

"As Alex traveled on his way, he saw a shining palace on a hill. When he went inside, there was not a person or Pokemon in sight." Misty continues. "But there was a room with some food and a bed, so Alex rested there for the night. "In the morning, he found the palace garden, bursting with exotic flowers he had never seen before. He eventually wandered into the royal stables, where he saw a shining Rapidash."

"Did he try to ride it?" Brock asks.

"He rode it, and no sooner had he told it giddy up, did it go speeding across the plains and hills!" Misty replied. Inspired, Brock plays a series of long glissandi to represent the Rapidash running. "They went through forests, plains, mountains and rivers...and by the time the Rapidash showed the first sign of being tired, Alex was soaked."

Ash snickers as he pictures the drenched prince. "Suddenly, the Rapidash spoke to Alex." Misty continues. "It has been many years since I last bore a great hero...I see you are strong, wise, and brave, and so I will serve you.' Alex made camp for the night, as he and his mount were very tired."

"Pini pini pi hapini?" Happini asked.

"What happened when Alex got to Azulona?" Misty smiles. "He told the king of Azulona that he wanted to take Princess Mina's hand in marriage. The king of Azulona replied that in return for Princess Mina, he would defend Azulona from an enemy army."

"Pika!" Pikachu gasps at this.

"Alex agreed, and the king held a grand feast to celebrate the engagement of Princess Mina." Misty continues. "The enemy armies approached Azulona the next morning, but Alex defeated them and captured the enemy king singlehandedly!"

'Wow!" Ash is impressed.

"With Azulona safe again, preparations were made for the wedding, but Princess Mina brought up an important point--with no minstrels due to arrive for some weeks, how would there be any music at the wedding?" Misty continued. "She told him of the dark immortal Tochisha, and the celestial harp he owned that was said to play itself."

Brock adds a soft chord at the mention of the titular instrument. "So Alex set out for the darklands, and came to a cottage where a great mage lived. He asked Alex what he was doing there, and when Alex told the mage of his quest for the Celestial Harp, he told him..."

Brock decides to fill in the mage's dialogue as he plays the Ballad of the Goddess. "When you travel to the darklands, arrive at noon. Nearby Tochisha's palace is a great garden, and in that garden, a captured princess walks. She will be glad to see you and help you on your quest, as it has been six years she has been held as Tochisha's slave. Ask for her aid, and she will guide you to the Celestial Harp."

"This is getting good...then what happened?" Ash wonders.

"Alex thanked the mage for his aid, and went on his way." Misty replies. "When he got to Tochisha's domain at noon, he heard the Celestial Harp playing a relaxing melody..."

Brock takes that opportunity to play his version of "Arran's Lullaby" for effect. "Alex then remembered his quest, and entered the royal garden, where he saw the captured princess--who I'll call Chloe." Misty explains as the last note of "Arran's Lullaby" echoes into the starry sky. "Princess Chloe was understandably scared of Alex at first, but when Alex told her of his quest, she trusted him. She told him to wait in the garden, went into the throne room, and began flattering Tochisha." In character as Chloe, she asks "My lord, is it true you will never die?"

"It is true." Brock replies in character as Tochisha over an ominous chord.

"Then where is your soul?" Misty asks as Chloe. "Is it here?"

"It is under the broom by the door." Brock replies as Tochisha.

"So Chloe tossed the broom in the fireplace, but Tochisha still lived." Misty continues as herself. "Princess Chloe pressed Tochisha further on the location of his soul, and when he finally relented, he told her..."

Brock fills in Tochisha's dialogue. "In a certain field stands three trees. Under the largest tree lives a Wurmple--and when it dies, I will die too."

"So Princess Chloe told Alex what she had learned, and Alex went out to the field with three trees and found the Wurmple, but when he killed it, Tochisha still lived." Misty continues.

"You put that part in there because you hate bugs..." Ash smugly muses.

Misty just ignores Ash's comment. "By now, Alex suspected Tochisha was hiding something, and told Chloe to really press him on where his soul was. Chloe spent several hours pressing Tochisha on his soul's location, but when he finally relented, he told her..."

Let's see how well Misty can remember a list of items! Brock thinks before filling in Tochisha's dialogue. "On a certain island grows a certain tree. Beneath the tree is a treasure chest--if you open it, you will find a basket inside. Attempt to take this basket and a Buneary will appear--when you kill it, a Pidove will appear. Follow it to its nest and take the egg inside, and inside that egg is my soul."

"Wait--this sounds like 'The Giant's Captive'!" Ash gasps, excited. "Is there any singing in this story?"

"Nope, not this time." Misty nervously stammers. "I can assure you this is different." There's no way I can remember all of that!

She sighs. Here goes nothing... "Alex set out for the island, where he found the tree..." She takes a deep breath and begins rattling off the list. "and he found the chest beneath it. He opened it and found a basket inside, but when he tried to take it, a Buneary jumped out. Alex killed it with a well placed arrow, and Pidove flew from the Buneary's body into the sky. Alex followed it to its next, took the egg inside, and smashed it on the ground--killing Tochisha."

Ash applauds and Brock plays a triumphant chord, pleased that Misty remembered the whole list. "Alex took the Celestial Harp, and took Princess Chloe home." Misty continues. "He then returned to Azulona and his beloved Princess Mina, where they were married the next day. All the wedding guests were amazed at how beautiful the Celestial Harp sounded, and it played many airs and dances for everyone to enjoy."

Brock plays a festive jig for effect as Misty concludes. "Alex returned to his homeland to a hero's welcome, where he lived happily ever after with Princess Mina." Brock finishes the song at this point.

Ash applauds his friends at this. "That was great, Misty! You're not too bad a storyteller..."

"Thanks--it's actually kinda fun--even more so when you have help." Misty replies.

"In fact, I don't know how I'm going to top that..." Ash muses. "Your tale's a tough act to follow!"

(The tale is based on a Russian folktale called "The Self Playing Harp" (available on Google Books)

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 7: The White Ekans (Ash)

(real tale: The White Snake's Wisdom (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20101205))

"There was once a king in a far away land that had an odd custom." Ash begins. I hope this can top Misty's performance... "Every night, he would command his servants to bring him a certain covered platter. But before the king lifted off the cover, he sent the servant away."

"Hm..." Misty thinks a moment as to what is on the platter.

"Once night, the platter was left out, and one particular servant--let's call him Aidan--was curious about what was under the cover." Ash explained. "So he took it to a storage room, locked the door, and uncovered it, where he found the meat of a white Ekans!"

"Wait, Ekans can be white?" Misty is bit skeptical.

"I've heard of green Ekans, but white Ekans?" Brock is just as confused.

"Pikachupi! Pipika! Pika pikachu pika Pikapi pika pika chu, pi pika pika.' Pikachu explains.

"You're right, Pikachu..." Misty sighs. "It is just a story..."

"And anything can happen." Brock agrees, a smile forming on his face. "Including a white Ekans."

Pikachu motions for Ash to continue. "Pika pika?"

"Yeah, what happened when Aidan ate a little of the white Ekans?" Misty asks, albeit slightly disgusted at the idea of eating Ekans.

"He discovered he could understand the language of Pokemon, just like his lord the king." Ash replies. "One day, the king called him into the throne room, and told him the queen's favorite ring was missing. Aidan, however, was the prime suspect, as he was the only one allowed to look at the queen's jewels. If he couldn't find the real thief by the next day, he would die in their place."

Misty gasps, but Brock gently reminds Ash "You're rushing again...."

"Aidan left the throne room in despair--he had no clue who took the queen's ring, and the executioner would have to kill an innocent man." Ash continues, making sure to be careful not to speak too fast. "But suddenly, as he passed by the Ducklett pond in the royal garden, he overheard one Ducklett say it had swallowed the ring by mistake!"

The Pokemon heave a sigh of relief. "So Aidan brought the Ducklett to the royal cook, and she was preparing it for that night's dinner, there was the ring." Ash continues. "The king offered Aidan anything he wanted as a sign of his forgiveness."

"Did Aidan ask for the princess' hand in marriage?" Misty guesses what will happen next.

"Nope--he told the king his one wish was to see the world." Ash replies. "So the king gave him a Rapidash and some gold, and wished him well on his journeys."

"So, where did Aidan go on his trip around the world?" Now Brock is curious.

"He went to quite a few exotic lands, but no matter where he went, he helped the Pokemon." Ash explained. 'When he saw some Finneon gasping for breath in the reeds, he set them free in a river. When he heard the queen Durant complaining how the humans crushed them, he was careful to avoid the Durant hills on his way. When he stopped to camp for the night, he would give the forest Pokemon a share of his food."

"Pini?" Happini asks. "Pini pini hapi?"

"I'm getting to the princess, okay?" Ash assures Happini before continuing his tale. "Eventually, Aidan came to another land, where the king was seeking a husband for his daughter--who I'll call Sophia."

"Pini!" Happini is thrilled at the princess' chosen name.

Misty giggles. "Happini sure loves her princesses..."

"She likes minstrels too..." Brock replies. "Almost as much as princesses."

"The king didn't want Princess Sophia to go to just any old prince, so he gave her would be suitors an impossible task--and if they succeeded, they would have Princess Sophia's hand in marriage." Ash explains. "So far, every man that had tried had failed."

Pikachu swallows hard, fearful for Aidan. "So Aidan told the king he wished to seek Princess Sophia's hand in marriage." Ash continues. "The king brought Aidan to a beach, and told him that Princess Sophia's favorite ring had fallen in the water. If he could find it, Sophia was his."

"Azu azu?" Azurill asked.

"As Aidan wondered where the ring was, the Finneons he had rescued brought him an ornate emerald ring." Ash replied. "Princess Sophia was impressed, but not convinced. She led Aidan to a field, and tossed ten bags of seed into the grass. She told Aidan to pick up every last seed before dawn--or else."

"Or else what?" Misty challenges.

"Or else Aidan would die." Ash shoots back.

Misty grins, pleased at a decent "or else." "Or else" is usually just a cop out, but Ash even fills in what "or else" is!

"Aidan did what he could, but soon fell asleep." Ash continues. "But when he woke the next day, he found ten bags of seed--the Durants had gathered the seeds while he slept. It was enough to convince Princess Sophia that Aidan loved her. They married not long after, and they all lived happily ever after."

Happini's applause is the loudest as Ash takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 8: Undine and the Three Princes (Brock)

(real tale:The Princes And The Water-Sprite (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Jataka_Tales&story=Princes_And_Water_Sprite))


"Since you did so well telling that adventure tale, Misty, I'm gonna return the favor by teaching you a tale I learned from one of your sisters." Brock begins before playing "Arran's Lullaby" on the harp to focus his thoughts.

When all is quiet, he begins. "There was once a king who had three sons, who he loved very much. The eldest was Prince Altair, after the brightest star the king could see on the night he was born. The middle one was Prince Dolan, after the dark sky on the night he was born. The youngest one was Prince Haru--since he was born in the daytime, unlike his brothers."

Hm...Daisy didn't give the princes names... Misty muses.

"When Prince Haru came of age, the king asked the queen what her most burning desire was, and she replied that she wished to have Prince Haru be the one to succeed his father." Brock continues. The king knew well that the eldest son would inherit the kingdom when he died, as was common in that region. If something were to happen to Prince Altair before then, Prince Dolan would succeed him. If something happened to both princes before then, only then would Prince Haru be able to rule."

Ash swallows hard. "Did the queen try to kill them?"

"The king was very afraid that would happen, Ash." Brock replies. So he told Atair and Dolan that they were to go into hiding for seven years--then they could claim the kingdom that was rightfully theirs."

"Why seven years?" Misty is confused.

"Seven is seen as Arceus' number, and symbolizes perfection." Ash explains as Brock plays a tense interlude.

"When Prince Haru heard why his brothers were leaving, he begged to come with them as a sign of support." Brock continues. "They left early the next morning, and traveled until they came to a lake in the middle of a forest."

Pikachu is the most excited at hearing the Ballad of the Goddess again. "It turned out that the great water spirit Undine lived in the lake." Brock continues over the song. "She would only help those that answered a question for her--what were the good fairies like?"

"And then?" Ash is interested.

"Prince Haru came to the lake, and Undine asked him what the good fairies were like." Brock continues over a playful chord. "but when Prince Haru answered that the good fairies were like the dawn, she took him down beneath the lake. Prince Dolan grew concerned for his little brother after a while, and went to the lake himself. He answered Undine's challenge incorrectly as wall."

"But what about Altair?" Misty asks. "What did he do?"

"He too was worried for his brothers, and went to the lake himself." Brock replies before playing a flowing melody. "Undine met him in disguise as a hunter, but Altair saw right through her disguise."

"Pika pika pi?" Pikachu asks.

"Altair then proceeded to answer Undine's question correctly." Brock concludes over a soft melody. "The good fairies were like those pure of heart, pure of thought, and pure of deed. Undine was touched at Altair's answer, so she set his brothers free, and agreed to protect them for their seven years in exile. When seven years had passed, the three princes inherited their rightful kingdom, but they gave Undine the pool in the royal garden as thanks for her help."

The Pokemon's applause is the loudest as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 9: Sorin Saves the Clouds (Misty)

(real tale: Cloud Swallower (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20010909))


"Okay, Misty--this time try telling a story on your own." Brock suggests.

Misty thinks for a moment. You know, Brock's renditions of Sorin stories are always popular--so I'll try one of those.

She clears her throat and begins. "Now everyone knows Sorin is quite the trickster...."

The Pokemon cheer at this, but the cheers are silenced when Misty tells them "But every once in a while, Sorin will play the hero--did you know he actually helped save the clouds that we see in the sky?"

"Azu?" Azurill is interested.

"You see, a long time ago, on a high mountain far from here, there lived a monster that liked to eat clouds--so the people in the valleys called him Yunshike, the cloud-eater." Misty explained. "The people all agreed Yunshike needed to be stopped, and so they all sent their bravest warriors, archers, and mages to fight him--but not a single one returned."

"Uh oh..." Ash swallows hard.

"With no clouds, there was no rain, and with no rain, plants couldn't grow, and the rivers and lakes began to dry up." Misty continued. "One day, some twin siblings--a boy and a girl--took it upon themselves to outwit Yunshike. The boy was named Celio, and the girl was named Lani."

"Nice..." Brock nods in approval of the twins' names.

"Both Celio and Lani knew that the Pokemon of the world were wise, and decided to ask them what to do." Misty continues. "Sorin spoke up immediately..." In a higher pitched version of herself she exclaims "Yunshike is full of wiles, and so you must be careful!"

As herself, she continues. "The twins listened intently as Sorin told them that Yunshike would pretend to sleep, and capture unsuspecting travelers in his hands when they passed through his legs. What he did next depended on his mood. Sometimes, he ate them, and sometimes, he threw them from a cliff. Either way, the unfortunate traveler met a grisly demise."

"And then?" Ash is interested.

"Sorin then agreed to help the twins, and the next morning, they set out for the mountain where Yunshike lived." Misty continues. "Celio took a sword, and Lani took a bow. They climbed for many hours, but as they neared Yunshike's lair, Sorin went on ahead, telling the twins to wait for him." Misty continues, trying oh-so-hard not to laugh at Pikachu dueling a leaf with a twig.

"So what did Sorin do?" Brock is curious.

"He took some dandelion seeds and some Spinarak thread, wove them into a small cover, and laid it over Yushike's eyes." Misty replies. "The twins arrived some time later and asked Yunshike if they could pass to the mountain summit. Yunshike agreed, and told them to pass through his legs."

Ash grins--the exciting part is coming up!

"But the twins know Yunshike planned to capture them." Misty continues. "So Celio went to the left, and Lani supported him from the right. Yunshike tried to fight back, but with the cover over his eyes, he couldn't see where the twins were, and was quickly defeated. "Sorin and the twins were hailed as heroes, and no one in that land ever forgets the great deed they did."

She smiles at the boys' applause. I'm getting pretty good at this!

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 10: The Princess and the Shepherd's Flute (Ash)


"Now that Brock's had a turn with an instrument in a tale, I'll feature my own for my next tale." Ash muses before beginning "In a far away land, there lived a princess named Emi..."

"Pini!" Happini cheers in anticipation of a princess tale.

"Princess Emi was renowned for her beauty and wisdom, so much so that she not only attracted thousands of suitors in her homeland, but around the world as well." Ash continues. He stifles a giggle at Brock dreamily visualizing his idea of what Princess Emi looks like.

Misty snaps him back to reality with the Look. "You can daydream later, okay?"

"Okay! I'm listening!" Brock frantically yelps. "Go ahead, Ash."

Ash thinks for a moment as to where he is in his tale, then continues. "Emi was very friendly with those she knew well, but when it came to marriage, not a single one of the many princes, kings, and emperors was good enough for her. This made the king and the queen very frustrated, so one day, after she had refused her umpteenth suitor, they asked her why she kept refusing suitors."

"So why was she refusing all those princes, kings, and emperors?" Misty asks.

"It turned out that Princess Emi was torn between three boys, and worried that if she married one, she would not stop thinking about the other two." Ash replied. "The king proposed that there be a contest, and whoever won it would have Princess Emi's hand in marriage. Princess Emi loved the idea, and word was sent to every man in the land."

"What kind of contest was it?" Brock wonders.

"I'm getting to that." Ash assures his friend. "Meanwhile, not far from the city lived a young shepherd-we'll call him Kenji--who lived with his mom. Every morning, he would take his most cherished possession--a small silver flute..." Ash pauses to take a silver tin whistle with a green mouthpiece from his bag. "and drive his flocks to a valley at the foot of a mountain. Once in the valley, he would keep a watchful eye on the Mareeps from the shade of a tree, playing his flute all the while." He plays a peaceful melody to illustrate his point.

"Bravo!" Misty leads the applause.

Ash acknowledges his applause, then continues. "Kenji's mom told him that his flute was special, because it had been carved from a branch of a sacred tree long ago. He wondered if the legend of the sacred tree was true, and if so, what powers his flute held. But the thought closest to him was falling in love with a lady as wise as she was beautiful." With that, he plays the love song "Ah, Roshin" for effect.

More applause goes up when the song ends. "You still haven't told us what the contest for Princess Emi was." Brock reminds Ash.

"Back at the palace, many suitors listened as the king explained the rules." Ash continued. "He planned to shoot a Leppa Berry with one of Princess Emi's rings inside towards the mountains--and whoever found this Leppa Berry would have Princess Emi's hand in marriage."

"That sounds fair to me." Misty muses.

"So the king made his shot..." Ash pantomimes shooting a bow. "and the ground rumbled with Ponyta hooves as the hundreds of suitors left on their quest. But one by one, they returned empty handed, including the three that Princess Emi favored."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Pika pika?" Pikachu agrees.

"In the valley, Kenji watched over his Mareeps, playing his flute all the while." Ash continues. He plays the reel "The Arrow's Flight" for effect, then continues. "He was about to start another song, when suddenly, a Leppa Berry landed at his feet. He presumed the berry was a gift from Celebi or Shaymin as thanks for his music, and decided to have it for a snack. But he bit into something hard--an emerald ring!"

"And then?" Misty is excited.

"Kenji told his mom what had happened, and it wasn't long before word reached the palace as well." Ash concludes. "When Kenji and Emi saw each other for the first time, they fell madly in love. They were married not long after, and Kenji always played the flute for Emi as a sign of his love."

"Pretty clever, Ash!" Misty smiles as she applauds.

"The whistle's a nice touch as well." Brock agrees. Ash just grins and takes a bow...

(The real tale is based on a Persian tale named "The Sacred Flute" (availiable on Google Books))

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 11: The Finneon Knights (Brock)

(real tale: The Knights of the Fish (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/257.htm))


"There was once a shoemaker--we'll call him Martin--who was renowned for being a hard worker." Brock begins. "Though he was a hard worker, he was very poor, and barely earned enough to buy food for himself and his wife. For a while, they made do on the meager pay he earned and wild Berries. But eventually, Martin decided to hang up his tools and decided to try fishing."

"Did that help?" Ash wonders.

"At first, Martin got very good at fishing, but before long, he was lucky to even catch an old boot." Brock replies. "He was about to give up and go try some other trade when one day, he managed to catch a Finneon, the Beautifly of the Sea."

"Is that really a Finneon's nickname?" Misty asks, interested.

"Take a look." Ash digs Dexette from his bag and invites Misty to look at the Finneon picture that blips on the screen.

Finneon, the wing fish Pokemon. Dexette begins. The way its two tail fins flutter while it swims has earned it the nickname "Beautifly of the Sea"

"I'm sure those must be beautiful to see!" Misty gasps, starry eyed.

"They are." Ash replies as he pockets Dexette. "You were saying?" he asks Brock.

Brock thinks a moment as to where he is in the tale, then continues. "As Martin unhooked the Finneon, it spoke to him."

Using a breathy young female voice, he requests "When you cook me for your dinner tonight, keep two pieces for yourselves, and bury two more in the garden."

As himself, he continues "Martin found the request odd, but respected the Finneon's wishes. When he cooked it for dinner that night, he kept two pieces for himself, and buried two more in the garden. When he came to look in the garden the next morning, he was shocked to find two newborns, a boy and a girl, under the shade of a tree."

"Aw..." Ash smiles.

"They named the boy Destin and the girl Lana, in remembrance of the waters the Finneon came from." Brock continues. Destin and Lana grew up to be kind and generous people, and very brave as well. When they came of age, they decided to go out into the world to seek their fortunes."

"And then?" Misty asked.

"With their parents' blessing, they set out early the next morning." Brock continues. "For a while, their journey was uneventful. But when they came to a fork in the road, Lana suggested they each go in a differing direction. If something wonderful happened to one of them, they would notify the other to meet them there. With that, Destin went east, and Lana went west, eager to discover what adventures awaited them."

"Pikachu?" Pikachu asks.

"Destin followed the road eastward for a while, until he came to a large city." Brock replies. "When he got there, he saw that everyone was crying. When he asked what the matter was, a townsperson explained that every year, they had to offer a maiden of pure heart to a terrifying Garchomp, lest the city be destroyed in flame. It didn't help that that year, the lot had fallen to the princess--who I'll call Isabel."

"Pini!" Happini gasps, afraid for the princess.

"Don't worry, Princess Isabel will be okay." Misty assures Happini. "Destin's gonna save her!"

Brock smiles as he takes his guitar and retunes it a little. "Destin borrowed a Ponyta, some armor, and a sword, and rode out until he came to the tree Princess Isabel was tied to. Despite Princess Isabel's pleas for him to stay away, Destin assured her he was going to save her, and end the cycle of sacrifice."

Once sure his guitar is back in tune, Brock continues "The Garchomp arrived soon after with a mighty roar, but Destin ran to battle with Princess Isabel looking on." With that, he begins playing the Zelda theme as an interlude.

"After a long battle, Destin emerged victorious!" Brock continues, playing the Zelda "got item" jingle for effect, to the Pokemon's bemused giggles. The city was elated that the Garchomp was slain, and the king offered Destin anything he wanted as a reward. Destin took one look at how beautiful Isabel was, and told the king he wished to have Princess Isabel's hand in marriage."

"See? Told'ja Destin would save the princess." Misty assures Happini.

"But what about Lana?" Ash asks. "What adventures did she get into?"

Brock is about to answer when he notices Happini is asleep at his feet. "She had plenty of adventures in her own right, but that is another story for another day."

"Yeah, we'd better get to bed ourselves." Misty agrees as she tucks Azurill in for the night. "We can always tell more stories tomorrow night!"

"Okay--you'll lead off tomorrow night's tales." Brock tells Misty as he tucks Happini in for the night.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 12: The Legend of Brave Minty (Misty)

(real tale: Puddocky (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/376.htm))

"That hike was amazing!" Ash raved as Brock started the campfire. "and the Squirtles were just so tame!"

"Well, they're probably used to humans tromping past their pond." Misty assured Ash. "Makes me wonder how your little guy's doing..."

"Probably adventuring and putting fires out with his fellow squad mates." Ash sighed dreamily before noticing Brock laying out the ingredients for the night's dinner. "What are we having tonight?"

"Tonight's menu is gonna be on the snackish side, since we had a huge lunch on the trail." Brock explained as he hung a pot of water to boil over the fire. "And what could be a better snackish meal than potstickers?"

"Those are good, but your Oran chicken you made for the trail was even better!" Ash raved.

"I could've sworn I tasted chocolate in there..." Misty mused.

Brock smiled, pleased Misty had figured out his Oran Chicken's secret ingredient. "As a matter of fact, you DID taste chocolate, Misty--I will sometimes add some dark chocolate shavings in the sauce to give it a sweet bite, balancing the sour Oran juice." he explained as he opened the cooler compartment labeled "TUESDAY" and spread out various ingredients on a wooden board.

Some mint leaves in Brock's pile of ingredients gave Misty an idea. "While you're working on dinner, may I start the tale telling while we wait?"

"Go ahead." Brock replied as he began measuring out some dough ingredients.

Misty cleared her throat and began. "In a far away land, there lived a woman with a daughter named Minty. She had gotten that name because she practically ate everything with mint--but mint was very expensive, and oftentimes, her mother barely had enough to buy any. So every night, she would sneak out to the edge of a forest where a notorious witch lived, and sneak some mint from her enchanted garden. Since it grew back every morning, the witch had no idea any mint was missing."

"Is this anything like 'Rapunzel'?" Ash interrupts.

"No, it's not a variant of 'Rapunzel'" Misty replies before continuing. "As the months wore on, the witch caught on to Minty's mother taking mint from her garden. But seeing as Minty's mother meant well, she offered to let Minty stay with her."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Just because the witch is nice now, doesn't mean she will be later." Brock warns Happini as he watches over the potsticker dough.

"Some years went by, and three princes came to that land in search of a bride." Misty continues. "They saw Minty out working in the enchanted garden, and all three of them fell madly in love with her--leading them to fight over her. The witch heard the ruckus and clanging swords, and turned Minty into a Lotad, saying she would only return to her true form when held by someone who truly loved her."

"First 'Rapunzel' and now 'The Lotad Prince'..." Ash muses. "Or in this case, 'The Lotad Princess'"

"Well, technically, Misty didn't say Minty was a princess." Brock interjects as he begins filling circles of his dough with meat, vegetables, and of course, the mint.

Happini gasps, excited at the mention of a princess. "Oh, Happini, there's no princess in this tale--yet!" Misty giggles. "When the princes saw Minty transform into a Lotad, they quickly made up, put their swords away, and returned to their homeland. The king of that land was old, but all three of his sons--the princes--were equally capable rulers. So he didn't know which one would be the best one to succeed him."

"That is a hard choice, especially when your three options are equally fit to rule." Brock agrees in between filling potstickers.

"The king then proposed three challenges to his sons, and whoever completed them all the best would be the heir." Misty explained. "Their first challenge was to find a piece of cloth fine enough to fit through a ring."

"And then?" Ash asks as he watches Brock spoon out finished potstickers on a platter before adding a new batch to the pot.

"The first two princes went down the well traveled roads into town, and came back with cartloads of the best cloth they could find." Misty continued. "But the youngest prince--we'll call him Caleb--took a less traveled route to town that passed through some marshland."

"Pika pika Chupi?" Pikachu wonders.

"Minty, in the form of a Lotad met Caleb on the shore and asked where he was going." Misty replies. "Prince Caleb explained his quest to the little Lotad, and Minty hopped away, returning with a piece of fabric no bigger than a human finger. When to came time to see who had completed the first challenge, Prince Caleb's tiny piece of fabric fit through the king's sapphire ring easily. Not a single piece his brothers brought back fit at all!"

"Then what did the king challenge his sons to do?" Ash wonders.

"The king next challenged the three princes to find a young Lilipup small enough to fit inside a walnut." Misty explained. "While Prince Caleb's brothers took the main roads into town, Caleb returned to the marsh, where Minty was waiting for him."

"Can Lilipups get that small?" Ash wonders. Granted he saw some tiny ones on his Unovan journey, but finding one that fit inside a nut sounded impossible.

"Ever hear of teacup Lilipups?" Brock asks.

"That's an idea..." Ash smiles as he hungrily admires a finished batch of potstickers cooling on a rock.

"Prince Caleb told Minty of his quest, and she found him the biggest walnut in the marsh." Misty continues. "Not one of the Lilipups his brothers found could fit through the walnut shell, but when the king opened the walnut Prince Caleb had brought back, did he find a very energetic Lilipup inside!"

The boys laugh as they picture the chaotic scene. "After giving out the rejected Lilipups to all the new trainers of the land, the king gave his final challenge--find the most beautiful girl in the land."

"A thousand credits says he has to kiss the Lotad." Brock whispers as he puts his final batch of potstickers in the pot to cook.

"Caleb wasn't sure how the little Lotad would help him, but he poured out his heart to her anyway." Misty continues. "As he cried and held the little Lotad close, he was surprised when he found himself embracing the most beautiful girl he had ever seen!"

"Sorry, no kissing." Ash tells Brock.

"Minty told Prince Caleb her story from start to finish, and how his faithfulness broke the spell on her." Misty concludes. "Prince Caleb led her back to the palace, were she was more beautiful than any of the ladies his brothers had found. He was named heir to the throne, and he and Minty lived happily ever after."

"Aw..." Ash smiles.

"You timed that perfectly--dinner's ready!" Brock smiles as he cleans up his work area...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 13: The Crystal Sword (Ash)

(real tale: The Glass Axe (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/026.htm))

"There was once a king and queen who desired nothing more than to have a child." Ash begins as he sets aside his empty plate from dinner. "Finally, after years of trying, they welcomed a little prince to the royal family. They named him Garet, because of his gentle nature."

"Aw..." Misty smiles.

"The festivities drew the attention of a dark fairy--who I'll call Raven." Ash continued. "The constant cheers and well wishes drove her nuts, and so she cursed the queen, killing her."

Pikachu brushes away a tear. "Pika pikachu..."

"As she died, the queen warned her beloved that if Garet ever set foot on the ground, he would be subject to Raven's whims." Ash continues. "At first, this was pretty easy to do, but as Garet grew bigger and too large for the nursemaids to carry, he was carried about on a platform."

"Well, how was he going to get any exercise if he can't touch the ground?" Brock is piqued.

"Easy--horseback riding." Ash replies. "He became quite the expert rider, and often came to the royal hunting grounds. It was on one of these excursions that the second part of Raven's curse came true. Garet had flushed a Buneary from the bush, and in the ensuing pursuit, his Ponyta tripped, sending him falling to the ground."

Brock gives Ash his "slow down" signal. "All the retinue could do was watch as Garet disappeared into the dark realm." Ash continues, acknowledging Brock's silent advice with a nod. "The king was naturally devastated, but even still, he held out hope that he would be reunited with Garet.

"So what did Raven make him do?" Misty asks, intrigued.

"She gave him a sword made of crystal, and told him to cut the brush in the dark forest." Ash replies. "She told him not to speak to anyone but her."

"This is getting good--then what happened?" Brock asks.

"No sooner did Garet try to cut some of the brush in the dark wood, did the crystal sword shatter." Ash continues, making his friends gasp. His mind raced with fear at what Raven would do to him as he wandered the dark forest, but eventually, weariness overcame him, and he fell asleep."

"Pika pika?" Pikachu asks as he splits one of the few remaining potstickers with Happini.

"A girl met him and told him that there was a way out of the dark realm--I'll call her Eliza." Ash continues. "She went on to tell him that Raven was her mother--and in order to escape the dark realm, they had to cross the river that marked the gap between worlds."

"You're rushing again..." Brock whispers.

"When Garet woke up, he was surprised to find the crystal sword by his side, and the brush cleared." Ash goes on, trying his best not to speak too fast. "He went back and told Raven he had finished his task. Raven asked if he had spoken to anyone while he worked, and Garet said no. Raven bought Garet's lie, and rewarded him with a small meal and water."

"Azu?" Azurill asked.

"Raven then asked Garet to bundle up the wood he had cut the day before." Ash explained. "At first, Garet made a good pace, but as the day wore on, he got tired and fell asleep. Eliza came while he slept and finished the job. Raven was pleased Garet finished so quickly, but deep down, she had her doubts about who was actually doing the work."

"So did Raven ever figure out who was helping Garet?" Misty swallows hard in fear for the young prince.

Ash grins--his most anticipated part of the tale is next! "Raven took Garet to a lake, and challenged him to build a castle out of gold, silver and jewels in an hour--or else. But as Garet wondered how in the world he was going to even find jewels, Eliza met him on the bank. Raven happened to see them meet, and screamed with shock!"

"Uh oh..." Even Brock is afraid for the two friends.

"Garet feared he and Eliza were done for as they ran with Raven in hot pursuit. But Eliza took a rock and casted a spell on it." Ash picks up a rock and sings Amekius zigias vike...

"Pini? Pini?" Happini asks, excited.

"The rock turned into a jewel studded castle exactly like Raven requested." Ash replies. "Raven spent hours exploring the opulent rooms, which bought Garet and Eliza plenty of time to hurry toward the river between worlds. But it wasn't long before Garet heard Raven chasing them again. Luckily, Eliza casted another spell." He then sings Lorete, sunidisa no...

"What did that spell do?" Misty asks, eager to know what happened next.

"It turned Eliza into a pool of water, and Garet into a little Ducklett." Ash replied. "But Raven saw right through the spell, and used her magic to turn them back to normal. This went on for a while--every time Eliza casted a spell in an attempt to lose Raven, Raven would dispel it with her own magic or find her way out. Finally, they made it to the river between worlds, but there was no way to get across, and Garet didn't know if they had the strength to swim across. On top of that, Raven was gaining on them!"

"Pika!" Pikachu gasps.

"Eliza told Garet that she was going to teach him a spell as thanks for his efforts to rescue her." Ash continues. "She told him the magic words, and told him to wait until Raven came into view before casting it. Raven made her way out of the forest some minutes later, but Garet and Eliza leapt into the murky water. As they fell towards the water, Garet casted the spell." He then sings Karuto, iichiida shou....

"Did they make it?" Brock asks.

"The spell gave Garet and Eliza the ability to fly, but Raven was right behind them aboard a shining black Charizard." Ash continues. "But Garet and Eliza dove towards the water, then flew upwards again. The black Charizard crashed into the water, killing it and its rider."

"Pini!" Happini cheers, elated that Garet and Eliza are safe.

"Garet and Eliza made it across the river between worlds, and back into the world of light." Ash concludes. "Garet's father the king was elated to see his son. Garet told his father of his adventure from start to finish, and not long after, he took Eliza as his bride. The wedding was a grand affair, and they all lived happily ever after."

"Wow!" Misty is impressed.

"I liked that you added some sung spell incantations of your own, but you're still prone to rushing when you tell, especially if you are excited." Brock begins. "We know you're eager to tell the story, but when you're speaking fast, we don't understand what you're saying."

Ash sweatdrops. "I need to work on not rushing..."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 14: The Gold Pidgeot (Brock)

(real tale: How Ian Direach Got the Blue Falcon (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/147.htm))


"In a far away land, there lived a king and queen that ruled over a vast kingdom." Brock begins. "They also had a son they loved very much--we'll call him Kiran. Kiran was well loved and well liked across the kingdom--he was a fine hunter, sailor, singer, and storyteller, among other things."

"Sounds a bit like you." Ash smiles.

Brock is unfazed by Ash's comment. "One year, just before Kiran came of age, the queen died from a terrible disease. The whole kingdom mourned for her, but it wasn't long before the king married again. But Kiran never forgot his mother, and cherished the memories of her." Brock continued. "Now, Kiran particularly enjoyed hunting, usually alongside a Ninetales he had befriended--we'll call her Kitsune. So one morning, he was searching for Kitsune in the forest, when he saw a great gold Pidgeot fly past him."

"Whoa!" Ash balks when he pictures what the shiny Pidgeot might have looked like in comparison to his own Pidgeot.

"I'm sure it was huge!" Misty agrees.

"Try as Kiran might to hit the majestic Pokemon, his arrows merely grazed its feathers." Brock pantomimes shooting a bow to illustrate this. "As it was getting late, Kiran took the feather and set out for home. When he got home, his stepmother desired the golden Pidgeot for herself, and banished Kiran from the castle until he found it." He next takes his guitar and starts a relaxed melody. "Kiran traveled for many hours with not so much as a sign of the gold Pidgeot. Finally, he made camp in a forest as the sun set, and drifted to sleep."

"Did he find Kitsune?" Ash asks.

Brock plays a soft harmonic chord to represent Kitsune appearing. "As Kiran slept, Kitsune met him in the forest." In his best mimic of Ash's Riolu character Erin, he intones over a mystical melody "I hear ye are on a journey, milord; so I bring ye a meager meal te get ye true te night."

As himself, he interjects "Kiran told Kitsune about his quest over the small meal of Buneary meat and Berries. Kitsune told him... As Kitsune again, he replies "Te Pidgeot ye seek belongs te a terrifying giant in te mauntains. I will show you te his house, and you are te present yeself as a servant. Treat his Pokemon well, and ye will earn his troost. One dey, he will leave on a journey himself--wait until he is out of sight, ten trow a cloak over te gold Pidgeot. Boot if even one of her gold featers touches anyting in te giant's cave, terrible tings will happen."

Misty applauds at Brock's spot on mimic of the little puppet Riolu. "That's pretty good, but Ash does the voice better." she comments.

"I've had practice." Ash replies. "Pity I don't have a puppet stage out here... then I would've packed my puppets..."

An expectant D chord snaps him to attention. "Okay, we're done talking." Misty assures Brock. "You may continue."

"Now, where was I?" Brock muses as he plays a few uncertain notes. "Oh, yes...the next morning, Kitsune led Kiran to the giant's cave, and everything happened as Kitsune said--Kiran took such good care of the giant's Pokemon, that he earned the right to handle and groom the gold Pidgeot."

Awed murmurs fill the air. "One day, the giant told Kiran he was leaving to see a friend that lived in a neighboring mountain." Brock continues. "Kiran waited until the giant was out of his sight, threw a cloak over the Pidgeot, and started for the cave entrance." Tense giggles fill the air as Brock plays a "sneaking" riff. "But he accidentally brushed a feather against the entryway--and the Pidgeot made so much noise, the giant came rushing back in seconds."

Misty gasps over Brock's tense chord. "Kiran was afraid at first, but the giant said..." In a deeper version of himself, he intones "If you want my golden Pidgeot, bring to me the Sword of Magic Auras the forest wisps guard, and I will consider."

He sets the guitar aside as he continues. "Kitsune met Kiran on the forest path, and told him..." As Kitsune, he suggests "Te forest wisps are everywhere in te wood, but teir queen lives in a wood across the sea. I will transform inte a ship te take ye tere. Ye are te present yeself as a swordsmith--treat teir bledes well, and tey will troost you with te Sword of Magic Auras. Boot if te sheath touches even wan ting in te palace, terrible tings will happen."

"With that, they arrived on the coast, and Kitsune transformed herself into a ship." Brock then sings as Kitsune Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... He continues as himself "Kiran sailed to the island wood, and everything happened as Kitsune said--he did so well polishing the various blades, that the wisp queen let him handle the Sword of Magic Auras. As he was taking it out of the palace, he tripped over a vine, making the sword fall to the floor."

"Oh no!" Ash yelps.

"Luckily, the wisp queen was feeling merciful." Brock assures his small audience before assuming a younger version of his "Kitsune" voice. "If ye want te Sword of Magic Auras, you must first trede us te shining Ponyta of the king of Fuyan."

As himself, he continues. "Kitsune met Kiran on the coast, and told him..." As Kitsune, he intones "Fuyan is fahr awey from here, so I will again transform into a ship te teke ye tere. Ye are te present yeself as a stable boy--treat te Ponytas and te Rapidashes well, and His Majesty will troost ye wit te shining Ponyta. Boot if even wan hair touches te stable..."

"Terrible things will happen." Misty and Ash repeat along with Brock.

Brock just grins. "Have you guys heard this one before?" he asks.

"It sounds like a version of 'The Golden Starly...' Ash muses.

"As a matter of fact, it is!" Misty notes. "While the version from Shinou is the best known version, other versions also exist. The one Brock is telling originates from Fuschia..."

"In addition to this and 'The Golden Starly' I've found versions featuring Taillows, Pidoves, and even Swablus." Brock explains before continuing the tale. "Anyway, Kitsune transformed herself into a ship again..." He pauses to sing as Kitsune Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... before continuing as himself. "When Kiran got to Fuyan, everything happened as Kitsune said--he took such good care of the Ponytas and Rapidashes, that the king finally trusted him with the shiny Ponyta. But as he was leading it out of the stables, he brushed against the entryway by mistake. The Ponyta made so much noise, that the king came rushing to the stables to see what was wrong.

He then assures his friends "Luckily, the king was feeling merciful..." In an older version of himself, he intones "If you desire my shining Ponyta, bring to me the princess of Atalan."

"Pini!" Happini cheers.

"You're going to cheer for every princess, aren't you?" Misty coos. Happini nods.

"Kitsune met him on the road out of the capital city, and said to him..." As Kitsune, Brock intones "Someting must nut want ye te return te your homeland for so much misfartune te befall ye. Boot I will help ye all te same--I will transform myself inte a ship to take ye to Atalan, and run agraund on te coast. Ye are te tell te king of Atalan that ye ship has wrecked and ye are the sole survivor. Also tell him tat te king of Fuyan has offered help in exchange for te princess."

He continues as himself. "Kitsune transformed into a ship again..." He again sings as Kitsune Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... "and set off for Atalan. When she had run aground on the coast, Kiran told the court of Atalan the most heartwrenching rendition of the story Kitsune had told him to tell. The princess of Atalan--we'll call her Talia--couldn't bear to see anyone in need, and so agreed to help Kiran in return for becoming the wife of the king of Fuyan. But Princess Talia saw how kind and brave Kiran was, and loved him more than the king of Fuyan."

"Odd--usually it's the boy having second thoughts..." Ash muses.

"When they arrived in Fuyan, Kitsune transformed into Princess Talia..." Brock then sings a different song as Kitsune. Imultao, ame no ga bakeno...

As himself, he continues "The king of Fuyan fell madly in love with 'Talia', and eagerly gave Kiran the shining Ponyta. As Kiran led the shining Ponyta back to where the real Talia waited, the king of Fuyan was about to crown Kitsune when she revealed herself, and gave him a Fire Fang he never forgot!"

Laughter fills the air as Misty and Ash picture the chaotic scene. "They then made their way back to the island woods, where Kitsune transformed into a shiny Ponyta." Brock then sings as Kitsune Karuto, iichiida shou...

"Pika?" Pikachu asks as he wipes away a tear of laughter.

Brock continues "The wisp queen was thrilled to see the 'Ponyta', and eagerly gave Kiran the Sword of Magic Auras. But when the wisps tried to ride Kitsune, it was a ride they never forgot!"

More laughter fills the air. "They then made their way to the giant's cave in the mountains, where Kitsune transformed herself into the sword." Brock then sings as Kitsune Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

Cheers go up at the gibberish song. "The giant was pleased to see the 'sword', and gave Kiran the golden Pidgeot." Brock continues. "But when he tried to wield it, Kitsune burnt him so badly that it took a long time to recover."

Misty, Ash, and the Pokemon can hardly contain their laughter at this. "It was only when Kiran arrived home did he discover Kitsune's warning was true--and that his stepmother was about to cast a dark spell on him." Brock continues.

"Azu azu ri ri?" Azurill panics, afraid for Kiran and his party.

"But the Sword of Magic Auras protected him and the Pokemon, and after a long battle, Kiran emerged victorious!" Brock assures Azurill.

Azurill heaves a sigh of relief as he concludes "Kiran and Talia were soon married, and they were revered throughout the kingdom. Kitsune received a special place on Kiran's court, for it was her cunning and magic power that guided him on many more adventures."

He smiles at his enthralled friends. "But that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 15: The Rogue and the Trainer (Misty)

(real tale: The Rogue and the Herdsman (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/235.htm))


"In a far away land lived a man, his wife, and their only son named Jack." Misty begins as she adds another log to the campfire. "Jack was famous for being very lazy--he would rather spend the day dozing in the sun than do any kind of work."

"And I thought that fat Meowth in the comics was bad..." Ash agrees.

"For some years, Jack's mom and dad put up with their son's laziness." Misty continues. "But when Jack came of age, his dad asked him to go into the world and seek his fortune."

"So where did he go?" Ash is interested.

"After walking down the road for a while, he came to a large house." Misty continued. "It turned out he had arrived at the house of the chief royal Pokemon trainer."

Ash gasps at this. "Whoa, really?" He pictures himself in royal finery summoning Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and other Pokemon he has owned.

Static jolts bring Ash back to reality. "Pika pika." Pikachu gently reminds him.

"So what was Jack's first real job?" Brock asks. "Or did the chief trainer send him away?"

"Actually, the chief royal Pokemon trainer..." Misty starts.

"Tory!" Ash suggests, memories of his friend from LaRousse City dancing in his mind.

Misty considers the name for a moment. "Okay, we'll call him Tory." She thinks as to where she is in the tale, then continues. "Tory felt sorry for the boy before him, and offered him shelter if he was willing to do his fair share of work. Jack readily agreed, figuring he could learn how to make a day's wage."

The Pokemon giggle in anticipation as to what Jack will do. "Jack's first chore was to look after a herd of Grumpigs." Misty explains. "He was shown the field where the herd was, and told to drive them to a valley overlooking the mountains. But as soon as Tory left him, Jack got a better idea. He drove them to his parent's house, and needless to say, his dad was quite surprised to see his son home with a bunch of Grumpigs!"

The boys and the Pokemon howl with laughter at Jack's father's likely reaction. "Jack told his dad what had happened, and that he was having trouble doing the job." Misty continues. He then requested that his dad kill the Grumpigs, and hang their meat out to dry." More laughter fills the air. "Jack's dad looked like he'd seen a Gastly, but Jack assured his dad that he had an idea. So the Grumpigs were slain, and their meat hung to dry. Jack took the tails, tied them to a rock in a nearby swamp, and submerged it."

"Uh oh..." Ash stifles a giggle.

"Now Jack's in for it..." Brock agrees.

"Jack told his master the most heart-wrenching tale." Misty continues. "He claimed that the herd was spooked by something, and despite his efforts to round them up, they all ran into the swamp and drowned, with only their tails sticking up. Tory didn't believe Jack at first, but when he went to the swamp, there were the tails, just as Jack said."

"Pika pika..." Pikachu brushes away a tear for the dead Grumpigs.

"No matter what sort of Pokemon he was told to watch, Jack would somehow 'lose' them." Misty explained. "The royal Mareeps he claimed were lost in a tornado, leaving only the bells of the lead Flaaffy behind on a rock. Tory naturally didn't believe him, but when he approached the rock, he heard the bells just as Jack had said."

She interjects "In actuality, Jack and his family had killed and eaten the Mareeps for dinner."

Nervous giggles fill the air. "The royal trainer decided to have Jack look after a small herd of Tauros, complete with the king's prized shiny Tauros." Misty continues.

"Who wants to bet Jack loses them too?" Brock whispers to Ash, who chuckles in response.

"But Jack managed to 'lose' them too." Misty replies, seemingly answering Brock's question. "He claimed the Tauros had all disappeared into a hole. Tory went to see for himself, and it was just as Jack had said."

"So did Tory ever figure out what Jack was REALLY doing?" Brock asks.

"No, but he figured something was up." Misty assures her friend. "He led Jack to the forge the next day, and told him to make ten swords. Jack had no idea how to make a sword, much less wield one."

"There's no way he could lose a sword either..." Ash adds.

Misty just continues "He returned to his house, and told his parents that his master had promised him the princess if he could make ten swords for the guards."

"Pi pini hapi pini!" Happini smiles.

"Yeah, every fairytale has a princess in it somewhere." Brock smiles, enamored at his little one's love for princesses.

"Jack surprised his parents by putting in his fair share of the work, and it wasn't long before the ten swords were done." Misty continues. "The royal trainer was stunned that Jack had finished the ten swords so quickly, and told the king about how clever Jack was."

She concludes "The king was impressed, and offered Jack the princess' hand in marriage as thanks for the ten swords. Jack agreed, and served as the king's most trusted advisor for many years."

"Well, that was an interesting tale..." Ash muses as he applauds.

"That's not even the wildest Jack tale I've heard." Brock cautions...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 16: The Power of Song (Ash)


"In a far away land, a young princess was born." Ash begins. "However, a troubling rumor began racing through the land--that the young princess could not read. She couldn't even say the ABCs!"

"Why not?" Misty is puzzled.

"The king struggled to find an answer to that question." Ash replies. "and he called in all his scholars and sages to try and encourage his daughter--let's call her Roni--how to read. One sage suggested that Roni be put in a room with no distractions, save for books. So the king led Roni to the royal library, but that didn't work--Roni would look at the pictures in the books, but struggled to learn the words that went with them--much less the letters that made up those words."

"Poor Roni..." Brock muses--he sympathizes with the sage, having struggled with some of his own siblings when they learned to read.

"Another sage suggested that Roni be taught with others around her age, but that didn't work either--Roni was more interested in playing with her new friends than the words in her books." Ash continued. "The king tried everything to encourage Roni to read, but nothing appeared to work. Mind you, Roni did put in an effort, but she still struggled mightily. But then a sage brought up an idea that proved to be prophetic--what if Roni was taught to read in song? The king found that a silly idea, and blew off the sage's suggestion."

"This is getting interesting..." Misty muses.

"A few months went by, and rumors about the princess that couldn't read spread far and wide." Ash explained. "Then one day, a minstrel came to that land, and all who heard her singing were awed by her skill."

"Pini pi Hapi?" Happini asks.

"The minstrel came to the palace, and enthralled the king, the court, and Roni with her instruments and singing stories." Ash continues before singing a little himself. Tuadera ensilum, lalecci, noncine ieri, dammero, inmeisti.

"And then?" Brock is interested.

"The king pleaded to know more about the minstrel's song, but the minstrel sang him this song..." With that, Ash sings in gibberish again. Yea cilaf yott a, cusir ar ce wist,
Yea linda crirnpauks kol craur fitsa ca yea ptrist
A poga wott yea lewr glala yea kol ar wa durfa,
Cra kil glan cra spea, cra kil glirfa an wayf,
Kilil yor cra cror, kilil etsale sphas,
Yos miar yola wet, gos wa kor cra wyr wala

He waits for his friends' applause to die down before continuing. "When the king learned what the song meant, he pleaded with the minstrel to help Roni. The minstrel agreed, and the lessons began."

"This should be interesting..." Brock smiles.

"The minstrel started by singing Roni three notes--do, re, mi." Ash explains. "Roni hesitantly sang back the three notes. Then the minstrel added more notes, and Roni would sing them back too. The months went by, and do-re-mi quickly evolved into the complete musical scale. The musical scales became melodies, the melodies became songs, and with those songs came words--both in the minstrel's language and English. Then other languages were added, and before long, Roni was reading in song, and delighting all who heard her with sung speeches, stories, and even jokes. The king was stunned by Roni's quick progress in a few short years, and went to reward the minstrel for her service, but was saddened to learn that Arceus had led her on to another land. He never did see the minstrel again, but there were some that said the minstrel was Meloetta in human form."

He concludes "When it came time for Roni to succeed her father, she became known in the land as 'The Royal Songtress' and ruled with wisdom and kindness. Thanks to her, no one in that land forgot the power of song."

As his friends applaud, Ash notices some rustling in his bag, and retrieves a mint tin from inside. When he opens it, a small sprite Pokemon flies out from it and perches on a tree. "That was a very nice story, Ash--where did you learn it?" she asks as she brushes her music staff-like hair.

"Before that, though, some introductions are in order." Ash assures the sprite. "Misty, Brock--this is Melody, the Meloetta I rescued on my Unova journey..."

(The tale is based on a tale from Israel with the same title, which you can find on Google Books)

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 17: The Brave Water Fairy (Brock)

(real tale: The Frog and the Lion Fairy (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/130.htm))

"There was once a king in a far away land that always found himself at war." Brock begins. "The neighboring countries found this very odd--this king was kind, content with what lands he had, and not wanting to invade other lands. They concluded that maybe he had tried a bit too hard to please everyone."

He stops to interject "And you should know that if you try to please everyone, you usually end up pleasing no one."

"Very good advice." Melody muses. Misty nods in agreement.

"But I digress..." Brock continues. "Every time this king prepared for a long siege, he would send his queen--who we'll call Maya, to a stone tower in a forest not far from the capital city. Queen Maya wanted to go with her beloved into battle, but was refused. That meant she would cry for at least a day when she got there--there wasn't much to do inside, and she couldn't go out without at least two guards, as per her beloved's request."

"I can understand wanting to keep her safe, but that seems a bit much." Ash comments.

"Now, in her homeland, Queen Maya would go outside every day, which made it even more painful to be closed up in a tower." Brock continues as he takes his guitar and begins a soft melody. "But as the weeks wore on and there appeared to be no sign of fighting in the capital, she grew bolder, and often went outside on her own." The song grows louder to emphasize his point, before it turns into a set of jigs.

Applause fills the air as the set ends. "Eventually, there came a point where no letters came from her beloved at all, and Queen Maya feared the worst." Brock continues. "She ordered her servants to build her a carriage just large enough to hold a single passenger. They were understandably concerned, but Queen Maya told them she only wanted to go hunting in the forest."

"And then?" Misty asks. "What did they catch?"

Brock just plays an exciting melody as an interlude. "One day, as Queen Maya and her retinue were chasing wild Tepigs in the forest, the Ponytas raced off down an unmarked path, away from the capital. In all the confusion, Queen Maya was thrown from her mount." He ends his set with a hard chord to represent Queen Maya landing on the ground.

"Ow..." Ash winces at the discordant jumble of notes.

"I bet that had to hurt..." Misty agrees.

"When Queen Maya came to some minutes later, she saw a tan skinned girl wearing a red tunic, with glowing mythril chain underneath." Brock continues. "Some tan leggings complemented this, so you couldn't tell if it was clothing or if it was skin. Red shoes were on her feet, a rapier was at her side, and a bow and some arrows were on her back. But what was most striking about the girl were the sparkling red wings of flame that allowed her to hover before the frightened queen."

Some oohs and ahs fill the air as the small audience pictures what the fire fairy looks like. "Queen Maya knew well stories of the fey--elemental spirits that watched over the world. If you saw one, it was best to do what it wished, for better or for worse. But before she could ask the fire fairy her name, she cast a spell..." He pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... "and transformed into an Entei."

Brock then plays a majestic melody. "Queen Maya was awed to see the Beast of flame, and decided to follow it. They finally came to a cave deep beneath the earth, where Queen Maya saw a great stone castle that occasionally glowed red with lava, with a moat of lava surrounding it. Not surprisingly, there were many fire Pokemon romping about."

Giggles go up from the Pokemon as Brock starts his rendition of the Hyrule Castle theme. "The fire fairy introduced herself as Leona, and asked her to build herself a house out of the stones in the cave--for she was going to be there a while."

The nervous giggles turn to gasps. "Queen Maya begged Leona to return her to the forest, but Leona told her that if it hadn't been for her finding her back in the forest, she'd be dead. That, and she figured Queen Maya would be of use to her." He plays a tense chord for effect. "Leona asked Queen Maya to make her a honey cake--but how was Queen Maia going to get any honey with no Beedrills to be found?"

"So what did Queen Maya do?" Misty asks.

"She waited until Leona had left her, then poured her heart out to Arceus about her misfortune." Brock replies. "As she cried, she heard a Murkrow off in the distance..."

Everyone jumps as they hear a Murkrow in the distance. "Nice touch." Ash comments as a pair of Murkrows fly over the campsite.

Brock thinks for a moment to remember where he is in the tale before continuing "She looked to see where the Murkrow was coming from, and when it came into view, she saw it clutched a Lotad in its talons. Inspired, the queen shot an arrow into the Murkrow's leg, causing it to drop the Lotad."

The audience waits to hear the Lotad's fate. "Queen Maya went to see if the Lotad was all right, but when she examined the tiny Pokemon, it transformed into a water fairy." Brock continues, playing a soft harmonic chord to mimic a transformation. "The fairy introduced herself as Shaila, and asked Queen Maya what she was doing there in the cave. Queen Maya told Shaila her story, and asked her how she could escape. Shaila explained that the fire Pokemon had once been humans themselves, but they had angered Leona in some way, and so she had enslaved them as one of her pets."

"That isn't very nice!" Melody gasps, appalled that Leona is so cruel.

"Then Queen Maya asked Shaila what she was doing in a fire fairy's realm." Brock continues. "Shaila explained she was on a mission to save all the people Leona had enslaved, but she had to disguise herself as a Pokemon for her safety, since fire fears water. She thanked Queen Maya for saving her, and told her she would do what she could to help her in return."

Nervous laughter fills the air at this. "Queen Maya told Shaila that Leona had asked her for a honey cake, but how was she to get honey when there were no Beedrills anywhere?" Brock explains. "So Shaila cast a spell of her own..." He then sings Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... "...and conjured more honey than Queen Maya knew what to do with. Leona was pleased when Queen Maya brought her the honey cake, and granted her some land as a reward."

He plays a sad interlude. "Queen Maya, with Shaila's help, built herself a house of stone and filled it with herbs to remind her of the surface. A few years went by, and during that time, a little princess was born." Some "aw"s fill the air at this. "Queen Maya named her Brenna, in honor of her fairy guardian that ruled over water."

"So did Queen Maya and Princess Brenna ever see the surface?" Ash asks, a note of fear in his voice.

"Princess Brenna grew up to be a kind and brave young lady, but deep down, Queen Maya wondered what had become of her beloved and her homeland." Brock goes on over a calm interlude. "So one day, she wrote a letter to her beloved explaining what had happened over seven years, and gave it to Shaila, telling her to fly as fast as she could."

He then plays a "flying" melody. "Shaila flew to the kingdom as fast as she could, and got there hours before the king was to remarry." He plays a tense chord. "The king turned white as a Gastly when he read the letter, called off the wedding, and followed Shaila to the underground cave. On the way, Shaila summoned an army of water Pokemon to protect them in case Leona attacked them." He sings again Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

Cheers fill the air as Brock starts to play the Zelda theme. "Sure enough, Leona was waiting for them, and a great battle ensued." After playing the song for a while, he interjects "I'm pretty sure you know who won the battle, right?"

"Of course!" Ash replies.

"You said it yourself before, Brock." Misty replies. "Fire fears water."

Brock concludes over a triumphant interlude. "With Leona defeated, the fire Pokemon she kept returned to their human forms, and they were soon reunited with their families. But the biggest welcome was for Queen Maya and Princess Brenna, who never forgot the brave water fairy that protected them in their hour of need."

Melody's applause is the loudest. "Bravo! Ash was right when he said you were a great storyteller!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 18: Squirtle's Rain Song (Misty)


"You know, you guys have done so well singing in your stories..." Misty begins as she feeds Azurill a berry. "Now, I wanna give it a shot."

"Fire away." Brock smiles--he is intrigued by Misty using singing in her stories--something he has practiced for years and trained Ash on for what seemed like years.

"I learned this tale from my sisters--Daisy always told it when I asked why there were so many Squirtles romping in puddles when it rained." Misty explains to Melody.

Once her audience is ready, she begins. "Once a great drought struck the world, and the humans and Pokemon suffered for it. It was so bad, it dried up the rivers and the lakes, and some Pokemon and humans even died of thirst."

"Pika..." Pikachu sighs.

"The Pokemon decided that they would all sing prayers to the Great Arceus in heaven in hopes he would send rain and save the world." Misty continues. "So the Pokemon all gathered at the shore of a dried up lake to each perform. Donphan was first--his song went something like this..."

She then proceeds to sing to the tune of "Arran's Prayer" Wiaks hozaluf yowr cile Arceus,
wiados yamb etsale cror yowr etsale lewr,
Yos sarfotsat ptrilan kulas,
yowr cra we gos yos mar
Amb cra metsa gaerfat aya an yone crea,
Spiasa, Arceus, golitsa ir...
Wiaks Arceus, kawr ir daen...

Ash applauds when Misty finishes. "Not bad!"

"What a sweet song..." Melody agrees. "Even if it is probably gibberish."

"And then?" Brock asks.

"One by one, the larger Pokemon made their pleas to the heavens--Mightyena, Liepard, and even King Entei sang, but no rain came, and the sun grew hotter still." Misty continues. "As each Pokemon took their turn, a little Squirtle pleaded and pleaded to have a turn at a prayersong. But all the other Pokemon laughed at her because she was so tiny."

"So did Squirtle get to sing?" Melody asks.

"And when she did, how did it go?" Brock agrees.

"After all the other Pokemon had sang for rain with no luck, King Entei allowed Squirtle to sing." Misty continues. "Donphan lifted her up to a tree branch, so all the other Pokemon could hear her. Her song went something like this...

She then sings to the tune of "My Song is My Treasure" Crotaluf, hozaluf lor Arceus,
Aya wiadat ca yowr huks ca mala
an wir cror ree sphaesa aya yowr fitsa aya wole
Cra yost lotsa yowr yorlola aya
yowr wa cror aya cerla
Golitsa yos kir, yowr golitsa wa yolowrlenfa yamb wa sir Pokemon,
Wi wor froks gleks wi nee
Cra pest isdon aya sapasa cra mulas yowr cra wir,
suks cra metsa gaer aya crist kawr ir daen...

"Pika chu?" Pikachu asks as Misty seemingly finishes her song.

"As Squirtle kept singing, huge rainclouds started forming in the sky, and lightning flashed across it as it started pouring." Misty continues. "It rained so hard, it flooded in some places, and all the Pokemon splashed about the huge puddles as they eagerly drank their fill. Some of the big Pokemon whispered prayers of forgiveness as Squirtle continued..."

She then sings again Arceus, cra lotsa aya yowr ptralir yos wiadean,
yowr yost wa crotatrz aya metsa cerla.
wa daen crist walan watt,
Golitsa ir glan cra gaef aya,
yowr wozas ir crir wahhir
kee yos cror cea litsa.

"Wow!" Brock is impressed by the gibberish lyrics.

Misty just concludes "To this day, it is said that Squirtles continue thanking Arceus for rain as they frolic in puddles and ponds."

Brock grins as he applauds. "Maybe you should tell more singing tales!"

(The tale I based this on is an African legend called "Singing to God For Rains", which you can find on Google Books.)

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 19: The Lucky Warrior (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 19, story 3)

"Once there was a boy so poor, he had to travel from town to town in search of work." Ash begins as Pikachu nuzzles his hand. "I'll call him Kaoru. Kaoru would stay in one town helping out those that needed a hand, and when there was no work left to do, he would move on to another town. This often meant that he didn't have a chance for a decent meal."

"How awful!" Melody gasps.

"Azu azu..." Azurill agrees.

"Now, one day, he stopped to rest by a river that overlooked a town." Ash explains. "As he rested from his long journey, he suddenly saw a warrior's sword and clothing floating in the water."

"I hope he didn't meet up with whoever owned them..." Misty muses.

"He didn't know who the clothes and the sword belonged to, but he figured that if people thought him a warrior, he might have a chance at a well paying job." Ash assures Misty. "So he put them on, and headed into town. Needless to say, the townsfolk really did believe Kaoru was a wandering warrior, giving him a morale boost. As he strolled through town, he passed by a dojo for warriors, where he could hear the cries of the fights in progress and clangs of weapons."

"You're rushing..." Brock discretely whispers.

Ash nods, and continues his tale. "The master of the dojo saw Kaoru looking inside, and believing him to be a real warrior, invited him to spar with one of his students."

"Uh oh..." Melody giggles.

"Kaoru had no idea how to wield a sword, but at the same time, he figured he could learn, and possibly gain a steady job." Ash explains. "He accepted the master's offer, and went inside."

"Hapi pini?" Happini asks.

"Amazingly, the students were awed at the determined look in Kaoru's eyes." Ash tells Happini and the others. "Many of them deferred the match to him, they were so afraid. The dojo master was impressed by Kaoru's supposed skill and gave him a job as a teacher of swordplay."

"Hapi pini pi?" Happini asks Brock.

"To defer something means to put it off till later." Brock explains. "So if we're all playing Pokeopoly and you really, really, want to go first, I would defer my turn so you could go first." Happini nods to show she understands.

"Kaoru enjoyed his new job at first, and eventually, the dojo master's daughter--who we'll call Inari--fell in love with him." Ash continues. "However, the dojo master's top student--we'll call him Nori--had also grown fond of Inari, and was very jealous of Kaoru--he knew something wasn't right about Kaoru, but he had to figure out what."

Nervous giggles fill the air at this. "So the next day, Nori gave Kaoru a bow, and challenged him to hit a Pidgey in a tree, sitting 500 feet away, with only a single arrow." Ash explains as he pantomimes aiming a bow. Kaoru had no idea how to wield a bow, either, but he took his one shot anyway." He pantomimes shooting the imaginary arrow.

"Did he make it?" Misty is excited.

"By sheer luck, Kaoru's shot hit the Pidgey." Ash replies. "The students were amazed, and begged Kaoru to teach them how to use a bow. Kaoru wasn't sure what to make of all the attention, and frequently tried to avoid his newfound fans."

Laughter fills the air at this. "Nori, meanwhile, was determined to expose Kaoru as a fraud. So the next day, while all the students were at a lake, Nori gave Kaoru a spear." Ash continues. "He challenged him to hit one of the Duckletts in the water."

He then asks his audience "You think Kaoru knew how to wield a spear?"

"Nope." Misty replies.

"Probably not." Brock agrees.

"No..." Melody replies.

"Well, Kaoru decided he would try anyway." Ash explains. "But as he was aiming his one throw, he tripped on a rock..."

Laughter goes up as Ash actually trips on a rock, but he steadies himself by grabbing a tree branch. "and the spear went flying, skewering not one, but four Ducketts by sheer luck."

"Impressive!" Melody is more relieved Ash is okay.

"Nori was stunned, but Inari was even more impressed." Ash concludes. "It wasn't long before they were married, and Kaoru spent his days learning how to wield swords, bows, spears and many other weapons in between going on many adventures--but that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 20: Kanagi and Yinagi (Brock)

(real tale: Gold Tree and Silver Tree (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20011209))

"You know, this has really been a banner year for the classic story of 'Snow White'." Brock muses. "Two new movies..."

"It's definitely not your grandma's 'Snow White' when the dwarves are ninjas." Ash interjects.

"Pika pi!" Pikachu agrees. He sighs as he remembers the ball scene in one of the movies.

"Plus, this year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Disney masterpiece..." Brock continues as he takes his guitar and starts playing, appropriately enough, "Someday My Prince Will Come"

"Which in turn gave the world the animated movie." Misty adds.

"I remember seeing a re-release in the theater when I was little." Ash sighs dreamily. "The washing up part and the Silly Song are the best parts!"

"So to add my two credits to the festivities, the story I want to tell next is an interesting variant of "Snow White" from Johto I learned in Mahogany Town once that, oddly enough, doesn't feature any dwarves." Brock explains to his audience.

With that, he begins his tale over "Someday My Prince Will Come". "In a far away land, a little princess was born to a king and his queen. They named her Kanagi, which means 'gold tree'. "The queen, who was named Yinagi, or 'silver tree', was very beautiful, but as Kanagi grew up, many in the kingdom said she would be as beautiful, or more, than Yinagi."

"Someday My Prince Will Come" begins to transform into a tense melody. "One day, Yinagi went to the wishing well on the castle grounds, where a Goldeen said to have magical powers lived." Brock explains as he plays. "She called down to the Goldeen..." In character as a young lady, he asks "Tell me, little Goldeen, who is the prettiest lady you have seen?"

"Why, Kanagi is the most beautiful lady I have seen." he replies in character as a young girl.

A tense chord quiets the laughter. "When Yinagi heard this, she was simply furious--she couldn't bear to have someone else be more beautiful than her." Brock explains as himself. "When the king found Yinagi crying in her room that night and asked what was wrong, Yinagi demanded that Kanagi be killed, and her heart brought to her as proof."

"So instead of a huntsman, she asks the king to do it..." Misty muses.

"And then?" Melody shudders as she thinks of Kanagi's fate.

"The king feared for Kanagi, but then he remembered that a prince from a neighboring country--we'll call him Daiki--had come to ask Kanagi's hand in marriage." Brock continues, playing a few bars of "Someday My Prince Will Come" to herald the prince's appearance in the story. "Kanagi loved Daiki very much, so after a quiet ceremony and seeing Kanagi off to her beloved's homeland, the king saved a Mareep's heart from the wedding sacrifices to Arceus, and gave that to Yinagi instead."

"I thought it was the heart of a Grumpig..." Ash protests.

"Strangely enough, the Disney version is not the only one that says it was a Grumpig's heart." Brock assures Ash. "Anyway, a few months later, Yinagi returned to the well and asked the Goldeen again..." As Yinagi, he intones "Tell me, little Goldeen, who is the prettiest lady you have seen?"

"Why, Kanagi is the most beautiful lady I have seen." he replies as the Goldeen. "She lives still in another land, for it is the the heart of a Mareep you hold in your hand."

Some "Ooh"s go up over the guitar's tense riff. "Needless to say, Yinagi was furious, and demanded to know why the king had not done as she asked. The king replied that he loved Kanagi, and couldn't bring himself to kill his own daughter." Brock continues. "So the queen traveled to Daiki's country, taking along an enchanted needle that would send whatever it pricked into a coma."

"Isn't it supposed to be a poisoned apple?" Melody is confused.

"Different versions of the story say it's different things." Misty assures Melody.

"Meanwhile, Kanagi feared that her mother would still try to kill her." Brock stops the tense riff he is playing for a moment. "So Daiki ordered the lookouts at the castle gates to be on the lookout for Yinagi. They didn't count on Yinagi to come in disguise."

He continues "Kanagi ran to meet her disguised mother, but as she placed her hand in Yinagi's, Yinagi pricked Kanagi with the needle." He plays a hard chord to symbolize the needle's prick. "Daiki, thinking that Kanagi had died, lay her in a coffin of gold and jewels with a glass top. This way, he would always be able to see his beloved."

The audience is on the edge of their seats, eager to know if and how Kanagi will wake up. "But when the royal priest came to prepare the body for burial after three days of mourning, he saw something glinting in Kanagi's hand--the needle." Brock explains. "When he took it out, Kanagi woke up, unharmed."

A fearful chord signals the story is not over yet. "A few weeks went by, and Yinagi asked the Goldeen again..." Brock switches to his Yinagi persona again. "Tell me, little Goldeen, who is the prettiest lady you have seen?"

"Why, Kanagi is the most beautiful lady I have seen." he replies as the Goldeen.

Laughter goes up at Brock's pained face, as if he is Yinagi reacting to the bad news. "So Yinagi spiked some wine with poison, and sailed to Daiki's country again. Kanagi saw the ship approaching, and told Daiki to hold a banquet to welcome Yinagi. Yinagi was welcomed with great fanfare, but Daiki secretly switched the poisoned chalice meant for Kanagi with the normal chalice meant for Yinagi, killing Yinagi with her own poison."

He concludes "Kanagi and Daiki never had to worry about Yinagi again, and they lived happily ever after." He plays a final harmonic flourish to signal the story's end.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 21: Princess Furball (Misty)

(real tale: Allerleirauh, or, The Many Furred Creature (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/382.htm))

"While we're on the subject of variations on tales Disney has made into movies, here's a variant on 'Cinderella' Lilly once told me." Misty explains before beginning "In a far away land, a king prepared to say goodbye to his dying queen. The last thing the queen told her beloved was that if the king remarried again, he choose a wife that matched her in beauty and wits. If he did not, then his successor was to do the same."

"This isn't one of those variants where the dad wants to marry his own daughter, is it?" Ash winces at the thought of the king marrying his own princess.

"Thankfully, no." Misty assures Ash. "The king couldn't bear to marry another, but he did have a daughter that matched her mother in beauty and wits. As the years went by, the king called his advisors together, and told them that as he had no sons to succeed him, one of them would inherit the throne when he died. The princess, who we'll call Luna, wasn't fond of any of the advisors, but her father forced her to marry the high chamberlain."

"So what did Princess Luna do?" Melody asks.

"The night before her wedding day, Princess Luna packed four treasures of hers. Three of those were dresses--one was as gold as the sun, one was as silver as the moon, and the other appeared to be make of crystal, so it glittered like the stars. The fourth treasure was a thick fur coat made from all kinds of Pokemon furs that her mother had made for her. She wrapped herself in the fur coat and left at nightfall, while everyone else was asleep."

"Did her father figure out she was gone?" Brock is concerned.

"Luna traveled all through the night until she came to the palace of another land." Misty replies. "She told the king that she was a wandering traveler in search of work. The king felt sorry for Luna, and offered her a job in the kitchen. Since Luna told no one her name, and always wore the fur coat as she worked..." She adds as an aside "since it got pretty cold down in the kitchen...everyone just called her Furball."

"Wonder how long it took for them to figure out Furball was really a princess..." Ash muses.

"Some months went by, and before long, it was time for the summer festival." Misty continues. "The castle hosted a ball to celebrate, and Princess Luna wanted to go. The head cook said okay, provided she be back in an hour for cleanup duty. After washing the soot from her face and putting on the golden dress, Princess Luna went out to enjoy the festivities. She enjoyed herself immensely, and the hour flew by as she danced for the crowd, who were awed at the lovely lady that shone like a golden sunbeam."

A click gets Misty's attention--she gasps as she sees her fiddle case open on its own. "What the..." she gasps as the fiddle and bow land in her lap.

"If we're talking about a ball, I wonder what it was the band was playing that Princess Luna danced to." Melody explained.

A trill of a whistle and an expectant D chord make Misty sigh--not from annoyance, but nostalgia--the three of them haven't played together at all this night. "Okay, we can play a set to give you an idea of what Princess Luna danced to." With that, she sets to work tuning up.

Once Misty is tuned, she leads the boys into a set appropriately titled "The Golden Heart Set". "The hour flew by quickly, but as Luna raced back to the kitchen, she didn't know the prince of the land had his eye on her." Misty continues as the last note dies. "Some more months went by, and the anniversary of the kingdom's founding drew near. The castle again held the best party in the kingdom, and Princess Luna again asked the head cook if she could enjoy the festivities. The cook said okay, provided she be back in an hour for cleanup duty."

"Azu?" Azurill asks.

"Princess Luna washed the soot from her face, put on the silver dress, and went out to enjoy the festivities. Many were awed by the lady in silver that glowed like moonlight." Misty replies as she prepares to play again. "The hour went by quickly as Luna enjoyed the many reels and dances, one set of which went something like this...."

"I'll start it this time." Brock volunteers. After snapping a few times to count his friends off, the three of them play "The Silver Moonlight Set".

Pikachu leads the applause when the set ends. "Some more months went by, and it wasn't long before the prince's birthday drew near." Misty continues. "By now, the prince was beginning to think that the maiden in gold and the maiden in silver were one and the same, but he wasn't quite sure. Princess Luna, after receiving the okay to enjoy an hour of the festivities, washed her face, put on the crystal gown, and went out to dance. Many in the crowd were awed by the lady in crystal that sparkled like the stars. Even the prince wanted to dance with her!"

With that, Ash leads the charge into "The Wishmaker Polkas". Pikachu sweeps Melody into his paws as she shifts to Pirouette form, and the two of them dance by the fire to the spirited tunes, as if they are the prince and Princess Luna.

After the Vermilion Polka races to its conclusion, Misty continues her tale. "When the hour was up, the prince followed Luna to the kitchen. He arrived as she changed into the fur coat, but the glint of crystal clued him that the maiden he had danced with, plus the maids of gold and silver, were one and the same."

"So what did the prince do?" Ash asks, nervously fingering his whistle.

"He listened as Princess Luna told her story from start to finish, and why she had to hide her identity." Misty concludes. "When she finished, he confessed his love for her, and explained the situation to his father the next day. It wasn't long before they were married, and they all lived happily ever after."

"Aw..." Brock smiles.

"I believe it's bedtime for the little ones." Ash notes when he spots Azurill asleep by his feet. Melody yawns in agreement.

"We'll tell more stories tomorrow, okay?" Brock assures Happini as the group puts away their instruments for another night.

(what the gang plays: this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rgl_PVcHVI), this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFMXWLqZNgc), and this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij1l1mQ3dNE))

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 22: The Cleverest One (Ash)

(real tale: The Cleverest Fool (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20120819))


The soft rumble of thunder outside makes Misty sigh the next morning as she enters Ash's tent. "So much for going fishing today..."

"It's going to rain all day." Brock agrees, giving Pikachu a nod as he enters the tent.

Inspired, Ash fishes a whistle from his bag as Pikachu begins a game of Hearts with Azurill and Happini. "There was once a king who had a son he loved very much--let's call the son Ryan. However, he was concerned Ryan didn't have the wisdom to succeed him. Every day the teachers at the royal academy would tell the king that Ryan's grades were terrible."

"Was he deliberately not trying, or did he actually put in an effort?" Brock asks.

"He actually put in an honest attempt." Ash replies. "But despite his efforts, Ryan still did horrible on tests. So the king called in his wisest advisor and asked him what to do."

"Forgive me for interuppting, but may I come in?" a female voice calls from outside.

Misty unzips the tent, allowing Melody to fly inside. "You were saying?" she asks Ash as she dries Melody off.

"The advisor suggested that Ryan travel on a journey around the world, and learn something from every place he visited." Ash continues. "So Ryan was given gold and supplies for his journey, and seen off with great fanfare the next day."

"So, what did Prince Ryan learn on his adventures?" Melody is interested.

"He learned much, and met many people on his travels." Ash replies. "Rich or poor, old or young, good or bad--Ryan asked questions of all of them, and listened intently to their wisdom."

He readies the whistle to play as he continues "One day, as Ryan traveled through a marketplace, he heard a Swablu's song over the chaos."

Melody is impressed as Ash plays a spot on mimic of a Swablu's song. "That was perfect!"

"Ryan followed the song until he met a breeder selling the little bird Pokemon, and asked what he could learn from a Swablu." Ash continues. "The breeder told him that sometimes, a Swablu could sing a song that put anyone that heard it to sleep."

"Pika pi..." Pikachu giggles as he remembers past encounters with Jigglypuff.

"Ryan was impressed, and bought a Swablu for company." Ash continues. "A week went by, and Ryan met a breeder of Arons on the road. When he asked what he could learn from an Aron, the breeder told him they were renowned for eating through walls if they were hungry enough. Ryan was piqued, and bought an Aron for company."

Brock nods in approval. Ash is doing very well with not rushing...

"Another week went by, and Ryan met a breeder of Beautiflies on the road." Ash goes on. "Ryan asked what he could learn from a Beautifly, and the breeder replied that despite their bright colors and docile personality, they could even carry humans on their wings if need be."

"Wow!" Misty is impressed at this.

"Ryan bought a Beautifly for company, and went on his way." Ash continues. "After a while, he came to a land being terrorized by a giant. He had captured the princess, and threatened to destroy the kingdom if anyone dared try to rescue her."

Happini gasps, dropping her cards. "Pini pini?" she asks as Pikachu picks up her scattered hand.

"Ryan decided he was going to try saving the princess, and set out for the giant's cave." Ash replies. "When he got close, he saw the trolls guarding the entrance, and told his Swablu to sing."

Everyone laughs as Ash plays Jigglypuff's song for effect. "The trolls fell fast asleep, allowing Ryan inside the maze of passageways. It took a few hours, but it wasn't long before he heard crying behind a certain wall. Ryan's Aron had not eaten since the morning, so it easily chewed a passageway through the wall."

"And then?" Misty asks, excited for a battle.

"The princess--we'll call her Clara--was surprised at how Ryan had gotten in." Ash continues. "She asked him how they were going to get out--since there was a troll guarding her as well. Ryan told his Swablu to sing again..." He pauses to play the notes that match "Simple as can be..." from the Eight Melodies. "and that troll was out like a light too!"

He concludes "After retracing his steps outside, Ryan summoned his Beautifly, who whisked Princess Clara home. Clara's father the king was ecstatic to see his daughter again, and offered him half the kingdom as a reward. But Princess Clara told her father that she would prefer to take Prince Ryan as her husband, as they had fallen in love on the way home. Prince Ryan and Princess Clara were soon married, and they all lived happily ever after."

Misty leads the applause. "Is it possible for a couple to fall in love that fast?"

"Well, if the giant's cave was a long way from the castle, it's possible." Brock assures Misty.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 23: The Shining Ponyta (Brock)

(real tale: The Magician's Horse (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/211.htm))


"If there's one thing I've learned on my travels, Shiny Pokemon tend to show up in many tales. More often than not, this Shiny Pokemon is a Ponyta." Brock explains. "I learned this particular Shiny Ponyta tale in Fallarbor Town..."

"No wonder it took forever for us to get on the chairlift to Lavaridge that day..." Ash muses.

Brock just ignores Ash's comment. "Once a young prince was wandering through a forest--we'll call him Tristan. Tristan had been separated from his brothers during a hunt, and was looking for a safe place to spend the night. Just as it started to get dark, Tristan stumbled upon a castle in a clearing.

"Did it belong to a monster?" Melody swallows hard.

"No--but Tristan did spend an hour or two wandering through the many rooms." Brock assures Melody. "Eventually he found the kitchen, which was packed with all kinds of food and drinks. Tristan helped himself, and didn't find it odd that whatever he ate and drank was magically replenished."

"Mm..." Ash's mouth begins to water as he pictures himself in such a kitchen.

"Figured that Ash's favorite part in a tale usually has to do with food." Misty sighs.

Brock just continues. "After a while, Tristan ran into the castle's owner--an old mage. Tristan explained to him why he was wandering through the castle's many rooms, and asked if he could serve as a servant. The mage agreed, and gave him a gold piece a day in return for a day's work. For a while, Tristan made himself right at home tending to the stove and the Shiny Ponyta in the stables, among other things. But he didn't know that his master was a fallen mage, and the fire in the stove was the source of his power. If it ever went out, he would die."

"You're rushing..." Ash whispers.

Brock blushes with embarrassment. "So I am..." he confesses as Misty and Melody laugh.

"And then?" Melody asks as she dries a tear of laughter.

"One day, Tristan forgot to tend to the stove, and nearly let the fire go out." Brock continues. "The mage scolded him for this, and made him sleep in the stables for the night as punishment."

"Are there magic instruments involved here?" Ash interrupts.

"I'm getting to that." Brock replies. "There are magic items, though." He then continues. "As he sulked in the stables, the Shiny Ponyta spoke to him." As a young girl, he intones "Saddle me quickly, and take along the three magic jewels in the bottle on the shelf."

As himself, he continued. "Tristan did as he was told, and stoked the fire in the stove so much, it almost burned the castle to the ground. It was enough of a distraction to allow Tristan and the Ponyta to ride far away from the mage's domain.

"But the mage chased them, right?" Misty asks.

"He chased them, all right--he was hopping mad at finding his castle almost burnt to cinders." Brock replies. "Just when it seemed the mage would catch Tristan, Tristan took a ruby from the bottle and cast a spell..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"Thanks, Melody." Brock smiles. "The ruby conjured a great mirror, which shattered when the mage and his Ponyta crashed into it. It bought Tristan and his mount time to run on ahead, though."

"I bet all that glass had to hurt." Ash muses.

"Not to mention seven years' bad luck on top of that." Misty agrees.

"Just when Tristan and his mount thought they were safe, Tristan saw the mage approaching on a cloud. Tristan took an emerald from the bottle and cast another spell..." He motions for Melody to sing another spellsong.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody sings.

"The emerald conjured a great forest, which the mage now had to cut his way out of." Brock continues. "It did buy Tristan and his mount time to ride further on, almost to the border of his homeland. But before he could cross the border, he saw the mage approaching in a ball of fire.

"Pini?" Happini asks, excited.

"He took the third gem from the bottle and cast another spell..." Brock replies.

Rou iitsa ron selga viichii... Melody sings without any prompting.

"The sapphire conjured a great river--and you all know what happens when fire meets water." Brock deadpans.

Ash nods. "Water beats fire."

"With his pursuer dead, Tristan and the Shiny Ponyta crossed the border into another land, where they had the first of many more adventures." Brock concludes. "But that is another story for another day."

"Pini pini hapi?" Happini asks as the others applaud.

Brock thinks a moment. "If I get around to thinking up a sequel, I'll include a princess for Tristan to love, okay?"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 24: Chance and the Witch (Misty)

(real tale: Ebsen and the Witch (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/428.htm))


"There was once a man that had twelve sons." Misty begins. "While the other eleven were strong and brave, the twelveth preferred to stay at home instead of joining in the rough and tumble games his brothers played. Since his parents didn't expect to have him, he was named Chance--since it was by chance he was born."

"Very nice name." Brock notes.

"The year finally came when the boys were of age, and Chance's brothers went out into the world to seek their fortunes." Misty continues. "While Chance enjoyed having the house to himself at first, he secretly wished he could go out into the world himself. But as his parents had gone all out on his brothers, they didn't have the money to secure a Ponyta for Chance."

"Moral of the story--live within your means." Brock whispers to the Pokemon.

"I'm nowhere near done!" Misty snaps. Brock slinks away as she continues "So Chance went into the forest, broke off a tree branch, enchanted it to fly when he cast a certain spell, gathered his belongings, and went off after his brothers."

There is silence as everyone contemplates what Misty has told them so far. Finally, Ash works up the courage to ask "So, what adventures did Chance get into?"

"Before I tell you that, I have to tell you what adventures his brothers got into." Misty assures Ash.

"Pack a lunch--this could take a while." Brock groans as he pictures Misty telling each brother's adventures in excruciating detail.

"Relax, it won't take THAT long." Misty replies. "The brothers made their way into a forest, and came upon a witch's cottage. They asked the witch for a night's lodging, never mind the large numbers of Oshawotts and other Pokemon running around the house. The witch agreed, in return for a day's service for her. The brothers discovered that the witch had eleven daughters. and each took one as a bride."

She continues. "Meanwhile, Chance had followed his brothers and hid himself under one of the beds. He knew well why there were millions of Pokemon running around the house--every night, as any guests slept, she would turn them into Pokemon and keep them as her pets."

"Oh..." Ash muses as he figures out what fate awaits Chance's brothers.

"Chance woke up his brothers and told them what was about to happen to them. He told them to give their caps to their brides, and leave them behind." Misty continues. "Not long after Chance and his brothers had fled, the witch crept into the bedroom, and wound up turning her own daughters into Pokemon!"

Melody's laughter is the loudest as the group pictures the witch's reaction. "Chance's brothers thanked him for saving their lives. They rode on until they came to a palace in another land, where they asked the king if they could enter his service. The king agreed, and put the brothers in charge of the royal stables, and Chance in charge of the royal library."

"Pini!" Happini cheers--if there is a king, then a princess is not far away!

"Now, among all the king's knights was one particular knight named Sir Duncan." Misty continued. "While the king favored Sir Duncan for his loyalty and bravery, the rest of the kingdom hated him for his black heart. He grew jealous of the eleven brothers, and plotted to get rid of them and Chance."

"Uh oh..." Ash is fearful for the twelve brothers' fates.

"Every day, Sir Duncan would come before the king with some charge or another against the brothers, and every time, the king refused to believe him." Misty continues. "Finally, Sir Duncan claimed he had heard the brothers say that they knew of a Pidove that shone like the moon. The king summoned the brothers, and although they insisted they knew of no such Pidove, the king told them to find the Shiny Pidove, or else."

"What about Chance?" Brock asks.

"Chance heard his brothers crying over their task, and offered to help them." Misty explains. "He told them he would find such a Pidove. True to his word, Chance took a bag of Rindo Berries and his enchanted stick, and commanded the stick to fly." She pauses to sing Karuto, iichiida shou...

"Keep going!" Brock smiles, pleased at how well Misty is doing. "You're doing great!"

"Chance flew towards the witch's cottage, and scattered the Rindo Berries on the ground." Misty continues. "Sure enough, the Shiny Pidove flew down to eat the Rindo Berries, and Chance caught it easily. He hoped to get out of there without being seen, but the witch found him!"

"Azu? Azu?" Azurill asks.

"She asked him..." In character as a witch, she intones "Is that you, young man?"

"Y-yes..." she stammers as herself.

"Did you take my Pidove?" she demands as the witch.

"Y-y-yes...." she replies. Ash stifles a giggle at Misty's feigned fear.

"Did you turn my daughters into Pokemon?" she asks as the witch.

"Y-yes..." she replies as herself. This continues for a while:

"Will you be back again?"

"Maybe."

"Then you're gonna get it!" she screeches as the witch, startling Happini and Azurill.

'Ha pini pi?" Happini asks, shuddering a little.

"Before the witch could catch Chance, he had already flown off with the Pidove." Misty assures Happini as herself. "The king was stunned that the brothers managed to find a Shiny Pidove, and rewarded them handsomely. But this made Sir Duncan even more jealous of them."

"This is getting good...and then what happened?" Ash asks, excited.

"Some months went by, and Sir Duncan came before the king again, claiming he had heard the brothers talking about a Tepig that shone like gold." Misty continues. The king summoned the brothers, and told them to find the Shiny Tepig, or else."

"I have a feeling I know where this is going..." Brock whispers to Ash.

"Yeah, but your version involves a Shiny Ponyta and three magic instruments." Ash whispers back.

"Chance agreed to help his brothers again, and left aboard his magic stick." Misty continues, pausing to sing Karuto, iichiida shou... again. "He took along a bag of grain, and scattered it on the ground. The Shiny Tepig came out to eat the grain, and Chance caught it easily. But before he could get out of there unseen, the witch found him!" She then proceeds to singlehandedly create the conversation between Chance and the witch:

"Is that you, young man?"

"Y-yes..."

"Is that you that took my little Tepig?"

"Y-yes..."

"Did you take my Pidove?"

"Y-yes..." The boys giggle at this.

"Did you turn my daughters into Pokemon?"

"Y-yes..."

"Will you be back again?"

"Maybe."

"Then you're gonna get it!"

Happini and Azurill scream with delight at this. "The king was stunned that the brothers had found a Shiny Tepig, and rewarded them handsomely." Misty assures the group as herself. "Though the brothers were relieved their lives were spared again, they had no clue that Chance had found both Pokemon."

"Who wants to bet Sir Duncan sends them after a gold Riolu next?" Ash whispers.

"Or a crystal Onix?" Brock suggests.

"That reminds me, I need to tell you that story." Ash smiles at the memory.

Misty, meanwhile, has other ideas. "Some months went by, and Sir Duncan came before the king a third time, saying he had overheard the brothers talking about a lamp that shone so bright, it could be seen everywhere."

Ash fills in what is coming next. "So the king summoned the brothers and told them to find said lamp, or else."

"Even though the brothers had no clue where such a lamp existed." Brock adds.

Misty smiles. "Since you're obviously paying attention, can you tell me what happened next?"

"Chance saw his brothers crying, and asked to help." Melody replies.

Misty nods, pleased that the boys and Melody have caught on to the repeated elements in the lengthy tale. "he asked for some salt, and left aboard his magic stick." She then sings Karuto, iichiida shou... again.

"Pini pini?" Happini asks.

"Chance arrived at the witch's cottage as it was getting dark, so the courtyard was closed up." Misty explained. "So he landed on the roof and went down the chimney instead."

"Azu azu!" Azurill smiles.

"Yeah, just like Santa." Brock smiles as he pets Azurill.

"Chance saw the lamp in the kitchen, but just as he reached for it, he saw the witch's only remaining human daughter enter the kitchen to make dinner for the night." Misty explained. "When she wasn't looking, Chance slipped some salt in the broth. That ruined the soup, and so the human daughter had to go out to the well to get more water to make new broth."

"Hapi?" Happini asks.

"Chance followed her, took the lamp when she set it on the rock, and pushed her in the well!" Misty continues, making the boys laugh. "The yelp got the witch's attention!" She begins the rigamarole again:

"Is that you, young man?"

"Y-yes..."

"Did you take my Pidove?"

"Y-yes..."

"Is that you that took my little Tepig?"

"Y-yes..."

"Did you turn my daughters into Pokemon?"

"Y-yes..."

"Did you soak my remaining daughter to the bone?"

"Y-yes..."

"Will you be back again?"

"No, never again!"

The boys applaud the interplay. "That got the witch so mad, she became a puff of smoke and disappeared, never to be seen again." Misty continues. "All the people she had turned into Pokemon--including her daughters--became human again, and the brothers were reunited with their brides."

She concludes "Chance told the king what really happened, and Sir Duncan was put to death for lying to the king. Chance was hailed as a hero, and they all lived happily ever after."

"WOW!!!" Ash leads the applause. "I didn't know your tale was that long!"

"Believe me--Violet made it even longer." Misty cautions. "But I had to end it somewhere, and since things in folktales usually come in threes, I stopped there."

Brock smiles. "I have trained you well in the way of the storyteller, Nincada..."

"Aw, it was nothing." Misty giggles. "It helps when you have two really good teachers!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 25: The Clever Meowth (Ash)

(real tale: The Clever Cat (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/141.htm))

"There once was a man who lived with his wife and son somewhere in a far away land." Ash begins. "One year, he caught a terrible disease. Before he died, he gave his son his three most prized Pokemon--a Pidgeot, a Meowth, and an Arcanine." Ash begins. "The day after the funeral, the boy--we'll call him Dillon-- took his team and told his mom he was going hunting for dinner."

"So what did he catch?" Melody asks.

"On the way, he spotted a herd of Sawsbucks, and his Arcanine easily caught one." Ash replies. "His Pidgeot caught him a Magikarp from a nearby pond, and the Meowth chased away all the Ratattas in the barn. Just as he arrived home, a man approached him and asked him to come with him to a lake."

"Hm..." Brock is intrigued.

"Once there, the man told Dillon to step into the water, and gave him a pendant of magical breathing." Ash goes on. "He was told to bring up as much gold as he could carry, and then they would divide it. Dillon jumped into the water and sank down to the bottom. He saw a lot of gold coins on the bottom, but he was most intrigued by a diamond in the lakebed. When he picked it up, it spoke to him!"

"A talking gem? That's a new one..." Misty muses.

"The diamond said..." In character as young lady, Ash intones "As long as you carry me, your wishes will come true. Flee from this place when you surface--the one that brought you here is really an ogre in human form."

"So what did Dillon do when he got back to the surface?" Melody asks.

"Luckily, the ogre was nowhere in sight, so Dillon wished for a Ponyta and fine clothing." Ash continues. "The diamond flashed twice, and Dillon soon found a Ponyta on the shore, and he was clothed in a prince's clothing."

"Pini!!!" Happini gets starry eyed as she pictures what Dillon looks like.

"Dillon rode home with his Pokemon, but his mom did a double take when she saw him." Ash continues, making the others laugh. "Dillon assured his mom it was him, and that he had gotten the clothes honestly. She almost did another double take when Dillon asked her to tell the king he wanted the hand of the princess in marriage."

"There's your princess..." Brock smiles, almost stifling a giggle at Happini dreamily imagining what the princess looks like.

"The king thought Dillon's mom was nuts at first, but eventually, he told her Dillon would have to pass three challenges--build a palace of ice, make it unable to melt from fire, and fill it with all kinds of birds." Ash continued. "When Dillon was told what to do, he wished for the ice palace that didn't melt from fire, and filled with singing bird Pokemon." He grabs his whistle and mimics a singing Taillow for effect.

"And they all lived happily ever after, the end." Misty guesses.

"I'm not done yet!" Ash cautions. "A few years went by after Dillon and the princess married, and the ogre discovered that his wishing diamond was missing. So he disguised himself as a merchant, and went to the ice palace."

"And not knowing any better, the princess gave the ogre the wishing stone, right?" Melody asks.

"Yeah, and once she saw the palace begin melting, it dawned on her what she did. She tearfully told Dillon what had happened." Ash replies. "Dillon vowed he would get the stone back, and once sure the princess and her retinue were back in her father's castle, he sent his Pidgeot to find the orge's lair."

"This is getting good..." Brock muses.

"The Pidgeot told Dillon that the orge's lair was on the farthest reaches of the land. The Meowth eagerly volunteered, and so they left for the orge's lair early the next morning." Ash continues. "They landed by a forest, where the Meowth asked a passing Pikachu to help them."

"Pika?" Pikachu perks up at hearing his kind mentioned.

"The Pikachu easily dug into the cave and retrieved the wishing stone, and the Meowth gave him a Berry as thanks." Ash continues. "But on the way back, the two Pokemon fought over who would take credit for finding the stone. In the ruckus, they dropped the stone into a river."

"Uh oh!" Melody gasps.

"As the Pidgeot frantically looked in the river, a Goldeen asked what the matter was." Ash continues. "The Meowth explained the situation, and a Seaking arrived with the stone.

"The two Pokemon returned, and Dillon was relieved the wishing stone was safe." he concludes. "Dillon wished for a palace made of marble, and he lived there with his beloved for many years."

Misty leads the applause. "Well, that was....interesting..."

"My only suggestion would be to give the Arcanine something to do next time." Brock suggests. "It felt odd not having it go with the other Pokemon."

Ash nods. "I'll keep that in mind for next time."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 26: The Clever Weaver (Brock)

(real tale: The Clever Weaver (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/349.htm))


"My next tale today's going to be a little different..." Brock explains as he digs a pad of paper and a marker from his bag. "I'll be drawing a few pictures as I tell that are important to the story."

With that, he begins "Once a king of a far away land was hearing disputes among his people. It had been a slow morning, and there had not been many cases to be heard. The king thought about going to relax in the royal gardens when a great commotion was heard outside. The lord high chamberlain explained that an envoy from an eastern land had arrived."

"What's so scary about an envoy?" Melody asks.

"It wasn't the envoy that was scary, but the one who sent the envoy." Brock explains. "This particular land's emperor was feared by many other kings and queens for his hair trigger temper. So the king ordered the envoy admitted, and threw a huge banquet in his honor. But deep down, he dreaded the envoy's message."

"I would be too if I were a king and an envoy for a hot headed emperor showed up." Ash muses.

Brock begins drawing as he continues. "The envoy approached the throne, and traced a form of a circle around it with his walking stick." He then shows the group his drawing of a circle around the throne.

"So, the emperor has the kingdom surrounded?" Misty guesses.

"Or he's going to surround the kingdom and attack?" Ash also makes a guess.

"The royal court had no clue what the odd sign meant, and the envoy didn't say a word." Brock explains. "The king called his advisors together, but even they had no idea. The king pleaded with his advisors to do SOMETHING--for all he knew, the sign meant the emperor was coming to kill them all, or something worse than that."

"What did they do?" Ash was interested now.

"The ministers and advisors fanned out across the city, and asked all the townsfolk what the sign meant." Brock replies. "Most of them had no idea, but one minister noticed a weaver at work at her loom--we'll call her Jerica."

"Did she know the answer?" Melody asked.

"She listened as the minister told her about the envoy and the circle, and said that she had an idea what the circle meant, plus a response to the message." Brock replied. "She gathered some Berries and called her Pikachu to her side, and traveled to the palace."

"Pika pika?" Pikachu asks.

"Jerica told the king that the circle was, in essence, a declaration of war--the emperor was asking 'If my army surrounded your city, would you stand and fight, or submit to my rule?" Brock continues as he flips to another page on his pad and draws some more. "As the court looked on, Jerica scattered the Berries before the throne, and the Pikachu happily ate them all."

"Aw..." Ash smiles at Brock's drawing of a happy Pikachu surrounded by Oran Berry skins.

"Then Jerica explained her response--the Berries were the emperor's army, and the Pikachu was the king's army. If they were to engage in battle, her king would prevail."

"Cool!" Misty is impressed.

"The king was stunned by Jerica's wisdom, and handsomely rewarded her as thanks for saving the kingdom." Brock concludes. "Ever since then, the people of that land never forget that wisdom is sometimes found in the oddest of places."

"That was very clever!" Melody comments as she applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 27: The Gold Chalice and the Silver Sword (Misty)

(real tale: Castle of Kerglas (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/163.htm))


"There was once a poor orphan who struggled to survive on what little he earned as a minstrel." Misty begins. "People were enthralled at how beautiful his voice was, and many gave him food and a bed in return for a song.'

"What's the boy's name?" Ash wonders.

It dawns on Misty that she forgot to name the boy. "We'll call him...Arion. One day, Arion was out traveling when it started getting dark. He was too far away from town to rest in the inn--and he barely had enough for a room. But then he spotted a farmer's homestead, and asked the family if he could stay with them for the night. The woman of the house agreed, and prepared him a fine meal."

"Okay, then what?" Brock isn't impressed with what he has heard so far.

"It gets better, honest!" Misty assures Brock. "Having never had a proper meal before, Arion was amazed at how tasty everything was--he deemed every course worthy of a royal cook. The farmer's wife was touched at this, and told him he need only ask if he wanted more of something."

"And then?" Melody asks.

"As they were having dinner, a knight passed by the homestead, and asked the farmer if he knew the way to Castle Telchal." Misty continued. "The farmer's wife turned pale at this, and asked if he was really going there. The knight replied he had come from a far away land, and it had taken him three months to get to where this tale takes place."

"Wherever that is..." Ash mutters.

"Just assume it's your standard issue fairy tale far away land." Brock suggests.

"Thanks, Brock--that's a nice way to put it." Misty smiles. "Anyway, the knight was going to Castle Telchal in search of a gold chalice and a silver sword. Arion mentioned that he knew those things existed, but didn't know where. The knight told Arion that the chalice was a never ending source of healing water that cured any sickness and revived the dead. The silver sword was said to cut through anything--even diamond and mythril."

"Whoa...." Ash pictures himself as an adventurer wielding such a sword.

"Arion asked who the owner of the castle was, and the farmer's wife told Arion that the castle was ruled by an evil mage named Atavan." Misty explained. "Atavan always rode on a Ponyta with purple and black fire for its mane with a normal Ponyta foal behind him, and not even the bravest of heroes dared to attack him. However, he could not use the chalice or the sword inside the castle. The second he entered, they flew away to an unknown location within the castle.

"Oh, so the knight wants to fight him there..." Ash muses.

"As if riding three months and many adventures on the way wasn't enough, the knight still had a long way to go on his quest." Misty went on. "The farmer's wife tried to tell him to turn back, as many more had set out on the same quest, and never returned. The knight assured her that he, unlike the others, had visited the Sage of Koune."

"So what did the Sage of Koune tell this knight?" Brock is interested now.

"First he would pass through a haunted forest, then take a Leppa Berry from a fire fairy." Misty replied. "Then he would seek a smiling flower, guarded by a black Entei. He would then travel to Lake Cerulean, and battle a black knight with a huge mace. Then, after passing through the valley of the lotus, where many forget their homeland, he would meet a lady in white by a riverbank, who would tell him what to do next."

"Arion heard the whole thing, right?" Melody mused as she watched Ash dig for something in his bag.

"The farmer's wife wished the knight well on his quest, and pointed out the path to the haunted forest. And yes, Arion heard the whole thing." Misty replies. "The next day, the farmer offered Arion some work for the day tending the Tauros. Arion agreed to ten gold pieces, a day's wage. As Arion was driving the Tauros to pasture, he saw Atavan pass by on his darkfire Ponyta, with the normal Ponyta foal behind him. But after initially being afraid, Arion continued his work. The farmer was so pleased with how well Arion had done, he allowed Arion to stay as long as he wanted until he had enough money to support himself, treating him as one of his own sons."

"Ah ha!" Ash interuppts as he unearths a harmonica in his bag.

"Not yet, Ash." Misty reminds him. "I have a part for you to use the harmonica and the whistle to do sound effects, just not yet."

"Okay..." Ash replies.

"One day, as Arion was watching the Tauros by the forest, a light mage named Anadin met him. Arion was concerned, but he soon found out that Anadin was Atavan's brother, so he knew the way to Castle Telchal well, but since he couldn't pass through the haunted forest--as the spirits and creatures there would fiercely attack a mage of the light, he simply summoned the normal Ponyta, a little filly named..."

"Happini!" Happini suggests.

"Yeah, Epona." Brock suggests.

Misty considers the name, never mind it is already used in Zelda. "Okay, we can call it Epona." she sighs. "Arion asked how to summon the little filly Epona, and Anadin took a few reeds. He then played this song..." Misty motions for Ash to play.

Ash fillls in the familiar notes of Epona's Song on the harmonica. "Sure enough, Epona came running to Anadin's side some seconds later..."

Azurill whines, prompting Misty to look at her Match Call. "Oh, not only is it naptime, but lunch time...." she muses.

"We can always hear about Arion's adventure another time." Brock assures the group as he gets out his cooking gear....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 28: The Lucky Wheat Stalk (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 16, story 1)

"Since Azurill is sleeping, we can't do anything too noisy." Misty reminds Ash.

Ash thinks for a moment, then begins. "There was once a man who, despite his hard work and perseverance, was very unlucky--we'll call him Kichirou. One day, he went to the village temple, and asked Arceus for just a little luck. In fact, he spent the whole day in there, pouring his heart out to Arceus."

"What did Arceus say?" Brock is interested.

"Before long, night had fallen, and Kichirou soon fell asleep." Ash continues. "As he slept, Arceus appeared to him. The light from his holy aura was so bright, it lit up the shrine like the daytime."

"That must've been beautiful to see..." Misty sighs dreamily.

"Arceus told Kichirou to take the first thing he found when he left the shrine and travel westward." Ash continues. "Kichiro thanked Arceus and left, tripping over himself on the way out."

Misty and Brock giggle at this, and Azurill laughs in her sleep. "When Kichirou brushed himself off, he saw he had picked up a small wheat stalk. He pocketed it and started down the western road." Ash continues. "He didn't get far when a Venonat started buzzing around his head and annoying him."

"And he squished it with the wheat stalk." Brock fills in what he thinks will happen next.

"Actually, Kichirou couldn't bring himself to squish the Venonat, so he carefully caught it in his hands and tied it to the wheat stalk." Ash continues. "After walking down the road for a while, he passed a mother trying to calm her crying baby girl. When the baby girl saw the Venonat tied to the wheat stalk, she laughed."

"Aw..." Melody comments over the heartwarming scene.

"The mother thanked Kichirou for calming her baby girl, and gave him some Oran berries in exchange for the Venonat on the wheat stalk." Ash continued. "Kichirou went a little farther down the road, when he saw an exhausted girl under a tree. He felt sorry for the girl, and offered her the berries and some water. The girl thanked Kichirou for his kindness, and gave him some rainbow colored cloth as thanks."

"Pini..." Happini pictures such a cloth as Brock prepares her for a nap as well.

"Lunch will be ready when you wake up, okay?" Brock assures her.

"Remember this girl--she'll be important later." Ash reminds everyone.

"Who did Kichirou help next?" Melody is interested.

"A little farther down the road, Kichirou met a horseman tending to a wounded Ponyta. The horseman told Kichirou that he had been ambushed by Mightyenas, and in the ensuing tussle, his Ponyta's leg was injured." Ash continues. "Kichirou offered to trade the rainbow fabric for the Ponyta, and the horseman agreed--he figured the rainbow fabric would fetch him enough money for a new Ponyta to add to his herd. Kichiro took a break from traveling, and nursed the Ponyta back to health."

"And then?" Brock asks as he begins rolling meatballs for spaghetti.

"The next day, Kichirou and his Ponyta continued their journey west, until they came to what is now Celadon City." Ash continues. "The village elder noticed the man's Ponyta, and invited him to his house. As the elder and the man had lunch together, he introduced his daughter--we'll call her Aiya--to him. Kichirou was shocked when he recognized Aiya as the girl he helped before!"

"Oh...." Misty muses when she puts two and two together.

"I told you she'd be important later." Ash smiles before continuing "The elder thanked Kichirou for showing his daughter kindness. Kichirou settled down there, became very wealthy, fell in love with Aiya, and married her--although not necessarily in that order."

Misty and Brock giggle at Ash's quip as he concludes "Yet he always gave thanks to Arceus for the luck a single wheat stalk brought him."

Melody leads the applause. "That was a sweet tale..."

"Let's stick with the quick stuff until the babies wake up." Brock suggests...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 29: The Legend of Prince Arden and Princess Silvana (Brock)

(real tale: Prince Narcissus and the Princess Potentilla (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/362.htm))


After lunch and the babies have awakened from their naps, Brock asks Happini "How would you like a prince and princess story next?"

"Pini!" Happini replies.

Brock takes a moment to clear the dirty plates before beginning "In a far away land there lived a king and a queen--we'll call them King Theron and Queen Gilana."

Misty raises an eyebrow at the names. "Interesting..."

"King Theron was renowned as a skilled hunter, and a wise ruler." Brock continues. "Queen Gilana, on the other hand, couldn't care less about royal decorum--she only lived to have fun. There was always a party going on at the castle, so much so that the kingdom was in a bit of disrepair. But King Theron and Queen Gilana didn't mind--so long as their people were safe and the kingdom was somewhat secure, the outrageous hunting expeditions and lavish parties continued."

"Talk about opposites attracting..." Ash muses.

"The king and the queen had one child, a daughter--we'll call her Silvana." Brock continues as he cleans a dirty plate. "Princess Silvana was very beautiful, so much so that her mother grew jealous, and hid her away in a small fortress in a forest not far from the castle. "She only had her nurse for company and guards instructed to kill anyone that did not bring food, water, or a desired item."

"That's not very nice!" Ash is appalled at this.

"Sounds like a cross between 'Snow White' and 'Rapunzel'..." Misty notes.

"Queen Gilana would always tell some sob story or another about Princess Silvana, to the point where the whole court believed she was ugly, or sick, or insane, or some other terrible fate." Brock continues. "In actuality, Princess Silvana was quite beautiful, very strong and healthy, and clear minded. Some years went by, and a few days before Princess Silvana's sixteenth birthday, a young prince named Arden arrived and asked for her hand in marriage."

"Did he hear the stories about the princess?" Melody asks, concerned.

"Prince Arden had an interesting story in himself--he had lost his parents to a terrible disease when he was young, leaving his guardian fairy--we'll call her Kimalle--to look after him."

"Was she always yelling 'Hey!' at him?" Ash sarcastically asks.

"Actually, she trusted his wisdom, and taught him a great many things." Brock replies. "When Arden was of age, she gave him a mystical ring to remember her by, and that she would always watch over him."

He pauses to organize the now cleaned plates. "But I digress...Prince Arden heard all the sob stories of Princess Silvana, and vowed to find out if any of them were true. It turned out the stories couldn't be farther from the truth--after slipping past the guards with his ring, Arden met Silvana in the tower--and the two fell madly in love with each other."

"And they all lived happily ever after, the end!" Ash interjects, a smug smile on his face.

"The story can't be over now!" Melody scolds Ash. "There has to be some evil figure that steals the princess away, like a dragon or an evil wizard--or something!"

Brock grins at Melody. "In fact, it was an evil wizard that threatened Prince Arden and Princess Silvana's budding relationship. This evil wizard's name was Darstan, and one day, he teleported himself to Princess Silvana's tower. Understandably, Princess Silvana was freaked out, and demanded to know where her prince was. Kimalle happened to be watching this whole encounter, and warned Silvana about who Darstan was. Darstan meanwhile, was about to kiss Silvana's hand, when Kimalle casted a spell of lightning, making him rear back in surprise." He then sings in character as a young girl Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

Happini cheers at the sung "spell". She listens as Darstan tries everything to steal Silvana away, only to be thwarted by Kimalle at every turn....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 30: Nina and the Three Blessings (Misty)

(real tale: Maiden Bright-Eye (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/430.htm))

"There was once a man who had two children--a boy and a girl--we'll call her Nina." Misty begins. "One year, his wife died from a terrible disease, but he remarried again some months later. Nina's new stepmother was very cruel to her, but treated her own daughter like a queen."

"Sounds like Cinderella..." Ash comments.

"I can assure you, this is different!" Misty assures Ash. "Anyway, one day, Nina's stepmother sent her out to pick flowers for a centerpiece, giving her three very bland and dry pancakes for her dinner."

"Ick..." Brock makes a disgusted face at what Nina has to eat.

"As Nina was working, she inadvertently startled Celebi, who demanded to know why she was pulling up flowers." Misty continues. "Nina told Celebi what she was doing, and offered him some of her pancakes as an apology. Celebi was touched at Nina's kindness, and heartily ate the pancakes, even though they were very dry and very bland. Celebi gave Nina three blessings as thanks for her kindness--first, he blessed her with a beautiful body and a beautiful heart, so there would be few like her. Next, he blessed her with the gift of wisdom, so all that heard her would want to listen to her words and her song, and coins and jewels would fall from her mouth when she spoke. Then he blessed her with friendship--one day, she would befriend the young king, and become queen of the land."

"Wow!" Ash is impressed.

"Celebi also gave Nina a magic cap, telling her to only wear it if it was an emergency." Misty goes on. "When she returned home, her stepmother hardly recognized her." Misty shoots Brock The Look, snapping him from his daydream of what Nina probably looks like. "Nina told her stepmother what had happened, and the stepmother concluded that if Celebi was so nice to Nina, she would do the same for her stepsister--we'll call her Aina."

"Anagrams, very clever." Brock notices the two sister's names are simply rearrangements of the same letters.

"Pini pini?" Happini asks.

"An anagram is a word, phrase, or sentence formed from another by rearranging the letters." Brock explains. "Just like Nina and Aina. Nina means 'pretty eyes', and Aina is a variant of the ancient Finnish goddess Aino, who was said to be very vain according to Finnish myth..."

"Okay, Professor Brock, are you finished with your lecture?" Misty sighs, annoyed.

"I'll tell you more later." Brock whispers to Happini before telling Misty "I'm finished--please continue."

"Anyway, Aina went out to pick flowers, and ended up disturbing Celebi." Misty continues, but when Celebi demanded to know why she was disturbing flowers, Aina just whacked him with a stick."

The boys chuckle as they picture Celebi's angry face. "Celebi was so mad, he cursed Aina three times--first, he cursed her to be so ugly, a Mismagius would be prettier. Next, he cursed her to have a voice like a Toxicroak, and Croagunks would fall from her mouth when she spoke."

Brock's laughter is the hardest at the curse. "Celebi's third curse was the worst--Aina would die an untimely and painful death." Misty intones. "Needless to say, the stepmother was shocked when she saw what had happened to her daughter."

"What about Nina's brother?" Ash asks.

"Nina's brother--we'll call him Leon--had entered the king's service. The king had heard about Nina, and wished to marry her. So when Leon came home to bring Nina to the palace, the stepmother snuck Aina on board in disguise. Once they were out to sea, Aina locked Nina in the brig, and passed herself off as her stepsister. The king was horrified with all the Croagunks and Aina's horrible voice, and ordered Leon thrown into the pit of Arboks for lying to him."

"Hap pini pini pi!" Happini is shocked by this turn of events.

Misty just smiles. "Remember that magic cap Celebi gave Nina earlier?"

"Pika pi?" Pikachu is interested.

"When Nina put it on, she transformed into a Pidgey, and flew out of the brig and all the way to the palace." Misty continued. "She landed by the window looking into the royal kitchen, where one of the guard Growlithes was resting. When she was in range to speak to it, she called 'Good evening'"

"And to you the same, Lady Pidgey." Ash fills in the Growlithe's dialogue.

"Where is my brother?"

"He is in the Arbok pit."

"Where is my wicked sister?"

"She is with the noble king."

"Alas! Alas! I am here this evening, and shall be for two more, and then I shall never come again."

Brock applauds the interplay. "Some of the kitchen maids heard this conversation and wondered what it was about." Misty continued. "The next night, the Pidgey returned, and the exchange occurred a second time with all the kitchen maids and the royal cook present."

She then begins. "Good evening..."

"And to you the same, Lady Pidgey." Ash replies as the Growlithe.

"Where is my brother?"

"He is in the Arbok pit."

"Where is my wicked sister?"

"She is with the noble king."

"Alas! Alas! I am here this evening, and shall be for one more, and then I shall never come again."

The Pokemon join Brock in applauding the interplay. "The cook staff tried to catch the Pidgey, but couldn't. They vowed they would catch it the next night. The third night, the cook watched as the Pidgey returned, and the exchange occurred a third time." She and Ash begin the rigamarole a third time:

"Good evening..."

"And to you the same, Lady Pidgey."

"Where is my brother?"

"He is in the Arbok pit."

"Where is my wicked sister?"

"She is with the noble king."

"Alas! Alas! Now I shall never come again."

"And then?" Brock asks as he applauds.

"Just before the Pidgey could fly away, the cook caught it in his hands, and was shocked to see it was a Shiny Pidgey. The entire cook staff couldn't bear to cook a beautiful gold Pokemon, and so they adopted it as a pet." Misty continues. "Meanwhile, Leon saw Nina appear to him as a Shiny Pidgey in a dream, and when he plucked one of the shiny feathers, she became human again. He told this to the jailer, who told a servant, and so on until it reached the king."

"Azu?" Azu asks, her eyes shining hopefully.

"The king ordered Leon freed, and told him he would forgive him and give a harsher sentence to Aina if he could show him Nina." Misty continued. "Leon said he would if he had the Shiny Pidgey the cook kept as a pet. The cook complied, and Leon plucked one of the feathers, and there was Nina, in her true form."

She concludes. "Aina was thrown into the Arbok pit in a spiked barrel, while the king and Nina were married. As a sign of forgiveness, he made Leon the prime minister, where he served for many years. The king and Nina lived happily ever after."

"Azu!" Azu leads the applause.

Misty smiles at Ash. "Thanks for the help."

"Anytime." Ash replies. "Telling tales like this is fun!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 31: Langston, Brad, and Keane (Ash)

(real tale: Long, Broad, and Quickeye (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/188.htm))

"There was once a king who had a son he loved very much--we'll call the prince Luke." Ash begins. "Luke's father wanted very much to see Luke take a bride before he died. Luke wanted very much to please his father, but as there were many beautiful girls in the land, he didn't know which one to choose. Luke's father took him into the royal gallery, where many portraits of princesses hung."

"Pi..." Happini sighs dreamily at what the princess portraits may have looked like.

"There were many fine portraits in the gallery, but Luke noticed one princess that was not smiling, and told his father that was the princess he wanted to marry." Ash continues. "His father warned him that that princess, who we'll call Morgan, was being held captive in the castle of an evil wizard, who we'll call Arion. Many had tried to infiltrate Arion's castle, but none had returned. If someone could make the three enchanted jewels on Arion's belt glow, Princess Morgan would be freed."

Pikachu swallows hard at this. "Pika pika chu?" he asks.

"Prince Luke left with his father's blessings early the next morning, and it wasn't long before he got horribly lost in a forest." Ash replies.

"Did his servant read the map wrong?" Misty asks as she flashes a wry smile at Brock. Brock just chuckles as he remembers all the times they have gotten lost.

"Actually, Prince Luke was by himself." Ash interjects. "He befriended a man named Langston who had remarkable agility--he could stretch himself in all directions, and used his agility to find the way out of the forest. Prince Luke was touched by Langston's kindness, and offered for him to enter his service. Langston agreed to help Luke on his quest."

"Who else did Prince Luke meet?" Misty is interested.

"Langston introduced two of his friends to Prince Luke." Ash explains. "One was Brad, who could inhale anything in a single deep breath..."

"Pini!" Happini smiles.

"Yeah, like Kirby." Ash smiles. "The second was Keane, who could see things no average human could see."

"Azu..." Azurill is amazed at the prince's party.

"It was nightfall when Prince Luke and his party arrived at Arion's castle. There were all manner of stone statues of previous knights and adventurers that had tried to save Princess Morgan lining the halls." Ash continues. "Arion met them in the great hall. Sure enough, a jewel studded belt was around his waist, and a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald were the biggest stones on it. Arion told Prince Luke that he could have Princess Morgan if he could keep her from escaping for three nights. If he failed, he and his party would be turned to stone."

"And then?" Brock is interested now.

"Prince Luke fell madly in love with Princess Morgan, and the two spent a quiet evening together. After bidding Langston, Brad, and Keane to keep an eye on Princess Morgan, Luke went to bed."

"Pika pika?" Pikachu asks, eager to know what happens next.

"The next morning, Prince Luke saw Princess Morgan was gone. Keane informed him that Princess Morgan had learned a little magic herself, and was hidden in a forest a hundred miles away, disguised as an acorn." Ash assures Pikachu. "So with Langston's help, they brought the princess back. When Arion returned and saw the princess, the ruby on his belt glowed with his anger."

"What did he see the second day?" Misty is curious to know more about the castle.

"He saw servants, maids, ladies, minstrels, and Pokemon, all frozen in stone." Ash explained. "The party spent another pleasant evening together, but the next morning, Princess Morgan was gone."

"Which way did she go, Ash? Which way did she go?" Brock asks in character as a cartoon character.

Happini laughs when she recognizes who Brock is mimicking, but Azurill is confused. "Azu?"

"Remember that one Bugs Buneary and Daffy Golduck cartoon with the abominable snowman?" Misty asks Azurill. Azurill thinks a moment, but bursts out laughing herself when she puts two and two together.

Ash is also laughing at Brock's in character request, but eventually composes himself. "Keane saw that two hundred miles away was a mountain, and Princess Morgan was hidden inside as a diamond. So he and Langston brought her back, and the sapphire in Arion's belt began to glow in his sadness of losing Princess Morgan."

Brock then interrupts the story. "The reason I pulled the 'which way did he go, George' gag on you was to see how well you could stay focused among distractions. For a minute there, I thought you were not going to be able to go on, but you pulled yourself together and kept going--well done."

Remember to focus... Ash reminds himself as he continues. "The third day, Keane told Prince Luke that Princess Morgan has disguised herself as a pearl at the bottom of a great sea three hundred miles to the west. So Brad and Langston went out to retrieve the pearl."

"Pika?" Pikachu's eyes shine in anticipation of what happens next.

"Brad swallowed the sea, which allowed Langston to retrieve the pearl." Ash tells Pikachu. "The emerald in Arion's belt glowed when he saw Princess Morgan, and he was so consumed in his emotions, he exploded in a flash of light, restoring the castle and the people and Pokemon in it to life!"

"Azu!!!!" Azurill cheers.

"Prince Luke and his party led Princess Morgan to his homeland, where they were soon married. The prince said his goodbyes to his party a week later when all the festivities ended, but they kept in touch." Ash concludes. "As for Langston, Brad, and Keane, they told Prince Luke and Princess Morgan of their many adventures in their letters--but that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 32: The Buneary Herder (Brock)

(real tale: Jesper, Who Herded the Hares (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/065.htm))


Ash nudges Melody awake as Brock begins "In a far away land, there was a small kingdom on the plains, ruled by a kind and just king. He only had one child--a daughter named Andrea. He loved Andrea very much, but often laid awake at night wondering what sort of husband Andrea would want when she was of age to marry."

"Hm, what's Princess Andrea like?" Misty muses.

"You'll see, okay?" Melody assures her.

"When Princess Andrea came of age, her father issued a proclamation throughout his kingdom and the neighboring kingdoms." Brock continues. "Whoever could bring a rainbow of pearls and complete certain challenges devised by the princess would have her hand in marriage. Many a rich merchant, adventurer, and prince came to the castle, but though they had a rainbow of pearls, not one could pass the trials the princess devised. A few adventurers tried to pull a fast one by offering the king some fake pearls, but the king and Princess Andrea were not that easily fooled. Before long, the number of would be suitors trickled off."

"Then who did she marry?" Ash wonders.

"I'm getting to that." Brock assures Ash. "Now, in a certain village by the coast lived a fisherman who had three sons--the youngest of which was named Todd. Todd's brothers were fully grown, but Todd himself had just come of age that year. One day, the fisherman found a lot of Clamperls and Shellders with pearls inside. Todd and his brothers heard that the king was seeking a suitor for Princess Andrea, and decided to see if any of them was worthy of her hand. So they each gathered a pearl in every color, and agreed to set out for the palace in the order of their birth, with the eldest brother setting out the next morning."

"Pini pini?" Happini asks.

"The eldest brother had not gotten far when he saw some Durants and some Ledybas battling each other." Brock replies.

Pikachu snaps to attention, interested in the prospect of a battle. "The Durant queen begged the eldest brother to help her, but the eldest brother refused. Then he met a female mage on the road, who asked what he was carrying. The eldest brother had no idea the woman before him was a mage, and so he said he was carrying cinders. The mage cast a spell to turn the eldest brother's pearls to cinders, much to his horror when he arrived at the palace!"

Laughter fills the air. "The next day, the middle brother set out, and the same thing happened." Brock continues. "He refused to help the Durant queen against the Ledybas, and lied to the mage, saying he was carrying ashes. The mage then turned the pearls into ashes, much to the middle brother's horror when he got to the palace!"

More laughter goes up as the group pictures the middle brother's reaction. "Finally, it was Todd's turn." Brock waits for the laughter to quiet, then continues. "When the Durant queen asked for his help, he caught as many Ledybas he could in a net. The remaining Ledybas fled, and the Durant queen promised to help Todd."

"Then Todd met the mage, who asked what he was carrying." Brock continues. "Todd showed the mage his pearls, and shared his lunch with her as he told her about what he was going to do with them." He shows the audience a blue prop pearl. "The mage was touched by Todd's kindness, and gave him a magic whistle as thanks."

Ash finds his whistle again as Brock goes on. "The royal court was amazed when they saw Todd's pearls, and he was welcomed like a prince. The queen, however, was concerned that Todd was a mere commoner; but Princess Andrea assured her mother that she didn't care for a suitor's riches--if they brought a rainbow of pearls and completed her challenges, she would marry them all the same."

"So what did Todd have to do?" Melody asks.

"The next day, the king brought Todd out to a field where a large pile of wheat, barley, oats, and rye stood, and challenged him to separate the one pile into four piles, one of each grain." Brock continues. "As Todd was wondering how to do this, he fell asleep. The Durant queen came with some Durants while Todd slept, and organized the four piles. When the king came to check on him at sunset, he was stunned that Todd had managed to complete the challenge."

"The next day, the king left a hundred Bunearies in Todd's care, telling him if even one was missing at the end of the day, he would fail." Brock intones. "The Bunearies quickly scattered in all directions, and Todd could hardly keep up with all of them. But then he remembered the magic whistle the mage had given him, and decided to play it to see what would happen." Ash decides to play the Zelda whistle song for effect.

"Azu?" Azurill immediately recognizes the melody.

"I don't see any whirlwinds..." Misty assures Azurill.

"No sooner had the whistle's song faded away, the Bunearies came hopping back to his side. Princess Andrea was surprised when Todd returned with the Bunearies, and requested he repeat the challenge for two more days.

The next day, Princess Andrea came to Todd in disguise as a peasant girl and asked for one of the Bunearies. Todd agreed in return for a kiss." Brock continues. "But at the end of the day, when he used the whistle to call back the Bunearies..." Ash plays the Zelda whistle theme again. "even the one Todd gave away came hopping back."

"Amazing!" Melody is impressed.

"On the third day the queen came to Todd disguised as a huntress, saying she wanted a Buneary to serve a guest for dinner." Brock continues. "Todd agreed--if the huntress would tiptoe in a circle while looking up at the sky and clucking like a Combusken."

The group howls with laughter as they picture how silly the disguised queen looks. "The queen was unsure, and knew people would think she'd gone nuts, but did what Todd asked of her anyway." Brock continues. "But at the end of the day, when he used the whistle to call back the Bunearies..." Ash plays the Zelda whistle theme again. "even the one Todd gave away came hopping back."

"Azu azu?" Azurill asks.

Brock concludes "When the king heard of how clever Todd was, and how Princess Andrea seemed to like him, he concluded Todd was the best choice, and the two of them were soon married. When it came time for Todd to ascend the throne, he ruled with the same wisdom and cunning as he did when he herded the Bunearies."

Melody leads the applause. "What an interesting tale--you are nothing less than a master!"

"Yeah--Brock could even make the phone book interesting!" Misty agrees.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 33: The Twin Mages and the Taillows (Misty)

(real tale: Tritill, Litill, and the Birds (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/239.htm))

"There was once a princess that was well loved and well liked by everyone in her homeland." Misty begins. "One day, she mysteriously disappeared, leaving her father the king devastated."

"I would be too if I were a king and my princess disappeared...." Brock notes.

"The royal guard searched the whole kingdom from top to bottom, but didn't find her." Misty continues, before it dawns on her that the princess has not been named. "What shall we name this lovely princess?"

"Raya!" Ash suggests.

"Wendy!" Brock suggests.

Both of those are nice names...but which to choose? Misty thinks. After mentally flipping a coin, she goes with Ash's suggestion. "We'll call her Raya."

Ash grins when he hears his name was chosen. "Finally, the king issued a proclamation saying whoever could find Princess Raya and bring her home safely would have her hand in marriage. Many princes and adventurers tried to find Princess Raya, but had no luck."

"But who, or what, took Princess Raya?" Melody worries for Princess Raya's fate.

"I'm getting to that." Misty assures Melody. "In a certain town not far from the palace lived a man and his three sons--the youngest of which was named Andrew. While his brothers lived free wheeling high lives, Andrew was quiet, kind, brave, and unselfish."

"How sweet..." Melody smiles.

"One day the eldest brother decided to go out into the world and seek his fortune." Misty continues. "He walked on for a while before stopping to rest for lunch. A fire mage passed by, and asked if he could share his food, but the eldest brother refused."

Melody is shocked that the boy turned away someone in need. "That isn't very nice!"

"He'll get what's coming to him--don't worry." Ash assures Melody.

"A little farther on, the eldest brother stopped for dinner, where a water mage met him on the road." Misty continues. "She too asked him to share some of his food, but the eldest brother refused her. He finally made camp in a cave in the mountains after chasing a flock of Taillows away, not knowing it belonged to a terrifying ogre!"

The Pokemon gasp at this. "Pi ha pipi?" Happini asks.

"When the ogre found the eldest brother, he allowed him to sleep in the cave, provided he spend a day in his service in return." Misty explains. "The boy agreed, and in the morning, the ogre told the eldest brother to sweep the dust from the cave, and have it spotless by nightfall, or else. The eldest brother had never worked a day in his life, but did what he could. The ogre was mad when he saw the cave all dusty, and killed the eldest brother right there."

"Serves him right for not helping those mages and the Taillows before." Melody muses. "They could have helped him."

"Back at the house, the middle brother heard of his brother's fate, and vowed to go out into the world to seek his fortune in his brother's stead." Misty continues. "But the same thing happened to him--he refused to share his food with the two mages, chased away the Taillows, discovered the ogre's cave, where he too met his demise."

"So what about Andrew?" Ash is interested.

"Andrew vowed not to repeat his brothers' fatal mistakes as he went out into the world to seek his fortune." Misty assures Ash. "When he met the fire mage at lunch time, he gladly shared his food with him. The fire mage was touched by Andrew's kindness, and introduced himself as Aidan. Aidan taught Andrew a special song to call him if he needed help. When he met the water mage, he shared his food with her. The water mage introduced herself as Talise, and she too taught Andrew a song to call her should he need help. He also shared his food with the Taillows, and the Swellow in charge of the flock was so touched by Andrew's kindness, he taught him a song to call the flock should he need help."

"Remember those songs..." Melody reminds the boys. Ash and Brock nod.

"Andrew also found the ogre's cave, and seeing where his brothers had fallen gave him more resolve to not repeat their mistakes." Misty continued. "It wasn't long before Andrew was discovered by the ogre, and he too was tasked with sweeping the floor the next morning."

"Azu?" Azurill gasps, excited.

"Andrew worked hard all day, but the floor was nowhere near clean." Misty continued. "Finally, he leaned on his broom and sang the song to call Aidan..." She then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

The Pokemon cheer when they hear the song. "Aidan appeared in a flash of fire, and consumed all the dust in a ball of flame." Misty continues. "The ogre was pleased to see the clean floor, and gave Andrew extra dessert in return for another day of service."

"To which Andrew agreed, right?" Brock asks. Misty nods.

"I'd do anything for extra dessert!" Ash agreed.

Misty just ignores the comment. "On the second day, the ogre asked him to stuff his pillows--and if even one feather was missing, he would have his head. At first, the task was easy as Andrew threw out the old feathers, but before he could put fresh feathers in, a breeze came up that blew all the fresh feathers away!"

"Oh no!" Melody gasps.

"Andrew's first thought was to panic, but then he remembered the song the Swellow taught him..." Misty then sings Karuto, iichiida shou...

"Pika pi? Pika pika?" Pikachu asks.

"Sure enough, the Taillows came and rounded up every last fresh feather so Andrew could finish his chore. The ogre was pleased, and offered Andrew three rewards and to let him go on his way in return for another day of service." Misty continues. "On the third day, the ogre took Andrew to his fields, and told him to kill one of the Tauros there for dinner that night. He had a very specific Tauros in mind, and if Andrew killed the wrong one, it would be his life in exchange."

Brock swallows hard as Misty continues. "As soon as the ogre had left, Andrew sang the song that summoned Talise..." She then sings Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

Once sure everyone is listening, she continues. "Talise appeared in a flash of blue light, and brought the Tauros the ogre wanted prepared to Andrew on a wave of water. She told him that when the ogre asked him what he wanted for his three rewards, he was to ask for what lay beneath the cave, what lay under the bed, and what lay on top of the bed."

"I have a sneaking suspicion I know what one of those things is..." Brock muses.

"The orge returned, and although he had his doubts how Andrew could've been done so fast, he decided to give Andrew the benefit of the doubt." Misty continues. "When he asked what he wanted for his rewards, Andrew asked for what lay beneath the cave, what lay under the bed, and what lay on top of the bed."

"What were those items?" Ash is curious.

"What lay beneath the cave was a ship that could sail on wind as effortlessly as it did water...." Misty replied. "What lay under the bed was a large chest filled with gold and jewels...and what lay on top of the bed was Princess Raya!"

"YESSS!!!!" Brock cries when he hears his prediction confirmed.

"Andrew loaded the chest of jewels and gold aboard the ship, and flew for the palace with Princess Raya in tow." Misty concludes. "Her father was stunned to see Princess Raya alive, and they were married the next day. But Andrew never forgot the songs to call the mages and the Tailows, and always sang them when he was in trouble."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 34: The Children of the Trees (Ash)

(real tale: Asmund and Signy (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/262.htm))

"There was once a king that ruled over a faraway land." Ash begins. He had a wife he loved very much, plus two children--a boy named Rowan and a girl named Amber."

"What pretty names!" Melody smiles.

"Prince Rowan and Princess Amber were taught well in all manner of things, so they would grow up to be wise and clever rulers." Ash continues. "Prince Rowan especially loved the outdoors, and after some begging and pleading, convinced his father to buy him two trees large enough for a person to fit inside. Once they were planted, he asked his sister if she would like one of the trees as her own tree house. Princess Amber loved the idea, and she and her brother spent hours moving their things in and decorating their trees. Whenever the palace got chaotic, they could travel to their tree houses for some peace and quiet."

Brock sighs with nostalgia as he pictures what the two tree houses might have looked like. "Forget a house IN the tree, I bet these were houses made FROM the tree."

"They were." Ash assures his friend. "Life was grand for the two of them for many years, but then things took a turn for the worse just as they both came of age--their father had to go to war to defend their homeland, and while he was away on the battlefield, their mother caught a horrible disease. Despite her children's and the royal healer's best efforts, she succumbed a few months later. The prince and the princess were overwhelmed by sadness and fear, and retreated to their tree houses. They agreed they would not come out until their father had returned."

Pikachu sniffles as he brushes away a tear. "Meanwhile, in another kingdom lived a king who had a son he loved very much--we'll call the son Jonathan." Ash continues. "Jonathan had heard about Princess Amber, and decided she was the one he would marry. With his father's blessing, he set sail for the land where Princess Amber lived."

"And then?" Misty is interested.

"He didn't count on a witch meeting him in the guise of Princess Amber." Ash intones. "Prince Jonathan fell hook, line, and sinker for the witch's trick, believing she was Princess Amber."

"Oh no!" Melody shakes in fear at what will happen to Prince Jonathan.

"The witch dug up the two tree houses containing Prince Rowan and the real Princess Amber and took them with her to Jonathan's homeland, believing them to be two normal trees." Ash continues. "The fake Princess Amber was welcomed and given a little house of her own, where she planted the tree houses."

"But what about the real Princess Amber and her brother?" Brock is concerned.

"They saw all of this from the tree houses, and they watched as the witch ranted and raved about having to make her own wedding gown--since she had no idea how to sew." Ash continues. "Prince Rowan wanted to warn Prince Jonathan about the trap he was about to fall for, but wasn't sure how to go about it."

"So what did he do?" Misty asks.

"He asked his sister to make a wedding gown for the fake Princess Amber, and have Prince Jonathan go with him when he delivered it to the witch." Ash explains. "So the real Princess Amber went to work, and Prince Jonathan went with Prince Rowan to deliver the wedding gown a week later."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Prince Jonathan was shocked when he heard the witch plotting to kill him, Rowan, Amber, and the court, and take the castle for herself." Ash continues. "He ordered the house burned to the ground, and the witch was killed in the fire."

"Pika!" Pikachu is relieved the heroes will be all right.

"Prince Rowan showed Prince Jonathan the real Princess Amber, and the two of them fell in love." Ash concludes. "Prince Rowan found a bride of his own a few days later, so both weddings were celebrated together. Both couples remained very close friends, and often visited each other. They all lived happily ever after, never forgetting the tree houses that brought them together."

"Aw..." Brock smiles as he applauds.

"Ha pini...." Happini agrees, eager to hear what her "daddy" will tell next...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 35: The Patient Prince (Brock)

(real tale: He Wins Who Waits (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/351.htm))

"There was once a king who had a daughter he loved very much--we'll call her Christa." Brock begins. "Princess Christa had been spoiled rotten ever since she was born, and was as crafty and wise as she was beautiful."

"Uh oh..." Misty wonders if the story will play out like "Brave"--minus the Ursarings.

Brock has other ideas. "By the time Princess Christa was of age to marry, she didn't want a thing to do with all the would be suitors that came to call every day. She the declared she would be choosing her own husband, thank you very much."

Ash's giggles are the loudest at this. "Why not just call her Merida?"

"That name's taken!" Misty hisses.

"Besides, I have a reason why I named her Christa." Brock assures his audience. " Anyway, her father had learned long ago that once Princess Christa had made up her mind, she would not take no for an answer. So he asked her what she wanted to do to choose a husband. Princess Christa showed her father a gold Leppa Berry, and said..."

Misty decides to jump in the role of Princess Christa. "Summon all the young men in the land to come here on this day next month. The one I give this Leppa Berry to will be my husband."

"But, sweetheart--!" Brock protests in character as the king.

"I SAID WHOEVER I GIVE THIS LEPPA BERRY TO WILL BE MY HUSBAND!!!!" Misty roars in reply as Princess Christa, making Ash and the Pokemon laugh and applaud at the interplay.

"Nice job, there..." Brock sheepishly replies before he remembers where he is in the tale. "A month went by, and all the young men of the land assembled at the palace gate. The princess passed before them all--short and tall, fat, and thin, rich and poor, until she finally gave the Leppa Berry to a poor widow's son--we'll call him Justin."

"I bet the king was mad..." Ash muses.

"Not so much mad as confused--he asked Princess Christa to pass through the rows a second time, and then a third, before reluctantly allowing her to marry Justin." Brock continues. "Christa was well versed in sewing and building things to sell, but despite everyone's efforts, Justin's family grew poorer still. Justin offered to go into town in search of work. He happened upon a merchant's caravan, and offered to come on board as a servant. The merchant agreed, and gave him a thousand gold pieces up front."

"Pini pi?" Happini asks.

"He would receive the rest of his wages when the caravan reached its ultimate destination." Brock explains. "Before he left, Princess Christa gave him three words of advice--"The one the heart loves is the most beautiful", "Patience is the first step on the road to happiness" and "He who waits, wins"

"There's not a fourth word of wisdom?" Ash is confused.

"There's only three in this version." Brock concedes. "The caravan left early the next day, and while the journey was pleasant at first, it wasn't too long before the Ponytas and the Ponytas were all dying of thirst from the hot sun. Justin saw a pool of water inside a cave, but as he was drawing water, a ghost appeared and asked which of two children--a boy and a girl--were the nicest looking."

"The one the heart loves is the most beautiful." Ash replies.

"Justin told the ghost this answer, and it transformed into a man. He gave Justin a ruby, a diamond, and an emerald as thanks for setting him free from an evil wizard's curse." Brock continues. "Justin sent the jewels home, and Princess Christa used them to buy food, shelter and clothing, so Justin's mom didn't need to worry about food or money again."

"How sweet..." Misty smiles.

"The caravan reached its ultimate destination, and Justin received the remainder of his wages." Brock continues. "Justin wanted to return to his beloved Christa, but the merchant's wife had grown fond of him, and pleaded with him to stay. Justin remembered what Christa had said before..."

"Patience is the first step on the road to happiness." Ash repeats.

"Good! You've been paying attention." Misty smiles.

"How can I NOT pay attention when Brock is the one telling?" Ash replies.

"Anyway, Justin agreed to stay with the merchant and his family for a year." Brock continues. "Meanwhile, other men were getting word of Princess Christa's wisdom and beauty, and many of them came to the house as would be suitors. But Princess Christa kept refusing them, saying she still had hope Justin would return. When the year was up and Justin returned home, his first thought was to kill all the suitors crowded around Princess Christa. But then he remembered Princess Christa's advice..."

"He who waits. wins." Ash replies.

"Justin waited until all the men had left before showing himself to Princess Christa." Brock concludes. "Needless to say, Christa was overjoyed to see him. A year later, they had a child of their own. But Justin was the happiest of all when the boy was born--he had waited, and he had won."

"Aw, how sweet..." Melody smiles as she leads the applause. "Your heartwarming tales are as good as your adventurous ones!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 36: Sorin's Dance (Misty)

(real tale: The Rabbit and the Wolf (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Native_American_Legends&story=The_Rabbit_And_The_Wolf))


"Now, everyone knows that Sorin is quite the trickster..." Misty hesitantly begins the next tale.

"YES!!!!" Ash cries. Sorin tales were some of Brock's most popular material, and he was curious to hear how Misty would handle a traditional Sorin tale.

Misty senses Ash's enthusiasm and Brock's interest as she continues "And he especially loved playing tricks on ol' Mightyena. Well one day Mightyena decided enough was enough, and he was going to get Sorin back for all those times he tricked him."

Melody giggles in anticipation as Misty continues "So one day, he saw Sorin passing through a field and threatened to cut his ears off. So as he sharpened his knife, Mightyena sang Crer ca welan,
Crer ca welan;
Kayn a yott fiul ree puks yar yos yotrz.
Sicum, sicum, sicum, sicum,
Sicum, se mi su!

Brock applauds Misty's gibberish song. "When Mightyena got to the part about 'Sicum, sicum, sicum, sicum, sicum, se mi su', Sorin could almost feel the sharp knife cutting off his ears. But he was a brave little Pikachu, and didn't say anything as Mightyena kept on singing and sharpening the knife." Misty continues, acknowledging Brock's signal to not rush with a nod. "Mightyena stopped singing for a moment, and Sorin called..." In a slightly higher pitched version of her own voice, she calls "Hey, Mightyena! Wanna see a new dance I learned?"

"A new dance?" she asks in a lower voice for Mightyena. "Will you teach it to me?"

"Only if you don't cut off my ears." she replies as Sorin. The interplay continues for a while:

"Is it as beautiful as a jig?"

"Yes, very pretty."

"Is it as beautiful as a waltz?"

"Yes, just as beautiful."

"Is it as pretty as a reel?"

"Yes, just as pretty."

Ash grabs his whistle and Brock reaches for his guitar as Misty continues as herself "Mightyena kept asking if the new dance was prettier than other dances he had seen, and Sorin kept saying it was. Not only that, but the Spring Festival was also coming, and Mightyena was eager to learn a new dance to impress the other Pokemon."

"We're gonna play 'The Ring of Light' at the proper time." Ash whispers to Melody. Melody nods and waits for Misty to get to the part where Sorin teaches Mightyena the dance.

"Mightyena forgot all about cutting off Sorin's ears and begged him to teach him the dance." Misty continued as she digs an egg shaker from her back pocket. "Sorin quickly made a shaker from an eggshell and gave it to Mightyena, instructing him to keep time with it as he danced. "So Mightyena obediently kept time..." Misty starts shaking the shaker at a skipping pace as she dances around the circle herself. "and Sorin danced around him singing..." As Sorin, she sings. Crer ca nenfa yolauwr wa gier,
Crer ca nenfa yolauwr wa gier,
Hi, ri yu, iliyo!
Hi, ri yu, iliyo!

Ash and Brock join in with 'The Ring of Light' in time to Misty's shaker. Melody doubles the guitar an octave above as she scats the tune. They play the complete tune through three times as Misty dances around the circle and the Pokemon clap along.

When the song ends, Misty continues "Then Sorin made a ring around the field, and told Mightyena to join in singing and dancing with him. They danced so fast and for so long, Mightyena had no idea Sorin was nearing the edge of the field. Sorin, meanwhile, sang..." As Sorin again, she sings Fror a nenfa yan wa ela yamb wa gier,
Fror a nenfa yan wa ela yamb wa gier,
Hi, ri yu, iliyo!
Hi, ri, yu, iliyo!

Ash, Brock and Melody perform 'The Ring of Light' at a slightly faster tempo and Misty dances slightly faster, still shaking the shaker in time to the faster tempo as the tune is again played through three times. The Pokemon are enthralled by the song and the dancing, and eagerly clap along.

Misty then concludes. "By the time Mightyena came to his senses, Sorin had disappeared into the brush and he was far too dizzy to chase him. Sorin, meanwhile, was glad his ears were in one piece!"

The Pokemon enthusiastically applaud. "I haven't heard that Sorin tale before--I'll have to remember it for my next gig." Brock smiles.

"And thank you for giving me a little music, guys." Misty replies.

"Well, the story was about a dance, so it was only fair that Sorin get a little music to dance to." Melody assures Misty as the boys put away their instruments...

(what the boys and Melody perform (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM7J9BjokPg))

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 37: The Marvelous Painting (Ash)


Ash thinks for a moment for a story to tell. "What's the name of the trickster girl you usually tell about when you are playing Flynn Devine, again?" he asks Brock.

"Rava Athamur?" Brock asks. "What about her?"

"May I try making up a tale about her?" Ash asks.

"Fire away." Brock smiles. "Do well and I may include the tale in my next performance as Flynn."

"Who's Flynn Devine?" Melody is confused.

"Brock is a superb actor, and has all these characters he portrays in sketches and storytelling." Ash explains. One of these characters is Flynn Devine, a wandering minstrel famed for his cunning and way with words."

"One of the recurring characters in Flynn's tales is Rava Athamur, a young lady trickster." Brock explains. "The stories about her I tell are fan favorites." He motions for Ash to begin. "Go ahead, Ash."

"Once Rava was traveling through a town, and picked up tips on how to paint from the local artists. "Rava didn't mind that you needed years of practice to become a great artist--she announced to one and all she was a great artist. The king of the land heard of this, and although he knew very well about Rava's wiles, he allowed her to paint some of the nobility at the palace."

Misty snickers in anticipation at this. "Many at the court, despite their ugly appearances, told Rava to paint them as heroes, gods, and goddesses. One duke, though he was as fat as a Snorlax, told Rava to paint him as a strong and muscular warrior." Ash continues. "An ugly duchess--so ugly a Mismagius would've been prettier--told Rava to paint her as a beautiful goddess. A lady with pronounced buck teeth asked for a pop idol's smile, and the list went on and on."

Melody's laughter is the loudest as she pictures how ugly the king's court looks. "When Rava had seen the entire court, the king warned her to paint them just as they were, flaws and all, or else. This posed a dillema for Rava--if she didn't paint the court as their idealized selves, they'd have her head; and if she didn't paint them just as they were, flaws and all, the king would have her head." Ash explains. "So how was she going to paint them?"

"Paint them half and half?" Brock guesses. Misty stifles a giggle at what such a portrait would look like.

"How did she paint them?" Melody is piqued as to what happened next.

"Rava agreed to the king's request, and was given a fine room to work in and enough food for a month." Ash continues. "But she did not allow anyone inside, but would occasionally ask for new paint or new brushes to keep up the ruse that she was working."

The lightbulb goes off in Melody's head. "Oh, I get it! Rava didn't paint anything at all for a month!"

Ash grins--it's time for the twist in his tale. "When the month was up, Rava told the court that the portraits were so amazing, only those with noble blood could see and appreciate them. When she drew back the curtain, all the court could see was a blank wall!"

Brock laughs the hardest as he pictures the court's reaction. "Naturally the court started fighting over how noble they were, or who had common blood in them." Ash concludes. "The king heard the ruckus and demanded an explanation. Rava explained that she had kept her promise by painting exactly as much beauty as the court showed her--which was no beauty at all! The king couldn't argue with that logic, and gave Rava a bag of gold just to get out of there."

"That was pretty clever!" Misty comments as she applauds.

"I'll have to remember this tale for my next Flynn performance." Brock agrees as Ash takes a bow...

(the real tale is based on a Tyl Eulenspiegel tale from the Netherlands with a similar title, which you can find on Google Books)

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 38: The Spellsinging Contest (Melody)


"I've been enjoying hearing the three of you tell your tales and sing your songs, but may I have a chance to tell a story?" Melody asks.

"Really?" Ash is excited to be hearing a story from a Legendary.

"Sure!" Brock smiles as he switches out his guitar for his harp. "I'll even accompany you on the harp, if you want."

Melody clears her throat and motions for Brock to play a relaxed melody. "When the Great Lord Arceus created this world, he left me in charge of singing about great humans and Pokemon. And sing I did--and people and Pokemon from miles around came to listen as I roved from land to land. Ash is only the latest hero I have had the privilege to travel with and protect."

"Mm-hm..." Misty smiles.

"But that is not the tale want to tell." Melody assures the group. "The tale I want to tell you concerns an arrogant young mage who thought he could sing better than me."

"A mage?" Ash is interested.

"This young mage, whose name is only known to Lord Arceus now, was very skilled in spellsongs, and the only one better than him, the people said, was me." Melody continues. "The young mage decided he would challenge me to a spellsinging contest, and defeat me."

"Warning, warning, mistake in progress!" Brock interjects as he plays a two note ostinato that sounds like an alarm bell.

Melody just smiles at Brock's quip. "He didn't know that at the time--but he saddled his fastest Rapidash, and traveled for three days to reach Rainbow Plain--my favored spot for performing back then. His arrival was so sudden, it startled me. When I asked who he was and why he had come, he boasted he was going to best me in spellsinging. I accepted his challenge, and asked him what some of the wisest things he knew were. He sang this song...."

Brock begins a mystical melody as Melody sings Etsale daymb cum metsa yea ptrili,
Etsale gilalepa yea mialona.
Litsar yamb Seels yola wyuie yowr cale,
Seaking yoks wa Magikarp yowr Feebas
Halar yamb wa fror spor crir Sawsbuck,
glirfa an wir lewr, wi spor crir Ponytas.
Wir ar koga yamb ce wiaks crilott!

Ash and Misty applaud Melody's song. "Then, our contest began--it started out simple, I would sing a Pokemon into existence, and he would do the same." Melody continued over a soft chord from Brock. "Then we sang more complex things and Pokemon into existence--rocks, trees, houses, fires, waves." Brock's chords get louder and more complex as Melody lists the items. "By the time we got to very complex items--stars, fireworks, jewels, rainbows--he was growing tired, while I was still eager to sing more." Brock's sweeping chords fill the air, but then taper off to quiet notes.

"So did the young mage ever admit defeat?" Misty asked.

"He finally admitted defeat a few hours later, when he couldn't even muster the strength to sing a blade of grass into existence." Melody concludes over a soft interlude from Brock. "That mage humbled himself, and no one has tried to challenge me again."

"That's because you've been doing it for years." Ash smiles as he applauds.

(the real tale is based on the Finnish legend "Magic Singing", which you can find on Google Books)

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 39: Tricking a Salamence (Brock)

(real tale: How the Dragon Was Tricked (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/398.htm))


"There was once a man who had two sons." Brock begins. "They did not get along at all, as the younger boy was kind, brave, and handsome." He catches himself when he remembers the boy has not been named. "We'll call him Akira."

"Sounds like Cinderella..." Misty notes.

"The elder boy's jealousy grew worse and worse as the years went by, until one day, he tied Akira to a tree and left him there to die." Brock continues. Melody gasps in horror, but Brock quickly assures her "As Akira thought about how to get free, an old shepherd passed that way and asked what he was doing there. Akira told the shepherd he had been tied there in an attempt to cure a slight curve in his spine. The shepherd was amazed, and asked if he could take Akira's place. Needless to say, Akira was long gone by the time the old shepherd figured out he had been had!"

Ash's laughter is the loudest at this. "Akira was soon renowned for being a trickster, and word of his wiles soon reached the royal ears of the king." Brock continues. "The king summoned Akira and told him that he deserved to die for his tricks, but would spare him if he retrieved a Shiny Ponyta that was guarded by a Salamence."

Melody swallows hard at this. "So Akira went out to the Salamence's cave, carefully untied it from its post, and led it back to the palace, all while the Salamence was asleep." Brock continues. "The king was pleased at this, but then he told Akira he wanted the enchanted blanket the Salamence kept. So Akira climbed on top of the cave and attempted to bring up the blanket through the roof. However, the Salamence heard the little bells on the blanket, and caught Akira!"

"And then?" Ash is excited.

"Just as the Salamence sharpened the knife to kill him, Akira kicked him hard enough to stun him, cut himself free, and hurried away." Brock continues. "Then the king commanded Akira to bring him the Salamence himself. So Akira disguised himself as a traveler, and returned to the Salamence's cave, where he found the Salamence carving a box. When told it was for the rogue that stole the blanket and the Ponyta, Akira told the Salamence that the box was too small. The Salamence decided to climb inside it, and Akira nailed the sides of the box shut so the Salamence couldn't escape."

"Then was Akira set free?" Misty asks.

"The king was so excited, he tried peeking inside the box to see if the Salamence really was inside--and the Salamence ate him right there." Brock concludes. "Akira took the princess as a bride, and they ruled happily for a long time. As for the Salamence, no one knows what became of him!"

Melody's applause is the loudest as Brock takes a bow..

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 40: Robin Hood and Alan-a-dale (Misty)

(real tale: A Story of Robin Hood (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Classic_Myths_And_Legends&story=The_Story_Of_Robin_Hood))

"Are there any legends of humans at all?" Melody asks.

"Well..." Misty replies. "There's the many legends of Robin Hood...which the boys and I have played roles in on stage and on screen."

"And the radio!" Ash adds.

Misty smiles at the memory as Brock retrieves the harp and plays a soft C chord. "Many of these stories talk about how Robin Hood robbed from the rich to feed the poor, but the story I want to tell you is about how Robin Hood met one of his friends--the minstrel Alan-a-dale."

"A minstrel? How exciting!" Melody smiles.

"Sometimes Brock will portray this kind of character when he tells stories in public." Ash adds. "That, and he's played Alan-a-dale before..."

"I remember that!" Brock cries as he plays a mystical melody. Worry not, O lady Marian
For beloved Robin is with you!
Though he may come to you in disguise,
the sheriff and Prince John have not a clue...

"And then I--in the role of Alan-a-dale's apprentice, would translate what Brock sang into a story." Misty continues. "But I'm digressing..." She motions to Brock. "Brock, if you would, please..."

Brock begins a soft melody as Misty starts the story. "One day, as Robin Hood rested under a tree, he saw a young man happily skipping down the road in what he presumed was wedding finery."

The harp then slows down into a somber lament. "But when Robin Hood saw the same young man again the next day, he wasn't so dressed up, and lacked any spring in his step." Misty continues. "The young man introduced himself as Alan-a-dale, and told Robin Hood what had happened--he had been due to marry a lady he loved very much, but at the last minute, her dad had married her off to a rich noble without her consent and his knowing."

"Ha pini pini pi!" Happini gasps, appalled.

"Pika!" Pikachu agrees.

A gentle chord from the harp reassures the Pokemon. "Alan-a-dale offered Robin his service if he could get his lady back." Misty continues. So Robin disguised himself as a minstrel and made his way to the chapel where the wedding was to be. He introduced himself as a minstrel to the priest, and the priest eagerly invited him in to play. But Robin said he wouldn't play until he saw the bride and groom."

"And then?" Melody is interested.

"Robin saw a young girl crying at the sight of an old man in rich finery. He felt sorry for the girl, and whistled for his merry men." Misty continues.

Ash whistles for effect, making Melody and the Pokemon laugh. "Robin's merry men all paraded into the chapel, and Alan-a-dale was among them." Misty continues. "When Robin asked the girl which of them she would rather have, she chose Alan-a-dale."

Brock then sings in character as Alan-a-dale And thus having ended this merry wedding,
The bride looked like a queen:
And so they returned to the merry green wood,
Amongst the leaves so green. as he plays a festive melody.

"Alan-a-dale and his beloved were married right there, and the old noble went home angry." Misty concludes over the harp. "As thanks for Robin's winning back his beloved, he told many stories and sang many songs as minstrel to the merry men."

Ash grins. "Maybe later this week, we can tell you the story about the tournament of the gold arrow!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 41: Saving the Combusken (Ash)

(real tale: The Cock and the Bean (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Russian_Folk_Tales&story=Cock_And_Bean))


"Once a Combusken was scratching for food when he accidentally swallowed a bean." Ash begins. "Try as he might, he just couldn't swallow the bean. So he laid down on the ground, in hopes the new position would help the bean along."

"Did he choke?" Melody asks, concerned.

"No, it was just hard for him to swallow." Ash assures Melody. "His trainer, a young girl, saw him lying there and asked what the matter was. The Combusken explained what had happened, and told his master to ask the Miltank for some butter. So the girl went and told the Miltank that her Combusken was struggling to swallow a bean. The Miltank agreed, in return for some fresh hay. So the girl went out to the field where the farm hands were working, and asked them to bring the Miltank some fresh hay, so she could make some butter, so she could help her Combusken that was struggling to swallow a bean."

Brock raises an eyebrow at the tale Ash is telling. "A chain tale?"

"Who wants to bet he forgets half the things in the list?" Misty mutters--she knows Ash has a spotty track record with remembering a list.

"Relax--I've been teaching him some tips to remember a list." Brock assures Misty.

"Why is it called a chain tale?" Melody is curious.

"Because the events of the plot build on each other, like the links in a chain." Brock explains. "The challenge for any storyteller is remembering the list of items."

Melody nods to show she understands. "So what did the farm hands say?" she asks Ash.

"The farm hands had been working all morning, and they were pretty hungry." Ash continued. "So they told the girl to ask the oven for some loaves of bread. So the girl asked the oven for some loaves of bread to feed the farm hands, so they would bring the Miltank some fresh hay, so she could make some butter, so she could help her Combusken swallow a bean. The oven said that he couldn't bake anything without some wood for the fire. So the girl went out to the forest, where some woodcutters were working. She asked them for some wood for the oven, so he could bake some loaves of bread to feed the farm hands, so they would bring the Miltank some fresh hay, so she could make some butter, so she could help her Combusken swallow a bean."

"Pika?" Pikachu is interested in the chain's next link.

"The woodcutter's last axe had broken, so they couldn't cut any wood." Ash replies, making Pikachu facepalm. "So the girl went to the smithy in town, and asked him to make a new axe for the woodcutters..."

"So they could cut some wood for the oven, so he could bake some loaves of bread to feed the farm hands, so they would bring the Miltank some fresh hay, so she could make some butter, so she could help her Combusken swallow a bean." Misty, Brock, and Melody say along with Ash.

"Have you heard this one before?" Ash smiles.

"Actually, the list of items is getting long enough that you may start forgetting things." Melody cautions.

"So we're saying the list along with you to help you remember the items." Brock adds.

Ash nods, then thinks as to where he is in the tale. "The smith agreed, but he had no charcoal for his forge. The girl went out to the forest and burned some sticks into charcoal...." He sighs, and silently prays he can remember the list. "and the smith gave her an axe, so the woodcutters cut some wood for the oven, who then baked some loaves of bread to feed the farm hands, and they brought the Miltank some fresh hay, and she made some butter, which the girl fed to the Combusken in hopes it would help him swallow a bean."

"YESSS!!!!" Misty is stunned Ash remembered the whole list.

"Very good!" Brock agrees as he applauds.

"The Combusken was so relieved to finally swallow the bean, he let out a mighty cry of thanks." Ash concludes. "Needless to say, he was very careful about what he ate after that!"

Brock leads the applause. "Maybe you're ready to try a longer chain tale...."

"Couldn't the girl just given the Combusken the Heimlich maneuver?" Misty is unimpressed that the girl had to go through all that trouble for a bean.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 42: The Beasts and the Salamence (Brock)


"Once a boy was leading his Miltank to market when Jirachi appeared to him, leading Raikou, Entei, and Suicune behind him." Brock begins. "Jirachi offered to give the boy--who we'll call Hunter--the three Beasts in exchange for the scrawny Miltank. Hunter was bit hesitant at first, but then realized that the Miltank was old, and hardly producing milk any more. So Jirachi gave him the Beasts and a silver whistle to call them if he needed help."

Ash reaches for his whistle as Brock continues "Hunter's mom was none too pleased when she learned what had happened, but before she could beat him, Raikou knocked the belt from her hands."

Melody swallows hard in fear. "Hunter was then banished, but he didn't despair--the three Beasts protected him and brought him food every night." Brock stretches for a moment, then goes on "It wasn't long before he came to a forest filled with all sorts of beasts and Pokemon, and made his home there. "But for some reason, he felt a sickening feeling every time he went in the forest, as if Arceus himself was telling him to be wary."

"So what lurked there in the wood?" Melody asked.

"It turned out a band of giants lived there, and one day while Hunter was away, slipped some poison in the soup he was making for lunch." Brock replies. "But Raikou sensed something was wrong, and overturned the cauldron. Then the giants tried an enchanted chair that froze anyone that sat in it--but Entei destroyed that. They finally decided to catch Hunter themselves."

"And how did they do that?" Misty asks.

"They hid in the house while Hunter was away, and ambushed him." Brock explains. "They tossed him into a pit filled with the bones of other unlucky travelers, and rolled a rock over it so he couldn't get out. But then Hunter remembered the magic whistle!"

Ash plays the Zelda whistle song for effect. "Hunter had only blown a single note before the Beasts arrived to rescue him and slew the giants." Brock continues. "Although the giants were slain, Hunter worried about what other ghastly monsters lurked in the forest, and decided to settle in town. But when he got to town, he saw everyone was saddened. The townsfolk explained that a dark fairy had asked the queen to rear the princess as her own, but the queen refused time and time again. In her anger, the dark fairy sent a Salamence that would only be appeased if young girl of pure heart was sacrificed. The king was offering the princess' hand in marriage if anyone could drive the dark fairy away by defeating the Salamence."

"And then?" Melody is excited.

"Hunter told the king he wished to try and defeat the Salamence. Despite pleas not to do it, he bought himself a sword and set out for the Salamence's cave." Brock replies. "It was a long and drawn out battle, but Hunter summoned Suicune..." Ash plays the Zelda whistle theme again. "and Suicune helped him defeat the Salamence. Hunter cut off a scale as proof of his deed. But while he was out fighting the Salamence, a knight tried to steal Hunter's credit by passing off a Persian skull as a Salamence skull."

"Hap pini pini?" Happini is appalled at this. "Pini pini, ha pini pi!"

"The Beasts knew this too, and dashed into the throne room minutes before the king could declare that the knight and the princess would marry." Brock continues. "Hunter exposed the knight as a fraud, and showed the king his Salamence scale."

"And Hunter and the princess lived happily ever after, right?" Misty smiles.

Brock nods. "Although Hunter kept the whistle with him, just in case he needed the Beasts' help."

(The real tale is based on a French tale called "The Three Dogs and the Dragon", which you can read on Google Books)

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 43: The Legend of the Amber Ampharos (Misty)


"They say that long ago in Johto, the waters nearby Olivine City were not as clean as they are now." Misty begins. "They were bland and salty, and if anyone wanted some clean water, they had to go at least thirty miles."

Ash whistles in awe at this. "An ancient prophecy foretold of a Pokemon that would bring clean water, but it took a brave young man to figure out what it meant."

"You've got me--who was this hero?" Brock is interested.

"This young man--we'll call him Kai--was a stoneworker by trade, and very skilled at his work." Misty explains. If he carved plants, you could feel the ridges in the leaves, and if he carved Pokemon, they looked so realistic, they could come alive at any moment."

"Wow...." Ash is impressed.

"One day, Kai was passing by a river when he saw an orange glint." Misty continues. "After some digging, he found a huge piece of amber in the riverbed. "When he got it home, he worked for a whole week carving it into an Ampharos."

"I bet it looked beautiful." Melody muses.

"That it did, and no sooner had Kai finished carving the last detail of the Ampharos, it came to life!" Misty announces. "The Ampharos thanked Kai for carving it and offered to bring him anything he wanted, provided he not tell anyone about its power. Kai told the Ampharos that all he wanted was for the city to have clean water. "So the Ampharos took a bucket, raced all the way to the clean lake, brought it back, then went all the way back to the lake again. It only took three trips for the Ampharos to supply the city with clean water."

"That's one quick Ampharos..." Brock smiles.

"Then again, Jasmine told us that Ampharos are pretty quick runners." Ash reminds him.

"For several months, the people of Olivine enjoyed a steady supply of fresh water, but only Kai knew how the city received the water every morning." Misty continues. "But then one day, the Ampharos didn't return, and the people grew concerned."

"Oh no..." Melody swallows hard.

"Kai eventually found his amber Ampharos wounded at the bottom of a hill." Misty intones. "The Ampharos told Kai that while he was gathering the day's water, the red Gyarados of the lake had wounded its hoof."

"That's not nice!" Ash is appalled by the red Gyarados' greed.

"Kai carved a new foot for the Ampharos, then took a family heirloom--a rainbow and silver stone named Kokoro-to-Reikon--"heart and soul". Misty explains. "Armed with Kokoro-to-Reikon, Kai set out to avenge his friend."

"So what did the red Gyarados do?" Ash asks, excited.

"Kai demanded that the red Gyarados apologize for hurting his Ampharos, but the Gyarados countered that the humans were stealing all the water." Misty continues.

"Azu azu ri!" Azurill declares.

Misty smiles at Azurill's comment. "That's right--Kai told the red Gyarados that he should share the water with everyone. But instead, the Gyarados used Icy Wind to freeze the lake solid. But Kai called on the power of Kokoro-to-Reikon." She then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul....

Melody swallows hard, but Misty assures her "Kokoro-to-Reikon glowed in many colors, melting the ice in a swirl of rainbow light." Ash sighs dreamily as he pictures the rainbow swirl in his mind. "Then, the Gyarados summoned many demons and undines--water spirits--to try and attack Kai. But Kai invoked Kokoro-to-Reikon again..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"This time, Kokoro-no-Reikon produced a silver fire that destroyed the demons and undines and badly wounded the red Gyarados." Misty continues, acknowledging Melody with a nod. "Fearing for his life, the red Gyarados gave Kai a blue pearl that produced water for as long as someone held it.

She concludes. "From that day on, the people of Olivine enjoyed clean water thanks to the amber Ampharos, and built many charms and statues of an Ampharos holding a pearl, as thanks to the Ampharos and in remembrance of Kai."

"No wonder we saw so many statues of an Ampharos holding a pearl in Olivine..." Ash muses.

"And why you took so long 'shopping' that day...." Brock smiles.

Misty grins. "Yes--I was learning that tale from the shopkeeper!"

(the real tale is an Asian tale called "Golden Chisel and the Stone Ram", which you can find on Google Books)

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 44: Ninetales' and Krabby's Race (Ash)


"It's been said that Ninetales has been somewhat of a fast runner--so much so that she boasted not even the Beasts could outrun her." Ash begins. "This meant she looked down on any Pokemon slower than her."

"That isn't nice!" Melody is appalled at this.

"One of her favorite targets was Krabby." Ash continues. "For a while, Krabby put up with Ninetales' taunts. But as the days wore on, he got more and more annoyed by the taunting, and challenged Ninetales to a race."

"Oh boy!" Misty smiles.

"Krabby figured that Ninetales got her speed from the wind rushing through her tails--so if even one of them was weighed down, he would have a chance at winning!" Ash explains. "So as the two of them planned the race course, Krabby didn't tell Ninetales he was going to grip one of her tails.

"I bet he got cursed..." Melody giggles.

"Bear in mind Ninetales has no idea Krabby is going to do this." Brock reminds her before asking Ash "You were saying?"

"The day of the race came, and both competitors agreed they would start running when Krabby said 'go'." Ash replies. "Whoever made it to the other end of the coast via their planned course, won." Ninetailes was confident she would win, oblivious to the weight on one tail as Krabby called "Three..two...one...GO!"

Melody giggles as she pictures Ninetales' reaction to Krabby on one of her tails. "Ninetales started off at great clip, but she didn't see Krabby hanging on for dear life from one of her tails." Ash continues. "When she reached the finish line an hour later, she was exhausted, which turned into surprise when she saw Krabby.

"Who's laughing now, Ninetales?" Brock smirks.

"Needless to say, Ninetales was very ashamed at how Krabby was able to beat her." Ash concludes. "She didn't boast about her speed for a long time after that--but I don't think she's become any more polite."

"Serves Ninetales right for being boastful like that." Misty smiles as she applauds.

(the real tale is a Chinese tale called "The Fox and the Crab Have a Race", which you can find on Google Books)

[EmeraldSky]

Interlude: Persian on the Run

Thunder rumbled as a Persian dashed through the forest. [Come on!] she coaxed the six little Meowths trailing behind her. She had not counted on the rain being this heavy, and all she wanted was to return to her den.

Just then, a Meowth spotted the group's camp in the distance. [Look, Mama! A human den!]

[Yes, but it's only a temporary human den.] the Persian assured the Meowth. When they weren't trying to catch her fellow Pokemon, the humans often made temporary dens to explore the forest trails. Luckily, most of the humans she'd met were friendly, but now that she had six babies to look after, she was a bit more wary around them.

No Poke Balls, and no weapons. the Persian thought. These must be friendly humans. With that, she motioned for her Meowths to follow her to the largest tent, where she listened to the voices inside.

"Ninetales started off at great clip, but she didn't see Krabby hanging on for dear life from one of her tails." she heard a young male voice say. "When she reached the finish line an hour later, she was exhausted, which turned into surprise when she saw Krabby."

The Meowths giggled before an older male voice taunted "Who's laughing now, Ninetales?"

"Needless to say, Ninetales was very ashamed at how Krabby was able to beat her." the young male voice concluded its story. "She didn't boast about her speed for a long time after that--but I don't think she's become any more polite."

Applause went up from inside the tent. The Persian stifled a giggle when a female voice commented "Serves Ninetales right for being boastful like that."

Now's my chance. With that, the Persian gently scratched the tent and meowed, hopeful one of the humans inside would hear her....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 45: Kima, the Brave Rapidash (Brock)

(real tale: Dapplegrim (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/097.htm))

Brock hears a meow outside the tent. "Sounds like Mai got caught in the rain..."

"Who's she?" Misty is curious.

"She's a wild Persian that roams in the forest by the lake." Brock explains. "One ranger was enamored by her graceful walk that resembled a dance, and named her Mai, which means 'dance'. Before long, the name stuck with all the campers that visit the park--park lore says that if she visits you and you treat her well, your camp is protected from harm."

"She can stay with us until this rain lets up." Ash suggests as Brock carefully opens the tent, allowing a Persian and six baby Meowths inside.

"Aw, how cute!" Misty smiles as she gently pets a Meowth.

[It's an honor to see you again, Storyteller.] Mai purrs as Ash gently wipes her down with a towel.

"I'm glad to see you too, Mai--you've got a lot of little ones this year." Brock replies as he examines another of the Meowths.

[My lover Katsu understands that I may be away from the den for a long time on rainy days--usually because the forest trails get muddy. So he watches over the den until I return.] Mai explained as she shepherded the Meowths back to her side.

[Mama says you know a lot about the world's lore and heroes.] a male Meowth began. [Will you tell us about them?]

"A tale of a hero? Let's see here..." Brock thinks for a moment, then begins "There was once a rich family with twelve sons--while the other eleven were content to live the high life at home, the youngest--who I will call Brendan--longed to see the world, and so early the next morning, his parents gave him supplies, and wished him well on his travels."

[Where did he go?] a female Meowth asks.

"Brendan traveled a long way, and eventually came to a great city, where he entered the king's service." Brock replies. "The princess of that land--I'll call her Shyla--had been captured by a fearsome troll that lived in the mountains. Her father the king promised her hand in marriage and half the kingdom to anyone that could free her. Many princes and adventurers had made the perilous journey, but all had failed."

[How awful!] a male Meowth sighs.

"The years went by, and Brendan grew to be well loved and well liked in the palace." Brock continues."One day, he wrote a letter back home, and received a letter from his brothers that his mom and dad had passed on. His share of the inheritance was enclosed with the letter, but it also said that there were twelve Rapidashes on the hill by the palace, and he could take one of them as his own."

"So which one did he choose?" Ash is piqued.

"Brendan went to the hill, where he saw twelve Rapidashes, each with a Ponyta of their own." Brock replied. "One of these Ponytas was shiny, and Brendan was awed by this Ponyta's glowing blue mane."

[Did he adopt it?] a Meowth asks.

"Before he could, the Shiny Ponyta requested it stay with with its siblings for a year." Brock replied. "Brendan reluctantly agreed, but when he came back a year later, it had evolved into a Rapidash. But again, the Rapidash asked to be left behind for a second year, and then a third."

[I bet that shining Rapidash was huge!] one Meowth gasps.

"Oh it was--by the time Brendan returned at the end of the third year, the Rapidash was so large, it had to lie down in order for Brendan to mount it, and even then, it was hard to climb on." Brock replies. "That, and it shone so brightly, Brendan had to shield his eyes when he approached."

"I wonder if there was anything like sunglasses in fantasyland..." Misty muses.

"Brendan returned to the palace, and the king was stunned at the beauty of the shining Rapidash, which Brendan had named Kima. "He gave Kima the largest stall in the royal stables, and gave her the finest oats and grains."

[What about the princess?] a shining female Meowth asks. [Did Brendan and Kima save her?]

"One day, the king summoned Brendan, and asked if he would like to try and save Princess Shyla." Brock replies as he pets the shiny Meowth. "Brendan was unsure, but try as he might to tell the king that he was unfit for the job, the king insisted he at least try."

[And then? And then?] the Meowths cry.

"So Brendan and Kima set out early the next morning for the mountains." Brock continues. "The path to the troll's lair was very steep, so much so it took Kima three tries to get up there. But once she had a straight shot to the troll's lair, she ran so quickly, Brendan had time to pull Princess Shyla aboard and get her out of there without the troll having any clue they'd been there."

[Wow!] Mai is impressed.

"The king was elated that Princess Shyla was safe, and ordered wedding plans to be made." Brock concludes. "Brendan and Princess Shyla were married, and they all lived happily ever after."

"Bravo!" Melody leads the applause.

[Amazing! Now we know why you call this human the Storyteller.] the shiny Meowth agrees.

"I've trained my friends to tell stories as well." Brock replies. "So if you have a request for any of us, just tell us, and we'll tell your requested story if we know it."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 46: The Minstrel's New Song (Misty)

(real tale: The Piper's New Music)

"Now it's my turn to tell a story." Misty assures the Meowths before beginning "In a far away land, there was once a minstrel who made his living traveling from town to town, playing his fiddle." Piqued murmurs went up from the crowd as Misty paused to open her own fiddle case. "Sometimes people left him coins in appriciation for the many airs and dances he played, and sometimes they did not. The minstrel didn't mind either way--he enjoyed playing music, and all he wanted was to see people happy. Sadly, happiness does not buy food, and some nights, the minstrel ate like a king, and others, he would go to bed hungry. But he didn't despair, he continued traveling and playing for people just the same."

With that, she plays a jig-like melody as an interlude. "One day, the minstrel was passing down a road leading into a valley, when he saw an unusual looking green egg." Misty goes on. "He wasn't sure what sort of Pokemon lay green eggs--if it even belonged to a Pokemon at all. Who knew whether it was some evil spirit inside the egg?"

The Meowths murmured for a moment, interested in what was inside the egg. "Finally, the minstrel mustered his courage, and cracked the egg. And who should come out but Celebi!" Misty announces. "Celebi thanked the minstrel for setting him free, and promised him he would never go hungry again before disappearing into the woods. The minstrel thought nothing of the odd encounter, and went on his way."

More murmurs fill the air as Misty continues. "When the minstrel arrived in the next town and started playing tunes, he swore he could hear Celebi singing along with his fiddle..."

Brock then began a mystical sounding melody on the guitar, over which Misty sang in French Venez à moi pièces et venir à bijoux moi, tous ceux qui appartiennent à des méchants. Jamais plus les riches des voleurs, maintenant que Celebi est ici - vous êtes trompé! Ah....Ah....

Ash is the most impressed. "I didn't know you knew a foreign language, Misty!"

Misty sighed. "Had to take one in school, and I picked French."

Brock plays an impatient chord, so Misty continues. "As Celebi continued to sing, coins and jewels of all kinds--rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, and pearls--went flying from the pockets, bags and purses of the merchants that charged too much, the greedy landlords that demanded exorbitant rents, and the thieves that stalked the alleyways. The townsfolk watched in amazement at the flying coins and jewels, but the minstrel kept playing, and Celebi sang again..."

Brock began the mystical melody again. "Le troubadour joue de joie, voyez-vous, alors, il est le plus riche parmi vous. Il a donné sans prendre beaucoup, et maintenant, il va récolter ce qui est dû.". Ah...Ah.... Misty sang again. "With that, all the coins and jewels went flying into the minstrel's pockets and bags, and even into the fiddle case." Awed gasps went up from the crowd. "The thieving folk tried to retrieve their ill gotten gains, but found they couldn't move a muscle--Celebi's song had paralyzed them!"

Laughter went up from the crowd at this as Misty continued "The minstrel sought out those that had been wronged and cheated by the thieving folk, and returned their rightful wealth to them. Once sure that all the wealth had been returned, and that the thieving folk would no longer oppress the honest folk, the minstrel started a set of tunes, and everyone danced with joy."

The boys join in as Misty leads the way into "Juice for Breakfast", and a number of other dances. When the set ends, she concludes "As for Celebi, he returned to the heavens, where he watches over the forests of the world, waiting for someone to bless like the minstrel."

"Every time I've heard Brock tell that one, he usually picks Spanish or Italian..." Ash muses as he applauds.

"...and yet Misty took that tale and made it her own." Brock reminds him. "That's the beauty of storytelling--no two storytellers will tell a story exactly the same way."

[A wise lesson from the master...] Mai agreed.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 47: Two of a Kind (Ash)

(real tale: The Twin Brothers (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/192.htm))

"There was once a fisherman who longed very much to have children." Ash begins. "So he went to the town sage, and the sage told him to catch a Goldeen, have him and his wife eat one half, and then bury the other piece of meat. So the fisherman did as he was told, and thought nothing of it. Imagine his surprise when he found his wife had given birth to two children, a boy and a girl!"

Laughter fills the air as the audience pictures the fisherman's reaction. "On top of that, their Arcanine had two Growlithes, their Rapidash had two Ponytas, and two Cheri trees sprouted on each end of the front walk." Ash continues. "The children were named Kendall and Meredith, in remembrance of the waters the Goldeen had come from."

Ash continues "The years went by, and Kendall and Meredith eventually came of age. They both longed to go out into the world, but their mother assured them that Kendall would try his luck first, and if fortune be unkind to him, Meredith would go. So Kendall took his Growlithe, his Ponyta, and the harp Meredith had made for him...." Excited whispers race through the crowd as Brock retrieves his own harp. "and told her that so long as the Cheri trees bloomed, he was alive and well. But if either of them wilted, he needed her help. If one of them had bright blossoms, that meant he had found fortune, and she was to come join him."

The audience eagerly speculates what will happen to Kendall. "Kendall traveled a long way, until he came to a far away land." Ash continues as he watches Brock tune the harp. "He asked the local sage about the castle, and the sage told him that the king was seeking a husband for the princess--we'll call her Yumi. Each would be suitor had to pass three trials--if he completed them, he would have Princess Yumi's hand in marriage. If he failed, he would die."

Concerned murmurs and gasps race through the crowd. "But Kendall decided to try anyway--the next day, he traveled to the castle courtyard, and started playing his harp for the servants and the ladies." With that, Brock plays "The Riverbanks of the Moon" for effect.

Applause goes up when the last note dies. "Even Princess Yumi heard the song, and told her father about the minstrel in the courtyard." Ash continues. "The king summoned Kendall before him and asked what Kendall was doing there. When told that Kendall sought Princess Yumi's hand in marriage, the king gave Kendall his first challenge--cut a certain thick log in one stroke of a blade. Kendall was so distraught, he didn't even feel like picking up the harp that night."

Brock then plays a soft D chord to represent Princess Yumi. "Even Princess Yumi was concerned, and asked Kendall what was wrong, as she had grown fond of him. When Kendall told her what the matter was, Yumi just smiled and urged Kendall to play for her, and she would have an answer for him in the morning."

After Brock plays the song "Come Give Me Your Hand" to simulate the passage of time, Ash continues "The next morning, Princess Yumi told Kendall she had studied much about magic and fighting, to name a few things. She laid a hand on Kendall's blade, making it glow blue with a spell of strength. Needless to say, Kendall had no problem cutting the log!"

The audience applauds at this. "The king then told Kendall to take his Rapidash and ride for three miles with a chalice filled with water. If even a drop was spilled, the king would have his head." Ash continues, making more concerned chatter fill the air. "Kendall was troubled again, so much so that he didn't even pick up the harp that night."

The Meowths cheer as Brock plays Princess Yumi's motif. "Princess Yumi grew concerned, and asked Kendall what was wrong." Ash goes on. "When Kendall told her his dilemma, she urged him to play for her, and she would have an answer in the morning."

The waltz "Starry Night" fills the air to simulate the passage of time. When Brock finishes the song, he continues. "The next morning, before Kendall left, Princess Yumi laid a hand on the chalice and sang..." He sings Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

More cheers go up at the sung "spell". "The water instantly froze to ice, thereby fulfilling the king's challenge.' Ash explains. "But the third challenge was the hardest--face Princess Yumi herself in a non-lethal duel in the royal arena. Kendall was a fine swordsman in his own right, and his sword still had the strength spell on it, but he figured Princess Yumi was years ahead of him in skill."

The group is silent as they ponder how Kendall could defeat Princess Yumi. "That night, Princess Yumi assured Kendall that she would tell him how to defeat her in the morning if he just played the harp for her that night." Ash assures the audience before Brock plays "The Fairy's Waltz" to simulate the passage of time.

When the last note dies, Ash continues. "The next day, Princess Yumi told him that at one point during the duel, she would throw out a sapphire. If he cut it, she would know to hold back and let him win--as she was so skilled, it would look very much like she lost naturally."

Brock then plays a frantic melody to simulate the duel. "The duel commenced, and Kendall did very well matching Princess Yumi step for step. In fact, for many hours, the duel was too close to call!" Ash announces.

"So did Kendall ever win?" Melody asks as the last chord fades away.

"At last, Princess Yumi threw out the sapphire, and Kendall cut it to seal his victory." Ash replies over a triumphant flourish from Brock. "The king didn't know that Princess Yumi had let Kendall win, as it looked for all intents and purposes that Princess Yumi had lost naturally."

He concludes over a triumphant melody. "Kendall and Princess Yumi were soon married, and even Meredith came to join in the festivities when she saw the right Cheri tree glow. They all lived happily for many years."

The crowd roars as Ash acknowledges Brock, who takes a bow...

(what Brock plays: The Riverbanks of the Moon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbEHDWr7EoY), Come Give Me Your Hand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoDPwkuxCIU), Starry Night (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxGR3VfYDmU), The Fairy's Waltz (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOtkjOJ2oMY))

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 48: The Legend of Momo (Brock)

(real tale: Prunella (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/187.htm))

"In a far away land, there lived a woman with a daughter." Brock begins. "Since the girl loved Pecha Berries more than anything, she was named Momo, which means "Pecha"."

[Fascinating...] Mai purred.

"Now, it just so happened that there was a Pecha tree by the roadside leading into town. So whenever Momo traveled to town, she would take one of the Berries to have for a snack on the way." Brock explained. "But Momo didn't know that the Pecha tree belonged to a witch!"

Everyone gasps at this. "Did the witch turn Momo into something when she caught her?" Ash worries.

"No, she actually made her her slave." Brock replies, to more gasps. "The years went by, and Momo grew into a lovely lady, which made the witch even more jealous of her. So one day, the witch gave Momo a bucket and told her to get some water from the nearby well, or else."

One of the Meowths hisses, appalled a human would kill someone over something silly as water. "Momo agreed, but no matter how many times she lowered the bucket into the water, the water would drain out, and she would have to do it again." Brock continues. "Finally, she burst into tears with frustration."

"The witch must've enchanted it, planning to kill Momo all along..." Misty grumbles.

[Surely someone came to help!] Mai agrees.

"Just then, a mage named Dillon came, and told her he wanted to help." Brock assures his audience. "He had dealt with this witch before, and knew all her wiles and traps. He drew water for Momo, but the witch had no idea that Momo had had help--thankfully so, since witches and mages were mortal enemies."

Melody swallows hard. "See, mages usually use their power for good things, and witches use their power to do bad things." Ash explains. Melody shakily nods to show she understands.

"The next day, the witch told Momo to make a loaf of bread while she was away in town, or else." Brock intones. "But Try as she might, the dough would not rise."

The Shiny Meowth charges a ball of white light in her paws. [Where is this fiend that would hurt this sweet lady?]

[Calm down, Korra--it is only a tale.] Mai assures the Meowth.

"Sure enough, Dillon heard Momo crying, and used some of his magic to make bread." Brock continues. "Thankfully, the witch was none the wiser. The next day, she asked Momo to travel to her sister's house and retrieve a coffin there..."

Ash snickers nervously at this. "As Momo walked down the path, Dillon met her on the road, and told her..." In character as a young man, Brock explains as Dillon "Take this vial of oil, this loaf of bread, this piece of rope, and this broom. When you reach the witch's house, oil the hinges of the door with the oil, and throw the loaf of bread to the Arcanine who will come to meet you. When you have passed the Arcanine, you will see in the courtyard a miserable woman trying in vain to let down a bucket into the well with her hair. You must give her the rope. In the kitchen you will find a still more miserable woman trying to clean the hearth with her tongue; to her you must give the broom. You will see the casket on the top of a cupboard. Take it as quickly as you can, and leave the house without a moment's delay. If you do all this exactly as I have told you, you will not be killed."

As himself, he continues "Momo did as she was told, and not even the sister knew that Momo had any help. But the witch was beginning to suspect something was up--when Momo returned, the witch told her that if one of the three Combuskens crowed during the night, she was to tell her which Combusken she had heard, or else."

"Dillon was there, right?" Ash asks, excited.

"He was, and he planned to free Momo that night." Brock replied. "One of the Combuskens crowed around midnight, but before the witch could ask Momo which one it was, Dillon appeared to her and cast a lightning spell!" As Dillon again, he announces "Heavenly bolts, bring holy justice! Thundara!"

Cheers fill the air as Brock concludes. "Momo threw herself into Dillon's arms and confessed her love for him. It wasn't long before they were married, and they all lived happily ever after."

[See? The girl is saved in the end.] a Meowth assures Happini as everyone applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 49: The Nine Princesses and the Leppa Berries (Misty)

(real tale: The Nine Pea-hens and the Golden Apples (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/077.htm))


"One of the most prevalent tales in the world is 'The Golden Starly'" Misty explains to the Meowths. "The tale from Shinou is the most common version, but there are also versions in the other regions as well."

"I've told one Kanto variant already." Brock adds.

"I learned this version when I went to see Ash on his Houen adventure." Misty continues.

"I remember that!" Ash interrupts. "May told it to you while we traveled to the Mirage Kingdom."

"Anyway, the tale goes like this..." With that, Misty begins "A king in a certain land had a magical Leppa tree, where every day, it would bear Berries that shone like crystal."

[Pretty!] a Meowth comments.

"But by the time morning came, the Berries would be gone, and no one had a clue as to who or what took them." Misty continues. "So one day, the king commanded his eldest son to watch over the Leppa tree. At first, the eldest son did well watching over the tree, but it wasn't long before he fell asleep, and all the Berries were gone."

"How odd..." Melody muses.

"The king then commanded his middle son to watch over the tree, and the same thing happened--he would watch for a while, then fall asleep around midnight, only for the Berries to be gone." Misty goes on. "Finally, the king commanded the youngest son--let's call him Kenji--to watch over the tree. "Kenji agreed, and dozed for a little while, until around midnight, he woke up to discover a flock of Swellows landing on the tree. While eight of them landed on the branches, the ninth landed before him, and transformed into a princess."

[Amazing!] Mai is impressed.

"The princess introduced herself as Pearl, and asked Kenji if she and her sisters could take some of the Berries." Misty continues. "Kenji agreed, and ask that he leave some for him. They talked for a while, and it wasn't too long before Kenji fell madly in love with Pearl."

"And they all lived happily ever after--the end!" Ash interrupts.

"I'm not done yet!" Misty snaps, making everyone laugh. "When it was time for her and her sisters to leave, Princess Pearl left Kenji two crystal berries--one for him, and one for his father the king. The king was pleased at Kenji's cleverness, and allowed him to look after the tree every night. This wore on for a while, until Kenji's brothers started growing jealous of him."

"Oh no..." Melody swallows hard.

"Kenji's brothers went to an evil witch and asked her to somehow curse Kenji." Misty intones. "The witch agreed, and when the flock of Swellows arrived that night, she cast a lightning spell, which frightened all the Swellows away."

[That isn't very nice!] Korra is appalled at this.

"Luckily, Kenji found the witch hiding in the dungeon, and ordered the guard to kill her." Misty assures her audience. "That wasn't enough to lure the Swellows back--by the time a week went by with no sign of the Swellows to be had, Kenji took it upon himself to find them and his beloved Princess Pearl."

[Oh boy! A quest!] a Meowth smiles.

"Kenji traveled a long way, until he came to another land. He told the guard why he had come, and the guard said he would relay the message to the queen." Misty continues. "Imagine Kenji's surprise when he found that Pearl was the queen!"

"I bet he was shocked!" Ash replies.

"Not only that, he was ecstatic to see his beloved Pearl." Misty assures Ash. "He spent three years living in Queen Pearl's palace, forgetting all about his father and his brothers. Then one day, a terrifying Salamence captured Pearl while she was out exploring the nearby forest."

"En garde!" Ash challenges an imagined Salamence, using a stick as a sword.

Everyone laughs. "When Kenji heard what had happened, he vowed he would do whatever it took to save Queen Pearl." Misty continues as she tries oh-so-hard not to laugh at Ash's dramatic pose. "As he searched for the Salamence's cave, he saw a Goldeen struggling to return to a pond. He helped it in the water, and the Goldeen gave him a sapphire as thanks."

Mai gasps. [A magic jewel!]

"Then he found an Arcanine struggling in a net, and cut it free." Misty continues. "The Arcanine was thankful to be set free, and gave Kenji a ruby as thanks. Then he found a Mightyena caught in a trap, and set it free. The Mightyena was thankful to be free, and gave Kenji an emerald as thanks."

"So the Goldeen grants water, Arcanine grants fire, and Mightyena grants....earth?" Melody ponders what powers the three magic jewels have.

"Finally, Kenji made it to the Salamence's lair, where he found Queen Pearl and a few Ponytas." Misty explains. "They hoped to get away without the Salamence knowing, but it wasn't long before the Salamence was hot on their trail. Queen Pearl pointed out a river in the distance, so as they leapt from their Ponytas, Kenji invoked the sapphire's magic." She then sings Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

[What did the sapphire do?] Korra is interested.

"It gave Kenji and Queen Pearl the ability to breathe underwater." Misty replied. "The Salamence decided they were a lost cause when he got to the river, not knowing they were hiding underwater. That bought Kenji and Queen Pearl time to continue on, but when they reached a tunnel in the mountains, the Salamence was right behind them! So Kenji invoked the ruby's magic..." She then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

[And then?] Even Mai is excited.

"The ruby glowed with the light of a thousand fires, allowing Kenji and Queen Pearl to safely make it through the cave." Misty explained. "But the cave wasn't enough to shake the Salamence from their trail--no matter how fast they went, the Salamence went faster still. Kenji finally invoked the emerald's magic..." She then sings Karuto, iichiida shou...

Everyone holds their breaths to see if Kenji and Queen Pearl survive. "The emerald sped up Kenji's and Queen Pearl's mounts enough to outrun even Rayquaza. In fact, the Salamence crashed into a rock, killing him on impact." Misty concludes. "Kenji and Queen Pearl safely made it home to her kingdom, and they ruled there for many years. But Kenji kept the magic jewels with him, just in case he needed their power again."

Brock leads the applause. "You're getting better and better at storytelling with every tale you tell." he tells Misty.

[I'm not surprised, seeing how you are her teacher.] Mai smiles.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 50: The Mighty Ken (Ash)

(real tale: Shepherd Paul (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/230.htm))

"Once a man was traveling when he found a baby boy abandoned by the roadside. He felt sorry for the baby and took it in, raising the child as his own son." Ash begins, to some "Aw"s from the crowd. "Because the baby had survived for several days, the man named him Ken, which means 'sword', in hopes he would grow up with the strength and resolve of a sword. Not surprisingly, as Ken grew up, he grew very skilled with a sword."

Once sure his audience is paying attention, Ash continues "The years went by, and before long, Ken had come of age. With his adopted father's blessings, Ken set out into the world to seek his fortune. He had not gotten far when he found a young lady hitting Berries with a bow from thousands of yards away."

"Wow!" Misty gasps as she watches Ash pantomime shooting a bow.

"The girl introduced herself as Yumi, and decided to travel with Ken on his journey." Ash continues. "Then a little farther on, Ken met a boy his age who was turning stone into gems with a single hammer stroke." He pantomimes a hammer stroke for effect. "The boy introduced himself as Iwa, and joined Ken and Yumi on their journey."

"That makes three party members, so who was the fourth?" Brock is interested.

"Then a little farther on, they met another boy about Ken's age cutting through iron with a great axe as if it was wood." Ash continues, pantomiming cutting something with an axe for effect. "The boy introduced himself as Tetsu, and he too joined Ken and his friends on their journey."

"Pika chu?" Pikachu asks.

"The four friends stopped to camp for the night in a forest." Ash replies. "Yumi offered to stay behind and guard the camp while Ken and the others hunted for dinner. Just before Yumi was finished making the vegetables to go with dinner, an earth wisp appeared and asked for a little of what Yumi was making. Yumi politely told the wisp to wait until the food was ready. The wisp waited for a while, but when Yumi wasn't looking, it helped itself to the vegetables and disappeared."

Laughter fills the air as the group pictures Yumi's reaction. "Luckily, Yumi managed to salvage dinner, and though the vegetables turned out decent, Yumi didn't tell her fellow party members about the wisp." Ash assures the group. "Iwa and Tetsu also took turns guarding the camp, and the same thing happened for two more nights--while they were cooking the vegetables, the wisp would appear and ask for some. It would be told to wait until the food was ready, then help itself when the party member in charge wasn't looking. Fortunately, dinner would be salvaged, but not a word was said about the wisp."

The group silently debates how the wisp will be captured as Ash continues "Finally, Ken looked after the camp on the fourth night while his friends hunted. He set to work preparing the vegetables, and the wisp appeared just as before. Ken told it to wait until the food was ready, but before the wisp could help itself, Ken caught it in the act!" He pantomimes catching something in his hands to prove his point. "That night, Ken told his friends what had happened, but before he could show his friends the wisp, he was shocked to find it had disappeared!"

The group laughs as Ash feigns shock at discovering nothing is in his hands. "Yumi told Ken that earth wisps were crafty creatures, and it would be best to find it and asking why it was stealing the party's food. She pointed out the glowing green trail the wisp left as it escaped."

"So where did the wisp go?" Melody wonders.

"The trail ended at a huge hole, where a ladder signaled the way down." Ash explains. "Ken led the way underground, where they emerged into a grotto filled with gems and crystals, making it resemble a valley dotted with flowers and a river. They found a princess there that was being held prisoner by a Salamence. The princess pleaded with the party to turn back, but Ken said he was not afraid."

Pikachu sparks excitedly as Brock retrieves his guitar. "Sure enough, the Salamence arrived with a great roar, and the party ran to battle!" Ash announces.

Misty leads the clapping as Brock plays the Zelda theme for effect. "After a long battle, the Salamence was defeated." Ash narrates over Brock's triumphant flourish some moments later. "The princess was overjoyed to be free, and gave Ken an emerald as a reward, saying it would help him. She also asked that they rescue her younger sister, who was imprisoned by a Garchomp. Ken assured the princess he would do anything in his power to help her, and the party descended farther into the cave."

[What else was down there?] Mai is interested.

"The party descended further into the cave, and came upon another crystal filled grotto much like the first." Ash replies. "The younger princess met them and begged them to turn back, but Ken said he was not afraid as they met the Garchomp--the earth wisp's true form--in battle!"

More cheers fill the air as Brock plays the Zelda theme again. Ash waits for Brock to play another flourish, then continues. "When the Garchomp was defeated and the two sisters had reunited, the party realized thy had a problem--the battle with the Garchomp had caused their only way out to cave in--so how were they going to get back to the surface?"

Concerned whispers race through the tent, but Ash assures them. "Then, Iwa suggested that Ken use the emerald, so Ken sang..." He then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

"That's one way to get out of a cave..." Misty mused.

"The emerald whisked the party and the princesses to the surface. By the time they came to a town, Iwa and Tetsu each took a princess as a bride, and Ken and Yumi settled down in town, where they all lived happily ever after." Ash concludes.

"You know, that sounds like it could be an RPG of some kind..." Brock smiles as he applauds.

"If it were a real game, I would play it!" Misty agrees.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 51: The Enchanted Deerling (Brock)

(real tale: The Enchanted Deer (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/172.htm))

"Once a boy was out walking with his Ponyta when he met a man on the road with a bow on his back, a Pidgeotto on his shoulder, and a Arcanine at his side." Brock begins.

[You mean like ribbons young human girls wear in their hair?] a Meowth asked.

"No--the kind of bow I mean here is what you use to shoot arrows." Brock explained to the Meowth as he drew a picture of a bow with a nocked arrow in the dust with a small stick. Once his drawing was complete, he continued. "The boy--we'll call him Takeru--offered to trade his Ponyta for the bow and the Pokemon, and the man agreed. Takeru's mom, however, was not too happy about what had happened, and beat him until he was black and blue!"

"Ow..." Ash winces at the thought of that much pain.

"I would've given Takeru's mom a good talking to!" Misty growls, angry that Takeru was beaten for no good reason.

"Takeru didn't like the idea of constantly being beaten either, and went out into the world to seek his fortune that night, while his mom slept." Brock agrees with Misty. "He walked for a while until he came to a farmhouse. The farmer and his wife fed him a hearty breakfast. While they ate, the farmer saw Takeru's bow, and told him of a Deerling that kept eating his crops. Takeru agreed to kill the Deerling, so that night, he waited in a bush for the Deerling to appear. When it did, he readied an arrow..." Brock pantomimes aiming a bow. "But before he could fire, the Deerling transformed into a beautiful lady!"

[Was she a princess?] a Meowth asks.

[Just wait and see, hon.] Mai assures the female Meowth.

"This happened three times--Takeru would aim an arrow at the Deerling..." Brock pantomimes aiming a bow again. "But the Deerling would become a beautiful lady. He would look again to be sure he wasn't seeing things, and sure enough, the Deerling would be there again. Finally, the Deerling ran off into the forest, and Takeru followed it."

"Where did the Deerling lead him?" Melody asks, interested.

"Takeru followed the Deerling through the forest, until he came upon an empty house." Brock replies. Though the Deerling assured him it was safe, Takeru didn't know the house belonged to a gang of bandits."

"Oh no..." Ash swallows hard in fear.

"The bandits were none too pleased to find an intruder in their house, and though Takeru managed to slay a few of the bandits, he was still badly wounded, and left for dead." Brock continues. "The Deerling, meanwhile, cast a healing spell..." He pauses to sing Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... before continuing "and Takeru was healed, good as new. After this had happened two more times, the Deerling led him on to another house in the forest, and told him to meet her in the shrine of Arceus that stood in a nearby clearing. "But that house belonged to an evil witch, who cursed the shrine to put to sleep the first person that entered."

"And then?" Melody asks.

"Sure enough, Takeru was put to sleep when he tried to enter the shrine." Brock continues. "As he slept, the young lady--who had been transformed into a Deerling and would only be freed by someone that risked his life for her--first left a small scroll with her name on it--Hirana. Then, she laid her hands on him and sang..." He then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing "Takeru woke up with no memory of what had happened. He saw the scroll with the name 'Hirana' on it, and set out to find whoever, or whatever, 'Hirana' was."

"Hirana has to be the Deerling girl, I just know it!" Ash cries.

"After a long journey filled with many adventures--which are stories in themselves--Takeru came to a faraway kingdom, where a Pokemon race was being held." Brock explains. "Takeru's Pidgeotto brought him royal finery, and he entered the race himself, riding his Arcanine. It was a fierce competition, but Takeru won by a nose."

"Yes!" Misty smiles. Takeru and Hirana have to marry now!

Brock, meanwhile, has one more trick up his sleeve for Takeru. "Unfortunately, the fierce competition left Takeru all dirty, and the king mistook him for a bandit. But minutes before Takeru was to be executed, he saw Hirana run and tell her father how Takeru had risked his life for her three times and broke the spell on her."

Melody heaves a sigh of relief. "Arceus forbid the king execute an innocent person..."

"Takeru was immediately set free, and he and Hirana were married." Brock concludes. "They lived together for many years, and had many more adventures--but that is another story for another day!"

"There's your happy ending..." Ash smiles at Misty as he applauds....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 52: The Purrloin and the Teapot (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 23, story 2)

"In a certain village lived a hunter and his mom--I'll call him Yajiru." Misty begins. "One day, Yajiru was visiting his friends, and they couldn't stop talking about a Liepard that had been prowling around the village and killing the townsfolk's Pokemon. Yajiru told his friends he wasn't scared, and when he got home that day, he immediately set to work making arrows for his bow." Inspired, Ash pantomimes making arrows.

"Pini?" Happini is interested.

"Well, as Yajiru was working, a meow got his attention." Misty continues, prompting Ash to look in the direction of the tent entrance. "A Purrloin wandered into the house, where it watched Yajiru making arrows. Yajiru asked his mom who the Purrloin belonged to..." Ash pantomimes asking the question to an imagined person. "but his mom said she didn't know. Yajiru didn't mind, though--he found it kinda cute that the Purrloin was batting at the fletching on his arrows."

[What's that?] Korra is interested.

"Fletching is that feathery stuff on an arrow." Brock explains.

"Yajiru made twelve arrows in all, and set out the next morning." Misty continues. "The Purrloin, meanwhile, found a teapot lid, and played with that."

[Did Yajiru find his prey?] Mai asks.

"He searched all over the forest for any sign of the Liepard, but found nothing." Misty explains. "Just before he decided to give up and turn back, he saw tracks, bird Pokemon feathers, and Buneary fur. He followed the tracks for a while in hopes of finding the Liepard, but they ultimately went nowhere. By the time Yajiru reached the end of the trail, it was late, so he made camp for the night." Ash sprawls on the ground and pretends to sleep to illustrate Misty's point.

He then wakes up with a jump as Misty continues "Suddenly, around midnight, Yajiru was awoken by a rustle in the brush, and he saw a pair of glowing green eyes in the darkness! He readied an arrow and fired..." Ash pantomimes shooting a bow. "But he heard the arrow land on something metallic...." Brock gently taps the metallic cooking pot with a fingernail, making it sound more or less like an arrow hitting metal.

"Did he figure out what it was in the darkness?" Melody asks as she shakes in fear.

"Yajiru kept firing arrow after arrow, but they all seemed to hit something metal." Misty continues as she watches Ash pantomime shooting a bow, followed by Brock making the sound of an arrow hitting metal some seconds later. "Before long, Yajiru had ran out of arrows...but then he remembered a special silver arrow he kept just in case of an emergency. So he fired that one..." Ash pantomimes firing the arrow, with Brock hitting the cooking pot slightly harder to represent a successful shot. "and he heard a vaguely feline cry of pain as the being fled."

[And then?] a Meowth asks.

"The next morning, Yajiru found his twelve wooden arrows and a broken teapot lid by the Liepard's corpse." Misty continues. "He thought back to the Purrloin from before--was it possible that the Purrloin was the Liepard's baby?"

"Very intriguing indeed..." Melody muses.

"When Yajiru got home, he asked his mom about his theory." Misty continues. "She told him that the Purrloin disappeared as soon as he left, taking the teapot lid with it. Yajiru concluded the Liepard had magic power, and devolved itself into a Purrloin to see how many arrows he would make. It then used the teapot lid as a shield to block the arrows, and planned to kill him when he ran out."

She then concludes "Luckily, the silver arrow ended up saving him!"

The Pokemon applaud as the boys and Misty take a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 53: The Giant's Captive (Ash)

(real tale: Pastaris and the Giant (http://lightningtopaz.deviantart.com/art/The-Giant-s-Captive-330735396))

Mai asks.

"I made them up for a telling of a tale called "The Giant's Captive--which I then taught Ash as his first tale" Brock explains. Then, something dawns on him. "Hey, Ash...why don't you try telling 'The Giant's Captive' for us?"

"Okay..." Ash clears his throat and begins "Once a fisherman and his son--let's call him Jiro--were at sea, when a terrifying giant appeared from the water and snatched Jiro from the boat. All Jiro's father could do was watch as his son was spirited away to the giant's lair. The giant took Jiro to a pitch black room and locked him inside, telling him to not light a fire under any circumstances."

"Why not?" Melody is curious.

"Jiro huddled under a blanket, but the biting wind made him shiver, and on top of that, kept hearing ghostly noises. But with no fire, he couldn't tell if they were other prisoners or ghosts. On the third night, Jiro decided he was going to defy the giant's instructions and build a fire--but with what?" Ash asks his audience.

Nervous giggles fill the air, but become uproarious laughter as Brock takes his guitar and starts playing the Mission Impossible theme as Ash continues "So that night, Jiro snuck out of the cave, took one of the boats moored to the shore, and sailed back to his father's house. Once there, he requested some matches, flint, and tinder. As he hid the items in his son's clothing, Jiro's father told Jiro that if he was planning to escape the giant's lair, his wits would be the most valuable thing he could have." He interjects as Brock stops the song "Thankfully, the giant had no idea Jiro had gone and returned."

Melody heaves a sigh of relief, but the Meowths still giggle at the song. "Jiro lit his fire, and found out the source of the crying he had heard--a princess!" Ash announces, to Happini's cheers. "She had not seen any light in some time, so she yelped in surprise when she saw the firelight. However, that surprised yelp was enough to wake the giant, and it chased after Jiro!" Gasps went up from the crowd at this as the guitar played a frantic melody.

Sighs of relief went up as the song calmed down, but all eyes were on Ash as he continued. "Jiro finally lost the giant and took shelter in an alcove somewhere on the island. As he caught his breath, Arceus appeared to him and said..."

In a low and deep male voice, Brock intones "Long has the giant caused suffering in the land, but if you were to slay him now, he would still live, as his soul is not in his body."

"Jiro asked Arceus how he could shatter the giant's soul, and Arceus replied..." Ash narrates.

In his "Arceus" voice again, Brock assures the audience "On the other side of the ocean in a palace courtyard stands a post. Hit this post with your finger, and a sword will fall down from the sky. With this sword, kill an Ekans in the forest, and a Buneary will appear and race away. Catch that Buneary and cut off its head, and a Pidove will appear. If you can catch the Pidove when it flies to heaven, an egg will fall, and in that egg is the giant's soul."

"Not a bad mimic of the Great Lord, if I say so myself." Melody smiles.

"Just as Arceus left Jiro, the giant discovered him!" Ash announces, making the crowd gasp. "Jiro was taken to a high mountain peak, where he was left to die. He spent two days shivering in the cold before working up the courage to climb down. The mountain path led to a forest, where he found four mages arguing over how best to divide the meat of a Stantler they had killed. Jiro skillfully cut the Stantler into four even portions. The mages each gave Jiro a mystical gem as a reward for helping them. The fire mage gave Jiro a ruby that would grant him Entei's strength and power. The wind mage gave Jiro an amethyst that would allow him to soar like the twin Eons. The water mage gave Jiro a sapphire that would allow him to swim like Kyorge. The earth mage gave Jiro an emerald that would allow him to dig as masterfully as Celebi."

[Wow...] Mai gasps.

"Just then, the giant found Jiro again, but this time, Jiro was prepared--he held the ruby high and called..." Ash then pauses to sing [I]Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

He continues "Sure enough, Jiro glowed red with the power of Entei's fire, and managed to throw the giant to the ground. While this didn't kill the giant by any means, it did buy Jiro enough time to get to the shore minutes before the spell wore off."

[And then?] Korra gasped.

"Knowing the giant could find him at any moment, Jiro held the sapphire high and called..." With that, Ash sings Rou iitsa von selga vichi....

"Jiro glowed blue with the power of water, and easily swam to the palace courtyard with Kyorge's speed and grace. He easily found the post and touched his finger to it, and just as Arceus had said, a beautiful sword fell from the sky and landed at his feet." Ash continued. "Jiro wasted no time in killing an Ekans, and just as Arceus had said, a Buneary darted from the brush. Jiro knew that a human had no chance of catching up to a Buneary naturally, so he found his amethyst and sang..." He then sings Karuto, iichiida shou...

"You're doing great--and then what happened?" Misty asks.

"Jiro glowed with the purple energy of the wind, which gave him enough speed to catch up to the Buneary and cut off its head." Ash replies. "No sooner had he done this, did a Pidove appear and fly to the heavens...just as the spell wore off. So he evoked the amethyst again-- Karuto, ichiida shou....

"Pika?" Pikachu's eyes shine in anticipation.

"This time, Jiro was able to soar through the sky, much like Latios and Latias. He caught up to the Pidove and caught it, causing an egg to fall from the sky." Ash continues. After he landed and the wind magic had worn off, he took the emerald and invoked the earth magic within." He then sings Imultao, ame no ga bakeno... before continuing "Once Jiro had dug through the earth and located the egg, he returned to the island and smashed it on the rocks, killing the giant!" Cheers went up at this.

[He did it!] Mai cries.

"The princess was elated that someone had finally set her free." Ash concludes over a triumphant interlude from Brock. "They returned to Jiro's homeland, where they fell in love and married not long after their adventure. But Jiro kept the four magic gems with him, just in case he needed their power again."

Misty's applause is the loudest at this. "Bravo--you should tell us what Brock has taught you more often!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 54: The True Story of Golden Hood (Brock)

(real tale: The True History of Little Golden Hood (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/100.htm))

"You all know the story of 'Little Red Riding Hood', right?" Brock asks the group.

[The one about the girl all in red who meets a fearsome Mightyena?] a Meowth asks.

"That's the one." Brock smiles. "What you may not know is they got a few details wrong when they were writing the story down...."

Ash recognizes the introduction. "I know this one! It's one of Brock's originals that's based on "Little Red Riding Hood."

"Really?" Misty is interested.

"Yeah--Brock does have a few original tales." Ash explains. "Most of them are 'sequels' to existing stories...."

"To start with, the girl's hood was not red, but gold--so she was actually called Golden Hood, or Goldie, for short." Brock explains. "The hood had been a gift from her grandma on her birthday, and she wore it every day, unaware of the magic power it held."

[Interesting--and then what happened?] Mai asked.

"One day, Goldie's mom asked her to take a basket of cakes as a gift to her grandma." Brock continues. "Her grandma lived in a town on the edge of a forest, and Goldie was told not to waste time talking to strangers on the road."

"Goldie met the Mightyena, right?" Misty guesses what happens next.

Brock nods. "Goldie had never really seen a Mightyena before, so she presumed it was a friend. the Mightyena told Goldie he would run on ahead to inform her grandma of her arrival. But when Mightyena arrived at the house, there was not a soul in sight--Goldie's grandma had gone into town minutes before."

"And he disguised himself as Grandma." Ash fills in what he figures will happen next.

"From there, the two stories remain mostly the same--Goldie arrived some time after and noticed something was off with her grandma." Brock continues. "She then told the Mightyena..."

"Oh, Grandma, what big arms you have!" Misty gasps as Goldie.

"All the better to touch you with, my dear..." Brock intones as the Mightyena. The two of them perform the timeless rigmarole together:

"Oh Grandma, what big feet you've got!"

"All the better to run to you with, my dear...

"Oh Grandma, what big teeth you have!"

The audience holds their breath, expecting Brock to say "All the better to eat you with" as the Mightyena. "Here's where the story diverges from the version we all know and love." Brock cautions as himself. "When the Mightyena sprung at Goldie, he ended up biting the golden hood instead--and its fire magic made it feel like he'd eaten a Tamato Berry!"

Everyone laughs as they picture Mightyena's dance of pain. "About then, Grandma was returning from town, so she stuffed him in a bag and threw him in the river." Brock continues. "Needless to say, the Mightyena couldn't swim, and quickly drowned."

More laughter fills the air. "After making sure Goldie was okay, Grandma prepared a huge lunch for the both of them, and they visited with each other late into the night before Goldie returned home to her mom, where she still is said to live in what is now Viridian City." Brock concludes. "It is said that if you wake up early enough, you might see her on the hill overlooking the forest."

Melody leads the applause. "Very interesting--you should tell us more of your original tales!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 55: Fairer Than a Fairy (Misty)

(real tale: Fairer Than a Fairy (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/029.htm))

"Once a king in a far away land longed for a child more than anything." Misty begins. "At last, Arceus blessed him with a little princess. He named the princess Shayla, for many in the kingdom said she was fairer than even the fey."

"Memo to His Highness--the fey probably don't like it when a human is called prettier than them." Ash muses.

"The fairies were none too pleased that a human was prettier than even them." Misty continues, acknowledging Ash's observation with a nod. "In fact, Queen Titania herself spirited Princess Shayla away to an enchanted castle made of crystal."

"Pika pikachu?" Pikachu is curious about the fairy queen's name.

"The name Titania comes from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'" Melody explains. Brock sighs--he remembers being bored to tears reading the play.

"Titania told Princess Shayla that she only needed to do two things--to never let the fire in the fireplace go out, and to watch over the two bottles on the shelf in her room." Misty continues, unfazed by the audience commentary. "Some years went by, and she practically forgot about her father and her homeland."

[Did she ever escape fairyland?] Mai is curious.

"I'm getting to that." Misty assures the Persian. "One day, as Princess Shayla passed a fountain in the royal garden, she noticed the water made a rainbow as the sun shone on it. A male voice called to her, and when Shayla looked to see who was calling her, she saw a boy inside the rainbow's colors!

"That's a new one..." Ash muses--he's heard of princesses and princes in the form of Pokemon, but never a rainbow.

"The prince introduced himself as Regen, and he too had been imprisoned by the fairy queen Titania." Misty goes on. "But once he saw Princess Shayla, it had renewed his strength. The two of them grew quite close, with Prince Regen telling Shayla many tales of his homeland. These chats got so long, one day Shayla let the fire go out completely because she was so busy talking to Regen."

"Uh oh..." Ash swallowed hard at this.

"Titania brought Princess Shayla to where Mt. Ember is today, and bid her ask Moltres for more fire." Misty continues. "But when she got to the top, Moltres was enamored by her beauty and sweet demeanor, and eagerly gave her a new fire and a magical ruby, saying only to invoke its magic when she was in great need."

"And then?" Brock is interested now.

"Not only that, but Titania was beginning to grow jealous of Shayla." Misty warned. "So one day, she made the fountain dry up, cutting off any access to Regen at all."

"She didn't just sit there and have a pity party like Titania wanted her to..." Ash smiles, excited to hear to what lengths Princess Shayla will go to to save her prince.

"Nope--she took her faithful Growlithe and Meowth, a mint sprig, and the magic ruby Moltres gave her." Misty replies. "But Titania got wind of Princess Shayla's escape, and chased her through the enchanted woods around the castle. Just before Titania could catch Shayla, her Growlithe unleashed a Fire Blast, burning Titania badly."

"Ow..." Ash winces at the memory of being on the receiving end of Charizard's Fire Blast.

"That bought Princess Shayla time to reach a small grotto in a clearing, where she camped for the night, the ruby concealing her and her companions." Misty continues before easing her fiddle case by her side. "Titania found the grotto during the night, but she didn't count on the Meowth to Fury Swipe her to death!"

[Take that! And that!] Korra eagerly swipes the air, as if Titania is actually present in the tent.

"Her pursuer gone, Princess Shayla came to a stone house, where Celebi lived." Misty continues, stifling a giggle at how cute Korra looks. "Celebi listened as Princess Shayla told her story from start to finish, and gave her a magical emerald, saying to only invoke it when she was in great need."

"So, where was Prince Regen?" Brock wondered.

"Before she found the castle where Prince Regen was held, Princess Shayla met Manaphy and Jirachi as well--Manaphy gave her a sapphire, and Jirachi gave her a diamond, saying not to invoke their powers unless she was in great need." Misty assures Brock. "When she found the castle that hovered in the sky, she found it was locked."

[How did she get in?] a Meowth asked.

"She invoked the emerald's power..." Misty pauses to sing Imultao, ame no ga bakeno... "and the door opened in flash of green light. She found Prince Regen in a deep, enchanted sleep--try as she might to tell her story, the prince did not stir despite her telling it fifty times." The boys chuckle as she carefully opens the fiddle case and takes the instrument inside. "Finally, Princess Shayla invoked the sapphire..." She sings Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... as she raises the fiddle to her chin. "and the blue light took the form of a male minstrel with a fiddle, where he played a few tunes from Prince Regen's homeland." With that, she plays "The Jig of Flowers" and "Ninetales' Blessing" for effect.

"Pika!" Pikachu leads the applause when the last note dies.

"The tunes were enough to awaken the prince a little, but the enchantment still held him." Misty continues as she sets the fiddle aside. "So Princess Shayla invoked the diamond..." She pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... "and a little Swablu appeared, singing about all the trials Princess Shayla had been through."

Ash grabs his whistle and mimics a Swablu song for effect. "The song woke Prince Regen with a jump, and when he recognized his beloved, he embraced her, and they were both whisked away to Prince Regen's homeland." Misty concludes. "Prince Regen's mother was ecstatic to see her son safe, and wedding preparations were made. Prince Regen and Princess Shayla were married, and when it came time for Prince Regen to succeed his mother, he ruled for many years alongside his beloved Princess Shayla."

She grins when she hears an expectant D chord from the guitar. "All right, Brock, we can play a little bit..." Pikachu leads the clapping as the fiddle leads the guitar and the whistle into a rousing set of tunes....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 56: Why Snubbull Has Floppy Ears (Ash)

(real tale: Why The Dog's Ears Flop (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Native_American_Legends&story=Why_The_Dogs_Ears_Flop))

[May I ask a question, Ash?] Korra asks as Pikachu romps by her side.

"What is it?" Ash replies.

[Of all the dog Pokemon I see, Snubbull is the only one with floppy ears...why is that?]

Ash thinks for a moment, then begins a story. "To answer that question, you have to remember that a long time ago--long before any of us existed--Snubbull had ears that stood up straight like the other dog Pokemon. He was very brave, and feared no human."

[As all Pokemon should be, not just the dogs.] Mai adds.

"Well, one day, Snubbull found an adventurers' camp in the forest, and he saw a young man tending to the meat the humans were going to have for their dinner that night." Ash continues. "All that fresh Stantler and Ursaring meat made Snubbull's mouth water, so he approached the young man and told him he would protect the camp if he could have a share of the meat."

[And then?] Korra is interested.

"The man agreed, and for a while, Snubbull made good on his bargain--he fought off Ursarings and Persians, helped out when the humans hunted, and protected them at night." Ash continues. "But then one night, some Mightyenas came to the camp, and struck up a conversation with Snubbull. They talked for so long, Snubbull didn't see that some of the Mightyenas had snuck into the camp and were eating all the food!"

"Pika..." Pikachu swallows hard.

"Of course when the humans found all their food gone, they yelled at Snubbull so much, he trembled in fear and his ears drooped in shame." Ash concludes. "That's why that out of all the dog Pokemon, only the Snubbull has floppy ears, in remembrance of how the Mightyena tricked him long ago."

Everyone applauds. "Never heard you tell a pour quoi tale before..." Misty muses.

"In fact, I have told a few of the famous "Just So" stories in public..." Brock adds. "But I typically save them for younger kids or Pokemon themed shows."

[Knowing why humans see us Pokemon as they do is an important skill for you to learn, everyone...] Mai reminds the Meowths. [So listen well to these storytellers and all they have to tell...]

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 57: Entei the Wise (Brock)

(real tale: The Twelve Huntsmen (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/383.htm))

"There was once a prince that was set to marry his beloved." Brock begins before pausing to think of names for the two lovers. "We'll call them Ethan and Sophia."

The group cheers in approval of the names. "One day, Prince Ethan received word that his father's time to die was close, and so he hurried back to his homeland to say goodbye." Brock continues. "When he got there, his father told him that he wanted Ethan to marry a princess of another land, never mind that Ethan already loved Sophia."

Sniffles go up as Brock retrieves his guitar and starts a sad melody. "Ethan was devastated at the notion of marrying anyone but his dear Sophia, but reluctantly went ahead and began wedding preparations."

He adds a soft flourish to represent Sophia. "Sophia was not any happier, but she was determined to reunite with her beloved Ethan, no matter what it took. So she commanded her father to make ranger's garb for her and her eleven maids, which looked all alike. Once disguised, Princess Sophia and her maids set out for Ethan's homeland, where they were hired as royal rangers."

The song then changes to a regal melody. "Now, Ethan's father had a pet Entei who was very wise--we'll call him Eichi." Brock explains. "One night, he told Ethan..." In a deeper version of himself, he intones "Milord, are you sure you have twelve royal rangers?"

"Of course they are royal rangers!" he retorts in a mimic of the real Ethan.

"Actually, they are twelve maids--because a male's feet are strong, while a female's are delicate and graceful." he explains as Eichi.

As himself, he continues. "So Ethan spread a bunch of Rindo Berries in the foyer to the ranger's quarters--but Sophia and her maids, for all intents and purposes, looked like a band of male rangers. Ethan then tried putting spinning wheels in the main hall, but Sophia and her maids didn't even look at them."

"So when did Ethan figure out who the rangers really were?" Melody asks.

"Sophia and her maids kept up their ruse for a year, fooling even Eichi into believing they were boys." Brock replies. "But then one day, the day before Ethan's new bride was to arrive, Ethan and the girls were on a hunt. Suddenly, Sophia feigned being injured by an arrow. When Ethan ran to help the fallen ranger, he saw the sapphire ring he had given Sophia two years before!"

Cheers go up over a triumphant guitar chord. "It dawned on Ethan just who the rangers really were, and threw himself into Sophia's arms, kissing her and crying tears of joy. He vowed..." As Ethan, he proclaims "I am yours, and you are mine, and no powers in heaven or on earth can tear us apart!"

Roars of applause go up as Brock concludes as himself "He sent a message to the other kingdom, saying the wedding was off--he had found another he loved better. Eichi forgave Ethan for doubting him, and welcomed Sophia back as well--they were married the next day, and lived happily ever after for many years."

Applause fills the air as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 58: Princess Ringo (Misty)

(real tale: Lovely Ilonka (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/256.htm))

"Can we sing some songs?" Melody suggested. "I enjoy singing with you three."

"We'll sing after I take my turn telling a tale." Misty replied before beginning "Once a prince--we'll call him Rowan--told his father the king that he wished to take a bride. But the king told his son to wait until he did something great to take a bride--he himself had not taken a bride until he had won a crystal sword."

a Meowth sighs dreamily.

"Rowan spent several days wondering what great deed he could do, and finally decided to go out into the world to try his luck." Misty continues. "He came to the house of a wise woman and asked where he would find some Leppa Berries, as they were rare in that land. So the wise woman took a magic whistle..." Ash plays the Zelda whistle song on his own whistle for effect. "and summoned some Murkrows. But not even they knew where to find Leppa Berries."

[Did he find any?] Korra is curious.

"Rowan asked many more sages and wise women, but not even they knew where Leppa Berries were." Misty replies. "Just when he was about to turn back and go home, a Taillow led him to a grove of Leppa Berries tucked away in a forest. Rowan eagerly picked a few, but on the way back, he dropped a Berry, revealing a beautiful girl inside."

Pikachu gives Brock a static jolt to snap him from his daydream. "The girl asked Rowan for a drink, and he gladly gave her some water." Misty continues. "Since the girl had no name, he named her Ringo, which means "Leppa"

"That's a cute name!" Melody smiles.

"When Rowan arrived home, the entire court was charmed by how kind and beautiful Ringo was." Misty continues. "All except one of the knights, who was bound and determined to have Rowan marry his own daughter--we're call her Livia. He locked Ringo in a closet, and passed Livia off as Ringo. Rowan was devastated, and vowed he would not marry until the real Ringo was found. The wedding preparations continued, though."

"Did Ringo get out of the closet?" Ash is concerned.

"She picked the lock of the closet and disguised herself as a servant girl." Misty assures Ash. "At dinner that night, Livia spiked Rowan's food with a sleeping potion. The potion was so strong, Rowan was out cold in seconds, so when the real Ringo revealed herself, he slept right through it. She vowed to try again, but Livia spiked his food with another sleeping potion the next night, so Rowan slept through her second try too."

[Did Ringo figure out what Livia was doing?] Mai wonders.

"On the third night, Ringo saw Livia spike Rowan's food again, and warned him not to eat or drink anything." Misty replies. "That night, she revealed herself to him and told him how he was about to be tricked. "Rowan was elated to see Ringo again, and had the knight, his wife, and Livia banished from the land for deceiving him."

She concludes "The wedding was held the next day, and Rowan and Ringo lived happily ever after."

"That was a sweet tale..." Brock smiles before taking his guitar and checking his tuning. "What do you guys want to sing first?"

"Pika pika chu!" Pikachu suggests as Misty reaches for her fiddle.

"The boatman song?" Brock asks. "Okay..." After snapping a few times to count Misty off, he leads the singing of [I]High row, the boatmen row, floatin' down the river on the ol' Tohjo!
High row, the boatmen row, floatin' down the river on the ol' Tohjo!....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 59: The Prince and the Mermaid (Ash)

(real tale: The Mermaid and the Boy (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/274.htm))


"There was once a king who ruled where Vermillion City is today." Ash begins as the last notes of "The Entei Sleeps Tonight" fade away. "One year, some of his subjects that lived on what is now Knot Island tried to rebel against him..."

"Why did they rebel?" Melody wonders.

Ash thinks for a moment. "High taxes, I guess." Melody seems to buy that answer, so he continues "He decided to try and end the rebellion peacefully, and set sail for the Sevii Islands. At first, the voyage was uneventful, but then a storm blew up, and the ship ran aground on some rocks!"

"Pika!" Pikachu gasps.

"Just when it looked like the end for the king and his men, a mermaid appeared to him--we'll call her Nerissa." Ash assures Pikachu. "Nerissa told the king she would guide him back to safe waters in return for his firstborn. The king was understandably hesitant at first--the thought of giving up a potential heir pained him. But a wave almost tipped the ship over, so he quickly consented."

"Azu?" Azurill is interested.

"So Nerissa cast a spell..." Ash pauses to sing Imultao, ame no ga bakeno... "and the ship was warped back to safe waters."

He continues "The negotiations took about nine months, and ended successfully, but while the king was away, a little prince was born. He was named Casey, which means "brave".

[A great name...] Mai smiles.

"At first, the king forgot all about his bargain with Nerissa, but as the years went by, the king laid awake at night wondering what would happen if Nerissa spirited Casey away during the night." Ash continues. "So he told his queen the whole story, and Prince Casey was watched like a Braviary twenty four hours a day."

[But what about when he was old enough to go into the world?] Korra worries.

"When Prince Casey came of age, his parents dressed him in simple traveling clothes and gathered his belongings in a simple bag, and wished him well on his journeys." Ash assures Korra. "At first, Prince Casey's journey was uneventful, but when he stopped to camp for the night, he was startled as an Entei met him there!"

"What are you doing here?" Brock asks in a deeper version of himself.

"I'm traveling in hopes of fleeing from a mermaid." Ash replies as Casey.

"Might you share some of your food? I am very hungry..." Brock groans in character as the Entei.

Everyone laughs at Brock's Entei voice. "Casey agreed, and gave the Entei some of the Buneary meat he had caught. When dinner was over, they talked until they fell asleep." Ash continues. "The next morning, the Entei gave Casey a ruby as thanks for his kindness, and said to him..."

"If you ever get into trouble, remember the song 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul'--you will gain some of my power that I have sealed in this ruby." Brock explains as the Entei. "Since you helped me in my hour of need, so shall I help you in return."

"Casey and the Entei said goodbye, but as he walked on the road, Casey grew curious as to what power was inside the ruby. So he sang...." Ash pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul....

[And what happened?] Korra asked.

"Casey glowed a bright red, and he felt incredible strength and power flowing through him." Ash replies. "On top of that, he looked like he was consumed in flames to the average passerby, but the fire was actually holy magic that only harmed evil."

[Wow!] Mai is impressed.

"Casey sped along the road in his 'fireball' state, until the magic wore off a few minutes later." Ash explained. "He did manage to travel a long way while under the spell, though. When he made camp that night, an Espeon met him in the woods."

Brock switches to a mimic of May to represent the Espeon. "I don't know why you travel, but can you maybe give me a little food and a place to rest?"

"Casey agreed, and as thanks for his kindness, the Espeon gave Casey a sapphire and told him..." Ash narrates.

"If you ever get into trouble, remember the song 'Rou iitsa ron selga vichii'--you will gain some of my power that I have sealed in the sapphire." Brock explains as the Espeon. ""Since you helped me in my hour of need, so shall I help you in return."

"The next morning, after he had said his goodbyes to the Espeon, Casey wondered just what powers were in the sapphire." Ash continued. "So he sang Rou iitsa ron selga vichii..., "and he could see, know and sense things no human could see, know, or sense, in addition to knowing how to teleport like an Espeon. To the average passerby, he looked like he was made of a bright blue aura."

"Pini..." Happini gasps, impressed.

"Needless to say, Casey managed to travel quite a long way by teleporting himself until the magic wore off." Ash continues. "On the third night, a Pidgeotto met him in the wood as the sun set, and asked for some food. Casey agreed, and gave the Pidgeotto one of the Magikarp he had caught. The Pidgeotto gave him an emerald as thanks for his kindness, and told him.

"If you ever get into trouble, just remember the song 'Karuto, iichiida shou'--you will gain some of the power contained in the emerald." Brock explains in a breathy female voice. "Since you helped me in my hour of need, so shall I help you in return."

"After Casey and the Pidgeotto said goodbye, Casey wondered what powers lay inside the emerald, and sang Karuto, iichiida shou.... This made him glow bright white, and gave him the ability to fly." Ash explains. "He managed to fly all the way to the outskirts of a great city before the magic wore off."

"This getting good..." Misty notes.

"Casey heard the people talking about the princess--who hated boys so much, she would not allow even a picture of a boy in her room." Ash continues.

"And I thought Merida was bad..." Misty muses.

"We'll call our princess Megan." Ash assures Misty. "It began to get late, and as soon as no one else was on the road, Casey took the emerald and sang Karuto, iichiida shou...

"Uh oh..." Brock stifles a giggle at what he thinks will happen next.

"The flight magic wore off just as Casey landed in Megan's room." Ash continues. "Naturally, Megan freaked out at seeing a boy in her room, but when the guard rushed to see what the matter was, they saw nothing out of the ordinary, and concluded Princess Megan had a nightmare."

Everyone laughs as they picture the guard's reaction. "Casey tried returning to Princess Megan's room, but she freaked out again." Ash continues. "The guards, of course, found nothing, and figured the princess had gone nuts."

"So did Casey ever make it in there?" Brock is curious.

"Yes--and Megan concluded that her father would think her nuts if she screamed over the same boy again and again. Casey assured her he meant no harm, and after a few moments, Megan warmed up to Casey. They became fast friends, and would spend hours talking about many things." Ash continues. "Casey found out that Megan was a fine fiddler, and that her kingdom was due to head to war in three days, and they needed every person that could fight. He told Megan that if he did not return, to play her fiddle to the sea, and Manaphy would tell her where he was."

Inspired, Misty takes out her fiddle and cradles it in her arms, waiting for an opportunity to play. "Megan also gave Casey an sapphire ring identical to hers, so he would remember her if he got lonely on the battlefield." Ash continues. "So three days later, Casey and the king's retinue set off for the battlefield. But on the way, Casey heard a beautiful voice coming from the sea, and followed it beneath the water, where he met up with Nerissa."

"I was wondering when she would show back up." Melody muses.

"Although Nerissa treated Casey like a king, Casey longed for his beloved Megan on the surface." Ash continues. "Meanwhile, some months after the war had ended, a knight claimed he was the one Megan loved, complete with showing the king a lapis ring. But Megan knew Casey had to be somewhere, so one night, while everyone else was sleeping, she took her fiddle and made her way to a hill overlooking the sea, where she played a lament to the waves..." He motions for Misty to play.

Misty plays "Lament for Cerulean" for effect. "Sure enough, Manaphy heard the song, and brought Casey to the surface, despite Nerissa's pleas." Ash continues when the last note dies. "Manaphy told Nerissa that Casey belonged on the surface, and so Nerissa reluctantly bid Casey goodbye. Megan and Casey hurried back to the palace, where Megan challenged the knight to transform into a fireball."

Everyone laughs. "The knight had no inkling of magic power, so he just danced around making fire noises." Ash continues. "Then Megan challenged him to teleport, and the knight just jumped around the room making teleport noises. Megan then challenged him to fly, and the knight just ran around the room with his arms outstretched like wings."

Melody's laughter is the hardest at the knight's magic power, or lack thereof. "Then Casey sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... and became a fireball." Ash intones. "The knight leapt behind a chair, and stayed there until the fire magic wore off. Then Casey invoked the sapphire--Rou iitsa ron selga vichii--and warped behind the chair the knight was hiding behind. No matter where the knight ran to, Casey warped there until the sapphire's magic wore off."

"And then?" Brock asked as he wipes away a tear of laughter.

"Casey then invoked the emerald--Karuto, iichiida shou--and stunned the crowd by flying." Ash continues. "He then showed the court the sapphire ring, and Megan showed hers. The king realized the knight was lying, and ordered him banished for deceiving him."

He concludes "Casey and Megan were married, and they lived happily for many years--but Casey kept the jewels with him, just in case he needed their power again."

[Bravo! Encore!] Korra leads the applause.

"That was your longest tale yet, Ash." Brock smiles. "In fact, that's gonna be a tough act to follow...."

"Oh come on, I know you can keep the momentum going with a tale of your own!" Misty assures him. "You are the master storyteller, after all!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 60: The Seven Mareeps (Brock)

(real tale: The Wolf and the Seven Kids (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Fairy_Tales_From_The_Brothers_Grimm&story=Wolf_And_Seven_Kids))

"Once an Ampharos became the proud mom to seven little Mareeps, who she loved very much." Brock begins. "One day, she had to go gather food for all of them, so she called them all together, and told them to be on the lookout for the great Mightyena that roamed the wood. She knew as well as her children that if he got inside, he would eat them all."

One Meowth swallows hard at this. "The Mightyena was also known to disguise himself as well, but his raspy voice and black fur always gave him away. The seven Mareeps, meanwhile, assured their mother they would be fine, so after they all said their goodbyes, Mama Ampharos went into the wood."

[And then Mr. Mightyena showed up, right?] a Meowth asks.

"That he did, and he called to the seven Mareeps..." Brock switches to a deeper version of his own voice. "Open the door--it is I, your dear mother."

As himself, he continues "But the seven Mareeps recognized the raspy voice, and didn't open the door. "So the Mightyena found some Combee honey and ate some in an attempt to literally sweeten his voice. But the seven Mareeps could see his black furred paws on the window, and didn't let him in."

"So what did they do?" Ash is piqued.

"They knew that the Mightyena would likely do anything in his power to get inside, including disguising his voice and fur." Brock explains. "So they found seven rocks that were about their size, and hid them in various places in the house--under the table, on the bed, in the oven, in the kitchen, in the cupboard, under the sink, and in the clock case. Their handiwork complete, they left the door open just a bit, and hid in a safe place to see when--or if--the Mightyena would return."

"But what about the Mightyena?" Misty was interested. "What was he doing while the Mareeps were busy?"

"Meanwhile, the Mightyena had gone into town and asked the baker to spread dough over his feet, and the miller to scatter white meal over his paws." Brock explained. "The baker readily complied, but the miller had refused at first. It was only when the Mightyena had threatened to eat him that he complied."

[Strange--Mightyenas are more afraid of humans than humans are of them.] Mai sighs.

"Well, the Mightyena has always been the bad guy in human lore since ancient times." Melody muses.

"When the Mightyena returned, he saw the door slightly ajar, so he burst into the house and ate what he thought were the seven Mareeps." Brock continues. "His meal over, he strolled into the meadow and curled under a tree to doze. When Mama Ampharos returned a few moments later, she was panicked to see the house had been ransacked, and frantically called for her children."

[And then?] Korra swallows hard at what will happen next.

"The seventh Mareep called back to Mama Ampharos, and explained just what he and his six brothers and sisters had done. The eight of them watched and waited to see what would happen when the Mightyena woke up."

"What happened when the Mightyena woke up?" Melody asks.

"He was very thirsty for one thing, and the rocks rattled inside him as he walked to a river." Brock replies before musing as Mightyena "What is this I feel inside me, knocking hard against my bones? How should such a thing betide me? I thought they were lambs, and now they're stones."

Everyone giggles in anticipation. "When the Mightyena bent over to take a drink, he fell in the water. Since he couldn't swim, he sank like the rocks inside him!" Brock continues as himself, to some laughter. "Mama Ampharos congratulated her seven children for being so clever, and they celebrated the Mightyena's demise that night, knowing he wouldn't bother them or any other Pokemon anymore."

[Interesting...] Mai muses. [I know you guys would do the same if a Mightyena tried to hurt you, right?]

[Yeah!] Korra replies. [We'd scratch him like no tomorrow!]

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 61: The Swanna Maiden (Misty)

(real tale: The Goose Girl (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/300.htm))

"There was once a queen who had a daughter she loved very much." Misty begins. "We'll call her Eira. Now Eira was engaged to a prince of a neighboring land, and the two were very deeply in love. So on the day she was to wed, her mother saw her off with all her royal finery, her faithful steed named Epona..." At this, Ash fumbles for the harmonica. " and one of her maids, who we'll call Lila."

"Mm-hm, not a bad start..." Brock muses.

"At first, the journey was uneventful, but as time wore on, Lila grew more and more jealous of Eira, until one day, she forced Eira off Epona, and passed herself off as Eira." Misty continued to shocked gasps. "They arrived in the prince's homeland, and Lila's disguise was so convincing, even the prince believed Lila was Eira. The real Eira, meanwhile, was presumed to be a servant girl in need of work, and put in charge of the Swannas that roamed the royal grounds."

[That's not nice!] a Meowth gasps, appalled that someone would steal a princess' beloved.

"What Lila didn't know was that Epona could speak, but would only do so to those she knew." Misty explained. "For example, she knew when Eira was near because Eira would play a special song on the reeds that grew by the stables--which went something like this..."

Ash plays Epona's Song on the harmonica for effect. "Anyway, the next morning, after Eira had guided the Swannas back to roost, she went to the stables and saw the same kind of reeds grew in her beloved's homeland. So she picked a few and played the song..."

Ash plays Epona's Song on the harmonica again. "Sure enough, Epona came trotting up and said to her..." Misty uses an older version of herself to intone "My heart is troubled, princess fair. If your mother only knew, her heart would surely break in two."

"Eira was troubled at why Epona said this, so she went out and sat down on the hill, where she sang..." With that, Misty sings "Wind, wind, gently sway, blow my master's hat away. Let him chase o'er field and wold, till my locks of ruddy gold, now astray and hanging down, be combed and plaited in a crown."

"Sure enough a breeze came and blew the head Pokemon caretaker's hat away, buying Eira just enough time to put her hair up." Misty continues. This wore on for some weeks, until finally, the Pokemon caretaker went to the king and told him of everything that had happened. The king asked Eira if what her master said was true, but Eira was so afraid of what would happen, all she could muster was a sob. The king assured her that if something was bothering her, she could tell it to the pillows on a bed. So Eira cried to the pillows "Here I sit, deserted by all the world, I who am a princess, and a jealous lady has forced me to take off my own clothes, and has taken my place with my bridegroom, while I have to fulfill the lowly office of Swanna girl. If my mother only knew her heart would surely break in two."

[Poor Eira...] Korra brushes away a tear.

"But the king heard Eira's rant, and ordered her dressed in the best clothes in the royal closet." Misty continues. "He then told his son his bride was fake, and showed him the real Eira, who was even more beautiful. A great feast was held that night, with the prince and Eira getting the honored seats at the table."

[But what about Lila?] Mai asks. [Did she get her just desserts?]

"The king asked Lila what should the best punishment be for someone who lied to a king and the entire royal court." Misty explains. "Lila replied that that person should be banished, never to return to that kingdom on pain of death. Lila didn't know she had pronounced her own sentence, and she was banished the next day, never to return on pain of death. Eira was married to her rightful prince, and they all lived happily ever after."

"Moral of the story? Do not lie to a king." Brock adds, to some nervous giggles.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 62: The Thorn Spinner (Ash)

(real tale: The Nettle Spinner (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/093.htm))

"In a far away land, there once was a count that was feared by everyone." Ash begins. "His name was Count Randall, but he was known as 'Count Randall the Mightyena' in private. Many a rumor flew about how he would harness people to his plow, and force them to till his fields like Tauros."

Mai hisses at Ash's description, appalled a human would harm another human. "Countess Randall, on the other hand, was very kind and generous to all she met." Ash assures Mai. "In fact, whenever she heard of her husband's cruelty, she would move heaven and earth to set things right again."

"Hm..." Brock ponders what sort of story Ash plans to tell with these characters.

"One day, Count Randall was out walking in the forest when he passed by a small house. He met a girl spinning thread nearby--we'll call her Silvana--and invited her to his castle. Silvana declined, saying she had to work to support herself and her grandma, but Count Randall insisted she come, saying he would be expecting her that evening."

"What part of 'no' does this guy not get?" Misty grumbles.

"As if that weren't enough...." Ash intones. "Silvana was already in love with a boy named Keith, and had no intentions to marry the count."

"Sorry milord--Silvana's taken." Brock muses to himself, as if Count Randall is actually there in the tent.

"So when Count Randall came storming back three days later wanting to know why Silvana didn't come, Silvana reiterated she already loved another." Ash continued. "This wore on for a few weeks--but two years earlier, when Silvana's mom had died from a terrible disease, Countess Randall had made Silvana food and gave her a little money to live on. If Count Randall planned to marry Silvana, Countess Randall would fiercely object."

"Methinks Count Randall doesn't know the meaning of the word 'no'." Misty agrees.

"One day, Count Randall saw Silvana spinning again, and challenged her to make a wedding gown and a burial shroud from the thorns that grew in the forest." Ash continues. "For he told her she would not be married until he had died."

[That would possibly take a long time...] Korra purred.

"It didn't help that Count Randall was bragging on how strong and agile he was." Ash agrees. "Not long after Count Randall had left, Keith arrived at the house, and Silvana told him everything. Keith offered to kill Count Randall if he ever came that way again, but Silvana reminded him of how kindly Countess Randall had treated her--so the only way out, it seemed, was to spin the items from the thorns."

"And then?" Misty is interested now.

"So after being told how to spin the thorns by the town wise woman, Silvana set to work on the dress and the shroud, with Keith bringing more thorns when she ran out." Ash continues. "Oddly enough, as Silvana worked, the count grew sicker and sicker, and was dead as a doornail by the time both items were done."

[Serves him right for saying she would marry when he died...] Mai muses.

"After Count Randall was buried, Keith and Silvana were married, and they all lived happily ever after." Ash concludes.

"Moral of the story--be careful what you wish for..." Brock interjects as he applauds.

"It just might come true!" Misty agrees.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 63: King Rufflet (Brock)

(real tale: The Blue Bird (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/355.htm))


"And now, a tale from Unova..." Brock begins. "If I remember right, you taught me this in one of your first letters from Mistalton City, Ash."

Ash just smiles as Brock begins the familiar tale. "In a faraway land, there lived an old king who was deeply grieving his beloved queen--we'll call him Adler. Try as his court might to cheer him up, King Adler remained quite depressed. That is, until one day, a lady named Raina came to visit him. She had just lost a husband, so the two of them got to talking about their dearly departed spouses, and it wasn't long before the two of them married."

"Talk about an odd way to get together." Misty muses.

"King Adler had a daughter of his own--we'll call her Crisanta--that he loved very much." Brock continues. "Crisanta had a heart that was as beautiful as her looks, and was always happy and generous. Queen Raina, meanwhile, had a daughter named Melantha. Melantha had a guardian fairy--we'll call her..."

"Navi!" Ash suggests.

Brock, however, has a name in mind for the fairy. "We'll call her Tanya." Ash sulks for a moment as Brock continues "Tanya had tried to encourage Melantha to be a proper lady, but Melantha would have none of it. Needless to say, Crisanta and Melantha did not get along."

"I'll take your word for it." Melody shudders at what the fights between the girls must have been like.

"The years went by, and both girls came of age. Queen Raina was determined to have Melantha marry the richest princes, kings, and emperors in the land." Brock continues. "Then one day, a king named Marlon came to the palace. Try as Queen Raina might to lock Crisanta away, tell horrible lies about her, and generally present Melantha to him, King Marlon insisted that he wanted to marry Crisanta."

"And I thought my fights with Ash were bad..." Misty muses.

"Then Tanya got involved, and cast all kinds of charms and spells to make King Marlon fall in love with Melantha." Brock continues. "Finally, Tanya turned King Marlon into a Rufflet in frustration. Crisanta was devastated, and spent many a night crying in her room. But Queen Raina secretly hoped Crisanta would forget about King Marlon."

"If he wants Crisanta, let him marry Crisanta!" Ash grumbles at Queen Raina's determination to have King Marlon and Melantha marry.

"What Crisanta didn't know was her beloved king was close by, flying around the tower as a Rufflet." Brock continues. "He landed in Crisanta's room and told her of all that had happened. They talked all night until sunrise. When they parted, King Marlon promised to return as soon as the sun set. And return he did--with jewels, gold, silver, and other gifts."

[But did the queen ever figure out what was happening?] a Meowth worries.

"At first, Queen Raina didn't have a clue, but as the weeks wore on, she began to suspect something was up, and one night, happened to listen in on Crisanta and Marlon talking." Brock replies to gasps from the group. "or rather, Crisanta and a Rufflet. Thinking there was another prince there, she posted a spy in Crisanta's room."

"Little does she know who Crisanta's REALLY talking to..." Misty whispers to Ash with a giggle.

"On top of that, Queen Raina put all kinds of blades in King Marlon's hidey hole, which wounded him little by little every time he went in there." Brock intones. "Luckily, King Marlon's court wizard--we'll call him Arion--happened to find him on the ground and bleeding."

"Now I'm mad at Raina...." Misty grumbles.

"King Marlon told Arion everything that had happened, and Arion assured his lord as he healed him that while things looked bleak, the dawn was soon to come." Brock assures the audience.

[Good--Marlon and Crisanta deserve to be together.] Mai purrs.

"A year went by, and King Adler succumbed to old age." Brock continues. "The people were convinced that it was Queen Raina that had hastened his death, and demanded that Crisanta be the one to inherit the throne. Queen Raina just taunted and threatened them, so much so the people and the army stormed the castle, killing her and Melantha in the process."

"Moral of the story--treat your people well." Ash muses.

"Arion undid Tanya's spell, banished her back to the realm of the fey, and brought Crisanta out to meet King Marlon. King Marlon and Crisanta were finally married, and they all lived happily ever after." Brock concludes.

Ash smiles as he applauds. "I think you did Skyla's version justice!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 64: Prince Sylph's Quest (Misty)

(real tale: The Invisible Prince (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/036.htm))

"Long ago, when the Great Lord Arceus created the world, he created four beings to watch over the first four elements he created." Misty begins. "The guardian of fire he named Salamander, the guardian of earth he named Gnome, the guardian of water he named Undine, and the guardian of wind he named Sylph."

"I know them!" Melody smiles. "Salamander always was and still is very imaginative..."

"Hence the fires of inspiration." Brock agrees.

"Gnome is very wise, and Undine is friendly, if a little vain." Melody adds. "But Sylph prefers to go with the flow of things, as you will soon hear in this tale."

"Now, we all know that the Great Lord Arceus hates to see suffering in this world, but it pained him the most to see people unlucky in love." Misty continues. "For some reason, Sylph took this to mean he was forbidden to take a bride at first. But after asking for and receiving a lot of conflicting information about love, he decided to find out what love was like for himself. So he hitched a ride on a passing Pidgeotto all the way to an island in the earth realm named Bara Island."

"What did he find there?" Brock is interested.

"He met the princess of that land, which we'll call Rosalie." Misty replied. "Sylph fell head over heels in love with her, and the two of them grew quite close. But then one day, a harpy kidnapped Princess Rosalie, and her father the Rose King was devastated. Sylph vowed that he would do anything he could to bring Rosalie back safe. That included help from his brothers Salamander and Gnome, and his sister Undine."

"And then?" Ash is piqued.

"Sylph traveled all over the earth realm, thinking Rosalie was not far away." Misty continues. "When that came up short, he asked his brother Gnome for advice. Gnome allowed him to look in his magic mirror, and Sylph saw Rosalie in a small room at the end of a winding labyrinth."

"Ooh, Zelda!" Ash is excited.

"Sylph braved the labyrinth's many monsters and traps--which is a story in itself--but when he got to the room he had seen, Rosalie was not there--the harpy had moved her somewhere beneath the sea." Misty continued. "Sylph flew out to the sea, but wound up captured by a sea giant!"

"Oh no!" Melody gasps.

"At first, Sylph bemoaned his sad fate, but then Undine found him, and taught him how to turn invisible." Misty continues. "So the next morning, when the giant was about to take him to his private arena for a fight to the death, Sylph turned invisible and fled beneath the waves. He searched the sea from top to bottom, only to discover that Rosalie had been moved to deep within Mt. Ember."

[How did Salamander help?] Mai wonders.

"He felt sorry for his brother, and created a shield around him so the fire of Mt. Ember wouldn't harm him." Misty replied. "Sylph braved the firey volcano, but when he got to the deepest sanctum--!"

"Rosalie was not there." Brock fills in the blank without being reminded.

"So Sylph hurried to the wind realm, where he confronted the harpy." Misty continues. "It was a long battle, but in the end, the rogue harpy was defeated, and Sylph was reunited with his beloved Rosalie. It wasn't long before they were married, and they all lived happily ever after."

"In fact, if you listen hard enough, you may hear them laughing as they fly about the world, observing their creation." Melody smiles.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 65: The Wiley Dragonslayer (Ash)

(real tale: Stan Bolovan (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/073.htm))

"There was once a man whose wife was always depressed." Ash begins. "Try as the man--we'll call him Shan--might, his wife didn't want to tell him what was wrong. When Shan finally got an answer out of her, she said she wanted a child. "So Shan went to the closest shrine of Arceus, and asked for children. When he got home, he was shocked to find a hundred children--fifty boys, and fifty girls."

[Oh my...] Mai gasps as she pictures the chaos.

"Try as Shan's wife might, she couldn't keep up with them all." Ash continues. "There was also the question as to how to feed them."

"You'd need enough food to feed Cerulean for a year just to feed a hundred and two." Misty muses.

"So Shan went out into the world, and walked until he came upon a trainer in tears." Ash goes on. "When Shan asked what the matter was, the trainer told him that a Salamence killed some of his Pokemon every night, and he was powerless to stop it. Shan was offered a hundred gold pieces if he could get rid the Salamence, which Shan accepted."

"Shan had no clue how to wield a sword, I bet..." Brock speculates as to how Shan will defeat the Salamence.

"No, but he had a razor sharp wit." Ash assures Brock. "That night, when the Salamance came, Shan challenged it to produce milk from a rock. Beforehand, Shan had taken a piece of cheese similar in size to a rock, and crushed it, making the cheese melt, fooling the Salamence into thinking it was milk."

"How clever!" Melody smiles.

"Try as the Salamence might, he couldn't make his rock produce milk." Ash continues. Then Shan challenged him to ignite his finger on fire--in reality, Shan just lit a match, but in the darkness, the match resembled a human finger. Needless to say, the Salamence had no luck, and burned his own finger."

"Then what did Shan challenge the Salamence to do?" Brock is interested now.

"He told the Salamence to capture the moon--but he actually showed the Salamence the moon reflected in a mirror." Ash explains. "But try as the Salamence might, he couldn't even reach the moon, much less catch it."

Everyone laughs. "The Salamence was about to kill Shan, but Shan warned him about the hundred children at home, and how they would all avenge him if he died. Just then, all the children came dashing up the hill--the Salamence was so scared, he dashed away--and as far as I know, he's still on the run from those hundred kids!"

[I'd hate to have a hundred humans chasing me!] Mai laughs as the others applaud...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 66: The Mage's Gifts (Brock)

(real tale: The Gifts of the Magician (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/246.htm))

"And now, a family favorite..." Brock smiles as he retrieves his guitar. "This one's called 'The Mage's Gifts'."

"Terra's favorite bedtime story..." Ash smiles as he and Misty reach for their instruments.

With that, Brock begins a calm melody. "Once a boy was wandering through a forest one night, on his way home from a hunt. It was late that night, and there was no moon to light his way. Suddenly, he heard a scream way off in the distance, and a mage dashed through some nearby bushes, pursued by a pack of Mightyenas. The boy readied an arrow and fired at the biggest Mightyena, killing it and making the rest of the Mightyenas flee. The mage was grateful, and promised his deliverer whatever he wished in return for spending the night with him." He switches to a voice that sounds more or less like Ash. "I would desire nothing more than a night's rest--I have been hunting all day, and have lost my way back home."

As himself, he continues. "The mage took the boy to his cabin that lay in a clearing. No sooner had the boy arrived, did he lie down and fall into a deep sleep. After some time, the mage's servant girl was quite interested in how the boy saved her master, and asked him to tell her about the encounter. Once the boy had finished his tale, the servant girl instructed him..." He switches to a voice that sounds like a breathier version of Dawn. "If my master should ask if you desire a reward for saving his life, request the third Ponyta that is boarded in the stable."

"And then?" Melody is interested.

"Some time later, the mage returned with a grand haul from his hunt, and the three of them sat down to a great meal together. Besides the meat, there was fruit of all kinds, the finest cheeses, and fresh water unlike any other. When the meal had ended, the mage asked the boy..." Brock switches to a deeper version of himself. "I must thank you again for saving my life--do you desire any reward?" He next switches to his psuedo-Ash voice. "I only want the third Ponyta that is boarded in the stables." As himself, he continues. "the boy replied. The mage tried again and again to talk the boy into reconsidering his offer, but again and again the boy insisted on the Ponyta. Finally, the mage relented, and also granted the boy three magic instruments--a zither, a fiddle, and a flute. The boy was told that should he ever be in danger, to play the zither first. If no help came, he was to play the fiddle, and if still no help came, to play the flute."

"Remember those instruments--they'll be important later." Misty reminds the Meowths as she checks her fiddle's tuning.

"The next morning, the boy thanked the mage again for his kindness and rode off for home with the Ponyta and his three treasures." Brock goes on over a peaceful interlude. "He had not gotten very far when the Ponyta spoke to him, saying..." He switches to his standard female voice. "Rather than returning home now, where you will be lectured, scolded, and beaten, let us visit a few towns first--maybe something lucky will happen to you on the way." As himself, he goes on. "The boy was enamored by the thought of going out into the world and seeking his fortune in a far off land, so he rode on, visiting many villages and towns on the way and helping the townsfolk with their troubles."

"But those are stories in themselves." Ash interjects.

"Before long, the boy came to the capital city of his homeland, where the townsfolk were awestruck by the beautiful Ponyta." Brock continues, lazily strumming a melody Ash recognizes as Hyrule Castle. "Even the king heard of it, and sent messengers to the boy offering to buy the Ponyta for whatever price he offered. At first, the boy wasn't sure, but the Ponyta assured him..." He switches to his standard female voice again. "Do not sell me, but instead board me in the royal stables, and in the morning, all the other Ponytas will be just as beautiful as I."

[Wow...] a Meowth gasps.

[And then?] Mai asks.

"The boy took the Ponyta to the royal stables, where it was given its own stall." Brock replies, now as himself. "Sure enough, when morning came, the other Ponytas were as lovely and strong as the boy's Ponyta. No more did they struggle to trot, and their manes and tails burned as bright as the sun. While the king was amazed at the transformation of his mounts, the groom in charge of the stables grew very jealous of the boy and his Ponyta. For days, he came before the king bearing some charge against the boy, but the king didn't listen, as he was well aware of his groom's jealousy. Finally, the groom came before the king saying that he had heard the boy boasting of how he knew where the king's best Rapidash had disappeared to years before. Of course, the groom was lying through his teeth, but the king believed him. He sent for the boy and commanded him to find the Rapidash in three days, or else."

Melody swallows hard, fearful at what "or else" might be. "The boy's Ponyta was waiting when the boy returned, and said to him..." Brock switches to his female voice again. "Do not worry over the task you have been charged with--in the morning, ask the king for a hundred Tauros, which you will sacrifice to Arceus for safety on your journey. A portion of the meat from the sacrifice will be kept for you. Then, we will depart and ride until we get to a certain river. You will see a Ponyta there, but you are to pay no heed to it. Then you will see another Ponyta, but ignore this one too. But when you see a Rapidash, throw my bridle over it."

As himself, he continues. "The next day, everything happened just as the Ponyta had said, and the Rapidash was corralled and bridled. On the way back, he tossed some of the Tauros meat he had saved to keep the Shadow Murkrows that lived in the forest away. When the groom heard that the boy had brought back the king's Rapidash with two days to spare, he again pondered how he could have the king look unfavorably on the boy."

Everyone listens intently as Brock plays an interlude. "Some time passed, and the groom again came before the king, saying that he had overheard the boy boasting that he knew where the princess of the kingdom had disappeared to some months before. Although the groom was again lying through his teeth, the king believed him a second time. So he summoned the boy and charged him to find the princess, or else."

[Or else what?] Korra challenges.

"Or else the king would have the boy's head." Brock replies. Korra slinks back behind her mother as he continues "The boy was troubled by this command--how could he know where the princess was if she had disappeared months before? Fortunately, the Ponyta was nearby, and she said to him..." He switches to his standard female voice again. "Do not fear, we only need to go as far as the river we rode to yesterday. You will find a Taillow by the left bank--sprinkle it with some water from the river, and it will take its true form--the princess was turned into a Taillow by a witch several months before. So in the morning, the boy and the Ponyta set out, and everything happened just as the Ponyta had said--no sooner did the boy sprinkle the Taillow with water from the river, it transformed into a young girl in a flash of blue. "When the king saw the boy returning with his daughter, he was filled with much joy and happiness, and showered the boy with gifts."

"Then did the groom leave the boy alone?" Melody asks.

"Well, you would think by now, the groom would know to leave the boy alone, but no..." Brock replies as his melody turns tense. "Some time later, the groom appeared before the king a third time, saying that he had overheard the boy saying that he wished to have the throne for himself. Once again, the groom was lying through his teeth, but the king was angry enough to believe him."

Gasps fill the tent. "The king was so angry, he didn't even bother to give the boy a trial, and ordered the boy be killed right away." Brock continues, making Azurill tear up, never mind she's heard the tale hundreds of times. "The day of the execution came, and the boy was asked if he had any last requests. The boy nodded, and asked if he could play one last tune on the zither. Leave was granted, and no sooner had the boy touched the strings, the executioner found himself dancing in spite of himself." He performs a set of tunes on guitar--"The Bluk Berry Flower", followed by "Dusknoir's Dream"

Everyone claps along to the set. "By the time the boy had finished, the executioner was so tired, he delayed the execution for a day." Brock continues as the last chord fades away. "The story of the zither spread like wildfire, and the next morning, a huge crowd had turned out to witness the execution. When asked if he had any last requests, the boy asked if he could play one last tune upon the fiddle." Misty prepares to play at this. "No sooner had the bow met the strings, not only did the executioner dance, but so did everyone else in the crowd." With that, Brock and Misty launch into a guitar and fiddle rendition of "The Trainer's Cap".

"By the time the boy finished, it was dark out, and so the execution was delayed another day." Brock continues when the applause dies down. "On the third day, when the boy was asked if he had any last requests, he asked if he could play one last tune upon the flute..."

"Azu!" Azurill picks up on where the story is going--maybe there's hope for the boy after all!

"The king refused him at first--he had bad memories of dancing away another day. But the princess interceded, saying that it was his last request, and a prisoner's last request must not be refused him." Brock continues. "So the king plugged his ears with wax, and the groom tied himself to a tree to protect themselves. But no sooner had the boy blown one note, did the rest of the crowd dance again, barring the king and the groom." Ash begins the tune "The Meowth's Call" to illustrate this, making the tiny whistle echo through the huge room. "After a few minutes, the mage appeared to the boy in a rush of wind and light." Ash keeps playing as Brock continues in his "mage" voice "What sort of danger are you in, that you have called for me?" He switches to his psuedo-Ash voice. "Someone present here has spoken a lie against me, and now the king wants to put me to death...the executioner is waiting for me to finish my song." As himself, he continues. "the boy breathlessly explained. The mage, meanwhile, charged some red light in his hands and called..." He switches back to his "mage" voice. "Out of the ground, raze all greenery with flame! Fire!"

"No sooner had the mage spoke, did a fireball come flying from the mage's hands, setting the gallows ablaze." Brock continues as himself before switching back to his mage voice. "And who was it that brought a false charge against you?" He returns to himself. "the mage asked. The boy pointed out the groom--who was still bound to the tree--and the mage charged another ball of light, this one blue, and called..." He switches to his mage voice again. "Scatter your chilly sharp blades! Ice!"

As himself, he continues "Icicles came flying from the mage's hands, and they sliced up the tree and the groom to little pieces. The king then realized that the boy was truly innocent, and that his groom had been lying to him all along. So he ordered the boy freed, and offered the princess' hand in marriage as an apology." Ash finishes his song at this point, prompting more applause.

[Very nice!] Mai smiles.

"And so the boy and the princess were married...but the boy kept the three instruments and his Ponyta with him, just in case he needed their power again." Brock concludes. "The end."

The Pokemon's applause is the loudest as the trio takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 67: The Meowth Girl (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 30, story 1)

"In a certain village lived a rich man, and a poor man lived next to him." Misty begins. "The rich man was renowned for being grumpy and a miser, so one day, he kicked his pet Meowth--who we'll simply call Kitty--out of the house because she supposedly ate him out of house and home."

[That isn't very nice!] Mai growls.

"I would march right up to him and give him a good talking to!" Ash agrees.

"Kitty wandered over to the poor man's house, and the poor man took her in." Misty continues. "He worked extra hard scraping together meals for her, and he only had a single blanket for her, but Kitty didn't care--so long as she had food, shelter, and someone that loved her, she was happy."

"Mm-hm, and then?" Brock is interested.

"The next morning, as Kitty watched the poor man work in his fields, she was interested in a pair of Beautiflies and the flowers around the field." Misty continues. "But deep down, the poor man wished Kitty could help him."

Melody gasps as Misty continues "When he came in from the fields the next day, he was shocked to see Kitty grinding the grain for bread. The poor man was touched, and made dumplings for dinner that night--something he only made on festival days and special occasions."

"Mm..." Ash tries oh-so-hard not to drool as he imagines himself as the poor man.

"That night, the poor man swore he heard Kitty ask to go to Wishmaker Peak, in hopes she would be able to ask Jirachi for a human form." Misty goes on. "The poor man wasn't sure if he was hearing things or not, but gave Kitty some supplies for the journey, just in case."

[Did Kitty get her wish?] Korra asks

"After a long journey--which is a story in itself--Kitty arrived at Wishmaker Peak, and wished to become human." Misty replies. "On the way back, as she rested for the night, Jirachi heard her wish and transformed her into a human girl as she slept."

[YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!!!] the Meowths cheer.

"The poor man was stunned when he saw the girl." Misty concludes. "They took care of each other, and gave thanks to Jirachi for all time."

"I'm sure Kitty was beautiful as a human..." Brock sighs dreamily as he applauds.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 68: Inabiki's Bride (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 24, story 1)

"Once there was a family of Pikachus that lived in a certain house." Ash begins. "Before long, their only Pichu, a daughter named Inabiki, had evolved. That made her eligible for a mate."

"Fascinating..." Misty smiles.

"True--Pikachus can't reproduce until they evolve." Brock agrees.

"Now, Papachu didn't want Inabiki to go to just any old Pikachu, so Mamachu suggested that Inabiki marry Meowth." Ash explains.

He is cut off by Mai laughing. [But Inabiki would be eaten...most Meowths don't know any better to eat a Pikachu, and get horrible stomachaches.]

[Don't remind me, Mama...] One Meowth shudders at the memory of eating a Pikachu.

"Mamachu and Papachu asked Meowth if he would marry Inabiki." Ash continues, oblivious to the comments. "Before Meowth could answer, a Growlithe chased him off. Mamachu concluded that Growlithe was stronger than Meowth, and so asked Growlithe to marry Inabiki."

[And then?] Korra wonders.

"Before Growlithe could answer, his master, a young boy, called him back." Ash replies. "Mamachu concluded that a human was stronger than Growlithe, and asked the boy if he would marry Inabiki. Then, the Pikachus overheard some townsfolk saying the rice wasn't doing well, and concluded that rice was stronger than people."

"Pika?" Pikachu is confused as to how a plant is stronger than a human.

"They asked the rice stalk if it would marry Inabiki, but the rice stalk declined, saying that Ho'oh had refused to appear and help it grow. Mamachu concluded that Ho'oh was stronger than the rice." Ash explains.

"Now that makes more sense.." Brock muses.

"Papachu saw Ho'oh passing by, and asked her for a suggestion on the best mate for Inabiki." Ash goes on. "Ho'oh replied that the clouds were making it hard for her to fly that year, so that was why the rice was suffering. Mamachu concluded the clouds were stronger than Ho'oh, and asked a cloud to marry Inabiki."

"Pi pini ha pi?" Happini asks.

"One cloud said they were at the mercy of Suicune, and blown about as he ran across the plains." Ash replies. "Papachu suggested they ask Suicune. When Papachu asked Suicune to marry Inabiki, Suicune said..."

Brock fills in Suicune's dialogue. "Oh, but there is something stronger than me--the wall."

"So Mamachu asked the wall, and the wall replied that Pikachu bury through it many times." Ash continues.

[I see! We're back where we started again.] Mai muses.

"Mamachu and Papachu were surprised to hear how strong they were." Ash concludes. "Before long, Inabiki was married to a brave male Pikachu named Seiden, and they lived happily ever after."

"Pika..." Pikachu sighs dreamily as he pictures a perfect mate of his own...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 69: The Gluttonous Ogre (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 29, story 1)

"Just a word of warning--this tale might be a little scary." Brock cautions.

"I'm not scared!" Misty declares. "Unlike Mr. Scaredy-meowth over here..." she adds, gesturing to Ash.

"I am NOT a scaredy-meowth!" Ash retorts as everyone laughs.

"Said the one who had a death grip on my back during the last ghost story..." Misty deadpans, to more laughter.

Brock is unfazed by the argument. "Once a man--we'll call him Yuji--went into town and bought two Ponytas." he begins. "After buying some Magikarps to sacrifice to Arceus for his good fortune, he started on his way home. On the way through the mountain pass, the younger Ponyta began to tire. Yuji remembered hearing rumors in town that a monster appeared on the pass at night, but he figured since it was daytime, he'd be okay."

Nervous giggles fill the air. "But as he continued up the hill, an ogre met him on the path and demanded one of his Magikarps." Brock continues. "Yuji quickly complied, but the ogre was not satisfied, and demanded all of the Magikarps. Yuji protested that the Magikarps were to be a sacrifice to Arceus, but the ogre threatened to eat him if he did not comply."

Gasps go up as the small audience fears for Yuji. "Just then, Yuji remembered that Arceus liked just about any kind of fish for fortune offerings, so he decided he would just buy some Goldeens later." Brock assures his audience before continuing "The ogre was still not satisfied and demanded to eat one of the Ponytas."

"Boy, this ogre is a real glutton!" Ash comments, making nervous laughter fill the air.

Even Brock is laughing at Ash's wry observation, but he composes himself and continues. "When Yuji tried to protest, the ogre threatened to eat him if he did not comply. Eventually both Ponytas were eaten, but that was STILL not enough for the ogre--then he threatened to eat Yuji too!"

'Oh no's' race through the tent. "Yuji ran away with the ogre in hot pursuit. After running for a while, Yuji dove into a lake in an attempt to escape. The ogre tried to follow him, but he sank like a rock. This forced him to spit out the Ponytas-- who were unharmed--and flee back to the mountains."

Relieved sighs fill the air as Brock concludes "Yuji eventually made it home safely, and he sacrificed a whole Seaking as thanks for Arceus' protection and his good fortune."

"Why didn't Yuji just run to begin with?" Ash wonders as he applause.

"Pika pika pikachu?" Pikachu suggests.

Ash smiles. "Yeah, maybe Yuji was a scaredy-meowth!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 70: Arceus Saves a Princess (Misty)

(real tale: The Castle of Comorre (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Folk_Tales_From_Britanny&story=Castle_Of_Comorre))

"They say that long ago, Cerulean City was once a kingdom named Azulona...and the Great Lord Arceus saved its princess from the hand of a bloodthirsty count." Misty begins. "Want me to tell you about it?"

"Yeah!" Ash replies.

"Yes!" Brock replies at the same time as Ash.

"Just be forewarned that this tale is a little scary." Misty cautions. With that, she begins "Azulona's king at that time had a daughter he loved very much--we'll call her Jala. Princess Jala was as beautiful in heart as she was beautiful in looks--and her father preferred to lose everything he owned rather than see her unhappy."

"Mm-hm..." Brock motions for Misty to go on.

"One year, messengers from the land of Lavandia came to Azulona, bearing many lavish gifts." Misty continued. "The messengers said that the ruler of Lavandia, Count Ketsuki, wished to have Princess Jala in marriage--he had visited the summer festival in disguise as a soldier and fell head over heels in love with her."

"Jala's father the king said no, I'd wager." Ash muses.

"He knew very well Count Ketsuki's reputation as a tyrant with an iron fist." Misty replies. "and a black heart to match. In fact, rumors said that when he was just a boy, his mother would have the guard ring the alarm bell so everyone within miles knew he was awake. He was feared and hated by not just his homeland of Lavandia, but all over what is now Kanto."

Mai mutters as she flexes her claws, as if expecting Count Ketsuki to appear at any moment.

"And to top all of that off, the last four princesses had mysteriously disappeared." Misty continues. "Whether they had died or ran away, no one knew for sure, because Count Ketsuki wasn't talking."

"En garde!" Ash brandishes a stick at the tent entrance flap like a sword, as if Count Ketsuki is really present and about to spirit Misty away into the rain.

"Needless to say, Jala's father said a resounding no, but the messengers said that Count Ketsuki would invade if he and Princess Jala did not marry." Misty continues. "So Jala's father called together the whole army, and the two armies met on a plain for battle three days later."

[What about the great Arceus?] Korra wonders.

[What did he do?] another Meowth agrees.

"He saw what was going on from the heavens, and hurried to Azulona, where Princess Jala was praying in the shrine in the town square." Misty replies. "He appeared to Jala as a mighty paladin, and pleaded with Jala to avert the impending war. Jala said no, because she feared Count Ketsuki would kill her too. So Arceus taught her some of his holy magic, and gave her a magical ring that would glow when her life was in danger. He then flew on ahead to the battlefield, where he informed the two sides of Jala's decision."

"But what happened after all the wedding festivities died down?" Ash asks as he tosses the stick away.

"The wedding was a grand affair, and for a while, Count Ketsuki didn't feel like oppressing or killing anyone." Misty continues. "Princess Jala, meanwhile, would pray in the castle shrine every day, asking Arceus to watch over the four slain princesses and to protect her."

"This is getting good--and then?" Brock asks.

"One day, there was a great gathering of kings, queens, and other royalty at the Pokemon League at Aiiro City." Misty continues. "Count Ketsuki went as well, leaving Jala the keys to the castle and allowing her to do as she wished. When he got back home six months later, he learned that Princess Jala was expecting a little princess of her own."

"Was that a good thing or a bad thing?" Melody wonders.

"It was a very bad thing--Count Ketsuki flew into a rage, and Princess Jala saw her ring glowing a bright blue--a warning from Arceus that her life was in danger." Misty replies. "She hurried to the castle shrine, and took shelter there that night. Minutes felt like hours, and hours like years, but around midnight, Arceus appeared to Princess Jala, with the spirits of the other princesses with him."

"So Count Ketsuki killed the other princesses after all..." Brock muses, thankful that Count Ketsuki only exists in the story, and its other versions he knows.

"Princess Jala was scared at first, but when she saw it was Arceus, she felt at peace." Misty continued. "Arceus warned her that Count Ketsuki planned to kill her. but Jala asked why he wanted her dead. The first spirit replied that the girl she carried was said to overthrow him, and Jala needed to flee home as fast she could. Arceus instructed her to cast a sleeping spell on his guard Houndoom, the second spirit gave her the rope that hung it, the third spirit taught her the fire spell that killed it, and the fourth spirit gave her the sword that had killed it."

"I see!" Ash puts two and two together. "The spirits are giving Jala the items that killed them to help Jala survive her quest!"

Misty smiles--Ash has clearly been paying attention. "Jala took the items, put the Houndoom to sleep, and fled into the night. She would hide during the day, and travel at night so Count Ketsuki couldn't find her. On one of these nights, as she was by the coast, it came time for her child to be born. She named the healthy little girl Meriel, since she was born by the sea."

"Meriel eventually became one of the great queens of what is now Cerulean City." Brock adds. "But that's another story entirely."

"As she neared her homeland, she spotted her father's pet Pidgeot, and gave it her ring so her father would know she was in danger." Misty continued. "No sooner did she do this did Count Ketsuki appear--he had finally caught up to her!"

"Oh no!" Ash gasps in fear for Jala.

"Jala put up a good fight, but died protecting Meriel." Misty continues, making Melody tear up. "Her father was naturally devastated when he arrived with his retinue, but Arceus appeared before them, and revived Jala before her father."

"YES!!!" Melody smiles through her tears.

"Arceus turned in the direction of Count Ketsuki's castle, and blessed Meriel with the gifts of speech and magic." Misty goes on. "The first thing Meriel did was cast a spell..."

[I]Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and Count Ketsuki's castle crumbled to the ground like dust." Misty concludes. Princess Jala and Meriel were welcomed home with a heroine's welcome, and they lived happily ever after."

[Wow!] Mai gasps in awe as the others applaud....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 71: The Ghost Ponyta (Ash)

(real tale: The Goblin Pony (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/220.htm))

"Now it's my turn to tell a ghost story..." Ash begins. "Mom once told me this legend one Halloween night after me and my friends got back from trick-or-treating, as she did every year."

With that, he begins "The story goes that on one stormy Halloween night long ago, when Pallet was a small village named Taicho, the wise woman of the town bade the children stay inside--lest they be captured by witches, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night."

"Mm-hm..." Melody nods.

"But the majority of the kids still wanted to go out--one wanted to see the girl he had a crush on, another wanted to go looking for Krabbies and Corphishes, and another wanted to pick Berries, to name a few reasons." Ash continues. "Only a few remained behind while the rest went out into the night, despite the wise woman's warnings. They blew off her tales of monsters and ghost Ponytas as just that--stories."

"Big mistake..." Brock cautions--he knows how stories like this usually end with either the disobedient children dead at the hand of the teller's monster of choice, or disappeared and presumed dead from chasing a spirit.

"As the children all made their way into the forest, they saw a Ponyta with an odd teal glow." Ash continues. "They presumed it to be someone's lost Ponyta, and led it to the pond where the men of the town led their Rapidashes to drink." Ash goes on. "Then some of the children got the idea to try and ride it back to town, but instead of going back to town, the Ponyta made its way to the coast, just as the wind and waves picked up again. It was only then they realized they had encountered a ghost Ponyta."

Misty swallows hard at this. "The ghost Ponyta very much enjoyed frolicking in the pounding waves while the children hung on for dear life, until they were just a speck on the horizon." Ash continues. "Whether the children died in the surf, or if they're still hanging on for the ride of their lives, I leave you to decide for yourself. But if you climb the hill overlooking the sea just outside of Pallet on a rainy night and listen hard enough, you might hear the whinnies of the ghost Ponyta and the children's laughter as they romp in the surf."

"Come to think of it, I think I did hear a Ponyta whinny when I climbed the hill on my last visit..." Brock notes...

"You were probably hearing things..." Misty assures him as everyone laughs.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 72: The Haunted Forest (Brock)


"In a far away land, there was once a forest people said was haunted--because those that ventured inside, often didn't come out." Brock begins. "There were rusted axes and worn baskets everywhere on the trails, from woodsmen and berry pickers that never returned. On top of that, people heard something roaring in that forest at all hours of the day--exactly what beast this was, no one knew."

"Did anyone try to find out?" Ash is piqued.

"No, but the people had their own theories." Brock replies. "Some said evil spirits lurked in the gloom, waiting to capture unsuspecting travelers and pull them into the trees--why else did the wind moan through the branches?"

[What else did the humans think it was?] Korra is interested.

"Others believed it was some sort of monster that pulled its victims beneath the ground, leaving their items behind." Brock explained. "It wasn't long before the panic spread across the whole kingdom. The king tried to keep calm by assuring the people the roaring was no evil spirit or monsters, merely a beast..." He waits for a beat, then adds "A hungry beast...a beast capable of eating an adult male human and still having room for a young maiden for dessert!"

Misty yelps in surprise as Brock grabs at her, as if he is the beast trying to grab her. She giggles, embarrassed as Brock goes on "The king wanted some brave soul to enter the haunted forest and slay whatever this beast was--surely someone in the land could do it, and if that person disappeared, another would take the hapless adventurer's place--especially if there was a reward involved."

"So what was the king's reward?" Misty asks.

"He promised riches beyond anyone's wildest dreams." Brock replied. "For a while, many braved the forest--soldiers who could cut up monsters in at least ten different ways in the blink of an eye, and hunters who could split saplings a hundred yards away with a single arrow. But like many others before them, they too disappeared."

[Did anyone survive whatever was in there?] a Meowth worries.

"One day, a shoemaker's son--we'll call him Nico--decided to try for the jewels and gold." Brock continues. "Many thought him nuts for trying, but the king gave him a sword, armor, and supplies for the journey anyway. Nico knew well the lore of the forest, and trained at the sword when he could to protect his family from what lurked in the forest."

Everyone holds their breath, eager to hear the details of Nico's adventure. "Nico made good time through the forest, ever aware of the many spirits and monsters said to lurk there." Brock goes on. "But his courage won out over his fear, and so he kept going. He made camp in a clearing not far from the center of the forest for the night. As he rested, some rustling startled him, but when he drew his sword to attack the supposed intruder, he saw it was just a little Spinarak."

Misty tenses up at the mention of a Spinarak, but Ash lays a hand on her shoulder, as if to assure her there are no bugs in the tent. "The Spinarak told Nico that she was really a young girl named Elena, and had been cursed to the form of a Spinarak by an evil sorcerer. Nico happened to know the healing magic to undo such a spell, so when he cast it...." Brock pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... the Spinarak became a beautiful young lady."

"Wow..." Melody is impressed. "And then?"

"Elena was grateful for Nico rescuing her, and offered to protect him in return with her own holy magic." Brock continues. "Suddenly, around midnight, they were startled awake by the roar of an Entei-like beast! It ran to eat them, and Nico drew his own blade to attack, supported by a water spell from Elena."

He concludes "Did Nico strike first, or did Elena stun the beast in time for him to attack? Or worse, did the beast eat them both, as it had all the others? You'll have to decide for yourself."

"I think Nico killed it!" Ash declares.

"Yeah, that kingdom deserved to sleep well knowing the haunted forest was no longer haunted." Misty agrees.

(the real tale is based on a tale from Uzbekistan with the same title, which you can find on Google Books)

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 73: Savera the Light Fairy (Misty)

(real tale: The Fairy of the Dawn (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/067.htm))

"There was once a king who ruled over a kingdom so big, no one knew where it started and where it ended." Misty begins. "But the people of the land knew that their king was blind, and longed to be able to see more than anything else. He had tried many cures, but when they failed to work, the one that suggested the cure would be run out of town, if you will."

Ash raises an eyebrow, piqued. "The king had three sons, but the one of the three we will concern ourselves with is the youngest--because he knew how to brighten someone's day with kind words, laughter, and song, he was named Lucian, which means 'light'." Misty explains. "He had seen his father in a bad mood many a time, and wondered why. His brothers had dared to ask why, and ran out of the throne room. So rather than risk being ran out of the throne room, Lucian asked the royal healer."

"And what did he--or she--say?" Brock wonders.

"He told Lucian that the reason why his father was so grumpy was because he wanted to see his sons more than anything, but all the blindness cures he had tried didn't work." Misty replies. "He also told Lucian about a light fairy named Savera that lived in a magical spring somewhere in the land. If someone sprinkled the water from Savera's spring over the king's eyes, he would be able to see."

"And then?" Ash asks.

"Lucian told his brothers about this, and the eldest brother eagerly volunteered to go. But on the road, he saw a fearsome Hydreigon, and came scrambling back to the castle in fear. Then the middle brother set out, and the same thing happened--he came scrambling back to the castle in fear."

"I would too if I saw a Hydreigon looming over me." Ash muses.

"But Lucian took his father's shiny Rapidash when he set out, at the suggestion of the court wizard." Misty continued. "It was a long battle, but Lucian managed to kill the Hydreigon and cross an immense desert in the same day."

"Pika pikachu." Pikachu notes.

"While he crossed the desert, Lucian found out the Rapidash could speak, and it told him many things as they trekked through the desert sun." Misty goes on, much to Pikachu's awe. "They finally came to a forest made entirely out of crystal, where the crystal flowers begged Lucian to pick them."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Despite the Rapidash's pleas not to, Lucian picked the crystal flowers anyway, summoning the troll said to lurk in the woods." Misty continues. Everyone gasps, but she is quick to assure them. "Luckily, the Rapidash gave Lucian an enchanted bridle, and when he had wrestled the troll to the ground and put the bridle on him, he became a harmless Ponyta."

"I wish I were strong enough to wrestle a troll..." Ash sighs dreamily.

"Lucian went on through a forest of silver and a forest of gold, and the same thing happened--he would pick the flowers despite being told not to, summon the troll, wrestle the troll to the ground and subdue it with an enchanted bridle, turning it into a harmless Ponyta." Misty continues. "Lucian emerged from the gold forest into a mountain snowstorm. His Rapidash told him they were in Articuno's realm, and she would likely help him if he asked very nicely.

"So did Lucian turn into a princesicle out there in the cold?" Melody is concerned.

"He almost did, but he made it to Articuno's abode." Misty assures Melody. "Articuno was amazed someone managed to survive the harsh cold, and gave him an enchanted mirror as a reward. When he looked into it, he saw his father angry--his brothers were trying to take the throne for themselves, but his father felt they were not fit to rule."

"Did Lucian meet the other two birds?" Brock asks.

"He did--Zapdos was impressed he had dodged the lightning around his abode, and told him that he would have something for him for the return trip, but that Moltres would guide him to the spring where Savera lived. When he braved the heat of Moltres' realm, Moltres gave him an enchanted flute, warning him to not look directly at Savera--not only was she very beautiful, but he would be blinded himself."

Ash eagerly digs out one of his whistles. "Before long, Lucian came to the realm of light, which shone in many colors." Misty continues. "Not wanting to risk looking at Savera, he decided to play the flute Moltres had given him." Ash starts a march-like melody, while Brock clinks a pair of spoons and Happini bangs on a tambourine for percussion.

"The song amazingly put Savera to sleep, allowing Lucian to take some of the spring's healing water." Misty continues when the song ends. "Zapdos gave him a magical bottle to put it in, saying that he would not be harmed by sword or by spell so long as he carried it."

[And then he cured his dad, right?] a Meowth asks.

"Lucian had one more thing to worry about--his jealous brothers." Misty replies. "They met him on the way back to the castle, and tried to convince him to give him the bottle. But Lucian knew well that if he gave one of them the bottle, the other would kill him. So he walked right past them and went on to the castle." Misty continues.

She concludes "The king was overjoyed to finally see his son and his castle, and proclaimed him the heir. But as for his brothers, no one ever saw them again."

[Bravo!] Mai leads the applause.

"The music's always a nice touch." Melody agrees as she applauds....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 74: Caterpie Runs for Chansey (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 31, story 3)

"Once some bug Pokemon were playing in the grass outside a village." Ash begins. "They agreed Caterpie would be 'it' for hide and seek first. So Caterpie counted to ten, and found Yanma first. Yanma was so surprised at Caterpie's appearance, he fell to the ground and hurt a wing."

"Next time, pick a hiding place closer to the ground." Brock muses.

"Caterpie offered to go find a Chansey, but the bugs knew the village had no Pokemon Center, and the closest Pokemon Center was a long way off." Ash explains. "After Caterpie had left for the town, Venipede was volunteered, but the bugs also knew he took a long time to get ready to go anywhere because of his many legs."

"How many legs did this Venipede have?" Melody wonders.

"Usually anywhere from fifty to a hundred is the norm, but there have been some Venipedes with more." Brock replies. "Let's just assume this Venipede had seventy legs." Melody nods.

"As the other bugs hurried off to find healing herbs, Caterpie was making good progress towards the town." Ash continues. "Weedle, meanwhile, was concerned about Venipede, but when he went to check on him, Venipede was STILL getting ready."

Even Misty laughs as the group pictures Weedle's reaction. "Meanwhile, Caterpie finally arrived in town and told Chansey what happened. Chansey agreed to help Yanma, and carried Caterpie, so Caterpie wouldn't have to go all the way back." Ash continues. "Chansey healed Yanma, and told the other bugs that his wing would be good as new in a day or two. Venipede arrived a few minutes later, and Chansey assured him Yanma would be okay."

"This may sound weird, but I'm glad Yanma was okay..." Misty smiles with relief.

Ash just concludes "The bugs thanked Chansey for her help, but it took Venipede all night to take off his shoes!"

Everyone laughs and applauds as Ash takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 75: The Aspear Hunter (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 31, story 1)

"In a certain village lived three brothers and their mom." Brock begins. "One day, the mother came down with a terrible disease, and no healer within miles knew how to cure her."

Concerned murmurs race through the tent. "But one healer told the boys that the only way to cure their mom was to find a mystical Aspear Berry that grew in the mountains." Brock assures the crowd. "However, all those that had attempted the quest before had failed."

Ash is about to say something, but Brock quickly silences the murmurs as he continues "The eldest boy--we'll call him Hajime--volunteered to go first, and set out early the next morning. At first, Hajime's journey was uneventful, but as he was traveling through the mountains, Celebi appeared to him, and asked..." In a breathy male voice he asks "Where are you going, young lad?"

"My mother is very sick, and I am searching for a legendary Aspear Berry said to cure her." he replies as an older boy.

"The place you speak of is the Shining Grove, but you mustn't go there!" he cautions as Celebi. "A fearsome Gyarados lurks within the water around the tree you seek."

"But I have to save my mom!" he pleads as Hajime.

"Very well, if you must find this Aspear, I will give you a hint." he assures the audience as Celebi. "If the wind warns you not to approach the Aspear tree as it rustles through the reeds, the Gyarados is awake, and you must turn back. If the wind says it is safe, you can approach the tree, for the Gyarados is sleeping."

Applause goes up at Brock's skillful interplay. "When Hajime got to the Shining Grove, the wind warned him not to approach many times."

"Don't go, the Gyarados is waiting!" Melody fills in the wind's voice. "Don't go, the Gyarados is waiting!"

"Finally, Hajime grew impatient, and approached the tree despite the wind's warning not to." Brock intones. "Sure enough, the Gyarados appeared to him with great roar, and as Hajime had no weapon, he was quickly eaten."

The audience is silent, stunned by the turn of events. "The middle brother--we'll call him Tetsuya--left the next morning, and the same thing happened." Brock continues. "He met Celebi, explained his quest, was told the secret to obtaining the Aspear Berry, ignored the wind's warning, and was eaten by a Gyarados."

[Did the youngest brother have better luck?] a Meowth asks.

"Finally, the youngest brother--we'll call him Yuji--set out, met Celebi, explained his quest, and was told the secret to obtaining the Aspear Berry." Brock goes on before switching to his Celebi voice again. "I sense the flame of determination inside you to save your brothers and heal your mother. So take this magical bow, in case you too meet the Gyarados as your brothers did."

As himself, he goes on "When Yuji got to the Shining Grove, he waited for some time as the wind cautioned..."

"Don't go, the Gyarados is waiting!" Melody fills in the dialogue. "Don't go, the Gyarados is waiting!"

"Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Yuji heard the wind say..." Brock narrates.

"You can go, the Gyarados is sleeping." Melody replies. "You can go, the Gyarados is sleeping."

"So Yuji carefully made his way through the grass and safely picked one of the legendary Aspear Berries." Brock explains as he walks up and pantomimes picking an Aspear Berry from an imagined tree at Ash's feet. "But just when Yuji was about to leave, the Gyarados appeared from the water with a great roar, intent on eating him too!"

"And then?" Misty swallows hard, fearful for Yuji.

"Yuji was not afraid, and easily killed the Gyarados with one arrow from his magical bow, freeing his brothers, who were miraculously unharmed, in the process." Brock narrates, before taking an imaginary arrow and firing it at an imagined Gyarados.

"Nice shot!" Ash is impressed at how well Brock can realistically pantomime firing a bow.

"The mother ate the Aspear Berry and was healed." Brock concludes "and she was always grateful to her boys for their bravery."

He takes a bow as everyone applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 76: Arceus' Counsel (Misty)

(real tale: Prince Darling (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/298.htm))

"There was once a king in a far away land who was well loved by his people for his kindness." Misty begins. "One day, he saw a Buneary shivering in a cold rainstorm, and immediately took it in. He didn't know the Buneary was really the Great Lord Arceus in disguise!"

"Pikachu." Pikachu smiles.

"Arceus was pleased the king had passed his test of faith, and offered to grant him one wish." Misty continues. "The king told Arceus that he only wished for guidance for his son--we'll call him Benjamin."

"There has to be a catch..." Ash mumbles.

Arceus agreed to the king's wish, but warned him that he would stay by Benjamin's side so long as he did good things." Misty explains. "If he did bad things to others, Arceus would leave him, and bad things would happen to him."

"There's the catch." Brock assures Ash.

"It wasn't long before the king joined Arceus in the heavens himself." Misty goes on. "Benjamin did well ruling the country on his own, and with Arceus' by his side, he was always in a great mood, leading many to call him King Benjamin the Joyful. There was just one problem..."

"Uh oh..." Ash swallows hard.

"When he was younger, Benjamin was not well taught in right from wrong." Misty intones. "So one day, he was out hunting, and not catching a thing, leaving him so cranky, he kicked his pet Growlithe!"

"Lord Arceus was mad at that..." Melody muses.

"Kicking the Growlithe was only one of Arceus' concerns--he was more angrier about Benjamin's anger and selfishness." Misty replies. "Benjamin tried his best to fix his faults, eventually falling in love with a princess named Celia. But no matter how he tried to do good things, his court was not a good one, and they all kept urging Benjamin to do bad things." Misty goes on. "He imposed harsh laws and high taxes, he killed people for no good reason, and even imprisoned Celia in her own tower!"

"That's not nice!" Ash is appalled at Benjamin's behavior.

"But Arceus was the angriest of all." Misty agrees. "He was so mad, he cursed Benjamin, saying..."

Brock decides to fill in Arceus' dialogue. "I promised your father that I would give you good advice, and to punish you if you refused to follow it. You have despised my counsel, and have gone your own evil way until you are only outwardly a man; really you are a monster--the horror of everyone who knows you. It is time that I should fulfill my promise...I condemn you to resemble the Pokemon whose ways you have imitated. You have made yourself like the Entei by your anger, and like the Mightyena by your greediness. Like an Arbok, you have ungratefully turned upon one who was a second father to you; your churlishness has made you like a Tauros. Therefore, I curse you to take the appearance of all these Pokemon!"

Everyone gasps as they picture the monstrosity. "Sure enough, Benjamin transformed into a hideous creature with an Entei's head, a Tauros' horns, a Mightyena's feet, and a Arbok's body." Misty continues. "Benjamin was frightened at what he had become, and pleaded to Arceus for mercy." Misty continues. "But Arceus only said..."

"I will only forgive you and return you to your true form if you do a good deed to all those that did a good deed for you." Brock intones as Arceus. "Until then, you will remain like this."

"Benjamin fled into the woods, but he was captured by the royal tamers and put on display as a mutant Pokemon." Misty continues. "He managed to befriend the tamer in charge of him, and did his best to treat him well. One day, a Raikou got loose, and try as the tamers might, three were killed in the struggle. But when Benjamin saw the Raikou about to kill his only friend, he sprung into action and killed the Raikou after a long battle, saving his friend's life. As a reward for doing a good deed, Arceus transformed him into a Growlithe. The tamer believed the Growlithe had saved him, and told the court what had happened. Just then, Benjamin saw Celia approaching him with one of the royal sages, and in all his barks and yips, he told Celia and the whole court he was sorry for mistreating them."

"Pini pinipi?" Happini asks, her eyes shining hopefully.

Misty smiles--Happini figured out who the sage really was. "It turned out the sage with Celia was Arceus in disguise, and he restored Benjamin to his human form."

Brock fills in Arceus' dialogue. "Celia has always loved you ever since she first saw you, only she would not tell you while you were following evil's path. Now that you have turned from your wicked ways, you deserve to be happy, and so she will love you for all time."

"Benjamin and Celia were soon married, and Benjamin did very well to love Celia and treat his people well." Misty concludes. "But he was especially grateful to Arceus for forgiving him and giving him another chance."

She is flattered by the group's applause, so after acknowledging Brock, she takes a bow herself.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 77: Three Axes (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 22, story 1)

"Have you ever wondered why upgrading the bomb bag in Zelda requires proving your honesty to a fairy?" Ash asks the others.

"Why?" Misty is piqued.

"The puzzle is itself a reference to this tale from Shinou, which Dawn told to Brock and me our first night together." Ash explains before beginning "There once was a woodcutter that lived in a certain village. And every morning, he went into the forest to cut wood. Although he would cut a lot of wood every day, he would not make much money. Although his axe was old, he took good care of it."

"Mm-hm, and then?" Misty asks as she pets Azurill.

"One day, as it was getting dark, he was still not done cutting down a certain tree." Ash continues, pantomiming cutting down a tree to prove his point. After wiping the feigned sweat from his brow, he continues "In his rush to try and finish cutting the tree down, he lost his axe, which fell in a spring."

"Pika?" Pikachu holds Happini and Azurill close.

"As the woodcutter pondered how to find his axe, Manaphy appeared to him and asked what the matter was." Ash assures Pikachu. "The woodcutter told Manaphy what happened, and Manaphy showed him a gold axe, asking if it was the right one--and the woodcutter said no. Manaphy showed him a silver axe next, but the woodcutter said that wasn't the right one either. When Manaphy showed him the old axe, the woodcutter recognized it right away as the right one."

"Sound familiar?" Brock asks Happini.

"Manaphy was pleased with the woodcutter's honesty, and gave him all three axes." Ash continues.

Ba-da-da-DAAAAAAAAHHHH! Brock can't resist singing the Zelda 'got item' fanfare for effect. The Pokemon find this hilarious and howl with laughter.

"Nice one, Brock!" Misty giggles as she wipes away a tear of laughter.

Ash waits for the laughter to quiet, then continues "The woodcutter was about to thank Manaphy, but Manaphy disappeared before he could say anything. He returned home and told his wife what happened. His wife explained that Manaphy rewarded him for being honest, and so they kept the gold and silver axes as heirlooms."

"Just like you get a bigger bomb bag by being honest with the fairy." Brock grins.

"The next day, a neighbor of the woodcutter came over and spotted the three axes." Ash continues. "The woodcutter told his neighbor what happened, and the neighbor was inspired to try and get three axes of his own."

[The problem with neighbors in stories is they are often greedy and cruel...] Mai mutters.

"It wasn't long before he found the spring and threw his axe into the water." Ash pauses to do this for effect. "Manaphy appeared, and the neighbor explained that he lost his axe. When he was shown the gold axe, the neighbor claimed it is his."

"Pini..." Happini giggles at Manaphy's likely reaction.

"This angered Manaphy, and he told the neighbor he wouldn't share with liars as he disappeared." Ash explains as the Pokemon giggle over Manaphy's reaction. "The neighbor was undeterred, and waded into the water in an attempt to find his own axe--and it is said he is still looking!"

"Moral of the story--be honest to fairies, spirits and Legendary Pokemon." Brock smiles as he leads the applause...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 78: The Money Tree (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 31, story 2)

"Once the king of a certain land was holding a grand feast one day to celebrate the impending arrival of his first child." Brock begins. "Suddenly, his wife tripped over the doorway..." He feigns tripping over something, to some giggles. "making everyone laugh." More laughter goes up at this, as if on cue. "The king, however, was angry at being embarrassed, so he divorced the woman and sent her back to her homeland."

"That's not nice!" Ash gasps. "Nor is it fair!"

"How could someone be divorced simply for a klutzy moment?" Misty demands.

"The woman settled down in a small village nearby the capital city, where she gave birth to a happy and healthy little boy--she named him Kazuki, which means 'harmonious hope'." Brock explains. "Kazuki grew up to be smart and energetic, but something always troubled him--who was his father?"

Piqued murmurs go up at this. "When Kazuki asked his mom this, she told him what had happened years before. Brock continues. "Like you guys, he was saddened and angered that his mother had been driven away from a life of luxury all because of a simple clumsy act. So he decided he would show the king how flawed his decision had been."

"So what did he do?" Melody asks as she combs out her hair.

"One day, Kazuki gathered all the Berry seeds he could find, and brought them into the capital city. He patrolled at the palace's front gate all day, calling..." In character as Ash, Brock calls "Money trees for sale!"

Laughter goes up at Brock's scarily accurate impression. "This wore on for a week, until the king began wondering who the boy was, and if he really was selling money trees." Brock explains as himself. "Kazuki was brought before the king, and the king asked him..." In a deeper version of himself, he asks "Is it true that the seeds you have really will grow money trees?"

"Yes--only a girl with a beautiful heart will make the money tree sprout." he replies in his Ash voice again.

"I'm not sure someone like that exists in the kingdom..." he muses as the king.

"I know someone like that!" he announces as Ash. "That someone is my mother, the same girl you sent away ten years ago!"

Some light applause goes up at Brock's interplay, but most of the small audience holds their breath to see how the king will react to the shocking news. "It dawned on the king just how rash he had been ten years before, and sent word asking his wife back to the castle." Brock concludes as himself. "They all lived happily ever after, grateful for Kazuki's wisdom and cleverness."

"No matter how many times you mimic us, I'm still impressed at your ability at doing voices." Misty smiles as she applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 79: Questions for Meloetta (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 17, story 3)

"Once a certain miko, or priestess, traveled across the land seeking wisdom--we'll call her Rena." Misty begins. "In every place she stopped, she would ask people questions."

"What kind of questions?" Ash is interested.

"Sometimes the questions were general knowledge, sometimes they were moral questions, and sometimes they were philosophical questions." Misty replies. "No matter what sort of question Rena asked, sometimes she got great answers, and other times, the answers were not that great." Giggles go up and whispers of what some of the sillier answers were fill the air.

Misty's voice silences the chatter. "One day, Rena came to a small village, and saw that the temple had some wear and tear on its roof and its sides. She found it odd that someone would allow the temple to fall into disrepair, but went inside anyway."

The group's speculation turns to why the temple had wear to begin with. "Rena was shocked to find that the high priest was not in his robes, and had been dozing when she arrived." Misty notes.

"Talk about being asleep at the wheel..." Brock notes.

Laughter goes up at Brock's comment. "Although to be fair, the young priest--we'll call him Kimari--was a bit on the lazy side, and had only been the high priest for a short time, meaning he was not yet used to his duties." Misty explains to the group. "Kimari scrambled to his feet and told Rena..." As a young boy, she stammers "Forgive me, my lady, but the high priest is away right now. He will return in the morning."

As a young girl, she replies "Very well, I will return in the morning, after the morning prayers have been said."

Some "ooh"s go up as Misty continues, now as herself. "No sooner did Rena depart, did Kimari realize he had lied to a miko."

"Uh oh..." Ash snickers at Misty's expression of feigned panic.

"He fell to his knees..." Misty pauses to kneel on a towel before an imagined altar. "and pleaded to Arceus to forgive him for his lie, and to help him out of his predicament."

Giggles filled the air as Misty pantomimed praying for a moment. "Suddenly, Kimari was jolted from his prayers by a soothing song."

Anome, tafihi de so... Melody fills in the song.

Excited murmurs race through the tent. "Kimari hurried outside, and was shocked to see the guardian of song, Meloetta, resting against a rock. She looked into Kimari's eyes and asked him... In her best mimic of Melody, Misty asks "You seem troubled...will you tell me what's the matter?"

"That was pretty good!" Ash is impressed as how accurate Misty's impersonation of Melody is.

As herself, Misty continues. "Kimari told Meloetta what had happened, and she replied..." As Melody again, she assures the audience "If you wish, I will answer the miko's questions in your place in return for a night's lodging."

"I have fond memories of that night..." Melody sighs in nostalgia.

"Kimari readily agreed to Meloetta's proposal, and made sure she had the best food and lodging he could find." Misty continues as herself. "Rena returned the next morning, and Kimari escorted her inside the main prayer hall, where Meloetta was waiting. Needless to say, Rena was very honored to be before the temple's patron Legendary, and immediately started asking Meloetta all sorts of questions. Kimari listened from outside--no matter what sort of question Rena asked, Meloetta would answer in her holy spellsong."

Melody sings some nonsense spellsongs for effect. Talida amia ili... Ruibe neta mode... Matam ista etare ichi... Eshuna, arerina do...

"After several hours, Rena emerged from the prayer hall with a smile on her face." Misty goes on. "Kimari then asked Rena just what it was Meloetta told her to make her so happy."

As Rena, she tells the group "There is much wisdom in Meloetta's songs... when I asked how much does Arceus love the world, she told me that Arceus' love is as deep as the sea. When I asked what the five basic elements of the universe were, she replied earth, fire, wind, water, and spirit. When I asked Meloetta how you can see the entire world at once, she replied that you can see the world in a person's eyes."

She concludes as herself "Kimari was awed at Meloetta's answers, and vowed that he would take his priestly duties more seriously. Rena, meanwhile, continued on her journey, giving thanks to Arceus for allowing her to speak with Meloetta."

"Do you know what became of Kimari after that?" Ash asks Melody as he applauds.

"Sadly, no." Melody sighs. "I moved on my own travels, just as the miko did."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 80: The Stubborn Tepig (Ash)

(real tale: The Old Woman and Her Pig (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=English_Fairy_Tales&story=Old_Woman_And_Her_Pig))

"Hey Ash--I'd like to see you try and tell a chain tale with a longer list." Misty suggests.

"If you forget, we'll jog your memory." Brock assures Ash before he can protest.

Ash thinks for a moment, takes a deep breath, and begins "Once a young lady went into town and bought herself a Tepig as a pet. But on the way back, they came to a fence in the middle of the road, and no matter how the lady tried, the Tepig wouldn't jump over the fence. So she went out and asked a Growlithe to nip the Tepig's tail, but the Growlithe said no--he felt that the Tepig should not be nipped if it wasn't doing anything. So she asked a stick to whack the Growlithe, who would not nip the Tepig's tail, and the stick said no--it thought whacking the Growlithe for no reason was silly."

"So far so good." Brock smiles.

"Then the lady asked the fire to burn the stick, who wouldn't whack the Growlithe, who wouldn't nip the Tepig's tail. But the fire said no--a stick wasn't much to burn." Ash continues. So she asked the water to put out the fire, who wouldn't burn the stick, who wouldn't whack the Growlithe, who wouldn't nip the Tepig's tail. But the water said no--if the fire wasn't burning anything important, why put it out?"

"That's five items so far..." Misty muses.

"So the lady asked a Tauros to drink the water, who wouldn't put out the fire, who....um..." Ash pauses to remember where he is in the list.

"The Tauros wouldn't drink the water, who wouldn't put out the fire, who wouldn't burn the stick, who wouldn't whack the Growlithe, who wouldn't nip the Tepig's tail." Brock easily rattles off the whole list.

"Thanks." Ash smiles. "So the lady asked a butcher to kill the Tauros, who wouldn't drink the water, who wouldn't put out the fire, who wouldn't burn the stick, who wouldn't whack the Growlithe, who wouldn't nip the Tepig's tail. But the butcher just laughed--that was a silly reason to kill a Tauros."

"He remembered that time." Brock tells Misty.

"So the lady asked a rope to hang the butcher, who wouldn't kill the Tauros, who wouldn't drink the water, who wouldn't put out the fire, who wouldn't burn the stick, who wouldn't whack the Growlithe, who wouldn't nip the Tepig's tail." Ash rattles off the growing list. This is getting easier and harder at the same time...

"What did the rope do?" Melody snaps him from his thoughts.

"The rope said no--that was a silly reason to kill a man." Ash replies. "So the lady went and asked a Rattata to chew the rope, who wouldn't hang the butcher, who wouldn't kill the Tauros, who wouldn't drink the water, who wouldn't put out the fire, who wouldn't burn the stick, who wouldn't whack the Growlithe, who wouldn't nip the Tepig's tail."

"Come on, Ash!" Brock urges. "Only one or two more items to go!"

Ash takes another deep breath, then continues. "Then the lady asked a Persian to catch the Rattata, who wouldn't chew the rope, who wouldn't hang the butcher, who wouldn't kill the Tauros, who wouldn't drink the water, who wouldn't put out the fire, who wouldn't burn the stick, who wouldn't whack the Growlithe, who wouldn't nip the Tepig's tail. The Persian agreed, in exchange for some milk. The lady readily complied, giving the Persian some of the milk she bought in town..."

He sighs as he tries to remember the whole list. "and the Persian caught the Rattata, who chewed the rope, who hung the butcher, who killed the Tauros, who drank the water, who put out the fire, who burnt the stick, who whacked the Growlithe, who nipped the Tepig's tail."

Applause fills the air. "You did it!" Misty smiles.

"Eight items is a new record for you." Brock agrees.

Ash just concludes "The Tepig squealed with fright and jumped over the fence, allowing the lady to continue home. "But the Tepig didn't come out of its pen that night!"

More applause fills the tent, so Ash takes a bow for his friends...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 81: The Baby Vulpixes (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 33, story 2)

"In a certain village lived a healer that was very stingy and greedy, and often turned away the poor." Brock begins. "One day, he healed a patient with a sore back, and offered him medicine for a hundred credits--when said medicine would normally cost 300 credits."

"That's a good deal!" Melody notes.

"That night, an old man came pleading for help, as his daughter, who was expecting a child, had suddenly gone into labor." Brock continues. "The healer's first thought was to send the midwife, but reconsidered when he saw the jewel studded coach the old man arrived in. He didn't notice the coach was hardly shaking from the high speed. But, he didn't know a family of Ninetales was pulling the coach."

"Then that means he'll have to deliver a Vulpix...." Misty muses on what happens next.

"Upon arrival, the healer asked for hot water and clean towels, but as the old man departed, the healer noticed that his shadow looked like a Ninetales. He vowed he would deliver the baby Vulpixes safely, however many there were."

"So how many were there?" Ash asks.

"It took all night to do it, but three baby Vulpixes were born by the time the next morning came." Brock replies. "The patriarch Ninetales was thankful, and gave the healer some food. The healer was naturally a bit suspicious, but after enjoying the food, he found himself on a hill in the middle of nowhere. After initially blowing off the whole experience as a prank, he found his medicine box overflowing with coins. It dawned on him he cared for the Ninetales even though they didn't have much."

He concludes "From that day on, he cared for everyone, regardless of whether they were rich or poor."

"Aw..." Ash smiles as he leads the applause.

"I bet those baby Vulpixes looked cute!" Misty agrees.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 82: The Farmhand's Riddle (Misty)

(real tale: The Tiller and the Monk (http://www.wowpedia.org/The_Tiller_and_the_Monk))

"There was once a young farmhand that was traveling home from town one night, and decided to rest at the inn for the night." Misty begins. "He befriended a miko, or priestess, that was on a great journey while he was there. While at first, he enjoyed listening to the miko's deep wisdom, but as the night wore on, he started to tire of the miko's constant talking about anything and everything."

Giggles fill the air at this. "The miko also noticed the farmhand was getting bored, and proposed a challenge of wits." Misty continues. "The farmhand initially refused--he was tired, and wanted to go to bed." More laughter goes up as Misty feigns a yawn. "But the miko kept offering more and more gold as a prize until he finally relented. They agreed that the miko would give the farmhand fifty coins if she were stumped by a question of his, and he would give her five coins if he were stumped by a question of hers."

Piqued murmurs race through the crowd as they speculate on what questions will be asked. "The miko's first question was 'How do you measure the volume of an irregularly shaped object?'" Misty glances around the tent for any volunteers brave enough to answer.

"Don't you put the object in water?" Ash muses.

"Then you measure how much the water level rises and subtract that from how much water you started with." Brock explains. "The answer you get from that is the volume of the object."

"Professor Brock saves the day again." Melody smiles.

Misty's voice quiets the chatter. "The farmhand thought for an hour or two, but couldn't come up with an answer, and so he gave the miko five coins."

Laughter goes up as Misty pantomimes giving Ash five coins. "He then asked the miko 'What has the heart of a Raikou, the wisdom of an Braviary, and the strength of a Tauros?'"

The tent falls silent at the question. "The miko was stunned by the question--she spent the rest of the night contemplating an answer." Misty continues. "Finally, when morning came, she gave the farmhand fifty pieces as she promised, amazed at the farmhand's wisdom."

She concludes "As for the answer to the farmhand's riddle? The Pokemon Master has the heart of a Raikou, the wisdom of a Braviary, and the strength of a Tauros."

"Ash's Braviary needs some work, but he does have the Raikou and the Tauros, at least." Melody notes as she applauds.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 83: Push and Pull (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 33, story 3)

"There were once three brothers that lived in a certain village." Ash begins. "They made their keep making ink, and so they prayed to Celebi every day before gathering herbs to make ink."

"As should everyone that gathers herbs, wood, and flowers from the woods." Melody muses. "Celebi is the Voice of the Forest, after all."

"One day, the eldest brother went into town to sell the ink and buy food and supplies." Ash continues. "It took him all day to get everything, so it was very late when he started for home. As he walked on the path, he heard some odd singing in the distance, and so he followed it thinking it was Meloetta."

"W-what was it?" Misty is a little nervous.

"It turned out to be a ghost, who tried to capture him!" Ash announces, making Pikachu and the babies yelp in fear.

Ash is quick to assure them. "Luckily, the eldest brother escaped, and made it home, where he told his brothers what happened."

Pikachu heaves a sigh of relief. "His brothers noticed he dropped the food and supplies in the confusion." Ash continues. "The eldest brother was too scared to go back, so the middle brother went to get the missing food and supplies."

"Did he see the ghost too?" Brock is piqued.

Ash nods. "The middle brother encountered the ghost too, and also came running back scared. He told his brothers that he heard the ghost saying what he thought was "push" and "pull" as it chased him.

[How odd...] Mai purrs.

[What did that mean?] Korra is just as piqued.

"The youngest brother thought about what his brother had said as he traveled down the path." Ash replies. "When the ghost appeared, he declared 'I'm not afraid of you!'" He turns his cap back for emphasis. "As the ghost swirled around him, he concluded "push" meant people pushing the ghost away as they fled, and "pull" meant the ghost pulling them close so it could possess them!"

Misty yelps as thunder rumbles outside, but Brock is unfazed. "Nice touch."

"The youngest brother invited the ghost to climb on his back." Ash continues. "When the ghost complied, it lit up the area so brightly, his brothers thought it was morning. As the youngest brother struggled with the ghost, he pleaded with Arceus and Celebi to help them all."

"And then?" Melody swallows hard.

"Celebi appeared and carried the ghost away to the heavens." Ash assures his audience. "As the brothers watched Celebi fly off, gold began raining from the sky. They concluded the ghost was one of a rich man, and the coins were coins he never spent."

He concludes "They gave most of the money to the poor, but kept enough for them to never worry about food or money again. Yet they always give thanks to Celebi for protecting them that night."

Brock's applause is the loudest. "Well done, Ash--you had ME scared for a minute there..."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 84: How an Arcanine Defeated Tornadus (Brock)

(real tale: Schippeitaro (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/080.htm))

"Once a priest was traveling across the land, and came to a village where everyone was making rice balls." Brock begins. "One house, however, was not."

"Why not?" Ash is intrigued.

"When the priest approached the house to get a closer look, he heard crying inside the house." Brock explains. "It turned out the members of that household were crying because they had to offer their only daughter as tribute to Tornadus. If Tornadus was not appeased with a sacrifice of a young girl with pure heart every year, he would send storms that would ruin the city and its fields."

"This sounds like 'Hikari Slays the Seviper'" Misty notes.

"You could argue that this tale is similar--I learned it in Driftveil while I was in the area for the Pokemon World Tournament." Brock reminds Misty. "You were with me, remember?"

"Oh yeah..." Misty smiles as the memory returns to her. "My matches somehow always ended up before yours, and so you were gathering stories to pass the time waiting for your matches."

"Go on then--then what happened?" Melody urges Brock to go on.

Brock thinks as to where he is in the tale before continuing "But the whole family loved their daughter very much, and it pained them that she had to be offered to Tornadus. The priest decided to offer himself in the girl's place, and immediately set out for the eastern mountains, where Tornadus dwelled."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"He hid inside a hollow tree until night fell." Brock tells Happini. "As the moon rose, he heard Tornadus and a group of evil spirits all singing..." He pauses to sing Don't let him hear this, don't let him hear that, don't let Shoten hear! Shoten of Tachibana, don't him hear!

He continues "The priest concluded that Tornadus and the monsters feared whoever or whatever Shoten was. After telling the family what he had learned, the priest departed to the city of Tachibana."

"So, who was Shoten?" Misty wonders.

"When he got there, he asked the people of Tachibana if there was anyone named Shoten, but the townsfolk had no clue what the priest meant." Brock goes on. "Then, he spotted an Arcanine, who happened to be named Shoten!"

"So THAT's what Shoten was!" Ash muses when he makes the connection.

[Shoten was not a who, but a what.] Mai agrees.

"The Arcanine's owner agreed to let the priest borrow his Pokemon, and the priest set out for the village." Brock continues. "Meanwhile, the people of the village were growing anxious as the day of the sacrifice neared. Some worried about the family's reaction, while others worried about what Tornadus would do if he wasn't appeased."

He takes his guitar and starts a tense melody. "The family, however, was still hopeful that the priest would return, even though they continued with the preparation for the sacrifice."

"Pika?" Pikachu sparks excitedly in anticipation of a battle.

"Just before they left to take the girl to the shrine, the priest returned with the Arcanine, and both of them climbed inside the box." Brock continues as he speeds up his song. "As soon as the villagers left the box at the shrine, they ran away. Tornadus and the monsters inspected the box, singing the song all the while."

He then sings as he plays a playful melody Don't let him hear this, don't let him hear that, don't let Shoten hear! Shoten of Tachibana, don't him hear!

He stops the song to interject "When Tornadus opened the box, the priest and the Arcanine attacked!"

Ash leads the clapping as Brock plays the Zelda theme for effect. After a while, the song begins to slow. "After a long battle, they emerged victorious..." Brock plays the Zelda got item stinger for effect. "and returned to a hero's welcome. That village never had to sacrifice another girl again."

Ash leads the applause as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 85: The Song of Ghosts (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 25, story 3)

"A landlord that lived in a certain village once had a vexing problem--tenants kept moving out of a certain house." Misty begins. "The other tenants though the house was haunted, but the landlord didn't believe them. Finally, the landlord agreed to stay in the house himself to see what would happen."

"So what was it?" Ash wonders.

"Or who was it?" Brock is equally interested.

"The landlord believed it was a rogue scaring tenants away, and it wasn't long before he fell asleep." Misty continues. "Suddenly, around midnight, he heard a female voice in the darkness, and found a Misdreavus casting what he thought was a spell before it started to cry."

[Maybe it was heartbroken?] Mai speculates on why the Misdreavus is crying.

"Or maybe it missed its family?" Ash guesses.

"The next morning, the landlord traveled to the temple and told the miko what happened." Misty goes on. "The miko replied that the Misdreavus may have been a poet or songstress in life, and something about its poem or song was keeping it in the mortal realm. But when the landlord asked the miko to recite it a poem or sing it a song, the miko replies that all she knew was scripture, and the only songs she knew were hymns. She then asked the landlord to spend another night in the house."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, shivering a little in fear.

"The next night, the Misdreavus appeared again, and the landlord concluded that the Misdreavus' song was about the power of love, and how music creates love, never mind he didn't have a clue what the Misdreavus was saying." Misty continues. "He then assumed the Misdreavus might have been crying because it couldn't remember the song's last lines."

"Makes sense..." Brock muses.

"The landlord invited one of the town's best known songwriters to try and figure out the song's last lines." Misty explains. "At midnight that night, the two of them watched as the Misdreavus appears again, singing what translated to..." She then sings Take a melody, simple as can be, give it some words and, sweet harmony. Raise your voices! All day long now, love grows strong now, sing a melody of...

"Pi ni?" Happini is interested in the song's last line.

"Well, the songwriter added the last lines of the verse..." Misty assures Happini before singing the last line of the Eight Melodies herself. Love, oh love.

She concludes "The Misdreavus decided to sing the completed song before rising to the heavens, thankful for the songwriter's help."

"Aw..." Brock smiles as he leads the applause.

"Maybe that Misdreavus wanted to finish its magnum opus before it left for heaven..." Melody agrees.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 86: The Prince and the Dragonite (Ash)

(real tale: The Prince and the Dragon (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20121118))

"Now, it's my turn to tell a favorite bedtime story." Ash explains. "I used to ask Mom to tell me this one a lot when I was little."

With that, he begins "There was once a king in a far away land that had three sons. One morning, the eldest prince--we'll call him Arden--set out to hunt. A Buneary suddenly sprang out of the bush, and Arden chased it over hill and over dale...."

[What's a dale?] Korra interrupts.

"Dale is another word for a valley." Brock explains.

"Finally, the Buneary raced into a mill that stood beside a river." Ash continues. "When Arden went in there, instead of a Buneary, he found a fierce Dragonite!"

The Pokemon yelp and laugh at Ash's dramatic announcement. "Arden turned to run, but a fiery tongue coiled around his waist and drew him into the Dragonite's mouth, never to be seen again!" More screams and giggles go up at this.

"And then?" Brock is interested.

"When his brother did not return, the second prince--we'll him Neil-- went to look for him, and the same thing happened." Ash continues. "He saw a Buneary as soon as he entered the forest, chased it to the mill, and the mighty Dragonite swallowed him, too!"

"I have a feeling this Buneary is no ordinary Buneary..." Misty muses.

"Meanwhile, the king waited and waited for any sign of his sons." Ash goes on. "When the youngest son--we'll call him Brendan--said he wished to go in search of his brothers, the king refused him at first. But Brendan did not take no for an answer. Finally, the king gave his permission and had the finest Rapidash in the palace stables saddled for him."

"Did he meet the Dragonite too?" Melody shudders in fear.

"Like his brothers, Brendan chased the Buneary over hill and over dale and to the mill." Ash explains. "But when the Buneary dashed through the mill door, Brendan knew better than to follow it. Instead he turned and rode away, in search of other game to hunt."

[This is getting exciting--and then what happened?] Mai asks, her eyes shining in anticipation like her Meowths.

"That night, Brendan returned to the mill, and met a wise woman sitting out front." Ash continues. As a young boy, he interjects "Have you seen a Buneary?"

He then attempts his best mimic of Delia. "That was no Buneary...that was the Dragonite that has eaten many people. I beg you, turn back before he eats you too!"

After acknowledging his applause for his interplay, he continues as himself "It dawned on Brendan what had happened to his brothers, and pleaded with the wise woman to come with him. But she shook her head and explained that the Dragonite had taken her prisoner, and she too was under his enchantment, meaning she could not escape."

"So what did Brendan do?" Brock is piqued.

"Brendan thought for a while, then told the wise woman..." Ash then switches to his "Brendan" voice again. "Ask the Dragonite where he goes when he leaves the mill, and ask him what makes him so strong. Tell me what you learn when I return."

[What did the wise woman learn?] a Meowth asks.

"The Dragonite returned not long after Brendan left, and the wise woman asked where he had been." Ash explains as himself before switching to his best deep voice. "Far away."

Nervous giggles fill the tent as Ash continues as himself "The wise woman began to flatter him, praising his strength and his cleverness, and when he was in a good mood, she said..." He switches to his "Delia" voice again. "If you tell me where you get your strength, I shall kiss it in gratitude."

In character as the Dragonite, he replies "My strength lies in the hearthstone,"

As himself, he interjects "But when the wise woman kissed the hearth, the Dragonite laughed and said..." As the Dragonite again, he intones "Foolish human, I was joking! My strength lies in the tree here."

As himself, he goes on " So the woman wrapped her arms around the tree and kissed it, and again the Dragonite laughed. Finally, she learned that the Dragonite's strength lay in a faraway kingdom, near its capital city, in a lake where another dragon, a Gyarados, slept. Inside that Gyarados was a wild Emboar, and inside that Emboar was a Buneary, and inside that Buneary was a Pidove, and inside that Pidove was a Spearow. Inside that Spearow lay his strength."

"Bravo!" Brock is impressed Ash remembered the whole list.

"The next morning, Brendan returned, and the wise woman told him the Dragonite's secrets." Ash continues. "So Brendan disguised himself as a shepherd, and rode to a distant kingdom where the king was seeking a shepherd. He offered his services, and was quickly hired. The king told him..." Ash switches to his best mimic of his father. "Outside the city walls there is a lake, and by its banks are the richest meadows. As you lead the flocks, they will race there, but if they reach those meadows they will never return. Protect them from that place."

"Pini?" Happini asks. Pikachu sparks excitedly as he awaits the prince's battle.

"Brendan promised to keep the Mareep safe." Ash replies as himself. "So he went to the marketplace and bought a Pidgeot, a whistle..." He pauses to retrieve his whistle from his bag. "and two Arcanines. Then, he took the Mareep out to pasture. When the Mareep saw the lake, they began to run toward it, just as the king had said."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats, eager to know what happens next. "Brendan set the Pidgeot on a tree branch, laid his whistle on the grass..." He lays his own whistle on the ground. "and bade the Arcanines to sit. Then he waded into the water and cried..."

He then opens the tent flap and calls into the raging rain "Gyarados, if you are not a coward, come out and fight me!" Some thunder rumbles at this, as if answering Ash's challenge.

"Nice touch..." Misty smiles as Ash closes up the tent.

"The Gyarados immediately emerged from the water, and the battle raged until the sun rose high in the sky the next morning!" Ash announces as he observes his enthralled audience. "Then the Gyarados gasped and said..." In his "dragon" voice, he sputters "Let me dip my burning head into the lake and I will hurl you to the top of the sky."

He laughs at this. "Ah, if only the princess of this land were here, she would kiss my forehead, and I would throw you higher still." he retorts in character as Brendan.

"Pini!" Happini cheers at the mention of a princess.

As himself, he continues "With that, Brendan delivered the final blow, and the Gyarados fell into the lake, dazed."

Wild cheers go up at this, and Pikachu unleashes a few celebratory sparks."Brendan took his Pidgeot upon his shoulder, and with his Arcanines in front and his flock following him, he set out for the city, playing his whistle all the while." With that, Ash plays 'The Meowth's Call" for effect.

Misty leads the applause when the song ends. "As they passed through the streets, people stared." Ash explains as he fingers his whistle. "A flock of Mareep had never before returned from the lake. On top of that, the king's horsemen saw the whole thing, and they hurried to tell the king what had happened. The king sent for the princess--we'll call her Kendra--and told her she was to go with who he thought was a shepherd the next day."

[Then did he defeat the Gyarados?] a Meowth asks.

"Brendan and the Gyarados fought again the next day." Ash explains "But this time when Brendan said 'if the princess of this land kissed my forehead,' Kendra did just that, and Brendan flung the Gyarados clear into the clouds!"

"Game set! This match's winner is...BRENDAN!!!!" Brock announces in character as the Super Smash Bros. announcer.

"Talk about the power of love!" Misty is equally impressed.

"When the Gyarados finally fell to earth, he burst into a gazillion pieces, and out sprang an Emboar." Ash continues. "The Arcanines chased the Emboar, caught it, and tore it to bits. Out came a Buneary, and the Arcanines caught it too and tore it to bits. Then out came a Pidove that flew into the sky."

"Sound familiar?" Brock asks Melody.

"Brendan set loose his Pidgeot, which swooped upon the Pidove and brought it to his master. When Brendan cut it open, he found the Spearow inside. "Where are my brothers?" he demands in character as Brendan.

"Behind your father's castle stands a mill. In the mill is an enchanted emerald. Take this emerald and invoke its magic, and the iron cellar door will open. There you will find your brothers safe and sound." he replies in his best mimic of a Spearow.

As himself, he continues "Brendan hurried home to his native land, and everything happened as the Spearow said-- in the mill he found the emerald, and sang..." He pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... for effect.

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Sure enough, the iron door flew open, and countless people streamed forth, including his brothers, who were miraculously unharmed." Ash concludes. "They were eager to hear the tale of their brother's power, wisdom, and courage, and in every kingdom there was celebration for at least a week!"

Brock's applause is the loudest at the tale's conclusion. "You know, you should perform that in front of Delia and Taran..."

"Why stop at just your family?" Misty suggests. "All of Pallet needs to see your skill at storytelling!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 87: Out of the Frying Pan, and Into the Fire (Brock)

(real tale: The Riddle (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/387.htm))

"Once a prince had a great desire to travel across the land." Brock begins. "So with his father the king's blessings, he set out early one morning, taking no one with him but one trusty servant. One day, he came to a great forest, and try as he might, he could not think of a place to spend the night. Suddenly, he saw a girl going towards a little house, and he noticed that she was both young and pretty. So he asked her..." In his best mimic of Ash, he asks "May I and my servant spend the night in this house, good lady?"

"Oh yes," he sighs in character as the girl. "You can if you like, but I should not advise you not to do so."

"Why not?" he asks in character as the prince.

"My stepmother deals in evil magic, and she is not very friendly to strangers." he replies as the girl.

"I see...the prince was asking to stay in a witch's house." Melody concludes.

"You're right, Melody--the prince guessed easily that he had stumbled on a witch's house." Brock acknowledges Melody's prediction with a nod. "but as it was getting dark and he could go no further, and he was not afraid, he went inside."

Pikachu swallows hard at this. "The witch welcomed them, and conjured a fire to cook something in a little pot that hung over the coals." Brock explains. "Her daughter had secretly warned the travelers to be very careful not to eat or drink anything, as the old woman's brews were apt to be dangerous."

"Of course witch's brews are dangerous..." Misty mutters.

"They went to bed, and slept soundly till morning." Brock goes on. "The next morning, just before the prince and his servant set out, the witch offered them what she claimed as a healing potion. But the prince knew better, and rode off, leaving his servant behind."

"It had to be some kind of poison..." Ash muses.

"It was poison all right." Brock assures Ash. "In fact, no sooner had the servant accepted the vial, did it shatter, making the poison spurt all over the unlucky Ponyta. It was so powerful, the poor Pokemon was dead in mere seconds."

Happini shudders at this. "The servant ran after his master and told him what had happened." Brock goes on. "But when the servant returned to retrieve his saddle, he saw that a Murkrow had perched on the corpse and was pecking at it. Figuring the Murkrow would make a decent meal, he killed it with an arrow."

"A-and then?" Ash stammers.

"They rode on all day through the forest without even finding an exit." Brock continues. "At nightfall they reached an inn, and the servant gave the innkeeper the Murkrow to prepare for their dinner. They didn't know that this inn was a regular hideout of a gang of bandits, and the old witch too came there often."

"You were right when you said this tale was called 'Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire'" Melody notes.

"Who wants to bet Team Rocket were the bandits?" Ash whispers to Misty. Misty giggles at the thought.

"As soon as it was dark, the bandits arrived with the full intention of killing and robbing the strangers." Brock continues. "Before they set to work, however, they sat down to dinner, and the innkeeper and the old witch joined them. They all ate some broth in which the flesh of the Murkrow had been stewed down. They had hardly taken a couple of spoonfuls when they all fell down dead as doornails, for the poison had passed from the Ponyta to the Murkrow and so into the broth. So there was no one left belonging to the house but the innkeeper's daughter, who was a good, well-meaning girl, and had taken no part in all the evil doings."

"I guess it was a good thing the prince and his servant didn't eat the Murkrow." Misty heaves a sigh of relief.

"She opened all the doors, and showed the strangers the treasures the bandits had gathered together; but the prince bade her keep them all for herself, as he wanted none of them." Brock continues. "After traveling for some time, they reached a kingdom where lived a lovely but arrogant princess--we'll call her Leiko. She had decreed that anyone who asked her a riddle which she couldn't guess would be her husband, but should she figure it out, he would pay with his life. She claimed three days in which to think over the riddles, but she was so smart, she would usually have an answer before three days passed. Nine suitors had already lost their lives when our hero arrived, and, dazzled by her beauty, determined to risk his life in hopes of winning her."

"So what did he do?" Misty is interested.

"Our hero came before Leiko and challenged her with 'One slew none and yet killed twelve.'" Brock replies. "Try as she might, and as smart as she was, Leiko had no idea what the answer was! She thought, and thought, and thought some more. She asked the wisest of sages, and looked through every book in the royal library, but had no luck. So she ordered her maid to sneak into the prince's bedroom, for she thought that he might perhaps inadvertently reveal the answer as he slept. But the clever servant had taken his master's place, and when the maid came he tore off the cloak she had wrapped herself in and chased her out of the room."

"I would do the same if someone came sneaking in my room at 2 AM." Ash smiles. Pikachu laughs as he pictures the servant chasing the maid away.

"On the second night, Leiko sent her lady-in-waiting, hoping that she might have better luck." Brock continues. "But the servant took away her mantle and chased her away too."

"Azu azu ri rill, rill?" Azurill asks.

Brock nods. "That's right, Azurill--in the middle of the third night, Leiko came herself, all huddled up in a misty grey mantle, and sat down by his bed. When she thought he was fast asleep, she spoke to him, hoping he would answer in the midst of his dreams, as many people do. She didn't know that he was wide awake the whole time, and heard and understood everything very well."

"Must've drank a lot of royal coffee to stay awake." Misty whispers to Ash. Ash chuckles as he pictures the prince bouncing off the walls in a caffeine rush.

Brock ignores the chatter. "Then she asked him what 'One slew none and yet killed twelve' meant. He answered: 'A Murkrow which fed on the corpse of a poisoned Ponyta. Then twelve bandits ate the Murkrow and died of it.'

"Gee, this sounds familiar..." Ash smiles as he puts two and two together.

"As soon as Leiko knew the answer, she tried to slip away, but our hero held her mantle so tightly that she was obliged to leave it behind." Brock goes on. "The next morning, Princess Leiko announced that she had guessed the riddle, and sent for the royal council of twelve sages, who listened as she detailed the riddle and its answer. But our hero added that Leiko came by night to question him, otherwise she never would have guessed it."

"So Leiko didn't figure it out on her own!" Melody cries.

"The sages were skeptical, and asked for proof." Brock continues. "So the servant brought out the three cloaks, and when the judges saw the grey one, which they knew was Leiko's favorite, they commanded it to be embroidered with gold and silver--for it was to be her wedding mantle."

"It goes without saying they lived happily ever after, right?" Ash smiles as he applauds. Brock just grins and takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 88: Going to See Mr Korbes (Misty)

(real tale: Mr. Korbes (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Fairy_Tales_From_The_Brothers_Grimm&story=Mr_Korbes))


"Once a pair of Combuskens decided to go a journey together." Misty begins. "So Mr. Combusken built a beautiful carriage out of fine oak, and decorated it with ivy inlays and jewels--even its four red wheels sparkled in the sun."

"Ooh..." Ash smiles as he pictures the carriage.

"In fact, it was just large enough for four Pikachus to pull it." Misty adds. "So after loading the carriage with food and supplies, Mr. and Mrs. Combusken got into it, and were whisked off down the road. It wasn't long before they met a Meowth, who asked where they were going. Mr. Combusken answered..." Misty pauses to sing On Mr. Korbes a call to pay,
And that is where we go today!

After waiting for the applause to die down, Misty continues "The Meowth asked if he could come too, and Mr Combusken replied 'Very well, only you must sit well back, and then you will not fall forward.'"

She then sings again And pray take care
Of my red wheels there;
And wheels be steady,
And Pikachu be ready
On Mr. Korbes a call to pay,
For that is where we go today!

Brock stifles a giggle at Pikachu, who is playing "Ponyta" with Happini as his "rider". "Wonder who this Mr. Korbes guy is..." Ash muses.

Misty continues "Then they found a millstone, and then an egg, and then they met a Ducklett, who asked to come along, then they found a pin, and then they found a needle. But when they came to Mr. Korbes's house, he was not at home."

"Then where was he?" Melody asks.

"More importantly, what did the party do?" Brock wonders as Pikachu and Happini complete another lap around the tent.

"The Pikachus drew the carriage into the barn, Mr. and Mrs. Combusken flew up and perched on a beam, the Meowth sat by the fireside, the Ducklett settled on the water, the egg was wrapped in a towel, the pin was laid in the chair cushion, the needle was laid in the bed among the pillows, and the millstone was put by the door." Misty explains. "Then Mr. Korbes came home, and went to the hearth to make a fire, but the Meowth threw ashes in his eyes."

The boys burst out laughing at this. "Then he ran quickly into the kitchen to wash himself, but the Ducklett splashed water in his face." Misty continues. "Then he was going to wipe it with the towel, but the egg broke in it, and stuck his eyelids together." More laughter fills the air at this.

"In order to get a little peace he sat down in his chair." Misty continues as the laughter quiets. "But the pin ran into him, making him jump at least ten feet."

Everyone howls with laughter again. "In his anger he threw himself on the bed, but as his head fell on the pillow, in went the needle, so that he called out with the pain, and madly rushed out." Misty explains. "But when he reached the house door, he tripped on the door and landed on some rocks."

She concludes "Needless to say, it took Mr. Korbes some time to recover from all those injuries!"

Ash raises an eyebrow. "That doesn't really make any sense..."

"Yeah, why would the Pokemon want to hurt the person they wanted to see all because he wasn't home at the time they got there?" Brock is equally confused at the story's premise.

"Well, you'd have to ask Daisy, who taught me the story..." Misty confesses. "At least I didn't kill off Mr. Korbes like she did."

"That's a silly reason to die, simply because you were not home to receive guests!" Melody gasps.

"Your story's not a total loss..." Brock assures Misty as he writes down the bones of the story. "It sounds perfect for a detective story..."

Yeah--someone appears to be murdered simply because he wasn't home to receive guests, but the real reason is much more sinister!" Ash suggests.

Misty giggles. "Let me know when your mystery's finished, Brock--I'd totally read it!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 89: Mightyena's Eyes (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 34, story 2)

"There was once a man that lived in a certain village at the base of Mt. Moon." Ash begins. "We'll call him Tad."

"Pika?" Pikachu looks up from a drawing, piqued in his master's tale.

"One year, a great storm passed through the area, devastating many homes and lives." Ash goes on. "Unfortunately, Tad's house and fields were among the casualties. He was understandably devastated, and spent days wandering through the woods in hopes he could start a new life somewhere."

"How awful..." Misty sighs. Happini sniffles in a agreement as Brock brushes a tear from her eye.

"It gets better, okay?" Brock assures Happini as she tries to fight back tears.

"As Tad was traveling, a Mightyena appeared, but it didn't hurt him." Ash continues. "Then more Mightyenas came, but not one of them laid a paw on him. Then the leader of that pack came, and told him that they understood his suffering, and that he had no need to despair. The Mightyena gave Tad a sapphire that looked like an eye, and told him that it would allow him to see a person for what they truly were when its magic was invoked. Tad was then told to go into what is now Pewter City and find work."

"Pini pini?" Happini asks as she wipes away the last of her tears.

"The next morning, Tad arrived in town and activated the sapphire..." Ash pauses to sing Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... for effect. "But not one of the people he passed were good people at all. Finally, he found a good person in town to work for in a wealthy but kind merchant, and was hired as a servant."

Misty smiles--maybe there's hope for Tad, she thinks.

"Tad proved himself as a reliable worker, but one night, his master asked to get to know him better." Ash goes on. "Tad told his master everything that had happened, and showed him the sapphire. The merchant remembered that a pottery maker would arrive in town the next day, and asked to use the sapphire. It turned out the pottery merchant was a swindler, because his pots were fakes."

"Wow..." Brock is impressed.

"He decided to keep Tad close, as he was the real treasure with his reliability and wisdom." Ash continues. "A few weeks went by, and a young lady--we'll call her Nadia-- came to the merchant's house. When Tad looked at her through the sapphire, she was shown to be pure. His master explained that Nadia was his daughter."

Brock balks in surprise. "Really?"

"I did NOT see that coming!" Misty agrees.

"Tad quickly fell in love with Nadia, and it wasn't long before the two were married." Ash concludes. "Yet he always kept the sapphire with him, so they would be protected from evil."

"Aw..." Melody smiles as she applauds.

"Now, see? Told'ja the story would get better." Brock assures Happini. Happini just nods as she awaits her daddy's next tale...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 90: The Mage's Adopted Daughter (Brock)

(real tale: Mogarzea and his Son (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/049.htm))

"There was once a little girl who was left to the care of a guardian after her parents died from a terrible disease." Brock begins. "But the guardian they chose turned out to be a wicked man, and spent all the money on himself."

"That's not nice!" Ash gasps, appalled someone would so brazenly spend another person's money."

"The girl--we'll call her Melanie--decided she would go out into the world and seek her own fortune." Brock continues. "So she set off, and walked for a long time. When evening came, she was very tired, and did not know where to sleep. She climbed a hill and looked around in hopes she could see any light that meant a town was nearby. At first, all seemed dark, but the she noticed a tiny spark way off in the distance."

"So what was it?" Melody wonders.

"It was almost midnight by the time she reached the spark, which turned out to be a huge roaring fire." Brock replies. "A mage was sleeping there, and from Melanie's perspective, he was so tall he might have been a giant."

"What did Melanie do?" Misty asks.

"She hesitated for a moment, then crept close up to the mage, and lay down at his feet." Brock assures Misty. "When the mage--we'll call him Arawn--woke up the next morning, he was surprised to find Melanie nestling up close to him.

He intones in one of his go-to "wizard" voices "Where did you come from, little one?"

"I am your daughter, who came to you in the night." Melody replies as Melanie.

As himself, Brock goes on "Arawn bought that answer, and told Melanie..." As Arawn again, he continues "All I ask is that you take care of my Mareeps, and I will give you food and shelter in return. But be careful that you never cross the border of this land, or you will regret it."

Ash swallows hard at this. "He pointed out where the border of his land lay, and Melanie began earning her keep that morning." Brock continues as himself. "Melanie led her flocks out to the richest meadows and stayed with them until evening, when she brought them back. When the Mareeps were all safely back in the pen, they both sat down to dinner, where they talked of many things. One night, while they were eating dinner, Melanie asked her adopted father why he always seemed so sad. Arawn told her..."

As Arawn, he begins "I once served as the royal wizard to a great king. I was on my way to Lake Verity, which lies not far from here, to marry Mesprit, the pixie Pokemon who calls the lake her home. But on the road, three spirits in service to Darkrai attacked me and robbed me of my soul. Ever since then, I have stayed in this spot watching my Mareeps without wishing for anything different, without having felt one moment's joy, or ever once being able to laugh. These spirits are so ill-natured that if anyone sets one foot on their land, they are instantly punished. That is why I warn you to be careful, lest you should share my fate."

"Aw...." Misty brushes away a tear.

[How terrible...] Mai agrees.

"Melanie promised she would be careful on her quest as they went to bed." Brock continues as himself. "The next morning, Melanie got up and led the Mareep out to feed, mindful that she did not cross into the grassy meadows belonging to the evil spirits, but let his flock pick up what pasture they could on Arawn's land. Three days passed, and on the third day, she was sitting under the shadow of a tree, playing on a flute her adopted father had made for her."

Ash grabs one of his whistles as Brock interjects "There was nobody in the land who could play a flute better than her." Ash then plays "The Meowth's Call" for effect.

When the applause dies down, Brock goes on. "Suddenly one of the Mareeps strayed across the fence into the flowery fields of the spirits, and another and another followed it. But Melanie was so absorbed in her song that she didn't notice anything wrong till half the flock was on the other side." Ash plays "The Meowth's Call" again for effect.

Brock continues over the song "She jumped up, still playing her flute all the while, and went after the Mareep, meaning to drive them back to their own side of the border, when suddenly she saw before her three handsome boys who stopped in front of her, and began to dance. Melanie understood what she had to do, and played with all her might."

Korra meanwhile, is more interested in the whistle than the story. [Wow! What a hot beat!]

Melody giggles. "I guess we know why that tune's called 'The Meowth's Call'"...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 91: Ninetales and the Tynamo Necklace (Misty)

(real tale: Reynard and the Necklace of Eels (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20121125))

"One cold winter's day, Ninetales lay shivering in her den." Misty begins. "Her beloved constantly begged for her to find food, and her four little Vulpixes cried that they were hungry."

"How awful..." Ash sighs.

"I would have a heart and feed those little ones." Brock agrees.

"Ninetales shook her head. This was a terrible inconvenience. Starvation would never do. In fact, their starvation and tears inspired her courage." Misty notes. "That is why, as cold as it was and with a brisk wind blowing, Ninetales made her way out of the warmth of the den in search of food. She crept toward the village, being extra careful not to alert the townsfolk or their Pokemon to her presence. But then she noticed she was leaving footprints in the snow. She carefully looked this way and that, making sure there were no hunters or trainers nearby." Nervous giggles go up as Misty looks around the tent, as if looking for intruders herself.

Once all is quiet, she goes on. "She made her way down to the river, hoping she might find a Pidgey or a Ducklett or two. But the hunters and the trainers had been there before her--there wasn't a Ducklett or Pidgey in sight!"

"So what did she do?" Melody asks.

"Suddenly, she smelled something good on that wild winter wind." Misty replies. "So she turned and dashed toward that smell. Before long, she reached the road, and there ahe saw it -- the source of that wonderful aroma."

"What was it?" Ash asks, his mouth watering in anticipation.

"Two fishermen were driving a cart full of baskets." Misty replies. "Ninetales had to smile--'of course, fish are plentiful in wind like this!' she thought. In that cart she saw baskets brimming with fish of every sort, fish from the seas and fish from the rivers--there were Magikarp and Goldeen, Seaking and Basculin, Finneon and Tynamos!"

She stops to interject "Needless to say, Ninetales' mouth watered at the sight.", stifling a giggle at the dreamy look on Ash's face as he pictures the fish.

"Forget Ninetales drooling, Ash is too!" Brock notes.

"But unlike Ash, Ninetales had to figure out a way to trick those fishermen." Misty cautions. "So she stopped and thought a moment. But tricks are second nature to Ninetales too, so it took her only a moment before she knew just what to do. She ran along the edge of the road, taking care to hide herself behind snowy hedges until she was far ahead of the cart. Then she ran to the middle of the road and lay down very still as if dead."

"Did it work?" Brock asks, stifling a giggle of anticipation.

"Sure enough, when the cart reached her, it pulled to a stop." Misty explains. "One of the fishermen thought there was a dead Growlithe in the road, and the other thought it was a Mightyena. But rather than fight over who was correct, they decided to step down from their cart and walk over to where Ninetales lay. "They oohed and ahhed over Ninetales' beautiful gold fur, and the pretty credit it would bring. They agreed to take what they thought was a dead Ninetales to the village, sell it, and split the money."

"Warning, mistake in progress!" Brock announces, making everyone laugh.

Misty is unfazed. "So they carefully put Ninetales in the back of their cart and set off on their way. Little did they know Ninetales was very much alive, and surrounded by all those fine fish."

"Repeating, this is a mistake in progress!" Brock cautions, as if the fishermen in Misty's tale can hear him.

"Ninetales leaned over and began to nibble at the Seaking in one of the baskets, and once she began, she could not stop herself." Misty goes on. "She ate and ate until she was full -- bones and all!"

"I bet she didn't need to eat for a week afterwards!" Ash muses.

"Before long, that basket was empty, but she knew she had to bring some food home for her family." Misty explains "So she reached into the basket of Tynamos and saw there were a dozen or more strung altogether, gill to gill, forming what looked to be a necklace made of Tynamos."

Ash's dreamy look turns to a disgusted grimace. "What girl would want to wear THAT?"

"No sane girl." Brock replies.

"Nintales pushed her paw through the wire loop, so the eels hung like a necklace around her neck, then leapt from the cart." Misty continues. "Just then, the fishermen turned around, and they saw that wily Ninetales wearing the Tynamo necklace. They stopped their cart and leapt down to chase her."

[Go, Ninetales, go!] a Meowth cheers.

"Though the fishermen were pretty fast runners, Ninetales was faster, even wearing the heavy 'necklace'." Misty went on. "Just when it seemed the fishermen would catch her, she rounded a corner and dove into her den, safe and sound."

Cheers go up as Misty concludes "Her husband and children began to cheer when they saw what she'd brought. They skinned the Tynamos, and lit the fire, and soon they were delighting in a wonderful meal. Ninetales, as usual, was congratulating herself on her quick wit and wiles!"

"And I thought Sorin was bad..." Melody giggles as she applauds. "Ninetales is even worse!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 92: The Magic Book (Ash)

(real tale: The Magic Book (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/121.htm))


"There was once a couple who had a son they loved very much--we'll call him Martin." Ash begins. "Ever since he was little, he had been told that when he came of age, he must go out into the world and seek his fortune. So the morning after his sixteenth birthday, he set off to seek his fortune with nothing but the clothes on his back."

"So what adventures did Martin get into?" Melody wonders

For a while, he enjoyed the long walk down the winding path." Ash explains. "Every now and then, he would stop to drink from some clear spring or pick some ripe Berries from a tree. The Pokemon of the wood would look at him from beneath the bushes, and he would smile and wish them good morning."

"Aw..." Misty pictures the tranquil scene.

"After he had been walking for some time, Martin met an old man on the road." Ash goes on. "When the old man asked Martin where he was going, Martin replied he was off to seek his fortune. "The old man offered Martin a chance to serve him, with Martin being paid 2000 gold pieces a year for his service. Martin agreed to enter the old man's service, and they set out together. On the way, they crossed a deep valley and came to a mountain, where the man opened a trapdoor, and bidding Martin follow him, he crept in and began to go down a long flight of steps. When they got to the bottom, Martin saw a large number of rooms lit by many lamps and full of beautiful things."

"Wow..." Melody gasps. Happini sighs dreamily as she pictures the scene and the treasures in the room.

"While Martin was looking around, the old man instructed him to keep the rooms clean, and spread sand on the floor every day." Ash goes on. "In Martin's room was a table where there was always food and drink, and his bed, which was fit for a king, stood in a corner. There were all kinds of clothes hanging on the wall, too. But he was warned not to open a certain locked door, or else."

"Or else what?" Misty challenges.

"Patience--we'll find out what 'or else' is soon enough." Brock assures Misty.

"A few months went by, and Martin proved himself a reliable and hard worker." Ash continues. "One day, the old man had to leave on a very long journey, so after saying his goodbyes, Martin sat down to a good meal, and then went to bed. But he couldn't get to sleep, so he got up and went into all the rooms."

[What did he find?] Mai is interested.

"He found a great many treasures, but even though he still did his required work every day, he couldn't stop thinking about what was behind the locked door." Ash explains. "Then one day he decided he would go and see for himself."

Misty swallows hard at this. "Martin crept inside, and the first thing he saw was a heap of bones." Ash continues. "He thought about just leaving the room, when he spotted a shelf of books. Martin loved to read, so he took one of the books from the shelf. It was a spell book, filled with spells of transformation into anything in the world simply by singing a song. So he put it in his pocket, and ran quickly away out of the mountain by a little door which had been left open in the side."

"So what did Martin turn into first?" Brock is interested.

"When he got home, his parents asked him what he had been doing and where he had got the fine clothes he wore." Ash replies. "Martin tried to explain that he earned them himself, but his dad didn't believe him. As Martin left, he told his parents that they would see a great Arcanine at the door. They were to take it to the castle and sell it to the king, and he would give them a thousand gold pieces for it."

[Did it work?] a Meowth asks

"Sure enough, the next day, everything happened as Martin had said." Ash replies. "Martin's dad sold the Arcanine to the king for a thousand gold pieces, which they put away for safekeeping. The next day Martin came by again; Although everything had turned out as he had foretold, he found that his dad still didn't believe him. So he told his parents that the next morning. there would come a great fat Miltank, as big as the house." Everyone gasps as Ash makes a big form in the air to illustrate his point. "They were to take it to the king, where he would pay a thousand gold pieces for it." The next day, everything happened as Martin had said--they took the huge Miltank to the palace, where the king was stunned at the size of the Miltank. He gladly paid a thousand gold pieces for it, which went into safekeeping."

"Pini pi?" Happini asks.

"Martin came over again a few days later, but his dad STILL didn't believe him." Ash explains, much to Pikachu's chagrin. "Martin said that the next day, they would find a Ponyta outside by the gate. They were to ride it to market and..."

"They would get a thousand gold pieces for it." Misty, Brock, Melody, and the Pokemon say along with Ash.

Ash grins, pleased his friends have caught on to the refrain. "And then what happened the next day?" he prompts.

"Everything happened as Martin had said." everyone replies.

[What about the book from before?] Korra wonders.

"I'm getting to that." Ash assures Korra before going on. "Martin's parents built themselves a huge ranch, and never had to worry about food or money again. They didn't know that Martin really was all those Pokemon."

The lightbulb goes off in Brock's head. "For a minute there, I thought you were going on a really long tangent..."

"Some time later, Martin learned the king was seeking a husband for the princess." Ash goes on. "So Martin snuck into the royal gardens, and transformed himself into a beautiful emerald ring." He pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... for effect. The princess--we'll call her Liana--found the ring and eagerly showed her father, the king."

"But as soon as she was alone, to her amazement, the ring suddenly left her finger and became a boy. Liana was scared out of her wits at first, but when she heard a male voice singing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... and looked again, the boy became a ring again. Then she heard the song again..." Ash sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... again. "and then turned back to a boy. This went on for some time until Liana began to get used to these sudden changes."

"Pini Hapi?" Happini asks.

"Martin told Princess Liana he was sorry for scaring her, but he had actually sought shelter in the palace because the old mage from before was trying to kill him." Ash continues. "Princess Liana agreed to protect Martin, and it wasn't long before they fell in love."

"And they all lived happily ever after?" Brock guesses.

"The king, meanwhile, didn't like the idea of Princess Liana marrying a commoner." Ash cautions. "So when he found Martin and Liana together one day, he ordered both of them thrown in the dungeon."

[That's not nice!] a Meowth gasps, appalled

"A week or two went by, but when the king went down in the dungeon to check on them, he could hardly believe his eyes when he found that Princess Liana nor Martin were not there. Instead, there was a large hole in their cell, big enough for two people to pass through."

"How did they get out?" Melody asks.

"Here's how they got out..." Ash explains as he grabs a sketchpad and draws a crude dungeon map, complete with stick figure drawings of Princess Liana and Martin in one cell. "They had fallen down that hole..." Ash draws a dotted line under the cell with the stick figures. "into a portal..." He then draws a crude fantasy portal and draws the dotted line through it. "...which led into a castle built of pure gold at the other side of the world." He then draws a castle with a yellow marker, then draws the Princess Liana and Martin figures with the black marker he used before. "But the king had no idea about any of this." The group giggles as Ash draws a confused king stick figure at the entrance to the cell. "And so Martin and Princess Liana lived in the golden castle for many years." he concludes, drawing a red heart over the Martin and Princess Liana figures as the group applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 93: The Legend of the Twin Flutes (Brock)


"There was once a couple in a far away land who had a son they loved very much--we'll call him Mana." Brock begins. "One year, when Mana was about three or four years old, his mother died from a terrible disease. His father grieved for a while, but eventually married again--and Mana's new stepmother had a son of her own."

"Uh oh..." Ash notes.

"Bad sign...and the classic setup for many variants of 'Cinderella'" Misty notes.

"The stepmother's son ate like a king most nights with the choicest meats, cheese, and Berries." Brock continues. "Mana, meanwhile, was often stuck with the leftovers from the previous night, when it would be cold and hard as a rock. But Mana didn't despair--he had a team of Pokemon for company, and they would share what meat and Berries they found with their master."

"What Pokemon were they?" Ash asks.

Brock freezes for a moment--in every version of this tale he has heard, the Pokemons' species are never explicitly mentioned. "The leader was a Pikachu, and the others were an Espeon, a Vulpix, a Squirtle, a Pidgeotto, and a Bulbasaur."

"That works." Misty smiles, pleased with the Pokemon Brock chose.

"Eventually Mana's stepmother grew jealous of him, as he was growing big and strong, and her own son was not. She contemplated many ways to get rid of Mana, even entertaining thoughts of killing him."

Korra brandishes her claws for a moment, as if wanting to protect Mana. "So one day, she faked sick in her room." Brock goes on. "When her husband asked what was wrong, she told him that only the blood of Mana would heal her."

Gasps go up from the Meowths, but Brock reassures them "The man couldn't bring himself to kill his own son--he knew well the strong bond he had with his Pokemon, and how they would attack him if he tried to hurt Mana. So he took his sword, and killed a Taillow instead. Thankfully, the stepmother appeared to be none the wiser."

"And then?" Melody asks as the Meowths and Mai heave a collective sigh of relief.

"The man knew that it was only a matter of time before the stepmother figured out his ruse, and so he sent Mana away in hopes he could start a new life somewhere." Brock continues. "The day before Mana left, his Pikachu--we'll call him Inazuma--gave Mana a pair of flutes, one of them gold, and the other one silver."

Ash reaches for his whistle at the mention of a flute. "Inazuma explained that the silver flute was Kanashifue. or "the sad flute". If Mana played Kanashifue, the Pokemon would know he was in need or in danger, and they would come help. The gold flute was Shiawasefue, or "the happy flute". If Mana played Shiawasefue, the Pokemon would know Mana was safe and happy."

"So, what happened to Mana?" Melody asks.

"Mana traveled a long way, using the twin flutes to obtain whatever he needed." Brock explains. "After a long journey--which is a story in itself--he settled down in an eastern kingdom. For many nights, he would play Shiawasefue to the wind, and his Pokemon would know he was well."

Ash plays the jig 'Pikachu Went-a-Walkin'" to simulate the passage of time. "One day, the princess of the land was out walking, when she heard Shiawasefue echoing on the wind." Brock continues, prompting Ash to switch to "Ah, Roshin". "Since she was a good ways off, she couldn't see Mana from the road. So for many days, she wondered who was playing the beautiful melodies she heard echoing from the fields every day."

"Did her father the king notice?" Melody asks over the song.

"He noticed the princess--we'll call her Junko--wasn't eating or sleeping, and asked what was wrong." Brock replies. "Princess Junko told her father that she longed to see the one playing the flute she heard from the road every day. She went on to request that if the performer was male, she wished to have his hand in marriage."

"Aw..." Misty smiles as Ash finishes "Ah, Roshin"

"Mana, meanwhile, was so lost in playing Shiawasefue he didn't notice that a thief had taken Kanashifue so now he only had one flute to play on." Brock cautions. "When he saw Princess Junko, they fell madly in love, and were married soon after. But after a few months of royal life, Mana longed to see his Pokemon again, but he didn't have Kanashifue. Playing Shiawasefue wouldn't work either. Eventually, Inazuma and the other Pokemon were so worried about their master, they set out to find Mana."

[Did they find him?] a Meowth asks.

"They didn't know where Mana had gone, so they wandered all over the land trying to find him." Brock explains. "Eventually, they all fainted with exhaustion not far from the spot Mana played Shiawasefue from." Brock replies. "Mana found them that evening, and thinking they had died, fell to his knees and pleaded with the Great Lord Arceus to revive them."

"And then?" Melody sniffles as she fights back tears.

"Arceus heard Mana's plea, and revived all six Pokemon, plus gave him a new copy of Kanashifue. Brock assures Melody. "Mana was overjoyed, and lead them to the palace, where he introduced them to Princess Junko. Mana's Pokemon were treated like kings and queens themselves, and when the time came for Mana and Princess Junko to inherit the throne, they served as their most trusted advisors."

Melody brushes away a happy tear. "I love happy endings...."

(The real tale is a tale from India called "Flute of Joy, Flute of Sorrow", which you can read on Google Books)

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 94: The Greatest Gift of All (Misty)

(real tale: The Spectacular Gift (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20121202))

"Once upon a time, a king had three handsome and clever sons." Misty begins. "We'll call them Aidan, Irvine, and Rigel. They loved their father, and they loved each other, but when they came of age, all three brothers fell in love with the same young lady, a princess from a neighboring village--we'll call her Ariana."

"That is weird..." Ash muses.

"Ariana's a pretty name, though." Brock adds.

The three princes decided to visit Princess Ariana's father and ask him to choose the one he liked best." Misty explains. "So whoever the king chose would marry Princess Ariana."

[That seems fair enough.] Mai smiles.

"So Prince Aidan bowed low to the king and said..." Misty narrates.

Brock fills in Prince Aidan's dialogue. "Sir, I wish to marry your delicate daughter, Princess Ariana."

"Then Prince Irvine bowed lower and said..." Misty then adds in her best mimic of a male voice "Good king, I too wish to marry Princess Ariana. I promise I will be a fine husband."

As herself, she goes on. "Finally, Prince Rigel bowed lower still and said softly..."

Ash then fills in Prince Rigel's dialogue. "Dear king, I love Princess Ariana with all my heart, and if you give me your permission to marry her, you will make me the happiest man in all the world."

Misty smiles. "Have you two heard this one before?"

"Brock knows a variant with a twist ending." Ash explains.

"But I'll tell you the twist in my version once we finish the straight version." Brock assures the group.

"Fair enough." Misty thinks a moment before continuing. "The king looked at all three lads and saw that each was brave, truthful, and unselfish. He didn't want to favor one over the other, and so he devised a contest--whichever of them brought the most spectacular gift would have Princess Ariana's hand in marriage."

"Come to think of it, I may have heard Brock tell the version with the twist before." Melody muses.

"I know a few straight variants too." Brock assures Melody. "But I tell the version with the twist more because audiences love the big reveal I do for the twist."

He notices Misty giving him an angry look. "Okay, I'm done rambling now." he stammers.

"Anyway, the princes set off into the world to search for a spectacular gift for the king." Misty goes on. "They traveled together for a while until they came to a fork in the road, where they each went a different way. Prince Aidan went into the city, for he believed the city held the most spectacular things in the world. He walked along the cobbled streets, looking closely into every shop and stall. He examined exquisite jewels, marvelous music boxes, sets of fine china. Each gift was beautiful, but none was more spectacular than all the rest."

"So what did he find?" Melody wonders.

"He finally came upon a merchant selling rugs and said..." Misty narrates.

"I seek the most spectacular gift in the world." Brock fills in Prince Aidan's dialogue.

"The rug merchant pointed to a thin, worn rug that lay at his feet, saying that was his best item." Misty continues. "Prince Aidan scoffed at it at first..."

"That rag?" Brock balks in character as Prince Aidan. "It is nothing, and certainly it is not spectacular."

"The merchant smiled, and told Prince Aidan that if he stepped on that rug, it would take him anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye." Misty goes on. "Prince Aidan liked the sound of that, and paid every coin he had for the rug."

[A magic carpet!] Korra gasps, starry eyed.

"Sorry, no musical numbers about whole new worlds here." Brock tells the other Meowths, making [Aw...]s fill the tent.

"Meanwhile, Prince Irvine went to an eastern village for his gift." Misty continues. "When he arrived, he saw a merchant staring into the bright sky with a telescope, and asked him where he would find the most spectacular gift in the world. The merchant told him that if he looked through the telescope, he would see all the wonders of the world. Prince Irvine liked that idea, and gave the merchant all his money, for he was certain he had the most spectacular gift in the world."

[Where did Prince Rigel go?] Mai asks.

"He went into the western countryside, singing a happy song all the while." Misty explains, trying oh-so-hard not to laugh at Ash marching around the tent, scatting the tune "On Our Way". "He believed that the countryside held the world's riches. While walking through the hills, he met a young lady who sat on the side of the road selling Berries."

"Good lady," Ash asks Misty in character is Prince Rigel. "Do you have anything for a hungry lad to eat?"

"The girl looked up, smiled, and handed him a rotten Leppa Berry." Misty proceeds to pantomime doing this to Ash. Everyone laughs as he balks at the imaginary Berry.

"But I'd like a fresh, ripe Leppa Berry." Ash complains in character.

"So the girl searched through her baskets." Misty pauses to dig through her bag for a moment. "At last she found a Leppa Berry that shone like crystal." She gives Ash an actual Leppa Berry for effect. "She told him that that Leppa Berry could heal any illness, and could never be eaten completely. Prince Rigel liked the sound of that, and gave the girl every coin he had. When all three princes had returned home, each showed the others his gift, and each said, 'Now here is the most spectacular gift in the world.'"

"And then?" Melody wonders.

"But when Prince Irvine looked through the telescope, he almost dropped it in fear, he shook so badly." Misty continues. "He had seen Princess Ariana lying in her bed, deathly ill. So all three princes climbed on Prince Aidan's magic carpet, and they were whisked to the palace. They ran to the Princess Ariana's room, and Prince Rigel let her eat some of the healing Berry. A moment later she was perfectly well."

Everyone heaves a sigh of relief. "Each of the princes made their case as to whose gift was the greatest." Misty explains. "If not for Prince Irvine's telescope, they never would have known Princess Ariana was sick. Without Prince Aidan's magic carpet, they would not have arrived in time to save her. And without Prince Rigel's healing Berry, they would not have been able to heal Princess Ariana. So which of the three gifts was the greatest one of all?"

Silence fills the air as everyone contemplates the answer. "The king thought long and hard, and even he didn't know who to choose. Finally, Princess Ariana interjected that she wanted to choose her husband for herself."

"So who did she choose?" Ash asks, halfway expecting a twist in the tale.

"She chose Prince Rigel, since he had been the one to heal her." Misty concludes. "Prince Rigel and Princess Ariana were married, and the two older princes found a princess to love themselves. They all lived happily ever after, never forgetting their gifts."

When the applause dies down, Melody asks Brock "Now, what's the big twist in your version?"

"In that version, the king calls in an old sage to assist in the decision before the princess steps in." Brock explains. "So when the princess makes her choice, she chooses the sage instead of any of the princes, because he allowed her to make her own choice. She then restores the sage's youth to him, and everyone lives happily ever after. But the audience is expecting her to choose one of the princes, which is why they are surprised when I do the big reveal."

"I don't think Brock has told you the twist version before..." Ash muses.

"But I will gladly tell it for you if you ask." Brock assures Melody...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 95: Jack the Giant-slayer (Ash)

real tale: The History of Jack the Giant-killer (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/291.htm))


"You all know the story of 'Jack and the Beanstalk', right?" Ash asks.

"Happini loves it just because there's a harp in it..." Brock grins as he takes the harp in hand.

"What you may not know is the Jack in that story was the descendant of another Jack that had a run-in with a giant..." Ash explains.

"By all means, let's hear this original tale!" Misty pleads.

Ash motions for Brock to begin a calm melody. "Once upon a time, during the reign of the famous King Arthur there lived a lad named Jack, who was renowned for his bravery." he begins over the harp. "He loved hearing minstrels tell of conjurers, giants, and fairies; and listened eagerly to the deeds of the knights of the Round Table."

"A legendary human king!" Melody gains starry eyes at this.

"Now there lived on a certain mountain in the east a huge giant, eighteen feet high and nine feet round." Ash continues. Happini's eyes widen as he continues "His fierce and savage looks were the terror of all who beheld him."

"I can see why..." Misty muses as she pictures the giant in her mind.

"The giant's lair was in a gloomy cavern on the top of the mountain, and he would wade over to the mainland in search of prey." Ash continues over the harp's tense song. "He would throw half a dozen Tauros upon his back, and tie three times as many Mareep and Tepigs round his waist, and march back to his own abode."

As the last harp chord fades, Ash interjects "In fact, the giant had done this for many years when Jack took it upon himself to destroy him."

[So how do you hunt something that large?] Mai wonders.

"Jack took a horn, a shovel, a pickaxe, his armor, and a dark lantern, and one winter's evening he went to the mountain." Ash explains. "Once there, he dug a pit twenty-two feet deep and twenty feet across. He covered the top over so as to make it look like solid ground."

"Let's see Team Rocket try digging a pit that deep." Misty whispers to Brock, who chuckles at the thought.

"He then blew his horn so loudly..." Ash continues before Brock mimics a trumpet playing "Reveille" with his voice for effect. "that the giant awoke and came out of his den in a furious rage!"

"Nice vocal trumpet, there..." Misty smiles as the Pokemon howl with laughter at Brock's realistic impression.

"The giant was ranting and raving so much, he tumbled headlong into the pit..." Ash continues, prompting Brock to play a glissando on the harp, making the Pokemon laugh even more. "and Jack struck him a blow on the head with the pickaxe which killed him."

[Well, that's one way to kill a giant...] a Meowth muses.

"Jack then returned home and told everyone the news." Ash continues over a festive song from Brock. "A few months of peace went by, but then evil struck again. Another giant, called Blunderbore, vowed to defeat Jack if ever he should have him in his power. This giant kept an enchanted castle in the midst of a lonely forest. Some time after his first giant killing adventure, Jack was passing through a forest, and being weary, sat down and went to sleep."

[And then?] Korra asks over the harp's tense chord.

"The giant, passing by and seeing Jack, carried him to his castle, where he locked him up in a large room, the floor of which was covered with the bodies, skulls and bones of men and women." Ash replies, making the group shudder. Soon after the giant went to fetch his brother, to feast off his flesh; and Jack saw the two giants coming through the bars of his prison."

"Did he get out?" Melody asks.

"Jack saw in one corner of the room a strong rope--after tying a slipknot at each end, he threw them over their heads, tied it to the window-bars; and then pulled till he had choked them. When they were black in the face he slid down the rope and stabbed them to the heart." Ash continues, complete with a hard chord from Brock to represent Jack's final blow.

"Jack next took the keys from the pocket of Blunderbore, and went into the castle again." Ash continues. "He looked through all the rooms, and in one of them found three ladies tied up by their hair, and almost starved to death. They told him that their husbands had been killed by the giants, who had then condemned them to be starved to death because they would not eat the flesh of their own dead husbands."

"Ew!" Misty winces in disgust.

"Jack told them that he had slain both giants, and the castle and all the riches in it were now theirs." Ash concludes. "He then very politely gave them the keys of the castle, and went further on his journeys, where he met and slew many more giants. But that is another story for another day."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 96: The Dragonite of the North (Brock)

(real tale: The Dragon of the North (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/046.htm))

"A long time ago in what is now Kanto, there was a terrible Dragonite who lived in the northern mountains." Brock begins. "He would come out of the north and lay to waste whole swaths of countryside, devouring men, women, children, and Pokemon."

"Oh my..." Melody gasps as she pictures the Dragonite destroying some fantastic city somewhere in Kanto.

"This monster was so destructive that it was feared that unless help came, no living creature would be left on the face of the earth." Brock intones. "In fact, it could fly so fast, it covered half a mile of ground in ten seconds. Fortunately, it usually tended to remain for several years in the same place, and not move on till the whole city was eaten up."

Ash swallows hard as Brock goes on. "Nothing could hunt it, because its whole body was covered with scales harder than even mythril. Its two great eyes shone by night, and even by day, like the sun and the moon. Anyone who had the misfortune to look into those eyes became cursed, and many times ran into the monster's jaws, in spite of themselves. That was how the Dragonite was able to feed upon men, women, children, and Pokemon without having to get up from the spot where it was lying."

[Did anyone even try to defeat it?] Korra shudders at Brock's description.

"All the neighboring kings and queens in the land offered rich rewards to anyone who could destroy the monster, either by sword or by spell." Brock replies. "Many tried their luck, but all had miserably failed."

He addresses his friends. "Having said all of that, I can now properly begin this tale."

With that, he continues "Now, a great forest in which the Dragonite lay once caught on fire--the forest was burnt down, but the fire did not harm the Dragonite in the least. However, there was a legend in the country in which our tale takes place that the Dragonite would be defeated by someone who possessed a magical ring said to have belonged to the first Pokemon Master."

"Magic?" Ash gasps, excited. "Where was this Pokemon Master's ring?"

"That was the problem--no one knew where the ring was hidden, nor were there any mage or wise one who would know where it was, much less unlock its power." Brock replies. "Finally, a brave young man--we'll call him Alex--set out to search for the ring. He set out early in the morning as the sun rose, because he knew that all the wisdom of old time comes from the east. On the way, he met with a famous mage, and asked for his advice in the matter. He was told that the Pokemon of the land, sea, and air would be better guides--and so he stayed with the mage a few days, learning the language of Pokemon."

[What did the Pokemon tell him?] a Meowth asks.

"As Alex left on his journey, the mage told him that if he was lucky enough to find the Pokemon Master's ring, he was one of the very few who could tap into its power." Brock assures the Meowth. "Alex never felt lonely as he walked along; he always had company, because he understood the language of Pokemon. He learned many things which human knowledge could never have taught him. But the days wore on, and he heard nothing about the ring."

"Not even a rumor?" Misty asks.

"Not even a rumor." Brock replies. Misty sighs, but Brock continues "But one evening, when Alex had stopped to rest from all the walking he had done that day, he heard two Taillows chattering in the trees. One of them said that in order to find the Pokemon Master's ring, he would have to seek help from Verene, the Gardevoir that served as one of Arceus' envoys. If she didn't have the ring herself, she would know well enough who did. The other Taillow asked where Verene was. As a Psychic Pokemon, she had no fixed dwelling, but would be one place today and somewhere else tomorrow."

"What did the other Taillow say?" Melody wonders.

"The other Taillow confessed that he didn't know where she was at that time, but in three nights, she would come to the spring to wash her face, as she did every month when the moon was full." Brock replies. "Alex heard all of this, and followed the Taillows to the spring, stopping to rest when they did, and being careful to not lose them in the brush. Three days later, he came to a clear spring in the middle of a clearing. He sat down at the foot of the tree, and listened to what the Taillows were talking about. One Taillow wondered if Verene would see Alex, but the other assured his companion that as a Psychic Pokemon, nothing was likely to escape her eyes, not even a young man."

He pauses for a beat before continuing "The full moon was already shining down upon the forest when Alex heard something rustling in the bush. After a few moments, a white humanoid Pokemon that resembled a maiden came into the clearing. She glided over the grass so lightly that she never touched the ground and approached the spring. Alex could not turn away his eyes from the Pokemon, for he had never in his life seen a woman, much less a Pokemon, so beautiful. Without seeming to notice anything, the Gardevoir went to the spring, looked up to the full moon, then knelt down and bathed her face nine times. Then looked up to the moon again and walked nine times around the spring, and as she walked, she sang a song, which went something like this..."

Melody decides to fill in Verene's song. Full-faced moon with light unshaded, let my beauty ne'er be faded. Never let my cheek grow pale! While the moon is waning nightly, May the maiden bloom more brightly, May her freshness never fail!

Everyone applauds Melody's song. "Thanks, Melody." Brock smiles. "Just as Verene was about to leave, she spotted Alex by the tree. Alex got up and stood waiting, afraid of what Verene would do to him. Then Verene said..." He motions to Melody again.

"You should be harshly punished because you watched my secret doings in the moonlight." Melody fills in Verene's dialogue. "I will forgive you, because you are a stranger and knew no better. But you must tell me who you are and how you came to this place, where no mortal has ever set foot before."

"Forgive me, beautiful Gardevoir, if I have unintentionally offended you." Ash replies as Alex. "I happened to come here after traveling far, and found a good place to sleep under this tree. At your coming I did not know what to do, but stayed where I was, because I thought my silent watching could not offend you."

"Then come and spend this night with me. You will sleep better on a pillow than on damp moss." Melody replies as Verene.

Brock waits for the applause to die down before going on "Alex hesitated for a moment, but the Taillows told him to go with Verene, as she would not harm those she favored. So he went with her, and they came to a beautiful garden, where a splendid castle that glittered in the moonlight stood. When Alex went inside, he found many rooms, each one finer than the last. Hundreds of torches burnt upon golden candlesticks, making it bright enough to be daytime. Then they reached the dining room where a table was spread with the finest of dishes."

Ash licks his lips at the thought of eating the food Brock described. "At the table were two chairs--one was silver, the other gold. Verene sat in the golden chair, and offered the silver one to her companion. They were served by Kirlias that shone like the moon, and both of them ate until they could burst, and talked for hours as they did." Brock goes on. "When dinner had ended, Alex and Verene continued to talk late into the night. When Alex finally felt tired, he was shown into a lavish bedroom, containing a silken bed with down cushions, where he had the best sleep in years."

"What I would give for a bed like that..." Misty smiles dreamily.

"The next morning, Verene asked Alex if he would stay with her forever in the castle." Brock went on. "Alex was surprised, but knew a human could not marry a Pokemon, and vice versa. "He told her..."

"Do not be angry, dear lady, if I do not decide immediately on this important matter." Ash fills in Alex's dialogue. "Give me a few days to consider before we come to an understanding."

"Very well." Melody answers as Verene. "Take some time to consider if you like, I will understand regardless of your choice."

"Verene showed Alex every part of her beautiful castle, and showed him all her splendid treasures, many of them gifts from Arceus." Brock continues. "One day, Verene took Alex into a secret chamber, where a little gold box was standing on a silver table. Pointing to the box, she said..."

"Here is my greatest treasure, whose like is not to be found in the mortal world--a precious gold ring." Melody fills in the dialogue as Verene.

"Oh? What's so remarkable about it?" Ash asks as Alex.

"Very few mortals are able to understand the power of this ring, because very few thoroughly understand the power within." Melody explains as Verene. "But even with my limited knowledge of the divine, I can work great wonders. For example, if I put the ring on, and sing Karuto, iichiida shou... then I can teleport to wherever I wish to go. If I put it on and sing Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... I can see everything that passes around me, though no one can see me. If I put the ring on and sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul, then neither spell, nor arrow, nor sword can hurt me, and I can attack with all matter of spells as well. If I put on and sing Imultao, ame no ga bakeno..., then I can produce whatever I wish. Besides these, the ring has other secret spellsongs, whose powers a mortal can only barely understand and use. It is said this ring belonged to one humans call a Pokemon Master in ancient times, when mortals could learn and use magic. It is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands--for all I know, the Great Lord could have made it."

"When Alex heard all of this, he silently vowed to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its magic power." Brock continues. "A few days later, they were again speaking of the magic ring, and Alex said..."

"I do not think it possible that the ring can have all the power you say it has." Ash begins as Alex.

"Then Verene opened the box and took the ring out. She put it on, and challenged Alex..." Brock narrates.

'Take your sword, and try as hard as you can to cut me with it!" Melody challenges as Verene.

"So Alex tried again and again to cut Verene with his sword," Brock explains as Ash pantomimes swinging a sword at Melody. "But every time he attacked, Verene would sing..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"and Alex would hit an invisible wall of steel, while Verene would be unharmed." Brock continues. "Alex then explained to Verene about his quest, and why he needed the ring. Verene gladly gave it to him, and wished him well on his travels. She waved goodbye as Alex flew away."

[And then?] Mai wonders.

"Alex warped to the wise mage's house. The mage was delighted to find that his search had been successful, and set to work to try and unlock what spellsongs and powers lay within the ring." Brock goes on. "It took him seven weeks to find and make sense of the more pertinent ones. He then told Alex how to defeat the Dragonite of the North-- he was to make an iron Ponyta, and armed with a sword enchanted by the elemental attack and defense spellsong. There needed to be two strong chains on the sword's guard, too."

"Pini pi?" Happini asks.

"A guard is what connects the blade and the sword's handle." Brock explains, drawing a sword in the dirt for Happini with an arrow pointing out the guard. "As soon as he attacked the Dragonite, Alex had to spring quickly from the iron Ponyta and fasten the ends of the chains firmly to the ground with iron stakes, so that he couldn't get away. After two or three days the monster's strength would be so far exhausted that he would be able to come near him, and deliver the final blow."

"Did it work?" Misty asks.

"Alex thanked the mage for his help, and warped home." Brock replies. "A few weeks later, he heard people say that the terrible Dragonite of the north was not far off, and due to arrive in the kingdom any day. The king announced publicly that he would give his daughter the princess in marriage, as well as a large part of his kingdom, to whoever should free the country from the monster. Alex then went to the king and told him that he had good hopes of subduing the Dragonite, if the king would grant him all he desired for the purpose. The king willingly agreed, and the iron Ponyta, the great sword, and the chains were all prepared as Alex requested. When all was ready, Alex did everything the mage had said to do, and before long, the Dragonite was defeated."

Everyone cheers at this. "The news that the terrible monster was dead spread like wildfire." Brock concludes. "Alex returned to a hero's welcome, and he and the princess were married a few days later. It was a grand affair, and the festivities lasted an entire month. All the neighboring kings and queens never forgot the boy who had freed the world from the Dragonite."

"WOW!!!" Misty is the most impressed as she leads the applause.

"You've proved to all of us why you are the master!" Ash agrees. Brock just smiles and takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 97: The Magic Moneybag (Misty)

(real tale: Don Giovanni de la Fortuna (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/437.htm))

"In a far away land, there was once a girl whose name was Tomiko." Misty begins. "She lived in a beautiful house that her father had built, and lived it up in there, spending a great deal of money in the process. In fact, she spent so much that she soon ran out, and she was forced to wander the world begging her bread."

"Moral of the story--live within your means." Brock muses.

"One day, she was walking down the road when she met a handsome man." Misty continues "Little did she know that it was Arceus in disguise."

"So what did Arceus ask her to do?" Ash is interested.

"Arceus asked if she wanted to live a comfortable life, as she once did, and Tomiko said yes." Misty replies. "He gave her a little drawstring bag, and instructed her to sing to it..." Misty pauses to sing Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... "and she would get as much as she needed or wanted. "However..."

"There's always a catch..." Brock smiles.

"The spell would only work if Tomiko would go three years, three months, and three days without washing, without combing, and without changing clothes as a sign of her faithfulness and willingness to live within her means." Misty goes on, to some "Ew"s from the boys. "Now, Tomiko was a girl who never worried about the future. She did not even think about how very uncomfortable she would be all those three years--she only wanted to have back some things she had been forced to do without. She joyfully put the purse in her pocket and went on her way."

"And then?" Ash is intrigued.

"She soon began to ask for money for the sake of it, and there was always as much as she needed. For a little while, she even forgot to notice how dirty she was getting." Misty continues. "But this did not last long--her hair became matted with dirt and hung over her eyes, and her already ragged dress was even more of a mass of horrible rags and tatters."

"Ew!" Melody winces as she imagines the awful smell.

"One morning, she happened to be passing by a fine palace." Misty goes on. "She sat down on the steps and tried to shake off some of the dust which she had picked up on the road. But then a maid saw her, and informed her master about the supposed beggar who was sitting on the steps."

"So what did the master do?" Brock wonders.

"The master went out and called for Tomiko to leave from some distance off, for he was really afraid to go near her." Misty replies. "Tomiko called back that she was not a beggar, and if she wanted to, she could have forced him and his wife to leave his house."

The boys laugh at this, but Misty goes on Tomiko then asked the man of the house to sell her the house--she would pay any price. "The master thought Tomiko was nuts, and decided to accept her offer as a joke." So he agreed, and they went to the magistrate to hammer out a deed. Tomiko followed him, and they agreed to sell the house, with the gold being paid down in eight days."

[This is getting interesting...] a Meowth smiles.

"Then Tomiko went to an inn, where she paid for two rooms." Misty continues. "She stood in one of them and sang Rou iitsa ron selga vichii.... When the eight days were up, it was so full you could not have put in another coin."

Ash whistles in awe at this. "When the man of the house came to take his payment, Tomiko led him into the room and told him to take as much as he needed." Misty continues. "The master was stunned at the astonishing sight; but he had given his word to sell the house, so he took his money, and went to look for somewhere else to live. Tomiko left the inn and dwelt in the beautiful rooms, where her rags and dirt looked sadly out of place."

"So did Tomiko ever get to bathe?" Brock is beginning to feel sorry for Tomiko.

"Word of Tomiko's riches reached the royal ears of the king, and, since he too was always in need of money, he sent for Tomiko, as he wished to borrow a bit of it." Misty explains. Tomiko readily agreed to lend him what he wanted, and sent a huge wagon filled with sacks of gold to the palace."

"And then?" Melody wonders.

"The king took as much as he needed, then ordered the rest to be returned to Tomiko." Misty assures Melody. "However, Tomiko refused to receive it, saying the remaining gold was also his to keep."

"Aw..." Ash smiles at this.

"Tomiko's learning what it means to be humble and generous." Brock agrees.

"When the servant told the king this, the king wondered more than ever how anyone could be so rich." Misty continues. "He told the queen about Tomiko's generosity, and how he wanted to offer her the hand of their eldest son, the prince. The queen loved the idea, and another messenger was sent to Tomiko, offering her the hand of the eldest prince."

"How did the prince react when he saw how grimy Tomiko looked?" Brock asks, a smile forming on his face as he pictures the prince's reaction.

"The prince was horrified at the picture of Tomiko, and vowed he would never marry a beggar--he even went so far as to say he would rather die." Misty goes on. "As they argued, the youngest prince broke it up by saying he would marry Tomiko instead--as he believed a person's beauty came from the heart."

[A wise lesson.] Mai purrs.

"They agreed to wed in three months." Misty concludes. "When her vow to Arceus had ended, Tomiko bathed for several weeks, put on splendid clothes, and set out for the palace, where she and the youngest prince were wed."

[And they all lived happily ever after.] Korra fills in the ending.

Misty smiles as everyone applauds. "Yes, that's right."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 98: The Legend of the Pokemon Zodiac (Ash)

(real tale: The Zodiac Calender Race (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20121209))

Misty brings up the newspaper on her Pokegear and flips to the horoscope section. "Growlithe--your need to feel like a part of something larger is dominant today...."

"Ooh! What does Raikou say for today?" Ash asks.

After bringing up the Raikou sign, Misty reads "Raikou--This is not a good day to act impulsively -- make sure you've got every angle figured out before making your move."

"Easier said than done." Brock muses as Ash blushes with embarrassment. "What does Gyarados say?"

"Gyarados--Don't take anyone's word for it today -- investigate everything yourself." Misty reads.

[How come there's no Meowth in the zodiac?] Korra asks.

"To answer that question, you have to go back long ago, when Arceus was creating the world." Ash explains. "You see, long, long ago, Arceus was looking for a way to measure time, and so he called upon the Pokemon of the world to gather. When most of them had arrived, he explained his plan: There would be a race — across a vast plain, through a forest, over a mountain, and at last across a wide, raging river."

[Oh my...] Mai gasps, impressed.

"The first 12 Pokemon to cross the finish line, Arceus said, would have a part of the year to rule over." Ash explains. "He decreed the race would begin the next day at dawn."

"Interesting..." Brock muses.

"Meowth scampered off at once to tell his best friend Pikachu about the race." Ash continues. He asked that Pikachu wake him up in the morning, as he was prone to sleeping late. Pikachu agreed, but just before dawn he woke with a start and completely forgot to wake Meowth as he scurried to the starting line. By the time Meowth woke up, the race had already begun. As fast as he could, Meowth ran toward the starting line. When he saw the others in the far distance and only dust in their wake, he yowled with fury. Now he would never be part of the zodiac!"

He notes as an aside "That's why Meowth has been chasing Pikachu, hoping to take his revenge."

"Oh, but sometimes Meowth has another reason to catch Pikachu." Misty giggles as she remembers past run ins with Team Rocket.

"Anyway, Pikachu was so excited, he forgot all about Meowth." Ash goes on When he saw the others at the starting line, however, his heart quaked. He could not run half as fast as many of them, and Pikachu was not necessarily a good swimmer. But Pikachu was cunning."

"Pika." Pikachu smiles in agreement.

"He noticed Tauros, and knowing Tauros was a strong swimmer and rather gullible, Pikachu sprinted to catch up with him. He asked Tauros if he would let him ride on his head. Tauros was a kind Pokemon, and he agreed to let Pikachu sit on his head. He was making good time, panting hard but far ahead of the others. When he reached the river, he leaped in and swam with all his strength.

When Tauros and the Pikachu could see the finish line in the distance, Pikachu leapt onto land and sprinted to the finish line. So it was Pikachu who was the first to arrive, and that is why the first section of the year, from March 21st to April 19th, is ruled by Pikachu. The second section of the year, from April 20th to May 20th, is ruled by Tauros, for he finished one step behind."

"So that's two, then who came next?" Melody wonders.

"Raikou was not far behind, but the current in the river pushed him downstream. No matter how hard he paddled, he could not keep up with Tauros and he reached the finish line third, so the third section of the year, from May 21st to June 21st, is ruled by Raikou." Ash explains. "Next came Buneary, who had planned to cross the river by jumping from rock to rock. Alas, in the middle of the river she lost her balance and nearly drowned."

[What did Buneary do?] Korra worries.

"She grabbed a log that was floating past." Ash assures Korra. "Wet and wide-eyed, Buneary held fast and floated toward the shore. Meanwhile, Gyarados was just passing overhead--in those days Gyarados could fly in the air as well as water."

"Hm..." Brock smiles.

"Everyone thought Gyarados would surely win since he could fly, and at first he was ahead, but when he passed a land where everyone was dying of thirst, his heart ached and he stopped to make rain for the people." Ash continues. "Then, when he saw Buneary holding onto the log for dear life, again his heart ached. He huffed and puffed and let forth a great wind that pushed the log to shore. Buneary jumped to safety and on to the finish, just ahead of Gyarados."

He adds as an aside "Buneary understood how much Gyarados had done to help, and ever since that day those who are born from June 22nd to July 22nd, when Buneary rules, enjoy good fortune when matched with those born from July 23rd to August 22nd, when Gyarados rules."

I wonder if Nurse Joy is a Buneary... Brock wonders.

Misty shoots him an angry look. Don't even go there!

"As the first five finishers caught their breath, they were startled to hear thundering hooves, and they looked up to see Ponyta galloping toward them." Ash continues. "But she didn't see Ekans coiled around her leg. Just as Ponyta was about to cross the finish line, she saw Ekans and was so startled, she took a step back.--that is how Ekans rules over the dates between August 23 to September 22nd, and Ponyta rules over the dates between September 23rd to October 22nd."

Brock counts the Pokemon that have finished. "That's seven out of twelve, then who was next?"

"Meanwhile, Combusken, Mankey, and Mareep were running toward the river." Ash goes on. When Combusken saw the other two, he had an idea--why not work together?"

"What was Combusken's plan?" Misty is piqued.

"So Mankey, Combusken, and Mareep built a raft and made paddles." Ash explains. "With all their strength, they paddled their way across the river, and when they landed, they leaped out. Mareep pulled ahead of Mankey, who barely beat Combusken to the finish line. They became signs eight, nine, and ten."

"If you're curious, Combusken rules October 23rd to November 21st; Mareep rules November 22nd to December 21st, and Mankey rules December 22nd to January 19th." Misty adds as she consults the Pokenav again.

"Meanwhile, Arceus saw that Growlithe would likely come in 11th, for he was a strong swimmer." Ash explains However, he so loved to play in the water that he was in there splashing around, losing time. The other Pokemon called for him to hurry and he paddled hurriedly to shore. Just as he reached land, Tepig was not far behind. It took him some time to cross the line."

"What took Tepig so long?" Brock asks.

"Tepig admitted he'd stopped to eat, and he'd eaten too much, and he'd grown sleepy." Ash replies. "For a while he had slept beneath a nice, shady tree, and he woke up just in time to see Growlithe run by."

He concludes "Arceus congratulated the 12 finishers--Growlithe would rule the dates between January 20th and February 18th, and Tepig would rule the dates between February 19 to March 20th. And that is why the Pokemon Zodiac has the Pokemon it does."

[Fascinating!] a Meowth notes as he applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 99: The Three Spells (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 37, story 1)

"In a certain land, the leaves were changing colors, and in a certain village, the children were out picking the newly ripe Berries that grew in the mountains." Brock begins. "The miko's apprentice at the temple--we'll call her Riko, which means 'child of truth' wanted to go and pick Berries too. The miko told her no, for a mafu--a monster that had the body of a Raikou and the head of a young lady--had been spotted on the mountain. After Riko pleaded and pleaded for about an hour, the miko finally relented and allowed her apprentice to climb the mountain, giving her three enchanted jewels to protect her. She told Riko not to invoke their power unless it was an emergency."

"Did Riko have to use them?" Ash worries.

"Riko stayed out until nightfall gathering Berries." Brock explains. "Just as the moon rose over the mountain grove, a Zubat suddenly startled Riko. But just as she eluded the Zubat, she ran into the mafu!"

"Oh no!" Misty gasps.

"Riko was taken to the mafu's lair, and she frantically pondered a way to escape as she watched the mafu boil water in preparation to eat her." Brock intones. "Then, a crazy idea occurred to her--she first told the mafu that she had to go to the bathroom."

Laughter erupts at this--it isn't often character in a tale asks to do this. Brock waits for the laughter to quiet, then continues "The mafu bought Riko's ruse, and untied her. Riko then ran past the bathroom and into a shed. Once sure she was not being followed, she tied the last rope that held her on the wall, and invoked the first jewel, a ruby, with the incantation..." Brock then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing "The ruby released a small ball of light, which would answer in her voice. Once sure her ruse was in place, she fled into the night."

"I see, the bathroom ploy was just a ruse!" Melody smiles.

"Meanwhile, the mafu was growing impatient and she asked if Riko was done yet." Brock continues. "But the ruby light answered in Riko's voice she wasn't done yet. The mafu would wait a while and then ask again, but the ruby light would say she wasn't done. Finally, the mafu went to check, and discovered that Riko was gone!"

Nervous giggles fill the air at this. "Riko ran as fast as she could, but the mafu was not far behind." Brock intones, silencing the laughter. "She next invoked the second jewel, an emerald, with the incantation..." Brock sings again Karuto, iichiida shou...

[What did that spell do?] Mai asks, a note of worry in her voice.

"The spell conjured a large sand dune." Brock replies, making a form in the air to give his audience an idea of the sand dune's size. "That bought Riko a little time as the mafu waded through the sand, but the mafu was soon right behind her again.

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, sparking a little in fear.

"Riko invoked the third jewel, a sapphire, with the incantation..." Brock proceeds to sing Rou iitsa ron selga viichii... before continuing "conjuring a huge river. This bought her enough time to get to the temple. Just before the mafu could catch up to her, the miko took her inside, and drove the mafu away with a fire spell--also invoked by..." He sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... again.

Everyone heaves a sigh of relief as Brock concludes "They say Riko studied her holy spells even harder after that, inspired by her mistress' bravery."

Misty leads the applause as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 100: The Ballad of Maiden Mirellia (the Trio)

(real tale: The Tale of Maiden Mirellia (http://johnnyd2.deviantart.com/art/The-Tale-of-Maiden-Mirellia-317744856))

Misty heard the plings and plungs of Brock bringing the harp into tune, followed by a majestic melody. "That's a pretty song..."

"It's an original ballad of mine I'm thinking about adding to my repertoire as Flynn Devine." Brock explains as he plays. "It has verses, and music, I just haven't sang it for a test audience yet."

"By all means, please sing it!" Melody begs.

[Yes, we'd love to hear it too!] Mai agrees.

"I'll even defer my next tale so I can help play the music for you." Misty offers as she reaches for the fiddle case.

"I'll play too!" Ash adds, grabbing a D whistle.

Brock smiles, and begins a lullaby-like melody, Misty doubling his voice an octave above:

The lovely maiden Mirellia asleep she seemed,
Dreaming a dream
In this dream she did see
Dueling each other she and he
A sword did she wield
His identity did not yield

Spoke she tried to do
Woke up is what she did
She looked down to her neck
The location of her medallion she did check
Upon the medallion she looked
Her destiny had been overlooked

She thought about her prissy friend
Allied with a hero to the end
to he she decided she must tell
the story of the dream she knew to well
so to the castle she headed to in a spree
To set her destiny bright and free

Ash joins in as Brock picks up the tempo and Pikachu begins clapping some rocks for percussion. Her friend Sir Dan she met
They made a bet
if she were right
her outlook would be bright
Should she be wrong about whats on her neck
then her life might become a wreck
to the dread wood they headed to hastily
for that is where her dream would be Brock continues to sing over his harp and the fiddle.

Spiders, ogres, bears, and snakes
To get in their way was a huge mistake
As they made their way through the wood
they did come upon a man in a hood
Follow they did the man of mystery
Hollowed was the state of his tree

In this tree they saw a seal
And its key was most unreal
for the key as you see
was the necklace worn by she

Happini joins in with a tambourine, enthralled as Brock continues to sing The man did he speak in his speech
a understanding the duo came to reach
Mirellia and her friend close to each other
must duel one another

For the necklace to be used
A true keeper must be choosed
blades the man gave to the two
for one of them might bid the other adieu

Her male friend struck rough and tough
But she endured barely scuffed
Mirellia slashed with heart and zeal
hoping to be the one to break the seal

Long and weary the fight was
But in the end the outcome was cheery
In jest she did but laugh
as she sliced the necklace in half

Her friend wondered if she had lost her mind
But she had in mind a compromise
they would each take one half of the key
using it together he and she

Approve of this did the man
as if it were part of his plan
The two went to do what they must
What would of this surely would be just
they placed the split key on the seal
its purpose now about to reveal

The tree around the shined bright
Lighting up the dreadful night
shine did the Dread Wood
now filled with livelihood

The man told his plan
the necklace he gave to Sir Dan
In order to lighten up the Dread wood
he doubted very much the likelihood

Sir Dan had known this very well
but until now was sworn to not tell
Mirellia had now settled the bet
the result had now been set

Just friends for now they would be
But as life moves on we shall see!

Ash and Misty continue playing the festive melody, prompting Melody to shift into Pirouette form and dance to the song as the instruments and Brock's voice echo into the stormy afternoon sky...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 101: The Shiny Magikarp (Misty)

(real tale: The Golden Lads (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/389.htm))

"Okay...my next tale is a Cerulean variant of 'Two of a Kind'" Misty explains as she puts the fiddle away. "While there's still a fish and twin siblings in this version, there's a bit more setup, and the girl actually has a little something to do."

"Really?" Brock is interested. "Let's hear it, then."

Misty then begins "There was once a poor man and his wife who lived in a little cottage, where they supported themselves by fishing. Though they each put in a day's work every day, it was still hard for them to make ends meet."

"Mm-hm...standard story beginning...." Melody beckons Misty to go on.

"One day, the man happened to catch a Shiny Magikarp." Misty continues. "As he was inspecting it, the Magikarp spoke to him, saying that if it was thrown back into the water, the cottage would turn into a splendid castle. However, the man was not to tell anyone how he got his wealth, or it would all disappear."

"Like this." Ash snaps to emphasize Misty's point.

"So the man threw the Magikarp back into the water, and thought nothing of his odd encounter." Misty explains. "But he nearly did a double take when he found a spacious castle where his cottage was, and his wife all dressed up in rich finery to boot."

"I would be too if I suddenly saw my house was a castle and Mom and Dad in fancy clothes." Ash smiles. He sighs for a moment as he pictures Delia and Taran in royal finery.

"But the woman longed to know how they had gotten the wealth, and constantly bugged the man about it." Misty goes on. "Finally, the man lost his patience and told the woman about the Shiny Magikarp. Just as the Magikarp had warned, the castle and everything in it vanished, and they were back in their little cottage again."

"So now we're back where we started again..." Brock muses.

"Some months went by, and the man happened to catch the Shiny Magikarp again." Misty goes on. "The same thing happened--the Magikarp offered to give back the castle and all its trappings if he wouldn't tell anyone how he got the wealth, his wife constantly bugged him about it, and when he finally relented, the castle and everything in it was gone--again!"

"When a Legendary or magical Shiny tells you to do something, you'd better do it." Brock cautions.

"Some more months went by, and the man caught the Shiny Magikarp a third time." Misty goes on. It told the man that when he cooked it for dinner that night, to cut it into six pieces. Of these, two were to be given to the woman for her dinner, two to their Rapidash, and plant the remaining two in his garden."

"This sounds like 'Two of a Kind'..." Ash notes.

"I can assure you, this is different." Misty assures Ash. "So the man took the Shiny Magikarp home, and did exactly as he was told. Some months went by, and two shining sunflowers grew up where the two pieces in the garden lay, their Rapidash had two Shiny Ponytas, and the couple welcomed two children, a boy and a girl. The boy was named Alamar, and the girl Orinda--and both of them grew up to have golden hair like a Shiny Magikarp."

"And then?" Ash is interested.

"Alamar and Orinda eventually came of age, and asked to go out into the world to seek their fortunes." Misty continues. "The man was reluctant at first, but Orinda assured him that if the shining sunflowers wilted, they were in danger or needed help."

"So what became of the golden twins?" Melody asks.

"Alamar and Orinda traveled for a while and had many adventures together--which are stories in themselves." Misty replies. "Alamar settled down in a far away kingdom, and Orinda stayed with him just long enough to help him move in before she went home. One day, Alamar happened to spot the princess of the land--we'll call her Kimber--and fell deeply in love with her. Her father the king objected at first--as Alamar was a mere commoner, and a royal marrying a commoner wasn't often done. But Princess Kimber explained that she and Alamar loved each other, and so the wedding preparations began."

"This is getting interesting..." Brock muses.

"Meanwhile, Alamar dreamed that night that he was out hunting and chasing a great Sawsbuck." Misty goes on. "When he woke, he couldn't shake the urge to hunt, never mind it was two in the morning. So he gathered his bow and hunting gear, and went off into the forest, and before long a fine Sawsbuck, just like in his dream, stopped just in front of him. He took aim," Misty pantomimes aiming a bow at this. "and was about to fire when the Sawsbuck bounded away. Alamar was hot on its heels--he chased it for a whole day. But in the evening the Sawsbuck disappeared, and Alamar found himself nearby a hut in which lived a witch. He knocked at the door, and asked the witch if she'd seen a Sawsbuck pass that way. The witch said yes, but before she could tell him where his prey had gone, her pet Houndour darted from the house, barking at the intruder. Alamar made the stupid mistake of threatening to kill the little Pokemon, and the witch immediately turned him to stone in anger."

"Is there a Gold Needle in the house?" Ash stammers as he looks around the tent for the requested video game item.

"Meanwhile, Orinda saw one of the shining sunflowers wilt, and feared the worst for her brother." Misty intones. She saddled her own Shiny Ponyta, and rode until she found the place where Alamar had been petrified. As Orinda fell to her knees and cried over the statue, her tears touched the statue's feet, and Alamar came back to life!"

The Pokemon cheer at this as the boys heave a sigh of relief. "Orinda was elated her brother was okay, and they embraced and kissed each other for a good long while." Misty continues. "They then rode off together to the edge of the forest, where they parted."

She concludes "And so, Alamar and Princess Kimber were married, and Orinda found a prince of her own not long after. They both lived happily ever after, as living examples of a bond that couldn't be broken."

"Aw." Ash smiles as he applauds.

"That was a sweet little story..." Brock agrees.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 102: The Possessed Sister (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 20, story 2)

"In a certain village lived a boy, his parents, and his sister." Ash begins. "One night, the sister woke up and snuck out of the house while everyone else was asleep. Her brother got up and followed her out of concern."

"I would too if one of the kids got up in the middle of the night." Brock muses.

"They came to an old, abandoned house, and when the boy looked inside, he was shocked to find that has sister had seemingly turned into a demon!" Ash announces, making the Pokemon screech with delight. "He hurried home in fear, and as he got a drink of water, he wondered where his real sister was if a demon was with them in the house?"

"Good question." Misty replies.

"The next day, the mother asked the children to get some water for cooking." Ash continues. "The boy panicked at the thought of going anywhere with his sister, and fainted." the Pokemon giggle as Ash feigns fainting. "When he came to, he tried to tell his mom and dad what he saw the night before, but they don't believe him."

"So what did it take to convince them?" Melody wonders, half afraid for the boy.

"Determined to have his parents believe him, the boy took a sword," Ash picks up a stick for effect. "and left on a long journey. On the way, he saw a Raikou growling in pain from a thorn in its paw. The boy helped the Raikou, who promised to help him in return."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Several days went by, and the boy returned home." Ash replies as he tosses the stick away. "He found out his mom and dad had been turned into Pikachus!"

Misty gasps, stunned by the turn of events. "The mamachu explained that everything was as the boy said, and to forgive her for not believing him." Ash continues. "The papachu added that the demoness had rounded up all the villagers and was draining their energy."

Brock decides to scat a few bars of the Riolu Girl theme song, but Ash has other ideas. "The demoness found the boy hiding on the roof, but just as the he drew his sword to attack, the Raikou he helped earlier came to the rescue!"

"Pika!" Pikachu cheers, unleashing a few celebratory sparks.

"After a long battle, the Raikou defeated the demoness, returning the girl and the children's parents to normal." Ash concludes. "The boy was hailed as a hero, and the villagers built a statue of a Raikou in his honor--which you can still see in Ecruteak today."

Brock smiles. "I think I have some old pictures of us in front of that statue..." he muses as he applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 103: The Day Sorin Rode Ninetales (Brock)

(real tale: Br'er Rabbit and his Riding Horse (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20121216))

"Christmastime was coming to Viridian Forest, and everyone was excited." Brock begins.

"But, it's the middle of May..." Misty interjects.

"I know, that's just how the story begins." Brock assures Misty before trying his introduction again. "Christmastime was coming to Viridian Forest, and everyone was excited. Everyone, that is, but Sorin. Ninetales had outfoxed him one time too many and had made him look like a fool!"

Laughter fills the air at this. "So one day, Sorin was sitting at home moping when Raku--the Pikachu who lived up the road from him--let him know she and the other girls were having a big Christmas party." Brock continues. "Everyone's coming and we sure hope you'll come too," he adds in a perfect mimic of Misty.

He continues as himself. "Now, Sorin had a little crush on Raku, and he longed to impress her, so he said..." In his standard "Sorin" voice, he interjects "I'll ask Ninetales to take me there. You know she was my daddy's Ponyta."

More laughter fills the air at this. "Even though Raku knew as well as anyone that Sorin was quite the trickster..." Brock continues as himself. After the thunderous applause calms down, he adds "this news came as a big surprise to her. Sorin asked her to send Ninetales to bring him to the party as proof."

Some "Ooh"s fill the air at this. "The day of the party arrived, and Raku begged Ninetales to pick Sorin up." Brock goes on. "So Ninetales trotted down the road, shaking snow from her tails, for snow had begun to fall. She showed up at Sorin's house, and knocked." Giggles go up as Brock knocks on the cooler in a "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm. "When no one answered, Ninetales knocked again and harder..." He knocks the "shave and a haircut" rhythm again, slightly harder. "but Sorin did not answer. She was about to give up, when she heard someone calling..." In character as Sorin, he groans "Is that you, Ninetales? Please, call for a Chansey, I'm not feeling so good. Hurry!"

"I promised Raku I'd make sure to get you to the party," he replies as Ninetales. "You have to come."

"Ohhh," he groans as Sorin. "I'm too sick to walk that far." The group roars with laughter at Brock's exaggerated groans of pain.

"And I thought I did better groans of pain..." Ash wheezes as he wipes a tear of laughter from one eye.

"Well, if you're too weak to walk, I'll carry you." Brock replies as Ninetales.

"Noooo," he sighs as Sorin.

"Just ride on my back," he assures the group as Ninetales. "Raku will be hurt if you're not there!"

"I can't ride on your back without a saddle," he protests as Sorin.

"Okay, I'll get you a saddle." he replies as Ninetales.

"But I need reins," he complains as Sorin. "or I'll fall off!"

"Fine, I'll get a bridle too." he grumbles as Ninetales.

"You'll have to wear blinders, too." he cautions as Sorin. "or you'll get nervous, and if you're nervous, you'll shiver, and if you shiver, I'm sure to fall off!"

"Okay, a saddle and a bridle and blinders!" he roars as Ninetales.

"If you get those things, I'll go with you." he assures the group as Sorin.

"There's just one thing," he interjects as Ninetales. "You have to get off a block away from Raku's house. If you do, I'll take you there."

"No problem!" he smiles as Sorin.

The group roars with applause at the interplay. "So Ninetales ran off to fetch a saddle, a bridle and blinders from a nearby barn." Brock continues as himself. "While Ninetales was away, Sorin washed his face and cleaned his fur so he'd look his best. Ninetales returned, wearing a saddle, bridle and blinders. Sorin jumped on her back, and off they went down the snowy road."

"So what's Sorin REALLY plotting?" Misty whispers.

"Knowing Sorin, something so clever even Ninetales can't see it coming." Ash replies.

"While they were riding, Sorin lifted up one foot to put on a spur." Brock explains as he shows the group some metallic dance taps and dance shoes. "But Ninetales thought Sorin was just scratching an itch." he explains as he puts a tap on one shoe. "Then he put on the other spur, but Ninetales presumed he was scratching the other foot too." More laughter fills the tent as Brock puts on the other tap on the other shoe.

Once sure the taps are on the shoes securely, Brock goes on "When they were just a few houses from Raku's, Sorin grinned slyly and stuck the spurs into Ninetales' sides." He proceeds to slam one of the shoes on the cooler's top, making a clink sound that sounds more or less like a spur.

"AIIIIIIII!!!!" he screams as Ninetales, startling everyone. "Ai-yai-yaaaa!!!!" Rveryone howls with laughter as Brock continues to make the clinking sound. "No matter how loud Ninetales screamed, Sorin stuck those spurs in again, each time harder than the last." he explains as everyone calms down. "She couldn't help herself — anything to stop the pain! In fact, Ninetales overshot Raku's house twice!"

When the laughter calms down, Brock sets aside his prop and concludes "Ninetales was still yelping with pain when Sorin leaped off and tied his reins to a post. He sauntered into Raku's house. He smiled at all the girls. He stopped to admire the Christmas tree. He sipped a cup of hot chocolate. He visited with the guests and joined in the dancing. He swapped gifts with the other guests. But most importantly, he gave the biggest smile to Raku. But Ninetales vowed she would get Sorin back, even if it took her many Christmases to do it!"

The group roars with applause as Brock takes a bow. "I didn't know you had a prop for this tale..." Melody smiles.

"Well, I can't necessarily wear boots with spurs out in the middle of nowhere." Brock explains. "Then I can't get the sound I need for the effect. So dance shoes and taps were the next best thing."

"Pika..." Pikachu gasps, impressed by Brock's clever use of a prop.

"Add 'foley artist' to Brock's list of talents..." Ash smiles...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 104: The Legend of Maria (Misty)

(real tale: Clever Maria (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/223.htm))


"There was once a merchant who lived close to the royal palace, and had three daughters." Misty begins. "Mind you, they were all pretty, but Maria, the youngest, was the prettiest of all of them."

"I'm sure she was..." Brock sighs dreamily.

"One day, the king asked the merchant to go on a great journey." Misty continues. "The merchant was a bit reluctant to go at first, as he did not like leaving his daughters at home alone. But he could not refuse the king's order, and so he bid them farewell early the next morning."

"Where was he going?" Ash is piqued at an epic adventure.

Misty thinks for a moment--the tale never explicitly says where the merchant goes. "He was...looking for a great treasure in the mountains." Ash seems pleased with that answer, so she goes on "Before he left, he took three pots of mint, and gave one to each girl, saying the mint would tell him if anything happened while he was away."

"Is there any basil or marjoram involved?" Ash asks. "Or riddles?"

"Nope, sorry--this is different." Misty replies. "Some weeks went by, and one day, the king, accompanied by two servants, paid a visit to the three girls, who were sitting down to dinner. When they saw who was there, Maria offered to get a bottle of wine from the cellar. The king declined Maria's offer, but she insisted anyway. It turned out that Maria's insistence was a ruse, and bought her time to run to the house of a neighbor, and knocked at the door. When the neighbor asked what had happened, Maria asked to stay with them, under the pretense she had a big fight with her sisters."

"And then?" Ash is intrigued.

"When she returned home the next day, she found the plants of her sisters withered away, because they had disobeyed their father." Misty intones. "Now the window in the room of the eldest overlooked the royal gardens, and when she saw how fine and ripe the Leppa Berries were on the trees, she longed to eat some, and begged Maria to climb down a rope and pick her a few, and she would pull her up again. Maria, who was good-natured, swung herself into the garden by the rope, got the Berries, and was just about to signal to be pulled up when her sister asked her for some Nomel Berries too. Maria turned round to get them, and found herself face to face with the gardener. Before the gardener could call the guard, she pushed him so hard, he fell panting into the Nomel bushes."

"Ow..." Ash winces at how the fall might have felt.

"Good thinking, Maria." Brock agrees.

"The next day the middle sister had a craving for Nanab Berries and begged so hard, she finally relented, never mind the incident the day before." Misty continues, to some nervous giggles. This time, the king caught her!"

"Oh no!" Melody gasps.

"The king grilled Maria about what she had done." Misty continues. "Maria confirmed that the king's story was true. Just before he could take Maria to the dungeon, the king found she had vanished completely, without leaving a trace."

"Metal Gear Maria." Ash jokes, making Brock chuckle.

"The kingdom was searched from top to bottom, and no stone was left unturned." Misty goes on. "But there was no sign of Maria anywhere. This so enraged the king that he became quite ill."

"Pini pi." Happini muses.

"Yeah, Maria wouldn't be a good person to play hide and seek with." Brock smiles.

"Meanwhile, the two elder sisters had married the two servants, and became moms of princesses of their own." Misty continues. "Now one day Maria secretly went to the house where her elder sister lived, concealed them inside a beautiful basket she had with her, and dressed herself as a boy, under the ruse she was a flower seller delivering flowers to the king."

Everyone waits to hear what will happen once the babies are discovered. "The king heard what she said, and ordered one of his attendants to go out and buy the basket. It was brought to his bedside, and as he raised the lid cries were heard, and peeping in he saw two little baby girls. He was furious at this new trick which he felt had been played on him by Maria. He was still mulling payback ideas when he was told that Maria's father had returned from his journey. Then the king remembered how Maria had refused to receive his visit, and how she had stolen his Berries, and he determined to have his revenge on her. So he sent a message that the merchant was to come to see him the next day, and bring with him a coat made of stone, or else."

"How do you make a coat out of rock?" Ash wonders.

Imultao, ame no ga bakeno... Melody sings, conjuring a coat made out of rock, much to Ash's amazement.

"Well, that's one way..." Brock replies as the Pokemon giggle at Ash's shocked face.

"Now the man had been very sad since he got home, for he had found the two elder ones married without asking his leave." Misty continues. "Then there was the question of how he was gonna make a coat of stone? Maria came to him and gave him a bit of chalk, telling him to go to the palace and say he had come to measure the king. Imagine his surprise when he was told the king wanted Maria!"

"Pika pika chu?" Pikachu asks.

"When Maria heard what had happened, she told her father to have a doll made, exactly like her, with a string attached to its head, which Maria could pull to have it nod 'Yes' and 'No.'"

"Let's see Maria get out of this..." Brock muses.

"Meanwhile, the king remained patiently in his palace, feeling sure that this time Maria could not escape him." Misty intones. "He told his pages that if a man should come there with his daughter and ask to be allowed to speak with me, to put the young lady in his room."

"And then?" Brock swallows hard in fear.

"When the door was shut on Maria, who had concealed the doll under her cloak, she hid herself under the couch, keeping fast hold of the string which was fastened to its head." Misty explains. "When he entered the room, he asked who he thought was Maria if she was well. The doll nodded yes. The king listed everything Maria had done, and at each count, Maria pulled the string, so that the doll's head nodded yes. The king thought the doll was making fun of him, and cut off the doll's head. Once it dawned on him what he had done, he started crying and wishing he too was dead. But then, the true Maria climbed out from under the bed, and flung herself into his arms, making the king's tears tears of joy and relief. The next day, they were married and lived happily for many years."

"Aw..." Melody smiles as she applauds.

"Tol'ja there'd be a happy ending after all." Ash assures Azurill as he applauds....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 105: The Beasts and Darkrai (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 36, story 2)

"You may not know this, but for many years, the world was terrorized by demons at night, led by Darkrai." Ash begins as Brock retrieves his harp. "It was especially bad in what is now Olivine City--the demons would set houses ablaze, kidnap the people, and steal their belongings."

Angry murmurs go up over the harp's mournful melody as Ash continues. "Try as the guard might, Darkrai was seemingly immune to sword..." Brock plays a hard chord to represent the clang of a sword. "arrow," Brock plays a small upward glissando to represent an arrow flying. "and spell." Brock then plays a long flowing chord to represent a magic spell.

[Could Darkrai even be stopped?] Korra worries.

"The Pokemon Master grew worried about the constant attacks, and sent word to what is now Ecruteak City. A fine swordsman--we'll call him Yusha-- lived there, and rumor said that he had tamed the three Beasts." Ash explains. "Once Yusha arrived in the Aiiro City, the Pokemon Master asked him to slay Darkrai once and for all."

Interested whispers fill the air over a peaceful interlude from Brock. "After he had left the League, Yusha summoned Raikou, Entei, and Suicune and told them what to do, but not even they, with all their holy wisdom, had a clue how to defeat Darkrai." Ash continues. "So Yusha went to the shrine of Arceus to pray for victory. The Beasts, meanwhile, returned to the Burned Tower and prayed to Ho'oh for victory. Before they left for what is now Olivine, the elders of what is now Ecruteak give Yusha a potion that would heal him and the Beasts if they drank it, but harm Darkrai and his demons if they tried to drink it."

"Hm..." Milody ponders how such a potion would work.

Excited chatter goes up over the harp's battle song. "On the way, the party befriended a girl being held captive by Darkrai." Ash goes on. "She was elated someone was finally going to defeat Darkrai and his minions, and led them to Darkrai's lair. The Beasts took human form and snuck in with Yusha that night, in disguise as priests. When Darkrai saw the potion and asked what it was, Yusha claimed the potion was healing water."

Brock stops his song as Ash interjects "When Darkrai and the demons drank the potion, they all fell to the ground dazed. Yusha and the Beasts revealed themselves and attacked!"

Cheers go up over the long and flowing chords of battle, as if the epic battle between Yusha, the Beasts, Darkrai, and the demons is taking place before their own eyes. But after a while, the chords begin to quiet. "When all the demons were defeated, they cornered Darkrai in his room." Ash finally speaks as the last chord fades away. "After an equally long battle, he too was defeated."

Applause fills the tent at this. "Yusha and the Beasts returned to a hero's welcome." Ash concludes over a triumphant song. "That is why today, you can see statues of the Beasts commemorating this hero, the Beasts, and their adventures all over the world."

"How exciting!" Melody smiles as both boys take a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 106: The Regi Statue (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 5, story 2)

"There was once a couple that lived in a forest by some mountains." Brock begins. One day, the man went out to weed his fields, and put his lunch in the hollow of a tree before going to work. Some Chimchars found the bag and ate all the food inside."

"Uh oh..." Ash swallows hard.

"Was the man mad?" Melody asks.

Brock is quick to assure them "The man figured the Chimchars needed the food more than he did, so he sat very still and watched them eat from a bush."

After a few seconds, he continues "The Chimchars finished their meal and approached him out of curiosity. Having never seen a human before, they concluded he was a statue of Regirock. After debating what to do with their discovery for a moment, they agreed to take the 'statue' to a nearby temple of Arceus. As they carried him over the hills and across a river, they sang a silly song...."

He proceeds to sing to no tune in particular Everybody work to make sure Regirock won't get wet!
His legs will turn all goopy if they ever get wet!

Laughter and mild applause goes up at the impromptu song. "The man wanted to laugh at the song, but he knew he couldn't laugh if he wanted to keep up his ruse." Brock explains. "The Chimchars arrived at the shrine and left their 'statue' there. Once they had scampered away into the bush, the man finally broke his ruse, only to discover all the gold the Chimchars offered him at his feet--more gold than most people like him would earn in a lifetime. He decided to buy his beloved a present. When he got home, he bought some new clothes and a fine meal. He then told his beloved what happened over dinner--needless to say, she was very happy they would never have to worry about making ends meet again."

Some applause goes up at this, but Brock isn't done yet. "As the two of them were enjoying their meal, the neighbor's wife came, and asked where they got their newfound wealth." he continues. "The man explained what happened, and the neighbor's wife vowed to do the same thing. So the neighbors attracted the Chimchars, and the Chimchars concluded the neighbor was another statue of Regirock."

Giggles of anticipation go up as Brock continues "So as they carried the "statue", singing... He then sings again Everybody work to make sure Regirock won't get wet!
His legs will turn all goopy if they ever get wet!

"Aw"s and giggles go up at the song. "The neighbor couldn't resist the urge to laugh, and howled with laughter. Panicked, the Chimchars dropped him in the water and attacked him."

The audience roars with laughter before Brock continues "He returned home battered and burnt, with no gifts to show. In her impatience, the neighbor's wife burned all her clothing except for what she currently wore."

He concludes "They say she had to wear that one outfit for several weeks after that!"

Laughter and "ews" punctuate the applause as Brock takes a bow. "I can only imagine what that outfit must've smelled like!" Misty laughs as she applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 107: The Wise Little Tailor (Misty)

(real tale: The Story of a Clever Tailor (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/391.htm))


"Once upon a time, there lived an exceedingly proud princess--we'll call her Valencia." Misty begins. "If any suitor for her hand ventured to present himself, she would give him some kind of riddle or conundrum to guess. If he failed, he was ran out of town. She sent out a proclamation that all comers were welcome to try their skill, and that whoever could solve her riddle would be her husband."

"Interesting..." Ash muses.

"Now it happened that in a certain village lived three brothers that made their trades as tailors." Misty explains. "The two elder ones thought, that after having successfully put in so many fine and strong stitches with never a wrong one amongst them, they were certain to do the right thing here too. So they set out for the palace, telling the youngest--we'll call him Timothy--to stay home."

"Pi pini pini pi!" Happini protests.

"Yeah, Timothy deserves to try too." Brock agrees.

"But Timothy wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, and headed out for the palace himself." Misty assures the boys. "The three of them arrived at court, and Princess Valencia asked them 'I have on my head two different kinds of hair--what colors are they?'"

"Hm..." Ash contemplates a possible answer to the riddle.

"The first tailor guessed black and white, but he was wrong." Misty replies. "The second tailor guessed red and brown, but he was wrong too."

"So what did Timothy guess?" Brock is piqued in Timothy's answer.

"Then Timothy stepped boldly to the front and guessed one silver and one golden hair on her head." Misty replies. "When Princess Valencia heard this, she turned white as a Gastly, and almost fainted, she was so surprised that someone managed to guess her riddle. When she had recovered herself, she told Timothy to spend a night with an Ursaring that lived in the forest by the royal stables. If Timothy was still alive the next morning, she would have his hand in marriage."

"I have a feeling she only wants to get rid of Timothy..." Melody mutters.

"You'd be right, Melody--the Ursaring had never left anyone alive before." Misty replies. "But Timothy accepted Princess Valencia's challenge anyway--he was not afraid at all."

"Pika chu?" Pikachu asks, sparking with excitement.

"When evening came, Timothy was taken to the Ursaring's cave." Misty intones. "The Ursaring tried to get at him at once and to give him a warm welcome with his great paws. But Timothy took a handful of pecans from his pocket and began cracking and eating them as though he had not a care or anxiety in the world. When the Ursaring saw this. he began to long for some nuts himself. So Timothy reached into his pocket again and gave him a handful of rocks."

The boys laugh as they picture the Ursaring struggling. "Try as the Ursaring might, he could not manage to crack them." Misty continues before retrieving the fiddle case and checking her instrument's tuning.

Once sure she is tuned, she continues. "Meanwhile, Timothy took up a fiddle his father had made for him, and began playing all kinds of airs and dances to pass the time." With that, she plays the tune "Juice For Breakfast" for effect, with Brock backing her on guitar.

Ash leads the applause when the song ends. "When the Ursaring heard the music he could not help dancing, and after he had danced some time he was so pleased that he begged Timothy to teach him how to play the fiddle." Misty continues. "So Timothy showed the Ursaring that you press the strings with the fingers of one hand..." She demonstrates this on her own instrument. "and with the other, you drew the bow across them." She demonstrates by stroking a few notes.

Brock chuckles in anticipation of what Timothy will do. "But then, Timothy saw the Ursaring's claws, and that they had to be cut if he wanted to sound good on the fiddle." Misty explains. Then he retrieved some chains, telling the Ursaring he was going to get his scissors--which was a ruse for Timothy to get some sleep without the Ursaring harming him."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats to know how the princess would react. "The next morning when Princess Valencia looked out towards the forest, there stood Timothy, safe and sound." Misty goes on. "So she fulfilled her promise, and they were married that very day."

"It goes without saying they lived happily ever after." Brock smiles as he applauds....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 108: The Crystal Mountain (Ash)

(real tale: The Glass Mountain (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/031.htm))


"Once upon a time, there was a great mountain made out of crystal near where Mt. Ember stands today." Ash explains as he grabs one of his whistles from his bag. "At the top of this mountain stood a castle made of pure gold, and in front of the castle there grew a Leppa Berry tree, on which grew shining Leppa Berries."

"Are there any shining Starlies involved here?" Misty asks.

"Nope, this is different." Ash explains. "Anyone who picked one of the shining Leppa Berries gained admittance into the golden castle, and inside a particular silver room sat a princess that was as beautiful in heart as she was beautiful in looks--we'll call her Ariana."

"That's always a nice name for a princess." Brock smiles, enamored at the name.

"Many knights, princes, and adventurer had come from all over to try their luck at winning Princess Ariana's hand, but every one that had tried failed." Ash continues "In spite of having their Ponytas shod with sharp spurs, no one managed to get more than halfway up, and then they all tumbled to the bottom of the steep slippery hill. Sometimes they broke an arm, sometimes a leg, and a few had even broken their necks."

"Pi ni..." Happini sighs.

"How awful..." Melody agrees.

"So Princess Ariana sat at her window and watched the bold knights, princes, and adventurers trying to reach her on their splendid Ponytas." Ash continues, fingering his whistle all the while. "The sight of her always gave any man fresh courage, and many would be adventurers flocked from all over to attempt the work of rescuing her."

"I appreciate the emphasis of your point, but we understood you the first time." Brock gently reminds Ash not to repeat himself.

Ash nods, then continues "But all those attempts were in vain--so for seven years Princess Ariana had waited for someone to scale the crystal mountain."

"So who finally made it up there?" Misty wonders.

"Then one day a boy approached the mountain--we'll call him Leo." Ash continues. 'He was never without a smile on his face, and kind to all he met, but at the same time, he was strong and well-grown. He saw just how many knights had died in vain, but he approached the steep mountain on foot and began the ascent anyway."

[That's a brave human...] a Meowth shudders

"For a long time, Leo had heard his parents speak of the beautiful princess who sat in the golden castle at the top of the crystal mountain." Ash continues. "He listened to all he heard, and determined that he too would try his luck. So after fashioning some climbing spurs from Persian claws, he started up the crystal mountain."

[I can see why he chose claws as spurs--a Persian's claws are pretty sharp.] Mai interjects as she flexes her own claws.

"The sun was almost setting, and Leo had not gotten anywhere close to halfway up." Ash explains. "He could hardly breathe, he was so worn out, and his mouth was parched by thirst. His feet were throbbing with pain, and it even was a struggle to hold on with his hands. Evening came, and he strained his eyes to see if he could see the top of the mountain. Then he gazed beneath him, and he balked at what he saw--a yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of Ponytas and riders!"

"Ew!" Misty winces as she imagines the smell of the abyss.

"Going a mile a minute there..." Brock smiles at Ash's enthusiasm for his chosen tale.

"It soon turned pitch dark, and only the stars lit up the crystal mountain." Ash continues as he toys with the whistle in his hands. "But Leo still hung on, throbbing legs, scratched up hands, and all. He made no struggle to continue, for all his strength had left him, and seeing no hope he wondered if this was the end. He soon fell into a deep sleep, never mind his precarious position."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, curious.

"Yeah, how could he sleep on the crystal mountain?" Misty asks.

Although he slept, he had stuck his claws so firmly into the crystal that he was quite secure." Ash replies before continuing "Now the golden Leppa tree was guarded by a shining Fearow which had overthrown countless adventurers and Ponytas."

"So THAT's why all those adventurers met their demise..." Brock muses.

"Every night it flew around the crystal mountain keeping a careful lookout, and no sooner had the moon emerged from the clouds than the Fearow rose up from the Leppa tree, and circling around in the air, caught sight of the sleeping boy." Ash intones. "Assuming Leo was a fresh corpse, the Fearow swooped down to capture him. But Leo woke with a jump, and when he saw the Fearow coming, he got the idea to hitch a ride to the top of the mountain on its wings."

"And then?" Melody wonders.

"The Fearow picked up Leo in its sharp claws, which Leo then used to climb on the Fearow's back." Ash replies. "It was a bit of a bumpy ride, but Leo held on. He saw the glittering palace, which by the pale rays of the moon looked like a dim lamp; and he saw the high windows, and round one of them a balcony in which the beautiful Princess Ariana sat lost in sad thoughts. Then Leo saw that he was close to the Leppa tree, and jumped off the Fearow's back onto the broad branches of the tree."

"Pika..." Pikachu smiles, impressed by Leo's bravery.

"Leo was a bit bruised from his ride, but okay." Ash assures Pikachu. "He pulled several of the beautiful Leppa Berries and put them in his pocket; then he entered the castle. The door was guarded by a great Salamence, but as soon as he threw a Berry at it, the great Pokemon vanished."

"That's one way to get rid of a dragon Pokemon..." Melody muses.

"Just then, a gate opened, and Leo saw a courtyard full of flowers and beautiful trees, and on a balcony sat the lovely Princess Ariana with her retinue." Ash continues. "As soon as she saw Leo, she ran towards him and greeted him as her hero."

"My hero!" Brock interjects in character as the princess.

Everyone laughs as Ash concludes "Princess Ariana gave Leo a share of all her treasures, one of these being a magical whistle. So when Leo played it..." Ash proceeds to play "Arran's Lullaby" for effect. "Lugia appeared in the starry sky, revived all the fallen adventurers, and carried both of them home to Princess Ariana's homeland, where they ruled as king and queen for all time."

Brock leads the applause. "I know a variant of a crystal mountain story, but this one has a bit more of a quest involved..."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 109: The Knight of the Crystal Hill (Brock)

(real tale: The Princess on the Glass Hill (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/293.htm))


"There was once a man who had a meadow that lay on the side of a mountain, and in this meadow there was a barn in which he stored hay." Brock begins. "But there had not been much hay in the barn for the last two years, for every year, around the time of the summer festival, it was eaten up completely, just as if a whole flock of Mareep had gnawed it down to the ground during the night."

"That is odd..." Melody muses.

"This happened once, then it happened again, but on the third year, the man got tired of losing his crop, and said to his three sons--the youngest was named Aiden--that one of was to go and sleep in the barn on the eve of the summer festival, in hopes of finding out who, or what, was eating all the hay." Brock explains.

Whispers race through the tent as the small audience debates what is eating the hay. "Now, the eldest son was quite willing to go to the meadow." Brock explains. "He boasted that he would watch the grass and do it so well that neither man, nor Pokemon, nor even Darkrai himself should have any of it. So when evening came he went to the barn, and lay down to sleep, but when night was drawing near there was such a rumbling and such an earthquake that the walls and roof shook again."

"Oh my!" Misty gasps.

Brock assures the group "The eldest son jumped up and hurried away as fast as he could, never even looking back, and the barn remained empty that year just as it had been for the last two."

Interested murmurs fill the air as Brock continues "Another year went by, and on the eve of the summer festival, the man sent the middle son to watch over the barn. But the same thing happened--he went to the barn and lay down to sleep, but when night was drawing near there was a great rumbling, and then an earthquake--which was even worse than the one that had struck the previous year, and when the middle son heard it he was terrified, and raced off, never once looking back."

"So what was taking the hay?" Ash asks.

"Well, another year went by, and that year, it was Aiden's turn, but as he got ready to go, the others laughed at him, and jeered him." Brock explains. "Aiden, however, did not trouble himself about what they said, but set out for the barn when evening came. When he got there, he went into the barn and lay down, but he had scarcely been there an hour before the rumbling and creaking began."

"Be glad we're not in 4-D theater." Misty whispers to Ash, to some relieved giggles.

"The rumbling and quaking continued for another hour, but Aiden stayed still and hung on. When all was quiet again, Aiden heard something that sounded like a Ponyta eating something just outside the barn door. So he crept to the door..." Brock tiptoes to the tent's entryway, as if he is Aiden. "and sure enough, a shining Ponyta with a blue mane was standing there eating. Aiden had never seen a Ponyta like it before--much less a shining one. A saddle and bridle lay upon it, as did a sword and a complete suit of armor for a knight, all made of of shining white mythril. As soon as he mounted it, it grew tame."

Awed murmurs fill the air at this. "Aiden rode away to his secret place--a plain which no one else knew about, and tied the Ponyta there up. When he went home again his brothers laughed and jeered at him even more." Brock continues. "'You didn't lie long in the barn, if even you have been so far as the field!' they said."

"I lay in the barn till sunrise, but I saw nothing and heard nothing." he replies in his best mimic of Ash to represent Aiden. "Arceus only knows what made you two so frightened."

As himself, he continues "The brothers didn't believe Aiden at first, but when they got to the barn, the hay was all standing just as long and as thick as it had been the night before. This happened again two more times, until Aiden had three Shiny Ponytas and three sets of gear to his credit."

"And then?" Melody asks.

Once he is back in his place in the center of the tent, Brock goes on "Now, the king of the land had a daughter that had a private residence on top of a hill made of crystal--we'll call her Cressida. Whoever could climb up the crystal hill and take three shining Leppa Berries from her would earn her hand in marriage and half the kingdom. This was proclaimed across the whole kingdom, and in many other kingdoms too. Princess Cressida was very beautiful, and all who saw her fell madly in love with her, even in spite of themselves."

Laughter goes up as the audience pictures a prince going gaga for Princess Cressida. "So it is needless to say that many a prince, knight, and adventurer were eager to win her and half a kingdom." Brock smiles. "They came from all over the world, dressed so splendidly that their clothing gleamed in the sunshine, and riding on Rapidashes which seemed to dance as they went, and there was not one of these princes who did not think that he was sure to win Princess Cressida's hand."

"I'm sure they all looked beautiful..." Misty muses. Ash sighs in agreement as he imagines himself as one of the princes.

Brock reaches for his guitar as he continues "When the day appointed by the king had come, there was such a crowd of knights, adventurers, and princes under the crystal hill that they numbered like sand by the sea." He begins playing a reverent song. "Millions more turned out to see who would win Princess Cressida's hand in marriage. Aiden and two brothers were there too, but his brothers didn't know Aiden was there--they had told him to stay at home. Not being one to take no for an answer, Aiden snuck out of the house and happened to arrive at the crystal hill at the same time his brothers did."

Giggles go up as Brock plays a "struggling" melody up the scale. "Now, all the princes, adventurers and knights were trying to ride up the crystal hill, but it was all in vain, for no sooner did the Rapidashes set foot upon the hill did they come sliding down again." He plays a downward glissando on one string for effect. "and not one of them made it any farther than a couple of yards up."

"Well, what do you expect from a crystal hill?" Ash muses.

"It was no surprise, for the hill was as smooth as a glass windowpane, and as steep as the side of a house." Brock agrees as he continues his song. "But they were all eager to win Princess Cressida and half the kingdom, and so the slipping and sliding continued." He then plays an adventurous theme as an interlude.

"Finally, all the Rapidashes were so tired that they could not take another step." Brock continues as he slows down the song. "So the king was about to proclaim that the attempts would start again the next day, when a knight in mythril came riding up on so fine a Ponyta that no one had ever seen the like of it before--and few still had seen a shining Ponyta."

"Oh"s fill the room as the small audience figures out just who the rider is. "The other knights all called out to him that he might just as well give up, but he did not listen...and he went up as if it were a simple plain." Brock continues as he flashes a grin to his friends. "But Princess Cressida had never seen so handsome a knight, and silently hoped he would make it to the top. But when she saw that he was turning back, she threw one of shining Leppa Berries down after him, and it rolled into his shoe. But when he had come down from off the hill he rode away, fast enough that no one knew what became of him. So all the princes, adventurers, and knights were told to present themselves before the king that night, so that he could find out who the mysterious rider was that had received the shining Leppa Berry. But no one had anything to show, and the mysterious rider was all anyone could talk about."

He stops his song to interject "Aiden's brothers had no idea that the mysterious rider was Aiden in disguise."

Misty leads the clappping as Brock plays the Zelda theme as an interlude. "This happened again for two straight days--many would try and ride up the crystal hill, but then a mysterious rider on a shining Ponyta would make it most of the way up. Princess Cressida would throw down a shining Leppa Berry, and the rider would disappear as mysteriously as he had come." he explains as he slows the song down. "When the king called everyone together to find out who had the shining Leppa Berry, no one had anything to show for it. Finally, on the evening of the third day, Aiden came before the king, and to the amazement of everyone, showed him the three shining Leppa Berries."

He finishes with a festive melody. "And so it was that Aiden and Princess Cressida were married the next day, and there was great rejoicing in the land for at least a week!"

Finally, he stops the song to conclude "For all I know, the festivities may still be going on to this day." He adds a playful flourish at this.

Thunderous applause fills the air as Brock sets his instrument aside and gets up to take a bow....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 110: Keeping a Secret (Misty)

(real tale: The Boy Who Could Keep a Secret (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/251.htm))


"Once upon a time there lived a woman who had one little boy--we'll call him Matthew." Misty begins. "At first sight, you wouldn't think that he was any different from millions of other little boys; but then you noticed that by his side hung the sheath of a sword. and as Matthew gold older, so did the sheath."

"Was it bigger than him by the time he came of age?" Ash smiles, grinning as he remembers the overly large weapons in RPGs.

"The sword which belonged to the sheath Matthew had found sticking out of the ground in the garden, and every day he pulled it out to see if it would go into the sheath." Misty replies. "But though it was plainly growing as well, it was a matter of time before the two would fit."

"So when did they fit?" Brock is piqued.

Finally, the day came when it slipped in quite easily." Misty continues. "Matthew could hardly believe his eyes, so he tried it a few times, and each time it slipped in more easily than before. But pleased though Matthew was, he determined not to tell anyone about it, especially his mother, who never could keep anything from her neighbors."

"Talk about a blabber-mouth..." Melody smiles.

"In spite of his vows and promises, he could not hide completely that something had happened." Misty cautions. "So when he went in to breakfast that morning, his mother asked him if something was wrong. Matthew replied that he had a wonderful dream, but couldn't tell anyone. The woman begged, pleaded, and cried for Matthew to tell her; but it was no use, neither words nor blows would get the secret out of him."

"You mean..." Ash swallows hard.

"Poor Matthew was beaten over a secret?" Brock is equally concerned.

Misty sadly nods yes to silently answer the boys' questions. "Matthew ran into the garden all battered and beaten, knelt beside his little sword, and cried. The moment he stretched out his hand, it slid quietly into the sheath."

Happini sniffles as Brock brushes away a tear forming in her eye. "I know, you don't like seeing anyone crying..."

"Matthew cried for a long time, and his sobs were heard by the king, who happened to be passing that way." Misty continues. "He ordered one of his servants to see who was crying. When the servant returned, he told the king what had happened. The king ordered Matthew brought to him, as it pained him to see one of his subjects crying."

"Pi pini pi!" Happini smiles.

"Your kind of king, huh?" Brock coos.

"The king adopted Matthew as his own son, and promised him the princess' hand in marriage as soon as he came of age." Misty continues. "Before he left for the castle, Matthew retrieved his sword from the garden."

She pauses for a beat, then continues. "On the way, Matthew told the king everything that had happened, and reiterated he would not tell his dream to anyone, not even the king. "Try as the court might, Matthew said nothing, until he was banished from the palace until he told someone."

"Pika pika!" Pikachu is appalled.

"But the servants felt sorry for Matthew, and allowed him to stay with them." Misty assures the Pokemon. "He stayed with them until he turned sixteen. Meanwhile, the two elder princesses had been married. The youngest one--we'll call her Teresa--was old enough to be married too, but she was very particular, and turned up her nose at all the suitors who had sought her hand."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks.

"One day, she was sitting in the palace bored, and decided to see what the servants were doing." Misty continues. "She ran across the gardens to the servants' quarters, where she recognized Matthew as the little boy she had once played with. She asked him about his secret, but Matthew wouldn't tell. When the king heard what had happened, he ordered Matthew killed."

Everyone gasps. "But minutes before Matthew was led to the gallows, a king of a neighboring country asked for Matthew to be spared." Misty assures the group. "So Matthew was set free under the assumption he would tell someone in the neighboring country. When he got there, the princess of that land--we'll call her Cordelia--pleaded for Matthew to tell her, but time and time again Matthew refused. When the king heard what had happened, he ordered Matthew imprisoned inside a tall tower. But Princess Cordelia had a small tunnel just big enough for a basket of food, water, and a book or two to fit hidden inside--this way, she would send Matthew three square meals and three new books from the library every day, so Matthew always had plenty of food and water and something to do."

"Azu..." Azurill smiles.

"One day a messenger from the northern desert came bearing a letter and three trees for the king." Misty continues. "The messenger told the king that if he could not put the trees in order from tallest to shortest, his master would go to war against him."

Brock bursts out laughing at this. "That's a stupid reason to go to war!" Ash agrees as he too laughs.

Misty is unfazed--stupid or not, this was how the story went. "The king was scared when he heard this, and though he looked at the trees very closely, there appeared to be no difference between them. Even Princess Cordelia knew something was up. She assured her father she would find an answer, and sent her request to Matthew along with her customary meal and books. When she came to deliver Matthew's breakfast and new books the next day, she told her father Matthew's reply--the shortest would sink to the bottom of a jar of water, the middle would neither sink nor float, and the largest would float. The desert king was amazed, and decided to call off the war preparations. Matthew was set free, and served as the king's most trusted advisor; When the king died from a terrible disease a year later, Matthew succeeded him."

She concludes "Matthew and Princess Cordelia were married not long after he became king, but after the wedding festivities ended, Matthew asked to see his mother. Leave was granted, and he returned to his homeland. His mother hardly recognized him in all his finery."

"So what was Matthew's big secret?" Brock is curious.

Misty smiles. "Matthew had dreamed that he had become king of a far off land, and had she not beaten him, and he had told anyone, his dream would not have come true."

"Oh"s go up as Misty takes a bow....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 111: The Rose and the Cypress (Ash)

(real tale: What the Rose Did to the Cypress (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/288.htm))

"There was once a great king who had three brave and clever sons--we'll call them Kaitou, Mamoru, and Akira." Ash begins. One day, Prince Kaitou asked his father if he could go to the royal hunting grounds for the day. His father said okay, and a grand hunting party departed the castle."

[What did Prince Kaitou find on his hunt?] Mai is interested.

when Prince Kaitou got to the hunting grounds, he saw a beautiful Sawsbuck." Ash continues. "He ordered that it should not be killed, but trapped or corralled. Try as the party might to catch it, the Sawsbuck leaped clear over Prince Kaitou's head and bounded off into the wilderness."

"Oh my..." Misty gasps.

"Is it possible for Sawbuck to even jump over someone's head?" Brock wonders.

"Prince Kaitou was in hot pursuit, and chased the Sawsbuck for so long and so far, his Ponyta died of exhaustion." Ash explains. "Prince Kaitou soldiered on through the desert heat until he came to a great mountain. He mustered his strength and climbed to the top, and there he found a giant tree so tall, it looked like it touched the very sky. On top of that, a stream flowed nearby."

"I'd love to see a tree like that." Melody smiles.

"Prince Kaitou was elated at the sight of water, and drank so much, he could've burst." Ash goes on. "Just then, he saw a man he presumed was a priest. The priest asked Prince Kaitou what he was doing in the desert. Prince Kaitou told the priest everything that had happened, and asked the priest the same question. The priest initially said no, but relented after Prince Kaitou begged and pleaded for a few minutes."

Giggles go up as Ash continues "The priest explained that he had once been a king of a far away land, with wealth untold, and seven sons of his own. One day, his eldest son heard of a king in a land far to the east who had a daughter named Yukina, who was as wise as she was beautiful."

"I have a feeling I know where this is going..." Brock sighs.

"Anyone who wanted to have Princess Yukina's hand in marriage had to answer a riddle she posed them--and if they got it wrong, it was his life in exchange." Ash intones, confirming Brock's prediction.

"What was the riddle?" Melody asks.

"What did the rose do to the cypress?" Ash replies.

Murmurs fill the air as the group ponders the odd question. "His eldest son tried to win Princess Yukina's hand, and failed. and one by one, he lost his other sons in the same way. He had been so overcome by grief that he entered the priesthood."

"Poor guy.." Misty muses.

"Prince Kaitou listened to story, and the idea to try and win Princess Yukina's hand entered his mind." Ash continues. "Suddenly, his hunting party caught up to him with a new Ponyta. When he got home, he told his father what had happen and his request to try and win Princess Yukina's hand. His father was reluctant at first, but saw him off to the eastern land with all kinds of fine and lavish gifts. He was welcomed with all due respect and ceremony, but when he told the court the reason he had come, the eastern king tried to talk him out of it."

"And then?" Misty asks, fearing what is coming next.

"Prince Kaitou was asked the riddle, but could not answer it, and so it was his life in exchange." Ash sighs, confirming Misty's prediction. "Understandably, his father was devastated."

"What about the others?" Brock asks.

"Prince Mamoru next asked to try, but unfortunately, he met the same fate." Ash continues. "Finally, Prince Akira journeyed to the eastern kingdom, but decided to spend some time exploring the capital city in hopes he would find a clue to Princess Yukina's riddle."

"Pika?" Pikachu wonders.

"A wise woman explained that the cypress was Princess Yukina's father, and the rose was a fey woman he had fallen in love with years before." Ash explains. "She explained that the answer was the rose had betrayed the cypress, as the fey-woman had left Princess Yukina's father not long after Princess Yukina was born, leaving him to raise Princess Yukina on his own. The only clue that Yukina had any fey blood in her was her great wisdom and knowledge that no human knows."

"Bad idea to marry a fairy..." Misty smiles.

"That explains how Yukina was so smart." Brock agrees.

"Needless to say, Princess Yukina was stunned when Akira answered the riddle correctly." Ash concludes. "It wasn't long before they were married, and they all lived happily ever after."

Everyone applauds as Ash takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 112: The Legend of Xerneas and Yveltal (Brock)

(real tale: The Story of the Hero Makoma (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/153.htm))

"Once upon a time, in a place far from here, and in a time long ago, a boy was born." Brock begins. "He was not like the other boys and girls, for he was very tall and strong. He carried a big sack over one shoulder, and a great shining sword in his right hand. He could also speak like a grown person, but usually he kept to himself."

"Wow..." Ash gasps, awed that such a boy exists, if only in Brock's imagination.

"One day his mom asked him what he wished to be named." Brock continues. "The boy instructed his mom to summon all the town elders to the riverbank by their house So his mother did as she was told, and called together the town's council of elders. The boy met them at a place the river where all the fierce Croconaws lived. He challenged them to jump into the water and swim across to the other side, Croconaws and all. When no one stepped forward to accept his challenge, the boy jumped in himself!"

Everyone hold their breaths as they wait to hear if the boy survived. "Naturally, the people thought the boy was nuts for swimming across a Croconaw infested river." Brock continues. "But suddenly, they saw a blue flash of light in the water, and all the Croconaws came floating to the surface, stunned by a strange power. The boy, meanwhile, continued to the other side unharmed. The head elder was amazed at the boy's power, and gave him the name Xerneas, which in their people's language, meant 'the one with great power'"

"Cool!" Misty cries, starry eyed.

"Xerneas left on a journey of discovery the next day, with only his sack of supplies and his great sword to his name." Brock goes on. "He wandered all across the world, which was still relatively new in those days. One day, he found Regirock shaping a mountain, and challenged him to a battle. Regirock accepted, and a great battle raged across the mountains. In the end, Regirock admitted defeat, and gave Xerneas a piece of amber as a sign of reverence, which Xerneas put in his sack."

"Who else did Xerneas meet?" Ash is interested.

"Regirock's amber gave Xerneas super strength, making him able to pick up the biggest rocks just as it were a feather." Brock explains. "After a while, he happened to find Manaphy shaping the river beds. He challenged Manaphy to battle, and Manaphy accepted. It was a very long and intense battle, but in the end, Manaphy was defeated too. He gave Xerneas a sapphire as a sign of respect, which allowed him to create things from thin air."

[Then who did he meet?] Mai wonders.

"He then happened upon Virizion keeping watch over a forest." Brock replies. "As he had with his other opponents, he challenged Virizion to fight. Virizion accepted, and after a long and drawn out battle, admitted defeat and gave Xerneas an emerald as a sign of respect. Then he happened to meet Moltres in a great desert, and after challenging and defeating her in battle, earned a ruby from her as a sign of her respect."

"And then?" Now Melody is interested.

"Xerneas came to a beautiful plain filled with flowers, and made his home there." Brock goes on. "One night, he heard rumors of a girl named Yveltal, who lived at the peak of a high mountain. She was said to be equal, if not stronger than him. So after putting his house in order, he set out on the long journey."

[How far did he go?] a Meowth wonders.

"He climbed over rocky mountains, slogged through swamps, crossed raging rivers, and tromped for days across deserts dry enough to kill an ordinary person, until he came to a house sitting on top of the high mountain. "A beautiful young lady all in red met Xerneas, saying that she was in fact the famous Yveltal."

"Don't tell me--Xerneas asked to fight her too?" Misty sighs.

"That he did." Brock smiles. "Yveltal accepted the challenge, and the battle commenced. Hour by hour they fought, and mountains trembled like trees in the wind. Yet no matter what they did, neither one could slay the other. At last, after two days of fighting, they collapsed on the ground, exhausted."

He concludes "In the morning, Arceus appeared to them, and told them that both of them were great heroes, and that they both deserved to protect the world. So he transformed Xerneas into a deer-like Pokemon with X-like antlers, and put him in charge of the earth. Then he transformed Yveltal into a red Y-shaped bird, and put her in charge of the skies, as queen of all birds. They became friends for all time, and in time, Xerneas taught the people of the earth how to call his friend Yveltal." With that, he sings Yveltal, ame no ga bakeno...

"Finally you get that spellsong right!" Melody smiles. "The first word in that spellsong isn't 'Imultao', it'a 'Yveltal'. It means 'Yveltal, I call on your red wings' in the ancient tongue, and can also be used to draw on Yveltal's power."

"Can we still use 'Imultao'?" Misty asks.

"Of course--they both sound the same." Melody assures Misty. "But be careful--one wrong word and Yveltal may appear to you when you just need gibberish!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 113: The Stone Song (Misty)

(real tale: Madschun (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/326.htm))

"Once upon a time there lived a woman whose son was quite lazy--we'll call him Devin." Misty begins. "No matter what trade his mom tried to teach him, he refused to work, and in a few days was back at home again."

"I'm surprised you didn't name him Jack..." Brock notes.

"I have a reason I named the boy what I did." Misty assures Brock as she goes on. "Anyway, one morning he was resting in the garden by his house when the princess of the land came riding by, followed by her retinue. Devin took one look at the princess--we'll call her Kari--and vowed that he would marry her, no matter what it took."

"Pini pi?" Happini asks.

"His mom was quite shocked her normally lazy son would ask her to travel to the palace and ask the king to let him see Princess Kari." Misty replies. Happini giggles as she continues. "But Devin kept bugging her until she finally relented and set out for the palace."

"So what did the king say?" Ash asked, piqued.

"The king was hearing requests and disputes that day, and so Devin's mom had no problem getting into the castle. She explained to him that her lazy son wished to see Princess Kari, as nuts as that sounded. But the king didn't think the woman nuts at all, and told her to bring Devin to the palace."

"Cue the 'impossible' challenge..." Brock muses--seemingly lazy heroes that figure out supposedly tough challenges are one of his favorite types of tales to tell and hear.

"The king told Devin that if he wanted the hand of Princess Kari, he had to catch one of every kind of bird Pokemon in the world--from the lowliest Pidgey to the queen of the skies, Yveltal." Misty explains. "Devin left the palace in despair--how was he going to catch even a Pidgey with no Pokemon to his name?"

"Good question--is there even such a thing as Poke Balls or Apricorns in fantasyland?" Ash is just as interested.

"Devin wandered the world pondering his predicament." Misty continues. "He finally found himself in a desert a week later with no answers. Just as he was about to give up, he met a priest meditating by an oasis. He told the priest of his dilemma, and the priest told him that if he kept going westward, he would reach a great tree. If he made himself comfortable in the tree's darkest shadow and stayed very still, all the bird Pokemon of the world--from the lowliest Pidgey to the great Yveltal--would perch in its branches. Once all the birds had landed, he was to sing the magic words..." Misty pauses to sing Karuto, iichiida shou... "and all the birds would be frozen in place like stone. If sung a second time, the spell would be broken."

Inspired, Ash decides to try the "spell" on a Caterpie crawling by his foot. Karuto, iichiida shou... Nothing happens.

"I think that only works in the story, Ash..." Brock assures Ash as the Pokemon laugh.

Misty is unfazed. "Devin thanked the priest for teaching him the holy spell, and went and did as he was told. "The King was surprised when Devin returned with the birds--he had secretly married Princess Kari off to the royal vizir while Devin was away."

Brock gasps, stunned at the turn of events. "But Devin was pretty mad, and sang Karuto, iichiida shou... freezing almost the whole palace into a collection of statues." Misty continues. "The king tried to give Devin some new challenge to get rid of Devin so he could see Princess Kari and the royal vizir wed, but the court wizard--one of the very few that had not been frozen--told the king that if he had allowed Devin to marry Princess Kari to start with, none of this would have happened."

"Moral of the story--give the hero what he wants after he proves himself worthy." Melody sighs.

[And Devin has proven himself worthy...] Mai agrees.

"The king reluctantly agreed to give Devin Princess Kari's hand in marriage if he unfroze the throne room." Misty explains. "So Devin returned to the throne room, where everyone was standing exactly as they were when Devin had cast the spell. He then sang Karuto, iichiida shou... again."

She concludes "The palace returned to life in a flash of green light, and Princess Kari placed her hand in Devin's as a sign of her love for him. The wedding festivities lasted for a week, but as for the royal vizir, no one in that land knows what became of him."

"That was an interesting tale..." Brock muses as he applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 114: The Journey to the Heavens (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 9, story 2)


"A certain young man--we'll call him Jiro--was kicked out of the house for being lazy one day." Ash begins. "He was told that he wouldn't be allowed to return until he got a job." So he set out on the road in search of work."

[Did he find a job?] Mai wonders.

"After walking along for a while, Jiro came to a house where he saw people working in a field. He asked the master of the house if he needed any help, and so he was hired as a farmhand. One day, as he struggled with a particularly large carrot," Everyone giggles as Ash pantomimes trying to pull up the carrot. "he pulled so hard he was sent flying clear to the next town."

"Oh my!" Melody gasps.

"He asked a man of the town to hire him, and so he was hired as a barrel maker." Ash continues. "One day, as he was putting the finishing touches on a particularly large barrel, the band snapped, sending him flying clear to the next town."

Everyone laughs at this. "He asked a man of the town to hire him, and so he was hired as a parasol maker." Ash continues. "One day, as he was setting out a newly made batch of parasols out for display, a windstorm blew up and sent him flying, still holding onto one parasol."

"Clear to the next town, I bet." Brock smiles.

"Actually, Jiro went even farther than that." Ash smiles. "He eventually landed in the heavens."

Interested murmurs fill the tent. "He walked on the gold streets for a while until he found a Gardevoir spinning gold thread. When he asked the Gardevoir to hire him, the Gardevoir was surprised--she was merely a servant of the Legend of Thunder, Raikou."

"Hm..." Misty ponders what will happen to Jiro next.

"Raikou listened as Gardevoir explained the situation, and told Jiro he could help create rain for the mortals." Ash goes on. "So Jiro rode on Zapdos beside Raikou, making it rain. One day, he lost control of Zapdos and fell into the ocean."

"That had to hurt..." Misty muses.

"If he even lived to tell the tale." Melody cautions.

"Actually, Jiro landed close by Manaphy's undersea palace, and asked Manaphy if he could hire him." Ash assures his audience. "Manaphy offered him a job harvesting pearls, but there was a catch--not to eat any of the food that fell in the water."

"There's always a catch..." Brock smiles.

"At first, Jiro did well to ignore the food falling in the water, but eventually, he got so hungry, he ate a rice ball and was sent rocketing to the surface." Ash explains. "He landed on a fishing boat, and told the fishermen his story. The fishermen took him home, where he told his family how he had changed."

He concludes "His family welcomed him back with open arms, and from that day on, he was well renowned as a dependable and hard worker."

Melody smiles. "Tales of transformation are my favorite tales... "

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 115: Victini's Gift (Melody)

(real tale: The Divine Mischief Maker (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20130113))

"Ever since Arceus created Victini, he always was a bit of a prankster." Melody begins.

"Really?" Ash asks, intrigued in Melody's tale.

"So one day, he left his little grotto on what is now Liberty Island in hopes of playing a prank on one of the other Legendaries--like he did most every day." Melody replied. "On this particular day, he happened to find me keeping watch over a herd of Tauros as a favor to Xerneas."

She then catches herself. "But as I had been watching them all that morning, I soon fell asleep. Victini saw I was sleeping, and got the brilliant idea to try and take a few of the Tauros for himself."

"Pini pini?" Happini asks.

"Yeah, how did he do it?" Misty agrees.

"After choosing a few Tauros to take, he covered their hooves with bark so they wouldn't leave any tracks." Melody explains. "Then he tied a few branches to their tails, which would wipe away whatever tracks were left behind. He worked quickly and quietly, hoping all the while I wouldn't wake up and cast a spellsong on him."

Nervous giggles go up at this. "Thankfully, I had no idea what Victini was doing, nor did I know Victini was even there." Melody assures the audience. "When Victini arrived home, he decided to sacrifice two of the Tauros to Arceus. He had some of the meat for dinner, then used some of the bones, some Spinarak string, and a Squirtle shell to fashion the world's first harp." Brock shows the audience his own harp for effect.

After waiting for Brock to put on some fingerpicks on his right hand, Melody continues. "Victini nervously plucked a few of the strings of his new instrument, and was enthralled at the sound they made." With that, Brock begins plucking out a four note melody.

The audience listens as Brock builds on the simple four note melody into a lavish opus with multiple parts and beautiful harmonies. After playing the mostly improvised song for a moment, the different parts begin to disappear until Brock is back to the four note melody he started with. When the last note dies, they roar with applause, never mind the story isn't over yet.

"Thanks, Brock." Melody beams. "That was actually a pretty good recreation of what the song probably sounded like." She continues as Brock sets the harp aside. "It wasn't until the next morning that I figured out what Victini did. And when I did, I flew to the heavens and complained to Arceus about what had happened. But Arceus, with all his wisdom, already knew what had transpired the day before, and called Victini to the heavens. I demanded Victini return the Tauros, but Victini decided to play dumb."

Brock interjects in character as Victini "Who, me? I didn't take any Tauros."

Laughter goes up at this. "This made me even madder, and I chased Victini all over the heavens trying to cast a spellsong on him." With that, Melody darts around the tent for a moment, singing gibberish "spellsongs" every once in a while. Retapa, esebi ine.... Etime posse ine.... Sienon paifi ire... Temelo, quilami eno...

She continues "Finally, Arceus broke up the fighting and told Victini to return the Tauros." as she settles back on the rock she was sitting on and watches Brock retrieve the harp. "Victini returned the remaining Tauros, but when I saw that two Tauros were missing, he showed me the harp he had made. I was piqued in the new instrument, and decided to play it myself."

She motions for Brock to play, so he plays the waltz "Starry Night" for effect. "I was delighted with the new harp, and so I told Victini I would forgive him for taking the Tauros if he would let me have the harp in return. Victini agreed, and never again stole from anyone."

She concludes "From that day on, the other Legendaries shared their talents and gifts with each other--I taught the mortals of the earth how to make harps and other instruments of their own, and Victini served as a guardian and guide to many a great hero, leading them on to victory with a playful glint in his eye."

The crowd roars with applause as Melody and Brock take a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 116: Fennekin Learns to Fish (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 41, story 3)

"Of all the water Pokemon, Buizel was the best fisherman among them, so he was always finding Magikarps and Goldeens." Brock begins. "One day, a Fennekin passed by, and noticed all the fish."

"If it was as big as I think it was, how could anyone not notice?" Misty wonders.

"She told Buizel that in the mountains where she lived, there was hardly anything to eat in the winter." Brock continues. "Buizel assured her that there was always fish in the rivers and lakes, even in the winter."

Piqued murmurs go up at this. "Buizel offered to share some of his massive catch with Fennekin." Brock continues. "After both of them had had their fill, Buizel told Fennekin she was welcome to have a share of what he caught."

"I hope Fennekin knew how to share..." Ash suspects Fennekin's desire to be a ruse.

"Fennekin visited Buizel every day, and they shared the fish together. But after a while, Buizel began to suspect something was up." Brock confirms Ash's suspicions. "When Buizel brought up the matter, Fennekin assured Buizel she would never have more than her fair share, and invited Buizel to come see her."

Giggles go up at this. "The next day, Buizel came to visit Fennekin, where he found her looking up at the ceiling, presumably meditating." Brock continues. "He left in annoyance, but the next day, Fennekin explained to him that she was houesitting, and was looking out the hole in the roof for any intruders. Buizel agreed to try again the next day, but when he got there, he found Fennekin looking at the floor, presumably meditating."

He goes on "Fennekin explained that she was house sitting again the next day, and was watching for intruders through a crack in the floor. Buizel explained that he didn't get much either, and decided to teach Fennekin how to catch her own fish--find a hole in an icy pond, lower her tail inside, and wait there until morning."

"Was Buizel only playing a prank?" Melody asks. "Or were his instructions sincere?"

"A blizzard came through the area the next night, so Fennekin decided to try out Buizel's instructions." Brock explains. "But when the sun came up the next morning, her tail was froze in the ice!"

Laughter goes up at this. "After struggling for a while to get free, Fennekin hurried off to find Buizel." Brock continues. "Buizel was surprised to see that Fennekin actually caught a Magikarp. But Fennekin said she would rather share Buizel's catch."

He concludes "But Buizel said no--if Fennekin wanted fish, she would have to catch them herself!"

Laughter and applause goes up as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 117: The Miracle Berry (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 35, story 1)

"In a certain village lived a man who was kind to all, and would always pray to Arceus every morning." Misty begins. "One day, as he was returning from the shrine, he noticed a odd many colored Berry following him. But when he inspected the Berry, he was surprised when Mew and Jirachi appeared from it!"

"Wow!" Ash gasps.

"Mew explained that Arceus wanted to reward the man for his faith, and sent her and Jirachi to serve as servants." Misty explains. "Jirachi added that the Berry could create anything he desired if he sang a certain song to it. Mew encouraged him to try it, and taught him the conjuration song." Misty pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing "The man first conjured a waterskin, then a box full of onigiri."

"Mm..." Brock smiles at the mention of onigiri.

"The next day, the man began conjuring food and fixing things for anyone in need, so no one in that town ever needed to worry about food or broken tools." Misty goes on. "Word of the miracle Berry spread far and wide, and the man found himself the guest of many a Gym Leader."

"I would open the Gym to anyone with a gift like that." Brock muses.

"One day, the town rich man came, intent on taking the miracle Berry for himself." Misty intones to gasps from the Pokemon. "He offered a hundred gold, then five hundred, then a thousand, but the man refused every time. Finally, the man snapped and chased the rich man away in rage."

"What part of 'no' does this guy not get?" Ash mutters.

"That night, as the man, Mew, and Jirachi slept, the rich man came and stole the miracle Berry." Misty goes on "The next morning, the man's first thought was to panic, but Mew and Jirachi assured him they would get it back."

She interjects "Needless to say, the man's prayer to Arceus that day was a frantic plea to find the miracle berry!"

Nervous giggles fill the tent as she continues "Meanwhile, the rich man offered the miracle berry to a rich merchant for a thousand gold pieces. The merchant agreed, saying it was the birthday of the princess of the land--if the rich man could please her with the miracle berry, he would buy it for the agreed thousand coins."

"Course, he's not getting anywhere without the spellsong." Ash whispers to Brock.

"The party was a grand affair, but the rich man didn't know the incantation song, so nothing happened after his gibberish attempt." Misty pauses to sing a different song. Grishaliel ezida sesse...

Laughter goes up as the group pictures the guests' reactions. "He tried several more gibberish songs, but nothing happened every time." Misty goes on. "Finally, the rich man tried yet another song, but only conjured Ekans, Zubats, and bug Pokemon!"

Ash's laughter is the hardest at this. "The princess kicked the rich man out of the castle, and the rich man tossed the Berry in the road out of frustration. The Berry then heard Mew singing the correct incantation song..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the song.

"and flew back to the man's house." Misty continues.

She concludes "The man continued helping the people of the village with the miracle Berry, and went on many more adventures with Mew and Jirachi. But that is another story for another day!"

"Bravo!" Ash leads the applause.

"I've never heard that one before..." Brock smiles. "I'll have to remember it for a gig..."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 118: The Seven Brothers (Ash)

(real tale: The Story of the Seven Simons (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/253.htm))

"Far, far away, in a land far from here, and in a time far from now, there stood a splendid city where there lived a king who was as good as he was rich and handsome--we'll call him Justin." Ash begins. "His great army was made up of thousands of men and women ready to obey his slightest wish; he owned so many cities, it was near impossible to count them all, and in each city he had ten palaces with silver doors, golden roofs, and crystal windows. His council consisted of the four wisest men and women in the country, each of whom was as learned as a whole college, and then some. This council always told King Justin the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

"What were the names of this esteemed council?" Melody asks.

"I'm getting to that." Ash assures Melody. "Now, King Justin had everything to make him happy, but the one thing he desired more than anything was a bride as pure in heart as she was beautiful."

"In other words, a princess." Brock smiles. Happini cheers at the mention of a princess.

Ash just grins at Happini. "One day, as King Justin sat in his palace looking out to sea, a great ship sailed into the harbor and several merchants came on shore. So he decided to ask them if they had seen any princess who is as clever and beautiful as he was. "So he ordered the merchants to be brought before him, and when they came, he said..."

"You have traveled much and visited many wonders." Brock fills in King Justin's dialogue. "I wish to ask you a question, and I beg you to answer truthfully. Have you anywhere seen or heard of the daughter of an emperor, king, or a prince, who is as clever and as beautiful as I am, and who would be worthy to be my wife and the queen of my country?"

"The merchants speculated and debated for some time on the king's question." Ash continues. "At last the first merchant said that across many seas, in what is now Sunburst Island, there was a mighty king, whose daughter, the Princess Alani, was as lovely, if not moreso than King Justin, and so clever that the wisest sage couldn't guess her riddles."

"And then?" Misty sighs dreamily as she pictures Ash as King Justin and herself as Princess Alani.

"When asked how far the island was, the merchant said the journey would take ten years at least, and no one knew the way." Ash explains. "If he were to send someone, the whole trip would take twenty years at least."

"That's long enough to take multiple walking tours of every region we've been to and still have time left over..." Brock muses

"King Justin thought long and hard about this after the merchants left." Ash continues. "Finally, he decided to head for the royal hunting grounds to calm his nerves--for a good hunt always cleared his mind when he had a vexing problem. So after assembling his hunting party, they all departed to the royal hunting grounds. On the way, they came to a green hedge. On the other side of the hedge stretched a great field of Cornn Berries as far as the eye could see."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, at the same time licking his lips at the thought of fresh Cornn on the cob.

"King Justin looked around the field for a moment, curious as to who owned it." Ash continues. "So some servants hurried off to find out, and found a nice, tidy farmhouse at the end of the path, in front of which sat seven brothers, having lunch after a long day in the field. They wore shirts in every color of the rainbow bound with gold trim, and were so much alike that one could hardly tell one from another, except for the color of shirt they wore."

"Pini..." Happini contemplates what the brothers would be named.

The messengers asked who owned the Cornn field, and the seven brothers answered that it was theirs." Ash goes on. "When asked who they were, they replied that they were loyal subjects of King Justin. When brought before King Justin, the eldest brother reiterated that they were his humble servants, and all alike, save for the shirt he wore."

[What else did he tell the king?] Korra asks, curious.

"He went on to tell the king that their father taught them to be true to the king, to till the ground, and to be kind to all they met." Ash replied. "He had also taught each of them a different trade or skill which he thought might be useful to them, and it was these they were named for. But they were farmers first and foremost."

"Hm..." Misty contemplates what the brothers are named.

"King Justin was pleased with the eldest brother, and asked them their trades and their names." Ash goes on. The eldest, who wore red, was named Evan, as he was skilled in stoneworking. Next came Keane, who could see anything no matter how high or how far away it was. Then came Kenji, who had the gift of speed--both in running and in building ships and carriages. Then came Dolan, who had the gift of stealth. Avery was very skilled in archery, Hunter could find anything, no matter how well hidden it was. But it was Kai, who wore purple, who had the riskiest gift--he could pick any lock and steal things all without the guard having any clue he had been there."

"Pika!" Pikachu is impressed at the different powers.

"How did King Justin react to Kai being a thief?" Misty wonders.

"Despite Kai's assurances that he only stole from those with ill-gotten gains, King Justin ordered Kai thrown in the dungeon." Ash replies. "So while Kai rotted in the dungeon, the others were put to work--Evan built and repaired many stone walls, and Keane gave the king a report every morning about all he had seen. Kenji built a fleet of the fastest ships anyone had seen, and Dolan cloaked them all in a magical veil so they wouldn't be stolen. Avery made bows and arrows for the guard, and Hunter served as a scout for the king's hunting expeditions and on rescue missions."

[Surely little Kai will have a chance to prove his worth...] Mai is worried for the youngest brother.

"One day, the brothers were summoned to the throne room, where King Justin asked Keane to see what was happening on the island where Princess Alani lived." Ash continues. "After looking out across the sea for a moment, Keane reported that the island king was a mighty monarch, but full of pride, harsh and cruel. He would sit on his throne and declare that no prince or king on earth was good enough for Princess Alani, and if anyone asked for her hand, he would declare war against him and destroy his kingdom."

Everyone gasps, stunned at the turn of events. "King Justin was understandably worried, and pressed Keane to tell him more." Ash assures his audience. "Keane went on to tell the king that it would take at least ten years--maybe a little less in favorable weather--to get there. He had seen the army being reviewed, and it had a hundred thousand foot soldiers and a hundred thousand cavalry. On top of that, he had a strong personal corps of bodyguards and a good many archers, making for another hundred thousand people, plus some heroes on standby for great occasions requiring particular courage."

"So roughly 350,000 people all told?" Misty calculates the math in her head.

"That sounds about right..." Brock replies.

"King Justin thought long and hard about what Keane had said--he really wanted to marry Princess Alani, but how he going to do it?" Ash asks his audience.

"I have no idea..." Melody sighs.

"No clue here." Brock agrees.

"I don't know, you tell me, Mr. Storyteller." Misty is just as frustrated.

After waiting a few beats, Ash continues "finally, Kenji suggested Justin take one of his fast ships, where he would arrive on the island in a week. So King Justin called together his council and asked them what to do when he got there. Yet the council, with all their combined wisdom, had no idea what to do."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Just then, the court jester suggested to let Kai steal Alani and bring her to Justin." Ash replies. "King Justin ordered Kai set free, and when Kai arrived in the throne room, King Justin spelled out what he wanted done--if he could steal Princess Alani and bring her to him, he would believe his claim he only stole for the benefit of others, and not for his own gain. Kai agreed, and bade his brothers prepare one of Kenji's ships with rare and exotic goods, and sailed off under the guise of merchants. The guards bought their ruse, and even Princess Alani wished to admire the many rare and exotic wares."

"So did her dad say okay?" Melody asks.

"Alani's father also bought Kai's ruse, and sent 100 archers, 100 knights, and 1,000 soldiers as an escort." Ash assures the audience. "As Princess Alani came aboard their ship and admired the fine wares, Kai told her all kinds of stories about his homeland. Princess Alani was so engrossed in listening to them, she had no clue Dolan had cloaked the ship, and they were sailing back to the brothers' homeland without her escort having a clue Alani was gone."

"What did she do when she found out where was when the ship was un-stealthed?" Brock wonders.

"Now, Princess Alani was well versed in magic, and could transform herself into any Pokemon she wanted by simply singing a song, to name one spellsong she knew." Ash continues. "When she saw she was out in the middle of nowhere, she sang..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"and transformed into a gold Pidgeot." Ash narrates. "But Avery seized his bow and shot the Pidgeot in the wing..." He pantomimes shooting a bow to emphasize his point. "and Hunter caught it in a bag. But then he heard..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"..and the Pidgeot turned into a shining Goldeen, but Hunter caught the Goldeen too." Ash explains. "But before he could put it back in the bag again, he heard the Goldeen sing..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"and the Goldeen turned into a shining Pikachu and ran about the ship." Ash narrates to some laughter. "The Pikachu darted towards a hole, but Hunter caught it faster than any Meowth. Finally, the Pikachu sang..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and the shining Pikachu turned back into the beautiful Princess Alani." Ash narrates. "Meanwhile, King Justin was watching the sea and dreaming of Princess Alani. Imagine his surprise when he saw the ship in the distance, and Princess Alani aboard it!"

"Pini!" Happini cheered.

"Princess Alani was given a royal welcome, and it was not long before she and King Justin were married." Ash concludes. "The seven brothers were handsomely rewarded, their land made tax free, and Kai was forgiven--because even thieves can steal for a good reason!"

"That was an interesting story..." Misty smiles as she applauds. "I can't wait to see how the master storyteller will top that!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 119: The Legend of Princess Ayaka (Brock)

(real tale: The Princess Mayblossom (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/119.htm))


"There was once a king and queen who longed to have a child more than anything else." Brock begins. "Finally, after months of trying, a little princess was born--since she was born when the flowers were in full bloom in a dazzling array of colors, she was named Ayaka, which means 'colorful fragrance'"

Some light applause goes up in approval of the name. "Now, the queen wanted Princess Ayaka to have a nurse who would help care for her and teach her everything a princess had to know. So heralds were sent out to all corners of the land, and commanded all the best nurses in the land to appear before the queen. So on the appointed day the whole palace was crowded with nurses, who came from all over the kingdom and the world--so many, in fact, that the queen asked that they come into the throne room one at a time if there was any chance of seeing all of them and keeping order."

Laughter goes up as the audience pictures the chaos. "So each of them came one by one, and the nurses, after they had bowed to the king and queen," Brock proceeds to bow before an imagined throne by the rock he was sitting on. "made their cases as to how they would bring up Princess Ayaka."

"Now, most of the nurses present were fairly good looking and had a kind air about them," he continues as he gets up. "but the king didn't find it odd that one of the black haired ones was speaking a strange language which nobody could understand. The queen, meanwhile, felt something wasn't right when it came to be this dark haired lady's turn, and sent her away. Then weird things started happening--one candidate was bitten by an Ekans and knocked out cold, another was knocked out cold by a Wartortle a Braviary had dropped..." Laughter goes up as the audience remembers "Wartortle Tries to Fly". "...and a third wound up poisoned by a thorny bush."

The audience holds their breaths as they wait to find out who--or what--could be hurting the nurses. "Horrified, the queen decided she would not go through any more candidates that day." Brock intones. "Just as the crowd turned to leave, some evil laughter got her attention--and the dark haired lady revealed herself as the dark fairy Duin."

Gasps go up as Brock continues "The queen ordered that Duin be arrested, but before the guard could move in, Duin summoned a chariot of fire drawn by two black Charizards, and disappeared into the sky, calling down all manner of curses and threats."

Once he is back by his rock, he goes on. "The queen burst into tears thinking about what sorts of misfortune Duin had cast upon Princess Ayaka, but the king assured her that the best thing to do was combat darkness with light. They called all their advisors and counselors together, and decided that all the fey of the realm of light be there when Princess Ayaka made her public debut. The time of the ceremony was kept secret, lest Duin get wind of it and crash the festivities."

Nervous giggles go up at this. "The queen and her ladies set to work to prepare presents for all the fairies of light and nature--earth fairies would get a green velvet cloak, fire fairies a petticoat of red satin, and wind fairies a pair of shoes, to name some of the gifts." Brock continues. "The ceremony was a grand affair, and nearly every fey in the realm of light turned out to wish blessings on Princess Ayaka. The great fairies of the elements bestowed special gifts on Princess Ayaka-- the great fairy of fire blessed her with the beauty of a dancing flame, the great fairy of water blessed her with the wisdom of a flowing river, the great fairy of wind blessed her with a voice rivaling even Meloetta, the great fairy of earth blessed her with bravery and courage that would not waver, like a rock. But before the great fairy of light could giver her blessing, Duin appeared in a puff of black smoke!"

Tense murmurs race through the crowd. "Duin cursed Princess Ayaka to have twenty years of bad luck." Brock intones. "But the great fairy of light softened Duin's curse a little--the twenty years of bad luck would then be followed by an eternity of good luck."

He pauses to interject "If you think you know where this is going, I can assure you this is different."

Giggles go up as Brock continues "The fairy queen suggested that Princess Ayaka be hidden inside a tower until her twentieth birthday. So the King had a tower built with no windows, lit by candles, and the only way into it was by a secret passage, which had iron doors only twenty feet apart, and guards posted everywhere. Yet Princess Ayaka always had something to do and her ladies and her nurse to talk with, so she was never lonely. Despite never having seen the outside world, she understood what was there and how to behave in it, thanks to her blessing of wisdom. The years went by, and before long, her twentieth birthday drew near. All the town was rejoicing at the thought of Princess Ayaka's approaching freedom, and when the news came that a neighboring king was sending an envoy to ask her hand in marriage on behalf of his son--who we'll call Kaitou--, they were still more delighted. The nurse, who kept Princess Ayaka informed of everything that went forward in the town, did not fail to repeat the news that so nearly concerned her, and gave such a description of the splendor in which the envoy--we'll call him Mamoru--would enter the town, that Princess Ayaka wanted to see the procession for herself. After a lot of begging, pleading, crying, and a little threatening, the ladies made a tiny hole in the tower on the side that looked towards the city gates."

Ash decides to play a festive tune on whistle, with Happini banging a tambourine for percussion as Brock continues "Mamoru led the way, riding a shining Ponyta whose mane glowed an elegant sapphire blue, which complemented his coat was that glittered with rubies, sapphires, emeralds, pearls, and diamonds, his boots were solid gold, and from his hat floated ruby plumes. Princess Ayaka vowed that Mamoru was the one she would marry. Princess Ayaka was brought out from the tower, where an extravagant package from the fey of light was waiting for her--a glittering crystal tiara, a matching scepter, a golden robe, and a petticoat marvelously embroidered with Beautifly wings were just a few of the gifts inside, and the gifts Princess Ayaka sent back to the realm of the fey as thanks were just as extravagant."

Just then, Ash and Happini's song begins to slow down, as if they sense something ominous nearby. "The festivities had barely gotten underway when a great storm blew up." Brock intones. "Some familiar laughter echoed through the skies, and Duin appeared and conjured a chain of black crystal so fine, it looked very much like a scarf around Princess Ayaka's neck. But Mamoru paid no mind--cursed chain or no, he still thought Princess Ayaka was beautiful, yet he couldn't find the words to confess his love for her."

Laughter goes up at this. "The king hurried everyone inside the castle, and when Mamoru worked up the courage to tell Princess Ayaka he loved her, she told him..."

In his best mimic of a young girl, Brock explains "As you could not possibly guess how much I love you, Mamoru-sama, I should tell you that as soon as I saw you enter the town on your beautiful Ponyta, I felt sorry that you came to speak for another instead of for yourself. So, if you think about it as I do, I will marry you instead of your master. Of course I know you are not a prince, but I shall be just as fond of you as if you were, and we can go and live in some little corner of the world, and be as happy as the days are long."

As himself, he replies "Mamoru, meanwhile, thought he was dreaming, and could hardly believe what Princess Ayaka had said. He dared not answer, but only squeezed her hand as a sign he loved her. They didn't participate in any more of the feasting or dancing, and paid no heed to the minstrels singing and the antics of the jesters--they only talked with each other about all manner of things. Finally, everyone was so tired from the festivities that they crashed right where they were. But only Ayaka and Mamoru were awake--once sure no one else was awake, she took her father's sword..." The audience gasps as Brock draws a prop sword decorated with gold inlays on the blade and emeralds in the hilt. "and her mother's favorite blue scarf with a ruby in the center..." He shows the audience an identical scarf after sheathing the prop sword. "and the two of them set out for a far away island named Sakura Island, because of all the cherry blossoms that bloomed there year round."

"Meanwhile, the king and the queen were waking up to resume the wedding preparations." he goes on. "Imagine their shock when the king's sword, the queen's scarf, Ayaka, nor Mamoru were anywhere to be found!"

Laughter fills the air as Brock describes the chaos. "They searched the castle and the kingdom from top to bottom, and asked anyone and everyone to find their beloved daughter. But they didn't find Ayaka and Mamoru anywhere!"

When the laughter quiets, he continues "Back on Sakura Island, Princess Ayaka had grown tired of finding food, and had slumped against a tree trunk in tears. Celebi heard Princess Ayaka crying, and gave her a honeycomb to comfort her. She ate her share and then gave the rest to Mamoru. For a while, Ayaka and Mamoru made their home on the island, and the resident Pokemon would bring them whatever they needed."

"About then, the king, Duin, and the fairy queen all figured out at the same time where Ayaka was." Brock continues. "The fairy queen pleaded with the Legendary Pokemon to protect Ayaka and Mamoru, and so they hurried off to the island. "They got there minutes before Duin did, and a great battle broke out as Ayaka and Mamoru looked on in awe."

Brock plays The Zelda theme as an interlude before giving way to a festive theme. "After a long and drawn out battle, Duin was defeated." he concludes. "The king and the queen were elated Ayaka and Mamoru were all right, and the fairy queen gave her new clothes and gifts to replace what had been damaged on the island. Ayaka told her parents why she had left with Mamoru, and that she loved him. They returned to a hero's welcome, and Prince Kaitou sent his blessings as Ayaka and Mamoru were married, fulfilling the other part of the great light fairy's blessing--from that day on, they never had to worry about Duin, or any form of bad luck, again."

The crowd roars as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 120: The Bean, The Straw, and the Ash (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales in Japan" episode 42, story 3)

"Once, a woman was about to prepare some beans for her dinner one evening when one of them fell out of the basket," Ash decides to perform a "falling" sound effect with a slide whistle to illustrate Misty's point. "rolled across the floor..." Brock scrapes a stick on a rock for effect. "and into the grass."

The Pokemon giggle at the sounds. "The woman figured one missing bean wouldn't ruin the meal, and went to get some straw to light the fire." Misty assures her audience. "Suddenly, a breeze blew up, and blew a piece of straw near where the bean landed."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"She figured one missing piece of straw wouldn't hurt anything, and lit the stove." Misty replies. Brock lights a match himself for effect.

"Pika?" Pikachu asks as Brock uses the match to light a camp stove.

"But one of the embers went flying out of the stove and into the grass, where it became a piece of ash." Misty explains. "The bean suggested that the three of them go to Wishmaker Peak. The straw and the ash loved the idea, and the three departed on their journey early the next morning, eager to ask Jirachi for a wish."

"Did they get there safely?" Ash asks, toying with the slide whistle all the while.

"The journey was relatively uneventful until they came to a raging river." Misty replies. "The straw suggested stretching himself across the gap so the bean and the ash could cross. The ash volunteered to go first, but then made the mistake of looking down at the river far below and chickened out, burning the straw and sending them into the river." Ash does another "falling" note for effect, to the Pokemon's delight.

"The bean found this so funny, his shell split, making him cry in pain." Misty intones, quieting the laughter. "Luckily, a needle happened to be passing that way, and sewed him back up, creating the distinct black line certain beans have to this day."

Brock acknowledges Ash as the others applaud. Ash just smiles nervously and takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 121: How Eien-no-Kurayami Finally Died (Ash)

(real tale: The Death of Koshchei the Deathless (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/117.htm))


"In a certain kingdom there lived a prince who was brave, kind, and unselfish--we'll call him Shiro." Ash begins. He had three sisters--Princess Aiiro, the eldest, Princess Akaino, the middle sister, and Princess Midori, the youngest."

After a few beats, he continues Their father and mother had died not long before all of them came of age. They had told Prince Shiro to give the girls in marriage to the very first suitors who came to woo them."

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Brock stammers as he tends to the pita pockets simmering on the camp stove--giving someone to the first suitor that courted them hardly ended well.

"One day, they were all strolling in the royal gardens when a storm rolled in. They had just made it back inside when the rain started pouring, and the thunder rolled." Ash goes on. "As the four of them caught their breaths, who should appear on the window but Zapdos!"

"Wow!" Melody gasps.

"Zapdos transformed himself into a young man, and said to Shiro..." Ash then intones in a deeper version of himself "Hail and well met, Prince Shiro! Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a suitor! I wish to ask for your sister, the Princess Aiiro."

He then replies as a high pitched version of himself for Prince Shiro "If you find favor in the eyes of my sister, I will respect her wishes."

"And so Princess Aiiro gave her consent; Zapdos married her and brought her back into his own realm." Ash continues as himself. "A year went by, and then the same thing happened--Shiro and the girls got caught in a storm while out in the gardens, and just barely made it back to the castle before the heavens opened up. When they had caught their breaths, Articuno appeared on the windowsill!"

Misty is confused. "Isn't Articuno usually a female?"

"In some Kanto lore, Articuno is male." Brock assures her. "Including this tale."

"Articuno requested Princess Akaino in marriage, Akaino consented, and they were married not long after." Ash goes on. "The next year, the same thing happened again, only this time Moltres appeared, asking for Princess Midori. For a while, Prince Shiro loved having the castle to himself, but after a year went by, he wondered how his sisters were doing."

"And how were they doing?" Misty asks.

"So after he got ready for the journey, his travels were relatively uneventful at first." Ash replies. "Then one day, he saw a whole army dead on the plain. He called out for anyone that could answer to tell him who or what what had caused the horrific scene. A man then told him that whole army had been slain by Princess Aiiro-no-Megami, the Icy Snow Goddess."

"The same Aiiro as his sister?" Melody is confused.

"Shiro rode on until he came to Aiiro-no-Megami's camp, where he found favor in her eyes. She invited him to stay with her in her homeland, and it wasn't long before they were married."

"Pika chu pi pikapi pika pika." Pikachu replies with a smirk.

Ash chuckles. "The story doesn't end there, Pikachu--one day, Aiiro-no-Megami had to head out for the battlefield to defend her homeland, instructing Shiro to not look in a certain closet. Sadly, curiosity got the better of Shiro, and when he peeked inside, he inadvertently released the evil spirit Eien-no-Kurayami, who Aiiro-no Megami had kept bound so she could banish him to the dark realm when she returned."

Everyone gasps at the turn of events. "Eien-no Kurayami wasted no time in capturing Aiiro-no-Megami." Ash continues. "Shiro was understandably devastated, and vowed to move heaven and earth to save Aiiro-no-Megami."

"Pi ni?" Happini gasps, excited about a quest.

"Prince Shiro walked on for three days, and on the morning of the third day he saw a wondrous palace, and by the side of the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat Zapdos." Ash continues. "Needless to say, his sister Aiiro was overjoyed to see him, and they spent three days catching up with each other. Then Shiro said he had to go search for Aiiro-no Megami. Zapdos bade him leave a topaz behind, in case something should happen to him. He then went on and visited his other sisters, and left a sapphire with Articuno and a ruby with Moltres, in case something should happen to him."

"I think I know where this is going..." Misty smiles.

"After a long journey, Prince Shiro came to where Aiiro-no-Megami was being held." Ash continues as he grabs a whistle from his bag. "She was overjoyed to see Prince Shiro again, but also asked him why he had set free Eien-no-Kurayami. Shiro explained that his curiosity had spurred him to do it, and that he had left jewels with the Legendary Birds--if something happened to him or they escaped Eien-no-Kurayami's lair, the three jewels would summon Lugia when the spellsong of awakening was played."

"And then?" Brock is piqued.

"Aiiro-no-Megami said she had a magic whistle to play Lugia's awakening spellsong at the appointed time." Ash replies, showing his audience the whistle. "They had not gotten very far away until they saw Eien-no-Kurayami chasing them!"

"Pi!" Pikachu gasps, afraid for Prince Shiro and Aiiro-no-Megami.

"Try as Prince Shiro might to fight off Eien-no-Kurayami, he was soundly defeated and left for dead." Ash intones before readying the whistle to play. "About then, the three gems began glowing as Aiiro-no-Megami wept at her beloved's side, spurring her to play the awakening spellsong..." With that, he plays Lugia's Song for effect.

Misty just smiles as the Pokemon cheer. I knew he was gonna play that at one point in the story!

"Needless to say, Eien-no-Kurayami was no match for Lugia's power." Ash concludes. "Lugia also healed Prince Shiro, allowing him to return with Aiiro-no-Megami to her homeland, where they ruled for many years and went on many more adventures. "But that is another story for another day!"

Misty leads the applause as Brock presents Ash with a meat and vegetable pocket. "As a reward for the great story, you can have the first bite of a little snack."

"Thanks!" Ash wastes no time digging in....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 122: How Froagie Tricked Raikou (Brock)

(real tale: The Tiger and the Frog (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Tibetan_Folk_Tales&story=Tiger_And_Frog))


"Okay..." Brock muses as he finishes cleaning the camp stove and giving the dishes to Misty's Pokemon to wash. "That should hold us until dinner."

He thinks for a moment for a story to tell, then begins "Once upon a time, in the days when the world was young and all Pokemon understood each other's languages, an old, old Raikou went out hunting for some food. As he was walking along the banks of a stream, a Froagie saw him and was terrified. He thought, 'This Raikou's gonna eat me...'

Giggles go up as Brock continues "So he climbed up on a lilly pad and when the Raikou approached, called out..." In a higher pitched version of himself, he calls "Hey, where are you going?"

"I am going up into the forest to catch something to eat." he replies in a deeper version of himself. "I haven't eaten in two or three days, and I am very weak and hungry. I guess I can eat you, if I can't find anything else. But, who are you, anyway?"

"I am the king of the Froagies!" he boldly declares in character as Froagie. "I can jump any distance and can do anything. Let's see who can jump across the river!"

As himself, he continues "Raikou agreed to Froagie's challenge, and as he crouched ready to jump, Froagie bit the end of his tail with his mouth. So when Raikou jumped, he landed on the other bank, but a few feet away from where he thought he would land. He looked long and hard for any sign of Froagie. Just as he was about to consider Froagie a lost cause, a familiar voice asked him..." As Froagie, Brock asks "What'cha looking for way down there, Raikou?"

Everyone laughs as they picture Raikou's reaction. "Raikou whirled around to find Froagie behind him." Brock continues. "When Raikou noticed a few bits of fur in Froagie's mouth, Froagie just boasted..."

As Froagie, he declares "Why, yesterday I killed a Raikou and ate him for dinner, and these are just a few of the hairs that went down the wrong way."

As himself, he continues "Now, Raikou was shaking in his paws at this, and slowly backed away from Froagie..." He takes a few steps back to emphasize his point. "Then he made a mad dash for a nearby mountain!"

Misty's laughter is the loudest at this. "As the Raikou hurried up the mountain, he met a Fennekin on the trail , who asked why he was running so quickly." Brock goes on. "Raikou explained everything that had happened, but Fennekin just laughed and said there was nothing to be afraid of, especially not a Froagie."

"Famous last words..." Ash whispers, making Melody giggle.

"Just to be sure Fennekin wouldn't run away, Raikou tied her tail to his." Brock goes on. "When they returned to the river, Froagie saw them coming and said..."

As Froagie again, he calls "Oi, Fennekin! You haven't paid your toll today, nor brought any meat either. Is that a Growlithe you've got tied to your tail and are you bringing him for my dinner?"

He concludes as himself "Now Raikou was really freaked out, for he thought Fennekin was taking him to be eaten. So he turned tail and ran as fast as he could go, dragging poor Fennekin with him. As far as I know, they may still be running to this day."

Laughter and applause fill the tent as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 123: The Impossible Enchantment (Misty)

(real tale: An Impossible Enchantment (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/219.htm))


"In a far away land, there once lived a king who was much loved by his people, and he loved them in return." Misty begins. "He led a very happy life, but he detested the very idea of marrying, nor had he ever felt the slightest desire to fall in love. His subjects, meanwhile, begged him to marry, and after months of bugging him, he promised to try to do so. But as he had never cared for any woman he had seen, he made up his mind to travel in hopes of meeting some lady he could love."

"That's a good idea." Brock smiles.

"So after leaving the kingdom in charge of a trusted regent, he set out, attended by only one servant." Misty goes on. "He wasn't the sharpest tack in the drawer, but he did have very good sense."

She adds as an aside "These kinds of people usually make the best traveling companions.", giving a nod to Ash, who smiles at this.

"Azu?" Azurill asks.

"Well, the king explored several countries, doing all he could to fall in love, to no avail." Misty replies. "He finally came home after traveling for two years."

"And then?" Ash wonders.

"As he was riding along through a forest, he suddenly heard the most horrible yowling you can imagine." Misty replies "The noise drew nearer, and nearer, and at last they saw a hundred huge Persians rush through the trees close to them. They were so closely packed together that you could easily have covered them with a large cloak, and all were following the same track. They were closely pursued by two enormous Infernapes, dressed in purple suits, with the prettiest and best made boots you ever saw."

Brock chuckles as he pictures the odd scene. "The Infernapes rode beautiful Arcanines, and spurred them on in hot haste, blowing shrill blasts on little toy trumpets all the time." Misty continues, spurring Ash to laugh. "The king and his servant watched this strange hunt in awe, which was followed by twenty or more dwarfs, some mounted on Mightyenas, and others with leashed Persians, and similarly dressed to the Infernapes."

The boys and the Pokemon howl with laughter at the ridiculous scene. "A moment later, a beautiful young woman mounted on a Raikou came into view." Misty goes on. "She passed close to the king, riding at full speed, without taking any notice of him; but he was enchanted by her, and his heart was gone in a moment. Then he saw that one of the dwarfs had fallen behind the rest, and asked him what the heck was going on."

"So what in the heck WAS going on?" Brock asks.

"The dwarf told him that the lady he had just seen was Princess Tora, the daughter of the king of the land where they were." Misty explains. "He added that the princess was very fond of hunting, and that she was now in pursuit of Bunearies."

"That still doesn't explain the hunting party..." Ash muses.

"The king then asked the way to the court, and went on his way." Misty goes on. "He got there in a couple of hours. As soon as he arrived, he presented himself to the king and queen, and on mentioning his own name and country, was welcomed with open arms. Not long after, the princess returned, and hearing that the hunt had been very successful, the king complimented her on it, but she would not answer a word."

"Hm..." Melody is interested in Princess Tora's silence.

"Her silence surprised him, but he was still more astonished when he found that she never spoke once all through dinner." Misty goes on. "Sometimes she seemed like she would say something, but her father or mother would take the conversation in another direction. However, this silence did not cool the king's affection, and when he went to his room at night he confided his feelings to his faithful servant. But the servant--we'll call him Tristan--was by no means delighted at his lord's love affair, and took no pains to hide his disappointment."

Brock decides to fill in the king's dialogue. "Why are you vexed?" Surely Princess Tora is beautiful enough to please anyone..."

"She is certainly very beautiful." Ash replies as Tristan. "but to be happy in love something more than beauty is required. To tell the truth, milord...her expression seems to be hard."

"That is pride and dignity," Brock replies the king, "and nothing can be more becoming."

"Call it what you will," Ash continues as Tristan. "but in my mind the choice of that many fierce Pokemon as her companions--and even her name, speaks of a fierce nature, and I have a sneaking suspicion about the steps taken to prevent her speaking."

The Pokemon applaud the interplay before Misty goes on "So the next day the king asked for the hand of Princess Tora. It was granted him on two conditions--one, the wedding had to take place the very next day; and two, that he should not speak to the princess until she was his wife. The king agreed,in spite of Tristan's objections, so that the first words he would hear his bride utter was the ‘I do' she would say at their marriage."

"Uh oh..." Melody swallows hard.

"Tristan's fears proved true, as the king found out the hard way." Misty continues. "The young queen made herself most disagreeable to all her court, her spite and bad temper knew no bounds, and before the end of the month she was known far and wide as a regular Ninetales."

Mai decides that is as far as the tale needs to go. [Can't we choose something better suited for the little ones?]

Azurill whines in agreement. "You're right...I'll see what I can think of while the boys take their turns." Misty assures Mai.

[EmeraldSky]

Thank you--the collection will never be complete so long as I find a tale to tell.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 124: The Pool of Varnish (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 43, story 2)

"In a certain village lived two brothers who made their keep making cups and bowls." Ash begins, "They would carve the wood, paint them with varnish, and then sell them. But getting the materials for varnish was hard, as it came from a certain tree in the summertime, and if you ever got it on you, your skin would itch for days." Laughter fills the air as Ash feigns scratching itches all around him.

"One day, the two of them were spending the day swimming in a river when a Wartortle passed by." he continues. "They decided to follow it, and it led them to a huge deposit of varnish."

Awed gasps go up at this. "After gathering some of the varnish, they found that just a little bit on a finger would be able to make tons of bowls and cups." Ash explains. "The people were amazed at the cups and bowls' beauty, and many paid a pretty gold piece." He flips a coin for effect. "The brothers quickly sold out of their initial batch, and before long, could hardly keep up with demand. But one day, the younger brother got the idea to horde all the varnish for himself."

After waiting for the angry murmurs to quiet, he goes on "So one day, when the elder brother dove in to get more varnish, he saw a Gyarados waiting for him down below!"

The Pokemon yelp and scream at this. "He was so afraid of what else was in the river, he decided to look for work in town, while the younger brother stayed behind. But when the younger brother dove in, the Gyarados was still there!"

The screams turn to laughter as Ash continues "He was thrown back onto the surface, but when he dove back in, the Gyarados and the varnish were gone. He quickly hurried into town and apologized to his brother for wanting to horde the varnish for himself. Thankfully, the elder brother forgave him, and they returned home."

He concludes "From that day on, their work became popular again, but they never forgot to share what they earned with the townsfolk, particularly the less fortunate."

"Moral of the story? Greed doesn't pay." Brock smiles as he leads the applause..

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 125: The Mint Girl (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 44, story 3)

"There was once a certain inn that stood by Mt. Moon, where the Pokemon Center is today." Brock begins. "The couple that ran it were very greedy, and so no one wanted to stay there."

"I can see why..." Misty muses.

"They'd probably charge an arm and a leg for one night." Ash agrees.

"One day, a traveler stopped there and gave the innkeeper an odd bag." Brock continues. "The wife was excited, believing the bag to be filled with gold. They fantasized about building a bigger inn, or traveling to Wishmaker Peak--or anywhere else, as they had never really traveled before." He then intones "So the wife plotted to have the bag be somehow left behind."

"That's not very nice!" Melody is appalled at the wife's greed.

"The innkeeper remembered an old story about a miko that was forgetful, and ate mint to help her remember things." Brock goes on. "When she died, mint grew all around her grave. The wife on the other hand, believed the opposite--the sweet smell of mint, she presumed, made you forget things. So if the traveler ate a lot of mint, he would forget about the bag!"

Giggles fill the air at this. "The woman gathered all the mint she could find, and made tons of minty food." Brock continues. "Mint salad, mint soup, mint and potatoes, Mareep with mint sauce, and mint cookies were just a fraction of the menu!"

"You're making Ash hungry..." Misty giggles as she notices Ash drooling at eating all the food Brock described.

Brock just goes on "The traveler was amazed by the meal, and the innkeeper explained that it was the special mint feast. All through dinner, they kept cramming mint down the traveler's throat."

[So what did all that mint do?] Korra wonders.

"The next morning, the traveler took his wallet and departed, much to the couple's shock." Brock replies.

He concludes "It wasn't until a few hours later that they realized that the room was not paid for, so the traveler forgot something after all!"

The tent explodes with laughter as the group pictures the looks on the greedy couple's faces. "He forgot something all right, but not what they wanted him to forget!" Ash wheezes as he brushes away a tear of laughter...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 126: Tozoku Steals a Tauros (Misty)

(real tale: The Master Thief (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/115.htm))


"Let's see if this tale Brock told Ash and me once passes the Persian test." Misty muses. With that, she begins "There was once a man who had three sons. He had no property to pass on to them, and no means of training them in a trade. So he told them that they had his leave to learn whatever it was they enjoyed most, and go to any place they wanted to go. He even offered to go with them for part of the way."

[So where did they go?] Mai wonders.

"He went with them till they came to a three way fork in the road, and there each of them went their separate ways." Misty replies.

She then interjects "What happened to the two elder brothers is another story altogether--this tale concerns the youngest boy, who we will call Tozoku."

"Interesting name..." Melody muses.

"Now, one night, as Tozoku was going through a great forest, a terrible storm blew up." Misty continues. "The wind blew so hard and rained so hard that he could scarcely keep his eyes open, and before long, he had gotten horribly lost. But he went on, and at last he saw a light in the distance. He found out the light was coming from a large house, and the fire was burning so brightly inside that he could tell that the residents were awake. So he went in, and inside there was an woman who was busy sweeping the floor."

Inspired, Ash decides to fill in Tozoku's dialogue. "Good evening, good lady!"

"Good evening to you, likewise." Misty replies as the woman.

"It is horrible weather to be traveling..." Ash mutters as Tozoku.

"Indeed it is," Misty replies as the woman. The two of them continue like this:

"May I please rest here for the night?"

"It wouldn't be good for you to sleep here...if the people of the house come home and find you, they will kill both you and me."

"What kind of people are they?"

"Nothing but a band of rogues...they kidnapped me when I was little, and I have had to keep house for them ever since."

"I still think I will go to bed, all the same...no matter what happens, I'm not going out in a storm like this."

"Well, then, it will be the worse for yourself,"

Brock applauds the interplay as Misty continues "So Tozoku lay down in a nearby bed, but he dared not go to sleep, in case the bandits tried to kill him while he slept."

[D-did the thieves kill him?] Korra stammers, afraid for Tozoku.

The bandits returned some moments later, and the woman told them that a young fellow who was a stranger had come there, and she had not been able to get him to leave." Misty continues. "The thieves debated what to do with him for a moment, but one suggested that Tozoku could maybe be trained in the way of a thief. Tozoku loved that idea, and asked them what he had to do to become a thief."

"Steal something, of course." Brock smiles.

"Now, not far from the thieves' hideout lived a man who had three Tauros, one of which he was going to sell in town." Misty explains. "The thieves knew this, so they told Tozoku that if he stole the Tauros, without the man knowing, and without hurting him, they would train him as a thief."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats, eager to hear if Tozoku will succeed. "So Tozoku set off early the next morning, taking with him a pretty black shoe with a silver buckle." Misty explains as she shows the group an identical shoe. "He put this in the road, and then hid in the bush. When the man saw the shoe, he thought it beautiful, and he would appease his wife."

"What was so bad about her?" Ash muses.

"This lady was so mean and ill-tempered that she yelled at and beat the poor man constantly." Misty replies. Ash slumps to the ground in fear as Misty goes on "But then he remembered it would make no sense to bring back only one shoe when the other was nowhere in sight, so he left it alone and went on his way."

She continues "Tozoku picked up the shoe and hurried off a little ways down the road, then put the shoe in the road again. When the man came with his Tauros and saw the shoe, he was quite mad at having been so stupid as to leave the mate lying where it was, instead of bringing it with him. He went and looked for the other shoe for a long, long time, but didn't find it anywhere. Finally, he just went back with the one."

She concludes "All of this bought Tozoku enough time to take the Tauros. The bandit king was pleased at his cleverness, and trained Tozoku in the way of the thief, where he had many more adventures."

"Tozoku is a Robin Hood type figure in Kanto lore." Brock explains when the applause dies down...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 127: The Psychic Husband (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 44, story 2)

"In a certain village far from here, there lived a poor couple." Ash begins. "They were so poor, that every day the woman made a meal from Berry leaves."

Misty makes a face at this. "Is it even possible to eat leaves of Berry trees?" Brock is curious.

[It is.] Mai assures him. [We see Bunearies eating them every day.]

"Anyway, one day, the woman went to town." Ash continues. "While she was away, the man-- who was sick and tired of eating leaves every day--got the idea to hide her knife so she couldn't cut leaves. However, the woman returned with a proper meal--which she couldn't cook without a knife."

"Uh oh..." Misty giggles.

"Pika pika?" Pikachu asks.

"The woman turned the house upside down in search of her knife." Ash replies. "Seeing his wife search compelled the man to tell her where the knife was--in the rafters. Sure enough, when the woman looked up there, the knife was there, just where the man said. She went and told everyone in the village that her husband had psychic power."

"Oh boy..." Brock is wary of how the man will react to his new fame.

"The other villagers came to have the man solve their problems and disputes--no problem was too big or too small." Ash continues. "One day, a messenger in the service of the town rich man came, and asked the man where a special hairpin belonging to the rich man's daughter was. He told the messenger that a servant girl took it and hid it behind the dresser. When the servant girl was confronted later that day, she confessed, and sure enough, the hairpin was behind the dresser, just as the man said."

"Wow!" Brock is impressed.

"Pika chu." Pikachu agrees.

"Pini pi?" Happini asks.

"The couple was handsomely rewarded, and the rumors of the psychic man spread all the way to the Pokemon League, where the Pokemon Master was sick, and the healers didn't have a clue know how to cure him." Ash goes on. "The man agreed to travel to the League. While the royal party was resting during the long journey, he overheard two Fennekin talking, and one of them knew why the Pokemon Master was sick."

"Why was the Pokemon Master sick?" Melody is curious.

"When they got to the League, the man told the court when the Fennekin said..." Ash replies. "A pine tree had extended its roots into the river, trapping a Seaking--and the Seaking's anger was what was making the Pokemon Master sick. When the court dug up the tree and freed the Seaking, the Pokemon Master was healed."

He concludes "The man was appointed the Pokemon Master's top advisor, where he served for many years."

"I didn't know he understood Pokemon..." Misty finds the ending clever. Ash just grins and takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 128: How Sorin Defeated Tanooki (Brock)

(real tale: The Slaying of the Tanuki (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/402.htm))

"Next, I have a little different Sorin tale for you...one where Sorin plays the hero." Brock explains to thunderous applause.

He waits for the applause to quiet, then begins. "Once, near a big river, and between two high mountains, a man and his wife lived in a cottage a long, long time ago. A dense forest lay all round the cottage, and there was hardly a path or a tree in the whole wood that was not familiar to the man from his childhood. On one of his excursions into the woods he had befriended Sorin, and though he knew as well as anyone that Sorin was quite the trickster..."

More applause goes up at the familiar beginning. "the two of them spent a long time together, talking about anything and everything."

"Now one day a wicked, quarrelsome Zigzagoon-like beast known as Tanooki happened to discover Sorin and the man having one of their long conversations." Brock explains. "He hated the man, and was never tired of doing bad things to him. Time and time again he had crept to the house, found some choice morsel or another meant for Sorin, and had either eaten it or trampled it to pieces so that no one else would get it. Finally, the man lost his patience, and made up his mind that he would have Tanooki's head."

Nervous laughter goes up as Brock goes on. "So for many days the man lay hidden, waiting for Tanooki to come by, and when one morning he marched up the road thinking of nothing but the food he was going to steal, the man threw himself on him and bound him up tight, so that he couldn't move. Then he dragged his enemy joyfully to the house, feeling that maybe he had got the better of the mischievous beast which had done so many bad things to him. When he got to the house, he hung Tanooki head first from a beam, and went out to gather wood for a fire."

After waiting a few beats, Brock continues. "Meanwhile, the woman was standing at the mortar pounding the rice with a pestle that made her arms ache with its weight. Suddenly she heard something whining and weeping in the corner, and, stopping her work, she looked around to see what it was. When she saw Tanooki just hanging there, she felt sorry for him and untied him--which prompted Tanooki to dart away from her, making her fall into a pot of boiling water on accident!"

Laughter goes up at this. "Needless to say, it took her some time to recover from all those burns." Brock notes.

He goes on "Then, Tanooki looked outside, and saw the man coming from the forest carrying a large bundle of wood. Quick as lightning, Tanooki not only put on the woman's clothes, but, as he was a magician, he cast a spell..." Brock pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... for effect. "and assumed her form as well. But Sorin saw right through his disguise, and Tanooki had no choice but to run for the forest."

Giggles go up at this. "About then the man had found his injured wife, cleaned and dressed her wounds, and swore revenge on Tanooki for gravely injuring his wife. Sorin heard the ranting and raving, and after hearing the whole story, offered to help the man in whatever way he could."

"Ooh"s and giggles fill the air at this. "The first thing he did was to search the house for materials to make an ointment, which he sprinkled plentifully with pepper and then put in his pocket. Next he took an axe, bade farewell to the man, and departed to the forest. He made his way to Tanooki's house and knocked at the door." Brock pauses to knock in a 'shave-and-a-haircut' rhythm for effect. "Tanooki, was greatly pleased to see Sorin, for when he noticed the axe, started mulling ways to get hold of it."

"And then?" Melody asks.

"Tanooki offered to accompany Sorin, which was exactly what Sorin wished and expected, for he knew all of Tanooki's cunning and wiles." Brock explains. "As the two of them wandered through the forest, Sorin carelessly raised his hatchet in passing, and cut down some thick branches that were hanging over the path, but after he cut down a huge oak tree, he decided that it was too heavy for him to carry home, and he would just leave it where it was. This delighted the greedy Tanooki, who said that they would be no weight for him, so they collected the large branches, which Sorin bound tightly on his back. Then he trotted happily to the house, with Sorin following with his lighter bundle."

He returns to his rock at the center of the tent, then continues "Meanwhile, Sorin got the idea to set the wood Tanooki carried on fire. Tanooki however, was off in la-la land, oblivious to the smoke and the crackling flames that he heard. It wasn't until he noticed his fur was in flames, and it was almost too late to put it out, did he realize there was any problem."

The audience roars with laughter at this. "Tanooki shrieked with pain, stamping and howling with agony all the while." Brock continues, stomping around the tent himself for effect. "But Sorin comforted him, and told him that he always carried with him an excellent plaster for just such an emergency, which would bring him instant relief. So he took out his ointment, spread it on a leaf of bamboo, and laid it on the wound. No sooner did it touch him did Tanooki leap yelling into the air."

The audience laughs even more as Brock concludes "Sorin just laughed as Tanooki raced into the forest, never to return; and ran to tell his friend the man what a trick he had just played."

The crowd applauds as Brock takes a bow....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 129: Saved from Fate (Misty)

(real tale: Stronger than Fate (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20130210))

Ash notices Misty stringing some fishing line across the tent. "What's that for?" he wonders.

"It's a prop for my next tale." Misty explains as she gathers various small dolls from her bag.

Melody decides to help Misty set up, and spellsings two hooks into existence on each end of the tent. Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

"Thank you." Misty smiles as she sets the fishing line aside and gets the dolls in order.

Once all her props are in place, Misty begins "Once upon a time, a queen of a far off land gave birth to a healthy baby boy." She positions some fairy dolls gathered around a queen doll and a small baby doll. "The fairies of light gathered around the child--who had been named Kichirou--to bless him, but one light fairy shook her head." Some giggles go up as Misty makes one fairy doll do this.

In character as a young girl, she sighs "I fear it is the prince's fate to die by Croconaw or Arbok or Arcanine...there is nothing we can do to prevent this."

Fearful murmurs race through the crowd as Misty continues "The king and queen were heartbroken and decided not to tempt fate. So they built a castle atop a mountain and hired men to guard it day and night, and there Prince Kichirou lived, protected from anything that would potentially harm him."

After clearing off the dolls, she continues "One day Kichirou noticed a Growlithe playing outside his window, and decided that he wanted to have a Growlithe of his own." She shows her audience a prince doll. "Since the king and queen never denied him a wish, they decided to grant this one too. They found him a Growlithe, and trained him to protect his master."

Some "aw"s fill the air as a tiny Growlithe doll joins the prince doll on the rock Misty is using as her stage. "Prince Kichirou and his Growlithe were great friends, but one day not long after he came of age, he told his father he longed to see the world."

"I know about the prophecy," Ash fills in Kichirou's dialogue. "but my Growlithe will protect me."

"Again, the king could not refuse." Misty continues before setting a Ponyta doll on the rock. "He gave a beautiful Ponyta from the royal stables to him, and with his Growlithe by his side, Prince Kichirou rode far and wide; delighted by all he saw."

Tense murmurs fill the air as the audience wonders how the three fates will come into play. "One day while visiting another land, Prince Kichirou fell in love with a princess--we'll call her Shina." Misty explains to the audience as she shows them the princess doll, who has slightly tanned skin and black hair tied back in a neat ponytail and is wearing an ornate pale blue outfit.

"I wish to marry you," Ash fills in more dialogue. "but my fate is to die at the hands of a Croconaw, an Arbok or an Arcanine; I don't want to see you broken hearted."

"We shall resist fate," Misty assures Ash as Princess Shina. "True love can conquer anything so long as we believe it can."

As herself, she continues "And so, Prince Kichirou and Princess Shina were married."

Thunderous applause goes up at this. "A few years went by, and Prince Kichirou learned his father was very sick." Misty intones, signaling her story is not over yet. "The two of them traveled to Prince Kichirou's homeland to visit him. One night, while they were fast asleep, Princess Shina suddenly heard a sound that woke her."

Nervous giggles fill the air as Misty opens the tent and peers into the rain, as if she is Princess Shina trying to find the noise that woke her. "She stared into the darkness and spied an Arbok coiled in the corner." Laughter goes up as Misty rears back in feigned surprise, as if the Arbok is really there. "She tried to remember all she had learned from the fairies of light. Suddenly, she remembered that Arboks loved milk. So she slipped out of bed and filled a bowl with milk." As Misty closes up the tent, Brock pauses to set a saucer of milk before Mai. "When the creature saw the bowl, it began to lap it up so quickly that Princess Shina worried that it would choke to death."

Laughter goes up at this. "When the Arbok finished the milk, it fell fast asleep, and Princess Shina told the guards to catch it and release it somewhere far away."

She pauses for a few beats before announcing "She had saved her husband from a deadly fate!"

More applause fills the air at this, but Misty still isn't finished. "Sadly, the king died the next day." she sighs as she returns to her "stage". "After the funeral rites were completed, Prince Kichirou ascended to the throne. One day, as he was out hunting with one of his Arcanines, he suddenly tripped over a log on the riverbank. To his astonishment, he heard two voices speaking to him as he tried to regain his bearings. One was Darkrai, and the other Arceus."

In a deeper version of himself to represent Darkrai, Brock growls "You cannot escape fate. Wherever you go, I will find you."

He then switches to a soft and gentle deep voice to represent Arceus. "There is still a chance for you to escape--look for a hole in sand filled with water that never dissolves."

Misty then continues "Prince Kichirou was terrified at this, and told Princess Shina what had happened. Princess Shina assured her beloved she would find a way to save him. After thinking for a moment, she remembered a special mint plant an earth fairy had told her about. The four-leafed mint grew in the desert and could keep water in a pit for a year or more."

Awed murmurs race through the crowd. "Princess Shina set out to find the water mint early the next morning." Misty goes on. "She left in the middle of the night, guided by starlight. She rode her shining Ponyta west, toward the desert, enduring heat, storms, and thirst all the while."

"At last they came to a mountain that cast a cool shadow." she continues as she gets the princess doll into position. "The water mint grew at the very top of that mountain, but it was surrounded by a deep chasm. Luckily, Princess Shina had packed some rope." She shows the audience the fishing line. "She made a large loop with one end..." Misty proceeds to do this with the fishing line and hangs it on one hook. "and tossed the other across the chasm with all her strength, where it caught on a branch." Gasps go up as Misty gives the fishing line a mighty heave, where it catches on the hook at the other end of the tent. "Trusting this rope to hold her up, Princess Shina climbed across the chasm."

The audience watches as Misty guides the princess doll across the rope. "The wind assailed her, and still she climbed." she continues as she guides the doll. "Blinded by sand, she felt her way up the mountain to the very top."

Some light applause fills the air when the doll reaches the other end. "She climbed on until she felt plants beneath her feet, and taking one..." Misty sets the doll aside and picks up a mint sprout. "she counted leaves -- one, two, three, four. Her heart pounding, she held fast to the plant and slid down the rock, leaped over the chasm, mounted her Ponyta, and rode for home."

Melody discretely sings a quiet spellsong to tidy the tent as Misty continues "When she got home, Princess Shina saw her beloved standing near the river beside a pit of sand he had dug. Beside the pit was a pot of water, and only a short distance away stood a hungry Croconaw. Princess Shina ran to the hole and instructed Prince Kichirou to pour in the water. As Prince Kichirou did this, she tossed in the water mint. Sure enough, the water did not seep through the sand, but remained. The angry Croconaw plunged back into the river and swam away."

Mild applause goes up at this. "Prince Kichirou was amazed at all Princess Shina had done--with her strength and commitment, he had overcome the second of the three fates the fairies had predicted so long ago." Misty replies. "Suddenly a wild Ducklett flew past. Prince Kichirou's Arcanine got excited and began to chase the Ducklett, causing Prince Kichirou to trip over him, sending them both tumbling into the river. Luckily, Princess Shina tossed a rope to her beloved and pulled him and his Arcanine ashore."

She concludes "Prince Kichirou stared into his wife's eyes--Princess Shina's bravery had proven to him yet again that her love was stronger than even fate. They lived happily ever after, and went on even more adventures together--but that is another story for another day!"

Ash leads the applause as Misty gathers up her props...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 130: The Prince's Pokemon (Ash)

(real tale: The Three Princes and their Beasts (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/079.htm))

"Once upon a time there were three princes, who had a stepsister." Ash begins. "One day, they all set out hunting together. While they were traveling through a deep forest, they discovered a great Mightyena with three babies. Just as they were going to shoot, the mama Mightyena pleaded for them not to shoot her, and she would give each of them one of her cubs in return. So the princes went on their way, and a little Poochyena followed each of them."

"Aw..." Misty smiles.

"Then they found a mama Entei with three cubs." Ash continues. "She too begged them not to shoot her, and she would give each of them a cub. This went on for a while, with the princes meeting a Ninetales, a Lopunny, a Pignite, and an Ursaring, till each prince had a full team of young Pokemon trotting along behind him."

"I bet they were on their toes keeping up with them all..." Brock grins.

"As the sun set, they came to a clearing in the forest, where three trees grew at each path of a three way fork in the road. The eldest prince--we'll call him Takuya--took an arrow," Ash pantomimes aiming a bow. "and shot it into the trunk of one of the trees. Turning to his brothers, he said..."

"Let each of us mark one of these trees before we travel on different paths." Brock fills in Prince Takuya's dialogue using a slightly high pitched version of himself. "If any one of us returns to this place, he must walk around the other trees. If he sees the mark in the tree has turned black, he will know that that brother is dead or has suffered misfortune, but if the mark glows, he will know that his brother has found fortune."

"So the other princes did as Prince Takuya had said, and when the three trees were marked by their arrows they turned to their stepsister and asked her with which of them she wanted to stay with." Ash continues. Then the brothers separated from each other, and each of them set out down a different road, followed by their Pokemon. The stepsister--we'll call her Aina--went with Prince Takuya, as that was the one she was closest with."

[What adventures did they get into?] a Meowth asks.

"After they had gone a little ways down the road they came into a forest, and in one of the deepest glades they suddenly found themselves near a castle in which there lived a gang of bandits." Ash replies. "Prince Takuya walked up to the door and knocked..." He knocks on a rock for effect. "No sooner had the door opened did Prince Takuya's Pokemon charged in and killed the bandits before the bandits could kill them."

He quickly interjects "Now, one of the bandits was only badly wounded, but he lay very still as if dead like the others."

Misty swallows hard as Ash continues "The next morning, Prince Takuya went out hunting. Before leaving he told Aina that she might go into any room in the house except into the cave where the dead bandits were. But his instructions went in one ear and out the other--after looking through all the other rooms, she went down to the cellar and opened the door. As soon as she looked in the bandit who had played dead sat up and said to her..."

"Don't be afraid. Do what I tell you, and I will be your friend." Brock fills in the bandit's dialogue in character as James. "If you marry me you will be much happier with me than with your brother. But you must first go into the kitchen and look in the cupboard. There you will find three bottles. In one of them there is a healing balm which you must put on my chin to heal the wound; then if I drink the potion in the second bottle it will make me well, and the third bottle's potion will make me stronger than I was before."

Brock continues in character "When your brother returns from the forest with his Pokemon, you must go to him and say, 'Brother, you are very strong. If I were to fasten your thumbs behind your back with a stout silk cord, could you wrench yourself free?' And when you see that he cannot do it, call me."

Some applause goes up at Brock's performance. "When Prince Takuya returned, Aina did as the bandit had told her, and fastened her brother's thumbs behind his back. But with one wrench he set himself free, and said to her..." Ash continues.

"Sister, that cord is not strong enough for me." Brock retorts as Prince Takuya.

"The next day, he returned to the forest with his Pokemon." Ash goes on. "and the bandit told her to bind his thumbs with a stronger cord. But again Prince Takuya freed himself, though not so easily as the first time, and he said to Aina..."

"Even that cord is not strong enough." Brock replies as Prince Takuya.

"On the third day, on his return from the forest he agreed to have his strength tested one more time." Ash continues. "So Aina took a very strong cord of silk, which she had prepared by the bandit's advice, and this time, though Prince Takuya pulled and tugged with all his might, he could not break the cord. So he called to her and said..."

"Sister, this time the cord is so strong I cannot break it. Come and unfasten it for me." Brock pleads as Prince Takuya.

"But instead of coming, Aina called to the bandit, who rushed into the room brandishing a dagger!" Ash announces, making the Pokemon gasp. But Prince Takuya said..."

"Wait for a moment." Brock instructs as Prince Takuya. "I would like before I die to sound three calls on my signaling whistle..." This gives Ash time to dig his whistle from his bag as Brock continues as Prince Takuya "One in this room, one on the stairs, and one in the courtyard."

"So the bandit consented, and the prince blew the whistle." Ash proceeds to play the Zelda whistle theme for effect. "At the first note, the Vulpix, which was asleep in the cage in the courtyard, awoke, and knew that her master needed help. So she woke the Poochyena by stroking his eyes with her tails. Then they woke the Entei, who heaved against the door of the cage with all his might, so that it fell in a gazillion pieces on the ground, freeing them all. They rushed through the court to their master's aid--the Vulpix gnawed the cord that bound Prince Takuya's thumbs behind his back, and the Entei flung himself on the bandit, killing him."

Some applause goes up as Ash continues "Prince Takuya set a huge bowl before Aina, and instructed her not to come out of the house until the bowl had been filled with her tears of remorse."

He continues. "He called his Pokemon together, and set out on his travels. For a while, Prince Takuya's travels were uneventful until he came to an inn in another land. Everyone in the inn seemed sad, so when he asked them what was wrong, they replied that the princess of the land--we'll call her Remina--was to be given as a sacrifice to a dreadful Hydreigon."

"Why should she die?" Brock declares as Prince Takuya. "I will save her myself!"

"So he set out to the plain where the Hydreigon was to meet Princess Remina." Ash goes on. "As he waited with his Pokemon,a great procession came along, accompanying Princess Remina. When the the procession reached the plain, all the people left her, and returned sadly to their houses. But Prince Takuya remained, and after a few tense moments, he saw movement in the water a long way off. As it came nearer, he knew what it was--the Hydreigon!"

Everyone is on the edge of their seats as Ash continues. "Then Prince Takuya told his Pokemon to attack, and as the Hydreigon approached the shore, the Vulpix drew her tails through the water and blinded the Hydreigon by scattering the water in his eyes. The Teddiursa and the Entei threw up more water with their paws, so that the Hydreigon was both blinded and confused. Then Prince Takuya rushed forward with his sword slew the Hydreigon!"

"HAH!!!" Brock stabs at the air with a stick, as if the Hydreigon is really there.

Everyone laughs as Ash concludes "When the king learned what had happened, he was amazed that someone managed to slay the Hydreigon, and offered Prince Takuya Princess Remina's hand in marriage as a reward. It wasn't long before Prince Takuya was married to Princess Remina and rewarded with half the kingdom to boot."

"Pika pika pikachu?" Pikachu asks.

"As for what happened to Prince Takuya's brothers, that is another story for another day!" Ash replies.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 131: The Bridge that Gave Plenty (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 45, story 1)


"In a certain village by Ilex Forest lived a charcoal maker." Brock begins.

Misty suddenly cuts him off. "Seems that a lot of tales from the Azalea Town area have to do with some charcoal maker or another that gets blessed with wealth for being kind..."

"To be fair, that family has been very prosperous for years making Charcoal, so of course a lot of stories sprung up about how they got their prosperity." Brock replies. "Anyway, one day, he spotted a hungry Zigzagoon, and gave it some food. His kindness wan't just for the Pokemon--if anyone in the village needed help or was sick, he would move heaven and earth to make things right again. But one person can only do so much, so every night he worried about what people and Pokemon he wasn't able to help."

"Pika?" Pikachu wonders.

"One night, Arceus appeared to the charcoal maker in a dream, and told him that as a reward for his kindness, he would give him anything he wanted. The charcoal maker replied that he only wanted enough food and water to feed everyone in the village and himself. Arceus then instructed him to travel to a certain bridge."

"So where was this bridge?" Misty is curious.

"The next day, the charcoal maker spent hours looking for the bridge while in town. Eventually, he found a bridge leading to an array of food stalls, earning it the nickname 'the bridge that gives plenty'." Brock explains. "He stood at one end, but everyone just stared at him."

"And then?" Ash is intrigued.

"A few days went by, and on the fifth day, one of the food merchants noticed him, and asked why he was on the end of the bridge." Brock replies. "When the charcoal maker explained his dream, the merchant replies that he had a dream where Arceus appeared to him and told him he'd left a treasure somewhere in the charcoal maker's fields."

Everyone gasps as Brock continues "Excited, the charcoal maker hurried home and dug up his field. Sure enough, he found a huge stash of gold and gems--more than most people like him ever earned in a lifetime."

He concludes "He used the money to buy food for the poor and help millions more people and Pokemon, but there was enough left to ensure that he and his descendants would never have to worry about food or money either."

Misty leads the applause as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 132: The Hiding Snow (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 46, story 1)

"One day on her journeys, a miko passed through a certain village." Misty begins. "It was getting late, so she asked one of the townsfolk if she could spend the night with them. The woman invited her in, and makes her a small meal out of what little she had."

"Poor lady..." Melody sighs.

"The miko noticed a lot of rice stalks outside, and suggested they bring them in to cook, not knowing they belonged to the town rich man." Misty continues. "The woman pleaded with her not to, for they would surely be caught and subjected to some kind of horrible punishment if they did."

"What did the miko say?" Ash is interested.

"The miko assured the woman that she had a way to conceal any footprints." Misty assures Ash. "She told the woman that rice and all things in the world were a gift from the Great Lord Arceus. She went on to say that stealing was, in fact, wrong; but sometimes, it is a necessary evil, and Arceus understands if something is stolen to help another."

Everyone listens as Misty goes on "So that night, the woman took a little of the rice, and made some onigiri for the miko. The next morning, the woman was shocked to find that it snowed during the night, covering any evidence of what she did. The woman wished the miko well on her journey, but all day, she worried that the miko was some evil spirit, or even Darkai, tempting her."

"And then?" Even Brock is worried about the woman.

"Just before she could leave to apologize, she was shocked to find the rich man at her door." Misty replies.

"Pika pika chu?" Pikachu asks.

"The rich man smiled and said that was not why he came at all." Misty replies. "He explained that Arceus appeared to him in a dream the previous night and told him to share some of his plentiful harvest with the less fortunate. He mused that maybe the miko was really Arceus testing the woman's faith."

She concludes "The moral of the story here? Snow hides footsteps, but it will not hide the footsteps of the evil and selfish."

[A wise lesson.] Mai agrees as the group applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 133: The Iron Stove (Ash)

(real tale: The Iron Stove (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/043.htm))

"Once upon a time, there was a prince who was cursed by an old witch to sit in a large iron stove in a forest." Ash begins. "We'll call him Katsuro."

"How could he stay in there and not get burned?" Misty is piqued.

"That was a question many would be heroes and adventurers pondered." Ash assures Misty. "Katsuro had been in the stove for many years, unharmed by its fire, and no one had any idea how to free him."

"Interesting..." Brock is equally piqued in the tale's setup.

"Now, one day, a princess got lost in the forest--we'll call her Sachi." Ash continues. "She had been wandering around in the forest for about nine days when she discovered the iron stove. When she peeked in, Katsuro asked her, "Where do you come from, and where do you want to go?"

"I have lost my way to my father's kingdom, and I don't know how to get home." Melody fills in Sachi's dialogue.

"I will help you find your way home, if you will promise to do what I tell you." Ash explains in character as Katsuro. "I am a prince trapped in here, and although I can't see you, I wish to marry you."

He acknowledges the applause for his interplay, then continues. "Princess Sachi was scared and confused, and wondered just what could a young girl do with an iron stove. But she wanted very much to go home, and promised to do what the voice inside the stove said."

"So what did Prince Katsuro ask Princess Sachi to do?" Brock asks.

"He first asked her to bring a blade sharp enough to make a hole in the iron." Ash replies. "That was enough to give Princess Sachi new resolve--she eventually made it out of the forest and back to her father's castle in roughly two hours. Needless to say, everyone was elated to see Princess Sachi home safe, especially her father the king."

"I would be too, if I were the king." Brock smiles.

"Princess Sachi told her father everything that had happened, and when the king heard it all, he turned white as a Gastly in fear--what if this being in the stove was some monster or evil spirit?"

[What did they do?] Mai is intrigued.

"The king remembered that the miller had a daughter of his own, who was very beautiful herself." Ash explains. "So he decided that she would take Princess Sachi's place."

"Uh oh..." Misty giggles as she pictures Prince Katsuro's reaction to the switch.

"So they took the miller's daughter there, gave her a knife, and told her to scrape at the iron stove." Ash continues. "She scraped at it for an entire day, but did not make so much as a dent. The next day, Prince Katsuro called from the iron stove..." As Prince Katsuro again, he intones "I see the sun, a new day has come."

"It seems so to me; I think I hear my father's mill rattling." Melody fill's in the daughter's dialogue.

"Prince Katsuro sent the miller's daughter away right then and there, telling her he wanted to see Princess Sachi." Ash continues over the applause. "The miller's daughter told the king what had happened, but the king was still afraid Princess Sachi was being lured into a trap. He sent a swineherd's daughter out the next day, but the same thing happened--after not making so much as a dent, Prince Katsuro learned who was really outside, and sent her away with a dire warning."

He intones as Prince Katsuro "If she does not come, the kingdom will fall into ruin, and not one stone will remain."

Brock swallows hard as Ash continues. "Finally, the king allowed Princess Sachi to go to the iron stove. As soon as she reached it she began to scrape, and made a little hole before two hours were up. She peeked in, and saw Prince Katsuro, with all his jewels and finery, she fell in love with him right then and there."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, sparking intently.

"Princess Sachi eventually made the hole large enough for Prince Katsuro to get out." Ash concludes. Prince Katsuro reiterated his love for Princess Sachi, and he was welcomed with all the trappings and pageantry of a great hero when Princess Sachi brought him home. They were married not long after, and lived happily ever after."

Misty's applause is the loudest. "That was a sweet tale..."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 134: The Juniper Rod, part 1 (Brock)

(real tale: The Witch of Lok Island (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Folk_Tales_From_Britanny&story=Witch_Of_Lok_Island))

"A long time ago, in a land far away, there lived a boy named Hideki and a girl named Sora." Brock begins. "They had grown up together, and loved each other like sister and brother. When their parents died, leaving them almost nothing, they were obliged to go into the world and seek their own fortunes. By sheer coincidence, they wound up in service at the same house."

He waits for a beat, then continues "Now, you'd think that they were happy, but every day they found something new to long for or wish for. "One day, it was a little house of their own, then the next day, they would long for a field to go with the house, then they would yearn for a Ponyta to till the aforementioned field..."

Giggles go up at this as Brock goes on. "They complained like this every day until finally, Hideki went to the threshing-floor--where Sora was winnowing grain--and told her he was going to set out to seek his fortune elsewhere."

"Poor Sora..." Misty brushes away a tear.

"Of course, Sora was very sad on hearing the news and tried to persuade Hideki not to go." Brock continues. "But he didn't listen. Sora relented a few minutes later, and gave Hideki the most precious treasures her parents had left to her--a bell, a sword, and a rod."

"Pika pi?" Pikachu asks, excited at the prospect of magic.

"The bell could be heard anywhere, no matter where it was rung--so Sora had used it to warn her friends of any danger." Brock explains. "Whatever the sword touched would escape from any evil spell, curse, or hex. The rod would guide the bearer to wherever they wanted to go. She gave Hideki the sword so he would have something to defend himself with, and the bell so that it would warn her when he are in danger. But she asked to keep the the rod, so that she would be able to reach him if he needed her."

"Wow!" Ash is impressed.

"Hideki thanked his beloved, and promised to return to her safely." Brock continues. "They shed a few tears together, which is understandable when one has to say goodbye, and Hideki started off toward the mountains. Then he decided to turn south, and after several days reached the town of Vertania, where Viridian City is today."

[And then?] Korra asks.

"One morning, he was sitting in the common room of the inn and saw two merchants pass, leading their Ponytas." Brock continues. "Hideki happened to overhear their conversation, and discovered that they were talking about the witch said to live where Cinnabar Island is today. Hideki caught up to them in the town square and asked to learn more about the witch. They told him that the witch of Guren Island--as Cinnabar was called in those days--was actually a fairy who lived in a lake somewhere on the island."

"Hm..." Ash pictures what the island and the witch possibly look like.

"The merchants also told Hideki that the witch was richer than all the wealth of the kings and queens of the world combined." Brock intones, to some stunned gasps. "Many a boy and girl in search of fortune had gone to the island to find her treasure but not one of them had ever returned."

"So did Hideki decide to go?" Misty is curious.

"When Hideki heard this, he was eager to go to the island to seek adventure." Brock continues. The merchants tried to dissuade him, saying that he was tempting fate. When Hideki still wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, they threatened to keep him back by force."

"So, what did Hideki do?" Ash wonders.

"He thanked the merchants for the information, and said he would forget the whole thing if they would take up a collection for him to buy a little house for him and his beloved Sora." Brock replies. "The merchants quickly changed their tune, saying that if Hideki was really going to travel to the island, they were not in any position to stop him. So Hideki went down to the port, and set sail for Guren Island..."

Everyone is at the edge of their seats, but Brock just smiles and concludes "But I will tell you what happened next on my next turn."

"Not a cliffhanger..." Ash groans.

"I'll hold you to that promise." Misty cautions, seething that Brock ended with a cliffhanger..

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 135: Sorin and Illumise's Egg Hunt (Misty)

(real tale: Anansi and Firefly Go Hunting (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20130224)

"One afternoon long, long ago, Sorin was sitting at home resting when he saw Illumise fly past." Misty begins. "When Sorin saw her, he got a fine idea, if he said so himself."

In character as Sorin, she calls to no one in particular "Oi, Illumise! Why dontcha stop in and chitchat with me for a while?"

As herself, she continues "So Illumise did, and they talked for hours. After they had talked for a while, Sorin suggested they go hunting for eggs together in the forest. Now, Illumise knew as well as anyone that Sorin was quite the trickster..."

Thunderous applause goes up at the familiar beginning. "but she agreed to Sorin's proposal, and told him to come to her house at sunset." Misty continues when the applause dies down. "Sorin loved hunting, and he loved collecting all manner of Pokemon eggs. And Illumise seemed like the perfect hunting companion for anyone who liked to sneak around, for she would give him light to see in the dark."

Giggles go up as the audience anticipates what hijinks the crafty Pikachu will get into this time around. "When the sun set, Sorin hurried to Illumise's house. Together they set off for the forest, and there they snuck up on an unguarded Pidgey's nest." Misty continues. "It was nighttime, and there was no moon in the sky. But Illumise opened her wings, and when she did, her tail lit up the forest like it was daytime. It was just enough light for Sorin to see not just the six Pidgey eggs, but all the eggs in the immediate vicinity. So he went to work, picking up every single egg out of every single nest in that tree, and placing them carefully in his basket. When he had gathered every last one, he and Illumise hurried to another tree with nests, and the process would begin anew."

She quickly interjects "As the night wore on, Illumise began to grow tired, and she wondered if this wasn't a mistake."

More giggles go up as Misty goes on "Before long, Sorin's basket was overflowing, and as they moved on across the dark forest, Illumise suggested..." In a breathy female voice, she intones "Come, let's go to the next tree, and this time you'll fill my basket."

"I'm too tired to do any more hunting," she sighs as Sorin. "I think I'll just take my eggs home."

As herself, she continues "Illumise was furious at this, and flew away in a huff, leaving Sorin stranded in the dark."

The audience gasps at the sudden turn of events. "They had traveled for a long, long time, and gone a long, long way, and Sorin had no idea how to find his way home." Misty intones. "As Sorin groped about in the darkness, he bumped smack into what he thought was a house."

With that, she calls as Sorin "Hello! Anybody home?"

In a deep and gravely voice, Brock answers "Who's that in my house?"

"It's Sorin, your good friend!" Misty calls as Sorin.

As herself, she explains "Sorin recognized the deep voice that had answered him--he had wandered into Raikou's den!"

"Ooh"s and giggles fill the air at this. "Raikou saw Sorin in the dim light of the den's entryway and let out a huge sigh." Misty continues. "Sorin had tricked him many times before, and every Pokemon knew that nobody makes a fool of Raikou. But Raikou was a clever Pokemon in his own right. And so, although Sorin was no friend of his, he said, very sweetly..."

In a gentler version of his Raikou voice, Brock says "Come in, my friend."

Misty continues "Sorin stepped inside, and the moment he did, Raikou shut the door behind him."

"Look at those eggs!" Brock gasps as Raikou as he admires an imagined egg. "Let's boil them and have a feast."

Misty continues "Before Sorin could say a word, Raikou put a big kettle on the fire and called out to his wife and cubs..."

As Raikou again, Brock calls "Come see our midnight snack!"

Laughter goes up as the audience pictures the look on Sorin's face as the Raikous enter the room. "So Lady Raikou and the four cubs hurried into the room, and the moment those eggs were boiled, they began to gobble them down." Misty continues. "But after a few minutes, Rakou began wondering if perhaps Sorin wanted some, too. Sorin was nervous surrounded by all the Raikous, and politely declined. He didn't want to upset the Raikous, after all."

Chuckles of anticipation race through the crowd. "So when all the eggs were gone, Raikou waited until Sorin was looking the other way, dropped a Corphish into the kettle, and then covered the Corphish with all the eggshells. He then invited Sorin to stay the night. Sorin nodded when he saw those gleaming teeth, sharp as knives. He didn't want to refuse Raikou."

Misty waits a few beats, then continues. "Before long, everyone was fast asleep -- everyone but Sorin, who was trying oh-so-hard not to fall asleep. When he heard everyone snoring, he tiptoed to the kettle, reached inside to grab an egg, but the Corphish pinched him hard!"

"AI-YAI-YAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" she screams as Sorin, making the audience roar with laughter.

"Are you all right?" Brock calls as Raikou, trying oh-so-hard not to laugh and break character at Misty's feigned dance of pain.

"There are terrible bugs in this house!" Misty complains as Sorin.

"Bugs?" Brock gasps as Raikou. "How dare you insult us!!!" Startled screams mix with more laughter as Brock performs a perfect Raikou roar.

Once the laughter calms down, Misty continues "Sorin raced to the door as fast as he could, and Raikou couldn't help but grin as he watched the little Pikachu hurrying home."

She concludes "Needless to say, Sorin never returned to Raikou's den, and he never went hunting with Illumise again!"

Ash brushes away a tear of laughter as he applauds. "Oh, that was so funny!"

"Moral of the story? If you go hunting at night with a Pokemon, don't offend your light source!" Misty cautions to more laughter...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 136: The Enchanted Tepig (Ash)

(real tale: The Enchanted Pig (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/112.htm))

"Once upon a time there lived a king who had three daughters." Ash begins. "Now it happened that a neighboring kingdom threatened to invade, and so he had to go off to the battlefield. So he called his daughters and said to them..."

"My dear children, I am obliged to go off to battle." Brock fills in the king's dialogue. "The enemy is approaching us with a large army. It pains me very much to leave you all. While I am away, take care of yourselves and be good girls; behave well and look after everything in the castle. You may walk in the garden, and you may go into all the rooms in the palace, except the room at the back in the right-hand corner; into that you must not enter, for harm would befall you."

"You may keep your mind easy, father," Misty replies as one of the princesses.

"We have never disobeyed you." Melody adds. "Go in peace, and may Arceus give you a glorious victory!"

Ash grins at his friends' interplay before continuing "When it came time for him to leave the next day, the king gave them the keys to the castle and reminded them about what he had said. His daughters kissed his hands with tears in their eyes, and wished him well."

He continues "Now when the girls found themselves alone they felt so downhearted that they did not know what to do. So, to pass the time, they decided to work for part of the day, read for another part of the day, and go out into the garden for part of the day. At first, everything seemed fine. But it wasn't long before they got bored again. Every day they grew more and more curious--just WHAT was behind the door their father had warned them not to open?"

"Nothing good, if their dad had to warn them about it." Brock muses.

"The eldest Princess--we'll call her Kaori--complained that she was sick of sewing, spinning, and reading all day." Ash goes on. "It had only been a few days since their father left, and they had already explored the palace and the royal garden from top to bottom, save for the one room that their father forbade them to enter."

"Pini pini?" Happini asks.

"Well, the youngest--we'll call her Mizuki--was appalled that her sister would even THINK about breaking their father's command." Ash explains. "But the middle princess--we'll call her Chihaya--assured her sisters that the world probably wouldn't end if they went in, and as far as she knew, no dragons, monsters, or spirits in there, so what harm was there in going in?"

"Uh oh.." Misty giggles.

"The three girls entered, and what do you think they saw?" Ash asks his audience.

"Some legendary item wielded by a great hero from long ago?" Brock guesses.

"A potion of immortality?" Misty suggests.

"A book of magic spells?" Melody guesses.

"Actually, the room was pretty much empty, and without much in the way of decor." Ash explains. "But in the middle stood a large table, covered with a gorgeous cloth. And on this table lay a large open book."

"Did it have spells?" Melody gasps, excited.

"Well, after debating who would read out of the ancient book first, Princess Kaori decided to read a few of the book's writings." Ash replies "In one paragraph was the prophecy that the eldest daughter of the king would marry a prince from the east lands."

"Oh, it was a book of prophecies..." Misty muses.

Then Princess Chihaya stepped forward, and turning the page she read a prophecy that the middle daughter of the king would marry a prince from the west lands." Ash continues. "But Princess Mizuki did not want to even go near the table, much less take a peek at the book of prophecies. But she went ahead at her sister's behest, and turned the page. In one paragraph was a prophecy that said that the youngest daughter of the king would be married to a Tepig from the north lands."

Gasps fill the tent at this. "Princess Mizuki turned white as a Gastly, and deeply wished she could crawl under something and disappear." Ash goes on. Her sisters ribbed and teased her, but Princess Mizuki was quite depressed--not only did she discover a horrible fate in store for her, but what pained her even more was disobeying her father. Even the servants knew something was up, because she didn't laugh and smile as she once did."

"Pika pika pi?" Pikachu asks as he brushes away a tear, fearful for the princesses.

"Meanwhile, the king won a great victory, and having completely defeated and driven off the enemy, he hurried home to his daughters, who he had sorely missed while on the battlefield." Ash continues. "Everyone ran out to meet him with trumpets and flutes and tambourines, and there was great rejoicing over his victorious return. The king's first act on reaching home was to thank Arceus for the victory he had won. He then entered his palace, and the three princesses ran to meet him. His joy was great when he saw that they were all well, for Princess Mizuki did her best not to appear sad.

In spite of this, however, it was not long before the king noticed that Princess Mizuki looked pale and sullen." he goes on. "Suddenly, he felt as if a hot iron were entering his soul, for it flashed through his mind that she had disobeyed his word. He felt sure he was right; but to be quite certain he called his daughters to him, questioned them, and ordered them to speak the truth. They confessed everything, but took good care not to say which of them had suggested it."

"So what did the king do to punish them?" Misty worries.

"The king was so distressed when he heard it that he was almost overcome by grief. But he took heart and tried to comfort his daughters, who looked frightened to death. He saw that what was done was done, for better or for worse." Ash replies. "Some months went by, and the incident nearly forgotten, until one day, a prince from the east lands appeared at the court and asked the king for the hand of Princess Kaori. The king gladly gave his consent. A great wedding banquet was prepared, and after three days of feasting the happy pair were accompanied to the frontier with much ceremony and rejoicing. Then a few months later the same thing happened again, when a prince from the west lands asked for the hand of Princess Chihaya in marriage."

[What about Princess Mizuki?] Korra wonders.

"Now when Princess Mizuki saw that everything had come to pass as the book of prophecies foretold, she grew very depressed again." Ash explains. "She refused to eat, and would not put on her royal robes nor go out walking, saying that she would rather die than become a laughingstock to the world. But the king did whatever he could to comfort her."

Ash grins as he savors his audience's glances of anticipation--it's time for the big twist in his tale. "A few months went by, and one day a literal Tepig from the north walked into the palace, marched right up to the king's throne, and told him he wished for Princess Mizuki's hand in marriage."

Everyone laughs as they picure the king's reaction. "Now the king was astonished to hear a Pokemon, much less a Tepig, speak." Ash explains. "He tried to talk the Tepig out of it, but after realizing the nobles of the land weren't that much better, reluctantly gave his okay. They agreed the wedding would occur in a week. The king then sent for Princess Mizuki, and advised her to submit to fate, as there was nothing else that could be done. But he added..."

"My child, the words and whole behavior of this Tepig are quite unlike those of other Tepigs." Brock fills in the king's dialogue. "I don't believe that he always was a Tepig. Perhaps some magic or curse or enchantment is afoot. Do everything that he wishes, and I feel sure that Arceus will shortly send you release."

"If you wish me to do this, dear father, I will do it," Misty replies as Princess Mizuki.

"So after the wedding festivities died down, the Tepig and his bride set out for his home in one of the royal carriages." Ash continues. "On the way they passed a great swamp, and the Tepig ordered the carriage to stop, and got out and rolled about in the mire till he was covered with mud from head to foot; then he got back into the carriage and told his wife to kiss him. What was the poor girl to do? She bethought herself of her father's words, and, pulling out her pocket handkerchief, she gently wiped the Tepig's snout and kissed it."

"Ew"s go up from the audience. "By the time they reached the Tepig's dwelling, which stood in a thick wood, it was quite dark." Ash goes on. They sat down quietly for a little, as they were tired after their drive; then they had dinner together, and lay down to rest. During the night, Princess Mizuki noticed that the Tepig had turned into a handsome young man. She was not a little surprised, but remembering her father's words, she took courage, determined to wait and see what would happen."

[I knew that the Tepig was really a prince under a spell!] Korra smiles.

"This wore on for a while--every night the Tepig became a young man, and every morning he was changed into a Tepig before she awoke." Ash continues. "She began to suspect that he was under a spell, but she grew fond of him, as he was so kind and gentle..."

[This is boring...] a male Meowth yawns.

[Yes, it's taking forever just to get to the quest.] Mai agrees.

Ash sighs. "Okay, I'll try and think of another one that isn't quite so long."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 137: The Juniper Rod (part 2) (Brock)

(real tale: The Witch of Lok island (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Folk_Tales_From_Britanny&story=Witch_Of_Lok_Island)

"So, what happened to Hideki when he got to Guren Island?" Misty asks Brock, eager to know what happened next in his epic adventure.

"Glad you asked!" Brock smiles as he checks his guitar's tuning, then starts a mystical melody. "When he got there, he soon found the pool in the middle of the island. It was surrounded with sea-drift covered with sakura. Hideki noticed at the far end of the lake in the shade of a clump of flowers was a sea-green boat floating on the still water that looked like a sleeping Swanna with its head under its wing."

"How pretty!" Melody sighs dreamily as she pictures herself in such a boat.

"As Hideki had never seen anything like this before, he crept up to it out of curiosity." Brock explains as he plays a "sneaking" melody. "Then he stepped into the boat to examine it more closely. He had Hardly put his foot in it when he discovered it had turned into a living, breathing Swanna!"

Everyone laughs as they picture Hideki's reaction. "Hideki uttered a cry of dismay at the amazing transformation, but the Swanna only floated more quickly toward the middle of the lake." Brock continues. "Then the Swanna put its beak in the water and dove in, carrying Hideki with it into the depths."

After playing a long harp-like riff to simulate the Swanna swimming, Brock intones "In a moment they had reached the witch's castle, which was made of many tiny glittering seashells. A crystal stairway led up to the door, and it was built in such a way that at each step you took the stair sang like a forest bird. All around the palace were immense gardens and lawns of seaweed set with diamonds and other jewels instead of flowers, and surrounding the gardens was a forest of kelp."

Amazed murmurs fill the air as the group imagines the castle. "Hideki stood in the doorway of the castle, and there in the first room he saw the witch lying on a golden bed. She was dressed in sea-green silk as fine and soft as a wave. Coral ornaments were in her black hair which fell down to her feet; and her face was as delicately tinted as the inside of a shell." Brock continues.

"Beautiful witches are even worse than old hags..." Ash muses.

"Hideki was awed at the sight of so beautiful a lady." Brock intones over a tense melody. "But the fairy rose up smiling and went toward him, her steps like the sweep of the waves on the rolling sea."

In character as a lady, he begins "Welcome--there is always a place here for strangers like you. Who are you? Where do you come from? And what do you want?"

"My name is Hideki," he answers in character as a young boy. "I come from Nisambi, and I am looking for enough money to buy a house and fields of my own"

"Very well," he replies as the witch, "your search shall be rewarded,--you shall have your heart's desire."

Ash swallows hard over the guitar's tense riff. "I have a bad feeling about this..."

"The witch then ushered him into a second room, the walls of which were hung with threaded pearls." Brock continues as himself. "She gave him eight different kinds of wine in eight different goblets, each one made of chased gold. Hideki began by drinking the eight wines and, as he found them delicious, he drank eight servings of each, and always he imagined the witch was more and still more beautiful. Had the world ever seen so enchanting a being?"

"Sixty four glasses of wine will do that to you..." Misty giggles.

"As Hideki drank, the witch told him that the pool of Guren Island was connected by an underground passage with the sea, and that all the wealth of wrecked ships was drawn there by a magic current." Brock goes on. He then gasps as Hideki "On my honor! I am not surprised that landlubbers speak so badly of you. People as rich as you are always making others envious. As far as I am concerned half your fortune would do for me."

"You shall have it, Hideki," he replies as the witch.

"But how can you manage that?" he gasps as Hideki.

"I have lost my husband who was an elf," he answers as the witch; "and so if I am to your taste I will be your wife."

The audience applauds at the interplay before Brock continues as himself "Hideki was quite breathless at what he heard. Was it possible that he was to marry the beautiful fairy whose palace was rich enough to contain eight barrels of marvelous wine, and more? He had promised to marry Sora, but memories of Sora were fast becoming clouded by fumes from the witch's brews."

Tense murmurs fill the air. "Hideki told the fairy very politely that he could not refuse her offer, and that he was overcome with joy at the prospect of becoming her husband." Brock intones over an ominous chord. The witch then said she would prepare the feast for the betrothal at once. She set a table and spread it with the nicest dishes Hideki had ever seen, as well as many he had never tasted before. Then she went out into the garden to a fish pond and, taking a net in her hand, leaned out over the water.

As the witch, he calls "Come here, tamer of Pokemon! Come here, come here, miller, tailor, pastor!"

He interjects as himself "Each time she spoke, Hideki saw a Magikarp leap into her net."

"Then that means..." Misty's eyes widen as she puts two and two together.

Brock seemingly confirms Misty's prediction a few moments later. "When the net was full, she went back into the palace to the room next to the one where the table was set, and taking a golden frying pan she threw all the Magikarps into it. Yet for some reason Hideki swore that amidst the sputter of the frying, he could hear whispers."

"Who is whispering in your golden frying pan, fairy?" he asks as Hideki.

"It is just the sparks that the wood is throwing out," he replies as the witch.

He interjects as himself "But then he heard the little voices begin to mutter."

"Who is muttering?" he asks as Hideki.

"It is the fat that is melting," he replies as the witch.

He interjects as himself again "Soon the voices began to shout."

"Who is shouting so, fairy?" he asks, a note of fear in his 'Hideki' voice.

"It is only the Nincadas on the hearthstone," he answers as the witch.

As himself, he continues "Now all that was happening began to clear Hideki's head. He was shaking in fear, and yet he also felt a pang or three of remorse. How could he forget Sora for a lady with all the wiles and charms of Darkrai, and likely with evil powers to boot?"

[So what did he do?] Even Mai is shaking in fear over Hideki's fate.

"While Hideki was mulling his predicament, the witch brought in the fried Magikarp and begged him to sit down to dinner." Brock explains to the Persian. "As she left to bring him even more wine for him to taste, Hideki sat down and drew the sword Sora gave him, touching the blade to every dish. Amazingly, all the Magikarp transformed into a dizzying array of men and women. They begged Hideki to save them if he wanted to be saved himself."

Misty grins. I knew all those Magikarps were really people the witch turned into Magikarps!

"As they climbed from the dishes, many of the captives told Hideki that they too came to Guren Island to seek their fortune at one time or another." Brock continues over another tense riff. "They agreed to marry or serve the witch, and the next day turned them into Magikarp just as she had turned those who came before them into Magikarps who were all swimming in the big fish pond. If Hideki didn't do something, they warned, he would soon be in the same state, perhaps fried and eaten by the newcomers!"

Gasps go up at Brock's horrifying prediction. "At this, Hideki leapt up as though he was already in the golden frying pan." Brock goes on over a "running" melody. "He rushed toward the door, hoping to escape before the witch came back. But she had heard everything--she turned Hideki into a Froagie, and threw him into the fish pond with her other enchanted captives."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats, eager to find out if Hideki will escape or if he will be rescued. "As Hideki fell towards the fish pond, the silver bell rang..." Brock plays a harmonic A note to represent a bell. "which Sora heard all the way back in Nisambi. She knew from the bell's ringing that Hideki was in grave danger, so she hurried to her room, grabbed the juniper rod, and raced out to the path leading out of town. She then held the rod to the sky and sang..." Brock pauses to sing in character as young lady Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

He grins at the small crowd. "As for what Sora conjured? You'll have to find out on my next turn!"

"Tell the quickest story you know!" Melody pleads with Misty and Ash. "I want to know what happens next, and the faster you two finish, the sooner Brock can tell the next part!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 138: Starfire (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 47, story 3)

"There were once two brothers that lived on a hill." Misty begins. "One night, in his impatience for dinner to be ready, the younger brother touched the hot pot, splattering the broth everywhere and putting out the cooking fire."

The boys laugh at this. "He tried to light it again, but his tinder had gotten all wet, and wouldn't light." Misty goes on. The boys and the Pokemon laugh even harder at Misty pantomiming unsuccessful attempts at lighting a match.

"In his frustration, the younger brother looked out at the starry sky..." Misty looks up at the top of the tent to prove her point. "and decided to try and get fire from the stars."

"Now how could they catch starfire when the stars are a billion miles away?" Ash wonders.

"The elder brother got the longest pole he could find, but try as he might, he failed to make a star fall." Misty continues. "The younger brother tried to use the pole from the house's roof, but still failed to catch a star. They next tried from the top of an oak tree, but that didn't work either."

Everyone giggles at this. "They then decided to climb the mountain by their house." Misty continues. "After a few more minutes of trying to make a star fall, they saw a great flash of light from their house."

"What was it?" Melody is curious.

"When they returned, they saw a few embers glowing in the fire pit, and concluded it was the star they were trying to reach." Misty explains. "They finally had their dinner, but they were extra careful not to let the fire go out again, so they wouldn't have to go after another star!"

"Yeah, catching stars is too much trouble!" Ash agrees as he applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 139: The Mysterious Love Song (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 48, story 2)

"In case you don't know, Lavaridge Town has long been known for its hot springs, which some have said have healing powers." Brock explains to the audience. "But as Ash is about to tell you, they've also brought together friends and lovers as well."

Fascinated murmurs go up at this as Brock motions for Ash to begin. "Well, one day, a man--we'll call him Masato--came to the springs to relax, when he saw a girl--we'll call her Shiori--struggling with a broken sandal." he begins. "Masato fixed it for her, but all that day, he couldn't get Shiori out of his mind."

He pauses for a beat, then continues "They met again the next day on the bridge leading to Lavaridge Town. They talked for a while, and after a few months, grow very close."

"Aw"s fill the air before Ash intones "One day, the Masato found out that Shiori had left the springs, leaving behind an odd letter. However, it was hard for him to read the writing, so he hurried westward, in hopes Shiori went that way. Eventually he met a miko resting at an inn, and asked her to read it."

"What did the letter say?" Melody asks, piqued.

"The miko read the message--which said 'If you miss me, visit me at the seventeenth village.' Ash replies. "She went on to tell Masato that the seventeenth village was a place known as Wakasa Town."

He goes on "Masato followed the miko's instructions to the letter, and came to the largest house in Wakasa Town, where he learned his beloved Shiori was about to be wed to a man she did not love. He settled down in Wakasa Town, where he found work running the general store, hoping all the while that Shiori would come to him and recognize him."

"Did Masato ever see Shiori again?" Misty worries.

"Meanwhile, Shiori got very sick, which her father believed was lovesickness." Ash assures Misty. "He told his servants that he would be willing to let her marry who she loved--if she could identify her own writing. The servants wrote all manner of love songs, but the bulk of them were terrible."

Giggles go up at this. "When Shiori got to the last one, she found it was the song she had written!"

Cheers go up as Ash concludes "And so it was that Masato and Shiori were reunited, and they were married not long after."

"Aw..." Misty smiles as she applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 140: The Juniper Rod (part 3) (Brock)

(real tale: The Witch of Lok Island (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Folk_Tales_From_Britanny&story=Witch_Of_Lok_Island))

"So, what did the juniper rod turn into?" Melody asks as the group awaits the third part of Brock's adventure.

After making sure his guitar is in tune, Brock goes on. "The rod turned into a shining Ponyta, complete with saddle and bridle. Sora mounted and galloped off so fast, the trees and the ditches and the church steeples flew past the girl's eyes in a colorful blur." He plays an adventurous melody to prove his point. "Yet she longed to go even faster, and she urged her Ponyta onward, whispering in its ear..."

His song quiets for a moment as he whispers in character as Sora "The Ponyta is less swift than the Taillow, the Taillow less swift than the wind, the wind is less swift than the lightning, but, steed of mine, you must be swifter than all, for part of my heart is suffering, the dearest half of my heart is in danger."

"The Ponyta understood her, and flew with all the speed of one of the Legendary Beasts." he continues as himself before ending his song. "Finally, they reached the foot of Mt. Moon, where Sora invoked the rod's power again."

He sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... as Sora before continuing as himself. "She had barely finished the magical song when the Ponyta transformed into a gold Pidgeot, who then took her to the very summit of the mountain."

"What did Sora find on the peak of Mt. Moon?" Ash wonders.

"Sora found what looked like a nest made of potter's clay, lined with dry moss." Brock replies. "A Sableye was sitting there, his diamond eyes the only light in the dark. When he saw Sora, he cried..."

He next switches to a Chatot-like voice. "Here is the maid who has come to save me!"

"To save you?" he gasps as Sora. "Who are you?"

"I am Naoki, the husband of the witch of Guren Island. She it is who with her spells confines me here." he replies as the Sableye.

"But what are you doing on that nest?" he asks as Sora.

"I am trying to hatch six stone eggs, and I will not get my freedom until they are hatched," he answers as Naoki.

"That's awful!" he exclaims as Sora. "How can I rescue you?"

"Just as you will deliver your beloved Hideki, who is under the witch's spell," he replies as Naoki.

"Tell me what to do!" he pleads as Sora. "Even if I have to go to the ends of the world!"

Some applause goes up at the interplay. "So what did Naoki ask Sora to do?" Misty wonders.

"Naoki told Sora to travel to Guren Island herself, and introduce herself as a young man." Brock explains as himself over a tense melody. "Then she would be on the lookout for her chance to snatch an enchanted orb the witch carried in her belt. If Sora could imprison her in it, she would stay in there for all eternity."

"Next question--where was Sora going to get boys' clothes?" Misty asks.

"When Sora asked Naoki this, he whistled..." Brock pauses to do this for effect, startling everyone. "and four Clefairies hurried to his side. The first Clefairy held a number of Berry leaves in her hand, the second a pair of scissors, the third a needle, and the fourth an iron. They immediately went to work making a young man's suit for Sora."

"Now how do you make a boy's outfit with Berry leaves?" Ash is interested.

Brock grins before answering Ash's question, playing a playful melody up the musical scale as he explains each step. "With the first Berry leaf, they made a fine shirt. Another leaf soon became the overcoat, and it took two leaves to make the pants. Finally, a hat was cut out of the biggest leaf, and the stems of the leaves were used to make the shoes."

"Oh"s and applause fill the air at Brock's final triumphant chord. "When Sora put on the new clothes, she looked for all intents and purposes like a young man."

"Go now!" he pleads as Naoki. "Hurry, and save your beloved Hideki!"

The audience claps along as Brock plays the Zelda theme for emphasis, "So Sora quickly mounted her gold Pidgeot and in a matter of hours, arrived at Guren Island." he explains as himself over the song. But the song begins to slow down as he continues. "Once there, she sent away the Pidgeot until she needed its help again. Then she plunged downward to the witch's palace just as Hideki had done."

He grins as his last chord fades away. "But did she meet the same fate as her beloved? You'll have to find out on my next turn!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 141: How the Norka Was Slain (Misty)

(real tale: The Norka (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/111.htm))

"Once upon a time there lived a king and queen that ruled a kingdom so vast, no one knew where its borders ended." Misty begins. "They had three sons--two of them were pretty intelligent, but the third--we'll call him Kentaro--wasn't exactly the sharpest tack in the drawer."

Giggles go up at this. "Now, the king had his own private Safari Zone, where all manner of exotic Pokemon roamed." Misty continues. "But every night, a fearsome creature known only as the Norka would sneak in and eat some of the Pokemon. The king did everything he could, but he was unable to kill it. So one day, he called his sons together and told them that whoever could destroy the Norka would get half of the kingdom."

Thunderous applause goes up at this in anticipation of the epic quest that is soon to follow. "Well, the eldest son set out at sunset the next night. But before he reached the Safari Zone, he went into a tavern, and spent the whole night drinking all manner of drinks, playing games of chance, and listening to the minstrels sing. But when he finally came to his senses, it was too late; the day had already dawned. The next night the middle son went, and did the same thing. Needless to say, their father scolded them both soundly for frittering away their gold on wine, women, and song!"

Laughter goes up at Misty's wry observation. "Well, on the third night Kentaro undertook the task. Everyone laughed at him, because they felt he wouldn't be able to do much of anything, if at all." Misty continues. "But he took his sword anyway, went straight into the Safari Zone, and sat down on the grass in such a position that if he ever fell asleep, his sword would poke him to wake him up."

After a few beats, she continues "The night passed without incident for a while, but around midnight, the earth began to shake, the Norka came rushing up, and burst right through the fence into the Zone. Prince Kentaro woke with a jump, leapt to his feet, and charged straight at the beast. The Norka fled in fear, But Prince Kentaro was hot on its heels. He realized he couldn't catch it on foot, so he hurried to the stable, saddled the fastest Rapidash there, and set off in pursuit. He finally caught up with the beast, and they began an epic battle. They fought and fought for hours, until the best fled to a great white stone, tilted it up, and escaped into the shadow realm."

Gasps go up as the audience speculates what will happen next. "Prince Kentaro went home, told his father everything that had happened, and asked him to have a leather rope long enough to reach to the shadow realm." Misty explains. "When the rope was made, Prince Kentaro called for his brothers, and after packing enough supplies for a year, they set out for the place where the beast had disappeared. When they got there, they built a fortress on the spot, and lived in it for some time, making battle plans. But when the day finally came for one of them to enter the shadow realm, neither of the elder brothers could so much as lift it. Prince Kentaro decided he would go into the shadow realm himself, and easily tossed away the stone. He then tied the rope around him and told his brothers to lower him in. He would let them know he was ready to be brought up by pulling the rope."

"His brothers complied, and when he had reached the shadow realm, he walked for a long time, until he noticed a princess crying in a little alcove." Misty goes on. "The princess told Prince Kentaro that she had been captured by the Norka, and in order to defeat it, he would need to be very strong. She gave him a potion of strength, saying not to drink it until he had found the Norka, as it would only work for a short time."

The audience is on the edge of their seats as they await the outcome of the battle Prince Kentaro started. "After wandering through the shadow realm's many traps--which is a story in itself--Prince Kentaro found the Norka curled on a rock in the middle of what looked like an ocean, and drank the potion of strength. Despite being wounded before, the Norka still had plenty of strength left!" Misty cautions. "But Prince Kentaro matched it step for step, even as the battlefield shifted from sea, to land, to air, and back to sea again. Finally, after a long battle, the Norka was slain, and the princess freed!"

She concludes "Prince Kentaro and the princess were married that day, and both of them lived happily ever after."

Happini's cheers are the loudest as Misty takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 142: The Hidden Princess (Ash)

(real tale: The Princess in the Chest (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/406.htm))


"There were once a king and a queen who lived in a beautiful castle, and had a large, and fair, and rich, and happy land to rule over." Ash begins. "From the very first day they met, they loved each other, and lived very happily together, but there was a sticking point--they had no heir."

He waits for a beat before elaborating on his beginning. "They had been married for seven years, but had neither son nor daughter, and that pained both of them. Every time the king was in a bad mood, he took it out on the poor queen, and said that here they were now, getting old, and neither they nor the kingdom had an heir, and it was all her fault. For the queen, this was hard to listen to, and would spent many nights crying herself to sleep."

"How terrible!" Melody brushes away a tear.

"I would've given His Highness a good talking to!" Misty grumbles, appalled at the king's behavior.

"Finally, the king told the queen that he was going on a great journey, and would be away for a year." Ash explains. "If the queen had a child when he returned, all would be well. But if there was no child born when he returned, then he would part with her."

"So what did she do?" Even Brock is worried for the queen.

"After the king had left on his journey, the queen had one big pity party, constantly worrying about what to do." Ash explains. "Finally, one of her ladies told her about a wise woman in the land, who had helped many in all manner of troubles. The wise woman was summoned, and the queen explained that she was childless and the king and his kingdom had no heir."

"Pika pikachu?" Pikachu asks.

"The wise woman told the queen that out in the royal garden, under the great oak that stood on the left side as one left the castle, was a little bush, rather brown than green, with hairy leaves and long spikes." Ash replies. "On that bush there happened to be three buds. If the queen ate the middle of the three buds at sunrise, then in six months, a little princess would be born. As soon as she was born, she would be given a nurse, who would live with the child in a secluded part of the palace. No other person would be allowed to see the girl--not even the king or the queen--until she turned sixteen."

"Or else." Brock adds, to some nervous giggles.

"The queen rewarded the wise woman richly, and did as she was told." Ash continues, unfazed by Brock's comment. "Six months later, a little princess was born. She was named Sakura, in honor of the cherry blossoms blooming when she was born. The queen did as she was instructed--Princess Sakura and her nurse lived in a secluded wing of the castle, away from all manner of prying eyes."

"Aw..." Melody smiles.

"When the king came home and heard that a daughter had been born to him, he was of course very pleased and happy, and wanted to see her right away." Ash continues. "The queen had to tell him that it had been foretold that it would cause great sorrow and misfortune if either he or she looked at the girl until she turned sixteen."

"The years went by, until the day before Princess Sakura's sixteenth birthday." Ash intones. "The king decided he couldn't stand not seeing his daughter any longer and hurried to her private wing. But no sooner had he seen Princess Sakura, did Arceus speak to him from the heavens..."

"Did you not heed your beloved's warning?" Brock demands as Arceus. "Tomorrow Princess Sakura will die, and you must choose one of three punishments for your impatience: either the land must be smitten with a horrible disease, you must fight a long and bloody war, or lay Princess Sakura's body in a plain wooden chest, and set it in my holy shrine for a year under guard."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats to learn which punishment the king will choose. "Now, the king was scared stiff--better his child die than hundreds of his citizens." Ash continues. So he agreed he would lay Princess Sakura in a wooden chest, bring it to the shrine of Arceus, and leave it there under guard for a year. Sure enough, Princess Sakura died early the next morning, just as Arceus had said."

"Pini..." Happini brushes away a tear.

"The king kept his promise. Princess Sakura's body was laid in a plain wooden chest, and set in the shrine of the castle, with a guard posted in the shrine every night to keep watch over the chest." Ash continues as Brock comforts Happini. "But then something weird happened--the first morning when the captain came to relieve the guard from his post, there was no guard there."

"Pika chu." Pikachu notes.

"Yeah, that IS weird..." Misty agrees.

"They blew it off as the guard getting frightened and running away at first." Ash explains. "and the next evening, a new guard was posted in the shrine. In the morning he was also gone. This wore on for many nights--when the captain came in the morning to relieve the guard from his post, there was no one there. It was impossible to know which way he had gone if he had run away--and what they could've possibly been running from."

Pikachu swallows hard in fear. "Rumors started flying that the princess's ghost haunted the shrine, and killed all those who were to guard her chest." Ash continues. "Before long, there were no more willing guards left who would stand guard in the shrine. Many of the guards said they would rather desert than stand guard in the shrine."

"What did the king do?" Misty asks--piqued in what is really happening to the guards.

"The king then promised a large reward to the soldier who would volunteer for the post." Ash continues. "This worked for a while, and many volunteered in hopes of a lush payment. But they never got it, for in the morning, they too had disappeared like the rest."

"So what was taking the guards?" Melody asks.

"Now, on the night before the summer festival, a young smithy--we'll call him Kenta-- came to the capital city, like so many before him, to find work." Ash continues. "When he came to the inn that night, he met some soldiers there, who were trying to find someone to stand guard in the shrine in return for a hundred thousand gold pieces. Kenta eagerly volunteered, as he was very brave, and was as clever as he was strong."

[What happened to Kenta?] Korra worries.

"Now, it was about eight o'clock at night when Kenta arrived at his post." Ash explains. For a while, he occupied himself by how brave he was and what he would do with a hundred thousand gold pieces. "But as the night wore on, he started getting scared. He had heard the rumors about those that stood guard in the shrine, and supposedly, no one had ever escaped alive from it, Just then, he found a hidden door in the shrine's right wall which was unlocked, and got the idea to run away."

He tiptoes to the tent entrance as if he is Kenta sneaking to the hidden door. "But before Kenta could leave out the hidden door, he heard someone ask..."

"Good evening, Kenta, where are you going?" Melody asks.

"N-N-Nowhere..." Ash stammers as Kenta.

"Oh, yes you were going somewhere." Melody scolds. "You were just about to run away, but you have promised to stand guard in the shrine tonight, and there you must stay."

"Kenta pleaded with Meloetta to let him go." Ash continues as he returns to his place in the circle. "But Meloetta told him...

You must remain at your post, but I shall give you a piece of advice." Melody fills in the dialogue. "If you go up and stand before the priest's lectern, and stay there; nothing will harm you. If you remain there until you hear the lid of the chest slam down again; then you will know that it is safe."

"With that, Meloetta pushed him in the door again, and locked it after him. Kenta scrambled behind the priest's lectern, and stayed there, without noticing anything, until the clock struck midnight. Then the lid of the princess's chest sprang up, and out of it there came something like the princess, only it made all kinds of ghastly shrieks and howls as it tried to find the guard!"

"A zombie!" Brock gasps.

"Kenta stayed put behind the priest's lectern until the clock struck one, and he heard the lid slam shut." Ash intones. "Relieved that all was well again, Kenta fell asleep, and did not awake before it was bright daylight, and he heard steps outside, and the noise of the key being put into the lock. Then he came out from behind the lectern, and stood with his sword in front of the princess's chest."

Misty notices the babies shuddering in fear. "I think the princess zombie was a bit much for the little ones." she reports before consoling Azurill, who is crying profusely.

"Yeah, that scared ME too." Brock agrees as he consoles Happini...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 143: The Juniper Rod, part 4 (Brock)

(real tale: The Witch of Lok Island (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Folk_Tales_From_Britanny&story=Witch_Of_Lok_Island))

"So, did Sora save Hideki?" Ash wonders as he pets Happini, who is still shuddering from his scary story from before.

After checking his guitar's tuning, Brock continues "The witch was delighted when she saw what she thought was a young man."

"By my cousin Darkrai!" he gasps as the witch. "This is the handsomest lad that ever I saw, and I think I shall love him for some time."

Nervous giggles go up from the group as Brock continues as himself "So she flattered Sora, calling her her beloved. Then they went to a table beautifully set with all manner of good things. But Sora found the magic sword that she had given Hideki, which he had left behind him as he had raced toward the door. She quickly took the sword and set it by her side. Then, after having partaken of the treats on the table, she followed the witch into the garden. The enchantress showed her the lawns set with diamonds, the fountains with their lavender-scented sprays, and last of all the fish pond where thousands of many-colored fish were swimming. Sora appeared delighted and gazed with amazement at the beautifully colored scales and tails."

He intones over a tense chord. "The witch, seeing her so happy, asked her if she would like to live in the palace forever."

"Will you consent to marry me?" he asks as the witch.

"Oh, yes indeed!" he replies as Sora, "but first let me try to catch one of those pretty fishes."

As himself, he continues "The witch assumed the request was a mere whim, and giving Sora the fishing cage said with a smile..."

"Now, fair fisherman, let us see what may be your luck. A rich catch may await you." he intones as the witch.

"I will catch Darkrai's cousin!" he cries as Sora over a triumphant chord.

As himself, he narrates over an adventurous melody "With that, Sora quickly threw the witch in the cage. Once sure the witch could not get out, she added..." As Sora again, he calls "Accursed witch, become in body what you are in heart!"

As himself, he continues "The witch uttered a terrifying shriek that ended in a moan as she transformed into the hideous Queen of the Toadstools. Sora threw the cage into the well, and sealed it with a sign of Arceus, where it remains for all eternity."

Wild cheers go up at Brock's triumphant flourish. "Then she ran back to the fish pond, but the fish had already left it and were moving toward her like a procession of festival goers, singing her praises. But just as she was about to touch the first fish with the sword, she noticed at her feet a Froagie. It was crying profusely, But Sora recognized the bell around its neck."

"Is that you, Hideki?" he excitedly gasps as Sora.

"It's me!" he frantically pleads as Hideki.

As himself, he continues "So Sora touched him with the sword, and turned the Froagie back into Hideki. They kissed each other, laughing and crying alternately. Sora then touched each of the fish in turn with the magic sword and they too returned to their human form. As Sora was touching the last fish who should arrive but Naoki, who had also returned to his true elven form. He thanked Sora profusely for breaking the witch's spell. He then led Hideki and Sora to the witch's treasure chest, and told them to take as much of the jewels and gold inside as they wanted. When they had as many gems as they could carry, Sora conjured a coach big enough to carry her, Hideki, and all the people they had freed; and they were whisked home to Nisambi."

He concludes "Hideki and Sora were married not long after their adventure. But instead of buying a little house and a Ponyta to till the fields, they bought all the fields in the town and settled down as mayor and wife, where they and all the people they had brought from Guren Island lived for many years, becoming what is today Pewter City."

"Fascinating..." Melody smiles as she applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 144: The Grateful Prince, part 1 (Misty)

(real tale: The Grateful Prince (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/075.htm))


"Once a king of a far away land lost himself in a forest, and couldn't find the way out." Misty begins. "As he was wandering down one path which looked promising, he saw a man coming towards him. The man asked him what he was doing there, and the king replied that he was lost. The man promised to help him in return for the first thing that met him when he came home."

"So what did he do?" Brock asks, intrigued.

"The king refused--he had an Arcanine that was very skilled hunter, and couldn't bear to give him away to a stranger." Misty replies. "After three more days of wandering without getting anywhere..." Giggles go up at this. "the king met the stranger again, and still refused his offer. After about a week, he met the stranger a third time, and reluctantly consented."

"And then?" Ash wonders.

"When he arrived home, the royal nurse was about to run and meet him with his infant son in her arms." Misty goes on. "The king ordered her to wait--had she stepped outside, he would have to give up his only son to his rescuer."

"What's the name of this little prince?" Melody interrupts.

Misty thinks a moment. "We'll call him Thomas." she replies. "He got the idea to exchange his son with the baby of a common family that lived near the castle. So Prince Thomas lived the life of a commoner, and the common girl--who we'll call Sandra--lived like a queen in the palace."

"That IS a clever idea." Brock muses.

"The years went by, and Prince Thomas grew big and strong." Misty continues. "He enjoyed living as a commoner, but he couldn't stop thinking about the girl he had been exchanged for, and why the exchange had to happen. He vowed that when he came of age, he would travel all over the world, and not rest till he had set her free. It pained him that he had to become king at the cost of a girl's life."

She waits a beat, then goes on "So one day, he got dressed, gathered his belongings, and marched straight into the forest where eighteen years before his father had lost himself. After he had walked some way he began to cry..." She then strikes a melodramatic pose. "Oh, how unlucky I am! Where can I be? Is there no one to show me the way out of the wood?"

Giggles go up at Misty's over-the-top pose. "Then an old man with a long grey beard appeared, with a leather bag hanging from his belt. He nodded cheerfully to the prince, and assured him that he knew the forest well, and would lead him out in exchange for something valuable. Prince Thomas told the old man the most heartwrenching tale about he was an orphaned wanderer, with only the clothes on his back and a few pieces of gold to his name."

"And then?" Brock is piqued.

"The old man offered for Prince Thomas to enter his service." Misty replies. "They agreed that Prince Thomas would be given food, clothing, and a portion of land for his service. They started off through the woods, until they came to a cave hidden in the brush."

Everyone waits to hear what wonders--or terrors--await Prince Thomas in the cave. "But if you wanna know what was in that cave, I'll tell you on my next turn!" Misty smirks.

"Not again..." Ash groans--he didn't count on another cliffhanger.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 145 The Legend of Mizo, the Flute Boy, part 1 (Ash)

(real tale: Tiidu the Piper (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/248.htm))

"Okay...I think this tale isn't too long, nor too scary." Ash assures the group. "Besides, it has a whistle in it!"

Everyone snaps to attention--if a flute or whistle is involved in the story, then that means Ash will play his own whistle in an epic quest or heartwarming adventure!

Once sure all is quiet, Ash begins "Once upon a time there lived a poor man who had more children than food to feed them with. However, they were strong and hard working, and soon learned to make themselves useful to their mom and dad. When they were old enough, they went out into the world. Everyone was more than happy to hire them for servants, for they worked hard and were always cheerful."

"There has to be a rogue somewhere." Melody giggles.

"Out of all of them, there was only one who gave his parents any trouble, and this was a lazy boy who I'll call Mizo." Ash explains. "All the discipline in the world had little, if any, effect on him, and the older he grew the lazier he got. In fact, he spent the winters huddled up by the stove, and his summers sleeping under a tree. If he was not doing either of those things, he was singing."

The tent is quiet, as if expecting Ash to sing as Mizo. But Ash just continues "One day, he was sitting under a tree singing so sweetly that you might easily have mistaken his voice for the notes of a Swablu. An old man happened to pass that way, and asked Mizo what he wanted to do when he was old enough to learn a trade. Mizo replied that he wanted to be rich, and have no need to learn a trade or work."

"What did the old man say?" Misty asks.

"The old man laughed, and told Mizo that he would not receive riches if he didn't work for them." Ash replies. "Mizo retorted that he'd heard the whole rigamarole before, and did not want to work as his siblings did."

He waits for a beat, then continues "The old man admitted that Mizo did have a talent--music. He told Mizo that if he learned how to play the whistle..." He pauses to retrieve his own whistle. "he would easily earn not just his daily bread, but a little extra money as well. He instructed Mizo to get himself a whistle, and learn to play it as well as he sang, and wherever there were people to hear him, he would never lack money."

"But where was Mizo gonna get a whistle?" Brock wonders.

"The old man told Mizo to keep singing, and he would have enough money to buy a whistle." Ash replies, fingering his own instrument all the while. "Mizo thought for a moment about everything the old man had said, and decided to go and give the idea a try. His mom and dad were thrilled at the thought of Mizo going out into the world--maybe he was finally coming around to the idea of work."

Giggles go up at this. "For a while, Mizo wandered from town to town and sang." Ash continues. "The people he met were all friendly and kind, and enjoyed his singing, giving him food in return, and even a few gold pieces. Mizo carefully saved the gold till he had collected enough to buy a beautiful silver whistle." He proudly shows his own whistle to his audience. "Then he really became the talk of the land--nowhere could a whistle be found as fine as his, or played as well. Mizo's whistle could get any tavern jumping-- wherever there was a wedding, a holiday, or a festival of any kind, everyone knew Mizo had to be there, or the evening would be a failure. In a few years, he had become so noted a whistler that people would travel far and wide to hear him."

With that, he plays "The Meowth's Call" to signal a scene change. "One day he was invited to a party where many rich people from a neighboring city were present, and everyone agreed that never in all their lives had they heard such playing as his." Ash goes on. "They crowded around him, praised his skill, and pleaded with him to come to their homes, declaring that it was a shame not to give their friends the chance of hearing such music. Of course, all this delighted Mizo, who accepted gladly, and left their houses laden with money and presents of every kind. One great lord clothed him in a magnificent tunic, a second hung a necklace of many jewels round his neck, and a third handed him a whistle made of gold..." He shows the audience one of his gold whistles, which is tuned in Eb, for effect.

"I bet Mizo was popular with the girls." Brock smiles.

"As for the girls, they tied silken scarves round his plumed hat, and their moms knitted him gloves of all colors, to keep out the cold." Ash explains. "Any other person in Mizo's place would have been happy to settle down; but Mizo was in no way ready to settle down."

He plays another set of tunes on the gold whistle before continuing "Now Mizo wondered one day if there was something he could do to make the money come in faster. He remembered having heard some stories of a kingdom in a far off land--what is today Johto--where minstrels of every stripe were welcomed and highly paid; but where it was, or how it was reached, he didn't know. So he wandered along the coast, hoping to see some ship that would take him there."

After playing the tune "The Illumise Light" on the Eb whistle to signal a scene change, Ash continues "Finally, Mizo reached where Vermillion City stands today, where several merchant ships were anchored. He found that one of them was sailing for the west land in a few days, and asked the captain how much it was for passage. But the cost of the voyage was more than Mizo could afford, and though he played his best on his whistles, the captain refused to lower his price. Just when Mizo was about to give up, a young sailor, who had heard him play, offered to sneak him aboard when the captain wasn't looking."

"Ooh"s go up as Ash continues. "So the next night, as soon as it was dark, Mizo stepped aboard, and was hidden down in the cargo hold in a corner between two casks. Unseen by the rest of the crew, the sailor managed to bring him food and drink, and when they were well out of sight of land he proceeded to carry out a plan he had invented to deliver Mizo from his cramped quarters."

[What did that entail?] Mai wonders.

"At midnight, while he was keeping watch and everyone else was sleeping, the man motioned for Mizo to follow him on deck, where he tied a rope around Mizo, fastening the other end carefully to one of the ship's ropes." Ash explains. "He explained that he was going to throw him into the sea, and he had to call for help as loud as he could. When he saw the sailors coming, he was to untie the rope from your waist, and tell them that he had swum after the ship all the way from shore."

"Mizo didn't like that at all, I bet..." Misty smiles.

"Well, at first Mizo did not like the idea, for the sea ran high." Ash replies. "But he was a good swimmer, and the sailor assured him that there was no danger. As soon as he was in the water, everything happened as the sailor said."

"Pika pika pikachu?" Pikachu asks, eager to hear what Ash would play next.

"The captain was touched at Mizo's story, and he told Mizo he would take him to the west land free of charge." Ash replies. "But only Mizo and his friend knew what really happened."

Everyone waits to see what Ash will play next, but he just grins and concludes "As for what adventures Mizo got into in the west land? I'll tell you more on my next turn!" He adds a little flourish as a sign of his promise.

"Two cliffhangers...is Brock going to tell one next?" Melody wonders.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 146: Why Taillow's Feathers Are Blue (Brock)

(real tale: Bluebird's Tale (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20021013))


"They say in Houen that long ago, when the world was new, the Pokemon we know today as Taillow was not blue at all. He was pure white, and he was not happy about this." Brock begins. "The little white bird Pokemon would fly through the bright blue sky, look down at beautiful blue lakes, gaze upon the ripe Belue Berries -- when he saw anything blue, in fact, he so loved that color that he wished he, too, could be blue."

He waits for a beat, then continues "After many years of wishing to be blue, the little white Pokemon decided he would go to see the Great Lord Arceus for his counsel. As the ruler of all things, Taillow knew that Arceus would give good advice. So off he flew to Arceus' castle in the heavens. When he arrived, he looked up with sad Growlithe eyes and said..."

In a breathy female voice, he pleads "Lord Arceus, I long to be as blue as the waters, as blue as the sky, as blue as Belue Berries. Tell me what I must do to become blue."

As himself, he continues "Arceus smiled and nodded as he listened,for he could sense that the little white bird Pokemon's dream was pure and true. So he told him exactly what he must do, and he taught him the spellsong he had to sing."

In a deeper version of himself, he intones "You will sing this song, and you must know the ways of change,"

"What are the ways of change?" he asks as Taillow.

As himself, he continues "Arceus just smiled. He was pleased the little Pokemon wanted to learn. Not every being listened; not every Pokemon followed their dreams. He was proud of the little white bird Pokemon."

He walks around the tent as he continues "For many days Arceus instructed Taillow in the ways of change. He taught him how to be patient, how to pay close attention, how to be grateful for the smallest gifts, how to wait in silence. He taught him many other things that only the Pokemon know. Taillow listened closely. He nodded when he understood, and when he did not understand, he asked questions."

When he returns to the rock he was sitting on, Brock continues "When the lessons had ended and he had nothing more to teach, Arceus sent Taillow on his way. The little white Pokemon flew to the edge of the lake and began to sing the spellsong..." He pauses to sing as Taillow Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

"Then, just as Arceus had instructed him, he dove down into the lake. The water was cold, and beneath the surface it was dark. For a moment he was frightened and thought about turning back. But Taillow remembered what Arceus had taught him, and he dove deeper still. Finally, he came to the coldest, bluest part of the lake."

"Did Taillow get his wish?" Misty asks.

"When he had reached the place Arceus had told him he must travel to, he remembered his next lesson." Brock continues. "He had to be patient and wait. So he waited for five long days, and at the end of the fifth day, he raced to the surface and burst forth from the water and into the sky, where he found that he was as blue as the lakes, as blue as the sky, as blue as Belue berries, as blue as he had ever hoped to be."

"Yes!" Ash is especially happy for Taillow.

"Now, Mightyena happened to be passing that way, and when looked up and saw Taillow, he was jealous. In those days Mightyena was white, too, and he too wanted to be a different color -- especially the color of this new Taillow." Brock intones.

"Teach me your spellsong," he demands as Mightyena.

"I can't," he retorts as Taillow. "I can't give away the secrets of the Great Lord Arceus to just anyone. If you really want to learn, you must go and learn yourself."

He grins at his enthralled friends. "That's exactly what Mightyena did." he continues as himself. "He ran to the heavens to see Arceus and begged him to teach him the spellsong of transformation."

"It is not right for you to be blue, Mightyena," he intones as Arceus. "That is not the color you are intended to be. You must not be jealous."

"Ooh" go up from the group as Brock continues as himself. "But Mightyena was jealous, hurt, angry--and determined to boot. Besides, he was bigger and stronger than the Taillow. So he went to him and demanded that Taillow teach him the spellsong, or else! Although he was trembling with fear, Taillow reluctantly taught Mightyena the special spellsong and the secret of the water."

The next day Mightyena sang the song..." Brock then sings as Mightyena Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... "dove into the water, and sat at the bottom of the lake for five long days. When he came out early in the morning, he, too, was blue. He was as blue as the lake, as blue as the sky, as blue as Belue Berries, as blue as Taillow. Not only that he was proud, for he fancied himself the most beautiful Mightyena in the world."

Giggles go up as Brock goes on "Mightyena began to prance down the road, calling out to everyone...." As Mightyena, he calls "Stantler, Pikachu, Buneary, Ekans, Froagie, come look!"

More laughter goes up at Brock's feigned giddiness. "He woke up all the Pokemon, even the wise old Noctowl." he continues. "When they saw him, they shook their heads. They muttered that a Mightyena should not be blue, and no one should behave with such pride. But Mightyena was very proud, and he continued to prance and brag. Soon he was so smitten with his own looks that he paid no attention to the road ahead of him, and he crashed right smack into a tree."

The group roars with laughter at this. "The Pokemon laughed just like you guys, for everyone had been quite upset with Mightyena's boasting." Brock smiles. "Meanwhile, Taillow worried that Arceus would be mad at him for teaching Mightyena the spellsong of transformation."

He waits for a beat, then continues "But as Mightyena hit the tree, he slipped and fell on the dirt path. He wailed in pain and rolled this way and that. But nobody moved as Mightyena flailed about pleading for help, and as they watched, they looked in wonder as Mightyena's color began to fade away. When he got up, shaking his aching head, he was completely black with patches of gray, and that is the way he has been ever since."

He concludes "Taillow continues to be a bright, beautiful blue, but he never boasts about it."

The group roars with applause as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 147: The Grateful Prince (part 2) (Misty)

(real tale: The Grateful Prince (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/075.htm))


"So, what did Prince Thomas find in the cave?" Brock asks Misty.

"Thick darkness surrounded them, yet it seemed to Prince Thomas as if their path led into still deeper depths. After a long while he thought he saw a glimmer of light, but the light was neither that of the sun nor of the moon. He looked eagerly at it, but found it was only a kind of pale cloud, which was all the light this strange underworld could boast. Earth and water, trees and plants, all forms of Pokemon, each was different from those he had seen before; but what most struck terror into his heart was the absolute stillness that reigned everywhere. Not a rustle or a sound could be heard. Here and there he noticed a bird Pokemon sitting on a branch, with head erect and swelling throat, but his ear caught nothing. The Growlithes opened their mouths as if to bark, the toiling Tauros seemed about to bellow, but neither bark nor bellow reached Prince Thomas' ears. The water flowed noiselessly over the pebbles, the wind bowed the tops of the trees, all manner of bug Pokemon darted about, without breaking the silence. The old man, which Prince Thomas presumed to be a wizard, uttered no word, and when Prince Thomas tried to ask him the meaning of it all he felt that his voice died in his throat."

"Oh my..." Melody gasps.

"How long this fearful stillness lasted, he wasn't sure, but Prince Thomas gradually felt his heart turning to ice, his hair stood up like bristles, and a cold chill was creeping down his spine, when finally, he heard something very faint, and this life of shadows suddenly became real. It sounded as if a troop of Rapidashes were running their way over a plain." Misty continues. "They climbed a hill, and Prince Thomas saw in the distance the house of his master, but it was so surrounded with buildings of all kinds that the place looked more like a village or even a small town. The wizard told him to be careful in the house, not screw anything up, and speak only when spoken to."

What a jerk... Ash silently grumbles.

"When Prince Thomas came inside, he saw a beautiful lady, with brown eyes and jet black hair--we'll call her Briana." Misty continues. "Needless to say, Prince Thomas fell madly in love with Briana, and he watched her set the table, bring in the food, and take her seat by the fire as if he wasn't even there. Then she took out a needle and thread, and began to mend her stockings. The master sat at the table alone, and invited neither his new servant nor the maid to eat with him. His appetite put Ash to shame--he soon cleared all the dishes, and ate enough to satisfy a dozen men."

"And I thought my appetite was huge..." Ash is just as stunned as Brock.

"When he was finally full, the wizard told Briana to pick up the pieces, and take what is left in the iron pot for her own dinner, but to give the bones to the Growlithe." Misty goes on. "Prince Thomas didn't like the idea of dining off scraps at first, but imagine his surprise when he found that there was plenty to eat, and that the food was very good. After dinner that night, the old wizard told Prince Thomas..."

"For two days you may rest from our journey, and look around the house." Brock fills in the old wizard's dialogue. "But the day after tomorrow you must come with me, and I will point out the work you have to do. The maid will show you where you are to sleep."

"Prince Thomas thought he had leave to speak, but before he could say anything, his master turned on him with a face of thunder and exclaimed..." Misty narrates.

"You Growlithe of a servant! If you disobey the laws of the house you will soon find yourself a head shorter! Hold your tongue, and leave me in peace." Brock roars in character, startling even Misty.

"N-nice touch..." Misty stammers before remembering where she is in her tale. "Briana motioned for him to follow her to a certain door, where she motioned to him to go in. He would have lingered a moment, for he thought she looked sad, but dared not do so, for fear of the old wizard's anger."

"You do a great angry wizard..." Ash whispers to Brock.

"That's not the only powerful voice I can do..." Brock replies. "Want me to do angry Arran Seluna?"

"Uh, not right now, that's fine..." Ash stammers--if Brock's "angry wizard" voice was strong enough to startle everyone, he could only imagine how loud he would be when he did Arran's angry monologue confronting the evil wizard that captured Skydancer, the baby pegasus, before casting his signature "final blow" spell--Rainbow Fantasy.

"Anyway, when he woke up the next morning, his first thoughts were for Briana, whom he found hard at work." Misty continues. "He drew water from the well and carried it to the house for her, kindled the fire under the iron pot, and, in fact, did everything that came into his head that could be of any use to her. In the afternoon he went out to the farmyard, where a beautiful Shiny Rapidash had a stall to itself; in another was a Miltank with two Shiny calves, while the clucking of Combuskens and Duckletts reached him in the distance."

"And then?" Melody is intrigued.

"Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were as savory as before, and Prince Thomas would have been quite content with his quarters had it not been for the difficulty of keeping quiet before Briana. On the evening of the second day he went, as he had been told, to receive his orders for the following morning." Misty goes on.

"I am going to give you something very easy to do tomorrow," Brock intones as the wizard. "Take this scythe, and cut as much grass as the Rapidash will want for its day's feed, and clean out its stall. If I come back and find the manger empty it will go ill with you. So beware!"

"Prince Thomas left the room, pleased over how easy the job supposedly was." Misty assures the shuddering Pokemon. "He was just going to open his door, when Briana whispered in his ear..."

"What task has he set you?" Melody whispers to Ash.

"For tomorrow?" Ash replies as Prince Thomas. "It is really nothing at all! Just to cut hay for the Rapidash and to clean out its stall!"

"You poor boy..." Melody sighs in character; "How will you ever get through with it? The Shiny Rapidash, who is our master's grandma, is always hungry: it takes twenty men always mowing to keep it fed for one day, and another twenty to clean out its stall. How, then, do you expect to do it all by yourself? But listen to me, and do what I tell you. It is your only chance. When you have filled the manger as full as it will hold you must weave some of the rushes which grow among the meadow hay, and cut a thick peg of stout wood, and be sure that the Rapidash sees what you are doing. Then it will ask you what it is for, and you should say that you intend to bind up her mouth so that she cannot eat any more, and with the peg you are going to keep her in one place, so that she cannot scatter her corn and water all over the place!"

"With that, Briana went away as softly as she had come." Misty continues. "Early the next morning he set to work, and everything happened as Briana had said. By the time noon came around, there was still food in the manger, and the place was as clean as a whistle. He had barely finished when in walked the wizard, who stood astonished at the door."

"Is it really you who have been clever enough to do that?" Brock asks as the wizard. "Or has someone else aided you?"

"I had no help," Ash replies as Prince Thomas, "Only my own strength and wits."

"The wizard bought that answer, and that evening told Prince Thomas..." Misty narrates.

"Tomorrow I have no special task to set you, but as the girl has a great deal to do in the house you must milk the Miltank for her. But take care you milk her dry, or it may be the worse for you." Brock intones as the wizard.

"As he was heading toward his room, Briana came to him and asked..." Misty narrates some more.

"What is your task tomorrow?" Melody asks Ash again.

"I am to help you," Ash answers as Prince Thomas, "and have nothing to do all day, except to milk the Miltank dry."

"Oh, you are unlucky," Melody sighs again. "If you were to try from morning till night you couldn't do it. There is only one way of escaping the danger, and that is, when you go to milk her, take with you a pan of burning coals and a pair of tongs. Place the pan on the floor of the stall, and the tongs on the fire, and blow with all your might, till the coals burn brightly. The Miltank will ask you what is the meaning of all this, and you must answer what I will whisper to you..."

"She whispered something in his ear, and then went away." Misty narrates. The dawn had scarcely reddened the sky when Prince Thomas jumped out of bed, and did everything Briana had said to do. When the wizard sat down to milk the Miltank himself, he didn't get a drop. "He asked if Prince Thomas had help, but Prince Thomas said he did it all himself."

After pausing for a moment, she continues "That night, when Prince Thomas went to his master to hear what his next day's work was to be, the wizard said..."

"I have a little haystack out in the meadow which must be brought in to dry." Brock explains as the wizard. "Tomorrow you will have to stack it all in the shed, and, as you value your life, be careful not to leave the smallest strand behind."

"No sooner had Prince Thomas arrived in his room, Briana asked him what task he had for the next day." Misty narrates.

"Tomorrow I have to carry a haystack, and leave not a stalk in the meadow." Ash explains as Prince Thomas.

"Oh, you unlucky boy!" Melody cries as Briana. "and how do you think you are to do it? If you had all the men in the world to help you, you could not clear off this one little haystack in a week. The instant you have thrown down the hay at the top, it will take root again from below. But listen to what I say. You must steal out at dawn tomorrow and bring out the Shiny Rapidash and some good strong ropes. Then get on the haystack, put the ropes round it, and harness the Rapidash to the ropes. When you are ready, climb up the haystack and count to three. The Rapidash will ask you what you are counting, and you must be sure to answer what I whisper to you."

"Briana whispered something in his ear, and left the room." Misty goes on. "At dawn the next day, everything happened as Briana said. Needless to say, the wizard did a double take when he came in after breakfast and found the work done. he asked Prince Thomas if he had help..."

"But Prince Thomas said he only had his own wits." the boys repeat.

Misty grins--the boys have clearly been paying attention! "Late in the evening, Prince Thomas went to his master to learn what he was to do the next day. But the wizard was beginning to think something was up, and said to Prince Thomas..."

"Tomorrow I have no work for you, but when I wake up you must come before my bed, and give me your hand in greeting." Brock instructs as the wizard.

Misty then concludes "But was the old wizard sincere in his request, or setting a trap? You'll find out on my next turn!"

"Aw, I wanted to do an evil laugh!" Brock protests, to some giggles from the Pokemon. In addition to a million voices, Brock has the evil laugh down to an art in their eyes...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 148: The Legend of Mizo, the Flute Boy (part 2) (Ash)

(real tale: Tiidu the Piper (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/248.htm))

"So, what adventures did Mizo the whistler get into in the western lands?" Misty asks Ash.

"Well..." Ash pauses to grab both whistles before beginning "When he got there, he wandered through the streets for many days, seeking someone in need of a servant; but though more than one person would have been glad to hire him, they seemed to Mizo not the sort of people to help him to get rich quickly. At last, when he had almost made up his mind that he must accept the next place offered him, he happened to knock at the door of a rich merchant who was in need of a kitchen servant, and gladly agreed to do the cook's bidding, and it was in this merchant's house that he first learned how great were the riches of the west land."

"Oh?" Misty is interested.

"For instance, all the vessels which in other lands would be made of iron, copper, brass, or tin, in the west lands were made of silver, or even of gold, diamond, or mythril." Ash explains. "The food was cooked in silver pots, the bread baked in a diamond oven, while the dishes and their covers were all of gold. Even the very Tepigs' troughs were of silver too."

Awed murmurs go up as Ash cautions "But the sight of these things only made Mizo more excited than before. "What is the use of all this wealth that I have constantly before my eyes..." he thought, "if none of it is mine? I shall never grow rich by what I earn as a kitchen servant, even though I am paid as much in a month as I should get elsewhere in a year."

"By this time he had been there for two years, and had saved quite a large sum of money." he continues. "His passion of saving had increased to such a pitch that it was only by his master's orders that he ever bought any new clothes, for the merchant did not want beggars in his house. So Mizo reluctantly bought himself a cheap coat."

After playing a few tunes on the Eb whistle to signal a scene change, Ash continues "Now, one day the merchant held a great feast in honor of the christening of his youngest child, and he gave each of his servants a handsome garment for the occasion. The following week, Mizo, who liked fine clothes--especially if they were free--put on his new coat, and went for a walk to some beautiful gardens, which were always full of people on a sunny day. He sat down under a shady tree, and watched the passers-by, but after a little while he began to feel rather lonely, for he knew nobody and nobody knew him."

"Poor Mizo..." Melody sighs.

"Suddenly he spotted a familiar old man, though he could not remember when or where he had seen him before." Ash goes on. "He watched the figure for some time, till finally the old man left the crowded paths, and laid down on the soft grass under a Meli tree, which stood at some distance from where Mizo was sitting. Mizo walked slowly past, in order that he might look at him more closely, and as he did so the old man smiled, and held out his hand."

The lightbulb goes off in Brock's head. "Oh! This is the same old man that told Mizo to learn to play the whistle to start with!"

Ash smiles, pleased that someone in his small audience has put two and two together. "No sooner did he ask Mizo where his whistle was, did Mizo recognize him. He told him everything that had happened since they had last met. The old man shook his head as he listened, and when Mizo had finished his tale, he scolded Mizo for abandoning his whistle for a soup spoon."

He adds as an aside "Mizo could have made as much by playing his whistle in a day as his wages would have come to in a year."

He reaches for the D whistle as he continues "The old man told Mizo to go home and get his whistle, and play it there. Mizo did not like this advice at first--he was afraid that the people would laugh at him; and, besides, it had been a while since he had touched touched his whistles. But the old man persisted, and at last Mizo did as he was told."

After waiting a beat, he continues "When he started playing, it sounded all weak and half-hearted..." Giggles go up as Ash plays a very weak version of the first few bars of "The Meowth's Call". "but somehow the sound of the whistle was sweeter than he had remembered, and as he played, the crowd stopped walking and chattering, and stood still, listening to him."

With that, he plays "The Meowth's Call" with its usual gusto. "When he had played for some time he took off his hat and passed it around, and silver coins and gold pieces came tumbling in. Mizo played a couple more tunes as thanks..."

He plays a few more reels on the D whistle, as if he is Mizo playing for the crowd. "When Mizo left that night, the people begged him to come back again the next week." he goes on as soon as the applause quiets. "The old man told Mizo to return at the same time every week to the gardens, sit under the Meli tree, and play to the people, and bring a really big hat for a tip jar. If he was invited to play at a party, he was to accept, but take whatever the host inclined to give, and nothing more. With that, they said their goodbyes."

After playing a couple more tunes on the D whistle, he continues "Now, Mizo couldn't do as he was told right away, as he had to fulfill his appointed time of service first. He bought some fine clothes, in which he played every week in the gardens, and when he counted his gains in the evening they were always more than on the week before. Finally, his year of service was up, and he had more invitations to play than he could manage to accept, and at night, when the citizens used to go and drink in the inn, the landlord always begged Mizo to come and play to them. He grew so rich that very soon he had his silver whistle covered with gold as well, so that both whistles glistened in the light of the sun or the fire. In all of the west lands there was no prouder man than Mizo."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, sparking excitedly.

"In a few years he had saved such a large sum of money that he was considered a rich man even in the west lands, where everybody was rich." Ash explains. "But then, he started longing for his homeland and family, and show them how well he could play. This time he would not need to hide in the ship's hold, but could hire the best cabin if he wished to, or even have a whole ship all to himself. So he packed all his treasures in large chests, and sent them on board the first ship that was sailing to his native land, and followed them with a light heart. The wind was calm at first, but it soon intensified, and by the time night fell, it rose to a gale."

Misty gasps, fearful for Mizo as Ash intones "For two days they tried to outrun it, and hoped that by keeping well out to sea they might be able to weather the storm. Suddenly, the ship struck on a rock, and began to take on water."

"Uh oh..." Even Brock is worried for Mizo.

"Orders were given to man the lifeboats, and Mizo with three sailors got into one of them, but before they could push away from the ship a huge wave overturned it, and all four were flung into the water." Ash goes on. Luckily for Mizo, an oar was floating near him, and with its help he was able to tread water. When the sun rose, and the mist cleared away, he saw that he was not far from shore. By hard swimming, for the sea still ran high, he managed to reach it, and pulled himself out of the water, more dead than alive. Then he flung himself down on the ground and fell fast asleep."

He grins. "So how did Mizo get off the island? I'll tell you on my next turn!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 149: Sorin's Trap (Brock)

(real tale: Kalulu's Trap (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20070422))

"Once King Entei gathered all the Pokemon together to announce that that spring they would not only clean house, they would also build a new village." Brock begins.

"We've grown too crowded here," he explains as King Entei.

"But as King Entei spoke, assigning everyone a task, Sorin was too busy watching Chimchar swinging from branch to branch, all the while chattering with delight." he goes on as himself. "Sorin gasped as Chimchar leaped this way and that, but then he had an idea--because everyone knows Sorin is quite the trickster...."

Enthusiastic cheers go up at the familiar beginning, but Brock just grins and savors the applause for a moment before continuing. "The next morning, when all the Pokemon set off to build their new village, Sorin stayed behind in his burrow. He had collected dozens of vines, and he wove then together to make an ingenious noose trap, which worked almost like a Chimchar's tail."

Giggles of anticipation go up at this. "When Sorin was sure he was alone, he tiptoed toward Braviary's nest and whirled a vine in the air, catching the nest." Brock proceeds to pantomime twirling a lasso for effect. "As he pulled it down to the soft forest floor, one of Braviary's eggs rolled out. Sorin picked it up and ran home to add it to his collection of treasures. That evening, when Braviary discovered her nest lying on the ground, she called to the others..."

"A thief stole one of my eggs," he screams as Braviary. "We must catch him!"

Laughter goes up at Brock's melodramatic pose. "We'll leave the nest here," he assures the audience as King Entei. "Surely the thief will return tomorrow to steal another egg. But this time we'll catch him."

"But King Entei didn't know Sorin had heard the whole thing." he goes on as himself. "They would leave Delcatty to catch the thief. Strong and beautiful as Delcatty was, Sorin wasn't afraid, and that night while everyone slept, Sorin spread his noose of vines across the forest path to Braviary's nest, cunningly attaching it to two palm trees, disguising it beneath the forest floor. Then he returned home to sleep."

The group tries oh-so-hard not to laugh as Brock continues "The next morning, the Pokemon set off to work, but Delcatty stayed behind, hidden behind a tree. Sorin, meanwhile, hid himself in some bushes near the fallen nest and rustled some leaves. Hearing this, Delcatty leaped from behind the tree to protect Braviary's nest, but as she crossed the path, she tripped upon the noose. It wrapped around her paw, and a moment later she was swinging high in the air."

The audience roars with laughter as they picture Delcatty in the trap. "Delcatty called and called for help, but nobody heard her." Brock continues when the laughter quiets. "This gave Sorin time to snatch another egg."

"And then?" Misty asks, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye.

"In the evening when the Pokemon returned, they found Delcatty swinging from the noose and quickly set her free." Brock replies, as if Misty's question was planned. "The next day, Primeape stayed behind to guard the nest, and he too was caught in the trap."

He adds as an aside "Needless to say, Primeape was deeply embarrassed when the others returned." to some laughter. "Liepard said he could outwit any trickster, but the next evening the Pokemon found him swinging from the noose. One by one, the other Pokemon all had their time in the trap, swinging foolishly in the air, unable to free themselves, and unable to protect Braviary's nest."

He then intones "Finally, only one egg remained."

"So who finally caught Sorin?" Melody asks.

"It was Wartortle who volunteered that night." Brock replies. "King Entei had his doubts, but Wartortle assured him she knew just what to do. That night, instead of hiding in the bushes, Wartortle climbed into Braviary's nest, just beside the last egg. She was hiding there when Sorin arrived to prepare his noose."

Ash and Misty grin at each other as Brock goes on. "When no one came when he rustled leaves, he crept to the nest and peered inside, where he swore he saw two eggs. He reached to grab the new, strange egg. As he did, Wartortle bit down as hard as she could on Sorin's foot."

More laughter fills the air as the audience pictures Sorin's reaction to the pain. "Sorin pleaded and pleaded for Wartortle to let him go, but Wartortle just held on, allowing the Pokemon to see who had been taking Braviary's eggs." Brock explains

He concludes "King Entei commanded that Sorin return Braviary's eggs, which he did, after Wartortle let go of his foot."

Even more giggles go up at this. "But as he limped home, he thought about just what trick he was gonna play next--cause that's Sorin for you!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 150: The Grateful Prince, part 3 (Misty)

(real tale: The Grateful Prince (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/075.htm))


"So was the wizard setting a trap?" Ash wonders, eager to know how Misty's cliffhanger ends.

"Well, Prince Thomas blew it off as a joke, and told Briana that as well." Misty explains. "But Briana said..."

"Ah, it is no laughing matter," Melody sighs as Briana. "He means to eat you, and there is only one way in which I can help you. You must heat the fireplace poker until it is white hot, and hold it out to him instead of your hand."

"So the next morning he woke very early, and heated the poker before the old wizard was awake." Misty goes on. "It wasn't long before he heard the wizard calling him to wish his master good morning. But when Prince Thomas entered with the white-hot poker, his master only said...."

"I ab very ill today, ad too weak eben to touch your had." Brock feigns a stuffy head for his "old wizard" voice. "You bust return dis evening, whed I may be bedder."

Ash stifles a giggle at how well Brock feigns a stuffy head. "Prince Thomas goofed off all day, and in the evening went back to the old wizard's room." Misty continues. "He was received in the friendliest manner, and, to his surprise, his master exclaimed..."

"I am very well satisfied with you." Brock smiles, now speaking normally as the old wizard. "Come to me at dawn and bring the girl with you. I know you have long loved each other, and I wish to make you man and wife."

The Meowths swallow hard as Misty continues "Prince Thomas' first thought was to jump for joy, but, remembering the rules of the house, he managed to keep still. When he told Briana, he saw to his astonishment that she had become as white as a Gastly, and she was speechless."

"The old man has found out who was your counselor," Melody stammers as Briana "and he means to destroy us both. We must escape somehow, or else we shall be lost. Search the library--somewhere among all the spellbooks you will find a bright red ruby. Bring that to me. Meanwhile, I will do what is needed here."

"So Prince Thomas went into the library, and he found the glowing ruby on one of the highest shelves. He wrapped it with a thick cloth, and hid it in his shirt." Misty continues. "He brought it to Briana,and they fled that night. As they fled, Briana told him that she had overheard a conversation between the old man and a guest, saying that she was a princess, whom the old fellow had obtained by cunning from her parents. The prince, who knew all about the affair, was silent, though he was glad from his heart that it had fallen to his lot to set her free. So they went on till the day began to dawn."

"Pika?" Pikachu sparks in fear.

"The old wizard slept very late that morning, and was quite panicked and angry when he saw Thomas and Briana had escaped." Misty replies. He opened the door of the third stall--which was a secret quarters for the many monsters he kept, and told all of them to go and chase our heroes."

"Bring them to me, however you may find them, I want them alive!" Brock demands in character as the old wizard.

[What about Thomas and Briana?] Even Mai is frightened for the two runaways.

"Meanwhile, Thomas and Briana were crossing a great plain, when Briana sensed that they were being followed. "Misty intones. "Sure enough, they saw a black cloud flying before the wind. Then Briana cast a spell by singing..."

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"The spellsong turned her into a stream, and Thomas into a Magikarp." Misty explains. "Some monsters arrived just after, but after not seeing anything out of the ordinary, they hurried home, leaving the stream and the Magikarp undisturbed."

Everyone heaves a sigh of relief. "When the monsters were gone, Thomas and Briana changed back, and proceeded on their journey." Misty continues. "When the monsters, tired and emptyhanded, returned, their master inquired what they had seen, and if anything weird had happened. The monsters told the old wizard what had happened, and he was so mad, he went and summoned more monsters to drink up the water in the stream, and catch the Magikarp."

Brock adds an evil chuckle for effect, making everyone shudder. "Meanwhile, Thomas and Briana had almost reached the edge of the forest, when Briana again sensed they were being followed. They looked, and they saw a cloud flying towards them, larger and blacker than the first, and striped with red. She gasped , and sang another magical song to the ruby...."

Karuto, iichida shou... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"This spellsong turned Briana into a rosebush, and Thomas a single red rose." Misty explains. "The monsters arrived soon afterwards, but they didn't find neither stream nor Magikarp; nothing but a rose bush. So they went home dejected, and when they were gone, the rose bush and rose changed back to their proper shapes and walked all the faster for the little rest they had had."

"And then?" Ash is excited now.

"The old wizard was even madder, and sent even more monsters to tear up the rosebush and the roots too." Misty continues. "Meanwhile, Thomas and Briana were resting in the shade of a forest, and were having lunch. Suddenly, Briana sensed they were being followed again,and sang another spellsong..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"Briana turned into a gust of wind, while the prince darted about like a Yanma." Misty continues. "The next moment a crowd of monsters rushed up, and looked about in search of something strange, for neither a rose bush nor anything else was to be seen. But they had hardly turned their backs to go home empty-handed when Thomas and Briana stood on the ground again."

"We must go as fast as we can," Melody intones. "before the old wizard himself comes to seek us, for he will know us under any disguise."

"They ran on till they reached such a dark part of the forest that, if it had not been for the ruby's light, they could not have made their way at all. Worn out and breathless, they found a large stone, where Briana cast another spell..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"and the stone rolled away, where they passed through the door to the world of light again." Misty continues. "Briana was about to bid Thomas farewell, but Thomas pleaded with her to stay with him, which she agreed. In the forest they met a woodcutter, who told them that in the palace, as well as in all the land, there had been great sorrow, as the old king had died of a broken heart."

"Pi ni..." Happini sighs.

"Yeah, poor king..." Brock agrees.

"Prince Thomas wept bitterly at this, for he had loved his father well." Misty continues. "After three days of mourning, he stood in the presence of his people as their new king, and, calling his advisors, he told them everything that had happened, and how Briana and her magic had protected him through it all."

She concludes "The advisors agreed that Briana should be queen, and they all lived happily ever after."

Ash heaves a sigh of relief. "You had me worried for a moment there..."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 151: The Legend of Mizo, the Flute Boy, part 3 (Ash)

(real tale: Tiidu the Piper (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/248.htm))

"So, did Mizo get off the island?" Melody asks.

"Well, that night he dreamed that his friend the old man appeared to him, and told him that because he did not mourn for your lost treasure, but only for his whistles, he would give him some new ones." Ash explains. "Sure enough, in the morning when he woke up, a silver whistle lying in a basket by him. He wasted no time in playing it, looking all the while for any sign of a sail." He plays "The Meowth's Call" for effect.

"Before long, he spotted a ship headed straight for the island; and Mizo, holding his whistle in his hand, dashed down to the shore." Ash continues when he finishes the song.

"The sailors knew the island was uninhabited, and were quite surprised to see someone standing on the beach, waving his arms at to them. A boat was put off, and two sailors rowed to the shore to discover how he came there, and if he wished to be taken away. Mizo told them the story of his shipwreck, and the captain promised that he should come on board, and sail with them back to the west land. Mizo was happy to accept the offer, and to show his gratitude by playing on his whistle whenever he was asked to do so."

After playing another set, he concludes "They had a quick voyage, and it was not long before Mizo found himself again in the streets of the capital of the west land, playing as he went along. The people had heard no music like his since he went away, and they crowded around him, and in their joy gave him whatever money they had in their pockets. For all I know, he may still be playing there to this day." He adds a playful flourish to signal the story's end..

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 152: The Boiled Eggs (Brock)

(real tale: Amin and the Boiled Eggs (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20130331))

"There was once a young man --we'll call him Kazu--who worked day and night to make a living." Brock begins. "He plowed and harvested farmers’ fields and milked their Miltanks. But when a drought hit the land, Kazu found himself with no work. He decided he must move away or starve."

Concerns murmurs waft through the crowd as Brock continues "Since he had no money to buy him supplies for his journey, he asked his neighbor and friend--we'll call him Hiroshi--for a loan. Hiroshi had a barn full of Combuskens and, feeling sorry for his friend, agreed to help."

In an older version of himself, he assures the group “I’ll boil you a dozen eggs. They should feed you until you have found a way to feed yourself.”

As himself, he continues "Kazu carefully packed those eggs in a basket, grateful for his friend's help. Surely, he thought, those eggs would keep him from going hungry on the road."

He adds as an aside "Besides, the egg is a source of life, after all."

Ash and Misty nod in agreement. "And so, with hope in his heart, Kazu set off into the world to seek his fortune." Brock continues, walking around the tent all the while. "After a few months, a farmer hired him, and Kazu worked tirelessly. He worked for anyone who would hire him, no matter how little they paid. He was careful with the money he earned, so careful that after one year he had enough to buy a small plot of land. By the second year, he had a flock of Mareeps. By the third year, he had Ponytas and Miltanks."

Awed gasps race through the tent. "Each year he did better, adding more Pokemon and more acres to his farm." Brock explains. "By the time six years had gone by, he was a wealthy man, owner of many acres and so many Pokemon, they numbered like the sand by the sea. He also had Tepigs, Miltanks, Mareep, Ponytas, and Combuskens of his own."

Ash whistles in awe, impressed with that many Pokemon. "But wealth did not make Kazu entirely happy--it wasn't long before he started feeling homesick." Brock quiets the chatter as he returns to his spot in the middle of the tent. "So when he had more than most people like him would ever earn in a lifetime, he sold his land and most of his Pokemon, and with his favorite servant and Ponyta by his side, he mounted his favorite Rapidash--which had a shining blue mane, and rode toward home. As they rode, Kazu dreamed of the welcome he would receive in his village. He imagined the words of welcome his old friends would offer, and he smiled as he remembered the sights of all that was familiar to him."

After waiting for a beat, Brock goes on "But when he entered his village, no one recognized him at first, though rumors quickly spread of a rich man on a handsome Shiny Rapidash who had appeared. When people discovered this wealthy stranger was their own Kazu, they gossiped even more. Soon the people were convinced that Kazu’s wealth was even greater. People whispered of palaces and jewels, and many complained behind his back, wondering why Kazu was not giving out Pokemon and gold and silver to those who had once been his friends."

Giggles go up as the audience pictures the townsfolk's rumors and complaining. "But it was Hiroshi that was more upset than anyone..." Brock intones. "So one afternoon, he knocked on Kazu’s door." He knocks on the rock for effect, quieting the chatter.

“Come in, my friend.” he smiles as he approaches an imagined guest, using an older version of Ash as Kazu.

As Hiroshi, he sternly intones “I’ve come to collect the debt you owe me.”

“You wish me to give you a dozen boiled eggs?” he asks as Kazu, to some laughter.

“I have been very patient, Kazu,” he explains as Hiroshi. “I’ve waited seven years to be repaid. You owe me five hundred pieces of gold.”

“But Hiroshi, eggs are precious, but there is nowhere on this earth where eggs are so costly.” he protests as Kazu, to more laughter.

“You don’t understand. Those eggs could have been my fortune.” he retorts as Hiroshi.

The crowd laughs even more as Brock balks in feigned surprise. “Old friend,” he gasps as Kazu, “I don’t know how you make your calculations. I do not owe you five hundred pieces of gold for 12 boiled eggs.”

“Then we will take this matter before the magistrate.” he offers as Hiroshi.

The crowd applauds the interplay before Brock continues as himself "So the two of them traveled to the magistrate's house. Hiroshi explained to the magistrate that he had given Kazu a dozen eggs, and each one of those eggs might have become a Combusken. Each of those Combuskens might have lain dozens of eggs, and each of those eggs, too, would have become Combuskens, and in seven years, he would have owned a great flock if he hadn’t given away those dozen eggs."

"After Kazu presented his side of the story, it was getting late, so the magistrate told the two of them to return the next day, and he would decide the case then." he explains. "The next morning, the magistrate stepped out to announce his decision. A huge crowd had come to the magistrate's house--everyone waited to hear what the magistrate would decide. But Kazu was not there, and for 30 minutes everyone waited patiently for him to arrive."

He waits a few moments, as if waiting for Kazu to enter the tent. "Finally, the magistrate was about to announce that Kazu would have to pay Hiroshi for the eggs when Kazu arrived, red-faced and out of breath. He explained that he had a plate of boiled beans he had to plant in the garden, for he wanted a good crop the next year.”

Everyone laughs at how silly the request is. "The magistrate laughed like you guys, and told Kazu that boiled beans could not grow.” Brock explains to the crowd. "Kazu explained that he was essentially doing the same thing by pronouncing that boiled eggs hatched into Combuskens."

"Oh's fill the air as Brock concludes "Needless to say, the magistrate turned a lovely shade of Charizard red, and commended Kazu for his wisdom, in addition to pronouncing him innocent. Kazu forgave Hiroshi for jumping to conclusions, but no one in that land forgot the lesson of the boiled eggs for a long time."

Misty leads the applause as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 153: How Ho'oh and Lugia Took Flight (Misty)

(real tale: Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky (http://www.worldoftales.com/African_folktales/Nigerian_folktale_16.html))


"A long time ago, when the world was new, Ho'oh and Manaphy were great friends, and both lived on the earth together." Misty begins. "Ho'oh would often visit Manaphy, but Manaphy never visited Ho'oh in return."

"That's not nice!" Ash gasps at this.

"Finally, Ho'oh asked Manaphy why it was that he never came to see her, and Manaphy replied that Ho'oh's nest was not big enough, and that if he came, the sea would follow him, driving Ho'oh out."

Ash ponders this--Manaphy actually has a valid reason, as he is the Prince of the Sea.

"He then suggested that Ho'oh build a very large house; as the sea would take up a lot of room." Misty explains. "Ho'oh promised to build a huge house, and returned home to her beloved, Lugia, who greeted her with a broad smile when he opened the door. Ho'oh told Lugia what she had promised Manaphy, and the next day commenced building a huge house in which to entertain Manaphy."

"Of course, no house can hold the entire ocean..." Brock muses.

"When it was done, Ho'oh asked Manaphy to come and visit her the next day." Misty continues. "When Manaphy arrived, he called out to Ho'oh, and asked her if it was safe to come in, and Ho'oh invited Manaphy inside. Manaphy came inside, and then the sea began to flow in, accompanied by the water Pokemon."

The boys chuckle as they picture Ho'oh's panicked reaction. "Before long the water was knee-deep, so Manaphy asked Ho'oh if it was still safe, and Ho'oh said yes, so more water came in." Misty goes on. The Meowths giggle as she continues "When the water was level with the top of a person's head, Manaphy asked if it was safe to come in, and Ho'oh and Lugia both said yes, not knowing any better. So the water flowed on, until Ho'oh and Lugia had to perch on the roof."

She concludes "Again Manaphy asked Ho'oh if it was okay to come in, and got the same answer. As more water came rushing in, it very soon overflowed the top of the roof, and Ho'oh and Lugia were forced to fly into the sky, where they have remained ever since."

Brock raises an eyebrow. "For all we know, that house may be lying at the bottom of the sea..."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 154: The Prince's Spellsong (Ash)

(real tale: Graciosa and Percinet (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/107.htm))


"Once there lived a king and queen who had a daughter they loved very much." Ash begins. "She was so graceful, pretty, and clever that she was called Charissa, which means 'grace'. Her mom and dad loved her so much, they would rather lose everything they owned than see Princess Charissa unhappy."

"Pini?" Happini asks, intrigued by a princess tale.

"Well, every day she gave Princess Charissa a lovely new dress of gold, or satin, or velvet, or something equally valuable." Ash explains. "and when she was hungry she had the choicest meats, cheeses, and vegetables, and bowls full of all manner of candies. Princess Charissa was well loved and well liked in all the kingdom, and everybody said she was the happiest princess in the world."

"Azu ri..." Azurill imagines herself as a princess.

"Now, in this land's court was a very rich old duchess whose name was Amara." Ash continues. "She was infamous for her hair trigger temper, and her hair, now icy white, had once been red as fire, and she had piercing green eyes that many said could see into your soul!"

Misty shudders at the old duchess' description, but Ash isn't done yet. "Her face was as broad as a full moon, and her mouth was so large that everybody who met her would have been afraid they were going to be eaten alive by sickly yellow teeth. She could not bear to hear everyone saying how pretty and how charming Charissa was. If anyone happened to mention the charming princess, she would loudly proclaim that she had more beauty in her pinky than Princess Charissa had in her whole body."

"Talk about a huge ego..." Brock muses.

"The years went by, until one day, to the great grief of the kingdom, the queen caught a horrible disease and died, despite the healer's best efforts." Ash continues. "The king became so depressed that he locked himself up in his palace and didn't come out for a year. The royal healers, fearing that he too would get sick, told him to go out and have some fun. So a hunting party was assembled, but as it was very hot that day, the king soon got tired, and decided to rest at a castle they were passing by."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"The king didn't know that this particular castle happened to be Duchess Amara's castle." Ash intones, making the babies shudder. "When she heard that the king was coming, she went out to meet him, and told him that the cellar was the coolest place in the whole castle. So down they went together, and the king saw about two hundred great casks ranged side by side, asked if it was only for herself that she had this immense store of wine. Duchess Amara said that the massive amount of wine was for herself alone, but she would be happy to let the king have some of it."

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Misty worries.

"So after the king told Amara what kind of wine he wanted, he was stunned when gems game from the barrel instead of wine." Ash goes on. "Gold came out of a second barrel, and silver from a third. Duchess Amara insisted she didn't have a clue as to how all the riches got there, but the king didn't buy her story one bit. Duchess Amara finally came clean, and said they were all filled with gold, silver, and jewels, and offered to marry the king right then."

Everyone gasps at this. "The king agreed, under the condition that Duchess Amara would have entire control of Princess Charissa to do as she pleased with her."

"Waring, warning, mistake in progress!" Brock interjects.

Ash stifles a giggle before continuing "Understandably, Princess Charissa was horrified at the news of her father marrying Duchess Amara, but reluctantly got ready to go visit Duchess Amara's castle. When she told her maid what the matter was, her maid told her not to let the Duchess see how much she disliked her. At first, Princess Charissa would not promise, but her maid showed her so many good reasons for it that in the end she agreed to at least tolerate her stepmother."

"Pini pi..." Happini sniffles a little.

"While Charissa was waiting on her father to be ready, she went through the garden into a little clearing in the forest, where she sat down upon a mossy bank and began to think about her situation." Ash continues. "It wasn't long before she began to cry, and she cried, and cried, and forgot all about going back to the palace, until she suddenly saw a handsome page standing before her. He was dressed in green, and the cap which he held in his hand was adorned with white plumes. When Charissa looked at him he went down on one knee, and said to her..."

"Princess, the king awaits you." Brock fills in the dialogue as he bows on one knee before Melody, who giggles in embarrassment.

"Princess Charissa was surprised, and very much delighted at the page, who she had never seen before." Ash continues. "Thinking he was in the service of the duchess, she said..."

"How long have you been one of the king's pages?" Melody asks Brock.

"I am not in the service of the king, madam..." Brock replies, "but in yours."

"In mine?" Melody gasps as Charissa. "Then how is it that I have never seen you before?"

"Ah, Princess!" Brock assures Melody, "I have never before dared to present myself to you, but now the king's marriage threatens you with so many dangers that I have resolved to tell you at once how much I love you already, and I trust that in time I may win your regard. I am Prince Tristan, of whose riches you may have heard, and whose magic powers will, I hope, be of use to you in all your difficulties, if you will permit me to accompany you under this disguise."

"Tristan!" Melody smiles in character. "is it really you? I have so often heard of you and wished to see you. If you will indeed be my friend, I will not be afraid of that wicked old duchess any more."

Everyone applauds at the interplay before Ash goes on "So they went back to the palace together, and there Charissa found a beautiful Shiny Rapidash which Tristan had brought for her to ride. As it was very spirited he led it by the bridle. This enabled him to turn and look at the Princess often. When the Rapidash which the Duchess was to ride appeared beside Charissa's, it looked no better than an old cart Ponyta, and its flames were mere embers. As to their trappings, there was simply no comparison between them, as the princess's saddle and bridle were one glittering mass of diamonds. The king had so many other things to think of that he did not notice this, but all his courtiers were entirely taken up with admiring the princess and her charming page in green, who was more handsome and distinguished-looking than all the rest of the court put together."

"This is getting good...and then?" Misty smiles.

"When they met Duchess Amara she was seated in an open carriage trying in vain to look dignified." Ash replies. "The king and the princess saluted her, and her Rapidash was brought forward for her to mount. But when she saw the Shiny Rapidash, she was steamed!"

Everyone laughs as they picture Duchess Amara's outburst. "The king commanded Charissa to dismount and to beg the Duchess to honor her by mounting her Rapidash. Princess Charissa reluctantly complied, and the duchess, without even so much as a thank you, scrambled up upon the beautiful Rapidash, where she sat looking like a bundle of clothes, and eight officers had to hold her up for fear she would fall off."

The tent erupts in laughter at the comical scene. "So the king ordered the page to come and lead the queen's Rapidash." Ash continues when the laughter quiets. Tristan and the princess looked at one another, but said nothing, as he did as the king commanded, and the procession started in great pomp. The duchess was greatly elated, and as she sat there in state would not have wished to change places even with Princess Charissa. But at the moment when it was least expected the beautiful Rapidash began to plunge and rear and kick, and finally ran away at such a pace that it was impossible to stop it."

"Yee-hah!" Misty cries.

"Ride'em, cow-duchess!" Brock agrees, mocking Duchess Amara.

Ash tries oh-so hard not to laugh as he continues "At first Duchess Amara clung to the saddle for dear life, but she was very soon thrown off and fell in a heap among the stones and thorns, and there they found her, shaken up, but very angry, and collected what was left of her as if she had been a broken glass. As she recovered in bed, she began to scold and rage, and declared that the whole affair was Charissa's fault, that she had contrived it on purpose to try and get rid of her, and that if the king would not have her punished, she would go back to her castle and enjoy her riches by herself."

"Azu..." Azurill swallows hard. Pikachu sparks in anger, as if Charissa is actually there

"At this the King was terribly frightened, for he did not at all want to lose all those barrels of gold and jewels." Ash intones. "So to appease the duchess, he told her she could punish Charissa in any way she saw fit."

"Princess Charissa was seized by four waiting women, who looked so tall and strong and cruel that the she shuddered at the sight of them, and still more when she saw them arming themselves with great bundles of rods." Ash goes on. "She heard the Duchess call out to them from her bed to beat her without mercy."

Pikachu's angry sparks grow even brighter. "Hap pini pini pi!" Happini protests.

"Azu azu!" Azurill agrees.

"Princess Charissa pleaded to Arceus that Tristan would come to rescue her." Ash continues. Suddenly, seconds before the first lash was to be delivered, she heard a familiar voice sing..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock fills in the spellsong.

"Princess Charissa discovered, to her great relief, that the rods had changed to bundles of Beautifly wings, and though the Duchess's women went on till they were so tired that they could no longer raise their arms, she was not hurt at all. However, the duchess thought she must be black and blue after such a beating; so Princess Charissa, when she was released, pretended to be in pain, and went away into her own room, where she told her maid all that had happened. She was more than relieved to see Tristan beside her. She thanked him profusely for helping her."

Pikachu stays his Thunderbolt and the babies heave a relieved sigh as Ash goes on "They talked and laughed late into the night, but Tristan advised her to fake sick for a few days, and after promising to come to her aid whenever she needed him, he disappeared as suddenly as he had come."

[And then?] Korra asks, excited.

"Duchess Amara, meanwhile was actually thrilled that Charissa was sick." Ash goes on. "The king and the duchess were married the next day with all the magnificence of a royal wedding. By now, the king knew that, above all other things, his new queen loved to be told that she was beautiful. So he ordered that her portrait should be painted, and that a tournament should be held, at which all the bravest knights of his court should maintain against all comers that Amara was the most beautiful princess in the world."

"Pika..." Pikachu grumbles.

"Millions of knights came from far and wide to accept the challenge, and the hideous queen sat on a balcony hung with banners to watch the various contests." Ash continues. and Charissa had to stand up behind her, where her loveliness was so conspicuous that the combatants could not keep their eyes off her. But the queen was so vain that she thought all their admiring glances were for herself, especially as, in spite of the badness of their cause, the king's knights were so brave that they were the victors in every battle, whether they themselves fought, or their Pokemon fought."

The tent is quiet as Ash continues "However, when nearly all the strangers had been defeated, a young unknown knight appeared. He carried a portrait, enclosed in a bow encrusted with diamonds, and he declared himself willing to maintain against them all that the queen was the ugliest creature in the world, and that the princess whose portrait he carried was the most beautiful. So one by one the knights and their Pokemon came out against him, and one by one he defeated them all, and then he opened the box, and said that, to console them, he would show them the portrait of his beloved, and when he did so everyone recognized the Princess Charissa. The unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and retired, without telling his name to anybody. But Princess Charissa had no difficulty in guessing that it was Tristan."

"I bet Duchess Amara was steamed..." Misty giggles.

"She was mad, all right." Ash laughs. "and yelled and screamed at Charissa for so long, the guards had to be called. But that night, Charissa was forced into Amara's carriage, and away they drove, and never stopped until they reached a great forest, a hundred miles from the palace. This forest was so gloomy, and so full of fierce Pokemon that nobody dared pass through it even by daylight. They dropped Princess Charissa there, and left her in spite of all her tears and pleas."

"Pini ni..." Happini shudders in fear as Pikachu charges more angry sparks.

"The princess stayed still at first, but when the last sound of the retreating carriage died away in the distance she began to run, sometimes knocking herself against a tree, sometimes tripping over a stone, fearing every minute that she would be eaten up by one Pokemon or another. Finally, she was too tired to take another step, so she threw herself on the ground and cried..."

"Oh, Tristan, where are you?" Melody cries as Charissa.

"She had hardly spoken when a familiar voice sang in the darkness..." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock sings as Tristan.

"...and all the forest was lit up with a sudden silver glow." Ash continues. "Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft radiance, which was clearer than moonlight and softer than daylight, and at the end of a long path lined with trees, Princess Charissa saw a palace of clear crystal which blazed like the sun. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, but sighed with relief when she saw it was Tristan."

"My apologies...I did not intend to frighten you, Princess." Brock assures Melody as Tristan. "I come to bid you welcome to our holy palace, in the name of the Queen, my mother, who loves you as if you were her own daughter.

"Princess Charissa climbed with him into a little sled, drawn by two Sawbucks, which bounded off to the wonderful palace, where the queen received her with the greatest kindness, and a splendid banquet." Ash continues. "Princess Charissa was so happy to have found Tristan, and escaped from the gloomy forest. The banquet was a grand affair, and Charissa enjoyed herself late into the night. After dinner, they went into another lovely room, where the crystal walls were covered with pictures, and Princess Charissa noticed with great surprise that her own history was represented, right down to the moment when Tristan found her in the forest."

"Your artists must indeed be diligent," Melody smiles at Brock.

"They are obliged to be, for I will not have anything forgotten that happens to you." Brock answers as Tristan.

"When Princess Charissa finally got tired, twenty-four maidens put her to bed in the prettiest room she had ever seen, and then sang to her so sweetly that Charissa's dreams were all of exotic lands, and cool sea waves, and caverns, in which she wandered with Tristan; but when she woke up again her first thought was that, delightful as this enchanted palace seemed to her, she could not stay in it, but must go back to her father." Ash explains. "Of course, Tristan was bitterly disappointed when she told him what she had been thinking. He begged her to consider again how unhappy the wicked queen would make her, and how, if she would but marry him, all the enchanted palace would be hers, and his one thought would be to please her, and she too would learn to harness the power of the mystical spellsongs. But, in spite of everything he could say, Princess Charissa was quite determined to go back, but Tristan ultimately persuaded her to stay eight days."

He pauses for a moment, then continues "Those eight days were so full of pleasure and amusement that it seemed they passed like a few hours. On the last day, Charissa, who had often felt anxious to know what was going on in her father's palace, and asked Tristan to find out for her. Tristan at first offered to send his courier to find out, but Princess Charissa said..."

"Isn't there a quicker way of knowing than that?" Melody asks as Princess Charissa.

"Very well," Brock replies as Tristan. "you shall see for yourself."

So they went up to a high tower, which, like the rest of the castle, was built entirely of clear crystal that shone in many colors." Ash continues. There Tristan told Charissa to hold her hands in a cup shape. When Charissa had her hands in the requested shape, Tristan sang...."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock sings again as Tristan.

"Princess Charissa saw her hands glow silver for a moment, then gasped in horror at the scene she saw in her hands." Ash explains. "She saw the wicked queen go to the King, and heard her tell him she had died. She saw how she dressed up a log of wood and had it buried, and how the old king cried, and all the people murmured that the queen had killed Charissa with her cruelty, and that she ought to die in one way or another. But when she saw that the king was so sorry for her pretended death that he could neither eat nor drink, she cried...."

"Oh, Tristan! Take me back quickly if you love me." Melody pleads.

"Tristan reluctantly took Princess Charissa home." Ash goes on. "When they got to the palace, he made the sled and themselves invisible via his spellsong..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock sings again.

"so Princess Charissa got in undetected." Ash continues. "She ran up to the great hall where the king was sitting all by himself. At first he was very much startled by Charissa's sudden appearance, but she told him how the queen had left her out in the forest, and how she had caused a log of wood to be buried. The king, who did not know what to think, sent quickly and had it dug up, and sure enough it was as Princess Charissa had said. He was elated to see Charissa again, and bade her sit down to dinner with him, and they were very happy. However...."

"Uh oh..." Misty swallows hard.

"Someone had told the wicked queen that Princess Charissa had come back, and was having dinner with the king." Ash intones. "She flew into a terrible fury. claiming that Charissa was an impostor, and that if the King did not give her up at once she would go back to her own castle and never see him again, he had not a word to say, and really seemed to believe that it was not Charissa after all. So the Queen in great triumph sent for her waiting women, who dragged the unhappy princess away and shut her up in dungeon; they took away all her jewels and her pretty dress, and gave her rags. There was some straw in a corner, which was all she had for a bed, and they gave her a very little bit of hard bread to eat. Princess Charissa did indeed regret leaving the enchanted palace. She would have called Tristan to her aid, only she felt sure he was still mad at her for leaving him, and thought that he would not come anymore."

"Pini..." Happini sniffles as she brushes away a tear.

"As if that weren't enough..." Ash intones, making the babies' eyes well up with tears. The Queen had summoned a Mismagius, and told it to find some impossible task for Princess Charissa to do. The Mismagius conjured a skein of thread, three times as big as herself; that was so fine that a breath of air would break it, and so tangled that it was nigh on impossible to figure out where it started and where it ended. The queen then told Charissa to try and untangle the skein before sunset, or else."

The babies swallow hard, not wanting to know what "or else" is.

"Princess Charissa had no idea where to begin in untangling the thread." Ash continues. "After a few minutes of fruitless struggle, she cried..."

"Oh, Tristan! This fatal skein will be the end of me if you will not forgive me and help me once again."

"Sure enough, Tristan arrived as easily as if he had all the keys in his own pocket." Ash narrates.

"Here I am, Princess, ye have called, and I have come." Brock replies as Tristan.

"He wasted no time in singing his mystical spellsong..." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul.... Brock sings again,

"and all the broken threads became like new, and the whole skein wound itself smoothly." Ash narrates. "Tristan then asked if there was anything else that she wished him to do for her, and if the time would ever come when she would wish for him for his own sake."

"Please don't be mad at me, Tristan," Melody pleads as Charissa. "I am unhappy enough as it is."

"But why should you be unhappy, my Princess? I can understand if you wish to see your family again, as cruel as your stepmother is." Brock assures Melody as Tristan. "But the enchanted palace will always be open for you should you decide to return."

"With that, Tristan left her." Ash narrates. "Meanwhile, the wicked Queen was chomping at the bit to punish Charissa that she thought the sun would never set. But, as soon as she entered, Charissa presented her with the ball of thread in perfect order, so that she had no fault to find, and could only pretend to discover that it was soiled, for which imaginary fault she slapped her on each cheek so many times that it turned her skin at least three different colors."

"Ow...." Misty winces at the thought of the pain.

"The next day, the Mismagius appeared with a huge barrel full of the feathers of all sorts of bird Pokemon." Ash continues. "There were Pidgeys, Spearows, Farfetch'd, Doduo, Togekiss, Chatots, Noctowls, Taillows, Pidoves, Natus, Vullabies, Starlies, Fletchlings, and any other bird Pokemon in the Pokedex. These feathers were all mixed up to the point that the Pokemon themselves could not have chosen out their own."

"Prof. Oak would have a headache if he saw that pile..." Misty muses, making nervous giggles fill the tent.

The Mismagius told Charissa to pick out and lay in a separate heap the feathers of each Pokemon by sunset, or else." Ash explains. "Charissa tried, but it was nigh on impossible to tell which feather belonged to what Pokemon, and after a few minutes, she sighed in frustration..."

"The Queen wishes to kill me, and if I must die I must." Melody sighs. "I fear what will happen if I ask Tristan to help me again, for if he really loved me he would not wait till I called him, he would come as soon as he knew I was in danger, with his magical song."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock sings before answering as Tristan. "I am here, Charissa--though your heart is unsure, know that I love you with all my heart, no matter what happens."

"Then he sang his holy spellsong again..." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock sings again.

"and all the feathers flew out in a cloud and settled down in neat little separate heaps all round the room." Ash continues, to some light applause. "When the wicked queen came at sunset she was amazed and infuriated to find the task done. However, she complained that the heaps of feathers were badly arranged, and for that, Princess Charissa was beaten till she was black and blue--again!"

"Ow, again...." Brock notes as himself, making Melody giggle.

"On the third day, the duchess told Charissa to carry a silver box to my castle, and set it on the table in her own room." Ash explains. "But she forbade her to look at what it contained, or else."

[Did she have to have Tristan's help?] Korra wonders.

"Actually, Princess Charissa accomplished this on her own, but Tristan was watching over her, albeit unseen." Ash replies. "When the Queen saw her, she flat out clobbered the poor Mismagius, and would have killed her if a Ghost Pokemon could be killed."

[I wonder when Princess Charissa will see Tristan really does love her.] Mai wonders.

"The next day, Queen Amara dug a hole big enough to make Team Rocket proud, and covered it with a huge rock." Ash continues. "Then she sent for Charissa and told her there was a great treasure under the rock, which was only a ruse for her to push Charissa in the hole!"

Everyone gasps at this, but Ash assures his audience "Princess Charissa's first thought was to cry, but she screamed..."

"Oh, Tristan!" Melody pleads. "If you only knew how I am suffering because of my not trusting you! But how could I be sure that you would not be like other man and tire of me from the moment you were sure I loved you?"

"She suddenly heard a familiar spellsong...." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock sings as Tristan again.

"Charissa was surrounded in a bright rainbow light, and warped into a enchanted garden." Ash continues. "Flowers and fruit grew on every side, fountains splashed, and birds sang in the branches overhead, and when she reached a great pathway lined with trees and looked up to see where it would lead her, she found herself close to the palace of crystal. Yes! there was no mistaking it, and the queen and Tristan were coming to meet her."

He concludes "Princess Charissa finally confessed her love for Tristan, and they were married right then with the greatest splendor. They all lived happily ever after."

Pikachu leads the applause as Ash, Brock, and Melody take a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 155: The Legend of the Shining Mountain (Brock)

(real tale: The Story of the Golden Mountain (http://www.worldoftales.com/European_folktales/Russian_Folktale_5.html))


"In a certain land lived a king and queen who had three sons, the youngest of which was named Shane." Brock begins. "Now, one day the king and queen went for a walk in the royal garden--something they often liked to do when the weather was nice--when suddenly, a great storm blew up, and by the time it died down, the queen was gone."

"Pini!" Happini gasps.

"The king was heartbroken, and mourned a long time for his wife; and the two eldest sons, seeing their father’s sorrow, asked for permission to go look for their mother." Brock assures Happini. "The king said okay, and they set out early the next morning."

"Pika pi?" Pikachu asks, sparking with excitement about a quest.

"The two sons traveled for a long time, until they came to a vast desert, where they made camp, and waited for someone to come guide them through the sands." Brock replies. "They waited for three years, but no one came."

"How did they survive for those three years in boiling hot days and cold nights?" Ash wonders.

"Probably packed enough supplies to last three years, if not more." Misty replies

"Meanwhile, Shane had come of age, and he too went to his father and asked to go search for his mother." Brock goes on. "He wandered for a long time, until he found his brothers' camp. Shane suggested they travel together, and they all left early the next morning."

[What adventures did they get into?] a Meowth asks.

"They rode on for days, until they spotted a palace, built of crystal, and surrounded by a crystal fence." Brock replies. "So they rode up to the palace, Shane opened the gate, and the three of them entered the courtyard. At the entryway he saw a pillar, into which were fastened two rings, one of gold and the other of silver. Then drawing his bridle through both these rings, he tied up his Ponyta, and went upstairs. It turned out the crystal palace belonged to the three boys' uncle, who was said to have magic powers. He welcomed his nephews to his palace, and they talked and visited for some time."

"And then?" Misty is intrigued.

"When it was time for them to go, the brothers received a magical crystal ball, which flew off into the sky." Brock continues. "The boys rode after it, until they came to a mountain that shone like the sun, so high and steep that they could not climb it. Shane scouted the area around the mountain, until he found an entrance in the rock. He stepped into it and saw an iron door, with a gold ring; and on opening it, found some mythril spurs, which he fastened to his hands and feet, and then climbed up the mountain. When he got to the top, he was very tired, and sat down to rest; but no sooner had he taken off the spurs, they vanished."

"So, what was in the mountain?" Ash asks.

"Just then, Shane saw a tent made of linen, which led to a golden kingdom, and on its top was a golden ball." Brock replies. "He approached the tent; but at its entrance there lay two Enteis guarding the entrance. Shane noticed two gold basins standing close by, poured some water into them, and let the Enteis drink it, who then let him freely enter the tent. When he got in, Shane saw a beautiful princess lying on a sofa, guarded by a fierce Hydreigon, which he killed in a single blow. The princess thanked him for rescuing her, and gave him a gold egg that held an entire kingdom made of gold."

"What else did Shane find?" Misty asks, excited.

"Shane also discovered a kingdom of silver and a kingdom of crystal, and saved princesses there as well." Brock explains. "After traveling a long way, Shane came to a castle, where he found his mother sitting in a beautiful throne room, arrayed in royal robes. Shane was overjoyed to see her, and told her how he had traveled far and wide with his brothers in search of her. Then the queen told Shane that an evil Gengar would soon appear, and told him to hide himself in the folds of her cloak. When the Gengar tried to embrace her, Shane was to try in any way he could to seize a magical ruby he held with both hands. The Gengar would then rise up with him from the earth, only to fall down again and shatter into a bazillion pieces like glass. Shane would then collect and burn the ghostly shards, and scatter the ashes in the field.”

"I have a bad feeling Shane is about to be backstabbed by his brothers..." Ash muses...

"Everything happened as the queen had said, and Shane did everything he was supposed to do, only keeping the magic ruby." Brock goes on. After guiding his mother and the three princesses he had rescued down to the surface, his brothers saw that he was alone on the mountain, left him behind, and took all the credit for saving them, when it was really Shane that did the job."

"Hap pini!" Happini snaps.

"Shane, meanwhile, had no idea how to get down." Brock continues. "He decided to pass the time trying every last one of the mystical spellsongs his uncle had taught him, in hopes one of them would be the right way to tap into the ruby's power. When he tried..." Brock pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... "a Riolu stood before him, who said..."

"What is yer pleasure, Prince Shane?” Ash asks in character as Erin, his Riolu mage.

"Shane asked the Riolu who she was, and how she had come to that uninhabited mountain." Brock narrates.

"I am only a spirit,” Ash replies as Erin. “and was subject te te Gengar ye destroyed; but as you now possess his magical ruby, and have sang the mystical spellsong that binds you and I together, I am here ready te serve ye.”

"Shane first asked the Riolu to take him back to his own kingdom.” Brock continues. "All Erin had to do was sing her own spellsong..."

Karuto, iiciida shou... Ash sings as Erin.

"...and Shane found himself warped to his homeland in the blink of an eye." Brock continues "He quickly returned to the castle and explained what had happened to the whole court. His mother and the three princesses realized that it had actually been Shane that had saved them, and ran to embrace him. His brothers looked down ashamed, and the king stood there speechless; but his wife soon explained it all to him. The king was steamed when he heard what his sons had done, and thought seriously about killing them both; but Shane pleaded that if he was to receive a reward for what he did, he only wanted his brothers spared." The king agreed, and forgave the two elder brothers, saying it was their younger brother's love that saved them."

He concludes "The next day three weddings were celebrated-- the eldest son took the princess of the golden kingdom; the second son chose the princess of the silver kingdom, and Shane settled with the princess in the crystal kingdom. He kept the magical ruby with him, where it led him and his brothers on many more adventures. But that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 156: Flying Magikarps and Swimming Bunearies (Misty)

(real tale: How a Fish Swam in the Air and a Hare in the Water (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/070.htm))

"Once there was a man and his wife that lived together in a little village not far from what is today Cerulean City." Misty begins. "They might have been happy if only the woman had the sense to know when to be quiet. But even the most benign of rumors had to be proclaimed to the whole village, and these tales were repeated and altered so much that people had to see if they were true, and the man had to deflect inquisitive neighbors and pranksters."

The boys laugh at this. "Now one day, the man was walking through the forest, and he stepped on a soft patch of earth hard enough that his foot sank in the earth." Misty explains. "Curious as to what it was, he dug a little bit, and discovered a little chest full of gold, silver, and jewels."

"BA-DA-DA-DAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Brock can't resist singing the Zelda 'got item' stinger.

Misty waits for the boys to calm down, then goes on. "The man was understandably excited, but then he wondered how he could take the treasure home with him--once his wife knew about his fortune, she would tell the whole world, and then...well, he didn't want to know what would happen after that."

Ash chuckles as Misty continues " So he sat down and thought long and hard about what to do, ultimately brainstorming a plan. He covered up the chest again, and returned to town, where he bought a live Magikarp and a live Buneary in the marketplace. Then he returned to the forest and hung the Magikarp up at the top of a tree, and then tied up the Buneary in a fishing net and set it on the edge of a little stream, never mind how unpleasant such a wet spot was likely to be to the Buneary."

The boys giggle as they picture a soaked Buneary. "So when he got back and told his wife of his fortune--after having her swear she would not tell anyone--she asked why he didn't bring it back." Misty continues. "The man assured her that they would go there together and divvy up equal shares together."

"How does the Magikarp and the Buneary factor into this?" Ash wonders.

"The next day, as they were on their way to the forest, the man told his wife that water Pokemon lived and thrive in the trees and that some land Pokemon spent their time in the water." Misty explained. "The wife thought her husband was nuts at first, but did a double take when she saw the Magikarp in the tree and the Buneary in the water!"

The tent explodes in laughter. "They retrieved the Magikarp, the Buneary, and the treasure, and lived quite comfortably." Misty continues. "The wife threw lavish parties every day, much to the man's chagrin. "He tried to talk some common sense into her, but instead, she marched off to the magistrate and told him that ever since they had found the treasure, her husband had grown very lazy and a miser. Although the woman was lying through her teeth, the magistrate had to take the matter seriously, and sent his chief secretary to look into the matter."

"And then?" Brock is piqued.

"The secretary called the village council together, and went with them to the man's house." Misty replies. "he explained that by order of the magistrate, he had to turn over the treasure. But the man played dumb, and asked that the wife tell her side of the story."

"Uh oh..." Ash chuckles in anticipation.

"As the wife explained what had happened, the secretary and the council howled with laughter, so much so the magistrate couldn't make sense of it all." Misty concludes. Needless to say, the woman was very careful about what gossip she shared after that!"

"Oh, that was so funny!" Melody giggles as she wipes a tear of laughter from one eye...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 157: The Mage and the Prince (Ash)

(real tale: The Magician and the Sultan (http://www.worldoftales.com/African_folktales/African_Folktale_47.html))

"There was once a king who had three sons, and no one seemed to be able to teach them anything; which greatly grieved both the king and the queen." Ash begins. "One day, a mage came to the palace and made the king an offer--if he took them in and made great scholars of them, he would receive something in return."

"What did the king say?" Misty asks, interested.

"The king first offered to give the mage half of his property, but the mage said no." Ash replies. "Half the towns in the kingdom didn't cut it either--the mage offered that when he brought the boys back, the king would choose two to stay with him, and the third would be the mage's servant.”

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Brock is worried for the princes.

"So the mage took the three princes,and taught them all manner of things. When the mage brought them back, the king took the two elder ones, and the mage took the third--we'll call him Takuya to his own house." Ash continues, "When they arrived, the mage--we'll call him Moli--gave Takuya all the keys, saying that he was going on a month long journey, and that he was free to explore wherever he wanted."

"Except for one forbidden room, right?" Melody wonders.

"Takuya took the keys and went to explore the house." Ash continues. "One room was full of liquid gold. He stuck his finger in, and the gold stuck to it, and, despite his attempt to rub it off, the gold would not come off; so he wrapped a rag around it. When Moli came home and saw the rag, and asked him just what he had done to his finger, he was afraid to tell him the truth, so he said that he had cut it."

[And then?] Korra asks.

"Some months passed, and Moli left on another journey." Ash replies "Takuya took the keys and continued his exploring. In six rooms, he saw tons of Pokemon bones of all types, but in the seventh was a live Rapidash that could speak!"

"What did it say?" Misty is piqued.

"It first asked who he was and where he came from, and Takuya told the Rapidash everything." Ash explains. "The Rapidash told Takuya that Moli got his power from eating any form of living being--and that the Rapidash and were the only living things left."

Brock swallows hard at this. "Naturally, this scared the daylights out of Takuya, and asked the Rapidash what to do. "The Rapidash--who was named Akane--first told Takuya to unfasten her. Once he did that, Akane told him to open the door of the room with the gold in it, and she would swallow it all. Then, she would go and wait for him under the big tree that stood down the road. She told him that when Moli came home, he would ask Takuya to go get firewood, and Takuya was to say that he didn't understand that work, and he would go by himself. When he returned, he would put a great big pot on the hook and tell Takuya to make a fire under it. Takuya was to tell him he didn't know how to make a fire, and he would make it himself."

"Talk about an elaborate plan..." Misty mused.

"Then Moli would bring a large quantity of butter, and while it was getting hot he would put up a swing and tell him to climb in." Ash continues. "Takuya was to tell him he had never played that game before, and ask for him to swing first, that he could see how it was done. Then he would get up to show him; and Takuya would then push him into the big pot, and then come to her as quickly as he could."

[Did it work?] Mai has her doubts on how such an elaborate plan would work.

"Moli returned, and everything happened as Akane had said." Ash replies. "He gave Moli a push right into the big pot; and as the butter was by this time boiling, it not only killed him, but cooked him too. Takuya then ran as fast as he could to the big tree, where Akane was waiting for him, and they rode away as fast as they could."

He concludes "It is said they continue riding throughout the world seeking adventure--but that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 158: The Mint Warriors (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 58, story 1)

"A long time ago in a land far away, many people lost their lives and homes in a great war." Brock begins. "But one village had a problem of its own--arrogant warriors kept stealing all the crops in the fields."

Intrigued murmurs fill the tent as Brock goes on "One night, as a certain man and his wife had dinner, a knock came at the door." He knocks on a rock for effect,to some giggles. "The village elder was at the door, and he was dealing with a massive stomachache, so he hadn't eaten a thing all day."

Everyone laughs at Brock clutching his stomach in a feigned stomachache, as if he is the elder in pain. "After a bit of a struggle to get him to eat some mint to cure his stomachache, the elder was cured. The man explained that with everything else in short supply, they, like many others, had to eat mint all day, but at least they hadn't been sick in some time."

"Wow!" Ash is impressed.

"Now we know why stomachache medicine in traditionally mint flavored." Misty agrees.

Brock just continues "Inspired, the elder ate two mint leaves every day, and grew and shared his own mint with the townsfolk. However, there was still the matter of rogue warriors attacking towns and stealing food and other items."

"Ooh"s fill the air at this. "One night, a gang of rogue warriors snuck into the elder's house, believing there was riches to be had." Brock intones. "They refused to believe the elder when he said all he had was mint, and threatened to kill him."

Melody gasps, but Brock just grins--his favorite part of the tale is coming up! "As they went off to search the house for valuables, they were suddenly rebuffed by what they thought were two mint plants in warrior's garb! No matter how many times the rogues cut the mint warriors, more leaves kept growing back. Terrified, the rogues fled into the night empty handed."

"I would too if the plant I was cutting kept growing back leaves." Misty smiles.

Brock explains "It turned out the mint warriors were Celebi and Shaymin in disguise. When the elder saw all the mint leaves on the floor, he offered to clean it up and offer it as thanks to Arceus. Shaymin explained that while Arceus would appreciate the sacrifice, the mint warriors they were disguised as were practically invincible thanks to mint's parasitic nature."

"That's right--when you plant mint, you have to give it its own pot, or it will choke the other plants." Ash notes.

"Celebi added that the elder keep some of the cut mint for himself and brew a little tea with it." Brock continues.

He concludes "Needless to say, that town was not bothered by bandits again, and the townsfolk to this day plant mint as thanks for Celebi and Shaymin protecting them."

"I'm sure that town smells very sweet in the spring..." Melody sighs dreamily.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 159: The Princesses in the Sand (Misty)

(real tale: The Three Princesses of Whiteland (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/106.htm))


"There was once a fisherman who lived by a palace and caught fish for the royal table." Misty begins. "One day, he was out fishing, but didn't catch a thing. Try as he might, there was never even so much as a jerk on his hook; but when the day was done, he heard a voice from the water, which said: 'If you will give me what your wife shows you when you go home tonight, you will catch plenty of fish.'

"Uh oh..." Ash swallows hard.

"This does not bode well..." Brock agrees.

"So the man--we'll call him Hiro--said yes, and before long was catching fish like no tomorrow." Misty goes on. "But when he got home that night, his wife showed him a baby which had just been born, and he broke down and cried when he told her what he had done."

'I would break down too if I were Hiro." Ash muses.

"It wasn't long before this reached the royal ears of the king." Misty continues "When he heard what had happened, he said that he himself would take the child and see if he could somehow save it. The baby was a boy, and the king brought him up as his own son until the boy--who had been named Kaitou--grew up."

"Kaitou...what a nice name." Melody sighs dreamily.

"One day, Kaitou asked to go out with his father to fish." Misty intones. "The king was reluctant at first, but he finally gave his okay. Everything went well, until they came back to shore in the evening."

"Did they run into a monster?" Ash wonders. Pikachu sparks excitedly, eager for a quest.

"Kaitou discovered that he had lost his hanky in the water." Misty replies, making Pikachu sigh. "So he got back in the boat to try and find it; but no sooner had he got in the boat did it begin to race so quickly that it was surrounded in wakes, and all that Kaitou did to keep the boat steady was to no avail, for it went on and on the whole night.

"So where did Kaitou end up when the boat finally stopped?" Brock is worried for Kaitou.

"When the boat finally stopped, he came to a land that lay far, far away." Misty assures Brock. "when Kaitou had walked on for some time he met an old man on the beach, and asked him where he was. The old man replied that Kaitou had arrived in the far away region of Kalos, and listened as Kaitou told him everything that had happened."

"Azu?" Azurill asks.

"The old man told Kaitou that if he were to walk on farther along the beach, he would come to three princesses who were buried so far in the sand, he would only see their heads." Misty explains. "The first would call him--as she was the eldest--and beg him to help her, The second would do the same, but he was not to go near either of them. But if he helped the third, it will bring him fortune."

"Hm..." Ash is intrigued. "Is Kalos a real place?"

"Yeah..." Brock shows Ash a map of the world, and points out a star-shaped continent. "Right there is Kalos."

"I hope I get to go there soon!" Ash smiles, motioning for Misty to continue.

"Kaitou went on his way, and everything happened as the old man said." Misty continues. "When he went up to the third princess, she said 'If you will do what I tell thee, you will choose among us three,' So Kaitou said that he would do whatever she said, and she told him that three trolls had buried all three there in the sand, but they had once lived in a castle, which Kaitou could see way off in the distance, past a forest."

[Then what did the princess tell Kaitou?] Mai asks.

"She told him that if he went into the castle and risked his like by having the trolls beat him and survive, he would set them free." Misty explains.

"What else did she tell him?" Brock wonders.

"She told Kaitou that when he went in, two Enteis would be standing by the doorway, but if he went between them, they wouldn't hurt him." Misty replies. "He would then come into a small dark chamber; where he would lie down. Then the troll will come and beat him, but when the beating had ended, he was to take a jewel hanging on the wall, and invoke a mystical song that would heal him, as well as do other things. Then he he was to take the sword hanging next to the jewel and kill the troll."

"There's your quest..." Ash smiles at Pikachu.

"Kaitou did everything the princess--we'll call her Marin--had told him." Misty continues. "He walked straight in between the Enteis, and then into the small chamber, and lay down on the bed. The first night, a troll came with three heads and three rods, and beat Kaitou senseless, but Kaitou held out until the troll was done, and then he took the jewel, a ruby, and sang the mystical spellsong..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock fills in the spellsong.

"Once he was good as new, Kaitou took the sword and killed the troll." Misty continues, making a dramatic slashing motion for effect. "In the morning when he went to the beach, the princesses were only buried up to their waists. The next night everything happened in the same way, but the troll who came then had six heads and six rods, and he beat him much more severely than the first had done but when Kaitou went out the next morning, the princesses were in the sand up to their knees."

"I'm sure Kaitou had to be at least three different colors before he healed himself..." Ash chuckles.

"On the third night, a troll came who had nine heads and nine rods, and he beat Kaitou for so long, that at last he passed out; so believing Kaitou to be dead, the troll took him and flung him against the wall." Misty intones, making the Pokemon gasp. "The ruby fell into his hands, so he mustered what little strength he had left to sing the spellsong..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock sings again.

"and he was healed, as if nothing had happened at all." Misty continues. "Kaitou wasted no time in killing the troll, and in the morning when he went out of the castle the princesses were standing there entirely out of the sand."

She concludes "He took Princess Marin as his bride, and lived with her very happily for a long time, where they had many more adventures. But that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 160: The Lucky Punch (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 59, story 3)


"A king of a certain land always started his day looking out on his vast kingdom." Ash begins. "But deep down he just wished that something--anything--exciting would happen, and so sent out a proclamation for everyone in the land to bring a rare and wondrous item, with a prize going to whoever had the rarest thing."

Piqued murmurs fill the air as Ash continues "Now, one man--we'll call him Kenji--decided that if he won the contest, he would use the prize money to buy new tools, as his tools were old and worn from years of working in the fields. That night, when he arrived home, he found a huge Berry at least the size of a person's head!" He makes a form in the air so the audience has some idea of how large the giant Berry is.

"Wow..." Melody gasps. Brock whistles in agreement.

"Kenji carefully tended the huge Berry every day, and before long, it was so large, not even ten strong people could lift it." Ash explains. "After hoisting it aboard a large cart, he took it to the capital city, only to find the guards in the gatehouse were asleep--for they too were bored that nothing exciting happened on their watch."

Giggles go up at this. "The guards woke, but they were slightly annoyed by the constant parade of rare items entering the capital." Ash goes on. "They were stunned when they saw the huge Berry, and let Kenji in, with a promise that they got half of the reward."

"Ooh"s race through the small audience, but Ash just grins--it's time for the twist in his tale. "The king was awed by the huge Berry, and asked Kenji what he wanted as a reward. Kenji replied that he wanted ten punches."

Laughter fills the air as Ash balks in feigned surprise, as if he is the king. "The king was bewildered at the request, but Kenji insisted, and so he was given five bonks on the head." He knocks five times on a rock for effect.

After the laughter quiets, Ash continues "The guards noticed nothing but a set of farming tools when Kenji departed that evening, and asked for their share of the reward. Kenji complied, and gave each of the five guards a bonk, saying that was half of the reward."

More laughter fills the air as Ash concludes "The king saw the whole thing, and relieved the greedy guards from their posts. He also gave Kenji some even better tools and a thousand gold pieces, as thanks for exposing the corrupt guards."

"Well, that's one way to out some greedy guards!" Misty giggles as she wipes a tear of laughter from one eye...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 161: Daisuke, the Beast Slayer (Brock)

(real tale: The Beast Slayer (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Brazilian_Legends&story=Beast_Slayer))


"Once upon a time there was a man and his wife who were very poor." Brock begins. "The man earned his living making wooden bowls and platters to sell and oftentimes worked from dawn until dusk, but wooden bowls and platters sold for so very cheap that he could barely support his family no matter how hard he worked."

"Aw"s go up at Brock's woeful observation. "Now, the man and his wife were the parents of three lovely daughters--we'll call them Miyu, Ran, and Eina." Brock explains. "They were all very beautiful, and the man and his wife often lamented the fact that they did not have money to provide for them."

Pikachu sniffles as Brock goes on "One day, a handsome young man mounted on a beautiful Rapidash came to the poor man's house, and offered to take one of the poor man's daughters as his bride in return for a hundred gold pieces."

"WHAT???" Misty gasps.

"Isn't that selling them into slavery?" Ash is just as appalled.

"The father was very much shocked at this request--he may have been poor, but not so poor that he had to sell his own children." Brock explains. "The young man, however, threatened to kill him if he refused; so the father reluctantly consented to give Miyu to him, receiving a hundred gold pieces in return. The next day, the father found himself also giving up Ran, and the day after, Eina, to rich young men, on pain of death."

Angry murmurs race through the tent as Brock goes on. "Their home was not childless very long, for soon a little boy was born to them. They named him Daisuke, and brought him up in great luxury. But the neighborhood kids always teased him with taunts that said the only reason his father was rich was because he sold his three sisters. The teasing made Daisuke sad of course, but he said nothing about the matter for a long time. When the year came that he had come of age, he went to his father and mother and demanded that they tell him everything."

"Oh boy..." Melody braces herself for how Daisuke will react.

"His parents told Daisuke the whole story of the strange circumstances through which they had obtained their wealth." Brock continues, breaking an uneasy silence. "Daisuke then asked if he could go out into the world in search of his sisters. His father and mother gave him their blessing, and Daisuke set out on his journey early the next morning."

Brock walks around the tent for a moment,simulating Daisuke traveling. "Before long, Daisuke came to a house where there were three brothers fighting over a boot, a cap, and a key." he continues when he arrives back at the rock he was sitting on. "He asked them why those things were so valuable that they were fighting over them. The brothers replied that if one sang to the boot, Karuto, ichiida shou... the boot would immediately take him anywhere he wished to go. If one sang to the cap, Yveltal, ame no hao bakezo..., the cap would turn him invisible. The key could unlock any door in the whole world. Inspired, Daisuke offered so much money for the three items, the three brothers decided to end their fight and divide their shares of a thousand gold pieces."

Awed chatter and some applause goes up at the wondrous items. "Daisuke put the three treasures in his bag and went on his way. As soon as he had gone a little ways, he sang to the boot Karuto, iichiida shou... and the boot warped him to where his sister Miyu lived, which was the most magnificent palace he had ever seen in his life." Brock continues. "He asked to speak with his sister, but Miyu replied that she had no brother and did not wish to be bothered with the stranger."

"Did he get through to Miyu?" Ash asks.

"It took a lot of urging for Daisuke to get permission from her to tell his story; but, when she heard it, everything made sense, so she decided to welcome him as her brother." Brock replies. "She asked how he had found her home, and how he had come through the thicket which surrounded her palace. Daisuke told her about his magic boot."

"Aw"s and some applause go up, relieved Daisuke has found one of his sisters. But Brock had other ideas. "Later that afternoon, Miyu suddenly burst into tears. When Daisuke asked what the matter was, Miyu explained that her husband was a red Gyarados--and he would be very angry to find a human in his palace. Daisuke then told Miyu about his magic cap."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks.

Brock pauses for a moment, then intones "Soon the red Gyarados arrived, and in a very bad mood, damaging, if not breaking everything in his way, and ranting that he smelled human blood."

Gasps go up, but Brock assures them "It took some doing, but once Miyu had talked him into a relaxing soak in the hot spring, he became a handsome man. He then ate dinner, and when dinner had ended, Miyu asked him what he would do if he saw her brother. The red Gyarados replied that he would be kind to him, just as he was to her. Daisuke revealed himself, and the red Gyarados treated him with all the kindness and respect of a king. He asked Daisuke if he wanted to live for the rest of his life in the palace. Daisuke declined the invitation, saying that he had two other sisters to find. Before he left the next day, the red Gyarados gave him a magical sapphire from his royal treasury, saying that if he was ever in any danger in which he could help, take the sapphire and sing Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

Some light applause goes up at the gibberish spellsong. "Daisuke thanked the red Gyarados, and went on his way. Then he took out his magic boot and sang Karuto, iichiida shou...

"Where did Daisuke end up?" Misty is piqued by the spellsong.

After a beat, Brock continues "Daisuke was warped into a more wonderful palace than Miyu's. Ran had married Master Gogoat, and he too treated the newly found brother of his queen with great consideration. When Daisuke had finished his visit there, Master Gogoat gave him a magical emerald from his collection of curiosities, saying that if he was ever in any peril in which he could help, take the emerald and sing Imultao, ame no ga bakeno...

The audience waits to see what sort of Pokemon Daisuke will encounter next. "With the aid of his magic boot, Daisuke went to visit the home of his youngest sister Eina." Brock continues. "He found her in the most magnificent palace of them all, for her husband was Moltres. When Daisuke left, he gave him a magical ruby from his stash of wondrous items telling him that if he was ever in any danger, all he had to do was take the ruby and sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

Cheers go up from the Pokemon at the gibberish "spellsong". "All three of Daisuke's new friends had admired the power of his magic boot and they had all advised him to visit a legendary kingdom said to be made of jewels, many of them magical." Brock goes on. "Daisuke was glad that his sisters were safe, and so warped himself to the mythical kingdom of jewels. He soon heard on the street that the king of the land of jewels had a beautiful daughter--we'll call her Yuna--whom he wished to give in marriage if she could be persuaded to choose a husband. She was such a famous beauty that no one could pass before her palace without eagerly gazing up in hopes of seeing her lovely face at the window. Princess Yuna had grown weary of being the object of so much attention, and she had made a vow that she would marry no one except a man who could pass before her without looking at her."

"Ooh"s go up at this. "Daisuke was interested when he heard this, and rode past the palace with his eyes fixed steadily on the ground. He did not give a single glance upward in the direction of the window where the beautiful Princess Yuna was watching him. Princess Yuna, meanwhile, was overcome with joy at the sight of the handsome stranger who appeared as if in response to her vow. The king summoned him to the palace and ordered that he and Princess Yuna be married right then and there."

Thunderous applause fills the tent at this, but Brock is not finished yet. "After the wedding festivities had died down a week or so later, Princess Yuna soon found out that her husband carried his choicest treasures in his bag. She asked about their significance and Daisuke told her all about them. She was especially interested in the key, and told him that there was a room in the palace which was never opened. In this room there was a mujina, a huge Buizel-like monster which always came to life again whenever it was killed. Princess Yuna had always been anxious to see the mujina with her own eyes, and she suggested that they should use the key to unlock the door of the forbidden room and take a look."

"Bad idea..." Ash giggles.

"Daisuke, however, pleaded with her not to do this." Brock explains. "He decided that it was too risky a bit of amusement; but one day when he had gone out hunting with the king, Pincess Yuna was overjoyed to find that the magic key had been left behind. She quickly picked it up and opened the forbidden door. The mujina gave a great leap, and grabbed her with his sharp claws!"

Surprised screams go up as Brock grabs at the air, startling Azurill and Happini. "When Daisuke and the king returned from their hunting trip, they were very much worried to find that Princess Yuna had disappeared. No one knew where she was. After searching through the palace and garden all in vain they went to the place where the mujina was always kept. The prince recognized his magic key in the door, but the room was empty. It dawned on him just what had happened--the mujina had fled with Princess Yuna!"

[Did Daisuke save her?] a Meowth stammers as she squeezes her mother's left front paw in fear.

"Daisuke wasted no time in using his magic boot to warp by Princess Yuna's side." Brock assures the Meowth. "The mujina had hidden her in a cave by the sea and had gone away in search of food. Princess Yuna was delighted to find her husband--whom she had never expected to see again--and asked him to get her out of there."

"I would do the same if a monster caught me..." Misty muses.

"Daisuke explained that since she had gotten into this mess, she could at least try to kill the mujina." Brock intones. "So Princess Yuna waited for the mujina to return, then she asked it to tell her the secret of his seemingly eternal life. The mujina was very much flattered to have the Princess Yuna so interested in him, and he told it to her, unaware of a plot."

He explains to the group "The mujina explained that its life was in the sea. Somewhere in the sea was a chest, and in the chest there was a stone, and in the stone there was a Pidove, and in the Pidove there was an egg, and in the egg there was a candle. Only when that candle was extinguished would he die."

The crowd applauds, impressed that Brock remembered the whole list. "Little did the mujina know, Daisuke had been there the whole time, and he had heard every word. As soon as the mujina had gone to sleep, Daisuke stood on the seashore held the sapphire to the sky, and sang Rou iitsa ron selga vichii....

"Sure enough, a great school of fish appeared in a flash of blue light." he continues. "Daisuke asked them to get the chest from the depths of the sea. They replied that they had never seen such a chest, but maybe the sea guardian Kyogre would know about it. So they went and asked Kyogre, and she said that she had seen the chest only moments before. With Kyogre's help, the fish brought the chest out of the sea. Daisuke opened the chest easily with the aid of his magic key, and inside he found a stone."

After pausing for a moment, Brock continues "Then Daisuke took the emerald, held it to the sky, and sang Imultao, ame no ga bakeno... The ground started rumbling as the emerald glowed, and Daisuke saw millions of Gogoats and Ponytas running to the beach from all directions. They attacked the stone, giving it mighty blows with their hard heads, horns, and hooves. "It didn't take long to break open the stone, and from out of it there flew a Pidove."

The audience is on the edge of their seats as Brock goes on "By now, it had dawned on the mujina what Daisuke and Princess Yuna planned to do, and dragged Princess Yuna back in the cave. "Meanwhile, Daisuke took the ruby, held it to the sky, and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Moltress appeared in a flash of red light and quickly defeated the Pidove. "Minutes before the mujina could kill Princess Yuna with his great claws, Daisuke took the egg from the slain Pidove, broke it and blew out the candle. At that moment the mujina died, and Princess Yuna was unharmed."

He concludes "Daisuke warped both of them home to the jeweled kingdom, and the king called for a great festival that lasted at least a week. There was rejoicing throughout the whole kingdom, and great relief that Princess Yuna was all right. Daisuke was hailed throughout the jeweled kingdom as a hero, and the people there talk of his many adventures even to this day."

Misty heaves a sigh of relief. "You even had ME scared for a second..."

"That's why Brock is the master storyteller!" Ash assures her as he applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 162: The Legend of Ryan (Misty)

(real tale: Pinkel the Thief (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/139.htm))

"A long time ago, in a land far from here, there lived a widow who had three sons." Misty begins. "The two eldest though they were on the lazy side, some of the neighbors gave them work to do because their mom was highly respected. But by the time our story begins, they had both been so careless and lazy that their masters sent them home."

An uneasy silence fills the air before Misty continues "So they returned to their mother and youngest brother, who they didn't really like, because he made himself useful around the house, looked after the Combuskens, and milked the Miltank."

"What's this boy's name?" Ash interrupts.

Misty thinks of a suitable name for the boy. "Let's call him Ryan, okay?"

Ash nods in approval of the name, so Misty continues "Anyway, Ryan's brothers thought it was much nicer to live at home and do nothing than do chores they did not like, and they would have stayed by the fire till their dying day; but their mom lost patience with them. She was about to kick them out of the house when Ryan told her that he too was old enough to go out into the world and seek his fortune too."

"So did Ryan get to go too?" Melody asks.

"The woman wept many tears at telling her youngest son goodbye, but as she saw that his heart was set on going with his brothers, she did not try to stop him." Misty assures the group. So the boys left early in the morning with high morale, never doubting that their idea of work was there for the taking."

She pauses for a moment, then continues "But a few days of wandering opened their eyes. Nobody seemed to want them, or, if they did, the two lazy brothers said that they were not able to do all that the farmers or millers or woodcutters required of them. Ryan, who was wiser, would gladly have done some of the work that the others refused, but no one thought of offering him any. So they went from one town to another, living only on the Berries and nuts they could find in the woods, and getting hungrier by the day."

"And then?" Brock asks, piqued

"One night, after they had been walking for hours and were very tired, they came to a large lake with an island in the middle of it." Misty replies. "A bright light shone from the island, so bright that it looked like daytime. Just then, they spotted a boat in the reeds..."

"Azu?" Azurill asks.

"The eldest brother suggested that they use the boat to row over to the island." Misty explains. "So they rowed across in the direction of the light. As they approached the island, they saw that it came from a golden lantern hanging over the door of a house, while sweet tinkling music came from from some bells attached to the horns of a Shiny Gogoat. The boys' hearts rejoiced at the thought of being able to rest, but they entered the hut, they saw an ugly old woman inside, wrapped in a cloak of gold which lit up the whole house. They looked at each other uneasily as she came forward with her daughter, as they knew by the cloak that this was an infamous witch."

Ash swallows hard as Misty goes on "She demanded what the boys wanted, and the eldest brother explained they needed food and shelter for the night. The witch shooed the two elder boys away, but asked that Ryan stay with her, But Ryan talked the witch into letting him go with his brothers."

"So where did they go?" Brock wonders.

"They came at last to a palace in another land." Misty replies. "The king put the two eldest in charge of the royal stables, and Ryan he made the servant to his son the prince--who we'll call Destin. Ryan proved to be a clever and amusing servant, and the king noticed this as well, and often allowed him in his own service, which made his brothers very jealous."

"Uh oh..." Melody giggles.

"This went on for some time, and every day Ryan earned the favor of someone on the royal court." Misty continues. Finally, his brothers' jealousy was so powerful they couldn't stand it. So one day, they told the king of the wonderful lantern over the witch's hut. The king loved collecting all the rarest things he could find and asked where he could get this marvelous lantern."

"They told the king to send Ryan after it, right?" Brock smiles.

"That and if he succeeded, the king would make him chief advisor." Misty replies. "Ryan eagerly agreed, and set out for the island. It was late by the time he arrived, and almost dark, but he knew by the savory smell inside that the witch was cooking her dinner. So he climbed onto the roof, and watched till the old woman's back was turned, when he quickly grabbed a handful of salt from his pocket and threw it into the pot. Suddenly, the witch called her daughter and asked her lift the pot off the fire and put the stew into a dish, as it had been cooking for a while and she was hungry. But no sooner had she tasted it did she put her spoon down, and declared that her daughter must have been messing with it, for it was nigh on impossible to eat anything that was all made of salt."

"The boys laugh as Misty goes on "So the girl took her bucket in one hand and the golden lantern in the other, and hurried to the well. Ryan followed, being careful to keep out of the way of the light. When she stooped to fill her bucket at the well Ryan pushed her into it, and snatching up the lantern hurried back to his boat and rowed off from the shore, all without the witch knowing what he had done."

Brock leads some applause at this. "The sun had not yet risen when Ryan returned to the palace, and, entering the king's chamber, he held up the lantern, making it as bright as the heavens." Misty continues. "The king woke with a jump, and when he saw the golden lantern, he hugged Ryan and appointed him his chief advisor.

"I have a feeling I know where this is going..." Ash giggles.

"Of course, this made the brothers more even more jealous; and some weeks later they told the king of the Shiny Gogoat. Ryan eagerly agreed to get it, in exchange for a portion of the kingdom." Misty explains. "This time it was easier for Ryan to approach the island unseen, as there was no lantern. But, on the other hand, the Gogoat slept inside the hut, and would therefore have to be taken from under the very eyes of the old woman. How was he to do it?"

"You tell me." Brock challenges.

"The first thing he did when he reached the shore was to look for a piece of wood, and when he had found one, he hid himself close to the hut, till it grew dark and near the hour when the witch and her daughter went to bed." Misty explained. "Then he crept up and fixed the wood under the door, which opened outwards, in such a manner that the more you tried to shut it the more firmly it stuck. And this was exactly what happened when the girl went to lock up for the night."

Ash chuckles as Misty continues "They gave up on it after a bit of a struggle, and as soon as they were asleep, Ryan saw his chance. He tiptoed inside, and gave the Gogoat its favorite food. While the Gogoat was eating, Ryan stuffed each golden bell with wool, being ever alert in case the witch woke up, and what kind of Pokemon he would turn into when he was discovered. But the snoring still continued, and he worked as quickly as he could. When the last bell was full he offered the Gogoat more food, and it and followed Ryan all the way his boat, all without the witch having a clue what had happened.

"Ooh..." Melody giggles.

"The king was so delighted with the Gogoat that he always kept it by his side, night and day; and, as he had promised, Ryan was made ruler over a third of the kingdom." Misty explained. "The brothers were even more furious, and a few weeks later, they told the king about the golden cloak."

"Ryan said he'd get it, right?" Ash smiles.

"And if he could do it, he would receive the princess'--who was named Brenna--hand in marriage and be named his successor." Misty adds. "So Ryan put a large bag inside his coat, and pushed off from the shore, being careful to reach the island in daylight. When he got there, he walked up to the hut. The witch threatened to kill him, but before she could rend him with a knife, Ryan suggested he have one last meal--and if she wanted, poison the broth, for all he cared."

Brock stifles a giggle as Misty continues "The witch did just that, but Ryan just poured the poisoned broth into the bag, then played dead. The witch believed Ryan really was dead, and left to go get some ingredients for a potion. That bought Ryan enough time to take the cloak and escape, all without the witch having a clue what really happened."

She concludes "He carried the cloak to the palace, and in return received the hand of Princess Brenna in marriage. When it came time for Ryan to ascend the throne, he ruled his subjects with a wise and just hand alongside Brenna. As for his brothers, he did not punish them, but left them in the stables, where they grumbled all day long."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 163: The Wise Miko (Ash)

(real tale: The Five Wise Words of the Guru (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/339.htm))

"Once there lived a handsome young man--we'll call him Mamoru--who, even though he was well loved and well liked, was unhappy because he had a stepmother that didn't know when to stop talking." Ash begins. "She talked constantly day in and day out, until Mamoru grew so frustrated, he decided to go out into the world and seek his fortune. So the very next morning he started off with a few clothes and a little money in his pocket."

"And then?" Misty is intrigued.

"However..." Ash cautions. "There was one person in the village that he wanted to say goodbye to, and that was the miko, or priestess. She was well renowned for her wisdom, and had taught Mamoru many things. Of course, she was also wise in reading faces, and saw that something was wrong. When she asked Mamoru what the matter was, he explained what he planned to do. She tried to talk him out of leaving, but gave up when she saw Mamoru's mind was made up. She then told him five pieces of advice she said would help him on his travels."

"Which were?" Brock asks.

"First, always obey without question the orders of any whose service you enter." Ash replies. "Second, never say anything unkind to anyone; third, never tell a lie; fourth, don't try to be anything that you are not; and fifth, if he met any other mikos or priests, stay and listen."

He pauses for a beat, then continues "And so, Mamoru set out upon his journey, promising to remember the miko's advice. After a while, he came to a great city, where he met a prosperous-looking merchant. Mamoru asked whether he could give him a job. The merchant told him that the day before, the king's chief vizir dismissed his bodyguard and was wanting another--and Mamoru was just the type of person that he needed."

"Pika?" Pikachu wonders.

"Mamoru thanked the merchant for the advice, and went to the vizir's house, where he was hired as his bodyguard." Ash continues. "One day, the king left on a great journey and the chief vizir accompanied him and his retinue. They travelled for several days, till they came to a land deep in the desert. They came to a village, and when the council of elders hurried out to salute the king and to pay him their respects, they explained that, while they and all that they had were at the disposal of the king, they didn't have enough water for all the people and Pokemon!"

"Well, they're in a desert, what do you expect?" Misty grumbles.

"The king merely told the vizir to somehow find water, and that was that, as far as he was concerned." Ash continues. "So the vizir asked all the elders where he would find a well, a spring, or a stream."

"Azu?" Azurill is worried for the retinue.

"Well, one elder told the vizir about a well that a former king made hundreds of years ago that was said to be great and inexhaustible." Ash explains. "It was covered in heavy stonework, with a flight of stairs leading down to the water deep under the earth; but no one ever went near it because it was also said to be haunted by evil spirits, and those that went in the well, often didn't come out."

"Then what?" Brock asks, an excited grin forming on his face.

"The vizir figured that he wouldn't know if those stories were true until he tried, and so told Mamoru to enter the well." Ash goes on. "Mamoru remembered what the miko had said..."

"Always obey without question the orders of any whose service you enter." Misty, Brock, Melody, and the Pokemon reply.

"So Mamoru fastened two huge jars to a Ponyta, and carried two smaller ones on his shoulders." Ash continues, pleased his friends have remembered one of the words of wisdom. "He set out that evening, with the elder as his guide. It wasn't long before they came to a spot where three big trees towered above the sand, and under their shadow was the dome of an ancient building. That,the elder said, was the well, and watched as Mamoru went on alone with his Ponyta."

"Were any of the ghost stories true?" Melody stammers.

"Well, Mamoru climbed down the flight of stairs which led down into the darkness." Ash replies. "Not to mention it was dark, and quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop. He finally reached a huge pool of water, and he washed his jars with care before he filled them, and started carrying up the lighter vessels first, as the big ones were so heavy he could only take up one at a time."

After pausing for a beat, he announces "Suddenly, he saw a giant standing on the stairway! In one hand he held clasped to his heart a dreadful looking mass of bones, in the other was a lamp which cast long shadows about the walls, and made him seem even more terrible than he really was. He asked Mamoru what he thought of his wife, and gestured to the pile of bones, which were the bones of his wife, who had died from a terrible disease."

"Don't be rude or unkind to others..." Misty muses, as if she is the miko reminding Mamoru.

"Mamoru told the giant that none was as beautiful as his wife." Ash smiles. "The giant was touched at this, and offered to help Mamoru carry the water. When they got to the surface again, the giant offered to do something nice for Mamoru, since Mamoru had done something nice for him. Mamoru replied that all he wanted was to allow people into the well to draw water, so the giant decided to stop bothering people."

[But what happened back at the camp?] Mai wonders.

"Everyone was elated when Mamoru returned with the water." Ash replies. "But he didn't say a word about his adventure with the giant, but merely told the king that there was no truth to any of the tales."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"The king was so pleased with Mamoru that he ordered the vizir to let him serve under him him in exchange for one of his own servants. So Mamoru became the king's attendant; and as the days went by the king became more and more delighted with Mamoru, as he was always honest and spoke the truth, as per the miko's advice." Ash replies.

Mai nods in approval as Ash goes on "Finally the king appointed Mamoru as the royal treasurer. However..."

"Bad sign..." Brock warns.

"The king had a brother who was evil and greedy." Ash intones. "He thought that if he could win the young treasurer over to himself he might be able to steal as much of the king's treasure as he needed. Then he could bribe the soldiers and some of the king's counsellors, head a rebellion, dethrone and kill his brother, and crown himself king. He had to be sure that Mamoru didn't get wind of all these wicked plans; so he began by flattering him whenever he saw him, and finally offered him his daughter in marriage. But Mamoru remembered the fourth piece of advice the miko told him..."

"Don't try to be something he was not." Melody cautions.

"Mamoru respectfully declined the great honor, saying he was unworthy of marrying a princess, as he was no prince." Ash goes on. "The king's brother was furious, and went and told the king a contrived story about Mamoru saying insulting words of his sovereign and of his daughter. Though his brother was lying through his teeth, the king grew very angry, and sent Mamoru to a nearby tower under the ruse of an errand, but the king actually wanted to kill Mamoru."

The Pokemon swallow hard as Ash continues "Mamoru went a ways until he came to a little temple on the outskirts of the city, where he heard the miko giving a sermon to a group of pilgrims. He remembered the miko's fifth piece of advice, and stepped inside to listen. He intended to hear one sermon, but became so deeply interested in the wisdom of the miko, that he sat through quite a few sermons!"

Everyone giggles as Ash continues "Meanwhile, the wicked brother, who dared not disobey the king's command, was feeling very hungry; and as for the princess, she was quietly crying in a corner waiting for the news of Mamoru's death, so that she might eat her dinner. Hours passed, and stare as he might from the window no messenger could be seen."

"Did the treacherous brother get his just desserts?" Melody asks.

"At last the brother could bear it no longer, and after disguising himself so that no one would recognize him, jumped on a Ponyta and galloped out to the tower, where the king had told him that the execution would take place. But, when he got there, there was no execution going on. There were only some men engaged in building, and a number of soldiers idly watching them. He forgot that he had disguised himself, asked a passerby what was going on, not knowing the king had told the guards to kill anyone that asked what was going on."

"And the treacherous brother was killed right there, right?" Brock asks.

Ash nods. "Mamoru told the king every bit of his brother's treachery, and the king offered him the hand of one of the ladies of the court as a sign of his forgiveness. Mamoru accepted, and continued to serve the king faithfully for many years, never forgetting the five pieces of advice the miko had taught him."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 164: The Bird Keeper's Song (Brock)

(real tale: Tattercoats (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=English_Fairy_Tales&story=Tattercoats))

"Once upon a time, in a great palace by the sea, there lived a very rich old lord, who had only one little granddaughter, whose face he had not seen in all her life." Brock begins. "He hated her bitterly, because at her birth his eldest daughter had died; and when the old nurse brought him the baby he swore that he would never see its face as long as it lived."

Angry murmurs waft through the tent, but they begin to quiet as Brock continues "So he turned his back, sat by his window looking out over the sea, and wept bitterly for his lost daughter, till his white hair and beard grew down over his shoulders and twined round his chair and crept into the chinks of the floor, and his tears, dropping on to the window-ledge, wore a channel through the stone, and ran away in a little river to the great sea."

"Aw"s go up at this. "Meanwhile, his granddaughter grew up with no one to care for her, or clothe her; only the old nurse, when no one was nearby, would sometimes give her a plate of scraps from the kitchen, or a torn petticoat that would have otherwise gone in the trash; while the other servants of the palace would drive her from the house with blows and mocking words, calling her "Haiki,"--which means "scraps"-- and pointing to her bare feet and shoulders, till she ran away, crying, to hide among the bushes." Brock explains. "So she grew up, with little to eat or to wear, spending her days outside, her only companion a young bird keeper who fed her Pokemon on the plains. This bird keeper--we'll call her Sachi-- was a joyful little girl that didn't let life's troubles get her down. So when Haiki was hungry, or cold, or tired, Sachi would play her many airs and dances on her little flute..."

Excited chatter fills the air as Ash retrieves his whistle. "that she forgot all her troubles, and would dance with the Pidgeys, Taillows, Starlies, Swablus, and Fletchlings as her partners." Brock goes on before motioning for Ash to play.

Ash plays "The Meowth's Call" for effect. After waiting for the applause to die down, Brock continues "Now one day, word spread that the king was traveling through the land, and was going to host a great ball--every lord and lady in the area was invited, and some rumors said that Prince Taka, his only son, was to choose his future bride during the festivities. Finally, one of the royal invitations to the ball was brought to the palace by the sea, and the servants carried it up to the old lord, who still sat by his window, wrapped in his long white hair and weeping into the little river that was fed by his tears."

He waits for a beat, than continues as he paces around the tent. "But when he heard the king's command, he dried his eyes and commanded them to bring shears to cut him loose, for his hair had essentially bound him to the chair, and he could not get up."

Giggles fill the air at this. "Once he could get up, he put on his finest clothes; and ordered his shining Rapidash saddled in all its finery...but he quite forgot he had a granddaughter to take to the ball." Brock goes on.

Ash lazily fingers the whistle as Brock continues "Meanwhile, Haiki sat by the kitchen door crying, because she could not go to see the ball and all its pageantry. When the old nurse heard her crying, she went to the lord and begged him to take his granddaughter with him to the royal ball. But he only frowned and told her to be quiet; while the servants laughed and said..."

In character as a younger boy, he mocks "Haiki is happy in her rags, playing with the bird keeper! Let her be - it is all she is fit for."

Angry murmurs race through the tent as Brock goes on "A second, and then a third time, the old nurse begged him to let the girl go with him, but she was answered only by black looks and fierce words, till she was driven from the room by the jeering servants, with blows and mocking words. After she had cried a bit from the pain, the old nurse went to look for Haiki; but the girl had been shooed off by the cook, and had run away to tell her friend Sachi how unhappy she was because she could not go to the royal ball."

He returns to his rock, which faces Ash, Misty and the Pokemon as he continues. "Now, when Sachi heard her story, she proposed that they could go together to see the royal ball in all its splendor. But when Haiki looked down at her rags and bare feet, Sachi began a reel or two on her flute. The song was so beautiful, that Haiki forgot all about her tears and her troubles, and before she knew it, the two of them and the Pokemon were dancing down the road towards the town.

The audience claps along as Ash plays a set of three tunes for effect. "Before they had gone very far a handsome young man, splendidly dressed, riding up, stopped to ask the way to the castle, and when he found that they too were going there, he got off his Ponyta and walked beside them along the road." Brock goes on after applauding Ash.

"You seem to be quite the happy folk," he smiles in character as a young man, "and will be good company."

"Good company, indeed," he replies in a mimic of Melody, subtly giving the audience a clue as to who Sachi really is. Melody stiles a giggle at just how accurate Brock's impersonation of her is.

Ash next plays a mystical melody as an interlude before Brock continues as himself. "It was a curious tune, and it made the young man stare and stare at Haiki till he couldn't see her rags - in fact, he couldn't see anything but her beautiful face."

Ash then plays the mysterious song through twice before Brock comments as the young man "You are the most beautiful maiden in the world. Will you marry me?"

"Not I," he scoffs in his best mimic of Misty to represent Haiki. "You would be finely put to shame, and so would I be, if you took a bird keeper for your wife! Go and ask one of the great ladies you will see tonight at the royal ball, and do not flout poor Haiki."

As himself, he intones "But the more she refused him, the sweeter the flute played, and the deeper the young man fell in love; till at last he begged her to come to the royal ball, just as she was, with Sachi and her Pokemon, in her torn petticoat and bare feet, and see if he wouldn't dance with her before the King and the lords and ladies, and present her to them all, as his dear and honored bride. Now at first Haiki said she would not; but Sachi said..."

As Melody again, he assures the audience "Take fortune when it comes, little one."

He then continues as himself "So when night fell, and the hall in the castle was full of light and music, and the lords and ladies were dancing before the king, just as the clock struck midnight, Haiki and Sachi, followed by her Pokemon, entered at the great doors, and walked straight up the red carpet, while on either side the ladies whispered, the lords laughed, and the king seated at the far end stared in amazement. But as they came in front of the throne Haiki's lover rose from beside the King, and came to meet her. Taking her by the hand, he kissed her three times before them all, and turned to the king."

He smiles--it's time for the twist in the tale! "It turned out the girls' companion was really Prince Taka in disguise!"

Cheers go up at this. "He told his father the king..." As Prince Taka again, Brock announces "I have made my choice, and here is my bride, the loveliest girl in all the land, and the sweetest as well!"

As himself, he continues as Ash readies the whistle to play again. "Before he had finished speaking, Sachi had put his flute to her lips and played a few notes that sounded like a Fletchling singing far off in the woods; and as she played Haiki's rags were changed to shining robes sewn with rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, and pearls. A golden crown lay upon her jet black hair, and the Pokemon behind her became a crowd of pages and servants, bearing her long train."

When Ash finishes his second set, Brock concludes "As the king rose to greet her as his daughter the trumpets sounded loudly in honor of the new princess, and the people said that she was the loveliest girl in all the land. But Sachi was never seen again. No one knew what became of her, although some said she was actually Meloetta in disguise."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 165: The Language of Pokemon (Misty)

(real tale: Bobino (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/204.htm))

"Once upon a time there was a rich merchant who had an only son--we'll call him Washa." Misty begins. "Now, since Washa was very clever, and always yearned to learn something, his father sent him to a private teacher, where he thought he would learn to speak all kinds of foreign languages."

"So he would at least know how to survive in any foreign land." Ash smiles.

"At the very least, how to say 'I'm hungry', 'I'm thirsty', 'I need help', 'How do I get to such and such a place?', and 'How much does this cost?', as well as how to understand the answers to those." Brock agrees.

"After some years with his teacher, Washa returned home." Misty goes on. "One evening, as he and his father were walking in the garden, the Taillows in the trees began making so much racket that they found it impossible to hear each other speak. This annoyed the merchant very much, so Washa offered to explain what the Taillows were saying to each other."

Giggles go up as she continue "The merchant looked at his son in astonishment, and asked how Washa could explain what the Taillows said. Washa replied that though he was no oracle or mage, his master taught him the language of all Pokemon."

"I'm sure the merchant wanted Washa to learn the language that humans speak, and not the language of Pokemon." Ash grins.

"Washa went on to explain that his master thought it best to begin with the language of Pokemon, and then learn the languages of humans." Misty confirms Ash's prediction. "On their way into the house, the Growlithe ran to meet them, barking furiously. The merchant had no clue why the Growlithe was making so much racket, but rebuffed Washa's offer to translate."

"Then what Pokemon did they hear?" Melody is piqued.

"A little later, as they sat down to dinner, some Froagies in a neighboring pond started croaking and singing like no tomorrow." Misty continues, to some chuckles from the boys. "The noise bugged the merchant so much that he lost his temper, and sent Washa to bed without dinner when he offered to translate."

"Azu azu!" Azurill is appalled.

"Pini!" Happini agrees.

"Yeah, that's a silly reason to go without dinner." Brock adds.

"So Washa went to bed, but his father, was so mad that he sent for two servants and told them to kill Washa the next morning." Misty intones.

Gasps go up at this. "The next morning, one of the servants woke Washa early, and took him to a carriage that was waiting for him. The servant sat by him, while the other servant rode alongside the carriage as an escort." Misty explains. "Washa didn't know what they were going to do with him, or where he was being taken; but he noticed that the servant beside him looked very sad, and his eyes were watery with tears. So he asked what the matter was, and where he was going.

"Did the servant answer?" Ash wonders.

"At first, the servant said nothing." Misty replies. "But after Washa bugged him for a while, he finally admitted he was taking him to be killed, by his father's orders. Washa asked what he did to deserve to die, and the servant replied he had done nothing that deserved death, but his father was mad because in all those years of study, he had learned nothing but the language of Pokemon. He expected something quite different from you, and that was why he was bent on killing him."

"That's a stupid reason to die!" Now Brock is angered at Washa's "crime".

"However, despite their orders, neither servant could bring themselves to kill Washa." Misty assures the boys. "They had frantically pondered ways to save Washa and their own skins--once their master discovered that had let Washa live."

The boys nervously giggle as Misty continues "By sheer luck, a Mareep had been following the coach. The servants agreed to kill it in Washa's stead, and give the heart to their master. By then, Washa would be long gone, and no one would be the wiser."

"So, where did Washa travel?" Brock asks.

"Washa walked for a long time, until he came to a house where some herdsmen lived. He knocked at the door and asked for shelter for the night. The herdsmen, seeing how kind he was, welcomed him, and allowed him to stay for dinner. While they were eating, the Growlithe in the courtyard began to bark. Washa walked to the window, listened for a minute, then told to the herdsmen to send their wives and daughters to a safe place, and arm themselves as best they could, because at midnight, a band of thieves would attack the house."

Pikachu sparks excitedly as Misty goes on. "Naturally, the herdsmen thought Washa was nuts, but he told them about his gift of speaking to Pokemon. The herdsmen were amazed, but they decided to do as Washa advised. They sent their wives and daughters upstairs to a safe room, then, after arming themselves, they took up their position behind a hedge, waiting for midnight."

"And then?" Ash grins in anticipation.

"Just as the clock struck twelve they heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and a band of thieves cautiously crept towards the house." Misty intones. "But the herdsmen were on the lookout; they sprang on the robbers from behind the hedge, and with blows from sword, arrow, and spell, sent the thieves packing!"

The boys applaud at this. "The herdsmen were thankful Washa had warned them, and they begged him to stay, but he declined, as he wanted to see more of the world. Misty continues. "So after some days of travel, he came to a peasant's house. While he was debating whether he should knock and ask for shelter for the night, he heard a great croaking of Froagies in a ditch behind the house. Stepping to the back he saw a very strange sight. Four Froagies were throwing a small bottle about from one to the other, making a great croaking as they did so. Washa listened for a few minutes, and then knocked at the door of the house. The peasant asked him to come in and have dinner."

After pausing for a beat, she goes on "When the meal was over, his host told him that they were in big trouble--his eldest daughter was so sick, that they feared she would not recover. A great healer had promised to send her some medicine that would have cured her, but the servant to whom he had entrusted the medicine had lost it, and now there seemed no hope for the girl."

The boys grin at each other, then listen as Misty explains "Then Washa told the father of the small bottle he had seen the Froagies play with, and that he knew that was the medicine which the healer had sent to the girl."

"Told'ja." Brock whispers to Ash.

"The peasant asked him how he knew this, and Washa explained to him that he understood the language of Pokemon, and had heard what the Froagies said as they tossed the bottle about. So the peasant retrieved the bottle from the ditch, and gave the medicine to his daughter. In the morning she was much better, and the grateful father did not know how to thank Washa enough. But Washa would accept nothing from him, and having said good-bye, went on his way. He went on like this for some time,and helped many people with his gift."

"Who else did he help?" Melody wonders.

"One day, he came upon two men resting under a tree." Misty continues. "As he was tired, Washa stretched himself on the ground at no great distance from them, and soon they all began to talk to one another. In the course of conversation, Washa asked the two men where they were going; and they replied that they were on their way to a neighboring town, where, that day, a new mayor was to be chosen by the people."

"Ooh, cool!" Ash smiles.

"While they were still talking, some Taillows settled on the tree under which they were lying. Washa was silent, and appeared to be listening. At the end of a few minutes he told his companions that the Taillows said that today one of them would be chosen as the mayor of that town."

"But how to choose the mayor?" Brock wonders.

"A great crowd was assembled in the marketplace, waiting for the hour when a Braviary should be let loose from a cage, for it had been decided that wherever the Braviary landed, the owner of that house would become mayor of the town." Misty explains. "The appointed hour arrived; the Braviary was set free, and all eyes strained to see where it would land. But circling over the heads of the crowd, it flew straight in the direction of a young man who was entering the town--Washa!"

The Pokemon cheer as Misty concludes "All the people cheered and proclaimed that he was their mayor, and he was led to the mayorial mansion. From that day on he lived there happily, and ruled wisely over the people."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 166: The Brave Mother and Daughter (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 57, story 1)

"Once the daughter of a certain village's elder--we'll call her Kanade--was to marry the son of the elder of the next village over." Ash begins. "Suddenly, a great storm blew up, carrying off the wedding coach into the sky. The elder was so depressed, he got physically sick, and so his wife--we'll call her Nara--took it upon herself to find her daughter."

He continues "Nara wandered across the world for a whole year, and one night, decided to rest in a shrine to Arceus for the night. The miko felt sorry for Nara when she heard her tale of woe, and allowed her to stay for the night. That night, she told Nara that Kanade was being held in the lair of a red Gyarados."

Fearful murmurs race through the tent as Ash continues "Arceus appeared to Nara in a dream, and confirmed what the miko said, plus some more information--the red Gyarados' cave was across a raging river, and guarded by a pair of Houndooms. The Houndooms slept during the day, but the bridge was alive, and had thrown many an adventurer into the river."

Fear turns to excitement as the Pokemon debate how Nara will save Kanade. "The next morning, Nara made her way to the bridge, walked right past the sleeping Houndooms, and crossed the bridge." Ash goes on, quieting the chatter. "After wandering through the cave's passages for a while, she found Kanade safe and sound, working at a loom."

Applause starts to fill the air, but Ash intones "Their reunion was cut short when Kanade heard the Gyarados returning, and told her mother to hide in a hollowed out rock."

The group silently waits to hear what happens next, before Ash continues "The Gyarados demanded that it was hungry, but then noticed three roses blooming instead of two--for they only bloomed when someone was present. He asked Kanade if she was hiding someone, and Kanade lied, saying she was expecting a child. Excited, the Gyarados threw a big party and invited all the sea monsters to attend."

Giggles go up as the audience pictures the wild party. "When the monsters and the Gyarados were all exhausted from feasting, drinking and dancing; Nara and Kanade took that opportunity to escape!" Ash announces. "However, their escape route ended up blocked, and the Gyarados and the other monsters were approaching, and fast!"

Ash is quick to assure the antsy group "Just when it looked like the end, Arceus appeared to Nara and Kanade, and instructed them to flee in a boat by the shore. But the Gyarados and the monsters started drinking the river water, causing the two of them to go backwards. The two of them understandably panicked, but Manaphy appeared to them and suggested trying to make their foes laugh. So they sang the silliest song they knew, which went something like this..."

With that, he sings 99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer on the wall, if one of those bottles should happen to fall, there'll be 98 bottles of beer on the wall.

98 bottles of beer on the wall, 98 bottles of beer on the wall, if one of those bottles should happen to fall, there'll be 97 bottles of beer on the wall.

97 bottles of beer on the wall, 97 bottles of beer on the wall, if one of those bottles should happen to fall, there'll be 96 bottles of beer on the wall.

96 bottles of beer on the wall, 96 bottles of beer on the wall, if one of those bottles should happen to fall, there'll be 95 bottles of beer on the wall.

Thankfully, Ash decides to stop at 95 bottles of beer on the wall. "Anyway, the song made the Gyarados and the monsters laugh, which filled the river back up again, allowing Nara and Kanade to make it home safely. They never forgot how Arceus protected them in their hour of need, and gave thanks every day."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 167: The Farmer's Drawing (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 12, story 3)

"In a certain village, there lived a famous artist--we'll call him Iro." Brock begins. "His paintings were renowned throughout the land, and many temples would ask them to decorate their ceilings with scenes of the Legendaries, saints, and other friendly spirits and beings."

After pausing for a beat, he continues. "One day, as he was on his way home from a temple on the outskirts of town, he met a farmer--we'll call him Makoto--on the road. Now, Makoto had never seen an artist before, and had all kinds of questions--what kind of paper did he use, how long does it take to paint something, what do you like to paint, and other questions like that. Iro was flattered by all the questions, and agreed to have Makoto visit him."

After spreading a blank piece of paper, a black piece of paper, and art supplies on a wooden platform, Brock continues "Makoto came on the agreed day, and started asking Iro what all the brushes, paints, daubs, and other tools were. Iro just smiled and assured his guest to watch and learn. He told Makoto he was going to paint a woodcutter cutting down a big tree."

He gestures to the blank piece of paper, which is now propped on a small easel. "First, Iro laid a large piece of paper on the floor, and covered it with a preservation solution of water and salt." After doing this to his own paper, he continues "Then, he mixed however many colors he needed."

The group watches for a moment as Brock goes to work painting his own version of the picture in the story. When he finishes some minutes later, he continues "Makoto watched in awe as Iro painted the picture, but pointed out that there were no wood chips at the woodcutter's feet."

Laughter goes up at Brock's feigned look of surprise. "Iro was angry at this, and challenged Makoto to try and do better. So Makoto proceeded to cover a piece of paper with black paint." He gestures to the black piece of paper, which is on another small easel next to his masterpiece. "When Iro asked what the drawing was, Makoto explained that his picture was of a Murkrow flying at night."

He concludes "Needless to say, Iro was humbled at Makoto's cleverness, and took him in as an apprentice. The two of them become best friends for all time."

Applause goes up as Brock takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Now that we're all caught up with the DA version, this version will be synced with it.

Tale 168: The Shining Goldeen (Misty)

(real tale: The Golden Headed Fish (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/340.htm))

"Once upon a time, there lived a king who lost his sight from a terrible disease." Misty begins. "Understandably, he was very unhappy, and became even more so as the months went by, and it didn't help that all the best healers the land were unable to cure him. The poor king grew so thin from misery that everyone thought he was going to die, and the prince, his only son, thought so too."

"So were they ever able to cure him?" Brock wonders.

"So there was great rejoicing through the land when a traveler arrived in a boat down the river Tohjo." Misty continues. "After asking around and learning why everyone looked so glum, he declared that he was court physician to the king of a far country, and would, if allowed, examine the eyes of the blind king. He was immediately admitted into the throne room, and after a few minutes of careful examination, announced that the case, though very serious, was not quite hopeless."

"How did they cure him?" Ash is intrigued.

"Somewhere in the ocean, he said, existed a Shining Goldeen. If someone could manage to catch this Pokemon, he would prepare an ointment from its blood which would restore the king's sight. He decided to wait a hundred days, but if the Goldeen was still uncaught when that time was up, he would return to his own master."

"Sounds fair." Brock notes.

"A hundred days is PLENTY of time." Ash agrees.

"The next morning the young prince--we'll call him Kaitou--set forth in quest of the fish, taking with him a hundred people, each one carrying a net." Misty goes on. "An impressive fleet of boats criss-crossed the oceans of the world. For three months they worked diligently from sunrise to sunset, but though they caught a zillion Goldeens, not one of them shone. 99 days came and went, and even Prince Kaitou entertained the idea of giving up."

"He didn't give up, did he?" Ash smiles.

"Nope, he decided to go cast his net out himself, one last time." Misty intones. "and he got the shining Goldeen with hours to spare!"

"WOW!" Brock is impressed.

"Talk about in the nick of time! " Melody agrees.

"But Goldeen looked up at him with such sad Growlithe eyes that he could not bring himself to kill it." Misty interjects. So he picked up the shining Goldeen, threw it back, then began his journey back to the palace. When he arrived home, he found his father with a high fever, and he refused to believe the story."

"WHAT????" everyone gasps.

"Maybe throwing back the Shiny Goldeen wasn't such a hot idea..." Brock muses.

"The king was so mad, he ordered Prince Kaitou's life in exchange for the Goldeen." Misty continues. "The queen,on the other hand, didn't feel Kaitou deserved to die for what he did. That night, while everyone else slept, she disguised him in common clothes, filled his pockets with gold, and put him on board a ship which was sailing that night for a distant island. Before the ship left, she told Prince Kaitou that he was to take no man into his service who desired to be paid every month."

[How odd...] Mai contemplates the strange advice.

"Now, Prince Kaitou thought his mother's advice rather odd." Misty explains, acknowledging Mai with a nod. "If the servant had to be paid, he did not understand what difference it would make whether it was by the year, by the day, or by the month. However, he knew that his mother was wiser than he, so he promised he would do what she said."

"So, what happened to Prince Kaitou on the island?" Ash asks. Pikachu sparks excitedly, as if expecting a quest or spellsongs to appear in the story.

"Well, first he bought the prettiest house he could find." Misty explains. Then servants came offering their services; but as they all said that they had to be paid at the end of every month, Prince Kaitou, who remembered his mother's words, reluctantly turned them all away. Then one morning, a young girl appeared and asked that the prince hire her. She told Prince Kaitou that at the end of a year he could pay her as he saw fit. Prince Kaitou was pleased, and took the girl for his servant."

"I have a sneaking suspicion I know who this girl is..." Ash muses. Brock grins in agreement.

Now, although no one would have guessed it from the look of the east end of the island, the west was a complete desert, thanks to the ravages of a horrible monster which came up from the sea, and devoured all the corn and Tauros." Misty continues. The king had sent hundreds of soldiers, archers, and mages to try and kill it; but, somehow, they all fell asleep at the moment that the monster appeared. Finally, heralds were sent throughout the island to offer a great reward to the one who could slay the monster."

"There's your quest..." Ash smiles at Pikachu.

"As soon as the girl--we'll call her Aisha--heard the news, she went straight to the palace, and asked the king what reward would be given." Misty goes on. "The king replied he would give the princess' hand in marriage and anything else he wanted."

"There's your princess..." Brock grins at Happini, who is starry eyed at the fact a princess is in the story.

"Aisha told the king it would be better to let Prince Kaitou have the princess, and a share of the royal treasury every year." Misty goes on. "The king agreed, and they drew up a scroll outlining their agreement. That night, Aisha traveled down to the shore to watch, but, before she set out, she ate a herb that had the equivalent of several cups of coffee, so she would not doze off. Then she hid herself behind a large rock and waited. Around midnight, a swell seemed to rise on the water, and, a few minutes later, a hideous chimera stepped noiselessly onto the rocks. It walked stealthily up towards the fields, but Aisha was waiting for it, and, after a bit of a battle, plunged her sword into the soft part behind the ear. The creature staggered and gave a loud cry, and then rolled over dead, with its feet in the sea."

Happini cheers and Pikachu unleashes some celebratory sparks as Misty continues "Aisha watched for a little while, in order to make sure that the chimera was dead. After she was satisfied that it was dead, she cut off a bit of the chimera's fur. She gave the fur to Prince Kaitou, and bid him to show them to the king and say he was the one that killed the chimera."

"Wouldn't that be dishonest?" Ash asks.

"Prince Kaitou had the same concerns as you, Ash, but Aisha assured him she had a reason." Misty replies. "So Prince Kaitou did as Aisha said, and the king was so delighted at the news that he begged Prince Kaitou to marry the princess right then and there. But Prince Kaitou refused, saying that all he desired was a ship which would carry him to see the world. When he and Aisha embarked on their adventure the next day, they found tons of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and pearls in the cargo hold--a gift from the king."

"Cool!" Ash is excited at the mention of treasure.

"So they sailed, and sailed, and sailed some more; until they reached the shores of where Vermillion City is today." Misty continues. "Aisha went into town to find out what sort of a place it was. After some hours she returned, saying that she heard that the king's daughter--we'll call her Takara--was the most beautiful princess in the world, and that Prince Kaitou would do well to ask for her hand."

She waits for a beat, then continues "Prince Kaitou listened to this advice, and taking some of the finest necklaces in his hand, he mounted a splendid Rapidash, which Aisha had bought for him, and rode up to the palace, closely followed by his faithful attendant."

"What was the king of this land like?" Melody wonders.

"The king happened to be in a good mood, and they were readily admitted to the throne room." Misty explains. "Prince Kaitou lay down his offerings before the throne, hoping to Arceus that that was enough for the king to grant him Princess Takara in marriage. The king replied after an uneasy silence..."

"Young man, I will give you Princess Takara's hand in marriage, if that is your wish; but I must warn you you that she has already married many other young men, and not one of them lived to see the day after." Brock cautions in character as the king.

"Prince Kaitou did think, and was so frightened that he almost went back to his ship without any more words." Misty intones. "But just as he was about to withdraw his proposal, Aisha whispered..."

"Fear nothing, but take her." Melody whispers to Ash, who stifles an embarrassed chuckle.

"So Prince Kaitou and Princess Takara were married that night." Misty continues. "After the festivities died down, they went to their rooms for the night. The moon shone bright, and Prince Kaitou walked to the window to look out upon the river and upon the distant hills, when he saw a silken shroud neatly laid out on a couch, with his name embroidered in gold thread across the front."

Pikachu swallows hard as Misty goes on "Horrified at the spectacle, he turned his head away, and this time he saw a group of men digging busily beneath the window. It was a strange hour for anyone to be at work, and what was the hole for? It was a curious shape, so long and narrow, almost like...!"

"His own grave!" Ash fills in the blank.

Misty nods, pleased that Ash has been paying attention. "The shock of the discovery rendered him speechless, yet he stood fascinated and unable to move. Just then, a small Ekans crawled out from under table, and wriggled quickly towards him. But Aisha was watching for anything out of the ordinary, and she grabbed the Ekans and killed it."

The boys heave a sigh of relief as Misty continues "The king did a double take to see Prince Kaitou alive, and ordered the hole filled. It turned out the Ekans had put a curse on Princess Takara, and with it dead, the curse was gone. She lived very happily with Prince Kaitou. The days passed swiftly in hunting in the forests, or sailing on the broad river that flowed past the palace, and when night fell she would sing as she played her harp..." Brock retrieves his own harp and runs a finger across the strings for effect. "or Prince Kaitou would tell her stories of his homeland."

The harp's song turns somber as Misty continues "One evening a messenger from Prince Kaitou's homeland came, and informed Prince Kaitou that his father had died. A great ship was prepared, and Prince Kaitou returned home with Princess Takara."

She continues "In spite of her grief, the queen was overjoyed to welcome her son home, and commanded the palace to be hung with splendid finery to welcome the bride. The people expected great things from their new sovereign, for they had suffered much from the harsh rule of the old one, and crowds presented themselves every morning with petitions in their hands, which they hoped to persuade King Kaitou to grant. He decided each case justly, yet fairly, and it was agreed that he had great wisdom."

She intones "Then one night, Aisha came to him, and asked permission to return to her own land. Although he was sad to see her go, King Kaitou told Aisha to take what you wished, for without her, he would have long ago been dead."

She concludes "It was only then that Aisha revealed that she was the shining Goldeen!" Brock adds a triumphant glissando for effect as Ash and the Pokemon applaud...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 169: Juno and the Enchanted Rock (Ash)

(real tale: Coyote and the Rolling Rock (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20130609))


"You know, Azurill's wondering if you'll ever come up with a new puppet show..." Misty interjects.

"Well, I have a potential storyline for one...wanna hear that?" Ash offers. "In lieu of me not packing Erin and Juno?"

"Pini!" Happini replies.

"Azu!" Azurill agrees.

Ash clears his throat and begins "Once upon a time, on a day much like today, a Pichu named Juno was out for a walk, when she happened to meet Erin, a young Riolu mage renowned for her spells, even if they didn't always work."

"Hi, Erin! I was going into town today, and wondered if you'd like to come with me?" he asks in Juno's high pitched voice, to some giggles from the Pokemon.

"Of caurse--a journey's much beter wit' a companion." he replies in Erin's distinctive lilt.

As himself, Ash goes on "As the two of them walked on, the sun grew hot..." He wipes his brow for effect. "and when they came upon a big rock, Juno suggested..."

"Why don't we rest here for a while?" he suggests as Juno.

"and she tossed a blanket over the rock." he continues as himself. "But this was no ordinary rock--what Juno didn't know was that Erin had enchanted it with a spell beforehand."

Misty and Brock chuckle at this. "The two of them rested as the sun rose ever higher in the sky, and the day grew warmer." Ash continues. "Eventually Juno got too hot for the blanket, and laid it on the rock."

"I don't need this blanket." he interjects as Juno. "I'll just leave it here in case somebody wants it."

"Bad idea..." Brock cautions.

"The two friends walked on, but soon it started clouding up." Ash goes on as himself. "When a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and thunder rolled, Juno and Erin had to run for shelter. Before long, rain was pouring down from the once-blue sky."

"Told'ja leaving the blanket behind was a bad idea..." Brock smiles at Misty, who giggles as she pictures the Pichu and the Riolu soaked.

"Once they had found shelter in a cave, Juno turned to Erin and said...." Ash interjects before switching to his "Juno" voice. "Will you go back and retrieve the blanket? We can cover ourselves with it and stay dry."

As himself, he goes on "Erin went back and retrieved the blanket, and as the rain fell, the two huddled under the blanket, staying dry."

He pauses for a beat, then adds "Well, mostly dry." to some giggles from the audience.

"After a while, the rain stopped, and the sun began to shine again." Ash continues. "Juno and Erin sat together sunning themselves."

"I'm hungry...why don't we stop and have some lunch?" he suggests as Juno.

"I'm gettin' a leetle hungry meself..." he agrees as Erin.

"So Juno shared her lunch with her friend." he continues as himself. After a few seconds, he continues "Just as they had finished eating, Juno suddenly heard a low rumble way off in the distance."

"Uh oh..." Misty stifles a giggle of anticipation.

"When Juno looked to see what the rumbling was, she saw the rock rolling over the top of the hill, and rushing downhill toward them!" Ash announces

The audience howls with laughter as they picture Juno's likely reaction. "Of course, Erin was safely at the top of a tree, pleased her spell had worked." Ash assures the audience.

"My giant rolling rock spell worked!" he comments as Erin.

"But as for Juno, she had to run and run." he continues as himself. "She ran as fast as she could, only staying just ahead of that rock. Just then, she smiled to see a river ahead of her. She leaped in and began to swim across, happy to know the enchanted rock could not catch her there."

He adds as an aside "Besides, any rock would sink to the bottom of the river, right?"

"By all practical logic, yes." Misty replies.

"But then again, enchanted rocks don't really follow practical logic." Brock grins, anticipating what happens next in Juno's attempt to elude the enchanted rock.

"But much to Juno's dismay, when the enchanted rock reached the edge of the river, it amazingly floated across the water, thanks to Erin's spell." Ash replies, acknowledging Brock's observation with a nod. "When she reached the other side of the river, she raced out and into a forest, and as soon as she was deep in the forest, behind a grove of trees, she lay down to rest."

"Phew!" he wheezes as Juno,to laughter from the audience.

"Don't get too comfy, Juno..." Melody cautions.

"But just as she had begun to catch her breath, she heard the sound of trees crashing down--the enchanted rock was STILL after her!" Ash intones, to more laughter. "She ran through the forest, out into the open plains."

"Hee,hee...this is too funny!" Misty can hardly contain herself laughing.

"As she ran, she saw some Ursarings crossing the plains." Ash explains.

"Help!" he calls as Juno "There's a rock chasing me!"

"But when the Ursarings saw the enchanted rock rolling toward them, they didn't stop to help. Instead they bounded into the forest as fast as they could." he continues as himself.

The audience roars with laughter before Ash continues. "Then, Juno saw a herd of Bouffalant, and she called to them..."

"Help me stop this rolling rock!" he pleads as Juno.

He grins before continuing "But it was too late. Before the last word had left Juno's mouth, the Bouffalant stared in awe as the enchanted rock squished Juno into a Pichu-cake right there."

The audience howls with laughter as they picture a "flat" Juno. "Later that day, a trainer was passing that way when he spotted the flattened Juno out there on the plain." Ash continues when the laughter quiets. "Figuring that the Pichu would make a nice little rug, he carried Juno home and laid her beside the hearth. It took Juno all night to do it, but by morning she had popped back into 3D again."

"She slipped out the window and ran away before anyone in the house was awake. But she learned a lesson from that enchanted rock..." Ash concludes. "If you give something away, you must give it away forever."

"Bravo!" Brock leads the applause.

"That would make a funny puppet show!" Misty agrees.

"Let me know when you put it on as a puppet show--I'd love to see you perform three characters." Melody adds.

"Okay! I'll write the script as soon as I get to a PC." Ash smiles, pleased his newest idea is a hit...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 170: Ninetales or Raikou? (Brock)

(real tale: Jackal or Tiger (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/331.htm))


"One hot night, in a land far from here, a king and queen lay awake in the palace in the midst of the capital city." Brock explains. "Every now and then a faint air blew through the lattice, and they hoped they were going to sleep, but they never did. It was about two in the morning when they woke with a jump at the sound of a howl outside the palace."

A Mightyena howl echoes through the rain outside, making fearful murmurs race through the tent. "Listen to that Raikou!" Brock remarks in character as the king.

"Raikou?" he gasps as the queen. "How should there be a Raikou inside the city? It was only a Ninetales."

"I tell you it was a Raikou..." he counters as the king.

"And I tell you that you were dreaming if you thought it was anything but a Ninetales." he retorts as the queen.

As himself, he adds "The two of them argued like this for some time, until the king proposed a solution. In the morning they would call the guard and ask what that odd howl was. If it was a Ninetales, the king would leave this kingdom to his beloved and depart on a great journey. If it was a Raikou then the queen would go, and the king would take a new wife."

The audience murmurs as they speculate on whether the howl was something else entirely. "So in the morning, the king called the two soldiers who were on guard outside and put the question to them. But the arguement the night before had gotten so heated that the guards had heard everything they said, and they feared what would happen if they said they didn't know what it was. So they told the king it was a Raikou, and true to his word, the king sent away his beloved, the queen crying all the while."

"Aw"s go up at this as Brock goes on. "The royal coach came to a small house on the forest's edge, where a farmer and his wife lived, and left the queen there. The farmer heard the queen crying, and asked her what the matter was. She told him everything that had happened, and the farmer gave her a place to sleep and food and water. In time, she had a son of her own, which she named Riku, in remembrance of the land she and the kind farmer tilled every day."

He waits for a beat, then continues "The years passed without any word from the king. For all the queen knew, she was probably dead for all he seemed to care, though the queen still lived with the farmer, and Riku had grown up into a strong, handsome, and healthy young man. Out in the forest they seemed far from the world; very few ever came near them, and Prince Riku was continually begging his mother and the farmer to go out into the world and seek his own fortune. But she and the wise farmer always counseled him to wait until he was older. Finally, the day came when Riku turned eighteen, when he was allowed to go, with his mother's and adopted father's blessings. So he started off early one morning, with a sword by his side...." He sets a prop sword at his side. "a small bottle to hold water," He shows the audience a prop water bottle. "a few pieces of gold," He pockets a few prop gold pieces. "and a bow, for hunting and as a backup weapon if his sword failed."

The group watches as Brock slings a bow and quiver of prop arrows on his back. Then, he continues as he walks around the tent. "Many a weary mile he tramped day after day, until, one morning, he saw a forest not unlike the one where he had been born and raised. As he made his way through a thicket, he saw a Pidove which he thought would make a good dinner, so he fired a arrow at it..." Brock proceeds to aim at an imagined target somewhere in the tent.

"I hope you're not firing an arrow in here..." Melody warns, ever aware that should Brock actually fire the arrow, it will puncture the tent.

Much to Melody's relief, Brock doesn't fire the arrow, but goes on "...but missed the Pidove, which fluttered away. Just then, he heard a great clamor from beyond the thicket, and, on reaching the spot, he found a woman dripping wet and crying loudly as she lifted from her head an earthen vessel with a hole in it from which the water was pouring. When she saw the prince with his bow in his hand, she called out..."

In character as a young lady, he complains "Oh, why must you choose a lady like me to play your pranks upon? Where am I to get a fresh pitcher instead of this one that you have broken with your foolish tricks? And how am I to go so far for water twice when just one journey is tiring enough!"

"I played no trick on you, good lady." he explains in character as a young man. "All I did was shoot at a Pidove that should have served me for dinner, and as my arrow missed it, it must have broken your pitcher. In return, I will give you my water bottle, which will not break easily. As for getting water, tell me where to find it, and I'll go get some while you dry your clothes."

As himself, Brock continues "So the lady showed him where to find water, and when he returned a few minutes later with his bottle filled to the brim, she led the way without a word, and he followed. They eventually came to a hut in the forest, and as they came closer Prince Riku saw the loveliest girl he had ever seen. When she saw him, the girl stepped into the hut, and much as he wanted to see her again, Prince Riku could think of no reason to call her back, and so, with a heavy heart, he bade the woman farewell, and she gave him an emerald as a parting gift." He shows the audience a prop emerald. "But when he had gone a little ways, she called after him..."

"If you are ever in trouble or danger, hold this jewel in your hand and sing this song: 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul.' I will hear it and aid you in whatever way I can." he calls as the woman.

Excited whispers race through the crowd at the mention of one of Brock's gibberish spellsongs. "Prince Riku thanked her and continued his journey, but he thought little of the woman's strange song, and much of the girl." Brock continues as himself as he sets the bow and quiver aside. "A month or so later, he arrived in a great city. He was running low on funds by this point, so he walked straight to the palace of the king and asked for employment. The king said he had plenty of servants and wanted no more; but the young man pleaded so hard that at last the king felt sorry for him, and promised that he should enter his bodyguard on the condition that he would undertake any service which was especially difficult or dangerous."

He returns to his rock as thunder rumbles outside. "A few months went by, and on a particularly dark and stormy night, when the river roared beneath the palace walls, the sound of a woman weeping and wailing was heard above the storm."

Fearful whines and gasps of surprise fill the air as a particularly large thunderclap rattles the tent. "N-nice touch..." Ash stammers.

"A-and then?" Misty shudders as she tries to comfort Azurill, never mind that she too is afraid.

"The king ordered a servant to go and see what was the matter; but the servant was shaking in his shoes in fear, and begged not to go outside on such a wild night, when evil spirits, monsters, witches, and other fearsome creatures were sure to be on the prowl." Brock explains. "The king, who was very wise and kind to his people, couldn't bear to send out someone who was very clearly afraid. So he bade another to go in his stead, but each one showed the same strange fear. Then Prince Riku stepped forward..."

"This is my duty, your majesty," he announces as Prince Riku. "I will go."

As himself, he continues "The king nodded, and off he went. The night was as dark as pitch, and the wind blew furiously and drove the rain in sheets into his face; but he made his way down to the ford under the palace walls and stepped into the flooded water. Inch by inch, and foot by foot he fought his way across, now nearly swept off his feet by some sudden swirl or eddy, now narrowly escaping being caught in the branches of some floating tree that came tossing and swinging down the stream. Finally he emerged, panting and dripping wet, on the other side. Close by the bank stood a gallows, and on the gallows hung the body of some evil-doer, whilst from the foot of it came the sound of sobbing that the king had heard. Prince Riku was so grieved for the one who wept there that he thought nothing of the wildness of the night or of the roaring river. As for ghosts, monsters, and witches, they had never troubled him, so he walked up towards the gallows where crouched the figure of the woman."

"What ails you?" he asks as Prince Riku.

As himself, he intones "Now, the woman was not really a woman at all, but a horrid kind of witch who came from the shadow realm, and had no business in the mortal realm. If someone ever wandered into the shadow realm, they would likely be eaten by one of the many monsters, spirits and witches there. That was why she had been sobbing and crying in hopes that someone out of pity might come to her rescue."

Fearful gasps race through the crowd. "So when Prince Riku questioned her, she replied..." Brock intones before switching to a breathy female voice "Ah, kind sir, it is my poor son who hangs upon that gallows; help me to get him down and I will bless you for ever."

He interjects as himself "Prince Riku sensed that her voice sounded rather eager than sorrowful, and immediately figured out that she was not telling the truth, so he decided to be very cautious."

"That will be rather difficult," he explains as Prince Riku, "for the gallows is high, and we have no ladder."

"Ah, but if you will just stoop down and let me climb upon your shoulders," he replies as the witch, "I think I could reach him."

As himself, he explained "Now Prince Riku knew for sure the witch was planning to kill him by hanging. So he drew his sword, saying that he needed it to lean upon." He draws the prop sword for effect. "Then he bent so that the woman could climb onto him." He pauses to do this. "But when he felt a noose slipped over his neck, he quickly cut it!"

He makes a dramatic stab at the air for effect. "He also ended up cutting the witch's foot as it dangled above him; and with a cry of pain and anger she vanished into the shadow realm."

Sighs of relief and light applause fill the air as Brock sheathes the sword. "After spending a few minutes to collect himself, Prince Riku saw an anklet that had evidently fallen off the witch's foot. He put it into his pocket, and as soon as the storm subsided, he made his way back to the palace. He told the court everything that had happened, took the anklet out of his pocket, and handed it to the king, who, like everyone else, was amazed at the beauty of the jewels inside it. The king was delighted at its beauty, and having praised and rewarded Prince Riku, he gave the anklet to his daughter, who we'll call Taka."

Fascinated murmurs go up at the name. "Now, in the women's apartments in the palace there hung two cages, in one of which was a Chatot and in the other a Starly." Brock explains. "These two Pokemon, who were Princess Taka's pets, could speak as well as human beings. The next day, as she was walking about with the anklet around her ankle, the Starly said to the Chatot..."

"How do you think the princess looks with those new jewels?" he asks in a high pitched female voice.

"Think?" he gasps as the Chatot. "I think she looks like a washerwoman's daughter, with one shoe on and the other off! Why doesn't she wear two of them, instead of going about with one leg adorned and the other bare?"

Laughter goes up at the accuracy of Brock's Chatot impression. "When Princess Taka heard this she burst into tears," Brock explains as himself. "and told her father she wanted another jeweled anklet to wear on the other leg. So the king sent for Prince Riku and told him that he must get a second anklet exactly like the first within a month, or else."

Murmurs race through the crowd as Brock explains "Now, Prince Riku was greatly troubled at the king's command, but he thought to himself that a month was plenty of time. He left the palace at once, and asked anyone and everyone where the finest jewels were to be found. Though he searched for days, he never found one to compare with the anklet.

When he returns to his rock again, he continues "Finally only a week remained, and he was about to give up, when he remembered the woman of the forest, who he had concluded was a guardian or Legendary in disguise, and the emerald she had given him years before. So he took it out of his bag..." Brock shows the audience the prop emerald from before. "and sang the magic song the woman had taught him all those years ago..."

Cheers go up as Brock sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... making the prop emerald glow.

"The emerald glowed, and the beautiful girl he had seen before, appeared to him--he had never forgotten her in all this time." Brock goes on, the glowing prop emerald giving his face an ethereal green aura. "Prince Riku told her his story, and she conjured with her own magic not just one, but three anklets just like the one Princess Taka wore. He then duly presented these to the king with only days to spare."

Applause goes up at this, but Brock's sneaky grin is a signal that the story is not quite over yet. "A few months went by, until the Princess' Chatot and Starly commented that Princess Taka needed some bracelets and necklaces to go with the anklets. So Princess Taka told her father she wanted bracelets and necklaces to match the anklets. The king summoned Prince Riku again and ordered him to get necklaces and bracelets to match those anklets within a month, or else. Prince Riku spent nearly the whole month searching for the jewels, but all in vain. Finally, he invoked the emerald again..." He then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... again.

"Once more the beautiful maiden appeared at his summons and asked what he wanted, and when he had told her, she conjured a beautiful pair of bracelets and necklaces to match, which he presented to the king. Princess Taka next asked that she marry Prince Riku, since he had gotten her all that finery. Prince Riku was dumbfounded at the request, but when he said that was out of his authority, he was thrown into the dungeon right then and there."

The audience gasps, stunned at the turn of events. "Meanwhile the king determined that Princess Taka was of age to marry, so he sent forth heralds throughout the neighboring countries, proclaiming that on a certain day any man worthy of inheriting the throne should present himself at the palace." Brock goes on. "When the day came, all the court were gathered together, and a great crowd of men as well, all of them hoping to gain both the throne and Princess Taka. But before the king could call forth the first man in line, a farmer-- Prince Riku's adopted father--cried out that he had a petition to offer."

In character as Flint, he continues "Your majesty, you have long lived and administered justice in this land, and know well that Raikou, lord among the beasts, hunts only in the forest, while Ninetales hunt in every place where there is something to be picked up. Today there are plenty of Ninetales gathered here to try and claim your daughter and kingdom: every city has sent them, and they wait hungry and eager; but do not, your majesty, mistake or pretend again to mistake the howl of a Ninetales for the mighty roar of a Raikou."

The tent is silent as the audience thinks about what the farmer has said. "You could've heard a pin drop as the court listened, stunned at the turn of events." Brock intones as himself after a few moments. "The farmer went on..." As Flint again, he continues "There is, in fact a royal Raikou bred in the forest who has the first and only true claim to your throne. He now rots in the dungeon, but if your majesty will set him free and clear this court of the Ninetales, I will explain everything."

"Oh"s and wild applause go up as the audience puts two and two together. "The visitors left the palace, and the farmer told the king and his ministers how he had rescued the queen and brought up Prince Riku as his own son. He even brought in the old queen herself. When he saw her, the king was filled with shame and self-reproach, and deeply wished he had not sent her away. He gave his crown to his son Riku, who summoned the maiden of the forest, who was named Kaya, and asked her to marry him. This time, Kaya did not run away, but agreed to be his wife. They were married that very day, and lived long and happy lives. Yet Prince Riku kept the emerald, just in case he needed its power again."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 171: Daisy and the Roses (Misty)

(real tale: Felicia and the Pot of Pinks (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/311.htm))


"There was once a poor laborer who, feeling that he had not much longer to live, wished to divide his possessions between his son and daughter, whom he loved dearly." Misty begins. "So he called them to him, and told that when he and their mother married. she brought as her dowry two stools and a straw bed. His three most precious possessions were a Torchic, a pot of roses, and a silver ring, which were given me by a noble lady who once lodged in the poor little house. When she left, she warned him to not lose the ring or forget to water the roses. As for his daughter, she had assured him that she would be more beautiful than anyone you ever saw in your life. So he gave his daughter--we'll call her Daisy--the ring and the pot of roses, and her brother got everything else. The two children seemed quite contented, and when their father died they wept for him, and divided his possessions as he had told them. Daisy believed that her brother loved her, but when she sat down upon one of the stools he said angrily..."

"Keep your pot of roses and your ring, but leave my things alone. I like order in my house." Brock snaps in character as the boy.

"Daisy, who was very gentle, said nothing, but stood up crying quietly; while her brother--we'll call him Kieran--sat comfortably by the fire." Misty continues. "When dinnertime came, Kieran had an egg, leaving only the shell for Daisy."

"There, that is all I will give you; and if you don't like it, go out and catch Froagies, or something." Brock fills in Kieran's dialogue. "There are plenty of them in the pond close by."

"Daisy did not answer, but she cried more bitterly than ever, and hurried up to her room." Misty continues. "She found it filled with the sweet scent of the roses, and, going up to them, she said sadly..."

"Beautiful roses, you are so sweet and so pretty, you are the only comfort I have left. Be very sure that I will take care of you, and water you well, and never allow any cruel hand to tear you from your stems." Melody sighs as Daisy.

As she looked over them she noticed that they were very dry." Misty explains. "So taking her watering can, she ran off in the clear moonlight to the fountain, which was some distance away. When she reached it she sat down to rest for a moment, but she had hardly done so when she saw a stately lady coming toward her, surrounded by numbers of attendants. Six maids of honor carried her train, and she leaned upon the arm of another."

Ash snaps Brock back to reality by squeezing his hand as Misty goes on "When they came near the fountain a canopy was spread for her, under which was placed a golden couch, and a six course dinner was served, upon a table covered with dishes of gold and crystal, while the wind in the trees and the falling water of the fountain murmured the softest music. Daisy was hidden in the shade, too much astonished by all she saw to venture to move; but then the queen said..."

In her best mimic of an older woman, Misty intones "I see a young lady near that tree...tell her to step foward, into the light."

As herself, she goes on "So Daisy stepped forward and bowed to the queen timidly, but with so much grace that all were surprised."

"What are you doing here, miss?" she asks as the queen. "Are you not afraid of bandits?"

"A poor girl who has nothing to lose does not fear bandits." Melody replies as Daisy.

"You are not very rich, then?" Misty asks as the queen, flashing a grin to Ash.

"I am so poor," Melody sighs as Daisy, "that a pot of roses and a silver ring are my only possessions in the world."

"But you have a heart," Misty assures Melody as the queen. "What should you say if anybody wanted to steal that?"

"I don't know what it's like to lose one's heart, Your Majesty" Melody replies as Daisy. "but I have always heard that without a heart one cannot live, and if it is broken one must die; and in spite of my poverty I should be sorry not to live."

"You are quite right to take care of your heart, pretty one," Misty replies as the queen. "But tell me, have you had dinner?"

"No, Your Majesty," Melody replies as Daisy. "My brother ate all the dinner there was."

Ash and the Pokemon applaud the interplay as Misty continues as herself "Then the queen ordered that a place should be made for her at the table, and loaded Daisy's plate with good things; but she was too much astonished to be hungry."

"What were you doing at the fountain at this hour?" she asks as the queen again.

"I came to fetch some water for my roses, Your Majesty." Melody answers as Daisy.

As herself, Misty interjects "When she showed it to the queen she was amazed to see that it had turned to gold, all sparkling with great jewels, and it had been filled with water more fragrant than the sweetest roses. She was afraid to take it until the queen said..."

She then reveals who the queen really is as she intones as the queen "It is yours, Daisy; go and water your roses with it, and let it remind you that Vizirion, the Queen of the Woods, is your friend."

As herself, she continues "Daisy threw herself at Vizirion's feet, and thanked her humbly for her kind words."

"Ah, my lady!" Melody cries as Daisy, "if I might beg you to stay here a moment I would run and get my pot of roses for you--they could not fall into better hands."

"Go, Daisy," Misty assures Melody as Vizirion. "I will wait here until you return."

She continues as herself. "So Daisy took her watering can and ran to her room, but while she was gone, Kieran had snuck in and taken the pot of roses, leaving a great cabbage in its place. When she saw the unlucky cabbage Daisy was much distressed, and did not know what to do; but at last she ran back to the fountain, and, kneeling before Vizirion, said..."

"Lady Vizirion, Kieran has stolen my pot of roses, so I have nothing but my silver ring; but I beg you to accept it as a proof of my gratitude." Melody pleads as Daisy.

"But if I take your ring, my pretty maid, you will have nothing left; and what will you do then?" Misty asks as Vizirion.

"If I have your friendship I shall do very well." Melody replies as Daisy.

"So Vizirion took the ring and put it on her finger, and climbed inside her coach, which was made of diamonds studded with emeralds, and moved as if it was drawn by six Rapidashes." Misty continues as herself. "Daisy watched the coach disappear into the forest, and then she went back to the cottage, thinking over all the wonderful things that had happened.

After pausing for a beat, she continues "The first thing she did when she reached her room was to throw the cabbage out of the window, but it told her that if she planted it in the garden again, it would tell her where her roses were --hidden in Kieran's bed!"

The boys murmur as Misty goes on "Daisy was in despair when she heard this, not knowing how she was to get them back. But she replanted the cabbage in the garden. She saw Kieran's Torchic, and thought about killing it for dinner that night, but then it spoke to her."

"Don't kill me; I am rather a gossip, and I can tell you some surprising things." Ash interjects in a voice that sounds like a human version of Pikachu. "You are not the daughter of the poor laborer who brought you up; your mother was a queen who had six girls already, and the king threatened that unless she had a son who could inherit his kingdom, she would die. So when the queen had another little girl, she was quite frightened, and agreed with her sister, who was really the forest Queen Vizirion, to exchange her for any of the Pokemon in her care. Now the queen had been locked away in a great tower by the King's orders, and when a fewdays went by with no word from Vizirion, she made her escape from the window by means of a rope ladder, taking her little baby with her. After wandering about until she was half dead with cold and fatigue she reached this cottage. I was the laborer's wife, and was a good nurse, and the queen gave you into my charge, and told me all her misfortunes, and then died before she had time to say what was to become of you.

"As I never in all my life could keep a secret, I could not help telling this strange tale to my neighbors, and one day a beautiful lady came here, and I told it to her also. When I had finished she sang a magical song, and instantly I became a Torchic, and there was an end of my talking! I was very sad, and my husband, who was out when it happened, never knew what had become of me. After seeking me everywhere he believed that I must have been drowned, or eaten by wild beasts in the forest. That same lady came here once more, and commanded that you should be called Daisy, and left the ring and the pot of roses to be given to you; and while she was in the house twenty-five of the King's guards came to search for you, doubtless meaning to kill you; but she sang another magical song, and immediately they all turned into cabbages. It was one of them whom you threw out of your window yesterday.

"I don't know how it was that he could speak--I have never heard either of them say a word before, nor have I been able to do it myself until now."

Brock applauds Ash's remembrance of a long section of dialogue before Misty goes on. "Princess Daisy was greatly astonished at the Torchic's story, and said..."

"I am truly sorry for you, my poor nurse, and wish it was in my power to restore you to your true form. But we must not despair; it seems to me, after what you have told me, that something must be going to happen soon. Just now, however, I must go and look for my roses, which I love better than anything in the world." Melody assures Ash as Daisy.

"Kieran had gone out into the forest, never thinking that Daisy would search in his room for the roses." Misty continues. "She was thrilled by his unexpected absence, and thought to get them back without further trouble. But as soon as she entered the room she saw a terrible army of Rattata, who were guarding the straw bed; and when she attempted to approach it they sprang at her, biting and scratching furiously. Then, she suddenly remembered the watering can, and, hoping that it might have some magic power, she grabbed, and sprinkled a few drops over the fierce-looking swarm of Rattatas. In a moment not a tail or a whisker was to be seen Each one had made for his hole as fast as his legs could carry him, so Princess Daisy could safely take her pot of roses. She found them nearly dying of thist, and hastily poured all that was left in the can upon them. As she bent over them, enjoying their delicious scent, a soft voice, that seemed to rustle among the leaves, said..."

"Lovely Daisy, the day has come at last when I may have the happiness of telling you how even the flowers love you and rejoice in your beauty." she intones as Vizirion.

"Princess Daisy, quite overcome by the strangeness of hearing a cabbage, a Torchic, and a rose speak, and by the terrible sight of an army of Rattatas, suddenly became very pale, and fainted right there." she continues as herself, to chuckles from the boys Just then, Kieran came in. Working hard in the heat had not improved his temper, and when he saw that Daisy had succeeded in finding her roses he was so angry that he dragged her out into the garden and slammed the door. The fresh air soon made her open her pretty eyes, and there before her stood Vizirion in her human form, looking as charming as ever.

"You have a bad brother," she wags a finger at Brock, who shies away. "I saw he threw you out. Shall I punish him for it?"

"No, my lady," Melody gasps as Daisy "I am not angry with him."

"But supposing he was not your brother, after all, what would you say then?" Misty asks as Vizirion.

"Oh! but I think he must be," Melody stammers as Daisy.

"Have you not heard that you are a princess?" Misty asks as Vizirion.

"I was told so a little while ago, my lady, but how could I believe it without a single shred of proof?" Melody asks as Daisy.

"Ah! dear child," Misty intones as Vizirion, "the way you speak assures me that, in spite of your humble upbringing, you are indeed a real princess, and I can save you from being treated in such a way again."

She was interrupted at this moment by the arrival of a very handsome young man. He wore a coat of green velvet fastened with emerald clasps, and had a crown of roses on his head. He knelt upon one knee and kissed Vizirion's hand.

"Ah!" she gasps as Vizirion, "my rose, my dear son, what a happiness to see you restored to your natural shape by Daisy's aid!"

She quickly interjects as herself "Then, turning to Daisy, she said..."

As Vizirion, she continues "Charming princess, I know all the Torchic told you, but you cannot have heard that the wind, who was told to carry my son to the tower where the queen, your mother, so anxiously waited for him, left him instead in a garden of flowers, while they flew off to tell your mother. Whereupon a fairy with whom I had quarrelled changed him into a rose, and I could do nothing to prevent it.

"You can imagine how angry I was, and how I tried to find some means of undoing the mischief she had done; but there was no help for it. I could only bring Prince Arden to the place where you were being brought up, hoping that when you grew up he might love you, and by your care be restored to his natural form. And you see everything has come right, as I hoped it would. Your giving me the silver ring was the sign that the power of the charm was nearly over, and my enemy's last chance was to frighten you with her army of Rattatas, which you defeated. So now, my dear Daisy, if you will be married to my son with this silver ring your future happiness is certain. Do you think him handsome and amiable enough to be willing to marry him?"

"Madam," Melody begins as Daisy, blushing a bit at what she has to say next, "you overwhelm me with your kindness. I know that you are my mother's sister, and that by your art you turned the soldiers who were sent to kill me into cabbages, and my nurse into a Torchic, and that you do me only too much honor in proposing that I shall marry your son. How can I explain to you the cause of my hesitation? I feel, for the first time in my life, how happy it would make me to be beloved. Can you indeed give me Prince Arden's heart?"

"It is yours already, lovely Princess!" Brock assures Melody in a gentler male voice; "but if not for the horrible spell which kept me silent, I would have told you long ago how dearly I loved you."

Misty continues as herself "This made Princess Daisy very happy, and Virizion, who could not bear to see her dressed like a poor farm girl, laid a hand on her and sang..."

She sings as Vizirion Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

As herself, she continues "And Princess Daisy's cotton dress became a magnificent robe of silver brocade embroidered with rubies and sapphires, and her soft dark hair was encircled by a crown of diamonds and pearls, from which floated a clear white veil. With her bright eyes, and the charming color in her cheeks, she was altogether such a dazzling sight that Prince Arden could hardly bear it."

"How pretty you are, Daisy!" Brock cries as Prince Arden. "Don't keep me in suspense, I beg of you; say that you will marry me."

Misty just continues "Just then Kieran, who was going back to his work, came out of the house, and thought he must be dreaming when he saw Daisy; but she called him very kindly, and begged Vizirion to take pity on him."

"What!" she gasps as Vizirion, "When he was so unkind to you?"

"Ah, my lady, I am so happy that I should like everybody else to be happy too." Melody explains as Daisy.

"Vizirion seemed to accept that answer, and with another spellsong..." Misty sings as Vizirion again Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing as herself "she turned the poor little house into a splendid palace, full of treasures; only the two stools and the straw bed remained just as they were, to remind him of his former poverty. Then she made Kieran gentle and polite and grateful, and he thanked her and Princess Daisy a thousand times over. Finally, Vizirion restored the Torchic and the cabbages to their true forms, and left them all very happy. Prince Arden and Princess Daisy were married with great splendor, and they all lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 172: Chimchar Returns the Favor (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 63, story 1)

"There was once a certain seaside village in Shinou that was so poor, the people had to live on Clamperls, Shellders, and seaweed." Ash begins.

"Didn't Dawn teach you this one?" Brock recognizes the tale's beginning.

"On the way to Sunyshore, if memory serves." Ash replies. "Anyway, one day a woman noticed a Chimchar struggling to free its hand, which was stuck in a small hole. Despite warnings not to, the woman helps the Chimchar out. But then, the Chimchar snatched the woman's Pichu!"

"But, Chimchars don't normally take other Pokemon..." Misty is confused rather than shocked at the turn of events

"After chasing both Pokemon for a while, the woman caught up to the Chimchar, who ran up into a tree with the Pichu." Ash goes on. "As if that wasn't enough, the Pichu's fearful cries attracted a Braviary, who figured the Pichu was food."

Happini swallows hard, worried for the Pichu. "But just before the Braviary could attack, the Chimchar whacked it with a branch." Ash continues. "More Braviaries came, but they too got whacked by branches."

"I see! The Chimchar must've seen the Braviaries coming and took the Pichu somewhere safe as thanks for the woman helping it." Misty muses.

"What Braviaries that didn't get whacked by branches fled in terror after most of the flock got whacked away." Ash continues. "When the coast was clear, the Chimchar set the Pichu on the ground before returning to the brush."

He then confirms Misty's prediction. "It dawned on the woman that the Chimchar saved her Pichu in return for her helping it before. The townsfolk used the Braviary feathers to make arrows, and the town soon became world famous for its Braviary arrows, which are said never miss. Each time someone from the town fires one of these arrows, the townsfolk remember the brave Chimchar that saved a Pichu."

"Pika pika pikachu pi Pichu." Pikachu notes as the others applaud.

"Yeah, shocking them all at once with a Thunderbolt would be faster than whacking them away one by one." Brock agrees...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 173: The Beasts' Treasures (Brock)

(real tale: The Three Treasures of the Giants (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/135.htm))


"A long time ago, in a land far away, there lived an old man and his wife who had three sons; the youngest of which was named Jack." Brock begins. "One evening they were all seated around the table, having dinner, when the old man suddenly told the eldest brother that he believed his time to die was drawing near. As the eldest, he would inherit the house; but he had to be be good to his mother and brothers, too. The eldest brother agreed to this, helping himself to all the best parts as he spoke. The old man saw nothing, but the middle brother looked on in surprise, and Jack was so appalled that he forgot to eat his own dinner."

Giggles go up at this as Brock intones "A few months went by, and the father caught a terrible disease. Despite the healers' best efforts, the disease ravaged him to the point where not even their strongest spell would do anything. They sent for his sons, so they could say their final farewells. After giving good advice to the two eldest, he turned to Jack. He told Jack that while he wasn't the sharpest tack in the drawer, his kind heart more than made up for it. He implored Jack to always listen to his heart, and the words of his mother and brothers."

There is a brief silence before Brock delivers the bad news. "The old man clung to life for a few more days before joining Arceus in the heavens. The two elder brothers wept bitterly, but Jack remained by the bedside of his father, as if he were dead too. He finally got up, ran into the garden, hid himself in some trees, and wept profusely, while his two brothers got ready for the funeral."

"Aw"s go up at this. "Not long after the funeral, the eldest brother and the middle brother agreed that they would go out into the world together to seek their fortunes, while Jack stayed home with their mother." Brock continues. "Jack would have liked nothing better than to sit and dream by the fire, but the mother, who was very old herself, conceded that there was no work for him to do, and that he too had to seek it with his brothers. So the next morning, all three set out. The eldest brother and the middle brother carried two great bags full of food, but Jack carried nothing. This made his brothers very angry, for the day was hot and the bags were heavy, and about noon they sat down under a tree and began to eat. Jack was as hungry as they were, but he knew that it was no use asking for anything. In fact, this frustrated him so much, he couldn't help but cry."

Angry murmurs fill the air as Brock goes on "The eldest brother taunted Jack for being so lazy, but Jack countered that they were doing no better by carrying every bit of food left in the house and leaving their mother to starve. After an awkward silence, they offered their brother some of their food, and when they were done eating, they went on their way."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Around nightfall they reached a small hut, and knocking at the door, asked if they might spend the night there." Brock replies. "The man, who was a woodcutter, invited them in, and encouraged them to sit down to dinner. The eldest brother thanked him, but being very proud, explained that it was only shelter they wanted, as they had plenty of food with them; and he and the middle brother at once opened their bags and began to eat, while Jack hid himself in a corner. The wife, on seeing this, took pity on him, and called him to come and share their dinner. At this, the eldest brother regretted deeply that he had been so foolish as to refuse, for his bits of bread and cheese seemed very hard when he smelled the savory soup his brother was enjoying."

Soft laughter fills the air as Brock continues "The next morning, he insisted on going through a thick forest where they were not likely to meet anyone. For a long time they wandered this way and that, for they had no path to guide them; but they finally came upon a wide clearing, in the midst of which stood a castle. Jack shouted with delight, but the eldest brother, who was in a bad temper, blew it off as taking a wrong turn. The middle brother defused the impending fight by saying that if they had set out to travel through the world with no destination in mind, did it really matter if they went right or left?"

He intones "With that, they headed for the castle."

Interested murmurs race through the tent as the audience debates what the brothers will find. "The door of the castle stood wide open, and they entered a great hall, and looked around in awe." Brock's voice quiets the chatter. "Not a creature was to be seen, and suddenly the eldest brother--he did not know why--felt a little frightened. He would have left the castle right then, but stopped when Jack walked up to a door and opened it. He couldn't bear to be outdone by his younger brother, and ran on ahead of him into another splendid hall, which was filled from floor to ceiling with a bewildering array of crystals of all colors. The sight quite dazzled the eldest brother and the middle brother, who emptied all the provisions that remained out of their bags, and heaped them up instead with handfuls of crystals."

Giggles go up as the audience pictures the brothers frantically scrambling for crystals. "Then Jack opened another door, which led to a hall filled with silver. In an instant his brothers had emptied their bags of the crystals and shoveled in handfuls of the silver instead." Brock explains, making the laughter intensify. They had hardly finished when Jack opened a third door, and all three balked in amazement, for in this room was a mass of gold, so bright that their eyes felt sore looking at it. However, they soon recovered from their surprise, emptied their bags of silver, and filled them with gold instead. When they had gathered as much as they could carry, the eldest brother began worrying about what would happen if the castle's owners caught them. While he and the middle brother fled, Jack stayed behind for a few minutes to put pieces of gold, silver, and some crystals into his pocket, and to gather the food that his brothers had dropped in the first room. Then he went after them, and found them resting in the forest. It was near sunset, and the eldest brother began to feel hungry, so, when Jack arrived, he asked him to return to the castle and bring the bread and cheese that they had left there. But when Jack told them what he had done, they called him all kinds of horrible names to the point where Jack fled into the forest, fearing for his life."

The angry murmurs at Jack's fleeing grow louder as Brock continues "His brothers, however, went home and bought a beautiful house, where they lived with their mother like kings."

The playful grin on Brock's face is an assurance to the audience that the story is nowhere near over--and that magical aspects will soon come into play. "Meanwhile Jack remained for some hours in hiding, thankful to be safe from his tormentors; but when no one came to trouble him, and his feet did not ache so much, he began to think about his next move. He finally made up his mind to return to the castle and take as much money that would him to live in comfort for the rest of his life. So he hurried back to the castle, and into the hall of gold, and there he took off his jacket and tied the sleeves together so that it might make a kind of bag. He then began to pour in the gold by handfuls, when, all at once, some roars like thunder shook the castle, and the three Beasts appeared."

"So, puny mortal! it is you who steal our treasures!" he proclaims as Entei.

He interjects as himself "...exclaimed Entei. They had half a mind to eat Jack right there, until Suicune motioned for them to huddle. After they had debated for a moment, Raikou said..."

As Raikou, he intones "We will spare your life on condition that you shall guard our treasures. If you are hungry. take this little table and sing 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...' to it, and you will get as much food as you want."

The audience whispers excitedly as Brock continues as himself "Jack promised he would do all that was asked of him, and for some days enjoyed himself mightily. He had everything he could wish for, and did nothing from morning till night; but before long, he began to get very tired and bored. 'Let the Beasts guard their treasures themselves,' he thought, and left that night, taking only the little table with him."

"Ooh" s go up at this. "So, after placing the table in his bag, he started off for the forest, but he did not stay there long, and soon found himself on the plains on the other side. There he saw an old man, who begged Jack to give him something to eat." Brock explains.

'You could not have asked a better person,' he smiles in his best mimic of Ash.

As himself, he continues "After motioning to him to sit down with him under a tree, he set the table in front of them, and sang... He then sings as Ash Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

"That was pretty good!" the real Ash grins.

Some applause goes up at the gibberish spellsong. "He had hardly finished singing the words when fish and meat of all kinds appeared on it!" Brock announces as himself. "The old man was amazed at this, so after he had eaten as much as he wanted., he asked Jack to give it to him in exchange it for a magic whistle that would summon whatever kind of hero Jack needed if he were in danger." Ash shows the audience a silver tin whistle with a green mouthpiece to illustrate Brock's point.

After Ash pockets the whistle, he goes on "Now, since he had been left to himself, Jack had grown ambitious, so, after a moment's hesitation, he took the whistle and gave the table in exchange. The old man bade him farewell, and set off down one path, while Jack chose another. For a while, he was quite pleased with his new possession. Then, he started getting hungry, and wished for his table back again. Then he remembered his whistle, and a devious thought entered his mind."

"He asked for a regiment of 200 soldiers, and played the whistle." Some giggles go up as Ash plays the Zelda whistle theme for effect. "A regiment exactly like Jack requested appeared in a flash of light, and the commander asked him what he wished them to do. Jack told them his orders, and off the soldiers marched to battle. They returned with the table ten minutes later, and when Jack told them he had no further orders for them, they disappeared inside the whistle with a flash of light."

Awed applause goes up at this. "Jack feasted that night, never mind that he earned it due to a cruel prank." Brock deadpans, to some laughter. "The next day he ate breakfast early, and then walked on towards the nearest town. On the way there, he met another old man, who begged for something to eat."

"Oh"s go up as the audience realizes this has happened before. "The same thing happened--Jack summoned an epic meal with..." Brock then sings as Ash Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing as himself "The old man offered a bag that held anything in the world in exchange for the table, Jack traded it, but had it brought back to him by a brigade of dragoons. Now that he owned three magic objects, he resolved to return home. After disguising himself as a beggar, he asked passersby about the latest rumors. He learned that his brothers had become great men, and highly respected in all the country. When he heard that, he wasted no time in going to the door of their fine house and imploring them to give him food and shelter; but the only thing he got was hard words, and a command to beg elsewhere. Finally, at their mother's request, he was told that he could spend the night in the stable. Here he waited until everybody in the house was sound asleep, when he drew his bag from under his cloak, and pulled out a castle. The whistle gave him soldiers, archers, mages, and other heroes to guard the castle, while the table furnished him with a good dinner. In the morning, he caused it all to vanish, and when his brothers entered the stable they found him lying on the straw."

Interested murmurs fill the air as Brock returns to his place at center stage. "Jack remained here for many days, doing nothing, and--as far as anybody knew--eating nothing. This puzzled his brothers greatly, and they kept bugging him constantly about it, that he finally told them the secret of the table, and even gave a dinner to them, which far outdid any they had ever seen or heard of. But though they had solemnly promised to reveal nothing, somehow the secret got out, and before long reached the royal ears of the king himself. That very evening his chamberlain arrived at Jack's dwelling, with a request from the king that he might borrow the table for three days. Jack agreed, on condition that if he did not return it at the end of three days he would declare war. So the chamberlain carried away the table and took it straight to the king, telling him at the same time of Jack's threat, which they blew off as little more than hot air."

Giggles go up from the Meowtha as Brock goes on "The king was so delighted with the table, and the dinners it gave him, that when the three days were over he could not make up his mind to part with it. Instead, he sent for his carpenter, and bade him copy it exactly, and when it was done he told his chamberlain to return it to Jack with his best thanks. It happened to be dinner time, and Jack invited the chamberlain, who knew nothing of the trick, to stay and dine with him. The good man, who had eaten several excellent meals provided by the table in the last three days, accepted the invitation with pleasure, even though he was to dine in a stable, and sat down on the straw beside Jack."

He then sings as Ash Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

The Pokemon laugh at the awkward silence, but Brock intones as himself "But not even a cookie crumb appeared."

He sings as Ash again Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

He pauses for a beat before continuing as himself "Then it dawned on him what had happened; and, crushing the fake table between his hands, he turned to the chamberlain, who, bewildered and half frightened, was wondering how to get away."

"Tell your false king that tomorrow I will destroy his castle as easily as I have broken this table." he warns in his Ash voice.

As himself, he continues "The chamberlain hurried back to the palace, and gave the king Jack's message, at which he laughed more than before, and called all his courtiers to hear the story. But no one was laughing when they woke up the next morning and saw ten thousand cavalry, and as many archers, mages, pegasus knights, dragoons, spellsingers, and all kinds of other warriors surrounding the palace."

Laughter fills the air as the crowd pictures the king's reaction. "The king saw it was useless to hold out--he waved the white flag with one hand, and with the real table in the other, set out to look for Jack." Brock continues.

In an older male voice, he pleads "I committed a crime, but I will do my best to make up for it. Here is your table, which I own with shame that I tried to steal, and you shall have besides, my daughter, Princess Serena, as your wife!"

Applause goes up at this as Brock concludes "There was no need to delay the marriage when the table was able to furnish the most splendid banquet that ever was seen, and after everyone had eaten and drunk as much as they wanted, Jack took his bag and commanded a castle filled with all sorts of treasures to arise in the park for himself and his bride. When the old king joined Arceus in the heavens, Jack succeeded him, and there his ambition was satisfied. He could not hope to be more than king, and as long as he had his whistle to provide him with heroes, he was secure against his enemies. He never forgave his brothers for the way they had treated him, though he presented his mother with a beautiful castle, and everything she could possibly wish for. In the center of his own palace was a treasure chamber, and in this chamber the table, the whistle, and the bag were kept as the most prized of all his possessions. He reigned long and well, and was deeply beloved by his people."

The applause intensifies as Brock takes a bow....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 174: The Man with the Golden Beard (Misty)

(real tale: The Gold-bearded Man (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/240.htm))

"Once upon a time there lived a great king who had a wife and one son whom he loved very much." Misty begins. The boy--we'll call him Kenta--was still young when one day, the king told the queen he felt that his time to die was close, and he wanted her to promise that she would never take another husband but dedicate herself to bringing up Kenta. Naturally, the queen burst into tears at the news, and vowed that she would never, never marry again, and that her son's welfare should be her first thought as long as she lived. Her promise comforted the troubled heart of the king, and a few days later, he joined Arceus in the heavens."

"Pini..." Happini sighs at this.

"But no sooner had the funeral rites been completed, did the queen realize that to promise is one thing, and to keep is quite another." Misty explains. "The last spadeful of earth had hardly settled over the coffin before she married a noble from a neighboring country, and had him made king instead of Prince Kenta. Her new husband was a cruel, wicked man, who treated his stepson very badly, and gave him hardly anything to eat, only rags to wear; and he would even have killed the boy if it weren't for the will of the people."

"Sounds like 'Cinderella'..." Melody notes.

"Now, by the palace grounds there ran a stream, but instead of water, it was filled with milk." Misty continues. "Both rich and poor flocked to it daily and drew as much milk as they liked. The first thing the new king did was to forbid anyone to go near the brook, on pain of being arrested. On top of that, the move was purely spite, for there was plenty of milk for everyone."

"Pika pi!" Pikachu sparks angrily at this.

"For some days no one dared venture near the banks of the stream, but eventually some of the guards noticed that early in the morning a man with a gold beard came down to the brook with a pail, which he filled up to the brim with milk, and then vanished like smoke before they could get close enough to see who he was. So they went and told the king what they had seen. At first the king didn't believe their story, but as they kept insisting that it was true, he assured them that he would go and watch the stream that night himself. Sure enough, at dawn the gold-bearded man appeared, and filled his pail as he always did. Then he vanished, as if by magic."

"Whoa..." Ash is impressed.

"The king stood dumbfounded at the place where the man had disappeared. He had never seen him before, that was for sure; but what mattered much more was how to catch him, and what to do with him when he was caught. He would have a cage built as a prison, and everyone would talk about it, for in other countries thieves were put in the dungeon, and it had been some time since any king had used a cage. It was all well and good to plan, and even to station a guard behind every bush, but it was no use, for the man was never caught." Misty explains. "They would sneak up to him softly on the grass, as he was stooping to fill his pail, and just as they stretched out their hands to grab him, he vanished before their eyes. Time after time this happened, till the king grew mad with rage, and offered a large reward to anyone who could tell him how to capture his enemy. The first person that came with a plan was an old soldier who promised the king that if he would only put some bread and bacon and a flask of wine on the bank of the stream, the gold-bearded man would be sure to eat and drink, and they could shake some sleeping powder into the wine, which would put him to sleep right then. Then there was nothing to do but to put him in the cage. This idea pleased the king, and he ordered bread and bacon and a flask of spiked wine to be placed on the bank of the stream, and the number of guards to be doubled. Then, full of hope, he waited and watched to see what would happen."

"So what happened?" Brock is interested.

Everything happened just as the soldier had said-- early the next morning the gold-bearded man came down to the brook, ate, drank, and fell sound asleep, so that the guards easily bound him, and carried him off to the palace." Misty intones. "In a moment the king had him captive in the golden cage, and showed him, with near-on euphoria, to any guests that visited his court. The poor captive, when he awoke from his induced sleep, tried to talk to them, but no one would listen to him, so he stayed completely quiet, and the people who came to stare took him for a hermit. He cried and bemoaned his fate to himself all day, and would hardly touch food, though, in dread that he should die and escape his tormentors, the king ordered his head cook to send him dishes from the royal table."

"I don't get what makes this guy so special..." Ash muses.

"The gold-bearded man had been in captivity about a month, when the king was forced to go to war upon a neighboring country, and left the palace to take command of his army." Misty continues. "But before he went he called his Prince Kenta to him and told him to make sure his captive had plenty to eat and drink, but not to let him escape, or even let out for any reason. If that happened, it would be his life in exchange."

The boys swallow hard as Misty intones "Prince Kenta was thankful that his stepfather was going off to war, and secretly hoped he would not return. No sooner he had ridden off did Prince Kenta go to the room where the cage was kept, and never left it night and day. He even played chess and backgammon beside it."

"Interesting..." Melody notes.

"One day he was practicing his aim with his bow, when one of his arrows fell into the golden cage. Prince Kenta asked for it back, but the gold-bearded man said he would, only if he was let out. Prince Kenta said no, and explained that if he did, it would be his life in exchange. The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he pleaded harder than ever that Prince Kenta would set him free." Misty goes on. "Seeing him pray to Arceus for his freedom touched Prince Kenta's heart, for he hated seeing others suffer. So he undid the lock, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world."

"Pika?" Pikachu gasps, afraid for Prince Kenta.

"The man thanked Prince Kenta profusely, and said he would repay him a thousand times over before he vanished." Misty assures Pikachu. "Prince Kenta began to think about what he would say to the king when he returned; then he wondered whether it would be wise to wait for his stepfather's return and run the risk of dying in place of the captive. He finally decided to flee the castle and go out into the world."

[So what happened to Prince Kenta?] Mai asks.

"He snuck out of the castle when dusk fell, and for many days he wandered over mountains and through forests and valleys without knowing where he was going or what he should do. He had only berries for food. One morning, he saw a Pidove sitting on a branch. Just as he prepared to shoot, the Pidove spoke to him,saying she had two little ones of her own. Prince Kenta stood down, and the Pidove thanked him, saying she would repay him in return if he only sang 'Karuto, iichiida shou...'."

"Pini?" Happini smiles.

"Before long he reached the edge of a lake, and he spotted a wild Ducklett flying towards some reeds which grew near the shore." Misty explains. "Now, when his real father was alive, and he had everything to eat he could possibly wish for, the prince always had roast Ducklett for his birthday dinner. But before he could shoot, the Ducklett pleaded for him not to, as she too had two little ones of her own. Prince Kenta stood down and the Ducklett thanked him,saying she would repay him if he only sang 'Rou iitsa ron selga vichii'. He had not wandered far from the shores of the lake, when he noticed an Altaria in the water, and got ready to shoot, but the Altaria pleaded for him to spare her, as she had two Swablus of her own."

"Prince Kenta stood down, and the Altaria thanked him." Ash fills in the blank.

"She told him she would repay him somehow, if he only sang the song..." Brock thinks for a moment for a good spellsong before suggesting "'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...'".

Misty smiles,pleased the boys are paying attention. "He had not gone far when he fell in with two discharged soldiers looking for another job. When Prince Kenta told them he was looking for a job as well, they agreed to go together they went on, and on, and on, through at least seven kingdoms, without finding anything they were able to do. They finally reached a palace in a distant land, and told the king they were seeking a job.
The king appointed the soldiers as his new coachmen; but he made Prince Kenta his companion, and gave him rooms near his own. The soldiers were jealous when they heard this, for they didn't know who Prince Kenta really was; and they soon began to brainstorm ways to have him lose the king's favor."

"Uh oh..."Ash giggles.

"So one day, they came before the king and told him they had heard Prince Kenta boasting if he were the royal steward he would not lose a single grain of Cornn out of the storehouses." Misty continues. "The king ordered that a sack of wheat be mixed with one of barley, and gave Prince Kenta two hours to separate both grains, or else."

She waits for a beat, then continues "Prince Kenta hardly knew where to begin the impossible task, and in desperation sang Karuto, iichiida shou... The song was barely out of his mouth when a huge flock of Pidoves appeared, and they all separated the grains into two neat heaps in a matter of minutes. When the king came back he could not believe his eyes; but search as he might through the two heaps, he could not find any barley among the wheat, or any wheat amongst the barley. So he praised Prince Kenta for his industry and cleverness, and appointed him his steward. This made the two soldiers even more jealous, and they began to hatch another plot."

"I think I know where this is going..." Brock grins.

"They told the king a few weeks later that they had overheard Prince Kenta saying if he had the care of the royal jewels not so much as a gold pin should ever be lost." Misty goes on. "So the king had his daughter--we'll call her Motoko--throw her favorite sapphire ring into the river, and told Prince Kenta to find it in two hours, or else. He looked upand down both banks, but couldn't find it. In desperation, he sang Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

[And then? And then?] the Meowths beg

"He had hardly finished singing the song when a huge flock of wild Duckletts were swimming all up and down the stream looking with all their might, and found the ring in a matter of minutes." Misty replies. "The king was even more astonished at the cleverness of his steward, and appointed him keeper of the royal jewels."

Now you would have thought that by this time the king would have been satisfied with Prince Kenta and left him alone; but it wasn't long before the two jealous soldiers came to him with a new farfetched claim." Misty continues. "They told him that they had heard Prince Kenta say that he could call forth Meloetta, a talent which only the best summoners and mages had. So the king ordered Prince Kenta to summon Meloetta for him, or else be tied to a Ponyta's tail and dragged about until dead."

Azurill gasps at this. "In spite of what the soldiers had said, Prince Kenta had no inkling of magical power, and his task seemed more hopeless than before." Misty continues. "He lay crying in the chamber which he was forbidden to leave, when suddenly he heard a sharp tapping at the window, and, looking up, he saw the Altaria, and told her his dillema. The Altaria reminded him of the incantation of how to summon Meloetta, and Prince Kenta sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

"Sure enough, Meloetta appeared to him in a flash of light and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... herself, conjuring...." Misty thinks of an instrument for a moment, then continues. "a mandolin. With that, she played a set of tunes so lively and beautiful that even Prince Kenta forgot his sorrows as he listened."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings the same spellsong, conjuring a mandolin just like in the story.

Everyone listens as Melody plays a set of her own. When the applause dies down, Misty continues "Then she conjured a flute and a harp, and played them just as well!"

Ash and Brock fill in the music by playing their own solo sets on their own instruments. "The next morning the king went straight to Prince Kenta's room, and saw Meloetta play with his own eyes." Misty continues when Brock finishes his set on his harp. "he was amazed that Prince Kenta had summoned Meloetta, and that he had to be an archmage to pull off the feat. On top of that, Princess Motoko confessed her love for Prince Kenta, and they were married right there."

She concludes "When the festivities were finally over, he asked Prince Kenta how he pulled off all three tasks. Prince Kenta told the king everything, and thw king chased the two soldiers away with whips, and told them that if they ever dared to show their faces across the borders of his kingdom, they would die. As for Prince Kenta and Princess Motoko, they both lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 175: The Heroes and the Coach (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 64, story 3)

"Once a great hero slew a demon that was terrorizing all of Kanto--which is a story in itself." Ash begins. "He and his companions returned to the Aiiro City to a hero's welcome. So great was the celebration, even the Pokemon dropped what they were doing to cheer for the heroes that had saved Kanto."

"Must've been a really powerful demon..." Misty muses.

"The fervor was so great, that the people were still cheering for them for months afterwards--which made it hard to even stay at home." Ash continues. "It wasn't long before the summer festival was approaching, and the four of them contemplated how to get there."

"If they rode, they would probably be mistaken for invaders..." Misty muses.

"...and if they walked, they would still be mobbed by the people." Brock adds.

"So what did they do to get there to the festival unseen?" Melody wonders.

"Finally, one of them suggested they travel in a coach, like nobles did." Ash replies. "They agreed to the plan, and set out the next morning."

He waits for a beat, then continues "As they entered into town, another coach sped by, its young driver urging the Ponytas too much and going too fast. The heroes' driver tried to catch up to the rogue coach and tell the driver to slow down, but it eventually turned into a race between the two coaches, jostling the heroes all the while as they sped through town and crashed into everything."

Everyone laughs as they picture the wild chase. "It turned out that while the two coaches were making a mess of everything, they missed the entire festival." Ash interjects, quieting the laughter. "The heroes decided to walk home, and got mobbed by the people all the while."

He concludes "They didn't take a coach for a long time after that!"

"I can see why!" Melody giggles as she applauds.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 176: The Water Lilly and the Goldspinners (Brock)

(real tale: The Water-Lily and the Gold Spinners (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/309.htm))

"Once upon a time, in a large forest, there lived an old woman and three maidens." Brock begins. "They were all beautiful, but the youngest--we'll call her Heather--was the fairest. Their hut was quite hidden by trees, and none saw their beauty but Ho'oh by day, and Lugia by night, and Jirachi as he danced among the stars. The old woman kept the girls hard at work, from morning till night, spinning gold thread into yarn, and when one spool was empty another was given to them, so they had no chance to rest."

"And why couldn't they at least get a break?" Misty wonders.

"The thread had to be fine and even, and when it was done, it was locked up in a secret chamber by the old woman, who went on a few long journeys every summer. Brock continues. "Before she left, she gave out work for each day of her absence, and always returned at night, so that the girls never saw what she brought back with her, nor would she tell them from whence the gold flax came, or what it was to be used for."

"I have a bad feeling about this...." Ash shudders.

"Now, when the time came for the old woman to set out on one of these journeys, she gave each girl work for six days, with the usual warning: don't let your eyes wander, and under no circumstances speak to a man." Brock explains. "If they did, their thread would lose its brightness, and misfortunes of all kinds would follow. The girls would laugh at this oft-repeated caution, asking each other how their gold thread could lose its brightness, and how they had any chance of speaking to a man."

"And then some guy gets lost in the forest..." Misty guesses.

"On the third day, a young prince--we'll call him Grant--was hunting in the forest, when he got separated from his companions, and completely lost to boot." Brock replies, confirming Misty's prediction. "When he got tired of seeking a way out, he laid down under a tree, leaving his Ponyta to graze, and fell asleep."

He pauses for a beat, then goes on "The sun had set when he woke, and he kept working on a way to try and find his way out of the forest. At last he spotted a narrow path, which he eagerly followed and found that it led him to a small hut. The girls, who were sitting at the door of their hut to keep cool, saw him approaching, and the two elder girls were quite panicked , for they remembered the old woman's warning; but Heather talked them into having one look. The other girls pleaded with her to come in, but, seeing that she would not, left her, and Prince Grant courteously greeted Heather, and told her he had lost his way in the forest and was both hungry and weary. She set food before him, and was so delighted with his conversation that she forgot the old woman's caution, and lingered for hours."

"Pika pika chu?" Pikachu asks.

"Meanwhile, Prince Grant's companions sought him far and wide, but to no avail, so they sent two messengers to tell the sad news to the king, who immediately ordered a regiment of cavalry and one of infantry to go and look for him." Brock goes on. "After three days' search, they found the hut. Prince Grant was still sitting by the door and had been so happy in Heather's company that the time had seemed like an hour. Before leaving, he promised to return and take her to his father's court, where he would make her his bride. When he had gone, she sat down to her wheel to make up for lost time, but was dismayed to find that her thread had lost all its brightness. Her heart beat fast and she wept bitterly, for she remembered the old woman's warning and knew not what misfortune might now befall her."

Happini swallows hard at the thought of some terrible thing or another happening to Heather. "The old woman returned that night and knew by the tarnished thread what had happened in her absence. She was furiously angry and told Heather that she had brought down misery both on herself and on Prince Grant." Brock intones. "Heather could hardly sleep thinking about this. At last, she could bear it no longer, and resolved to seek help from Prince Grant."

"How could he help?" Misty asks, intrigued

"As a child she had learned to understand the language of Pokemon, and this proved to be a big help to her. When she saw a Murkrow preening itself on a pine branch, she cried softly to it..." Brock narrates.

"Dear Murkrow, cleverest of all Pokemon, as well as swiftest on wing, will you help me?" Melody pleads as Heather.

"How can I help you?" Ash asks as the Murkrow.

"Fly away, until you come to a great city, where stands a king's palace; seek out the king's son and tell him that a great misfortune has befallen me." Melody tells Ash as Heather.

"Heather told the Murkrow how her thread had lost its brightness, how terribly angry the old woman was, and how she feared some great disaster." Brock narrate when the applause for the interplay dies down. "The Murkrow promised to do her bidding, and, spreading its wings, flew away. Heather went home and worked hard all day at winding up the yarn her elder sisters had spun, for the old woman would let her spin no longer. Around sunset she heard the Murkrow's cry from the pine tree, and eagerly hurried to hear the answer."

[What did the Murkrow find out?] Mai asks.

"By sheer luck, the Murkrow had found a wind mage's son in the palace garden, who understood the language of Pokemon, and to him he entrusted the message." Brock goes on. "When Prince Grant heard it, he was very sorrowful, and took counsel with his friends how to free Heather. Then he told the wind mage's son..." In an older version of himself, he continues "Beg the Murkrow to fly quickly back to Heather and tell her to be ready on the ninth night, for then will I come and take her to the palace."

As himself, he continues "The wind mage's son did this, and the Murkrow flew so swiftly that it reached the hut that same evening. Heather thanked the Murkrow heartily and went home, telling no one what she had heard."

"Azu?" Azurill asks.

"As the ninth night drew near she became very worried, for she feared that some terrible mishap would come up and ruin them all." Brock intones. "On this night she crept quietly out of the house and waited trembling at some little distance from the hut. Suddenly, she heard the muffled beats of Ponyta hooves, and soon the armed troops appeared, led by Prince Grant, who had marked all the trees beforehand in order to find the way. When he saw Heather, he sprang from his Ponyta, lifted her into the saddle, and then, mounting behind, rode homeward. The moon shone so brightly that they had no difficulty in seeing the marked trees."

"Pika..." Even Pikachu fears something bad is about to befall Heather and Prince Grant.

"The coming of dawn unleashed all the songs of all the bird Pokemon, and, had Prince Grant only known what they were saying, or Heather been listening, they might have been spared much sorrow, but they were thinking only of each other, and when they came out of the forest the sun was high overhead." Brock intones. "The next morning, when she saw that Heather did not come to her work, the old woman asked where she was. The sisters pretended not to know, but the old woman easily guessed what had happened, and, as she was actually a wicked witch, determined to punish the fugitives. Accordingly, she collected nine different kinds of nightshade, added some salt, which she first bewitched, and, doing all up in a cloth into the shape of a fluffy ball, sent it after them on the wings of the wind."

[Oh no!] a Meowth gasps.

"At noon the Prince and his men came to a deep river, spanned by so narrow a bridge that only one rider could cross at a time. The Ponyta that Prince Grant and Heather were riding had just reached the middle when the magic ball flew by. The Ponyta in its fright suddenly reared, and before anyone could stop it flung Heather into the swift current below." Brock goes on. "Prince Grant tried to jump in after her, but his men held him back, and in spite of his struggles led him home, where for six weeks he holed up in a secret chamber, and wouldn't even eat nor drink, so great was his grief."

"Pi ni..." Happini sighs.

"He finally got so sick everyone feared the worst, and the king caused all the clerics and healers in the land to be summoned. But not one of them had a clue how to cure him." Brock goes on. "Finally the wind mage's son asked the king if he could call down Meloetta from the heavens, as it was said that with her holy spellsong, she knew more than all the mages and clerics in the kingdom combined."

"Wow!" Ash is impressed.

"So many prayers went up to heaven, and a week later Meloetta arrived on the wings of the wind and a song." Brock narrates.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody sings before continuing "Your Majesty, the wind has blown this illness upon your son, and a cursed ball has snatched away his beloved. This is what makes him grieve so. Let the wind blow upon him that it may blow away his sorrow."

"So the king had Prince Grant go out into the wind, and he gradually recovered and told his father everything." Brock narrates, acknowledging Melody with a nod. "The king tried to talk Prince Grant into taking another bride; but Prince Grant said he could never love another."

"And then?" Ash asks as he pets Korra.

"A year went by, until one day Prince Grant happened upon the bridge where his beloved Heather had been lost. As he remembered the painful memory, he wept bitterly, and would have given all he owned to have her alive again." Brock continues. "In the midst of his grief he thought he heard a voice singing, and looked around, but couldn't see anyone. Then he heard the voice again, and it said..."

Emis! Wennanned es es bonnizen, 'kas a vyas clii bor ester renna! Ve wemosted tee gees ris kizen, kee go ras gasa, gith fis cee zuar! Melody sings some gibberish in the holy language for effect.

"Prince Grant was stunned at this--he sprang from his Ponyta,, and looked everywhere to see if someone was hidden under the bridge; but no one was there." Brock continues. "Then, he noticed a yellow water lily floating on the surface of the water, half hidden by its broad leaves; but he knew normal flowers did not sing, and so he waited, hoping to hear more. Then the voice sang again..." He motions for Melody to sing.

Emis! Wennanned es es bonnizen, 'kas a vyas clii bor ester renna! Ve wemosted tee gees ris kizen, kee go ras gasa, gith fis cee zuar! Melody sings again.

"Prince Grant suddenly remembered the gold spinners, and thought to himself: 'If I ride there, maybe they could explain this to me...'" Brock goes on. "He rode to the hut, and found the two maidens at the fountain. He told them what had happened to their sister the year before, and how he had twice heard a strange song, but yet could see no singer. They concluded that the yellow water lily could be none other than their sister, who was not dead, but transformed by the magic ball. Before he went to bed, the eldest girl made a cake of magic herbs, which she gave him to eat."

"And he turned into a Froagie, or something!" Ash guesses.

"That night, he dreamed that he was living in the forest and could understand all that the Pokemon said to each other." Brock replies, shooting down Ash's prediction. "The next morning, he told this to the girls, and they said that the enchanted cake had caused it, and advised him to listen well to the Pokemon, and see what they could tell him. When he had recovered his bride they pleaded with him to return and deliver them from their bondage."

"Then what?" Misty asks, excited.

"Having promised this, Prince Grant started for home, and as he was riding through the forest he could perfectly understand all that the Pokemon said." Brock replies. "He heard a Pikachu say to a Fletchling...

"How stupid people are! They cannot understand the simplest thing." Ash interjects in a voice that more or les sounds like Pikachu. "It has now been a year since the girl was transformed into a water lily, and, though she sings so sadly that anyone going over the bridge must hear her, yet no one comes to her aid. Her former bridegroom rode over it a few days ago and heard her singing, but was no wiser than the rest."

"And he is to blame for all her misfortunes," Melody adds as the Fletchling. "If he heeds only the words of men she will remain a flower forever. She were soon delivered were the matter only laid before Meloetta."

Brock waits for the applause to die down before continuing "After hearing this, Prince Grant wondered how he could get a message conveyed to Meloetta. He then overheard one Taillow telling another how he wished he could hear Meloetta sing. Prince Grant then asked the Taillows to ask Meloetta how he could restore a maiden transformed into a flower to her true form."

[What did Meloetta say?] a Meowth asks.

"The Taillows flew away, and Prince Grant rode on to the bridge. There he waited, hoping to hear the song. But he heard nothing but the rushing of the water and the moaning of the wind, and, disappointed, rode home." Brock replies. "A few days later, he was sitting in the garden, thinking that the Taillows must have forgotten his message, when he saw an Braviary flying above him. The magnificent Pokemon gradually descended until it perched on a tree close to Prince Grant and told him..."

In a deeper version of himself, he intones "Meloetta greets you from heaven and bids me to tell you that you free the maiden like so: Go to the river and douse yourself completely in water; then sing this magic song--'Rou iitsa ron selga vichii' and you will transform into a Buizel. Dive into the water, swim as close as you can to the water lily's roots, and loosen them from the mud and reeds. This done, hold onto the roots and rise with them to the surface. Let the water flow all over the flower, and drift with the current until you come to an oak tree on the left bank with a large stone nearby. Stop there and sing this magic song: 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul' and you both will be restored to your true forms."

As himself, Brock continues "Prince Grant let some time pass before he worked up the courage to attempt to rescue Heather. So he mounted his Ponyta and went to the bridge. Again he heard the water lily's lament, and after dousing himself completely in water, sang Rou iitsa ron selga vichii..., transformed into a Buizel in a flash of blue light, and plunged into the river. For a moment the water hissed in his ears, and then all was silent. He swam up to the plant and began to loosen its roots, but so firmly were they fixed in the mud and reeds that this took him a long time. He then grasped them and rose to the surface, letting the water flow over the flower. The current carried them down the stream, but nowhere could he see the oak tree."

"So where was the oak tree?" Ash wonders.

"He finally saw it and the rock some minutes later." Brock replies he climbed on the bank and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... and to his delight found himself once more a prince, and Heather was by his side. She was ten times more beautiful than before, and wore a magnificent pale yellow robe, sparkling with jewels. She thanked him for having freed her from the cruel witch's power, and confessed her love for him."

[Aw...] the Meowths chorus as Ash and Misty start to applaud, thinking the story's over.

"But when they came to the bridge where he had left his Ponyta, it was nowhere to be seen." Brock interrupts, quieting the applause. "Though Prince Grant thought he had been a Buizel only a few hours, he had in reality been under the water for more than ten days. While they were wondering how they should reach his father's court, they saw a splendid coach driven by six festively decorated Rapidashes coming along the bank. The king and the queen had been crying out to Arceus in hopes that their son was alive somewhere. Great was their delight and astonishment when Prince Grant entered the shrine, leading Heather by the hand."

He concludes "The wedding was celebrated right there, and there was feasting and merry-making throughout the kingdom for six weeks, at least."

"But what about Heather's sisters?" Misty reminds Brock. "Did Prince Grant save them from the witch like he said he would?"

"Prince Grant did keep his promise, and saved Heather's sisters." Brock assures Misty. "But that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 177: The Legend of Kari Leafgown (Misty)

(real tale: Kari Woodengown (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/103.htm))


"There was once a king of a far away land who had just lost his wife." Misty begins. "His queen had left one daughter--who we'll call Kari. Now, Kari was as beautiful in heart as she was in looks, so it was nigh on impossible for any one to be wiser or prettier. For a long time the king wept for his wife, for he had loved her very much; but he finally got tired of living alone, and married a queen who had also lost a husband, She too had a daughter--we'll call her Kiara--who was just as mean and cruel as Kari was good and beautiful. The stepmother and her daughter were jealous of Kari because she was so pretty, but so long as the king was at home, they didn't dare hurt her, because his love for her was so great."

"I dread to know what would happen if the king had to leave..." Brock muses, a note of worry in his voice.

"Well there came a time when he had to go to war against a rival king." Misty replies. "The new queen saw that as a ticket to do whatever she liked; so she both starved and beat Kari and chased her about into every corner. Finally, she thought that nothing she could try would break Kari, and so she banished her to the royal barn to look after the Tauros and Miltanks. So she traveled with the Tauros and the Miltanks, and herded them in the woods and in the fields. Despite her best efforts, she hardly got any food, and she grew pale and thin, and was almost always crying."

"Poor Kari..." Ash sighs.

"Now, among the herd there was a great shining Tauros, which always kept itself very strong and sleek, and often came to Kari's side and let her stroke him. So one day, when she was crying yet again, the Tauros came up to her and asked why she always cried." Misty continues. "Kari didn't answer, but continued to cry."

"I know what it is, though you will not tell me; you are crying because the queen is unkind to you, and because she wants to starve you to death." Brock fills in the Tauros' dialogue. "But you don't have to worry about food, for in the ruby in my collar lies a cloth, and if you will only sing the song 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul', you can have as much food as you want."

"So Kari did as she was told, and sang..." Misty pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... and suddenly, all sorts of food and drink appeared before her in a flash of red light. She became healthy again, and grew so beautiful that the queen and Kiara turned red with anger at it. The aueen could not imagine how her step-daughter could look so well on such bad food, so she ordered one of her maids to follow her into the forest and watch her, and see what was happening, for she had the idea that some of the servants were giving her food. So the maid followed her into the forest and watched, and saw Kari meet the Tauros, sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul..., and millions of different kinds of food and drink would appear in a flash of red light, which Kari would then eat."

"Pini..." Happini smiles, starry eyed as she pictures the enormous feast.

"Meanwhile, the king returned home victorious." Misty continues. "There was great rejoicing in the palace, but no one was more glad than Kari. The queen, however, faked sick, and bribed the royal healer to say that she would never be well again unless she had some of the meat of the shining Tauros. Both Kari and the rest of the court asked the royal healer if there were no other means of saving her, and begged for the Tauros' life, for they were all fond of him, and they all declared that there was no such Tauros in the land; but it was all in vain."

"Pika..." Pikachu sparks angrily at the queen's plot.

"When Kari heard was happened she was devastated, and went down to the clearing to see the Tauros one last time." Misty goes on. "He too was standing there hanging his head, and looking so downcast that Kari held him close, crying all the while."

"What are you crying for?" Brock asks as the Tauros.

"Kari told him that the king had returned, the queen had faked sick, and she had made the royal healer say that she would never be well again unless some of his meat was given to her to eat, and that now he was to be killed." Misty narrates.

"Once they have killed me, they will kill you next," Brock warns as the Tauros. "If you trust me, we will flee this place tonight."

"Now, Kari thought that it was bad to go and leave her father, but that it was worse still to be in the same house with the queen, so she promised the Tauros that she would go with him." Misty continues. "That night, when everyone else was asleep, Kari quickly down to the clearing to the Tauros, and he took her on his back and got out of the courtyard as quickly as he could. So at dawn next morning, when the people came to kill the Tauros, he was gone, and when the king got up and asked for his daughter she was gone too. He sent forth messengers to all parts of the kingdom to search for them, and published his loss in all the shrines and town squares, but there was no one who had seen them."

"But what became of Kari and the Tauros?" Melody asks.

"Meanwhile, the Tauros traveled through many lands with Kari on his back, and one day they came to a great forest where the trees, and the branches, and the leaves, and the flowers, and everything else was made of gold." Misty continues. "But before they entered the forest the Tauros said to Kari...."

"When we enter into the forest, you must be very careful not to touch a leaf of it, or we will both be done for, for a troll with three heads lives here." Brock cautions as the Tauros.

"Azu!" Azurill gasps.

"Kari said she would be on her guard, and not touch anything." Misty assures the Pokemon. "She was very careful, and leaned out of the way of the branches, and put them aside with her hands; but it was so thickly wooded that it was all but impossible to go forward, and try as she might, she somehow or other tore off a leaf. It wasn't long before they came to the edge of the forest, and the troll came running up to meet them."

"Who is that who is touching my wood?" Ash demands as the troll.

"The wood is just as much mine as yours!" Brock retorts as the Tauros.

"We shall battle for that!" Ash declares as the troll.

"Bring it on!" Brock yells as the Tauros.

"So the troll and the Tauros charged to battle, and after a very long and drawn out battle, the Tauros won." Misty continues. "However, the Tauros was pretty banged up from the fight, so he told Kari to take the healing potion that hung at the troll's belt, and douse him with it; and he was healed as if nothing had happened."

[Then what adventure did they get into?] Mai wonders.

"The next day they set out, and they journeyed on for many, many days, until they came to a silver forest. The trees, and the boughs, and the leaves, and the flowers, and everything else was of silver." Misty continues. "The same thing happened--despite Kari's best efforts not to touch anything,she accidentally broke off a leaf, summoning a six headed troll. The Tauros and the troll fought, and the Tauros won, though he was battered afterwards, though he was fine after a healing potion bath."

"Interesting..." Melody muses.

"Then Kari and the Tauros came to a crystal wood. It was so beautiful that the crystals dripped off it, and the trees, and the branches, and the flowers, and the leaves were all of pure crystal. The same thing happened here, as well--despite Kari's best efforts not to touch anything,she accidentally broke off a leaf, summoning a nine headed troll. The Tauros and the troll fought, and the Tauros won, though he was battered afterwards, though he was fine after a healing potion bath. They traveled on a ways, until they came to a castle of another land." Misty continues, before motioning for Brock to speak.

"Immediately below the castle there is a Tepig sty, where you will dwell. When you get there, you will find a gown made of leaves which you are to put on, and then go to the castle and say that you are called Kari Leafgown, and that you are seeking a place to work. " Brock instructs as the Tauros. "But now I must leave you--you must lay the gold leaf, the silver leaf, and the crystal leaf by a certain rock. When you need me, simply sing 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul', as you have always done."

"Kari did as the Tauros told her to, then went to the Tepig sty, but all the way as she went she wept, and was very sorrowful. Then she put on the leaf gown, and walked to the King's palace. When she got there she went into the kitchen and begged for a place, saying that her name was Kari Leafgown." Misty goes on. "The cook felt sorry for her, and allowed her to work in the royal kitchen."

[Poor Kari...] a Meowth sighs.

"One day some guests were coming to the palace, so Kari begged to have leave to carry up the water for the Prince's--who we'll call Lucian--bath. But everyone laughed at her and scoffed that Prince Lucian would never look at such a fright as her. She would not give up, however, but went on begging until at last she got leave. When she was going upstairs her leaf gown made such a noise that Prince Lucian came out and said..." Misty continues.

"What sort of a creature are you?" Ash asks as Prince Lucian.

"I was to take this water to you," Misty replies as Kari.

"Do you think that I will have any water that you bring?" Ash challenges before accidentally splashing some water in Misty's face as he strikes a dramatic pose.

Misty isn't sure whether to yell at Ash for the mishap, but seeing the Pokemon and the Meowths, decides to continue for the sake of setting a good example for them. "She had to bear that, but then she asked permission to go to the shrine. She got that, for the shrine was close by. But first she went to the rock and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul....

[What did the spell do?] a Meowth asks.

"A Charmander appeared in a flash of red light and asked what she wanted." Misty replies. "Kari explained that she had gotten leave to go to the shrine and say a few prayers to Arceus, but that she had no clothes to go in. So the Charmander brought her a gown that was as bright as a red flame, and she also got a Ponyta too. "

"Wow!" Ash is impressed.

"When she reached the shrine she was so pretty and so splendidly dressed that everyone wondered who she could be, and hardly anyone listened to what the miko was saying, for they were all looking far too much at her." Misty explains. "Even Prince Lucian himself liked her so well that he could not take his eyes off her for an instant. As she was walking out of the shrine, Prince Lucian followed her, keeping one of her gloves in his hand. Then she went away and mounted her Ponyta, but before Prince Lucian could give Kari the glove back, Kari sang Karuto, iichiida shou... and raced away like the wind."

"Did he give it back?" Melody asks.

"Prince Lucian had never seen the equal of that glove, and he went far and wide, asking who owned the beautiful glove, but no one had a clue." Misty explains. "The next week, it happened again--Prince Lucian whapped a towel in Kari's face, she got leave to go to the shrine, she returned to the rock and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... where a Squirtle gave her a gown as blue as the sea, and a Ponyta to boot."

"Pika." Pikachu smiles--he knows what is coming next.

"When Kari got to the shrine all the people were standing outside upon the hillside, and all of them wondered who on earth she could be, and Prince Lucian immediately knew who she was." Misty assures Pikachu. "There was hardly anyone who listened to what the miko was saying, for they were all looking far too much at her, and Prince Lucian fell much more deeply in love with her than he had been before. When he realized Kari had dropped her hanky and went to give it back, Kari just sang Karuto, iichiida shou... and vanished."

[And then?] Korra asks.

"The next week, Kari received a beautiful emerald gown from a Bulbasaur, and ended up losing her shoe as she left the shrine, where no one even bothered to listen to the miko." Misty goes on. "As Prince Lucian was asking around as to who owned the shoe,a passing Fletchling told him that it belonged to Kari Leafgown. Since he understood the language of Pokemon, Prince Lucian met Kari in the throne room, where the shoe fit!"

She concludes "Kari then threw off her gown of leaves, and there she stood in the emerald gown, and on her other foot she had the fellow to the shoe. Prince Lucian recognized her right then, and was so glad that he ran and took her in his arms and kissed her, and when he heard that she was a princess, he was happier still, and confessed his love for her. It wasn't long before they were married, and they all lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 178: Prince Milan's Escape (Ash)

(real tale: King Kojata (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/374.htm))

"There was once a king of a far away land--we'll call him Ryori--whose beard was so long that it reached below his knees. Three years had passed since he had married the love of his life, but for some reason, Arceus had not granted him an heir, which bugged him immensely." Ash begins. "So one day, he left on a journey of discovery through his kingdom. He traveled for almost a year through the different parts of his territory, and after seeing everything there was to see, he started for home."

"What did King Ryori see on his adventures?" Melody is piqued.

"That's another story for another time." Ash assures Melody. "Anyway, as it was very hot that day, he commanded his servants to pitch their tents in the field until it cooled down enough to continue. Suddenly, King Ryori grew very thirsty, and as he saw no water anywhere, he mounted his Ponyta, and rode through the area looking for a river or spring."

"Did he get some water?" Misty asks.

"Before long he came to a well filled to the brim with water that sparkled like crystal, and a gold jug was floating on the surface." Ash continues. "King Ryori tried to grab the jug, but no matter how hard he tried, the jug always eluded his efforts and refused to let itself be caught."

Everyone howls with laughter as they picture the comical chase. "And I thought grabbing a bar of soap was bad..." Brock chuckles as he dries a tear of laughter.

Ash waits for the laughter to quiet, then continues "Finally, King Ryori gave up on the jug, so he bent over and lapped up the water so greedily that he eventually dunked his face in the water. But when he had his fill, he couldn't lift his head out of the water, because someone--or maybe someTHING--held his beard."

Misty swallows hard at this. "King Ryori pleaded and pleaded for the being to let go, but there was no answer; only an ominous being looked up from the bottom of the well with two great red eyes, glowing like rubies, and a wide mouth reaching from ear to ear. To top it off, the king's beard was held not by mortal hands, but by two ethereal claws."

"Darkrai!" Melody grumbles as she puts two and two together.

"Finally a deep and oddly pleasant sounding voice resonated from the depths...." Ash narrates.

"Your trouble is all in vain, King Ryori..." Brock intones in his go-to "Darkrai" voice, which sounds just like how Ash described it. "I will only let you go on condition that you give me something you know nothing about."

"King Ryori found Darkrai's request weird, but agreed anyway." Ash continues. "After he had dripped dry, he mounted his Ponyta and continued home with his retinue. When they approached the royal city, all the people came out to meet them with cheers and rejoicing, and when King Ryori reached his castle, the queen met him at the gate with the lord high chamberlain at her side. She held a bundle that had a newly born healthy baby boy inside."

"Uh oh..." Misty figures out what King Ryori will have to give up to honor his deal with Darkrai.

"Just then, it dawned on King Ryori what Darkrai had meant by 'something he did not know about', and the tears rolled down his cheeks." Ash continues. "All the courtiers were astonished at the king's grief, but no one dared ask him why he cried. He took the baby boy in his arms and kissed it; then laying the baby in its cradle, he calmed down enough to continue his royal duties."

"He had to find a way to save his son, right?" Melody wonders

"The secret remained a secret, though King Ryori's grave expression escaped no one's notice." Ash explains. "In the constant dread that his son would be taken from him, poor Ryori knew no rest. However, time went by and nothing seemed to happen. The years passed, and the Prince--who they had named Milan--grew up into a handsome young man, and King Ryori forgot all about the encounter with Darkrai that had happened so long ago."

The tent is silent, save for the rain outside as they wait to hear what happens next. "One day Prince Milan went out hunting, and while chasing a wild Emboar, he got separated from the rest of his party in the middle of a dark forest." Ash goes on. "The trees grew so thick and close together that it was almost impossible to see through them, only straight in front of him lay a little patch of meadowland. It was overgrown with thistles and rank weeds, and in the center of it all, a leafy Nomel tree stood. Suddenly, a rustling sound was heard in the hollow of the tree, and Darkrai flew out of it."

"A fine day, Prince Milan," Brock intones as Darkrai. 'You've kept me waiting a good number of years; it was about time for you to come and pay me a visit.'

"Who are you, in the name of wonder?" Ash demands as Prince Milan.

"You'll find out soon enough, but in the meantime do as I tell you." Brock replies as Darkrai. "Greet your father for me, and don't forget to remind him of his debt; the time has long passed since it was due, but now he will have to pay it. Farewell for now; we shall meet again."

Applause goes up for the interplay as Ash continues "With that, Darkrai disappeared into the tree, and Prince Milan returned home rather frightened, and told his father all that he had seen and heard."

"I bet King Ryori freaked out..." Misty muses.

Ash smiles as he confirms Misty's guess. "King Ryori grew as white as a Gastly when he heard the prince's story, and with a heavy heart he told Prince Milan what had happened the day he was born."

"Don't worry or distress yourself, Father," he assures his audience as Prince Milan. 'Things are never as bad as they seem. Only give me a Rapidash for my journey, and I wager you'll soon see me back again."

As himself, he continues "King Ryori gave his son a beautiful Rapidash that wore a gold saddle, and his favorite sword. The queen gave him a holy charm, and after many tearful goodbyes, Prince Milan set out on his journey."

[What adventures did he get into?] Korra wonders.

"He rode straight on for two days, and on the third he came to a lake as smooth as glass and as clear as crystal." Ash replies. "Not a whisper of wind moved, not a leaf stirred, all was silent as a graveyard, only on the still surface of the lake thirty Swannas, with shining plumage, swam about in the water. Not far from the shore Prince Milan noticed thirty little white dresses lying on the grass. So after dismounting from his Rapidash, he crept down under the brush, took one of the dresses, and hid himself with it behind the bushes which grew around the lake. The Swannas swam about all over the place, dove down into the depths and rose again and glided through the waves. After a while, they swam to the shore, and twenty-nine of them put on their little white dresses and instantly turned into so many beautiful maidens."

"Wow!" Misty is awed by the sight, but she quickly shoots The Look at a heart eyed Brock.

"When they finished dressing, they disappeared." Ash explains. "Only the thirtieth Swanna couldn't come to the land; it swam about close to the shore, and, after giving out a piercing cry, Prince Milan's heart was so moved with pity for the poor Pokemon that he came out from behind the bushes to see if he could be of any help. As soon as the Swanna spotted him, it cried in a human voice..."

"Oh, dear Prince Milan, for the love of heaven give me back my dress, and I will be so grateful to you." Melody fills in the dialogue.

"Prince Milan lay the little dress on the bank beside her, and stepped back into the bushes." Ash continues In a few seconds a beautiful girl in a white robe stood before him, so fair and sweet and young that no words were worthy enough to describe her. She gave the prince her hand told him..."

Melody flies over to Ash, takes his hand, and says "Many thanks, Prince Milan, for your courtesy. I am the daughter of a wicked mage named Jarkuna, and my name is Bianca. My father has thirty young daughters, and, as an envoy of Darkrai, is a mighty ruler in the underworld, with many castles and great riches. He has been expecting you for ages, but you need have no fear if you will only follow my advice. As soon as you come into his presence, prostrate yourself before him. Don't mind if he stamps furiously with his feet and says words not fit to repeat to young Pokemon. I'll attend to the rest, and in the meantime we had better be off."

Everyone applauds Melody's in character speech. "With those words, Bianca sang..." Ash narrates before motioning for Melody to sing.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody fills in the song.

"and both of them were warped to the underworld." Ash continues. "Jarkuna's castle was all hewn out of a single ruby, which gave the whole surrounding region an ethereal red glow."

"Oh my..." Brock is awed as he pictures the castle in the underworld.

"Jarkuna himself sat on a throne, a sparkling crown on his head; his eyes blazing like a red fire, and instead of hands he had ethereal claws just like Darkrai." Ash intones. "As soon as Prince Milan entered, he prostrated himself before the throne. Jarkuna tried to frighten Prince Milan by stomping loudly with his feet, glaring frightfully out of his red eyes, and saying words not fit to repeat in front of the little ones loud enough that the whole underworld shook. But Prince Milan, mindful of the counsel he had been given, wasn't the least bit afraid."

After pausing for a beat, he narrates "Finally, Jarkuna laughed, and said..."

Brock adds an evil chuckle before speaking in one of his standard villain voices. "You rogue, you have been well advised to make me laugh; I won't threaten you any more. Welcome to the underworld! All the same, for your delay in coming here, I will ask three tasks from you. Today you are free to go, but tomorrow I will have something more to say to you."

"Then two servants led Prince Milan to a beautiful apartment, where he lay down on the soft bed that had been prepared for him, and was soon fast asleep." Ash continues. "Early the next morning, Jarkuna sent for him, and said..."

"Let's see what you've learned." Brock interjects as Jarkuna. "I challenge you to build me a palace with a roof of pure gold, walls of marble, and windows of crystal. A beautiful garden must surround it, with fish-ponds and misty waterfalls. Succeed, and I will reward you richly; but if you fail, it is your life in exchange."

"Prince Milan trudged back to his room, and sat brooding over his fate till sunset." Ash continues. "When it grew dark, he heard a familiar song...."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody fills in the song.

"...and Bianca materialized in the room in a flash of blue light." Ash narrates.

"Good evening, Prince Milan. Why are you so sad?" Melody asks Ash as Bianca

"How can I not be sad? Your father has threatened to kill me, and I see myself already without a head, or worse." Ash sighs as Prince Milan.

"And what have you decided to do?" Melody presses Ash further.

"There's nothing I can do." Ash sighs in defeat.

"Now, don't be so foolish, my dear prince; but keep up your spirits, for there is no need to despair." Melody assures Ash. "Go to bed, and when you wake up tomorrow morning the palace will be finished, exactly as requested. Then you must walk around it, giving a tap here and there on the walls to look as if you had just finished it."

"The next morning, everything happened just as Bianca had said." Ash continues as himself. "As soon as it was daylight Prince Milan stepped out of his room, and found a palace which was quite a work of art down to the tiniest detail. Even Jarkuna himself was stunned at its beauty, and could hardly believe his eyes."

"Well, you certainly are a splendid craftsman," Brock smiles as Jarkuna. "I see you are very clever with your hands, now I must see if you are equally accomplished with your head. As you know, I have thirty daughters in my house, all beautiful princesses. Tomorrow I will line them up all in a row. You must walk past them three times, and the third time you must show me which one is my youngest daughter Bianca, or else."'

"Prince Milan thought he was done for, and sat down sulking at the window. Just how hard would it be to pick Bianca out of a lineup?" Ash asks his audience. "But then he heard Bianca's voice on the wind..."

"It is not as easy as you think," Melody cautions. "If I weren't able to help you, you'd never guess. We are thirty sisters so exactly alike that our own father can hardly tell us apart."

"Then what am I to do?" Ash asks as Prince Milan.

"Listen," Melody instructs Ash. 'You will recognize me by a tiny marking on my left cheek."

"The next day, Jarkuna led Prince Milan to his garden, where his daughters were lined up in a row in front of him, dressed exactly alike, and with the same smile on their faces." Ash narrates.

"Now, Mr. Know-it-all," Brock intones as Jarkuna. "look at these beauties three times, and then tell us which one is Princess Bianca."

"Prince Milan went past them and looked at them very closely." Ash explains. But they were all so alike that for all intents and purposes, they looked like one face reflected in thirty mirrors. But then, he spotted a very small pink splotch on one girl's cheek, and told Jarkuna that that girl was Bianca."

"You're right again," Brock gasps in amazement as Jarkuna; "'but I've still another challenge for you. Before this candle burns to a nib, make me a pair of boots reaching to my knees, or else."

"Prince Milan returned to his room in despair." Ash continues. "Bianca met him there and asked him..."

"Why are you so sad, Prince Milan?" Melody asks Ash again.

"How can I not be sad? Your father has challenged me to perform an impossible task. Before a candle which he has lit burns to a nib, I am to make a pair of boots." Ash explains as Prince Milan. "But what does a prince know of shoemaking?"

"And what do you mean to do?" Melody asks.

"Well, what is there to be done? What he demands I can't and won't do, so he can just kill me now and get it over with." Ash sighs in defeat.

"Not so, my friend." Melody assures Ash. "I love you dearly, and want to marry you, and I'll either save your life or die trying. Let's go while we still can!"

Ash waits for the applause for the interplay to quiet, then continues "With that, she sang..."

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Melody fills in the song.

"conjuring a pathway of ice that lead to the ground." Ash continues. "Then she led Milan out of the room with her, locked the door, and threw away the key. They hurried to the spot where they had warped into the underworld, and warped back to the lake in the world of light."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody sings again.

"Prince Milan's Rapidash was still grazing on the grass which grew near the water. The Rapidash recognized its master, and allowed Prince Milan and Bianca on its back. Then it took off like a rocket!" Ash cries. "Meanwhile, Jarkuna was waiting impatiently for Prince Milan. He finally sent his servants to find him, as he was getting tired of waiting."

"Uh oh..." Misty giggles in anticipation of a chase.

"The servants came to the door, and finding it locked, they knocked; but an ice ball that marked the start of the frozen path at the window replied in Prince Milan's voice, "Coming!" Jarkuna didn't buy this one bit, and sent the servants back to be sure Prince Milan was coming." Ash intones. "The ice ball always gave the same answer, but the prince never came. Finally, Jarkuna lost all patience, and commanded the door to be broken down. But when his servants broke the door down, they found the room empty. In his anger, Jarkuna rallied his troops to chase Prince Milan."

[And then? And then?] the Meowths beg.

"Prince Milan and Bianca heard Jarkuna's troops approaching, so Bianca sang..." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings.

"and turned herself into a river, Prince Milan into an iron bridge, and the Rapidash into a Fletchling. Behind the bridge the road branched off into a three way fork." Ash continues."Jarkuna's troops hurried after the fresh tracks, but when they came to the bridge, they stood there confused, not knowing which road to take, as the footprints stopped suddenly, and there were three paths for them to pick from. When they told their lord what had happened, Jarkuna sighed and said..."

"Oh, you fools! the river and bridge were them in disguise!" Brock sighs in frustration as Jarkuna. "Go back and bring them to me, or else!"

"Prince Milan heard the troops coming and thought he and Bianca were done for, but Bianca assured him..."

"As a being of the dark, my father is powerless before the Great Lord Arceus." Melody adds in character.

"So Prince Milan gave Bianca his holy charm, and Bianca invoked it...." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"and it bathed the path in holy light." Ash continues. "Jarkuna raced home to the underworld in fear, and he had every one of his servants beaten till they were at least three different colors."

Everyone laughs as Ash concludes."As for Prince Milan and Bianca, they had many more adventures before returning to Prince Milan's homeland, but that is another story for another day!

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 179: The Children of the Underworld (Brock)

(real tale: The Three Brothers (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/028.htm))

"There was once in a certain land a witch, who in the shape of a Braviary, used every night to break the windows of a certain village shrine." Brock begins. "Now, in the same village there lived three brothers, who were all determined to kill the mischievous Braviary. But the two middle brothers stood guard in the shrine with their bows in vain--as soon as the Braviary appeared in the sky, sleep overcame them, and they only awoke to hear the windows crashing in."

"Interesting..." Misty muses.

"Then the youngest brother--we'll call him Rand--took his turn of guarding the windows, and to keep from falling asleep, he placed a lot of thorns under his chin, so that if he felt drowsy and nodded his head, they would prick him and keep him awake." Brock explains. "The moon was already up, and it was as bright as daytime, when suddenly he heard a fearful noise, and at the same time a terrible desire to sleep overpowered him."

"Uh oh..." Ash swallows hard.

"His eyes closed, and his head sank on his shoulders, but the thorns poked him and were so painful that he woke with a jump." Brock goes on, feigning a jolt of surprise. "He saw the Braviary swooping down on the shrine, and quickly grabbed his bow..." He pauses to pantomime aiming a bow. "...and shot an arrow at the majestic Pokemon." With that, he lets go of his pantomime bowstring.

[Did he hit his prey?] Mai asks.

"The Braviary fell under a big rock, which severely wounded its right wing." Brock replies. "Rand hurried to look at it, and saw that a huge pit had opened below the rock. He ran to get his brothers, and with their help dragged a lot of wood and ropes to the spot."

"What's the rope and wood for?" Ash wonders.

"They fastened some of the wood to the end of the rope, lit it, and slowly lowered it down to the bottom of the pit." Brock explains. "At first it was quite dark, and the flaming torch only lit up dirty grey stone walls. But Rand was determined to explore the pit, and so after climbing down the rope, he soon reached the bottom, where he found a lovely meadow full of green trees and exquisite flowers."

"Wow..." Misty gasps as she pictures the meadow in her head.

"In the middle of the meadow stood a huge stone castle, with an iron gate leading to it, which was wide open. Everything in the castle seemed to be made of silver, and the only inhabitant he could discover was a lovely girl, who we'll call Ariana. Ariana was combing her jet black hair; and Rand noticed that whenever one of her hairs fell on the ground, it rang like pure metal. Rand looked at her more closely, and saw that her skin was smooth and fair, her emerald eyes bright and sparkling, and her hair as black as the night. He fell in love with her on the spot, and kneeling at her feet, he confessed his love for her and asked her to be his wife."

"Aw..." Misty smiles.

"And they all lived happily ever ever--the end!" Ash smirks.

Brock just smiles at Ash, silently telling him that the story's not over yet. "Ariana accepted Rand's proposal; but she warned him that she could not come up to the world of light till her mother, the old witch, was dead. She went on to tell him that the only way in which the witch could be killed was with the sword that hung up in the castle; but the sword was so heavy that no one could lift it."

"I bet it shot magic beams, or something..." Ash muses.

Then Rand came to a room in the castle where everything was made of gold, and he found another beautiful girl, Ariana's middle sister Orinda. She was combing her auburn hair, and every hair that fell on the ground rang like pure metal." Brock continues. Orinda gave Rand the sword, but though he tried with all his strength he could not lift it. Finally, Ariana's eldest sister Christina came to him and gave him a potion of strength to drink. He drank a little bit, but still he could not lift the sword; then he drank a little more, and the sword began to move; but only after he had drank it all was he able to lift the sword over his head."

BA-DA-DA-DAAAAAAAH!!!! Ash can't resist singing the Zelda 'got item' theme

Even Brock is laughing before he composes himself and goes on "Then Rand hid himself in the castle and awaited the old witch's arrival. Just as it was beginning to grow dark, she appeared. She flew down on a big Leppa tree, and after shaking some shining Leppa Berries from it, she jumped down to the ground. As soon as her feet touched the ground she transformed from a Braviary into a woman. This was the moment Rand was waiting for, and he swung his mighty sword in the air with all his strength and cut the witch's head clean off!"

Cheers go up from the audience. "Without fear of any further danger, Rand packed up all the treasures of the castle into huge chests, and gave his brothers a signal to pull them up out of the pit." Brock continues. "First, the treasures were attached to the rope, and then the three girls. It wasn't long before everything was up on the surface and only he remained. But he was a little suspicious of his brothers, so he fastened a heavy stone on to the rope and let them pull it up. At first they heaved and pulled, but when the stone was halfway up they just let it drop, and it fell to the bottom and broke into a gazillion pieces."

Korra heaves a sigh of relief.

"'So that's what would have happened to me had I trusted myself to them,' Rand thought." Brock affirms Korra's prediction. "He began to cry bitterly, not because of the treasures, but because of his beloved Ariana."

"So did he ever see Ariana again?" Misty is concerned for Rand.

"For a long time he wandered all through the beautiful underworld, until he met a mage who asked him why he cried." Brock continues. "Rand told him all that had happened, and the mage said..."

In character as Flint, he tells the audience "Do not grieve, young one! If you will guard the children who are hidden in the shining Leppa tree, I will bring you to the world of light. A demon mage who lives in this land always eats my children up. It is in vain that I have hidden them under the earth and locked them into the castle. Now I have hidden them in the Leppa tree; hide yourself there too, and at midnight you will see my enemy."

"Pika pika?" Pikachu sparks with excitement.

"Rand climbed up the tree, and picked some of the beautiful shining Leppa Berries, which he had for his dinner." Brock replies as himself. "At midnight, the wind began to pick up, and a rustling sound was heard at the foot of the tree. Rand looked down and spotted a long Seviper beginning to crawl up the tree. It wound itself round the stem and gradually got higher and higher. It stretched its huge head, in which the eyes glittered fiercely, among the branches, searching for the nest in which the little children lay. They trembled with terror when they saw the hideous creature, and hid themselves beneath the leaves."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats to hear the children's fates. "Then Rand swung his mighty sword in the air, and with one blow cut off the Seviper's head!" Brock announces. "He cut up the rest of the body into little bits and scattered them to the wind."

The Pokemon cheer as Brock goes on "The mage was so delighted over the death of his enemy that he told Rand to close his eyes, and he sang [I]Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... which warped Rand up to the surface."

He concludes "Rand hurried as fast as he could to his brothers' house and burst into a room where they were all assembled, but no one knew who he was. Only his beloved, who was serving as cook to her sisters, recognized her lover, and ran to embrace him. His brothers, who figured Rand was dead, abandoned his treasures and fled into the woods in terror. But Rand was not one to hold a grudge-- he forgave them for all they had done, and shared his treasures with them. He built himself a big castle with gold windows, and he lived happily ever after with his beloved Ariana."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 180: Wartortle Guards the Spring (Misty)

(real tale: Jackal and the Spring (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/200.htm))


"Once all the streams and rivers ran so dry that the Pokemon did not know how to get water." Misty begins. "So after a very long search, they found a tiny spring, which only needed a little digging to produce plenty of water. So the Pokemon decided to dig a well, and no Pokemon was without a job."

She catches herself. "Well, all except for Fennekin. She hated work of any kind, and would go to any lengths to get somebody to do it for her."

The boys giggle as Misty goes on. "When they had finished digging the well, the Pokemon held a council to decide who should be made the guardian of the well, so that Fennekin was kept away from it--since she wouldn't work, she wasn't welcome to drink from it."

"Seems fair..." Brock muses.

"After some discussion, it was decided that Buneary should be left in charge. Misty continues. "After all the other Pokemon had left, Fennekin arrived. She called good morning to Buneary, and Buneary politely said good morning back. Then Fennekin unfastened the little bag that hung at her side, and pulled out a piece of honeycomb to nibble at, telling Buneary that her sweet snack was nicer than any water."

Ash giggles in anticipation as Misty continues "Of course, Buneary asked if she could have some, and Fennekin gave her a tiny piece. Of course, that little piece of honeycomb was delicious, but when Buneary asked for more, Fennekin said that in order to get more, Buneary would have to have her paws tied behind her, and lie on her back, so that Fennekin could pour it into Buneary's mouth."

"Of course, it was all a trick, right?" Ash smiles.

"Buneary did as she was told, and when she was tied up tight and on her back, Fennekin ran to the spring and drank her fill. When she had enough, she returned to her den." Misty continues, confirming Ash's prediction. "That evening,when the Pokemon returned, and when they saw Buneary lying there all tied up, they asked her what happened. Buneary told them everything, and the Pokemon agreed that someone more attuned to Fennekin's wiles would be a better guard. So after some more discussion, Pikachu volunteered to guard the spring."

"Pika chu! Pikachu" gives Misty a little salute, then paces the ground before some water bottles, as if expecting Fennekin to enter the tent and try to take one.

Misty giggles at Pikachu patrolling before continuing "The next morning the Pokemon all went their separate ways, leaving Pikachu to guard the spring. Needless to say, Pikachu fared no better--Fennekin enticed him with some honeycomb too, which was only a ruse foe Fennekin to tie him up and drink from the spring."

"So then who guarded the spring?" Ash wonders, stifling a giggle at how cute Pikachu looks patrolling.

"Well, when the Pokemon got together that night, Persian suggested that Wartortle guard the spring." Misty explains. "The next morning, the Pokemon all went about their daily routines, leaving Wartortle to guard the spring. When they had all left the Fennekin returned and called good morning. But Wartortle didn't reply. Fennekin tried again, but still got no reply."

"So what did Fennekin do?" Brock asks, grinning in anticipation.

"Fennekin figured she could kick Wartortle on one side, and then go have a drink." Misty replies. "So she went up to Wartortle and whispered to her, but Wartortle didn't notice. Then, Fennekin kicked Wartortle out of the way, and went to the well and began to drink, but she had barely taken a sip when Wartortle grabbed her by the leg!"

Everyone laughs at this. "Fennekin pleaded for Wartortle to put her down, but Wartortle only held on tighter." Misty goes on. "Then Fennekin took her bag and tried to make the Wartortle smell the honeycomb she had inside; but Wartortle turned away from the smell. Fennekin tried everything to get Wartortle to put her down, but Wartortle still held on."

She concludes "Wartortle was still holding Fennekin when the other Pokemon returned. The moment she saw them, Fennekin finally wriggled free, and ran into the brush as fast as she could. The Pokemon thanked Wartortle for a job well done, as they were pretty sure Fennekin wasn't going to come back!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 181: The Shining Meowth (Ash)

(real tale: The White Cat (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/310.htm))

"There was once a king who had three sons, who were all so clever and brave that he began to fear that they would want to reign over the kingdom before he had joined Arceus in the heavens." Ash begins. "Now the king, though he felt that he was growing old, did not want to give up the his kingdom while he could still rule it, so he decided the best way to live in peace would be to distract his sons by promises that he could always back out of keeping them."

"Ha pini pi!" Happini protests.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu agrees.

"So he sent for them all, and, after speaking to them kindly, he went on..." Ash narrates.

"You will agree with me, my sons, that my age makes it impossible for me to look after my affairs of state as carefully as I once did. I fear that this may affect the welfare of my subjects, therefore I wish that one of you should succeed to my throne; but in return for such a gift as this it is only right that you should prove yourselves to me. I hope to retire into the country, so it seems to me that a pretty, lively, faithful little Growlithe would be a fine companion. The one who brings me the most beautiful Growlithe will inherit the throne." Brock explains as the king.

"The three princes were greatly surprised by their father's sudden fancy for a Growlithe, but it gave the two younger ones a chance they would not otherwise have had of being king, and as the eldest was too polite to make any objection, they accepted their father's proposal with pleasure." Ash continues. "They bade farewell to the king, who gave them silver and jewels, and agreed to meet them back at the palace when a year had passed, to see the Growlithes they had brought for him."

"So what adventures did they have?" Melody asks.

"After traveling for a while, they came to a castle in another land, accompanied by all their friends." Ash replies. "They threw a big party there, and the three brothers promised to be friends forever, to share whatever good fortune they discovered, and not to be severed by jealousy. They set out the next morning, agreeing to meet at the same castle at the appointed time, to present themselves before their father together."

After pausing for a moment, he continues "Each one took a different road, and the two eldest had many adventures; but our story concerns the youngest prince--who was named Dillon. He was young, brave, pure of heart, and handsome, and knew everything that a prince needed to know."

"Pini..." Happini sighs dreamily as she pictures her idea of what Prince Dillon looks like.

"Hardly a day passed without him buying Growlithes of all shapes and sizes." Ash continues. "As soon as he had bought a pretty one he would find one that was even prettier, and then he had to get rid of all the others and buy that one, as, being alone, it was nigh on impossible to take a billion Growlithes with him. He wandered about the land for days on end, not knowing where he was going, until he came to a great, gloomy forest. He did not know his way, and, to make matters worse, a great storm blew up."

"Uh oh..." Misty giggles.

"He took the first path he could find, and after walking for a while, he swore he saw a faint light, and began to hope that he was coming to some house where he might find shelter for the night." Ash goes on. "After following the light for a while, he reached the door of the most beautiful castle he had ever seen. The door was made of gold covered with rubies, and it was the pure red light which shone from them that had shown him the way through the forest. The walls were of the finest porcelain in all the most delicate colors, and Prince Dillon saw that all the stories he had ever read were written upon them; but as he was terribly wet, and the rain was coming down hard, he went back to the golden door. There he saw a Sawsbuck's foot hanging by a chain of diamonds, and he began to wonder who could live in this magnificent castle.

'They must feel very secure against bandits,' he said to himself. 'What is to hinder anyone from cutting off that chain and digging out those rubies, and making himself rich for life?'"

"Unless there's a hidden security system, or something..." Brock muses.

"He pulled the Sawsbuck's foot, and a silver bell rang and the door flew open, but Prince Dillon could see nothing but ethereal hands in the air, each holding a torch." Ash goes on. "He was so surprised that he stood very still, until he felt himself pushed forward by other hands, so that, though he was somewhat uneasy, he could not help going on. With his hand on his sword, to be prepared for whatever might happen, he entered a hall paved with sapphires, where a cryptic message on the wall read 'The hands you see floating above Will swiftly your bidding obey; If your heart dreads not conquering Love, In this place you may fearlessly stay.'"

"What did that mean?" Misty wonders.

"Prince Dillon figured that the residents of the castle did not wish to harm him if he was welcomed in a grand manner, so, guided by the mysterious hands, he went toward a door of coral, which opened on its own, and he found himself in a vast hall of pearl, out of which opened a number of other rooms, glittering with thousands of lights, and full of such beautiful pictures and precious things that he hardly know where to begin exploring." Ash goes on. "After passing through about sixty rooms the hands disappeared, and Prince Dillon saw a comfortable armchair by the fireplace. As soon as he made himself at home, the fire lit itself, and the ethereal hands took off Prince Dillon's wet, muddy clothes, and presented him with fresh ones made of the finest material, all embroidered with gold and jewels. He could not help admiring everything he saw, and the deft way in which the hands tended to him, though they sometimes appeared so suddenly that they made him jump."

Everyone giggles as Ash feigns surprise for a moment, as if the ethereal hands he described are there. "When he was comfortable and presentable--and I can assure you that he looked very different from the wet and weary prince he was minutes earlier--the hands led him to a splendid room, where the walls were lined with portraits telling the stories of Meowth in Boots and many other famous Meowths. The table was set for dinner with two golden plates, and golden spoons and forks, and the tablecloth was covered with dishes and glasses of crystal set with precious stones. Prince Dillon was wondering who the second place could be for, when suddenly about a dozen Meowths with all kinds of instruments and sheet music, came and took their places at one end of the room, and under the direction of a Persian, played all manner of dances and airs."

Misty and Brock play a waltz as an interlude. "Although Prince Dillon enjoyed the music very much, the fact that he was listening to a orchestra of Meowths made him burst out in giggles." Ash continues, chuckling himself. "What funny thing shall I see next?" he said to himself, and as if on cue the door opened, and in came a tiny figure covered by a long black veil."

[What was it?] a Meowth wonders.

"It was attended by two Meowths wearing blue capes and carrying swords, and a large party of Meowths followed, who brought in cages full of Rattatas." Ash replies. "Prince Dillon was so astonished that he pinched himself to make sure he was not dreaming, but the little figure came up to him and unveiled itself, and he saw that it was the loveliest little Shiny Meowth. She looked very young and very sad, and in a sweet little voice that went straight to his heart she said to him..."

"King's son, you are welcome; Queen Persian is glad to see you." Melody fills in the Meowth's dialogue.

"Lady Meowth," Ash interjects as Prince Dillon. "I thank you for receiving me so kindly, but surely you are no ordinary Meowth? The way you speak and the magnificence of your castle prove it plainly."

"King's son," Melody continues as the Shiny Meowth, "I beg you to spare me these compliments, for I am not used to them. But now," she added, "let dinner be served, and let the musicians rest, for they have played enough for now."

"So the mysterious hands began to bring in the meal, and first they put on the table two dishes, one containing stewed Pidoves and the other a fricassee of Rattatas." Ash continues, over some "ew"s from Misty and Brock. "The sight of that dish made Prince Dillon feel sick; but the Shiny Meowth, seeing this, assured him that the dishes intended for him were prepared in a separate kitchen, and were perfectly fit for a human to eat; Just then, he noticed that on one paw the Shiny Meowth wore a bracelet containing a portrait, and he asked to be allowed to look at it."

"What was in there?" Brock asks.

"To his surprise he found it represented an extremely handsome young man, who was so like himself that for all he knew, it might have been his own portrait! The Shiny Meowth sighed as he looked at it, and seemed sadder than ever, and Prince Dillon did not ask any questions for fear of displeasing her; so he began to talk about other things, and found that she was interested in all the subjects he cared for himself, and seemed to know quite well what was going on in the world." Ash replies. "After dinner they went into a fine theater, and the Meowths put on a variety show for them."

Pika pika pi pikachu, pika pika pi pichu... Pikachu sings as he teeters across the grass.

Ash tries oh-so-hard not to laugh at Pikachu trying to tap dance. "Then the Shiny Meowth said good night to him, and the hands led him into a room he had not seen before, hung with tapestry worked with Beautiflies' wings of every color; there were mirrors that reached from the ceiling to the floor, and a little white bed with curtains of gauze tied up with ribbons. Prince Dillon went to bed in silence, as he did not quite know how to begin a conversation with the hands that waited on him, and in the morning he was awakened by noise by his window, and the hands came and quickly dressed him. When he looked out all the Meowths were assembled in the courtyard, some leading Arcanines, and some blowing horns, for the Shiny Meowth was going out hunting. The hands led a wooden Ponyta up to Prince Dillon, and seemed to expect him to mount it, at which he was very adamant at first; but it was no use for him to object, for he speedily found himself upon its back, and it pranced happily off with him aboard."

Giggles go up as the group pictures the odd scene. "The Shiny Meowth herself was riding a Infernape, which climbed even up to the Braviary's nests when she had a fancy for the young Rufflets." Ash explains. "Never was there a grander hunting party, and when they returned to the castle Prince Dillon and the Shiny Meowth enjoyed another grand meal together, but when they had finished she offered him a crystal goblet, which must have contained a magic potion, for, as soon as he had swallowed its contents, he forgot everything, even the Growlithe that he was seeking for the king, and only thought how happy he was to be with the Shiny Meowth!"

[Did he ever remember?] a Meowth worries.

"And so the days passed, until the year was nearly gone. Prince Dillon had forgotten all about meeting his brothers: he did not even know what country he belonged to; but the Shiny Meowth knew when he ought to go back, and one day she said to him..."

"Do you know that you have only three days left to look for the Growlithe for your father, and your brothers have found lovely ones?" Melody asks as the Shiny Meowth.

"Then Prince Dillon suddenly recovered his memory, and cried..." Ash then switches to his "Prince Dillon" voice. "What could have made me forget such an important thing? My whole fortune depends upon it; and even if I could in such a short time find a Growlithe pretty enough to gain me a kingdom, where would I find a Ponyta who would carry me all that way in three days?"

As himself, he goes on "He was quite vexed, but the Shiny Meowth said to him...

"King's son, do not trouble yourself; I am your friend, and will make everything easy for you. You can still stay here for a day, as the good wooden Ponyta can take you to your homeland in twelve hours." Melody assures Ash as the Meowth.

"I thank you, beautiful Meowth," Ash replies as Prince Dillon. "but what good will it do me to get back if I have not a Growlithe to take to my father?"

"See here," Melody continues, holding up an acorn; "there is a prettier one in this than in Sirius itself!"

"Oh, Lady Meowth..." Ash sighs as Prince Dillon, "how unkind you are to laugh at me now!"

"Only listen," Melody replies, before flying over and holding the acorn to his ear.

After a few tense seconds, Ash announces as himself "And inside that acorn, he distinctly heard a tiny yip of a Growlithe. Prince Dillon was delighted, for a Growlithe that can fit in an acorn must be very small indeed. He wanted to take it out and look at it, but the Shiny Meowth said it would be better not to open the acorn till he was before the king, in case the tiny Growlithe should get cold on the way. He thanked her a thousand times over, and said good-bye quite sadly when the time came for him to leave.

"The days have passed so quickly with you," he explains as Prince Dillon, "I only wish I could take you with me now."

"But the Shiny Meowth shook her head and sighed deeply in reply." he continues as himself. "Prince Dillon was the first to arrive at the castle where he had agreed to meet his brothers, but they came soon after, and stared in amazement when they saw the wooden Ponyta in the courtyard jumping like a hunter."

Everyone laughs as Ash continues "Prince Dillon met them joyfully, and they began to tell him all their adventures; but he managed to hide from them what he had been doing, and even led them to think that he was bringing a perfectly average Growlithe for the king. Fond as they all were of one another, the two eldest could not help being glad to think that their Growlithes certainly had a better chance. The next morning they left for the palace in the same coach. The elder brothers carried in baskets two such tiny, fragile Growlithes that they hardly dared to touch them. As for Prince Dillon's Growlithe, he ran after the coach, and got so covered with mud that one could hardly see what he looked like at all. When they reached the palace everyone crowded around to welcome them as they went into the throne room; and when the two brothers presented their Growlithes nobody could decide which was the prettier. They were already arranging between themselves to share the kingdom equally, when Prince Dillon stepped forward, drawing from his pocket the acorn the Shiny Meowth had given him. He opened it quickly, and there upon a white cushion they saw a Growlithe so small that it could easily fit through a ring. Prince Dillon laid it upon the ground, and it got up and danced without being told."

"Wow!" Brock gasps, impressed.

"The king did not know what to say, for it was impossible that anything could be prettier than that little Pokemon." Ash explains. "Nevertheless, as he was in no hurry to part with his crown, he told his sons that, as they had been so successful the first time, he would ask them to go once again, and seek by land and sea for a piece of silk so fine that it could be drawn through the eye of a needle. The brothers were not very willing to set out again, but the two eldest consented because it gave them another chance, and they started as before. The youngest again mounted the wooden Ponyta, and rode back at full speed to his beloved Shiny Meowth. Every door of the castle stood wide open, and every window and turret was illuminated, so it looked more wonderful than before. The hands hastened to meet him, and led the wooden Ponyta off to the stable, while he hurried in to find the Shiny Meowth. She was asleep in a little basket on a white satin cushion, but she woke with a jump when she heard Prince Dillon's footsteps, and was overjoyed at seeing him again."

"How could I hope that you would come back to me, king's son?" Melody asks as the Meowth.

"Prince Dillon stroked and petted her, and told her of his successful journey, and how he had come back to ask her help, as he believed that it was impossible to find what the King demanded." Ash continues. "The Shiny Meowth looked serious, and said she must think what was to be done, but that, luckily, there were some Meowths in the castle who could spin very well, and if anybody could manage it they could, and she would ask them to do it herself."

[And then?] Even Mai is intrigued.

"Then the hands appeared carrying torches, and led Prince Dillon and the Shiny Meowth to a long gallery which overlooked the river, from the windows of which they saw a magnificent display of fireworks of all sorts."

"Pika..." Pikachu smiles as he pictures the fireworks in his mind.

"When the show had ended, they had dinner which Prince Dillon liked even better than the fireworks, for it was very late, and he was hungry after his long ride." Ash continues. "And so the days passed quickly as before; it was impossible to feel dull with the Shiny Meowth, and she had quite a talent for inventing new things to do-- indeed, she was cleverer than a Meowth has any right to be. But when Prince Dillon asked her how it was that she was so wise, she only said...

"King's son, do not ask me; guess what you please. I cannot tell you anything just yet." Melody cautions as the Meowth

"Prince Dillon was so happy that he did not trouble himself at all about the time, but it wasn't long before the Shiny Meowth told him that the year was almost up, and that he need not be at all anxious about the piece of silk, as they had made it very well." Ash narrates.

"This time," Melody continues, "I can give you a suitable escort"

When he looked out into the courtyard, Prince Dillon saw a superb coach of burnished gold, enameled in red with a thousand different devices." Ash explains. "It was drawn by twelve Shiny Ponytas, harnessed four abreast; their trappings were flame-colored velvet, embroidered with diamonds. A hundred coaches followed, each drawn by eight Ponytas, and filled with officers in splendid uniforms, and a thousand guards surrounded the procession."

"Go!" Melody calls as the Shiny Meowth, "and when you appear before the king like this, he surely will not refuse you the crown which you deserve. Take this walnut, but do not open it until you are before him, then you will find in it the piece of silk you asked me for."

"Lovely Bianca," Ash asks as Prince Dillon, "how can I thank you properly for all your kindness to me? Only tell me that you wish it, and I will give up forever all thought of being king, and will stay here with you."

"King's son," Melody replies, "it shows the goodness of your heart that you should care so much for a little shining Meowth, who is good for nothing but to catch Rattatas; but you must not stay here."

"So Prince Dillon kissed her little paw and set out." Ash continues. "You can imagine how fast he traveled when I tell you that they reached the king's palace in just six hours."

"That's quick!" Misty gasps in amazement.

"This time Prince Dillon was so late that he did not try to meet his brothers at their castle, so they thought he could not be coming, and were rather glad of it, and displayed their pieces of silk to the king proudly, feeling sure of success." Ash continues. "And indeed the stuff was very fine, and would go through the eye of a very large needle; but the king, who more than willing to make the challenge harder, sent for a particular needle, which was kept among the crown jewels, and had such a small eye that everybody agreed that it was impossible for the silk should pass through it."

"I has to be trick..." Brock mutters.

"The princes were angry, and were beginning to wonder if it was all a trick, when suddenly the trumpets sounded and Prince Dillon came in." Ash continues. "His father and brothers were quite astonished at his magnificence, and after he had greeted them he took the walnut from his pocket and opened it, fully expecting to find the piece of silk, but instead there was only a hazelnut. He cracked it, and there lay a Cheri pit. Everybody was looking on, and the king was chuckling to himself at the idea of finding the piece of silk in a nutshell."

Giggles go up at Prince Dillon's frustrations. "However, Prince Dillon cracked the Cheri pit, but everyone laughed when he saw it contained only its own kernel. He opened that and found a grain of wheat, and in that was a millet seed. Then he himself began to wonder, and muttered softly "Shiny Meowth, Shiny Meowth, are you making fun of me?"

More laughter goes upas he continues "In an instant he felt a Meowth claw give his hand quite a sharp scratch, and hoping that it was meant as an encouragement he opened the millet seed, and drew out of it a piece of silk four hundredths of an inch long, woven with the loveliest colors and most wonderful patterns; and when the needle was brought it went through the eye six times easily! The king turned white as a Gastly, and the other princes stood silent and sorrowful, for nobody could deny that this was the most marvelous piece of silk in the world. The king turned to his sons, and said, with a deep sigh....

"Nothing could console me more in my old age than to realize your willingness to gratify my wishes. Go then once more, and whoever at the end of a year can bring back the loveliest princess shall be married to her, and shall, without further delay, receive the crown, for my successor must certainly be married." Brock fills in the king's dialogue.

"Prince Dillon considered that he had earned the kingdom fairly twice over but still he was too well bred to argue about it, so he just went back to his gorgeous coach, and, surrounded by his escort, returned to the Shiny Meowth faster than he had come." Ash continues. "This time she was expecting him, the path was strewn with flowers, and a thousand torches were burning scented woods which perfumed the air. Seated in a gallery from which she could see his arrival, the Shiny Meowth waited for him."

"Well, King's son," Melody begins as the Meowth, "here you are once more, without a crown."

"Madam," Ash interjects as Prince Dillon, "thanks to your generosity I have earned one twice over; but the fact is that my father is so loth to part with it that it would be no pleasure to me to take it."

"Never mind," Melody smiles, "it's just as well to try and deserve it. As you must take back a lovely princess with you next time I will be on the lookout for one for you. In the meantime let us enjoy ourselves; tonight I have ordered a duel between my Meowths and the river Rattatas."

"So this year slipped away even more pleasantly than the preceding ones. Sometimes Prince Dillon could not help asking the Shiny Meowth how it was she could talk." Ash narrates.
"Perhaps you are a fairy," he said. "Or has some evil wizard changed you into a Meowth?"
But she only gave him answers that told him nothing. Days go by so quickly when one is very happy that it is certain the Prince would never have thought of its being time to go back, when one evening as they sat together the Shiny Meowth said to him that if he wanted to take a lovely princess home with him the next day he must be prepared to do what she told him..."

"Take your hands in mine," Melody instructs Ash, "and sing this song--'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...'"

"But what if the spell the song invokes makes you disappear forever?" Ash gasps as Prince Dillon.

"I entreat you to do as I tell you, King's son," Melody replies.

"The tears came into the prince's eyes as he begged her to ask him anything but that--to set him any task she pleased as a proof of his devotion, but to spare him the unknown effects of singing a mysterious spellsong." Ash continues as himself. "But nothing he could say altered her determination, and he finally took a deep breath, put his hands in the shining paws. and sang..." Ash then sings as Prince Dillon Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

After a few tense seconds, Ash continues "Imagine his astonishment and delight when a lovely princess stood before him in a flash of red light, and, while he was still speechless with amazement, the door opened and a great company of knights and ladies entered, each carrying a Meowth's skin! They hastened with every sign of joy to the princess, kissing her hand and congratulating her on being once more restored to her true form. She received them graciously, but after a few minutes begged that they would leave her alone with Prince Dillon. She told him..."

"You see, Prince Dillon, that you were right in supposing me to be no ordinary Meowth." Melody explains. "My father reigned over six kingdoms. The queen, my mother, whom he loved dearly, had a passion for traveling and exploring, and when I was only a few weeks old she obtained his permission to visit a certain mountain of which she had heard many marvelous tales, and set out, taking with her a number of her attendants. On the way they had to pass near an old castle belonging to the fairies. Nobody had ever been into it, but it was reported to be full of the most wonderful things, and my mother remembered to have heard that the fairies had in their garden such fruits as were to be seen and tasted nowhere else. She began to wish to try them for herself, and turned her steps in the direction of the garden. On arriving at the door, which blazed with gold and jewels, she ordered her servants to knock loudly, but it was useless; it seemed as if all the inhabitants of the castle must be asleep or dead. Now the more difficult it became to obtain the fruit, the more the queen was determined that have it she would. So she ordered that they should bring ladders, and get over the wall into the garden; but though the wall did not look very high, and they tied the ladders together to make them very long, it was quite impossible to get to the top.

"The queen was in despair, but as night was coming on she ordered that they should encamp just where they were, and went to bed herself, feeling quite ill, she was so disappointed. In the middle of the night she was suddenly awakened, and saw to her surprise a tiny, ugly old woman seated by her bedside, who said to her:

"`I must say that we consider it somewhat troublesome of your Majesty to insist upon tasting our fruit; but to save you annoyance, my sisters and I will consent to give you as much as you can carry away, on one condition --that is, that you shall give us your little daughter to bring up as our own.'

"`Ah! my dear madam,' cried the queen, `is there nothing else that you will take for the fruit? I will give you my kingdoms willingly.'

"`No,' replied the old fairy, `we will have nothing but your little daughter. She shall be as happy as the day is long, and we will give her everything that is worth having in fairy-land, but you must not see her again until she is married.'

"`Though it is a hard condition,' said the queen, `I consent, for I shall certainly die if I do not taste the fruit, and so I should lose my little daughter either way.'

"So the old fairy led her into the castle, and, though it was still the middle of the night, the Queen could see plainly that it was far more beautiful than she had been told, which you can easily believe, Prince Dillon," Melody pauses to try and remember the next part of the long monologue. "when I tell you that it was this castle that we are now in. `Will you gather the fruit yourself, Queen?' said the old fairy, `or shall I call it to come to you?'

"`I beg you to let me see it come when it is called,' cried the Queen; `that will be something quite new.' The old fairy whistled twice, then she cried:

"`Apicots, Pechas, Nectas, Cheris, Ganlons, Aspears, Watmels, Grepas, Leppas, Orans, Nomels, Sitrus', Rawst, Razz, come forth!'

"And in an instant they came tumbling in one over another, and yet they were neither dusty nor spoiled, and the Queen found them quite as good as she had fancied them. You see they grew upon fairy trees.

"The old fairy gave her golden baskets in which to take the fruit away, and it was as much as four hundred mules could carry. Then she reminded the Queen of her agreement, and led her back to the camp, and next morning she went back to her kingdom, but before she had gone very far she began to repent of her bargain, and when the King came out to meet her she looked so sad that he guessed that something had happened, and asked what was the matter. At first the Queen was afraid to tell him, but when, as soon as they reached the palace, five frightful little dwarfs were sent by the fairies to fetch me, she was obliged to confess what she had promised. The King was very angry, and had the Queen and myself shut up in a great tower and safely guarded, and drove the little dwarfs out of his kingdom; but the fairies sent a great Salamence who ate up all the people he met, and whose breath burnt up everything as he passed through the country; and at last, after trying in vain to rid himself of this monster, the King, to save his subjects, was obliged to consent that I should be given up to the fairies. This time they came themselves to fetch me, in a chariot of pearl drawn by Seadras, followed by the Salamence, who was led with chains of diamonds. My cradle was placed between the old fairies, who loaded me with caresses, and away we whirled through the air to a tower which they had built on purpose for me. There I grew up surrounded with everything that was beautiful and rare, and learning everything that is ever taught to a princess, but without any companions but a Chatot and a little Growlithe, who could both talk; and receiving every day a visit from one of the old fairies, who came mounted upon the Salamence. One day, however, as I sat at my window I saw a handsome young prince, who seemed to have been hunting in the forest which surrounded my prison, and who was standing and looking up at me. When he saw that I observed him he saluted me with great deference. You can imagine that I was delighted to have someone new to talk to, and in spite of the height of my window our conversation was prolonged till night fell, then my prince reluctantly bade me farewell. But after that he came again many times and at last I consented to marry him, but the question was how was I to escape from my tower. The fairies always supplied me with flax for my spinning, and by great diligence I made enough cord for a ladder that would reach to the foot of the tower; but, alas! just as my prince was helping me to descend it, the crossest and ugliest of the old fairies flew in. Before he had time to defend himself my unhappy lover was swallowed up by the Salamence. As for me, the fairies, furious at having their plans defeated, for they intended me to marry the dwarven king, and I utterly refused, changed me into a shining Meowth. When they brought me here I found all the lords and ladies of my father's court awaiting me under the same enchantment, while the people of lesser rank had been made invisible, all but their hands.

As they laid me under the enchantment the fairies told me all my history, for until then I had quite believed that I was their child, and warned me that my only chance of regaining my natural form was to win the love of a prince who resembled in every way my unfortunate lover."

"And you have won it, lovely princess," Ash interrupts the dialogue as Prince Dillon.

"You are indeed wonderfully like him," Melody continues as Princess Bianca--"in voice, in features, and everything; and if you really love me all my troubles will be at an end."

"And mine too," Ash interjects as Prince Dillon, "if you will consent to marry me."

"I love you already better than anyone in the world," Melody replies as Princess Bianca. "but now it is time to go back to your father, and we shall hear what he says about it."

Everyone applauds at Melody's long monologue. "So Prince Dillon gave her his hand and led her out, and they climbed in the coach together; it was even more splendid than before, and so was the whole company." Ash narrates. "Even the Ponytas' shoes were of rubies with diamond nails."

"Ooh..." Misty is starry eyed over the thought of jeweled Ponyta shoes.

"Princess Bianca was as kind and clever as she was beautiful, you may imagine what a delightful journey Prince Dillon had, for everything Princess Bianca said seemed to him quite charming." Ash narrates. "When they came near the castle where the brothers were to meet, Princess Bianca got into a chair carried by four of the guards; it was hewn out of one splendid crystal, and had silken curtains, which she drew round her that she might not be seen."

"Pika?" Pikachu wonders.

"Prince Dillon saw his brothers walking upon the terrace, each with a lovely princess, and they came to meet him, asking if he had also found a wife." Ash explains. "He said that he had found something much rarer--a shining Meowth! They laughed very much at this, and asked him if he was afraid of being eaten up by Rattatas in the palace. And then they set out together for the town. Each prince and princess rode in a splendid carriage; the Ponytas were decked with plumes of feathers, and glittered with gold. After them came the Prince Dillon, and last of all the crystal chair, at which everybody looked with admiration and curiosity. When the courtiers saw them coming they hurried to tell the king."

"Are the ladies beautiful?" Brock interjects as the king.

"And when they answered that nobody had ever before seen such lovely princesses he seemed quite annoyed. However, he received them graciously, but found it impossible to choose between them." Ash continues. "Then turning to his youngest son he said..."

"Have you come back alone, after all?" Brock asks Ash as the king.

"Your Majesty," Ash replies as Prince Dillon. "will find in that crystal chair a little shining Meowth, which has such soft paws, and mews so prettily, that I am sure you will be charmed with it."

As himself, he narrates "The king smiled, and went to draw back the curtains himself, but at a touch from Princess Bianca the crystal shivered into a thousand splinters, and there she stood in all her beauty; her fair hair floated over her shoulders and was crowned with flowers, and her softly falling robe was of the purest white. She saluted the king gracefully, while a murmur of admiration rose from all around."

"Sire," Melody explains as Princess Bianca, "I am not come to deprive you of the throne you fill so worthily. I have already six kingdoms, permit me to bestow one upon you, and upon each of your sons. I ask nothing but your friendship, and your consent to my marriage with your youngest son; we shall still have three kingdoms left for ourselves."

Ash concludes "The king and all the courtiers could not conceal their joy and astonishment, and the weddings of the three princes were celebrated right then and there. The festivities lasted several months, and each king and queen lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 182: The Slayer of the Nunda (Brock)

(real tale: The Nunda, Eater of People (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/062.htm))

"Once upon a time there lived a king who loved his garden dearly, and planted it with trees and flowers and fruits from all over the world." Brock begins. "He went to water them three times a day: at 7 AM, when he got up, again at 3 PM, and again at 5:30 PM. There was no plant and no Berry which escaped his eye, but he lingered longest of all before his one date tree."

"What's so great about dates?" Ash wonders "Besides their being very sweet."

"Now, the king had seven sons." Brock explains, assuring Ash with a nod that he will answer his question at the proper time. "Six of them he was proud of, for they were strong and brave, but the youngest--we'll call him Kyou--he didn't like, because he seemed to spend all his time with the ladies of the house. The king had tried talking to him, and when that didn't work, he tried beating him, and that didn't work either. He had even tried tying him up, but that still didn't work, so his father gave up on trying to make him change his ways, and left him alone."

"If he wants to be with the girls, let him be with the girls." Misty muses.

"The years passed, and one day the king, to his great joy, saw signs of fruit on his date tree." Brock continues. He was so excited, he told anyone and everyone he met-- his vizir, the palace officials, the governors and magistrates, and even all the rich men of the royal city."

"All that fuss over dates?" Melody is not impressed.

"He waited patiently for a few days till the dates were nearly ripe, and then he called the six elder sons, and told them that one of them was to watch the date tree till the dates were ripe, lest someone steal them, and he not have any for a year." Brock continues. "The eldest son was first to volunteer."

Ash digs out his whistle as Brock continues "The first thing he did was to summon his servants, and told them to play music all night under the date tree, in case he fell asleep."

After reaching for a small drum, Brock goes on "So the servants brought all their instruments and played every song they knew, until four o'clock in the morning, when they all fell asleep, with many of the servants still holding their instruments."

With that, he starts a brisk rhythm for Ash to play a few tunes by, with Misty leading the clapping.

When the set ends, Brock continues "A few minutes went by, and a Fletchling flew down from a neighboring thicket, and ate all the dates, without leaving a single one. One of the servants woke up a few minutes later and looked for the dates, but there were none to be found."

"Uh oh..." Ash chuckles.

"The eldest son tearfully told his father that the dates had all been eaten by a Fletchling." Brock intones as he sets the drum aside. "When the king learned his eldest son had been asleep on the job, he scolded him, and decided to try the second eldest the next year. But no matter what the sons tried to stay awake--playing cards, riding around the tree, lighting bonfires--they would crash at four or five in the morning. and the Fletchling would eat all the dates."

"So did Kyou get a turn?" Melody wonders.

"Kyou happened to be in the kitchen, as was his custom, when he heard his father say his date tree was blooming." Brock goes on. "He begged and begged to have a turn, but was laughed at. Finally the news came that the dates were ripe, and the king ordered one of his men to go and watch the tree. Kyou, heard the order, and asked why he couldn't watch the tree. His father replied that his six brothers had all tried and failed, so how was the seventh going to be any different? But Kyou was persistent, and eventually the queen joined in the pleading, so the king finally relented and said Kyou could watch the tree."

"So what did Kyou do?" Misty is intrigued.

"When Kyou reached the garden, he told the servants to leave him." Brock explains "When he was alone, he slept till one o'clock in the morning, Then he took some Cornn Berries out of one pocket, and some sandy grit out of the other. He chewed the Cornn till he felt sleepy, and then he put some grit into his mouth, and that kept him awake till the Fletchling came. Just before it could start snatching dates, Kyou grabbed its wing. Naturally, it was startled, and flew so high up, the earth shone like one of the other stars. Kyou, meanwhile, knew very well he would die if he let go, so he held on even tighter. Try as the Fletchling might to get Kyou to let go, no amount of convincing helped, and so it flew back to the ground."

"Hm..." Melody contemplates what will happen next.

"The Fletchling told Kyou that if he let it go, it would help him if he was in danger--all he had to do to summon it was sing..." Brock pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... "and the Fletching would come help him, no matter where Kyou was when he sang the song."

He continues "Needless to say, the whole palace was elated when they saw the tree brimming with dates the next morning, and hailed Kyou as a hero--they brought out the instruments and played..." Misty takes her fiddle and joins in with Ash's whistle as Happini bangs a tambourine for percussion. "and the people clapped, sang, and cheered for Kyou."

"Did the king finally treat Kyou as he deserved?" Melody asks when the set ends.

"Yes--and he was quite pleased at finally being able to taste his beloved dates." Brock smiles. "Some months went by, until one day, the king's Meowth started acting weird, catching a calf. The owner of the calf went and told the king, but he answered, 'The Meowth is mine, and the calf mine,' and the man dared not complain further."

He pauses for a beat, then continues "Two days later, the Meowth caught a Miltank, then a few days later, it caught a Ponyta, then a second Ponyta, and after that a Camerupt."

"That IS weird--how can a little Meowth catch a Camerupt?" Ash wonders.

"But it didn't stop there--the next day, it caught someone's child." Brock intones "Then it caught a grown man."

Gasps go up at this. "After that the Meowth left the town and took up its abode in a thicket near the road. So if any one passed, going for water, it ate him. If it saw a Miltank going to feed, it ate it. If it saw a Gogoat, it ate it. Whatever went along that road the Meowth caught and ate." Brock intones."A huge crowd came to the palace and told him of all the misdeeds of that Meowth. But he answered as he had all the other times, 'The Meowth is mine and the people are mine.' And no man dared kill the Meowth, which grew bolder and bolder, and at last came into the town to look for its prey."

"What was possessing the Meowth to do this?" Misty shudders in fear as she contemplates a variety of demons that could be possessing the Meowth.

"One day, the king told his six sons that he was traveling into the country to see how the wheat was growing, and they were welcome to come with him." Brock intones. "They went on along the road, till they came to a thicket, when out sprang the Meowth, and killed three of the sons."

"Pini!" Happini gasps.

"The soldiers who were with him screamed in terror." Brock goes on "This was the last straw for the king--he sent word through the kingdom that anyone that could kill the demon Meowth would be handsomely rewarded.

Everyone is on the edge of their seats to hear what happened next. "Now Kyou had not gone with the others, but had stayed at home with his mom." Brock explains. "When he heard that three of his brothers had been killed by the Meowth, he vowed he would slay it and avenge them. His mother pleaded for him not to leave her, but he would not listen. He took his sword, a bow, and some rice cakes, and went after the Meowth."

"And then?" Melody gasps, excited.

"Kyou spent many days hunting the Meowth, which now bore the name of Nunda, which meant 'eater of people,' in that land's language." Brock continues. "Though he killed many wild Pokemon, he saw no trace of the Pokemon he was hunting for. There was no Pokemon, however fierce, that he was afraid of, till finally his father and mother begged him to give up the chase. But Kyou told them he would not give up until the Nunda was dead, and his brothers avenged."

"Pika?" Pikachu sparks excitedly in anticipation of a battle.

"Many times Kyou's servants came and told him that they had seen footprints, but the footprints never turned out to be those of the Nunda." Brock goes on. "They wandered far through deserts and through forests, and finally came to the foot of a great hill. And something in Kyou's heart whispered that here was the end of all their seeking, and today they would find the Nunda."

"So what happened when he found it?" Even Misty is excited.

"But before they began to climb the mountain, they had dinner first, as they had traveled a long way." Brock explains. "They then started the long trek up the mountain. When they had almost reached the top, a scout who was leading the way told him to look down at the foot of the mountain. Kyou looked, and his heart told him it was the Nunda.

Brock tiptoes up to a rock with a pantomime bow in his hand "He crept down with his bow in his hand, and then he stopped and gazed below him. 'This MUST be the real Nunda,' he thought. 'My mother told me its ears were small, and this one's are small. She told me it was broad and not long, and this is broad and not long. She told me it shone, unlike other Meowths, and this Meowth shines like the sun.' Then he left the Nunda lying asleep at the foot of the mountain, and went back to his servants, where they spent the morning making a battle plan."

"So how did they catch the Nunda?" Ash asks.

"They went till they reached the bottom and came to a great forest which lay between them and the Nunda's den." Brock explains. "Kyou ordered every servant to leave a layer of clothing behind and tuck up the other between their legs, to make it easier to move in the brush."

He tiptoes up to the rock as he continues "They crept along till they were close to it; then, at Kyou's signal, they all fired their arrows. The Nunda did not stir: the arrows had hit their mark, but for some reason, a great panic seized them all, and they ran away and climbed the mountain to their camp. When they returned to the place where they had left the Nunda the next morning, they saw it stretched out dead as a doornail. They picked it up and carried it back to the city, singing Kyou's praises as they went."

He concludes "When his father heard the news of Kyou's brave deed, he felt that there was no one on earth whose joy was greater than his. The people hailed him as a hero, and to this day, the people of that land continue to tell the tale of how Kyou had slain the Nunda, and his many adventures with the Fletching."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 183: How Ho'oh and Lugia Met (part 1) (Misty)

(real tale: The Sister of the Sun (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/268.htm))

"A long time ago, the Pokemon we know as Lugia was a young prince whose favorite playmate was the son of the gardener who lived on the palace grounds." Misty begins. "The king would have preferred Lugia befriend one of the pages who were brought up at court; but Lugia would have nothing to say to them, and as he was a little spoiled, and demanded his way in almost everything, and the gardener's boy was quiet and well-behaved, he seemed destined to be in the palace, morning, noon, and night."

"Interesting..." Ash notes.

"The sport the children loved best was archery, for the king had given them two identical bows." Misty explains "They would spend entire days trying to see which could shoot the highest. Of course, this was--and is--very dangerous, and it was a miracle they were not poked in the eye."

The boys chuckle at Misty's observation. "One morning, when Lugia had finished school for the day, he ran out to meet his friend, and they both hurried off to the grounds where they most often played. They took their bows out of the little hut where their toys were kept, and began to see which could shoot the highest. They somehow managed to both shoot at the same time, and when the arrows landed, the tail feather of a golden bird was found sticking out of one." Misty goes on. "Then there was the question of who shot the lucky arrow, for they were both exactly alike. Lugia declared that the arrow was his, and the gardener's boy was quite sure it was his--and on this occasion he was right; but, as they could not decide the matter, they went straight to the king."

"So what did His Highness decide?" Melody wonders.

"When the king heard the story, he decided that the feather belonged to his son; but the other boy would not listen to this and claimed the feather for himself." Misty replies. "Finally the king's patience ran out, and he yelled...

"Very well; if you are so sure that the feather is yours, then it is yours; only you will have to search until you find a golden bird with a feather missing from her tail. And if you fail to find her, it will be your life in exchange." Brock threatens as the king.

Silence fills the tent for a moment, save for the rain outside. "Lugia needed all his courage to listen to the king's words." Misty finally breaks the uneasy calm. "He had no idea where such a bird might be, or, if he discovered one, how he was to catch it. But there was nothing to do except do the king's bidding, and he felt that the sooner he left the palace the better. So he went home, put some food and supplies into a bag, and then set out early the next morning, hoping that some miracle might show him which path to take."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, interested

"After walking for several hours he met a Fennekin, who seemed to be friendly, and the was so glad to have anyone to talk to that he sat down and talked for while." Misty continues.

"Where are you going?" she asks as the Fennekin.

"I have got to find a golden bird who is missing a feather out of her tail," Ash explains as Lugia. "but I don't know where one lives or how I will catch it!"

"Oh, I can show you the way!" Misty assures Ash as the Fennekin. "Far towards the east, in that direction, lives a beautiful maiden who is named Ho'oh, which means 'the sister of the sun.' She has three golden birds in her house. Perhaps the feather belongs to one of them."

As herself, she continues "Lugia was delighted at this news, and they walked on all day together-- Fennekin in front, and Lugia following. When evening came they lay down to rest, and put the knapsack under their heads for a pillow. Suddenly, about midnight, a man approached and asked them where they were going. Lugia told him everything, which interested the man so much that he asked to go with them. So when the sun rose the next morning they set out again, with the Fennekin leading, and the man and Lugia following."

"So what happened when they reached Ho'oh's abode?" Brock is interested

"After some time, they reached Ho'oh's castle." Misty replies. "They stopped before the gate and discussed who would take the bird with the missing feather."

"I think it would be best for me to enter and steal the birds." she offers as the Fennekin.

'No, it is my quest, so it is only fair that I should go." Ash counters as Lugia

"You will find it hard to get ahold of the birds." Misty cautions as the Fennekin.

"Oh, what could possibly go wrong?" Ash asks as Lugia.

"Okay then," Misty sighs as the Fennekin. "but be careful not to make any mistake. Take only the bird which has the feather missing from its tail, and leave the others alone.

As herself, Misty notes "The man heard the whole thing, but did not interfere, and so Lugia entered the court of the palace. He soon spotted the three birds prancing about, though they were really wondering if there were some grain lying on the ground that they could eat. As the last one passed by him, he saw she had one feather missing from her tail."

She tiptoes up to a rock, as if she is Lugia sneaking up on the bird. "Then Lugia dashed forward and grabbed the bird by the neck so that she could not struggle. Then, tucking her comfortably under his arm, he ran for the gate. But just as he was about to go through, he looked back and caught a glimpse of wonderful splendors from an open door of the palace, which bought the bird a window of opportunity to escape."

The boys laugh as Misty continues. "He was so much fascinated by the sight of all the beautiful things that he could see through the door that he hardly noticed that he had lost the bird; and he did not remember there was such a thing as a bird in the world when he beheld Ho'oh sleeping on a bed before him.

Brock gains heart eyes for a moment as he imagines what human Ho'oh could have looked like, but Ash squeezing his hand snaps him back to the story. "For some time he stood there staring; then he snapped back to reality, and seeing that he had no business there, softly hurried away, and was fortunate enough to recapture the bird, which he took with him to the gate." Misty goes on. "This happened two more times--he would get close to the gate, then hurry back for another look at Ho'oh. But by the fourth time he returned to retrieve his bird, the other two birds began to squawk so loud that it woke Ho'oh up! She ran to the door and told Lugia..."

"You shall never, never, have my bird till you bring me back my guardians, the Beasts, who were carried off by a giant to his castle far away." Melody fills in Ho'oh's dialogue.

"Lugia trudged back to the palace gate and told his friends what had happened." Misty goes on.

"I knew that we would not get off so easily,' she grumbles as the Fennekin. "but we have not a moment to lose. Let's go find the beasts. Luckily, I know the way."

As herself, she narrates "They walked on for many days, till the Fennekin stopped and looked out at the road."

"The giant's castle is not far now," she explains as the Fennekin, "but when we reach it you two must remain outside while I go and find where the Beasts are being held. When I bring them out you must choose which one to ride, and flee as fast as you can; while I return to the castle and talk to the giants--for there are many of them--so that they may not notice the beasts' escape."

She continues as herself "A few minutes later they arrived at the castle, and the Fennekin, who had often been there before, slipped in easily. There were several giants, both young and old, in the hall, and they were all dancing around the three Beasts. As soon as they saw the Fennekin, they invited her to dance as well."

She is surprised when her fiddle and bow fly into her hands. Once Melody's silent request registers in her mind, she sets to work tuning up as the boys retrieve their own instruments..

Once everyone is in tune, she and Ash lead the way into a set of tunes. When the set ends, Misty continues. "When the giants took a break in between sets, Fennekin claimed that she knew a charming new dance, and that she would be more than happy to demonstrate it with the Beasts. The giants readily agreed, and set the Beasts free from their cages. Of course this was all a ruse for Fennekin to kick over the great torch stand that lited the hall, and in the darkness had led the Beasts to the gate. The man leapt aboard Entei, and Lugia aboard Suicune, and Fennekin returned to the hall before anyone had missed her. She found the giants busy trying to kindle a fire and get some light; but after a while, they realized the Beasts were gone, and they ran after the Fennekin as fast as their great legs could carry them."

Inspired, Ash switches to the harmonica and leads Misty and Brock into a slightly watered down version of "Catching the Fennekin" to represent a chase scene.

"It works better with a banjo as well as the guitar, fiddle, and harmonica." Melody suggests when the song ends.

Misty acknowledges Melody's feedback with a nod before continuing "The Fennekin, however, was far too clever to choose the same route that her friends had taken, but wound through of the forest, till at last even SHE was tired out, and fell fast asleep under a tree. She was so exhausted she never heard the giants coming, but before they could grab her, she had ran out of their reach." A grin forms on her face, then motions to Ash to play "Catching the Fennekin" again.

Pikachu sweeps Happini in his paws and dances with her as the tune is played again. "The Fennekin eventually lost the giants, and reunited with Lugia, the Beasts, and the man, and all six of them traveled night and day till they reached Ho'oh's castle." Misty continues when the tune ends. "You can imagine the joy and feasting there was throughout the palace when the Beasts appeared, who they had thought were dead. The palace denizens could not thank Lugia enough for going through such dangers in order to rescue them. The golden bird was given to him right then, and Ho'oh confessed her love for Lugia, saying that when she came of age in a few years, she would pay a visit to his home and become his bride. Lugia could hardly believe his ears when he heard what was in store for him, for he had won the heart was the most beautiful princess in the world; and however thick the darkness was, it was no match for her golden aura."

"Pini?" Happini asks, excited.

"So Lugia set forth on his journey home, saying his goodbyes to his friends on the way." Misty continues. "With the golden bird under his arm, he presented himself before the king, and told of all his adventures, and how he was going to have for a wife a princess so wonderful and unlike all other princesses, that the many colored aura she commanded could turn night into day. The king listened silently, and when Lugia had finished, he said quietly..."

"If I find that you have lied to me, I will have you thrown into a pool of tar." Brock half whispers in character as the king.

"It is true--every word of it!" Ash pleads as Lugia.

Misty grins, "But was Lugia doomed to be thrown into tar, and what else would he have to do to win Ho'oh? You'll find out on my next turn!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 184: The Pack, the Hat, and the Whistle (Ash)

(real tale: The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Fairy_Tales_From_The_Brothers_Grimm&story=Knapsack_Hat_And_Horn))

"Once there were three brothers who were so poor, they had nothing to eat at all." Ash begins. "They all agreed that going out into the world to seek their fortunes was better than sitting at home starving."

"So what adventures met them?" Melody is intrigued by the possibility of a quest.

"So they set out the next morning, and went across many a plain, but their journeys were uneventful." Ash replies. "One day, they came to a great forest, and when they got close, they saw that it was made entirely of silver. The eldest brother took as much silver as he could carry, then returned home. But the other two had hope that there was something even more valuable out there, and so they continued onward."

"Then what did they find?" Now Brock is interested.

"After they had traveled for a few days, they came to a hill that was made entirely of gold. The middle brother filled his pockets as full as they would hold, bid good-bye to his brother, and returned home. But the youngest brother--we'll call him Martin--was wiser in heart than his brothers. While silver and gold were wonderful things, he believed he would find true treasure if he kept going, and so off he went."

"Did he find a forest made of crystals?" Misty guesses what Martin will find.

Ash is quick to shoot Misty's prediction down. "After three days, he came to a forest even bigger than the others, which stretched as far as the eye could see. He was famished from walking all day, and muttered under his breath his desire for a hot meal. Suddenly, he saw a table beneath the tree richly spread with food that was piping hot."

Misty giggles at Pikachu drooling at the sight of the feast Ash described. "That's right--Ash describes food really well."

Ash is unfazed by Pikachu's dreamy look. "Without bothering to ask who had brought the food there, he ate his fill. But when he saw the tablecloth there, he figured it would make sense to leave it behind, so he folded it up neatly and pocketed it. When dinnertime came he thought he would put the tablecloth to the test, so he spread it out and sang a song often portrayed as magical in bedtime stories..."

He pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing "and no sooner were the words out of his mouth, was there a feast fit for a king!"

"And then?" Melody asks, starry eyed.

"Martin was not content with only a wishing cloth--Arceus only knew what other treasures were waiting to be discovered." Ash continues. "One evening, where Ilex Forest is today, he befriended a Charcoal maker, who was roasting potatoes for dinner. He invited Martin to stay for dinner, and told him that he sometimes got sick of having potatoes every night. Martin took out the tablecloth from his pack, and after spreading it on the ground, and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

"Pika?" Pikachu licks his lips in anticipation of the food Ash is about to describe.

"A full roast, piping hot as if it had just come from the kitchen, appeared in a flash of light." Ash continues. "The Charcoal maker wasted no time in diving right in!"

He pauses for a beat, then continues "When dinner had ended, The Charcoal maker offered to trade a soldier's pack that hung on the wall in the corner, which he claimed had wonderful qualities. Martin wasn't so sure, and pressed the Charcoal maker further."

"So what could it do?" Brock is intrigued.

"If sung to, an army of heroes would appear to do his bidding." Ash explains. Martin agreed, and the deal was sealed. Before he had got very far, he decided to try out the pack, so he sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... A band of seven heroes appeared before him, and the chief warrior asked what he wanted. Martin asked for them to get back the tablecloth, which the heroes accomplish some moments later.

He interjects. "If you've heard this before, it's a variant of 'The Beasts' Treasures' from east Johto."

"No wonder this is starting to sound familiar..." Brock grins before urging Ash to continue.

"This happened two more times--around sunset, he would befriend a charcoal maker, conjure a fine meal, receive a wondrous item--a magical hat that cast a spell when turned back, and a whistle that, when played, would play a note high enough and loud enough to bring down walls, then retrieve his tablecloth. After all those adventures, he was curious as to how his brothers were faring."

"Pika pi?" Pikachu asks.

"When he got home, he found that his brothers had built themselves a fine house with their silver and gold, and lived like kings." Ash replies. "He went to see them, but because he wore a worn-out coat, a shabby hat, and the old knapsack on his back, they didn't recognize him as their brother. They scolded him and drove him away, believing him to be a beggar."

"That's not nice!" Misty is appalled at this.

"Needless to say, Martin was mad." Ash assures Misty. "So mad, in fact, he conjured a hundred and fifty different heroes stood before him--warriors, archers, mages, knights, you name a type of hero, and that kind of hero was there."

"So what did Martin ask the heroes to do?" Melody asks.

"He ordered them to surround his brothers' house, and lay siege to it until they knew who he was." Ash replies. The townsfolk heard the noise and ran to see what was happening, but they could do nothing against the army of heroes. News of the ruckus finally reached the royal ears of the king, and sent a thousand men to drive the rogue out of town: but Martin summoned ten thousand heroes, who handily defeated the king's men."

He turns his hat back as he continues. "No matter how big an army the king sent, Martin would meet them with an even bigger army, and soundly defeat them. What the heroes didn't get, Martin picked off with his hat."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats to know what happens next. "The king was more than a little scared, and told Martin he would do anything if he would stop the carnage." Ash explains. "Martin told the king he would stop if he could have the hand of the princess--we'll call her Audra--in marriage, and allow him to rule as king."

After pausing to retrieve his own whistle, Ash continues "However Princess Audra was appalled that her suitor was a common man, and refused to go through with the wedding."

Brock realizes what is coming next. "Cover your ears--it's fixing to get loud." he warns the others.

Once everyone has covered their ears, Ash goes on "Martin was steamed when he heard the news, so he took the whistle and blew on it..."

With that, he blows the highest, loudest, most out-of tune note he can muster for effect. "...and down came walls and fortresses, towns and villages--but luckily Princess Audra convinced him to stop before all of Johto was reduced to ruins."

He concludes. "It wasn't long before Princess Audra came around to marrying Martin, and the two were soon married. Though Martin proved to be a wise and just ruler, no one dared challenge him for the throne again!"

"I can see why!" Melody giggles as she applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 185: The Legend of the Boulder Badge (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 71, story 1)


"You know..I've always wondered for years about why the badges are named as they are..." Misty muses. "I mean, the Cascade Badge is named for the waterfalls by the cape..."

"All right--let me give you a little history lesson on why Pewter has the Boulder Badge." Brock smiles before beginning "One winter--the first winter of Pokemistress' Shina's long reign--it got so cold, people said it could chill you to your very soul. One night, a miko was braving the howling wind and blowing snow as she looked for somewhere to spend the night. Many in that village--which is today Pewter City--were poor, and did not have much food, and so had no choice but to turn the miko away. Finally, one man that lived on the outskirts of town--my distant ancestor, Yanshi--felt sorry for the miko shivering in the cold, and allowed her to stay."

"That was nice of him..." Melody smiles.

"As the miko was warming herself, Yanshi brought out a small Oran tree that was somehow blooming despite the horrible conditions outside." Brock goes on, quieting the Pokemon's chatter. "After stripping the tree of its berries, he cut it down and used it to keep the fire going. The miko watched him bring in more of the Berry trees, and assured him that he shouldn't have to cut down something he loves because of her. Yanshi replied that he didn't care how many he had to cut down, so long as she was warm."

"Aw"s fill the air at this. "The miko gave thanks to Arceus for sending her to someone willing to give up his most precious possession for someone else's sake, and asked Yanshi his name, as she had noticed the sheer number of mini Berry trees in the house. Yanshi told her his name, and explained that he was once a high ranking official in the Aiiro City, but a treacherous attendant had forced him to flee for his life and lay low in the poor village. In fact, he still had many of his weapons, armor, and Pokemon just in case he were called to battle, but he feared he would die of starvation than on the battlefield."

Fearful whispers waft through the tent as the Pokemon fear for Yanshi's life. "The miko assured him that he would not die that way, and thanked him for offering what little he had when she departed the next morning, saying that it was Arceus' will for them to meet, and that she would repay him for his kindness and humility one day." Brock assures them.

"So, what happened when the snow melted?" Ash wonders.

"That spring, a message went out from Pokemon Mistress Shina commanding that all the Gym Leaders of what is now Kanto to assemble in the Aiiro City. Yanshi gathered his weapons, armor, and Pokemon, and quickly made the long journey to the Aiiro City." Brock goes on. "Some of the other Gym Leaders laughed when they saw how frail his Ponyta looked, but Yanshi was told the Pokemon Mistress wanted to see him personally. When he was told to rise, and he saw his lady's face, he was shocked to discover the miko he had helped was Pokemon Mistress Shina in disguise!"

Wild cheers explode through the tent at the turn of events. "Shina thanked Yanshi for proving his loyalty, and restored his lost property to him. The other Gym Leaders cheered at this, saying that Yanshi's devotion was unwavering, like a rock." Brock continues before showing his friends a Boulder Badge. "To this day, Pewter City continues to give out Boulder Badges in memory of the official whose devotion was like a rock."

"I wish I could've lived back then, and met Yanshi!" Ash smiles as he applauds...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 186: How Ho'oh and Lugia Met (part 2) (Misty)


(real tale: The Sister of the Sun (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/268.htm))

"So, was Lugia literally tarred and feathered?" Melody asks.

"Well, as the years wore on with no princess to be had, Lugia grew anxious and uneasy, especially when he was told that the great cauldron in the torture chamber was being filled with tar, and the guards were in the process of building a fire to boil it with." Misty resumes her cliffhanger. "Lugia stood at the window all day, watching the sea for any sign of his beloved; but there were no signs of her, not even the tiniest hint of a sail."

Ash swallows hard as Misty goes on "Just then, the guards came and led him up to the cauldron, where a huge fire was blazing, and the horrid black tar boiling and bubbling over the sides. He took one look and shuddered, but there appeared to be no way out; so he closed his eyes in preparation for the end."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats to learn Lugia's fate. "Minutes before the guards took Lugia to the cauldron, some messengers hurried into the torture chamber, saying that a magnificent ship was headed for the city. No one knew what the ship was, or where it came from; but the king declared that he would not have Lugia burned."

"Talk about a reprieve..." Ash muses as sighs of relief fill the tent.

"It wasn't long before the vessel was safe in port, and a whisper went through the watching crowd that on board was Ho'oh, who had come to marry Lugia as she had promised. After Ho'oh disembarked,she asked to be shown the way to the house which her bridegroom had so often described to her. But Lugia was still terrified from his close call, and he didn't recognize her, even after she kissed him."

"Did Lugia recognize his love?" Even Brock is worried.

'When even a kiss didn't jog his memory, Ho'oh was very frightened, and told him the story of his meeting with her from start to finish, and how she had come a long way in order to marry him." Misty continues. "Just as she had finished, the king walked in, curious to see if what Lugia had said was true. But hardly had he opened the door of the house when he was almost blinded by the light that filled it; and he remembered what he had been told about the beautiful aura around the princess. He staggered back as if he had been struck by a Thunderbolt, and falling on his knees before Ho'oh, he implored her to give up all thought of the peasant boy, and to share his throne. But she laughed, and said she had a finer throne of her own, if she wanted to sit on it, and that she was free to do as she wished, and would have no husband but the boy whom she would never have seen except for the king himself. She went on to say that she would marry Lugia the next morning; and ordered the preparations to be made."

"There has to be a catch..." Brock sighs.

"Or a challenge, or some monster or evil wizard takes her..." Ash agrees.

"When the next day came, however, the king informed Ho'oh that, by law, the marriage had to take place in his presence."Misty continues. "When the wedding party and all the guests were assembled in the royal shrine, he said..."

'" have no objection to this holy ceremony; but, before I can allow it to commence, the groom must prove himself worthy of such a bride by fulfilling three challenges." Brock fills in the king's dialogue. "First, he must cut down every tree in an entire forest--in one day!"

"Lugia stood aghast as the king's words. He had never cut down a tree in his life, and had no earthly idea how to begin." Misty narrates "But Ho'oh sensed the frantic thoughts in his mind, and told him..."

"Don't be afraid...." Melody assures Ash as Ho'oh. "In my ship you will find an axe, which you must take with you to the forest. When you have cut down one tree with it just sing 'Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo...' and all the trees will fall on the ground. But pick up three chips of the tree you felled, and put them in your pocket."

"And Lugia did exactly as he was told, and soon returned with the three chips safe in his coat." Misty narrates.

Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... Ash sings as Lugia for effect.

"The next day, when everyone arrived, the king issued the second challenge..." Misty narrates again.

"Second, he must put back all the trees he cut down yesterday." Brock announces as the king.

"This sounded much more difficult than what he had done before, and he turned in despair to Ho'oh.

"It's okay." Melody assures Ash as Ho'oh before offering him a small bottle of water. "Take this water and sprinkle it on one of the fallen trees, and sing to it 'Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo...' and they will be standing again like nothing happened at all."

"And Lugia did what he was told, and left the forest looking just as it was before." Misty narrates.

Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... Ash sings as he pours out the water on a wildflower sprout, as if expecting his spellsong to make it bloom in seconds.

"On the third day, the king issued the final challenge: Lugia was to slay a Gyarados which lived in a river that flowed at the back of the castle." Misty intones. "Everyone had heard stories of this fearsome Pokemon, though no one had actually seen it; but from every so often a child wandered too far from home and never return, and then mothers would forbid the other children to go near the river, which had juicy Berries and lovely flowers growing along its banks."

She adds as an aside "So it was little wonder Lugia trembled and turned white as a Gastly when he heard what he had to do."

"You will succeed in this too," Melody assures the jittery audience as Ho'oh, 'for in my ship is a magic sword which fires beams that cut through anything. Go down to the river and unfasten a boat which lies moored there, and throw the chips into the water. When the Gyarados appears, you will cut off its head with one beam of your sword. Then take a scale from its body and go with it tomorrow morning into the royal kitchen. If the king himself should come in there, just say to him: "Here is a gift I offer you in return for the services you demanded of me!" throw the scale, and hurry to the ship as fast as you can go. But be careful not to look behind you."

"Lugia did everything Ho'oh had told him." Misty continues. "In his eagerness to get to the ship, he got lost and wandered about. Just then, he came to an oracle's hut in the forest, and explained his quest to her. The Oracle told him that Ho'oh was near dead with grief. When he saw her, he was to sing the song 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul'. Then she would recognize him. She also told him of a castle of jewels in the heavens, but he still had many more trials left to face before he got there."

"This is getting good..." Brock notes. Pikachu sparks excitedly in agreement.

"Lugia thanked the oracle with tears of happiness for the good news she had given him, and continued his journey." Misty went on. "He helped many people with their disputes, earning a cloak of invisibility, a tablecloth that produced meals fit for royalty, a mage's staff, and shoes of teleportation for his wisdom."

"Wow!" Ash gasps, impressed.

"Lugia put on the shoes of teleportation and sang Karuto, iichiida shou.... warping him to the jeweled castle in the heavens." Misty continues. "He found Ho'oh dying of grief, so he knelt down by her side, and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

She concludes "Ho'oh recognized Lugia's voice, and threw herself in his arms. Their joy was amplified by the spellsong, transforming them into majestic bird Pokemon. Arceus then appointed Ho'oh as guardian of the sun, and Lugia the guardian of the moon. The wedding was celebrated right then and there, and there was great rejoicing in the heavens and on the earth for at least a week!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 187: Prince Ekans (Ash)

(real tale: The Snake Prince (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/347.htm))


"Once upon a time there lived a woman who was desperately poor." Ash begins. 'One day she found that she had only a handful of flour left in the house, and no money to buy more. So she trudged down to the river to take a bath and to get some water. Then she would make herself a small pancake out of what flour she had left; and after that--she didn't want to know what would happen after that."

Pikachu sniffles at the woman's plight. "Whilst she was bathing, she left her water bottle on the bank covered with a cloth, so the inside would be clean." Ash explains. "but when she got out of the river and took the cloth off to fill the bottle with water, she saw an Ekans inside. After closing up the bottle again, she got the idea to take the Ekans home, have it bite her, and put her out of her misery

"So she effectively wanted to commit suicide???" Misty gasps, horrified.

Ash just continues "Imagine her shock when she turned the bottle upside down and expecting the Ekans to fall out, and seeing a glittering necklace fall out instead!"

"Wow..." Even Brock is impressed as he pictures his idea of what the necklace looked like.

"She wasn't sure what to make of her discovery at first, but after a few moments, she decided to ask the king what to do with the treasure." Ash continues. "Luckily, the king was hearing disputes and requests that day, so the woman easily made it inside the castle. When she showed him the necklace, he was amazed at how beautiful it was; and the more he looked at it, the more he had to have it. So he gave the woman five hundred gold pieces for it, and stashed it in his pocket."

He adds as an aside "Needless to say, the woman never had to worry about food or money again." as he wipes Pikachu's now joyous tears. "As soon as he could leave the throne room, the king hurried off and showed his wife his prize, and she was as pleased as he was, if not more so. As soon as they were done admiring the wonderful necklace, they locked it up in the great chest where the queen's jewels was kept--and only the king knew where the key was."

"Ooh, a mystery!" Misty smiles.

Ash is quick to shoot down Misty's prediction. "Some months went by, and a neighboring king sent out the joyous news that a little princess--who had been named Hikari--had been born to him; and he invited his neighbors and friends to come to a great party in honor of the occasion. The queen told her husband that they couldn't miss the festivities, and she would wear the new necklace he had given her. They had only a little while to get ready for the journey, and as the the king went to the jewel chest to take out the necklace he was shocked to see a baby boy in its place!"

"This is getting stranger by the minute..." Brock muses as he contemplates the next plot twist Ash has up his sleeve.

"The queen was understandably shocked as well, but as she took the baby in her arms, she felt a wave of joy and love well up within her, as she had longed to have a child for a long time." Ash goes on. "They named the boy Katsu, as they saw him the victory after months of trying to have a child. The kingdom exploded in celebration-- the bells rang, the trumpets blared, and the people enjoyed enough fireworks, feasting, games, gifts, and rejoicing for a week!"

"That must've been some party..." Melody sighs happily.

"A few years went by, and as Prince Katsu and Princess Hikari grew up, their fathers agreed that as soon as they were old enough they would marry." Ash continues. "The years passed, and as soon as Prince Katsu and Princess Hikari were eighteen years old, Prince Katsu journeyed to the neighboring kingdom to finally take Princess Hikari's hand in marriage."

"Pika..." Pikachu sighs dreamily.

Ash just grins, signaling that his tale is nowhere near over. "Remember the woman from earlier? She had been summoned to serve as Prince Katsu's nurse; and although she loved him as her own son, and was a faithful servant, she could not help talking just a little, and so, rumors started flying that there was some magic about the young prince's birth; and the rumor eventually reached the ears of Princess Hikari's mom and dad. So now that she was going to be Prince Katsu's bride, her mom told Princess Hikari the night before the ceremony..."

"The first thing you should do is to find out if there is any truth to the rumor about Prince Katsu." Misty fills in the queen's dialogue. "To do this, don't say a word to him until he asks you why you are silent; then ask him the truth about his magic birth; Until he tells you, you will not speak to him again."

"Princess Hikari promised that she would follow her mother's advice." Ash continues. "The wedding was a grand affair, but whenever Prince Katsu spoke to his bride, she did not answer him. He didn't know what was the matter, but eventually he asked why she would not speak; and then she said....

"Tell me the secret of your birth." Melody asks as Princess Hikari.

"But Prince Katsu would always tell her she would be sorry if he told her." Ash intones. "But Princess Hikari wouldn't give up, and after a month or two, Prince Katsu finally relented, took her to the river, and told her that he was somehow cursed to become an Ekans. No sooner did he say this, did he appear to disappear before Princess Hikari's eyes. She looked in the water; and in the faint moonlight she saw an Ekans swimming into the river."

"And then?" Misty asks.

"Princess Hikari was naturally devastated, and commanded that a little house of stone be built on the bank; where she lived in mourning, with a few servants and guards to watch over her." Ash goes on. "A few nights later, the Ekans returned. For some reason, Princess Hikari knew it was her beloved, and asked if there was any way she could break the curse. The Ekans told her that on the next full moon, she was put a large bowl of milk and sugar in each corner of the room. All the Ekans in the river would come out to drink the milk, and the one that led the way would be Queen Arbok. She was to block the doorway, and sing 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...', she would flee in terror at the holy words of power, and the curse would be broken."

After pausing for a beat, Ash continues "So on the night of the full moon, Princess Hikari made four large bowls of milk and sugar, and put one in each corner of the room, and stood in the doorway waiting. Around midnight, there was a great hissing and rustling from the direction of the river, and it wasn't long before the ground appeared to be alive with horrible writhing forms of Ekans, whose eyes glittered and forked tongues quivered as they moved on in the direction of the house."

"Easy, Misty..." Brock assures Misty as he peels her off his back.

"Leading this hideous procession was an Arbok taller than any tree in the forest." Ash continues, making Misty grip tighter. "The guards fled in sheer terror, but Princess Hikari stood in the doorway, though white as a Gastly. As they came closer and saw her in the way, all the Ekans raised their heads and swayed them back and forth, and looked at her with wicked beady eyes, their breath seemingly poisoning the very air. But Princess Hikari stood strong, and, seconds before Queen Arbok approached, she sang..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

The rustling, writhing crowd of snakes were not expecting a flash of fire to come flying from the princess' hands, killing quite a few of them." Ash goes on. "But Queen Arbok kept going until her head was almost in Princess Hikari's face, her eyes filled with firey rage. But Princess Hikari stood in the doorway and sang again..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"The fire Princess Hikari invoked hit Queen Arbok dead on, killing her and all the other Ekans." Ash continues. A flash of light went up from the river, and Prince Katsu stepped from it. She ran to meet him, and threw herself into his arms, crying tears of joy and laughing all the while."

He concludes "The two of them returned to a hero's welcome, and the old king wept with joy to see them. And the bells, so long silent, rang with joy again, The trumpets blared, and there was even more feasting and rejoicing. The woman who had been Prince Katsu's nurse also served as nurse to Prince Katsu's own children But none was as happy as Prince Katsu and Princess Hikari, who lived happily ever after for many years."

Misty suddenly notices Pikachu sniffling again. "What's the matter?"

"Pika pikachu pi..." Pikachu smiles through his happy tears.

"You love happy endings, huh?" Misty smiles as she wipes the tears from Pikachu's eyes...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 188: Princess Enya and Moltres (Brock)

(real tale: The Story of Zoulvisia (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/344.htm))

"They say that long ago, in the desert of Houen, travelers would often claim to see a high mountain covered with beautiful trees, and the glitter of foaming waterfalls could be seen in the sunlight." Brock begins. "In that clear, still air it was even possible to hear the song of the bird Pokemon, and smell the flowers; but though the mountain was clearly inhabited -- you could see small houses here and there -- none of the kings, princes, and adventurers who passed it on the road to what is now Fallarbor Town or Lavaridge Town ever went into its forests -- or, if they did, they never came out."

Ash swallows hard as Brock intones "In fact, so great was the terror caused by the evil reputation of the mountain that fathers on their deathbeds would tell their sons and daughters never to try to fathom its mysteries. But in spite of its infamous nature, a certain number of young men and women every year announced their intention of visiting it and were never seen again."

He smiles as he looks out on his friends. "Having said all of that, I can properly begin this tale."

With that,he goes on "Now, there was once a powerful king who ruled over a country on the other side of the desert, and, as he was dying, gave the usual counsel to his seven sons. Hardly, was he dead did the eldest, who had inherited the throne, announce his intention of hunting in the enchanted mountain. The old sages shook their heads and tried to persuade him to give up the crazy scheme. But their warnings were in vain; he went, but did not return; and the throne was filled by his next brother. The same thing happened to the other five; but when the youngest--we'll call him Aidan--became king, he too proclaimed a hunt in the mountain. Needless to say, riots broke out in the city--the people were concerned about who would rule the land when he too inevitably died."

"So did King Aidan listen?" Melody worries.

"Well,for a while he listened to their pleas, and the land grew rich and prosperous under his rule." Brock assures Melody. "But in a few years the flights of fancy returned, and this time he would hear nothing of the warnings and pleas. Hunt in that forest he would, and after calling his friends and attendants round him, he set out one morning across the desert."

"So what happened to King Aidan?" Ash wonders.

"They were riding through a rocky valley, when a Sawsbuck sprang up in front of them and bounded away." Brock explains. "King Aidan naturally chased it, followed by his attendants; but the Pokemon ran so swiftly that they never could catch up to it, and it wasn't long before it vanished in the depths of the forest."

After waiting for a beat, he goes on "Then King Aidan stopped for the first time, and looked around him. He had left his companions behind, and, looking back, he spotted them entering some tents dotted here and there amongst the trees. For him, the fresh coolness of the woods was more attractive to him than any food, however delicious, and for hours he strolled about as his will led him."

Misty swallows hard as Brock goes on "However, it began to grow dark, and he thought that the moment had arrived for them to start for home. So, leaving the forest with a sigh, he made his way down to the tents, but imagine his horror to find his men lying about, some dead, some dying. It was as clear as day that the wine they had drunk contained deadly poison."

As King Aidan, he sighs "I am too late to help you, my friends, but at least I can avenge you! Those that have set this trap will most likely return to see if it worked. I will hide myself somewhere, and discover who they are!"

As himself, he continues "Then he noticed a large walnut tree nearby, and climbed into its branches. Night soon fell, and nothing broke the stillness of the place; but with the earliest glimpse of dawn a noise of galloping hoofs was heard."

"What was it?" Ash asks, fearing the worst.

"Pushing the branches aside the king noticed someone approaching, mounted on a shining Ponyta. On reaching the tents the warrior dismounted, and closely inspected the dead bodies that lay around them. Then, one by one, he dragged them to a ravine close by and threw them into a lake at the bottom. While he was doing this, the servants who had followed him led away the Ponytas of the ill-fated men, and the courtiers were ordered to let loose the Sawsbuck, which was used as a decoy, and to see that the tables in the tents were covered as before with food and wine. Once everything was in place he strolled slowly through the forest, but great was his surprise to come upon a beautiful shining Ponyta hidden in the depths of a thicket.'There was a Ponyta for every dead man,' he said to himself. 'Then whose is this ?'

"Mine !" he announces as King Aidan. 'Who are you that lure people into your power and then poison them ? But you will do so no more. Return to your palace, wherever it may be, and we will fight before it!"

"I accept your challenge. Mount, and follow me. I am Enya." Misty replies--a subtle clue to the audience that he is a she.

"No sooner had the stranger said this, he was out of sight so quickly that King Aidan had only time to notice that light seemed to flow from himself and his steed, and that the long hair under his helmet was jet black like a river of stars." Brock goes on "Clearly, he was a she. But who could she be? Was she queen of a far away land? Or was she a bandit queen? She was neither: only a beautiful maiden."

He pauses before continuing "King Aidan remained standing beneath the walnut tree, long after Ponyta and rider had vanished from sight. Then he woke with a jump, to remember that he must find the way to the palace of his foe, though where it was he had no idea. However, he took the path down which the rider had come, and walked along for many hours till he came to three huts side by side, in each of which lived a fairy and her two guardians."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"The poor king was by this time so tired and hungry that he could hardly speak, but when he had drunk some water, and rested a little, he was able to reply to the questions they asked him." Brock replies.

"I am going to seek Enya," he explains as King Aidan; She has slain my brothers and many of my subjects, and I mean to avenge them."

"What a pity we did not know!" Melody gasps. "Twice today has she passed our door, and we might have kept her prisoner."

"But though their words were brave, their hearts were not, for the mere thought of Enya made them tremble." Brock narrates.

"Forget Enya, and stay with us," Melody pleads. "You shall be our big brother, and we will be your little sisters."

"So King Aidan took from his pocket a ruby, a sapphire, and a topaz, and gave one to each of the fairies, saying..." Brock then switches to his 'King Aidan' voice. "Though I may not give up my vengeance I accept your friendship, and therefore leave you these three gems. If any of them glow, know that my life is in danger, and, in memory of our promise, come to my aid."

As himself, he continues "The fairies agreed to the promise, and the king mounted his Ponyta and set out along the road they showed him. Just as the moon was rising that night, he saw a splendid palace, but, though he rode twice around it, he could find no door. He was considering what to do next, when he heard the sound of snoring. He looked down and saw an old man lying at the bottom of a deep pit, just outside the walls, with a lantern by his side. 'Perhaps he may be able to give me some counsel,' thought King Aidan; and he carefully climbed into the pit and laid his hand on the man's shoulder.

"Are you a Fletchling or an Ekans that you can enter here?" he asks as the old man

"I am only a mere mortal, and I seek Enya." he replies as King Aidan.

"Enya? The world's curse?" he gasps as the old man."'Out of all the thousands she has slain I am the only one who has escaped, though why she spared me only to condemn me to this living death I cannot guess."

"Help me if you can," he pleads as King Aidan..

"Take heed then to my counsel," he replies as the old man. "Know that every day at sunrise, Enya dresses herself in her jacket of rubies, and climbs the steps of her crystal watchtower. From there she can see all over her lands, and see the entrance of either man or demon. If so much as one is detected she utters such fearful words that those who hear her die of fright. But hide yourself in a cave that lies near the foot of the tower, and plant a forked stick in front of it; then, when she has uttered her third cry, go forth boldly, and look up at the tower. And go without fear, for you will have broken her power."

Ash leads the applause as Brock continues as himself "King Aiden did everything as the old man had told him, and when he came out from the cave, their eyes met."

"You have conquered me," Misty interjects as Enya, "and are worthy to be my husband, for you are the first person who has not died at the sound of my voice!"

"Enya let down her jet hair, which she used to pull the king to the top of the tower like a rope." Brock goes on. "Then she led him into the throne, and presented him to her household, where they were married right then and there."

"Ask of me what you wish, and I will grant it to you," Misty adds as Enya.

"King Aidan asked her to set free the old man that helped him, and to send him back to his own country." Brock narrates.

"I have finished with hunting, and with riding" Misty replies as Enya. "The care of providing for us all belongs to you now."

"She turned to her attendants and told them to bring the shining Ponyta before her." Brock narrates.

"This is your master, O my steed of flame, and you will serve him as you have served me." Misty coos to an imagined Ponyta as Enya.

"The Ponyta looked for a moment at the young man, and then bent his head, while the king patted his neck and smoothed his tail, like they were old friends." Brock goes on. "Then he decided to go on a ride, but before he left, Enya gave him a case of jewels."

"What was so special about them?" Ash is curious.

"He rode along for some time, without seeing any game to bring home for dinner. Suddenly a fine Sawsbuck dashed from the brush, and he quickly gave chase." Brock replies. "On they ran, but the Sawsbuck twisted and turned so that King Aidan had no chance of a shot till they reached a river, when the Pokemon jumped in and swam across. King Aidan fitted his bow with an arrow, and took aim..." He pantomimes aiming a bow to emphasize his point. "but although he succeeded in wounding the Sawsbuck, it had enough strength to reach the other bank, and in the confusion, he never noticed that the case of jewels had fallen in the water."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks.

"The stream, though deep, was fast, and the box was swirled along miles, and miles, and miles, till it was washed up in another country." Brock explains. "It was picked up by one of the royal waterbearers, who showed it to the king. The workmanship of the case was so curious, and the jewels so rare, that the king could not decide to part with it, but he gave the man a good price and sent him away. Then, summoning his chamberlain, he bade him find out its history in three days, or else."

"And then?" Misty wonders.

"But the answer to the riddle, which puzzled all the mages and wise men, was given by a wise woman, who came up to the palace and told the chamberlain that, for two hundred pieces of gold, she would reveal the mystery." Brock intones. "Of course the chamberlain gladly gave her what she asked, and in return she informed him that the case and the hair belonged to Enya. The chamberlain told her to bring her to that land, and she would be rick beyond her wildest dreams. The wise woman replied that she would try her best."

The tent is silent as the small audience wonders what will happen next. "She went back to her hut in the middle of the forest, and standing in the doorway, sang....

Gran zirtan vin fangan miti... Melody sings.

"Suddenly, the dead leaves on the ground began to move and to rustle, and from underneath them there came a long line of Arboks." Brock intones "They wriggled to the witch, who stooped down and patted their heads, and gave each one some milk in a red earthen basin. When they had all finished, she turned one into a cane and another into a whip with the same spellsong. Then she took a stick, and on the river bank changed it into a raft with that spellsong, and set sail."

"How did King Aidan react?" Ash asks, worried for the king.

"All that day she floated, and all the next night, and towards sunset the following evening she found herself close to Enya's garden, just at the moment that the King Aidan was returning from hunting." Brock goes on. "he asked the woman what she was doing there, and the woman told him the most heart wrenching tale Of course,King Aidan felt sorry for her and he promised that he would bring her food, and that she should spend the night in his palace. When they got there, he told the witch to rest herself, and he would bring her anything she needed. But Enya his wife grew white as Gastly when she heard who the guest was."

[This is boring...] a Meowth interjects.

Brock musters a embarrassed grin. "You're right--I picked one a bit too long, didn't I?"

"Don't worry--you can think of a shorter one--or a long one that doesn't ramble too much--while Ash and I take my turns." Misty assures him as the Pokemon laugh.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 189: The Mint Leaf (Misty)

(real tale: The Sprig of Rosemary (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/425.htm))


"Once upon a time there lived a man with one daughter--we'll call her Cherie--and he made her work hard all day." Misty begins. "One morning when she had finished everything she had been told to do, he told her to go out into the woods and get some dry leaves and sticks to build a fire."

"A thousand credits says she finds a boy, they fall in love, and marry." Ash jokingly whispers to Brock. Brock just grins--he knows Ash is not seriously making a bet.

Misty seemingly confirms Ash's prediction some moments later. "So Cherie went out, and collected a large bundle, picking a Mint Leaf for herself. But the harder she pulled the firmer the plant held, and after one great big tug, the mint remained in her hands. Then she saw before her a handsome young man, who asked why she had come to steal his firewood. Cherie, who felt very confused, only managed to stammer out as an excuse that her father had sent her.

"Very well," Brock replies as the young man; "then come with me."

"So he took her through the opening made by the torn root, and they traveled till they reached a beautiful palace, splendidly furnished, but only lit from the top." Misty goes on. "When they had entered he told her that his name was Eliwood, he was a great lord, and that he had never seen a maiden so beautiful as she was, and that if she would give him her heart he would take her hand in marriage. Cherie confessed her love for him, and so they were married."

"And they all lived happily ever after, the end!" Ash blurts.

"I'm not done yet, cowboy!" Misty reminds him. "Anyway, the next day the old housekeeper handed her all the keys, but pointed out one that she was told never to use, for if she did the whole palace would crumble to the ground, and the grass would grow over it, and she would be forgotten."

Ash swallows hard as Misty continues "Cherie promised to be careful, but after a while, when there was nothing left for her to do, she began to wonder what could be in the chest, which was opened by the forbidden key.

She adds as an aside "As everybody knows, if we once begin to think we soon begin to do."

Brock nods in agreement as Misty intones "It was not very long before the key was no longer in Cherie's hand but in the lock of the chest."

"So what was inside after all?" Ash wonders.

"Nothing but three magic jewels--a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald, which her husband, who was unbeknownst to her a mage, needed to cast spells." Misty replies. "Then the earth shook violently under her feet, the palace vanished as if it had never existed, and Cherie found herself in the middle of a field, not knowing where she was or where to go. She burst into a flood of bitter tears, partly at her own stupid act, but more for the loss of her husband Eliwood, whom she dearly loved. Then, after breaking a leaf off a mint plant nearby, she resolved, no matter what, to seek him till she found him again."

"What adventures awaited her?" Melody asks.

"So she walked, and walked. and walked some more, till she arrived at a house built of straw." Misty goes on. "She knocked at the door, and asked if they needed a servant. The mistress said she did, and if the girl was willing she might stay. But as the days went on, poor Cherie grew more and more sad, till at last her mistress begged her to tell her what was the matter. Then she told her story--how she was going through the world seeking after her husband. And her mistress answered her, 'Where he is, none can tell better than Ho'oh, Lugia, and Suicune, for they go everywhere!'

Pikachu sparks excitedly as Misty continues "On hearing these words, Cherie set forth once more, and walked till she reached Ho'oh's roost, calling..."

"All hail, Lady Ho'oh!" Melody announces as Cherie. "I have come to ask if you will help me in my hour of need. By my own fault have I fallen into these straits, and I am weary, for I seek my husband through the wide world."

"Indeed!" Misty replies as Ho'oh. "Do you, rich as you are, need help? But though you live in a palace without windows, I enter everywhere, and I know you."

As herself, she continues "Then Cherie told Ho'oh everything. and did not hide her own stupidity. And Ho'oh listened, and was sorry for her; and though she could not tell her where to go, he gave her a ruby, and and told her to invoke it in a time of great need. Cherie thanked Ho'oh with all her heart, and departed. After walking some more, she came to Lugia's roost, where a servant was sweeping the brush."

"All hail!" Melody replies as Cherie. "I have come to ask your help!"

'It is my master, Lugia, you seek." Misty assures Melody as the servant. "I will inform him of your request."

As herself, she goes on "So Lugia met Cherie, and when he saw her he knew her well, for he had watched her sleeping both in the cottage and in the palace. He told her..."

"Do you, rich as you are, need help?" Ash asks as Lugia.

"Cherie told Lugia everything, and Lugia listened, and felt sorry for her; and though he could not tell her where to find her husband, he gave her a sapphire, and told her only invoke it it when she was in great need. Cherie thanked Lugia, and departed, and walked even more until she came to Suicune's den, and she called to the servant cleaning the cave...."

"All hail! I have come to ask if you will help me in my hour of need." Melody calls as Cherie again.

'It is my master, Suicune, that you want," Misty replies as the servant. "I will tell him of your plight."

As herself, she goes on "Suicune met Cherie at the cave entrance. He knew her well, for he had seen her in the cottage and in the palace, and he asked..."

"Do you, rich as you are, want help?" Brock asks as Suicune

"And Cherie told Suicune everything."Misty continues. "Suicune listened, and felt sorry for her, and he gave her an emerald that she was to invoke only in a time of need. But Cherie didn't know where else to go. She was tired and sad, so she began to cry. Suicune nuzzled her to comfort her, and said..."

'Don't be afraid; I will go and see what I can find out." Brock assures the audience as Suicune.

"Suicune departed and was only gone for a matter of seconds, before returning in the twinkling of an eye." Misty narrates.

"From what I have heard in town..." Brock explains as Suicune., "I have learned that he is in the palace of the king, who keeps him hidden lest anyone should see him; and that tomorrow he is to marry the princess Connie, who, ugly creature that she is, has not been able to find any man to wed her."

"You can imagine the despair which gripped the poor Cherie when she heard this news!" Misty continues "As soon as she could speak she begged Suicune to do what he could to get the wedding put off for two or three days at least, for it would take her all that time to reach the palace."

[What did Suicune do?] a Meowth asks.

"He gladly promised to do what he could, and as he traveled much faster than a human, he soon arrived at the palace, where he found five tailors working night and day at Princess Connie's wedding gown." Misty continues. "Suicune leapt right in the middle of their lace and satin and trimmings of diamonds and pearls! They all went flying through the open windows, right up into the tops of the trees, across the river, among the dancing ears of Cornn Berries!"

The tent explodes in laughter at the chaos. "The tailors were not far behind, catching, jumping, climbing, but all to no avail!" Misty continues. "The lace was torn, the satin stained, the diamonds and pearls knocked off! There was nothing to do but to go to the shops to buy new ones, and to start all over again! It was plainly quite impossible that the wedding dress could be ready by the next day."

She intones "However, the king was much too anxious to see his daughter married to listen to any excuses, and he declared that a dress must be put together somehow for the bride to wear. But when he went to look at Princess Connie, she was such a figure that he agreed that it would be unfitting for her position to be seen in such a gown, and he ordered the ceremony and the banquet to be postponed for a few hours, so that the tailors might somehow make it fit."

The boys try oh-so-hard not to laugh as Misty continues "But by this time Cherie had arrived, albeit weary, at the castle, and as soon as she reached the door, she invoked the ruby Ho'oh gave her...

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and conjured the most beautiful purple cape in the world." Misty continues. "She then asked the guards if Princess Connie wanted to buy a fine cape. When Princess Connie saw the cape, she was delighted, for her white cape had been spoiled with everything else, and it was too late to make another. So she told Cherie to ask what price she would, and she would take it. Cherie asked for many pieces of gold, but Princess Connie had set her heart on the cape, and readily paid 5000 gold pieces."

Brock whistles in awe at the high price. "Now Cherie hid the gold in the pocket of her dress, and left the castle." Misty continues. "The moment she was out of sight she invoked the sapphire Lugia gave her..."

Rou iitsa non selga vichii... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and conjured the most magnificent petticoats that ever were seen." Misty continues. "Then she went back to the castle, and convinced Princess Connie to buy them too. "Then Cheriel went down the steps where none could watch her and invoked the emerald Suicune had given her..."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and the most splendid dress that any dressmaker had ever invented appeared in a flash of green light." Misty continues. "Princess Connie was eager to buy the dress too, and asked Cherie her price. Cherie answered that the price of the dress was the permission to see the groom."

"Oh boy..." Ash shudders at Princess Connie's reaction.

"Needless to say, Princess Connie was not at all pleased when she heard Cherie's reply, but, as she could not do without the dress, she was forced to give in, and contented herself with thinking that after all it did not matter." Misty continues "So Cherie was led to the rooms which had been given to Eliwood. And when she came close, she touched him with the mint leaf that she carried; and his memory returned. He recognized her right away, and kissed her, and declared that she was his true wife, and that he loved her and no other."

She concludes "They went back to Cherie's home, and lived happily all the days of their lives. But Cherie kept the magic jewels, just in case she needed their power again."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 190: The Speaking Cheri Tree (Ash)

(real tale: Amedeo and the Talking Tree (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20130825))


"Once upon a time, there lived a wealthy man named Aidan who liked to collect rare and wondrous things." Ash begins. "One day, a stranger came and asked to see his collection."

"What kind of stuff did Aidan have?" Misty is interested.

"Aidan loved to show off his glassware and jewelry and rugs and lamps, but as the stranger studied these, she shook her head and looked quizzically at Aidan." Ash explains.

“You’re missing the best thing of all,” Melody interjects as the girl.

“What could I possibly have missed?” Ash asks as Aidan.

“You do not have the Speaking Cheri Tree, one of the rarest and finest things of all,” Melody replies.

"Well, That night, Aidan could think of nothing but the Speaking Cheri Tree." Ash goes on. "He hired men to scour the world, but his explorers and adventurers returned empty-handed. Some of them said there was no such thing."

"So what did Aidan do?" Brock is intrigued.

"Aidan thought the woman had been making fun of him." Ash explains. "He called her to his home, but she looked him in the eye and said...

“I’ve seen the Speaking Cheri Tree with my own eyes. I’ve heard it speak with my own ears.” Melody pleads as the girl.

“What did it say?” Ash asks as Aidan.

“Ever to wait for what will never be is the plight of he who does not see.” Melody replies.

The Pokemon giggle at Ash's confused look, but he continues "Aidan sent another team of adventurers and a year went by, but they too returned with nothing.By now, Aidan was furious, and ordered the police to arrest the woman."

Everyone gasps, but Ash assures his friends "Now, Aidan was an important man, and the police did not wish to upset him, but the woman said..."

"It is not my fault if Aidan’s men do not know how to search." Melody muses

“'Why else would she persist so?' Aidan wondered." Ash continues. "He decided he would find this treasure himself, so he set off early the next morning when it was still dark."

"Cue the adventure..." Misty smiles.

"After many days, he came to a valley where birdsong filled the earth and the air was thick with the scent of rich soil and leaves." Ash continues. "He lay down to rest, and just as he was falling asleep, he heard a voice call out..."

“Ever to wait for what will never be is the plight of he who does not see.” Melody intones.

"Was this a dream?" Ash grins at his friends. "Aidan looked around and again heard..."

“Ever to wait for what will never be is the plight of he who does not see.” Melody interjects.

“Who are you?” Ash calls as Aidan.

Misty and Brock giggle as he continues as himself "But nobody answered, and again he fell asleep, but when he woke at dawn he noticed a beautiful Cheri tree with its branches bending to the earth. He picked one petal of the soft pink flowers, and a voice said..."

“Why do you hurt me?” Melody pleads.

“Who are you?” Ash asks as Aidan.

“My name is Holly--I am the daughter of the king of a far away land, and a warlock has me under his spell,” Melody explains. "I will not be freed until someone swears to marry me, learns a magical song guarded by an ogre, and then sings it while laying his hands on the tree trunk."

Then, she freezes in fear, as if something or someone is there. “Shh,” she suddenly whispers, “the warlock is near.”

"Suddenly, the witch appeared and asked Aidan..." Ash narrates.

“Who were you talking to?” Brock asks as the warlock.

“Only the wind,” Ash replies as Aidan.

As himself, he continues. "The warlock did not believe him, but he could not prove him wrong, so Aidan decided to try to break the spell. Just as he was falling asleep in the woods, he heard thundering footsteps. An ogre was storming toward home, and Aidan knew ogres ate people. He quickly climbed a tree and hid, and the ogre passed by like nothing was there. At dawn, Aidan slid down the tree, and at the bottom stood the ogre’s daughter, a beautiful girl named Rana.

As Aidan, Ash tells Misty “Help me break the warlock’s spell, and keep me safe from your father.”

“If you wish to break the spell,” Misty cautions as Rana, “you must marry me.”

Ash interjects as himself "Now, Rana was lovely, but Aidan wanted to marry Holly, the girl of the Speaking Cheri Tree."

“I’m promised to another,” he sighs as Aidan.

“Very well,” Misty replies as Rana, “I’ll protect you and teach you the magic song.”

The Pokemon applaud the interplay as Ash continues "She led him through the forest, and when they reached its edge, she reached into a tree hollow and brought out a scroll and some magical powder. This she sprinkled upon his face and said...

“Close your eyes and wish and you shall be back at the tree.” Misty explains as Rana.

"He did just that, and sure enough, he was transported back to the tree in a second." Ash continues. "He laid his hands on the tree trunk, but just before he could sing the song written on the scroll, the warlock appeared."

Pikachu holds Happini close as Ash tells Brock as Aidan “I’m merely blessing the tree, and nothing more.”

“Very well,” Brock replies as the warlock, “but only say what I tell you to say.”

"Aidan knew he must not follow his directions." Ash continues as himself. "So when he told him to say words that he knew formed a curse, he sang the song written on the scroll..."

With that, he sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul....

Happini cheers at the gibberish song. "Before the warlock could protest, he disappeared in a flash of light, never to be seen again." Ash goes on. And in that moment a beautiful girl stepped out of the tree--Holly!"

The other Pokemon cheer as Ash concludes "They returned to Aidan's homeland, where they both lived happily for many years."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 191: The Castle de Milagros (Brock)

(real tale: Soria Moria Castle (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/118.htm))

"There was once a couple in a certain town who had a son named Garon." Brock begins. "Ever since he was little he had been unwilling to do any work, and many times just sat there in the ashes, which was ironic because his name meant 'guardian'."

Ash and Misty giggle at this. "His parents sent him away to learn one thing or another, but Garon never really stayed anywhere." Brock explains "After about two or three days--sometimes a bit more-- he always ran away from his master, hurried home, and sat down in the chimney corner to grub among the ashes again."

More laughter goes up as Brock continues "One day, a boat captain came and asked Garon if he wanted to come aboard his ship, and travel to exotic and foreign lands. Garon loved the sound of that, so he wasted no time in getting ready."

"Well, what exotic and foreign lands did Garon see?" Melody is interested.

"How long they sailed I have no idea, and the sheer number of adventures they had on the way are too many to tell in one sitting." Brock confesses. "but after a long, long time a terrible storm blew up, and when things had calmed down again, they didn't know where in the world they were, for they had wound up by a strange coast that no one had any knowledge of."

"So did Garon explore this exotic land?" Ash asks, excited at the prospect of adventure.

"Since there was no wind to make the ship go, it sat there for a good long time." Brock explains. "Finally Garon asked the skipper to let him go on the shore to look around and explore--it beat lying there and sleeping all day."

"Are you sure you look presentable enough to go out in public?" he asks in his best mimic of Drake for the skipper. "You have no other clothes but those rags!"

"That was pretty good!" Ash smiles, impressed at how accurate Brock's Drake impression is.

As himself, Brock goes on "Garon still begged to go, and the skipper said okay, but he was to return if the wind picked up enough to sail again."

"So what did Garon see on the island?" Misty wonders.

"Well it was a delightful land; wherever he went there were wide plains with fields and meadows, but as for people, there were none to be seen. The wind began to pick up some hours later, but Garon still wanted to explore some more." Brock explains. "After a while, he came to a great road, which was so smooth that an egg could be rolled along it without breaking. Garon followed this road, and when evening came, he saw a huge castle far away in the distance, with lights in it. He had been walking the whole day and had not brought anything to eat with him, so he was famished, to say the least. But the closer he came to the castle, the more afraid he was."

"W-what was in there?" Melody stammers.

"A fire was burning in the castle, and Garon went into the kitchen, which was more magnificent than any kitchen he had ever seen." Brock explains. "There were bowls and chalices of gold and silver and crystal, but not one human being was to be seen. When Garon had stood there for some time, and no one had come out, he went in and opened a door, and inside a princess--we'll call her Raina--was sitting at her wheel spinning."

"How...how can anyone dare to come here?" Melody gasps as Princess Raina. "But the best thing that you can do is to leave this place, for if you don't the troll will devour you--a troll with three heads lives here."

"I wouldn't mind even if he had seven heads, so I'm not scared!" Ash proclaims as Garon. "I'm not going anywhere, for I have not hurt anything, but I would like something to eat, for I am very hungry.'

"When Garon had eaten his fill, Princess Raina told him to try and see if he could wield the sword which was hanging on the wall." Brock narrates. "but he could not wield it, much less pick it up."

"Well, try drinking some of that potion of strength next to the blade--that's what the troll does when he wants to use the sword,' Melody suggests as Princess Raina.

"So Garon took a drink of the potion of strength..." Brock narrates, just as Ash opens and takes a drink of a soda. "and he was able to wield the sword easily."

"BA-Da-DA-DAAAAAAAAH!!!!" Misty can't resist singing the Zelda 'got item stinger.

"Just then, Garon heard the troll coming, and braced himself for battle." Brock intones."It was a very long and drawn out fight, but in the end, Garon was victorious!"

The Pokemon cheer at this. "Princess Raina was elated to be free, but then she remembered her two sisters, and asked Garon to free them too." Brock goes on. "The middle sister, Princess Valerie, was held by a six headed troll, and the eldest, Princess Saisha, was held by a nine headed troll. Needless to say, Garon saved both of them as well, and they were more than overjoyed to be together again, and they were happier than they had ever been in their lives. but of the three of them, Raina loved him best."

"And they all lived happily ever after?" Misty guesses.

"But Garon got homesick after a while, and longed to see his family again." Brock continues. "So the three princesses dressed him so beautifully that he would have been mistaken for a prince; and they put a diamond ring on his finger, which would warp him anywhere by invoking a song of power. They warned him that he was not to throw it away, or name them; for if he did, all his riches would disappear, and he would never see them again."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash sings as Garon.

"...and no sooner had he sang this did he find himself at home in the blink of an eye." Brock continues. "It was getting dark, and when his father and mother saw such a beautiful and handsome stranger, they were so startled that they both began to bow and curtsey, not knowing he was their own son. Garon then asked if he could stay there for the night. The couple refused at first-they had hardly the trappings fit for a prince. It was only when Garon asked to make himself at home in the ashes that they recognized their son.'

"Cue the happy reunion..." Ash smiles.

"In his excitement of telling his parents of his many adventures, Garon made the mistake of naming the princesses." Brock intones. "Just like they had warned, his riches disappeared, leaving him in rags again. Garon cried himself to sleep that night, but in one of his dreams, Princess Raina appeared to him, saying she and her sisters were waiting at the Castle de Millagros, a mythical castle said to exist somewhere in the world. The next morning, his parents pleaded for Garon to stay, but Garon said no--he had to find the princesses again, or die trying to find them."

"Poor Garon..." Melody sighs. Pikachu sniffles in agreement.

"Garon had three hundred gold pieces to buy supplies for the long journey." Brock explains. "When he arrived in town, he bought himself a Ponyta to carry his supplies, and set out while the sun was hot. He traveled over hills and fields, eventually arriving in a dark forest."

[And what frightful beasts lurked in the wood?] Mai asks.

"Not so much monsters as it was thick with trees that seemed to go on forever." Brock assures Mai. "But after wandering in the forest for two days straight, he saw a light shining through the trees."

"What was it?" Misty asks.

"He came to a little cottage, where an old couple lived." Brock replies. "He asked the old woman if she knew of the Castle de Milagros, and if she knew the way there."

"No, I do not..." Misty sighs in her best impression of an old woman. "but Lugia will pass this way soon, and I will ask him, and he will know. He can easily see it, for he shines on all things on his nightly flight."

"So when Lugia flew high above the treetops, giving them a silver sheen, the old woman went out and called..." Brock narrates.

"Oh, Lugia! Can you tell me the way to the Castle de Milagros?" Misty asks as the old woman.

"No, I cannot..." Brock replies in a deep and gentle voice for Lugia. "for when I shone there, there was a cloud in the way."

"Wait a little longer," Misty assures Ash as the old woman. "for Suicune will soon pass here, and he will know what you seek, for he breathes gently or runs into every corner."

"About then, the old woman noticed Garon's Ponyta, and offered to trade some enchanted boots for it." Brock interjects as himself. "Garon readily agreed, and wanted to set off immediately; but the old woman reminded that there was no need to hurry." It wasn't long before Suicune came--and he ran so fast that the walls creaked. The old woman went out and cried..."

"Oh, Suicune! Can you tell me the way to the Castle de Milagros?" Misty fills in the old woman's dialogue.

"Yes, I know that place well," Brock chooses a regal deep voice to represent Suicune. "I am on my way there to dry the clothes for the wedding which is to take place there soon. If your guest is strong, I can take him there."'

As himself, he continues. "Garon wasted no time in climbing aboard Suicune, He ran over hill and over dale, Garon hanging on tightly all the while. When they arrived in front of the castle and Suicune let him off, it was so full of Pokemon and people that it swarmed with them. But Garon was so ragged and torn from his ride aboard Suicune, and hid himself among the crowd until the day before the wedding, when a great feast was to be held at noon.

"Did Princess Raina recognize him?" Ash wonders.

"So just before the toasts to the bride and groom were made, Princess Raina recognized the diamond ring on Garon's hand, and asked the guests..."

"Who is most worthy to have one of us--he who delivered us from the trolls or he who is sitting here as my bridegroom?" Melody asks as Raina.

"Garon revealed himself to Princess Raina, and they were the ones married the next day." Brock concludes. "And they all lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 192: The Shiny Pidove (Misty)

(real tale: The White Dove (http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/lfb/pi/pifb32.htm))

"There was once a king who had two sons." Misty begins. "They were a pair of reckless boys, who always found something foolish to do. One day they rowed out alone on the sea in a little boat. It was beautiful weather when they left, but as soon as they had gotten some distance from the shore a terrific storm blew up. The oars went overboard right away, and the little boat was tossed about on the rolling waves like a leaf in the wind. The princes had to hang on for dear life to keep from being thrown out of the boat."

"So did they survive the ride of their lives?" Brock worries

"In the midst of all the wind and rain they spotted a wonderful vessel, captained by the sea spirit Undine." Misty continues. "She called to them, and said that they could still get to shore alive if they would promise her the son that was next to come to their mother the queen. They initially refused, but a huge wave that nearly sent them overboard made them reconsider."

"And then?" Ash is interested.

"As soon as they had called their promise into the storm, the storm let up." Misty assures Ash. "The boat came ashore near their father's castle, and both princes were received with open arms by their father and mother, who had been worried sick for them. The two brothers said nothing about what they had promised, neither at that time nor when the queen's third son came. The boy was named Jonathan, since she loved him more than anything else in the world. He was brought up and educated in his father's house until he came of age, and his brothers had never seen or heard from Undine in all that time."

"Undine has to show up sooner or later..." Brock cautions.

"Now one evening, a raging storm blew up." Misty goes on. "It howled and roared around the king's palace, and in the midst of it all there came a loud knock on the door of the hall where Prince Jonathan was. He went to the door and found Undine on the stoop. She told him to come with her right then, and reminded him of what his brothers had done years before. Jonathan reluctantly agreed, and Undine sailed over the sea, home to her dwelling."

She reminds her audience "Now, you have to remember that Prince Jonathan was now under Undine's power, and in her service. The first thing she told him to do was to pick feathers.

As Undine, she explains "The heap of feathers that you see here you must sort into piles before I return tonight, or else."

As herself, she continues "So Prince Jonathan went to work sorting the feathers, but just before he was done, a huge gust of wind sent all the feathers flying, and swept them along the floor into a mixed up heap. He now had to sort them all over again, but by this time, he only had an hour before Undine returned, and there was no way he'd be done by then."

"Cue the spellsong..." Ash whispers to Brock, who chuckles at the comment.

"There's spellsongs in here, but not yet." Misty assures the boys. "Anyway, he heard something tapping at the window pane, and a thin voice said... "

"Let me in, and I will help you." Melody fills in the dialogue.

"The voice belonged to a Shiny Pidove outside the window."Misty goes on "Prince Jonathan opened the window, the Pidove flew in, and had all the feathers sorted in mere seconds. When it was done, the Pidove flew out the window, minutes before Undine arrived. She was amazed at the piles, and rewarded Prince Jonathan with a big dinner."

Then what did Undine want him to do?" Ash asks.

"The next morning, Undine told Prince Jonathan to cut some firewood." Misty goes on. "So Prince Jonathan got an axe and set to work. But as the day wore on, he was nowhere near done Then the Shiny Pidove came flying and settled down on the pile of wood, and said...

"Shall I help you?" Melody smiles at Ash

"Yes," Ash replies as Prince Jonathan, "Many thanks for your help yesterday, and for what you offer today."

"With that, the little Pidove had all the wood cut in mere minutes." Misty goes on. "Prince Jonathan thanked it, and stroked and caressed its shining feathers, and kissed its little black beak. Imagine his surprise when the Pidove turned into a beautiful young maiden!"

"Wow..." Brock sighs as he dreamily imagines what the princess looks like.

The princess--we'll call her Paloma--told him that she had been kidnapped by Undine, turned into a Pidove." Misty explains. With love's first kiss she became human again; and if he would be faithful to her, and take her as his bride, she could free them both from Undine's power."

"Pini!" Happini cheers at the thought of a princess

"Prince Jonathan was quite captivated by Princess Paloma, and was quite willing to do anything in his power to protect her." Misty goes on.

"When Undine returns, you must ask her to grant you a wish, when you have finished all that she requires of you." Melody explains. "When she agrees to this, you must ask her straight up for the princess that she has flying about as a Shiny Pidove. But for now you must take a red silk thread and tie it around my little finger, so that you may be able to recognize me again, no matter what form I'm in."

Prince Jonathan hurried to get the thread tied." Misty continues. "Seconds after he got it tied, Princess Paloma became a Pidove again and flew away, and Undine returned some moments later."

"How did she react to the prince's request?" Brock asks.

"Try as she might to turn Princess Paloma into millions of other forms, Prince Jonathan still insisted on her. Finally, in her anger, Undine returned Princess Paloma to her true from, and started throwing stuff everywhere in her rage." Misty intones. "Princess Paloma led Prince Jonathan to an empty room, and told him..."

"We've got to get out of here immediately." Melody explains. "I will lay two pieces of wood in the bed, and enchant them to answer in our voices when Undine calls us. You can take the emerald and the sapphire that are lying on the window, and we will escape that way."

"They hurried off into the dark night, with Princess Paloma leading the way." Misty goes on. "At midnight Undine came to the door of the room and called for them, and the two pieces of wood answered her in their voices, so that she believed they were there, and went away again. Before daybreak she was at the door again and called to them, and again the pieces of wood answered in their voices. She thought that she had them, and when she burst into the room the next morning, she found no prince and no princess—nothing but the two pieces of firewood in the bed. She threw them on the floor, where they shattered into a zillion pieces."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, sparking nervously

Ash and Melody decide to role play the next scene of the tale. "Do you see anything behind us?" Melody asks as Princess Paloma

"Yes, I see a dark cloud, far away," Ash replies as Prince Jonathan.

"Then sing to the emerald 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...'" Melody suggests.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash sings.

"No sooner had Prince Jonathan sang did the emerald glow, conjuring a large thick forest behind them." Misty narrates. When Undine came to the forest she could not get through it, buying the prince and princess some time."

"Look around; do you see anything behind us?" Melody asks as Princess Paloma.

"Yes, the big black cloud is there again." Ash replies as Prince Jonathan

"Then sing to the sapphire 'Furiya, shuru shamato.'" Melody suggests

Furiya, shuru shamato... Ash sings again.

"The sapphire glowed at the prince's spellsong, conjuring a great lake behind them." Misty narrates. "Even for Undine, it was too big to swim across, so going back for her ship bought the prince and princess some more time."

The Pokemon listen as Misty goes on "Meanwhile, Prince Jonathan and Princess Paloma had reached the palace. They climbed over the garden wall, ran across the garden, and snuck in through an open window. By this time Undine was hot on their heels, but Princess Paloma stood in the window and sang..."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"and millions of Pidoves appeared in the sky, engulfing Undine in a wind gust so big, she was never seen again." Misty concludes. "There was great rejoicing over Prince Jonathan and his bride. His two elder brothers came and knelt before him and confessed what they had done, and said that he alone should inherit the kingdom, and they would always be his faithful subjects."

"It goes without saying that they all lived happily ever after." Brock grins as he leads the applause....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 193: The Legend of Princess Twila (Ash)

(real tale: Princess Belle-Etoile (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Classic_Fairy_Tales_And_Stories&story=Princess_Belle-Etoile))

(what Brock performs: For Baby (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb8crYwiCqM))

"Once upon a time there were three princesses, named Robin, Brina, and Orla, who lived with their mother, a princess who had lost all her former grandeur." Ash begins. "One day an old woman came and asked for dinner and a bed for the night. When the meal was over, the old woman revealed herself as the light fairy Elena in disguise, and promised that their kindness would be handsomely rewarded."

The Pokemon get starry eyed at this. "Shortly after, the king passed that way, with his brother and the lord high chamberlain. They were all so struck with the beauty of the three princesses, that the king married the youngest, Orla, his brother married Brina, and the lord high chamberlain married Robin."

"Pika pika pikachu pika pika?" Pikachu asks.

Ash chuckles. "Nope, I'm nowhere near done!"

He thinks to where he is in the tale, then continues "Elena also blessed the young Queen Orla with three lovely children, two boys and a girl. They were so beautiful, jewels fell from their hair. Each had a silver star on their forehead, and a glittering pendant around their neck. At the same time Brina, her sister, gave birth to a handsome boy. Now the young queen and Brina were very close, but Robin was jealous of both of them, and the old queen, the King's mother, hated them as well. Brina died soon after the birth of her son, and the king was away on the battlefield, so Robin joined the wicked old queen in forming plans to hurt, if not kill, Orla."

Gasps fill the tent at this. "They ordered Portia, the old queen's maid in waiting, to kill the queen's three children and the son of Princess Brina, and bury them secretly. But as she was about to do this, she was so struck by their beauty, and the appearance of the sparkling stars on their foreheads, that she couldn't bring herself to kill such beautiful boys and girls."

"So what did she do?" Misty is intrigued.

"She had a boat brought to the beach, and put the four babies, with some strings of jewels, into a cradle, which she placed in the boat, and then set it adrift. The boat was soon far out at sea. The waves rose, the rain poured in sheets, and the thunder roared. Portia could not doubt that the boat would be swamped, and felt relieved by the thought that the poor little babies die that way, for she would otherwise always be haunted by the fear that something would occur to expose the hand she had in sparing them." Ash replies. "But the light fairy Elena protected them, and after floating at sea for a week, they were found by a captain. He was so struck by their beauty that he altered his course, and took them home to his wife, who had no children. She was beside herself with joy when he placed them in her hands. They admired together the wonderful stars, the pendants that could not be taken off their necks, and their beautiful thick hair. Imagine the woman's astonishment when she combed them, for at every brushstroke, pearls, rubies, diamonds, sapphires and emeralds came falling to the floor. She told her husband of it, who was equally surprised."

"I bet..." Brock grins.

"The captain's wife, whose name was Cora, was enchanted at this, and loved the four infants so much the more for it. She named the Princess, Twila, her eldest brother, Crisan, the second, Tate, and the son of Brina, Kevin." Ash continues. "As they grew older, the captain did his best to teach them well, as he was convinced there was some great mystery attached to their birth. The captain and his wife had never told the story of the four children, who they treated their own. They were all very close, but Prince Kevin seemed to like Princess Twila more than the other two. The moment she expressed a wish for anything, he would move heaven and earth for her."

"Aw,,," Misty smiles.

"One day, Twila overheard the captain and his wife talking." Ash starts.

"When I found them," Brock explains as the captain, "I saw nothing that could give me any idea of how or where they were born."

"I suspect," Misty suggests as Cora, "that Kevin is not their brother, he has neither star nor pendant."

"Twila immediately ran and told this to the three princes, who decided to speak to the captain and his wife, and ask them to let them go out into the world and discover the secret of their birth. After some resistance, they got the okay. A beautiful ship was prepared, and the young princess and the three princes set out. They determined to sail to the very spot where the captain had found them, and made preparations for a grand sacrifice to Arceus for their protection and guidance." Ash continues. "They were about to sacrifice a Pidove, but Princess Twila saved its life, and let it fly. Then a mermaid appeared in the water, and said..."

"Don't be afraid, let your vessel go where it will; land where it stops." Misty suggests as the mermaid.

"The ship sailed more quickly. Suddenly they came in sight of a city so beautiful that they wondered if their ship should enter the port." Ash continues. "They landed anyway, and the shore was soon crowded with people, who noticed the magnificence of their ship. They ran and told the king the news, and as the grand terrace of the palace looked out upon the shore, he hurried there as fast as he could. The princes, hearing the people say, 'There is the king,' looked up, and bowed in respect. He looked earnestly at them, and was as much charmed by the princess's beauty, as by the handsome looks of the young princes. He ordered his retinue to offer them his protection, and everything that they might require."

[And then?] Korra asks.

"The king was so interested about these four children, that he went into the chamber of the queen, his mother, to tell her of the wonderful stars which shone upon their foreheads, and everything that he admired in them. She was thunderstruck at it, and was terribly afraid that Portia had betrayed her, and sent her secretary to ask about them. What he told her of their ages confirmed her suspicions." Ash intones. "She sent for Portia, and threatened to kill her. Portia, terrified as she was, confessed everything; but promised, if she spared her, that she would still find a way to get rid of them. The queen was appeased at this; and, indeed, old Portia did all she could for her own sake."

Brock retrieves his own guitar as Ash goes on "She was fairly good at the guitar, so one night, she went and sat down in a room overlooking the Princess Twila's window, and sang a song which Twila thought so pretty that she invited her into her room."

I'll walk in the rain by your side,
I'll cling to the warmth of your hand...
I'll do anything to keep you satisfied
I'll love you more than anybody can... Brock starts playing a familiar song.

And the wind will whisper your name to me... Misty joins in, harmonizing with Brock.
Little birds will sing along in time
Leaves will bow down when you walk by
And morning bells will chime

I'll be there when you're feeling down... Brock starts the second verse alone.
To kiss away the tears if you cry...
I'll share with you all the happiness I've found,
A reflection of the love in your eyes...

And I'll sing you the songs of the rainbow... Misty joins in again.
A whisper of the joy that is mine...
And leaves will bow down when you walk by,
And morning bells will chime...

I'll walk in the rain by your side... Melody and the Meowths join in.
I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand...
I'll do anything to help you understand,
And I'll love you more than anybody can...

And the wind will whisper your name to me
Little birds will sing along in time
Leaves will bow down when you walk by
And morning bells will chime...

"Thanks, Brock..." Ash smiles--he didn't expect a full blown musical interlude. "Anyway, when she was done, Portia told Twila..."

"My dear child," Misty fills in Portia's dialogue, "Heaven has made you very lovely, but I know you want one thing - the dancing water. If I had possessed it, you would not have seen a white hair on my head, nor a wrinkle on my face. I knew this secret too late; my charms had already faded."

"But where shall I find this dancing water?" Melody asks as Twila.

"It is in the luminous forest," Misty replies as Portia. "You have three brothers; doesn't any one of them love you enough to go and get some?"

"My brothers all love me," Melody assures Misty as Princess Twila, "but there is one of them who would not refuse me anything."

"Portia left her, delighted at having been so successful." Ash continues. "The princes, returning from a hunting trip, found Twila thinking long and hard about what Portia had said. Her anxiety about it was so apparent, that Kevin, who thought of nothing but pleasing her, soon found out what she was thinking about, and, in spite of her pleas that it was nothing, he mounted his Ponyta, and set out in search of the dancing water."

"What adventures did he get into?" Brock asks as he plays a few unsure chords.

"Well, first I have to tell you what happened in the palace." Ash assures Brock. "When dinnertime arrived, and Princess Twila did not see her brother Kevin, she could neither eat nor drink; and fearing the worst, sent messengers to find him and bring him back. Portia, on the other hand, was very anxious to know the result of her advice; and when she heard that Kevin had already set out, she was delighted, and reported to the queen mother all that had happened. The plan she had adopted with regard to Prince Kevin was one of the most certain, for the dancing water was not easily found; it was so notorious from what happened to all who sought it, that everyone knew the way to it."

He pauses for a beat, then goes on "Prince Kevin, meanwhile, rode eight days--only stopping to rest in the forest at night. By this time, he was beginning to suffer from the heat; but it was not the heat of the sun, and he did not know what caused it, he looked from the top of a mountain and spotted a forest burning without being consumed, and the flames went so far, everything around it was a dry desert."

"Did he go in?" Misty wonders.

"He went into this forest, getting lost several times on the way." Ash replies. As he approached this great fire he was very thirsty. Luckily, a spring was close by, so he climbed off his Ponyta, approached it, and stooped to take up some water in the little golden vase which he had brought with him, when he saw a Pidove drowning in the fountain. Kevin felt sorry for it, and saved it."

"My lord Kevin," Melody fills in the dialogue, "I am not ungrateful; I can guide you to the dancing water, which, without me, you could never obtain, as it rises in the middle of the forest, and can only be reached by going underground."

"The Pidove then flew away, and summoned a number of Ninetales, Sandshrews, Drilburs, Geodudes, Durants, and all sorts of Pokemon that burrow in the ground." Ash continues. "Kevin got off his Ponyta at the entrance of the passage they made for him, and did his best to follow the kind Pidove, which safely led him to the fountain. Prince Kevin filled his golden vase; and returned the same way he came. He found Twila sitting under some trees, but when she saw him she was so pleased that she hardly knew how to welcome him."

"Portia was mad, I'd bet." Brock grins as he plays a foreboding riff.

"Portia learned from her spies that Kevin had returned, and that Princess Twila, having washed her face with the dancing-water, had become more lovely than ever." Ash confirms Brock's prediction. "Needless to say, she lost no time in making the Princess Twila long for the wonderful singing Berry. Prince Kevin again found her unhappy, and again found out why, and again set out on his faithful Ponyta, leaving a letter for Twila."

He adds as an aside "Meanwhile, the king did not forget the lovely children, and asked them why they did not visit the palace more often. They explained that they couldn't while their brother was away."

He then continues "Prince Kevin met a young man on the road, who told him where the singing Berry was to be found: but after traveling some time without any sign of it, he saw a poor Fletchling fall at his feet almost dead. He did its best to nurse it back to health, when it said.."

"Good day, handsome Kevin, you are destined to save my life, and I to help you in return." Melody fills in the dialogue. "You are seeking the singing Berry: it is guarded by a terrible Hydreigon."

"The Fletchling then led him to a place where he found a suit of crystal armor. He put it on, and boldly went to meet the Hydreigon." Ash continues, trying oh-so-hard not to laugh at Brock softly and slowly playing the Zelda theme in the background. "The three-headed monster came bounding along, breathing white hot fire; but when he saw himself reflected in the crystal, turned tail and ran far away, never to be seen again."

Pikachu unleashes some happy sparks at this. "Prince Kevin then found the tree, which was surrounded with human bones, and breaking off a Leppa Berry, prepared to return to Princess Twila. She had never slept during his absence, and ran to meet him eagerly." Ash continues.

Brock then plays Portia's motif. "When Portia heard the sweet singing of the Leppa Berry, she burst into tears, for instead of hurting these lovely children, she only helped them." Ash explains. "She allowed some days to pass, and then made Princess Twila unhappy again by saying that the dancing water and the singing Berry were useless without the shining Pidgey that knows all. Kevin again set out, and after some trouble, learned that this bird was to be found on the top of a huge rock, in a frozen part of the world. At dawn the next day, he found the rock, which was very high and very steep, and on the summit was the Pidgey, speaking like an oracle, telling of wonderful things. He thought that with a little agility it would be easy to catch it, for it seemed very tame. He got off his Ponyta, and climbed up very quietly. He was so close to the gold Pidgey that he thought he could hold it, when suddenly he slipped off the rock and he fell into a spacious hall, and turned to stone on impact."

Misty gasps at the turn of events. "Three hundred other knights and adventurers who had gone on the same quest were in the same state." Ash intones.

{Wow-wee!] Korra is impressed at the number.

"Time seemed to stand still to Twila, and after still no signs of her beloved Kevin, she got very sick; and in hopes of curing her, Crisan resolved to find him." Ash continues. But he too was slipped off the rock and fell into the great hall. The first person he saw was Kevin, but he could not speak to him; and Prince Tate, following soon after, met the same fate as his brothers."

"Oh no..." Melody tears up as she hears Brock play Portia's motif again.

"When Portia learned that the third prince was gone, she was ecstatic at the success of her plan; and when Twila took it upon herself to find them, she was quite overjoyed." Ash goes on. "Princess Twila disguised herself as a warrior, but had no other armor besides her helmet. She was very cold as she approached the rock, but seeing a Taillow lying on the snow, she took it up, warmed it, and healed it."

"I know you, in spite of your disguise." Melody fills in the dialogue. "Follow my advice: when you arrive at the rock, remain at the bottom and sing the sweetest song you know; the gold Pidgey will listen to you; you must then pretend to go to sleep; when it sees me, it will come down to peck me, and at that moment you will be able to grab it."

"Princess Twila did everything the Taillow said to do, and easily caught the gold Pidgey. It begged for mercy, but Princess Twila replied..." Ash narrates

"I wish that you would heal my three brothers." Misty fills in Princess Twila's dialogue.

"Take one of my feathers, hold it to the sky, and sing 'Karuto, iichiida shou...'." Melody instructs as the Pidgey.

Princess Twila did as she was told--and when she sang..." Ash narrates.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Misty fills in the spellsong.

"...the rock split from the top to the bottom, allowing her to enter the hall with the stone statues." Ash continues. "She ran towards Kevin, who did not know her in her helmet and boy's clothing, and could neither speak nor move. The gold Pidgey then told Princess Twila to hold the gold feather skyward and sing 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul....', and the stone statues would return to normal."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul.. Misty fills in the spellsong.

"After healing her brothers, the three princes and Twila hurried back to the palace; and when Twila showed off her treasures, the gold Pidgey told him that the Princes Crisan and Tate and the Princess Twila were his children, and that Prince Kevin was his nephew." Ash continues. "Queen Orla, who had mourned for them all this time, embraced them, and the wicked queen mother and Portia were justly punished."

He concludes "The king agreed to let Prince Kevin take Princess Twila's hand in marriage, and they all lived happily ever after."

Mai smiles as everyone applauds. [The song was very beautiful...]

"Thanks--I get asked to play that one many times when I perform in public." Brock smiles.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 194: Princess Buneary (Brock)

(real tale: The Most Beautiful Princess (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Brazilian_Legends&story=Most_Beautiful_Princess))


"Long ago, there was a king who got very sick." Brock begins. "He wanted a Buneary killed to make him some broth, so his only son, Prince Damian, set out to find one."

"Did he find one?" Ash asks.

"As the prince walked along the path to the forest a pretty little Buneary ran out of the hedge and crossed his path." Brock explains. "He chased it through the brush as best as he could, although the Buneary was a very swift runner. Suddenly the Buneary ran into a hole in the ground. Prince Damian did his best not to lose sight of her and soon found to his dismay that he was in a huge cave." He makes a large form in the air to illustrate his point. "and at the very back of the cave there was the most enormous giant he had ever seen."

The Pokemon swallow hard at this. "Prince Damian was understandably frightened as the giant said..." Brock switches to a deep male voice. "Oh, ho! You thought you'd catch my little Buneary, did you? Well, I've caught you instead!"

As himself, he continues "With that, the giant grabbed the prince in one of his enormous hands and tossed him into a box at one end of the cave. Once sure Prince Damian wouldn't be getting out of the box, he locked it with a big key. Prince Damian could get only a tiny bit of air through a little hole in the top, and he thought that he would pass out, and eventually die. Hours ragged by like years--sometimes Prince Damian slept, but more often than not he lay there thinking about his sick father and what he could do to get out of the box and back to his father's side."

"Did he get out?" Misty asks, worried for Prince Damian.

"Suddenly he heard the key turn in the lock." Brock assures Misty. "The cover was lifted, and he saw the most beautiful maiden he had ever seen or dreamed of--we'll call her Maribel."

"I am the Buneary you followed into the cave," Misty fills in Princess Maribel's dialogue. "I am under a spell, so even though I have to take the form of a Buneary in the daytime, at night I am free to return to my true form. You got into this mess following me into the cave and I feel so sorry for you that I am going to set you free."

"You are so beautiful that I could stay here forever and gaze into your lovely eyes," Ash sighs dreamily in character as Prince Damian.

"You would see only a Buneary in the daytime," Misty replies as Princess Maribel. "It is not always night. Besides, the giant may return at any time. He just left on a hunting trip because he thought that you would not make a sufficiently sized dinner for him. I'll show you the way out of the cave and then you must hurry home as fast as you can."

"Prince Damian thanked her for her great kindness to him and did as he was told." Brock goes on when the applause for the interplay dies down. "He went home by the nearest path, but when he reached the palace his father was already dead,and the whole palace was mourning."

"Poor Damian..." Melody sighs. Pikachu brushes away a tear in agreement.

"Prince Damian was so overwhelmed with grief, he felt that he was not worthy keep on living in the palace." Brock continues. "After his father's funeral, he went out into the world and made his keep as a fisherman, for he did not wish to be recognized as a prince."

"What became of Damian?" Now Misty is really worried.

"Since no one recognized him in fisherman's garb, he wandered from one kingdom to another." Brock explains. "He caught Magikarp for his food, and he soon recognized the fact that the net which one of his fellow fishermen had given him as a gift was magical, or even divine. The biggest Gyarados in the sea could not break through."

[Wow...] Korra gasps.

"In the course of his travels, Prince Damian arrived at a city where a great party was being held." Brock continues. "The palace was decked with beautiful banners. And every afternoon the royal heralds rode up and down the city streets proclaiming, 'The princess of our kingdom is the most beautiful princess in all the world.'"

"Or not..." Ash comments to Misty, who giggles at how ugly this princess may be compared to Maribel.

Prince Damian remembered the beautiful princess who had let him out of the giant's cave." Brock goes on. "'Surely this princess cannot be as beautiful as Maribel' he thought. 'I am going to see this princess with my own eyes and find out.' So Prince Damian went to the palace gate to watch for the princess. It wasn't long before she came to the balcony and leaned over the railing. She was very beautiful, but her nose was just a tiny bit crooked--but she did not compare at all with Princess Maribel."

"This princess is not by any means the most beautiful one in the world," Ash announces as Prince Damian. "I know where there is a princess who is much more beautiful."

"Everyone in town heard what Prince Damian said, and the townsfolk reported it to the royal guards." Brock intones. "They grabbed him and took him to the king."

"So you are the fisherman who says that my daughter is not the most beautiful princess in the world?" he asks Ash in a deeper version of his "somebody's in trouble" voice--one of his "king" voices. "You say that you know a princess who is much more beautiful. I am a just king or else I would have you put to death right now. However, I'll give you the chance to prove what you say. If you are unable to fulfill your boast and show me this princess who in the opinion of my court is more beautiful than my daughter, it will be your life in exchange. Remember that you will have to bring her here to my court to have her beauty proven."

"Thanks, your majesty," Ash gives Brock a little bow as Prince Damian. "If you will allow me two weeks to fulfill this promise, and if you'll prepare a party for the night two weeks from now, I'll endeavor to present the most beautiful princess in the world to your assembled court."

As himself, Brock continues "The king was astonished at the fisherman's words, for he had not thought that a poor fisherman like him knew many princesses. However, he allowed him to depart in search of the princess. Then Prince Damian hurried home and walked toward the forest by the same path he had gone the day he went in search of the Buneary for his father's broth. He soon found the place where the Buneary had crossed his path, and he did his best to remember the route they had followed as he pursued her into the forest. But as he traveled through the forest he saw evidence of what looked like a flood. The water had washed away every trace of the entrance of the cave. He dug and dug at the place where he thought it was, but he found nothing that looked like the cave's entrance."

"Did he ever find it?" Melody asks.

"He dug and dug at a spot nearby, and found his way barred by a massive door." Brock explains "So he knocked at the door with all his might." He knocks on a rock for effect.

"The door was opened a little bit and the face of a young woman peeked out." Brock continues when the nervous giggles quiet.

"I am the sage of the princess," Melody fills in the dialogue. "I think you are the prince she was expecting to return to deliver her from all the terrible calamities which have befallen her."

"What has happened to my beautiful princess who saved my life?" Ash wonders as Prince Damian. "I am indeed the prince, but I am surprised that you should recognize me in my fisherman's garb."

"The princess told me that I would know you by the smile in your eyes," Melody replies as the sage. "I did not look at your clothes at all. I looked at your eyes. You have the smile in them though your face is sad. Come into the cave, and I will tell you all that has happened."

"When Prince Damian was inside the cave she hastily shut the door and said..." Brock narrates.

"When the giant returned, he was angry at Princess Maribel because she had let you escape." Melody continues as the sage. "He grabbed her and put her into the box in your place. However, Princess Maribel had thrown away the key to the box when she let you out; and, search as he would, the giant was unable to find it anywhere. That made him even angrier than before. All day he sits on the top of the chest when the princess is in the form of the Buneary. At night when he goes away he causes a great river to flow around the entrance to the cave. He has placed a huge Gyarados as guard to the entrance. This Gyarados swims up and down before our door and calls out such vile names at Princess Maribel, that, when she is in her own form, she stays in the box and stuffs cotton in her ears. You got here just as the giant had left. The water must have risen as soon as you were inside our door. I hear the Gyarados now."

"Even as she spoke the prince heard the voice of the Gyarados." Brock intones. "It said such terrible words that I'm not going to repeat them here. Prince Damian instructed the sage... "

You get into the box with the princess," Ash explains as Prince Damian. "I'm a good swimmer, so I am going to open the door and swim out. The box is made of wood that will float; so, inside of it, you and the princess will float out to safety."

"How will you ever swim past this terrible Gyarados?" Melody asks as the sage..

"Don't worry," Ash explains as Prince Damian. "I have with me a net which is so strong that the biggest, fiercest Gyarados in the world cannot break it. In the meantime, tell Princess Maribel that I am here. Tell her everything will be okay and stay in the box for a few minutes."

"The old sage got into the box as Prince Damian had commanded." Brock continues. "Then he unbarred the great door. The Gyarados swam at him fiercely, but Prince Damian quickly entangled him in his strong net. Holding him down in the net, Prince Damian swam up to the surface and was soon on the bank of the raging river. Then he killed the Gyarados, scaled it, and put the scales--which were said to invoke all kinds of powers if sung to--in his pocket.

Pikachu sparks excitedly at the mention of magic. "The box, meanwhile, had floated up to the surface of the water just as Prince Diamian had said it would." Brock continues. "Prince Damian threw his net over it and drew it to land. The sage and Princess Maribel stepped out. In fact, Princess Maribel was so lovely, that Prince Damian fell on his knees before her."

"I knew all along that you would come back again," Misty smiles as Princess Maribel. "I knew that you would deliver me from my troubles, but you have been a long time getting here."

"Prince Damian told Princess Maribel all that had happened to him." Brock narrates.

"You saved my life from the giant," Ash replies as Prince Damian. "I am very glad to have had an opportunity to save your life for you. Now I must ask you to again save my life."

"Then he told her about the party where he had display the most beautiful princess in the world, or else." Brock narrates.

"I'll gladly go to the party with you," Misty smiles as Princess Maribel. "It is fortunate that it is held at night."

Princess Maribel and her sage traveled quickly with the Prince Damian to the kingdom which claimed to possess the most beautiful princess in the world." Brock continues. "It was already the night of the appointed party when they arrived. The king's army was present, and all ready to kill Prince Damian if they had to. No one dreamed that the poor fisherman would be able to bring any princess at all with him, much less a beautiful one. Prince Damian hid Princess Maribel in the box which the sage carried in her arms."

Everyone swallows hard at this. "When the poor fisherman stood before the king with a sage standing by his side, the entire court howled with laughter." Brock goes on "Just as the king's soldiers stepped forward to take the fisherman to the gallows, Prince Damian asked for a few more minutes. The king nodded his head and Prince Damian reached into the pocket of his fisherman's coat. He pulled out a handful of silver scales and threw them into the air, then sang Furiya, shuru shamato... The most beautiful silvery cloud filled the room."

Awed chatter fills the tent at this. "Then he pulled a handful of golden scales from out his pocket, threw them in the air, and sang Leishu shun ji, lei si... The most beautiful golden cloud filled the room." Brock continues. "He next pulled out a handful of jeweled scales from his pocket, threw them into the air, and sang Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo.... The most wonderful sparkling cloud of jewels fell around them. As the cloud cleared away, there stood the most beautiful princess any one had ever seen or dreamed of between the old sage and the prince in the fisherman clothes.

Everyone cheers as Brock continues "The soldiers drew back. The king looked at the floor and so did all the courtiers. The king reluctantly admitted that Prince Damian had won his bet."

He concludes Everyone returned to Prince Damian's own kingdom where the wedding of Prince Damian and Princess Maribel was celebrated with a great feast. From the moment that the Gyarados scales fell on Princess Maribel, the spell on her was broken and she never became a Buneary again. She and Prince Damian lived together happily in Prince Damian's palace, and the giant never troubled them again, though they were always careful to keep away from the forest."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 195: Jack's Flying Ship (Misty)

(real tale: The Flying Ship (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/019.htm))

"Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons." Misty begins. "Now, the two elder ones were pretty clever, but the third, who was named Jack, wasn't exactly the brightest star in the sky. The clever sons were very fond of their mother, gave her pretty clothes, and always had something nice to say to her; but Jack was always getting in her way, and she had no patience with him."

The boys chuckle in anticipation of what crazy adventures this Jack tale will entail. "Now, one day it was proclaimed in the village that the king was offering his daughter, Princess Meredith, in marriage to whoever could build a ship that could fly." Misty explains. "The two elder brothers jumped at the chance to try their luck, and asked their parents' blessing. So the old mother gave them some nice clothes, and gave them some supplies for their journey, not forgetting to add a bottle of wine. When they had left, Jack began to ask his mother to let him try his luck too.

"What would become of a dolt like you?" she gasps as the mother. "Why, you would be eaten up by Mightyenas!"

Ash just turns his cap back, then replies as Jack "I will go, I will go, I will go!"

"Seeing that she could do nothing to talk him out of it, the mother gave him a little bread and a bottle of water, and saw Jack on his way." Misty continues. "After he had gone a little ways, he met Meloetta on the road. They said hello, and Meloetta asked him where he was going."

"I am off to the royal court," Ash answers as Jack. "He has promised to give his daughter Princess Meredith to whoever can make a flying ship."

"And can you make such a ship?" Melody challenges Ash.

"No...." Ash hangs his head in shame.

"Then why in the world are you going?" Melody asks.

"Because I can." Ash replies as Jack.

"Well, if that is the case," Melody replies, "come sit down beside me--we can rest for a little and have something to eat. Why don't you give me what you've got in your bag."

"Now, poor Jack was ashamed to show Meloetta what was in his bag." Misty explains. "However, he figured it best not to make a fuss, so he opened his bag, and could hardly believe his eyes!"

Ash balks in feigned surprise as Misty continues "Instead of the hard bread, he saw two beautiful fresh rolls and some fresh meat and cheese. He happily shared them with Meloetta, and they talked and laughed for hours. When lunch was over, she told him..."

"Go into that forest, and stop in front of the first tree you see." Melody instructs Ash. "Bow before it, then lay your hands on it and sing 'Seios, higarima laisido'. You will then find a ship on the ground--step into it and fly to the royal palace. If you meet anyone on the way, take them with you."

"Jack thanked Meloetta very kindly, bade her farewell, and went on his way." Misty continues. "When he got to the first tree he stopped in front of it, did everything he had been told, and sang...."

Seios, higarima laisido... Ash sings the oddly beautiful gibberish song as Jack.

"Just then, a bright flash of light prompted him to shield his eyes, and when it was safe to look again, he saw a beautiful ship on the ground, and immediately climbed into it. Misty continues. "The ship rose and rose, and in in a few seconds was flying through the air, when Jack, who was looking out at the clouds, looked down on the ground and met many new friends on his journey. There was Kani, a girl with razor sharp hearing, Alida, who could outrun even the Legendary Beasts, Yumi, who was so skilled with a bow she could hit a target hundreds of miles away, Tabe, who had an appetite rivaling a Munchlax, Lana, who could hold immense amounts of water like a Camerupt, Silvana,who could summon heroes from the forest with her voice, and Neva, who could call down snow with her voice."

Brock sighs dreamily as he pictures Jack's harem, but Ash squeezes his hand as a reminder to pay attention. "Finally, the ship, with its strange crew, arrived at the royal court." Misty continues. "The king was having dinner, but when he saw the ship in the sky, he quickly dispatched one of his courtiers to find out what this huge, strange new bird could be. The courtier peered into the ship, and, seeing what it was, went back to the King and told him that it was a flying ship, and that it was manned by a few peasants."

"And then?" Brock wonders.

The king remembered his royal oath; but he made up his mind that he would not let Princess Meredith marry a poor peasant." Misty intones. "So he thought for a moment, then got the idea to give him some impossible tasks to perform--that would get Jack out of his hair for sure!"

Giggles fill the air as Misty goes on "Si he sent one of his courtiers to Jack, with the command to bring the king some healing water from the world's end before dinner was over. However, he didn't know that Kani heard everything he had said, and had already told Jack."

"Alas, alas!" Ash strikes a melodramatic pose, much to the group's delight. "What am I gonna do now? It would take me a year, no, my whole life, to find the water."

"Alida was quick to assure him that she would get what the King wanted." Misty narrates. "Just then, the courtier arrived, bearing the king's command.

"Tell His Majesty," Ash explains as Jack, "that his orders will be obeyed to the letter."

"With that, Alida raced off in the blink of an eye, and in less than no time had reached the world's end and drawn the healing water from the well." Misty continues. "But running all that way was pretty tiring! She decided to rest for a few minutes, and in a few seconds had fallen fast asleep. Meanwhile, all the ship's crew were anxiously awaiting Alida's return; and the dessert course was about to be served. So Kani listened, and heard Alida snoring!"

The boys laugh at this, "At this Yumi took her bow, took aim, and fired an arrow with a note saying 'Wake up, will ya?' in the direction of the world's end, in order to wake Alida up." Misty continues. "Alida returned a few seconds later, and, stepping on board the ship, handed the healing water to Jack. So while the king was still sitting at the table finishing a slice of Nanab cream pie news was brought to him that his orders had been obeyed to the letter."

"So what did the king do next?" Melody smiles.

"He wasted no time in thinking up another impossible task." Misty replies. "So he told another courtier to go to Jack with the command that he and his comrades were to eat a total of twelve Tauros and twelve tons of bread between them. Kani overheard the king's words while he was still talking to the courtier, and reported them to Jack.

"Alas, alas!" Ash sighs as Jack; "what in the world shall I do? Why, it would take us a year, possibly our whole lives, to eat twelve Tauros and twelve tons of bread."

"But that was quite the easy task for Tabe." Misty assures Ash. "So when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told to tell the king that his orders would be obeyed. Then twelve roasted Tauros and twelve tons of bread were brought on board ship, and Tabe easily polished it off like it was a snack--and she was eager for more!"

Ash's laughter is the loudest at this. "Next, the king ordered that forty barrels of wine, containing forty gallons each, were to be drank between Jack and his party." Misty continues.

'"Lana easily finished that off, right?" Brock grins.

"That, and she wasn't tipsy in the least--it was only like a single glass of wine to her." Misty smiles. "Then the king sent an order to Jack that he was to have a bath, in one of the palace bathrooms, and then he would consider letting Jack marry Princess Meredith. The bathroom in question was made out of iron, and the king ordered that it be heated so hot that Jack would burn to a crisp. So when Jack entered the room, he discovered that the iron walls were ruby red hot."

Gasps fill the air, but Misty assures the group "Luckily, Neva had gone in behind him, and when the door was closed behind them, she sang Furiya, shuru shamato... and suddenly the red hot walls cooled down. However, it became so very cold that Jack could scarcely bear to take a bath, and all the water in the room froze. So Jack climbed up on the stove, and, wrapping himself up in his towels, lay there the whole night. In the morning when they opened the door there he lay safe and sound, singing cheerfully to himself."

Brock's laughter is the hardest as the group pictures the court's reaction. "Now when this strange tale was told to the king he became quite sad, not knowing what to do to get rid of so undesirable a son-in-law, when suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him--surely Jack couldn't raise an army right then and there, could he?"

"Kani had overheard the king's command and told Jack right then." Ash fills in the blank without being prompted.

Misty nods, pleased Ash is paying attention. "Jack agreed to the proposal, but warned the courtier that if, after that, the king refused to accept him as his son-in-law, he would wage war against him, and carry Princess Meredith off by force."

She continues "During the night, Jack and Silvana went together into a huge field. Once they were in the very middle, Silvana sang Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo...--and in a moment a mighty army stood upon the spot, regiment upon regiment of swordsmen and knights; the trumpets sounded and the drums rolled, the Rapidashes neighed, and the dragoons put their lances at rest, the archers nocked their bows, and the mages readied their strongest spells."

"I bet the king panicked..." Brock grins.

"In the morning, when the king woke up, he was startled by the trumpets and the drums, and the clatter of the Rapidashes, and the war cries of the soldiers." Misty replies. "When he came to the window, he saw the lances gleam in the sunlight and the armor and weapons glitter. And the proud king said to himself, 'I am powerless in comparison with this man.' So he sent him royal robes and glittering jewels, and commanded him to come to the palace to be married to Princess Meredith. Jack put on the royal robes, and he looked so grand and stately that it was impossible to recognize him. In fact, Princess Meredith fell madly in love with him as soon as she saw him."

She concludes "Never before had so grand a wedding been seen, and there was so much food and wine that even Tabe and Lana had enough to eat and drink."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 196: The Magic Ruby Ring (Ash)

(real tale: The Magic Ring (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/021.htm))

"Once upon a time there lived an old woman who had one son named Martin." Ash begins. "The woman's husband had joined Arceus in the heavens some years before, and only left his widow and son two hundred gold pieces. The old woman decided to put the money aside for a rainy day; but she didn't know that rainy day would come sooner than she thought."

"Why?" Misty asks

"Their flour was all used up." Ash replies "Besides, who was prepared to face starvation with only two hundred gold pieces to their name?"

"A very good question..." Brock notes.

So the old woman counted out a hundred of her gold pieces, gave them to Martin, and told him to go into town and buy enough flour for a year." Ash continues. "So Martin started off for town. When he reached the marketplace, he found the whole place in an uproar, and a great noise of angry voices and barking of Growlithe. He worked his way into the crowd, and noticed an Arcanine which the butchers had caught and tied to a post, being beaten mercilessly. Martin felt sorry for the majestic Pokemon, and asked what the Arcanine had done to deserve such torture. The butchers replied that the Arcanine had just eaten a newly-killed Tepig. Martin offered to buy the Arcanine, paid with his hundred gold pieces, and named him Hunter."

[A fitting name for an Arcanine.] Mai purrs.

When Martin got home, his mother asked him what he had bought, and Martin proudly introduced Hunter to his mom." Ash goes on. "His mother got understandably very angry, and harshly scolded him, saying that he ought to be ashamed of himself, when there was scarcely a handful of flour in the house, to have spent the money on a useless brute like that. On the following day she sent him back to town with their last hundred gold pieces to buy food with them."

He adds as an aside " She had just emptied the last grains of flour out of the bag, just enough for a tiny little cake, but it wouldn't last a day."

Pikachu sniffles as Ash continues "Just as Martin was entering town he met a man dragging a Persian after him by a string which was fastened round the poor Pokemon's neck. When asked where the Persian was being taken, Martin was told the majestic cat Pokemon was to be drowned for killing a Swanna. Martin offered to buy the Persian for a hundred gold pieces, and the man agreed. Once Martin took custody of the Persian, he named her Serena."

"And then he's kicked out of the house..." Brock muses.

Ash confirms Brock's prediction some moments later. "When he reached his home, and his mother asked him what he had bought, Martin introduced Serena to his mom. In her anger, his mom banished him from the house, not to return until he brought back food and money. So he called Hunter and Serena and started off with them to the nearest village in search of work. On the way, he met a rich man, who asked him where he was going. Martin explained he was looking for a day's work. The rick man offered to let Martin serve him for a year, and Martin agreed."

"What kind of work did he do?" Misty is intrigued

"He worked diligently, and served his master faithfully for that year." Ash explains. "When Martin's year of service was up, the rich man led him into a barn, pointed out two full bags, and said he could take any one he wanted."

He pauses for a beat, then continues "Martin examined the contents of the bags, and seeing that one was full of silver and the other of sand, something told him to take the sand. So after throwing the bag over his shoulders, he started out into the world, in search of fresh work. On and on he walked, and at last he reached a great gloomy forest. In the middle of the forest he came to a meadow, where a fire was burning, and in the midst of the fire, surrounded by flames, was a lovely giel, more beautiful than anything that Martin had ever seen, and when she saw him she called to him to save her. so Martin emptied the sand on the flames, and the fire was extinguished; but at the same moment, the lovely girl turned into the firebird Moltres. After wrapping him in her flaming wings, she told him...."

"Do not be afraid of me, Martin; I love you, and will go with you to the ends of the world." Misty fills in Moltres' dialogue. "But first, you must follow me to my father's kingdom, beneath the earth; When we get there, remember this--he will offer you gold and silver, and dazzling gems, but pay no mind them. Ask him instead for the ruby ring which he wears on his pinky, for in that ring lies a magic power; you have only to sing the song 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...', and twelve young heroes will appear, who will do your bidding, no matter how difficult, in at least one night."

"So they started on their way, and after some traveling, they reached a place where a great rock rose straight up in the middle of the road. Moltres landed on the road and as she touched the ground, she turned back into her human form. Pointing to the rock, she showed him an opening just big enough for a person to squeeze through." Ash continues. "They entered a long underground passage, which led out on to a wide field, above which spread a blue sky. In the middle of the field stood a magnificent castle, built out of purple crystal, with a roof of gold and with glittering battlements. And his beautiful guide told him that this was the palace in which her father lived and reigned over his kingdom in the underworld."

"Pini?" Happini asks

"Together they entered the palace, and were welcomed by the king with great kindness. Turning to his daughter, he said..." Ash narrates.

The group decides to role play the next scene. "My child, I had almost given up the hope of ever seeing you again. Where have you been all this time?" Brock asks as the king

"My father," Misty fills in Moltres' dialogue, "I owe my life to this boy, who saved me from a terrible fate."

"I will reward your courage by granting you whatever your heart desires." Brock tells Ash in character as the king. He makes a grand gesture to an imagined treasure vault. "Take as much gold, silver, and jewels as you desire."

"I thank you, mighty king, for your gracious offer," Ash answers as Martin, "but I do not want gold, silver, or jewels; yet if you will grant me a favor, allow me to have the ruby ring from your royal pinky. Every time my eye falls, on it I shall think of your gracious majesty, and when I marry I shall present it to my bride."

Brock pantomimes removing a ring from one finger and offers the imagined ring to Ash. "Take it, brave hero, on one condition--you are not to tell anyone that this is a magic ring. If you do, you will only bring misfortune on yourself."

The Pokemon applaud the roleplay before Ash continues "Martin took the ring, and after thanked the king, he set out on the same road back to the world of light. When he had arrived back in the world of light, he started for his old home, and after finding his mother still living in the old house where he had left her, they settled down together very happily. So uneventful was their life that it almost seemed as if it would go on like that forever."

"Then something threw a wrench in that plan, I'd bet." Misty grins.

Ash smiles--Misty's figured out what happened next! "But one day, Martin got the idea to get married, but he didn't want to marry any old girl. He wanted a very rich wife--or even better, a princess."

Happini cheers at the mention of a princess. "But since he wasn't very good at talking to girls, he sent his old mother to intercede on his behalf." Ash explains.

"Mom didn't like that, I presume." Melody muses, giggling as she pictures the old woman's reaction.

"In fact, she was aghast at the idea," Ash continues. "and she went on and on wondering why her son couldn't marry someone simpler. Besides, that would be far more fitting than to send a poor old woman to the royal court for the hand of a princess. But Martin assured her everything would be fine--all he wanted was an answer, be it a yes or a no."

He pauses for a beat before continuing "And so, the old woman hobbled off to the palace, eventually came to the courtyard, and climbed the flight of stairs leading to the throne room. "The courtiers, in all their magnificent attire, stared at the old figure that looked very out of place in the castle's extravagance, Some of the courtiers tried to hold her back by force, but she made such a fuss that the king himself heard it, and stepped out on to the balcony to see what was the matter. When he saw the old woman flinging her arms wildly about, and heard her scream that she would not leave the place till she had made her case before the king, he ordered that she should be brought into his presence. She was led into the beautiful throne room, where, leaning back amongst cushions of royal purple, the king sat, surrounded by his counselors and courtiers. Curtseying low, the old woman stood silent before him."

"So what did His Highness do when Martin's mom told him what she wanted?" Brock asks, trying oh-so hard not to laugh at how he imagines the king will react.

"He thought she was nuts at first." Ash replied. "But Martin's mother calmly explained that he had a lovely daughter, Princess Rebecca,who was of age to give in marriage. She had a son, as clever a boy and as good a son-in-law as he would find in the whole kingdom. The king patiently listened to the old woman's strange request, but every moment his face grew red, and a stern look started to form on his face. But then he thought to himself, 'Is it worth it to be angry with this poor old fool?' All the courtiers and counselors were amazed when they saw the hard lines round his mouth and the grimace on his face disappear as he told the old woman..."

"If your son is as wonderfully clever as you say, and if there is nothing in the world that he cannot do, let him build a magnificent castle, just opposite my palace windows, in one day." Brock explains as the king. "The palace must be joined together by a bridge of pure crystal. On each side of the bridge there must be growing trees, having golden and silver Leppa Berries, and with birds of paradise among the branches. At the right of the bridge there must be a shrine, with five jeweled domes; it is in this shrine your son shall be wedded to my beautiful Rebecca, and we will host the wedding festivities in the new castle. But if he fails to execute this, my royal command, then, as a just but firm monarch, I shall give orders that you and he are taken, tarred, feathered, and then banished from the kingdom, never to return on pain of death."

Ash smiles--no matter how many times Brock has performed the deep and commanding voice in the role of a king, it never gets old to him. "A smile formed on the king's face as he finished speaking, and his courtiers and counselors tried oh-so-hard not to laugh when they thought of the stupid thing the old woman was doing, and started taking bets that the son would fail. The poor woman shook with fear all the way home, and when she saw Martin, she told him everything the king had said, and burst into tears. But Martin assured his mom that everything would be okay."

Pikachu sparks excitedly--soon the magic will come into play! That night, while his mother slept, Martin stepped outside, held the ring to the sky, and sang..." Ash pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... "and twelve heroes of various classes appeared in a flash of red light, and asked what he wanted them to do. Martin told them the king's commands, and they answered that by the next morning, it would all should be accomplished exactly as the king had ordered."

[Wow!] Korra gasps, impressed.

"The next morning, when the king woke up and looked out of his window, he nearly did a double take when he saw a magnificent castle, just opposite his own palace, and joined to it by a bridge of pure crystal." Ash explains, making huge forms in the air as he describes the magnificent castle. At each side of the bridge trees were growing, from whose branches hung golden and silver Leppa Berries, among which birds of paradise perched. At the right, gleaming in the sun, were the five jeweled domes of a beautiful shrine to Arceus, whose bells rang out, as if they would summon people from all corners of the earth to come and marvel the wonder. Now, though the king would much rather have seen Martin tarred, feathered, and burnt at the stake, he remembered his royal promise, and had to make the best of things. He made Martin a duke, and gave Princess Rebecca a rich dowry, and prepared the grandest wedding feast that had ever been seen, so that to this day the people of that kingdom still talk about it."

"But what about Hunter and Serena?" Misty wonders. "Did they have a role in any of this?"

Ash freezes--he didn't think to include the Arcanine and the Persian in the story! "They had an adventure in their own right, which I'll tell you about when I can think up a sequel." he assures Misty.

"I'll be waiting for that sequel." Misty grins as she leads the applause...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 197: The Guardian Beasts (Brock)

(real tale: The Three Dogs (http://oaks.nvg.org/stal55-57.html#three-dogs))

"Once upon a time, there was a king who went into the world and brought back a beautiful queen." Brock begins. "After they had been married a while, they had a little daughter, which they named Orla, because they thought her more precious than gold."

"That's a pretty name..." Misty smiles.

"There was great rejoicing in the city and throughout the kingdom, and the people wished their king well, since he was kind and just." Brock continues. "While the girl lay in her cradle, a strange-looking woman entered the room, and no one knew who she was or where she came from. She spoke a verse over the child, and said that she must not be allowed outside until she was sixteen years old, or else the mountain troll would take her. When the king heard this, he took her words to heart, and posted guards to watch over Princess Orla so that she would not get outside."

"She and any other siblings will eventually step outside...." Ash is unimpressed--the scenario Brock is describing is common in tales from Johto and Shinou.

"A few years passed, and the king and queen welcomed another little daughter, which they named Ariana, after the silver moonlight that shone in her room the night she was born." Brock continues. "Again, the whole kingdom rejoiced. But the wise woman once more made an appearance, and warned the king not to let Princess Ariana outside until she too was sixteen years old. A few more years went by, and the couple got a third daughter, which they named Christina, for she had striking blue eyes that resembled crystals. This time, too, the wise woman appeared, and repeated what she had already said twice before."

"How did His Highness react to this?" Misty is piqued.

"The king was troubled over what she had said; for he loved his girls more than anything in the world." Brock replies He gave strict orders that the three princesses were to be kept inside at all costs, and that none were to disobey this command.

He pauses for a moment before continuing "Time passed, and the girls grew up and became beautiful young ladies. Then one year, war broke out and the king, their father, had to leave them. While he was away on the battlefield, the three princesses were sitting in the window and looking out, watching the sunshine on the flowers in the royal garden. They wanted to go outside and look at the lovely flowers, and begged their guards to let them go into the garden for a little while."

"See?" Ash grins at Misty as he sees his prediction coming true.

"At first, their guards would not let them, for they feared the king's anger." Brock explains. "But the princesses pleaded so very sweetly that finally they could not deny their pleas and they relented. But no sooner were the princesses outside, than a cloud came suddenly down and carried them away, just as the wise woman had said years before. All attempts to find them were fruitless; though they looked in every direction."

[Did the king try to save them?] Mai asks, concerned.

The whole kingdom mourned and grieved, and the king was devastated when he returned home and learned all that had happened." Brock replies. "Yet what was done was done, and could not be undone. Since the king knew of no other way to help himself, he proclaimed throughout the kingdom that whoever could save his three daughters from the mountain troll would have one of them for his bride, and with her half of the kingdom. When this became known in other lands, many princes and adventurers set out with Ponytas and followers to seek the princesses."

"And then?" Melody asks, her eyes shining with anticipation for a quest.

"At the king's court were two princes who also went forth to see whether fortune would be kind to them." Brock continues. "We'll call them Adam and Douglas. They armed themselves as best they could with coats of mythril mail and costly weapons, and bragged and boasted that they would not return without having done what they set out to do."

He pauses for a moment, then continues "Meanwhile, far out in the wild woods, there was a poor widow who had an only son--we'll call him Taran. He used to drive his mother's Tepigs to pasture every day. As he crossed the fields, he made himself a flute, and amused himself playing it."

He adds as an aside "In fact, he played so sweetly that he warmed the hearts of all those who heard him."

Ash retrieves his own whistle and plays a relaxed melody to signal a scene change. "Now, one day Taran was sitting under a tree playing his flute while his three Tepigs were digging under the pine-roots. A very old man came that way, with the Legend of Thunder, Raikou, at his side." Brock continues, making Ash stop his next song in surprise, as if he is Taran. "When Taran saw Raikou, he thought to himself, 'If someone had one of the Legendary Beasts to keep him company here in the wilderness, he might consider himself lucky.'

He then narrates "The old man noticed Taran's thoughtful look, and told him..."

In a gentle older voice--his favorite voice for wise old men--he tells Ash "That is why I have come, for I want to exchange Raikou for one of your Tepigs."

As himself, he continues "Taran was eager and willing, and easily sealed the deal. He received Raikou, and gave up a Tepig in return. But as the old man left, he said..."

As the old man, he explains "You have reason to be satisfied with our trade, for Raikou is not like other Pokemon. Whatever you tell him to take hold of he will grab, even if it were the grimmest of trolls."

As himself, he continues "Then they parted, and Taran thought that fortune had surely favored him.In the evening he called Raikou..." He pauses to sing ]aruto, iichiida shou... for effect. "and drove his Tepigs home. But when his old mother heard that he had given away a Tepig, she was angry beyond measure, and gave her son a good beating."

"Ow..." Ash winces.

"Taran told her to calm down; but all in vain, the longer it lasted the more furious she became." Brock intones. "Then, since he did not know what else to do, he sang for Raikou..." He sings Karuto, iiciida shou... again.

Everyone is on the edge of their seats to know the mother's fate. "At that second, Raikou ran up, grabbed the old mother and held her so tightly that she could not move, but not so tight that it hurt her." Brock explains. "She had to promise her son to make the best of the matter, and then they made up. The next day Taran went to the forest again, with Raikou and the two Tepigs. After finding his favorite tree, he sat down and played his flute as he always did."

Ash starts another reel for effect. "Raikou danced to his playing with such skill that it was nothing short of a miracle." Brock narrates over the whistle.

When Ash finishes, Brock goes on "As he was sitting there, the old man came out of the wood again, and with him was Entei, guardian of flames. Taran wasted no time trading a Tepig for the Beast, but before the old man left he added,..."

As the old man, he explains "You have reason to be well satisfied with your trade, for Entei is not like other Pokemon. If you give him something to attack, he will tear it to pieces, even if it were the grimmest of trolls."

He then intones "Then they parted. Taran was happy that he had made a good deal; although he knew that his old mother would not be happy about it. When evening came, and Taran went home, his old mother was no less angry than she had been before. But this time she did not dare beat her son, because she was afraid of Raikou and Entei."

He adds as an aside "Yet when someone has scolded for long enough, they usually stop by their own choice, and that is what happened here. Taran and his mother made peace with each other; though the mother thought to herself that the damage done could not well be repaired.

On the third day Taran went into the wood again with his last Tepig, Raikou, and Entei. He felt very happy, seated himself on a tree-stump and played his flute as usual. And the Beasts danced to his playing with such skill that it was a pleasure to watch them."

Ash plays a waltz-like tune for effect. "As Taran was sitting there in peace and quiet, the old man again came out of the forest. This time he had Suicune, the guardian of the north wind, with him." Brock continues. "When Taran saw the handsome Pokemon, he was very willing, and agreed to close the deal. He received Suicune and gave up his last Tepig in return. Then the old man went his way. Yet before he left, he said..."

As the old man again, Brock explains "You will be satisfied with your exchange, for Suicune is not like other Pokemon. His hearing is so keen that he hears everything that happens, though it may be happening thousands of miles away. He even hears the grass and the trees grow."

As himself, he continues "Then they went their separate ways. Taran was happy that now he did not have to fear much in the world, except maybe running short of food for the Beasts."

Nervous giggles go up at this. When evening came on and Taran went home, his mother was very sad to think that her son had sold all they had. But Taran told her to cheer up, since he would see to it that they did not suffer. When he spoke to her in such a cheerful manner, she grew happy again, and decided that maybe her son knew what he was doing."

[And then?] Korra asks.

"The next day, Taran went hunting with the Beasts, and came back with more than enough meat to feed him, his mother, and the Beasts, and still have plenty left over." Brock goes on. "He continued to go hunting for some time, until his old mother's storeroom was well provided with meat and all sorts of good things. Then he told his mother goodbye, called the Beasts, and said he was going to go out into the world and seek his fortune."

"What adventures awaited him?" Misty asks, he eyes sparkling with anticipation of a quest.

"He traveled over mountains and winding roads, and came into a deep forest, where he met the old man again." Brock replies.

Ash decides to role play the next scene with Brock. "Good day, grandfather, and thanks for everything!" he smiles as Taran.

"Good day to you, and where might you be bound?" Brock asks in character as the old man.

"I am wandering out into the world to see what fortune has in store for me." Ash replies as Taran.

"Keep right on going till you come to the royal castle, and there your fortune will take a turn." Brock replies as the old man.

Misty and the Pokemon applaud at the role play. "And with that, they parted." Brock continues as himself. Taran followed the old man's advice and continued on straight ahead. Whenever he came to a tavern, he played his flute and let the Beasts dance, and was never without room and board and anything else he might want."

Ash plays the tune "The Silver Sword" on his Eb whistle to signal a scene change. "After he had wandered long and far, he came to a great city, where the streets were filled with people." Brock continues. "Taran was wondering just what the old man meant, until he heard a herald proclaim that whoever could deliver the three princesses would receive one of them and half the kingdom too."

"I was wondering when we'd see the princesses again..." Misty smiles.

"The lightbulb went off in Taran's head--now he knew what the old man had meant!" Brock grins. "He called the Beasts to him and went to the king's castle. But there had been grief and mourning since the day the king's daughters had disappeared. The king and queen were the most sorrowful of them all. Taran went to the guard, and asked him whether he might play and show the Beasts before the king. The courtiers were willing, for they hoped it might make him feel more cheerful. So he was admitted and allowed to perform. When the king heard him play, and had seen the skilful dancing of the three Beasts, he grew quite happy, and none had seen him as happy during all the time that had passed since he had lost his daughters."

Misty leads the clapping as Ash plays a set of tunes for effect. "When the show was over, the king asked Taran what he asked as a reward for having given him such a delightful performance." Brock continues.

"I did not come to you to win gold and jewels." Ash explains as Taran, fingering his D whistle all the while. "But I have another request to make: that you allow me to set out and search for your three daughters."

"You need not even think of delivering my daughters." Brock gasps in character as the king. "It is no child's play, and many others have already attempted it in vain. Yet should it really come to pass that you deliver one of the princesses, you may be sure that I will not break my word."

As himself, Brock goes on "So Taran took leave of the king and set out. He decided to take no rest until he had found what he sought. He passed through many kingdoms without meeting with any notable adventures, and the Beasts followed him every step of the way. Suicune ran on ahead and listened for anything worth hearing to be heard around them; Raikou carried his master's bag, and Entei carried his master when he got tired of walking."

"Ha pini?" Happini asks.

"I'm almost to that part, sweetie." Brock assures Happini before continuing "One day, Suicune came running up to Taran, and told his master that he had gone to a high mountain, and had heard Princess Orla, who sat within it and spun, and that the troll was not home. This greatly pleased Taran, and he hurried toward the mountain together with the Beasts. When they got there, Suicune said..."

In a deeper version of a young man's voice, Brock intones "There is no time to lose. The troll is only ten miles away, and I can already hear the golden horseshoes of his steed ringing on the stones."

As himself, he continues "Taran ordered the Beasts to break down the door into the mountain, and they did. As he stepped inside, he saw a lovely maiden sitting in the mountain hall, winding a golden thread on a golden spindle. Taran went up and said hi to the lovely girl."

"Who are you that dare to venture into the giant's hall?" Misty gasps as Princess Orla. "During all the time I have been sitting here in the mountain I have never seen another human being..hurry before the troll returns, or else he will kill you!"

"Taran was not afraid, and said that he would wait for the giant." Brock continues. "While they were talking together, the troll came riding along on his mighty Rapidash shod with gold. When he saw the gate standing open, he grew furiously angry and demanded to know who had broken down the door."

"I did, and now I shall break you too!" Ash announces as Taran as he triumphantly poses with a stick for a sword.

"He then sang the three songs of power that summoned the three Beasts...." Brock narrates.

Karuto, ichiida shou.... Ash sings as Taran as he turns his cap back. Then he sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Then he sings Furiya, shuru shamato...

"No sooner had he sang all three songs did the Beasts rush up, fall on the giant and tear him to a gazillion pieces." Brock goes on. "Princess Orla was happy beyond measure, and gave Taran a grateful kiss on the cheek."

Misty blows a kiss for effect. "But he did not wish to stay there any longer-- he saddled the majestic Rapidash, loaded it with all the treasure he found in the mountain, and departed with Princess Orla in tow." Brock continues. "They eventually located where Princess Ariana was being held, and saved her too. But when they came to where Princess Christina was being held, the giant that held Princess Christina knew what had happened to his cohortss. He decided to try and trick Taran, as he did not dare to venture on open battle. So he made many fine speeches and was very friendly with Taran. Then he told Princess Christina to prepare a meal in order to show his guest all hospitality."

He then cautions "Taran was flattered by the smooth words and forgot to be on his guard. He sat down to the table with the giant. But out of view, Princess Christina cried for him and the Beasts were very restless."

"Uh oh..." Misty swallows hard at Taran's fate.

"When the giant and his guest had finished their meal, Taran asked for a drink." Brock goes on. "The giant told Taran that there was a spring with the clearest water near the cave, but he didn't know exactly where it was. Taran offered to send one of the Beasts looking for it, and the giant loved the idea--with the Beasts distracted by a fool's errand, he could easily kill Taran and avenge his comrades!"

"So THAT's his little game, is it?" Misty smirks.

"Taran told Raikou to travel to the spring, and the giant handed him a huge barrel to carry the water." Brock continues. "So Raikou went; albeit very reluctantly. After a few days, Taran got worried and told Entei to go and see why Raikou had not yet come. Entei was reluctant to leave his master, but went anyway, even though he knew Taran was about to fall for a deadly trap hook, line, and sinker--that was why Princess Christina cried for many nights on end."

"Did he ever figure out it was a trap?" Melody worries

"A few more days passed with no water or Beasts to be had." Brock intones. "When Taran sent Suicune to find Raikou and Entei, he too fell into the same trap--a magical barrier they seemingly could not escape from."

"Oh no!" Ash gasps.

"Key word here is seemingly." Misty assures Ash, which calms him a little.

With the three Beasts gone, the giant saw his chance to kill Taran." Brock continues. "Naturally, Taran was frightened, and he regretted he had allowed the Beasts to leave him."

"I do not ask for my life, since one day I will be called home to the heavens." Ash explains as Taran before readying the D whistle to play. "But I would like to play a tune on my flute, as my final request."

"The giant granted Taran's last request, but told him not to take too long." Brock continues. "So Taran knelt down and began to play his flute till it echoed over hill and over dale."

Ash plays the Zelda whistle theme for effect. "At that second the magic wall was broken and the Beasts were freed." Brock narrates. "They came rushing like a powerful storm and fell on the giant, directed by three songs of power!"

[i]Karuto, ichiida shou...</i> Ash sings Raikou's "summon" as he turns his cap back again. Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Furiya, shuru shamato....

"The Beasts flung themselves on the giant and tore him into a gazillion pieces." Brock continues. "Taran took all the treasures that lay in the mountain, hitched the giant's Ponytas to a gilded wagon, and drove off as fast as he could.

When the king's daughters reunited, there was great joy, as you can imagine, and all three of them thanked Taran for delivering them from the mountain monsters. Taran fell deeply in love with Princess Christina, and they promised to be true to each other. The three princesses and Taran returned to a hero's welcome, and Taran served them with all honor and courtesy, and each of them tied their favorite ring to his belt in remembrance of his brave deed."

He concludes. "Taran went on many more adventures with the Beasts, but that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 198: The Flying Door (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 84, story 3)


"In a certain village lived a couple that made their keep in the fields." Misty begins. "The woman, however, believed the front door had magical power, as no matter how much rain, wind, heat, and snow had battered the house, it still held firm. Whatever money they earned, was going towards that time when they could not work anymore."

"Makes sense..." Brock muses.

"They did not earn much for a daily wage, but as the years had passed, their meager pay had grown into quite a lot of money." Misty continues. "The man was so adamant about not spending any of it, his shouting about it caught the attention of some bandits."

"Uh oh..." Ash swallows hard at this...

"The next morning, the bandits returned to the house, and crashed through the door while the couple were away." Misty goes on, to some nervous giggles. "The woman heard the noise, and would have called the magistrate had the bandits not convinced her they were a pair of poor travelers."

"Warning, warning, mistake in progress." Brock cautions before mimicing a siren. "Repeating, this is a mistake in progress."

Misty stifles a giggle at Brock's amazingly accurate impression of a security alarm. "Just before the bandits begin their search for the money, the woman caught onto their plot, but the bandits tried to convince her they are from the future, in hopes she would give some money to them. The woman fell for their ruse hook, line and sinker."

"Make that two mistakes in progress." Ash whispers to Brock, who grins.

"That night, as the couple pondered how to get the money back, the door offered to catch the bandits." Misty continues.

Then a thought occurs to her as Ash is about to say something. "I don't know how the door spoke, so don't ask."

Ash forgets about his question as Misty goes on. "The couple agreed, and they began their search the next day. They looked all day, and as night fell, a storm blew up, so the door took them up into a tree. When the bandits approached seeking shelter for the night, the door flew at them, tripping them up and making them drop the money as they fled."

Everyone laughs at this. "The confusion causes the door to break, but they agree to use a little of the money to fix the door, in return for it helping them." Misty concludes. "Needless to say, bandits did not bother them again!"

"I can see why!" Ash grins as he applauds.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 199: The Legend of Minnikin (Ash)

(real tale: Minnikin (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/090.htm))

"There was once a poor couple who lived in a tiny, run down house, and they had neither food to eat nor wood to burn." Ash begins. "But if they had next to nothing of everything else, they had the blessing of Arceus so far as children were concerned, and every year brought them one more."

"Oh my!" Melody gasps as she picture a house full of children.

"The man was not pleased at this." Ash acknowledges Melody with a nod. "He was always going about grumbling and saying that it seemed to him that there might be such a thing as having too many children; so shortly before another baby was born he went into the forest for some firewood, saying that he did not want to see the new child; he would hear him quite soon enough when he began to cry for some food."

Giggles go up at the wry comment. "As soon as this baby was born it began to look around the room.

"Ah, my dear mother!" he pleads in a higher pitched version of himself, "give me some of my brothers' old clothes, and enough food for a few days, and I will go out into the world and seek my fortune, for, so far as I can see, you have plenty of children."

"Heaven help you, my son!" Misty gasps as the mother, "that will never do; you are still far too little."

"But the little boy was determined to do this, and begged and pleaded for so long that the mother was forced to let him have some old rags, and tie up a little bundle of food for him, and then he went out into the world." Ash goes on as himself. "But almost before he was out of the house another boy was born, and he too looked around him, and said..."

In a slightly lower pitched version of his first voice, he interjects "Ah, my dear mother! give me some of my brothers' old clothes, and food for some days, and then I will go out into the world and find my twin brother, for you have enough children."

"Heaven help you! You are far too little for that," Misty scolds as the woman; `it would never do.'

"But her words fell on deaf ears, for the boy begged and pleaded until he had gotten some old rags and a bundle of supplies, and then he set out into the world to find his twin brother." Ash goes on as himself. "When the younger brother had walked for some time he saw his brother a short distance in front of him, and called to him."

"Wait a minute," he muses as the brother; `you are walking as if you made a bet, but you ought to have stayed to see your younger brother before you hurried off into the world."

As himself, he continues "So the elder brother stood still and looked back, and when the younger brother had met him, and had told him that he was his brother, he said..." As the elder brother again, he suggests "But now, let us sit down and see what kind of food our mother has given us." .

"When they had walked on a little farther they came to a stream which ran through a green meadow, and there the younger brother said that they ought to name each other." he continues as himself. "As we had to hurry, and had no time to do it at home, we may as well do it here."

"What will you be named?" he asks as the elder brother.

"I will be called Minnikin," he answers as the younger brother before doing both voices at the same time. "and you, what will you be named?"

"I will be called Pippin."

Brock applauds the interplay, pleased that Ash has simultaneously performed two characters. "Having named themselves, they continued on their way." Ash explains as himself. "When they had walked for some time they came to a fork in the road, and there they agreed to part, and each take a different route. They had not gone very far before they met again. So they parted once more, and each took another route, but in a very short time the same thing happened again--they met each other before they were at all aware, and it happened a third time too. Then they agreed that one should go east and the other west."

"So where did they go?" Melody asks.

"But if ever you fall into any need or trouble," Ash cautions as Pippin, "remember this song--'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul', and I will come and help you; but only sing the song when you are in great need."

He answers Melody's question as himself. "With that, they said goodbye to each other, and Minnikin went east and Pippin went west."

"When Minnikin had walked a long way, he met an old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole it." With that Ash proceeds to swipe a marble from a bag of marbles Misty is organizing.

`Oh! oh!' Misty cries as the old hag, `what has become of my eye?'

`What will you give me to give your eye back?' Ash challenges as Minnikin.

`I will give you a sword which is such a sword that it can conquer a whole army, let it be ever so great,' Misty replies as the hag.

`Let me have it, then,' Ash replies Minnikin.

He continues as himself "The old hag gave him the sword..." Misty hands Ash a stick. "so she got her eye back." Ash then gives Misty the marble he swiped back. "Then Minnikin went on, and when he had traveled for some time he again met another old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole it before she was aware." He then swipes a different marble, and the rigamarole begins again:

"Oh! oh! what has become of my eye?"

"What will you give me to give your eye back?"

"I will give you a ship which can sail over fresh water and salt water, over high hills and deep valleys,"

"Let me have it then,"

As himself, Ash goes on "So the old woman gave him a little ship no bigger than a toy, and then she got her eye back..." He returns the marble he swiped. "and she went her way and Minnikin his. When he had walked on for a long time, he met a third old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole this eye too..." Brock chuckles as Ash takes a third marble. "and when the woman screamed and lamented, and asked what had become of her eye, Minnikin said...

The rigamarole begins a third time: "What will you give me to give your eye back?"

"I will give you the art to brew a hundred bottles of beer in one brewing."

Brock laughs even harder, as if expecting Ash to break out singing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall". "So, for teaching that art, the old hag got her eye back, and they both went their separate ways." Ash explains as he returns the third marble he swiped. "But when Minnikin had walked a short way, it seemed to him that it might be worth it to see what his ship could do; so he took it out of his pocket, and no sooner had he set it on the ground did it become much larger in a flash of blue light, and when the light faded it was as large as a typical sailing ship."

[Wow...] Mai gasps at this.

"Then Minnikin said..." As Minnikin, Ash calls "Now go over fresh water and salt water, over high hills and deep valleys, and do not stop until you come to the king's palace."

As himself. he goes on "And in a matter of seconds the ship flew away till it was just below the king's palace. From the windows of the king's palace many people had seen Minnikin come sailing there, and had gathered at the windows and peeked out of doors to watch. They were all so astounded that they ran down to see what kind of man this could be who came sailing in a ship that could fly. But while they were running down from the king's palace, Minnikin had gotten out of the ship and had put it in his pocket again. The moment he got out of it, it shrank back down to the size of a toy, and those who came from the King's palace could see nothing but a ragged little boy who was standing down by the seashore. The king asked where he had come from, but the boy said he did not know, nor could he tell them how he had got there, but he asked for some work in the royal palace. If there was nothing else for him to do, he said he could at least gather wood and water for the kitchen maids, and the king decided to let him do just that."

"Pika pika pikachu?" Pikachu asks.

"When Minnikin went up to the king's palace he saw that it was not its usual regal and colorful appearance--everything there was decorated with black." Ash explains to Pikachu. "So one day, he asked a kitchen maid what had happened."

"So what had happened?" Brock wonders.

"The kitchen maid explained that the king's daughter, Princess Rosin, was long ago promised to three trolls, and in a few days, one of them was coming to get her. The so called hero Ritter the Red had said that he would be able to set her free, but it was anyone's guess whether he meant it or was just boasting." Ash explains, to some giggles. "So when the appointed day came, Ritter the Red accompanied Princess Rosin to the seashore to meet the first troll, and he was to stay with her and protect her. He, however, was very unlikely to do much damage, for no sooner had Princess Rosin arrived by the seashore did Ritter the Red climbed up into a nearby tree, and hid himself among the branches."

"Some hero..." Melody grumbles.

"Pika pika pikachu, pi pika." Pikachu assures Melody.

"Princess Rosin cried and begged for him not to go and leave her; but Ritter the Red did not worry about that." Ash continues. "'It is better that one should die than two," he said. Meanwhile, Minnikin begged the kitchen maid let him go down to the town square for a short time."

"Oh, what could you do down at the square?" Misty asks as the kitchen maid. "You have nothing to do there."

"Oh yes, just let me go," Ash replies as Minnikin. "I really would like to go and play games with the town children."

`Then go!' Misty replies as the kitchen maid, "but don't let me find out you stayed out too late, and while you're out, bring some more wood for the stove"

"Minnikin promised this, and ran down to the seashore. Ash goes on as himself. "Just as he got to the place where Princess Rosin was sitting, the troll came rushing up with a great whistling and whirring, and he was so huge that he was terrible to see, and he had five heads."

`Fire!' Brock jumps in the role of the troll.

`Fire yourself!' Ash retorts as Minnikin.

`Can you fight?' Brock asks as the troll.

`If not, I can learn,' Ash replies as Minnikin.

Misty leads the applause. "So the troll tried to crush him with a great thick iron bar--the blows were so hard, dirt flew at least five feet in the air." Ash makes a form in the air to give his audience an idea of how high that is.

"Well!" he notes as Minnikin. "That was not much of a blow. Now you shall see one of mine."

"So he drew the sword he had received from the old hag, and slashed at the troll so hard, all five heads went flying." Ash continues as himself before poking Brock with the stick.

Misty tries oh-so-hard not to laugh at Brock comically playing dead. "When Princess Rosin saw that she had been saved, she was so happy that she did not know what to do, and cheered and danced across the beach." Ash goes on before doing a little dancing himself.

"Come and sleep a bit with your head in my lap," Melody interjects as Princess Rosin.

"she said to Minnikin, and as he slept she put a golden coat on him." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings, making an identical gold coat appear on Ash.

"But when Ritter the Red saw that the coast was clear, he lost no time in climbing down from the tree. He then threatened Princess Rosin, until she was forced to promise to say that it was he who had rescued her, for he told her that if she did not he would kill her." Ash intones, a little confused about what to make of the new clothes. "Then he took the troll's lungs and tongue and put them in his pocket, and led Princess Rosin back to the king's palace; and he returned to a hero's welcome, for the king did not know how to exalt him enough, and always set him at the most prominent place at the dinner table, to name one honor."

Pikachu sparks angrily at this. "As for Minnikin, first he went aboard the troll's ship and took a great quantity of gold, silver, and jewels with him, and then he returned to the palace." Ash continues. "When the kitchen maid saw all the treasure she was quite amazed, and asked him where he got all that from, for she was half afraid that he had not earned it honestly."

`Oh,' he answers as Minnikin, "I have been home a while, and these hoops had fallen off some of our buckets, so I brought them with me for you."

"So when the kitchen maid heard that they were for her, she asked no more questions about the matter. She thanked Minnikin, and for a time, all was well." Ash goes on. "The next week, the same thing happened, and everyone had the blues, but Ritter the Red said that he had been able to deliver Princess Rosin from one troll, so that he could very easily deliver her from another, and he led her down to the seashore. But he did not do much damage to this troll either, for when the time came for the troll to arrive, he said as he had said before: `It is better that one should die than two,' and then climbed up into the tree again. Minnikin again begged the cook's leave to go down to the seashore for a while."

"Oh, what can you do there?" Misty asks as the cook.

"Please let me go!" Ash pleads as Minnikin; "I really like to go down there and play with the other children."

As himself,he goes on "So she said that he could go, but he had to promise that he would be back by dark with fresh wood for the stove. No sooner had Minnikin got down to the beach did the troll came rushing along with a great whistling and whirring, and he was twice as big as the first troll, and he had ten heads."

Brock leads off the battle rigamarole. "Fire!"

"Fire yourself!"

"Can you fight?"

"If not, I can learn."

Ash quickly narrates as himself. "So the troll struck at him with his iron club--which was still bigger than the first troll's weapon--so that the earth flew at least ten feet in the air."

`Well!' he notes as Minnikin. "That was not much of a blow. Now you shall see one of my blows."

"Then he grasped his sword and struck at the Troll, so that all his ten heads went flying." he narrates before poking Brock with the stick again.

Everyone laughs as Brock comically plays dead again. "Sleep a while on my lap," Melody requests as Princess Rosin.

"and while Minnikin lay there she draped a silver cape over him." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Sure enough, Melody conjures a silver cape just like Ash described and ties it on Ash's shoulders.

After admiring the new cape for a moment, Ash goes on "As soon as Ritter the Red saw that the coast was clear, he climbed down from the tree and threatened Princess Rosin, until she was again forced to promise to say that it was he who had rescued her; after which he took the tongue and the lungs of the Troll and put them in his pocket, and then he led Princess Rosin back to the palace. There was joy and gladness in the palace, as you can imagine, and the king did not know how to show enough honor and respect to Ritter the Red."

Pikachu sparks angrily at the mention of Ritter the Red. "Minnikin, however, took home with him an armful of gold, silver, and jewels from the troll's ship. When he came back to the palace the kitchen maid clapped her hands and wondered where he could have gotten all that treasure, but Minnikin answered that he had been home for a short time, and that it was only the odds and ends which had fallen off some pails, and that he had brought them for the kitchen maid." Ash continues.

"Do we have to do the whole battle scene again?" Brock interrupts. "That stick hurts..."

"When the third week came, everything happened as it had happened on the two previous weeks." Ash continues, making Brock groan. "Everything in the king's palace was decorated with black, and everyone was sorrowful and distressed; but Ritter the Red said that he did not think that they had much reason to be afraid--he had delivered Princess Rosin from two trolls, so he could easily deliver her from the third too."

"Pika chu." Pikachu grumbles.

"He led her down to the beach, but when the time came for the troll to come, he climbed up into the tree again and hid." Ash goes on. "Princess Rosin cried and pleaded for him to stay, but to no avail. He stuck to his old speech, `It is better that one life should be lost than two.' Meanwhile, Minnikin asked to go down to the seashore."

"Oh, what can you do there?" Misty asks as the kitchen maid.

"However, he begged until he got permission to go, but he had to promise that he would be back before dark." Ash continues. Just as he had arrived at the seashore the troll came with a great whizzing and whirring, and he was much, much bigger than either of the two other ones, and he had fifteen heads."

Here we go again... Brock sighs before starting the rigamarole again. "Fire!"

"Fire yourself!"

"Can you fight?"

"If not, I can learn,"

"I will teach you!" Brock makes a lunge at Ash, but Ash steps aside, making Brock hit the tent.

`Well!' Ash notes as Minnikin. "That was not much of a blow. Now I will let you see one of my blows."

As himself, he narrates "With that, he drew his sword, and cut at the troll in such a way that all his fifteen heads rolled." before poking Brock with the stick again.

Everyone roars with laughter as Brock comically feigns playing dead again. "Then Princess Rosin was saved again, and she thanked Minnikin and blessed him for saving her." Ash narrates.

"Sleep a while now on my lap," Melody requests as Princess Rosin.

"and while he lay there she put a jewel studded suit on him." Ash narrates.

He gasps as Melody sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul..., making his remaining clothes transform into the exact suit he described. "But now, how shall we have it made known that it was you who saved me?" Melody asks as Princess Rosin.

"That I will tell you," Ash answers as Minnikin. "When Ritter the Red has taken you home again, and given out that it was he who rescued you, he will, as you know, have you offered as his bride, and half the kingdom. But when they ask you on your wedding day who you will have to be your cup bearer, you must say, 'I will have the ragged boy who is in the kitchen, and carries wood and water for the kitchen maid;' and when I am filling your cups for you, I will spill a drop on his plate but none upon yours, and then he will be angry and strike me, and this will take place three times. But the third time you must say, 'Shame on you to harm my beloved. He was the one who delivered me from the trolls, and he is the one who I will have.'"

As himself, he continues "Then Minnikin ran back to the king's palace as he had done before, but first he went on board the troll's ship and took a great quantity of gold and silver and other precious things, and he gave to the kitchen maid a whole armful of gold, silver and jewels. No sooner did Ritter the Red see that the coast was clear, than he crept down from the tree, and threatened Princess Rosin till he made her promise to say that he had rescued her. Then he led her back to the King's palace, and if honor enough had not been done him before it was certainly done now, for the King had no other thought than how to make much of the man who had saved his daughter from the three trolls; and it was agreed that Ritter the Red should marry her, and receive half the kingdom."

"Pika..." Pikachu is not pleased with the idea of Ritter the Red marrying Princess Rosin.

"On the wedding day, however, Princess Rosin begged that she might have the little boy who was in the kitchen, and carried wood and water for the kitchen maid, to fill the wine cups at the wedding feast." Ash narrates.

"Oh, what can you want with that dirty, ragged boy in here?" Brock sighs as Ritter the Red.

"but Princess Rosin said that she insisted on having him as cup bearer and would have no one else; and at last she got her wish, and then everything was done as Princess Rosin and Minnikin agreed on." Ash narrates. "He spilled a drop on Ritter the Red's plate but none on hers, and each time that he did it Ritter the Red got mad and struck him. At the first blow all the ragged garments which he had worn in the kitchen fell off Minnikin, at the second blow the jeweled suit fell off, and at the third the silver cape, and there he stood in the golden coat, which was so bright and beautiful that it shone like the sun." As if on cue, all the clothes Melody conjured disappear from Ash, leaving him in his normal clothes again. "Then Princess Rosin said..."

"Shame on you to harm my beloved. He was the one who delivered me from the trolls, and he is the one who I will have." Melody scolds Brock as Princess Rosin.

"Ritter the Red swore that he was the man who had saved her, but the king said..." Ash narrates.

"He who delivered my daughter must have some token as proof of it." Brock interjects in his standard "king" voice.

"So Ritter the Red searched his pockets for the lungs and tongue, and Minnikin went and brought all the gold and silver and precious things which he had taken out of the trolls' ships; and they each of them laid their tokens before the king." Ash continues.

"He who has such precious things in gold and silver and jewels," Brock explains as the king, "must be the one who killed the trolls, for such things are hard to find anywhere else."

Ash then concludes "So Ritter the Red was thrown to the Arboks, and Minnikin and Princess Rosin were married, and he received half the kingdom. They lived happily for many years, and Minnikin went on many more adventures with his brother Pippin. But that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 200: The Core of Blackrock Mountain (the Trio)


"And now, time for another song from the repertoire of Flynn Devine..." Brock grins before taking the harp and starting a mournful melody:

A long time ago, in a land far away,
Three dwarven clans vied for supremacy
While two walked the path of light
The third walked the way of the dark

The duergar wished to rule them all
With the wisps of fire by their side
But though he sought an army,
He summoned the Wisp King Ragnaros...

Ash joins in with a tense melody on the Pokeflute as Brock continues:

He had been imprisoned under Redbridge Mountain,
Where he'd built up years of rage,
And now that he was free again,
To the dwarven city he laid siege

The battlefield burned with flames and ashes
Until the duergar city was no more
The battle created Blackrock Mountain,
With its white hot molten core..

Misty and Ash trade solos for a moment, over which Brock scats the fiddle line as he plays a harmony line. After playing the long and mostly improvised solo, he sings the final verses:

To this day Ragnaros remains
Inside the core with duergar slaves
Across the shore from a lake of fire,
Which has been many an adventurer's pyre

Many fire wisps will
Come from the fire realm still
And among the fire frolic and play
As a warning to keep heroes away!

Melody leads the applause as the Trio takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 201: Kitsune's Sacrifice (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 89, story 1)

"Thanks for the long letter with some Kalos tales for me." Brock grins as he switches out his harp for his guitar. "In fact, I think I've got one polished already..."

"Let's hear it!" Misty begs, her eyes sparkling with excitement over a tale from a new region.

Brock just starts a calm melody. "In a certain village lived a man named Manzou, who made his keep as a hired worker. One day, a particularly rich man hired him, and many others. Although Manzou and his family were not too well off, they were still very happy."

"Aw..." Misty smiles.

"Late that year, the rich man had a son born to him around the winter festival, so he got the idea to give Manzou one of his fields, in hopes the other hands would be inspired by their master's generosity and work to receive fields too." Brock continues over a playful chord. "As Manzou came to inspect his new field, he noticed a statue of Kitsune, a wise and sometimes crafty Delphox said to be an envoy of Arceus in Kalos. But he saw the statue was in disrepair, and set to work fixing the statue and cleaning the grime from it. Once the statue had been cleaned and repaired, he said a little prayer to Kitsune in hopes she would intercede for him before Arceus."

"So, what happened?" Melody wonders.

"All through the fall, Manzou worked very hard to repay his master's kindness, and when the sun set, would offer the day's first fruits to Kitsune." Brock goes on over a peaceful interlude. "When winter came, he did his best to clean the snow off the statue, and repair what broke off in the bitterly cold winds."

He then plays a mystical melody to signal the passage of time. "Winter turned to spring, and spring turned to summer, but the next fall, a Nincada swarm wiped out all the other fields. However, only Manzou's field was untouched. In his anger, the rich man ordered the north field returned, and the Kitsune statue destroyed, despite Manzou's pleas that Kitsune would never bring harm on those she favored."

Even Ash swallows hard at this. "Manzou salvaged what pieces of the statue he could, and used the pieces to build a mini Kitsune in his house." Brock assures his jittery friends. "Some months later, the rich man's son got sick, and no healer within miles had a clue how to cure him. Finally, the town miko told the rich man that the only way to save his son was to sacrifice a young girl with pure heart to Arceus. The rich man then got the idea to sacrifice Manzou's little girl, Chiyo."

"How dare he kill an innocent girl!" Melody fumes at the idea.

"The rich man took Chiyo into a remote clearing in the forest, but just as he drew his sword to strike the girl, he heard an oddly pleasant female voice singing..." Brock then sings over a D chord Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

The Pokemon cheer at the familiar "spellsong". "When he turned to see who it was, he gasped when he saw Kitsune before him, about to engulf the man in her Mystical Fire!" Brock announces over a triumphant chord. "Terrified, the rich man hurried back to Manzou's house, but when he arrived, he saw Manzou and his family were all present. Manzou noticed his mini Kitsune was glowing for some reason, and the rich man realized it had not been Chiyo he had tried to kill, but Kitsune in disguise!"

"I see...Kitsune didn't want to see anyone she favored hurt." Misty muses as she puts two and two together.

"The rich man's son was healed, Manzou received his field back, and rebuilt the large statue of Kitsune, which still stands today, watching over that village." Brock concludes over a soft flourish.

Ash's applause is the loudest. "I'd say that one's ready for primetime! I can't wait to hear you tell the others!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 202: Jack and the Seven Ponytas (Misty)

(real tale: The Seven Foals (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/086.htm))


"There was once a poor couple who lived in a small thatched hut, far away from any civilization, in a forest." Misty begins. "They only just managed to live from hand to mouth, and had great difficulty in even doing that, but they had three sons. The youngest of them was named Jack, and he did nothing else but lie and poke about among the ashes."

"Sounds familiar..." Ash muses.

"Typical Jack tale beginning..." Brock agrees.

"One day the eldest brother said that he would go out into the world to seek his fortune; he soon got permission to do that, and set out on his way into the world." Misty goes on. "He walked on and on for the whole day, and when night was beginning to fall he came to a royal palace. The king was standing outside on the steps, and asked where he was going."

`Oh, I am going about seeking my fortune, my lord,' Ash replies in a deeper version of himself for the eldest brother.

"Will you serve me, and watch my seven Ponytas?" Brock asks as the king. "If you can watch over them for a whole day and tell me at night what they eat and drink, you can have the Princess Elena and half my kingdom, but if you fail, I will cut three red stripes on your back."

The Pokemon gasp at the painful condition for failure. "The eldest brother thought that it was very easy work to watch the Ponytas, and that he could do it well enough." Misty quiets the fearful speculation. "The next morning, when day was beginning to dawn, the King's Master of the Ponytas and Rapidashes let out the seven Ponytas; and they ran away, and the eldest brother not far behind, over hill and dale, through woods and bogs. After running for a long time he began to get tired, and when he had held on a little longer he was weary of watching at all, and at the same moment he came to a cave hollowed in a rock where an old woman was sitting spinning with her distaff in her hand."

"And then?" Melody wonders.

"As soon as she spotted the eldest brother, who was running after the Ponytas till the sweat streamed down his face, she cried..." Misty then switches to the best "old woman" voice she can muster. "Come here, come here, my handsome son, and let me comb your hair for you."

"Pika..." Pikachu comments.

"The lad was willing enough, so he sat down in the cave beside the old hag, and laid his head on her knees, and she combed his hair all day while he lay there doing absolutely nothing." Misty continues as herself, to some giggles. "When evening approached, the eldest brother wanted to leave. `I may just as well go straight home again,' he thought, `for it is no use to go to the king's palace.'"

"Wait till it is dusk," she instructs as the old hag, "and then the king's Ponytas will pass by this place again, and you can run home with them; no one will ever know that you have been lying here all day instead of watching the Ponytas."

As herself, she continues "So when they came she gave the lad a bottle of water and a bit of moss, and told him to show these to the King and say that this was what his seven Ponytas ate and drank."

"Have you watched faithfully and well all day?" Brock asks as the king.

"Yes, that I have!" Ash replies as the eldest brother.

"Then you are able to tell me what it is that my seven Ponytas eat and drink," Brock grins as the king.

"So the eldest brother produced the bottle of water and the bit of moss which he had got from the old woman..." Misty narrates as Ash pantomimes doing this.

"Here you see their food, and here you see their drink." Ash sets the pantomime props before Brock.

"Then the king figured out what had really happened, and got so mad that he ordered his knights to chase the eldest brother back to his own home; but first they were to cut three red stripes in his back, and rub salt into the bleeding wounds to make them hurt even more." Misty goes on.

"I am not pantomiming that, for our safety and to keep this relatively family friendly." Brock assures Ash. Ash just heaves a sigh of relief at this,

"When the eldest brother reached home again, you can imagine the state of mind he was in." Misty acknowledges the boys with a nod. "He had gone out once to seek his fortune, he said, but never would he do such a thing again."

She then continues "The next day the middle brother said that he would go out into the world to seek his fortune. His father and mother said no, and bade him look at the red stripes on his brother's back, but the middle brother would not give up, and stuck to his guns, and after a long, long time he got permission to go, and set out on his way. When he had walked all day he too came to the king's palace, and the king was standing outside on the steps, and asked where he was going; and when the middle brother replied that he was going about in search of fortune, the king offered for him to enter into his service and watch his seven Ponytas. Then the king promised him the same punishment and the same reward that he had promised his brother."

"That didn't go so hot, did it?" Ash grins.

"The middle brother consented to this and entered into the king's service, for he thought he could easily watch the Ponytas and inform the King what they ate and drank. Misty continues. "In the grey light of dawn the Master of the Ponytas and Rapidashes let out the seven Ponytas, and off they went again over hill and dale, and off went the middle after them. But the same thing happened--when he had run after the Ponytas for a long, long time and was hot and tired, he passed by the cave in the rock where the old woman was sitting spinning with a distaff, and she called to him..."

As the old hag, she calls "Come here, come here, my handsome son, and let me comb your hair."

As herself, she goes on "The middle brother liked the thought of this, let the Ponytas run where they chose, and seated himself in the cave in the rock by the side of the old hag. So there he sat with his head on her lap, taking it easy all the livelong day."

"Bad idea..." Brock smiles in anticipation.

"The Ponytas came back in the evening, and then he too got a bit of moss and a bottle of water from the old hag, which he was to show to the king." Misty replies. "But when the king asked the middle brother..."

"Can you tell me what my seven Ponytas eat and drink?" Brock asks as the king.

"and the middle brother showed him the bit of moss and the bottle of water, and said..." Misty narrates.

"Yes--here is their food, and here their drink," Ash fills in the middle brother's line.

"...the king got mad again, and commanded that three red stripes be cut on the middle brother's back, that salt should be sprinkled on them so it hurt even more, and that he should then be chased back to his own home. So when the middle brother got home again he too related all that had happened to him, and he too said that he had gone out in search of fortune once, but that he never would he do it again." Misty continues.

After pausing for a beat, she continues "On the third day Jack wanted to set out. He had a fancy to try to watch the seven Ponytas himself, he said. The two others laughed at him, and teased him. `How do you suppose that you are going to succeed?' they said. 'You look like succeeding--you who have never done anything else but lie and poke about among the ashes!'"

"Yes, I will go too," Ash confidently replies as Jack, "for I have a plan."

"The two brothers laughed at him, and his father and mother begged him not to go, but all to no avail, and Jack set out on his way." Misty goes on. "So when he had walked the whole day, he too came to the king's palace as night began to fall. There stood the king outside on the steps, and he asked where he was going."

"I am in search of fortune," Ash replies as Jack.

"From where do you come, then?" Brock asks as the king,

Ash pantomimes talking to Brock as Misty continues "So Jack told him from where he came from, and that he was brother to the two who had watched the seven Ponytas for the king, and then he inquired if he might be allowed to try to watch them on the following day."

"Oh, shame on them!" Brock sighs as the king. "If you are brother to those two, you too are not good for much. I have had enough of such people."

"Well, I am already here, you might just let me try," Ash assures Brock as Jack.

"Oh, very well, if you are absolutely determined to have your back cut, you may have your own way if you will,' Brock sighs in defeat as the king."

"I would much rather have Princess Elena," Ash notes as Jack.

"Pika pika pi pika pikachu?" Pikachu asks as the other Pokemon applaud the boys' interplay.

"The next morning, in the grey light of dawn, the Master of the Ponytas and Rapidashes let out the seven Ponytas again, and off they set over hill and dale, through woods and bogs, and off went Jack after them." Misty assures Pikachu. "When he had ran for a long time, he too came to the cave in the rock. There the old hag was once more sitting spinning from her distaff, and she cried to Jack..."

"Come here, come here, my handsome son, and let me comb your hair for you." she intones as the old hag.

"Come to me, then; come to me!" Ash retorts as Jack.

"When he had got safely past the cave in the rock, the youngest Ponyta said..." Misty narrates as herself.

"Get on my back, for we have still a long way to go." Melody instructs Ash as the Ponyta.

"They traveled a long, long way." Misty narrates as Melody flies around the tent with Ash not far behind.

"Do you see anything now?" Melody asks when she and Ash complete their lap.

"No," Ash replies as Jack.

"So they went even farther." Misty narrates as Melody and Ash begin a second lap.

"Do you see anything now?" Melody asks as the Ponyta.

"Oh, no," Ash replies as Jack.

"When they had gone on for a long, long way, the Ponyta asked again..." Misty narrates.

"Do you see anything now?" Melody asks as she and Ash complete a third lap.

"Yes, now I see something that is white," Ash replies as Jack. "It looks like the trunk of a great sycamore tree."

"Yes, that is where we are to go in," Melody explains as the Ponyta.

"When they got to the trunk, the eldest Ponyta broke it down on one side, and then they saw a door where the trunk had been standing, and inside this there was a small room." Misty continues. "In the room there was hardly anything but a small fireplace and a couple of benches, but behind the door hung a great sword and a small pitcher."

"Can you wield that sword?" Melody asks as the Ponyta.

"Jack tried, but could not do it." Misty narrates, trying oh-so-hard not to laugh at Ash pantomiming lifting something heavy. "so he had to take a drink from the pitcher..." Ash takes a long drink from a water bottle at this. "and then one more, and after that still another, and then he was able to wield the sword with perfect ease."

"BA-DA-DA-DAAAAAAAAAA!!! Brock can't resist singing the Zelda 'got item' stinger as Ash lifts the pantomime sword over his head.

"Good," Melody smiles as the Ponyta. "Now you must take the sword with you, and with it lay it on the heads of all seven of us on your wedding day, and sing the Great Holy Spellsong: 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul'. Then we shall become princes again as we were before. For we are brothers of Princess Elena, but there is a mighty troll who has cast a spell over us. When you touch our heads, be sure not to wound us, and then the spell the troll has cast upon us will be broken."

"Jack promised to do this, and then they went on farther." Misty narrates. "When they had traveled a long, long way, the Ponyta said..."

"Do you see anything?" Melody asks.

`No,' Ash replies as Jack.

"So they went on a great distance farther." Misty narrates.

"And now?" Melody asks as the Ponyta, "Do you see anything now?"

"Alas! no," Ash sighs as Jack.

"So they traveled onwards, for many and many a mile, over hill and over dale." Misty narrates.

"Now, then," Melody asks as the Ponyta, "do you see anything now?"

"Yes,' Ash replies as Jack; "now I see something like a bluish streak, far, far away."

"That is a river," Melody explains as the Ponyta, "and we have to cross it."

"There was a long, handsome bridge over the river, and when they had got to the other side of it they again traveled on a long, long way, and the Ponyta asked if Jack saw anything." Misty narrates. "Yes, this time he saw something that looked black, far, far away, like a shrine."

`Yes,' Melody adds as the Ponyta, "we shall go into that.'"

"When the Ponytas arrived into the shrine's courtyard they turned into young men in flashes of light and looked like the sons of a king, and their clothes were so magnificent that they shone with splendor."Misty narrates, to awed chatter. "They went into the shrine and received blessings from the miko, who was standing before the altar, and Jack went in too. But when the miko had laid her hands on the princes and blessed them, they left, and Jack went out too, but he took with him some of the food the miko had served them. No sooner had the seven princes come out into the courtyard than they became Ponytas again, and Jack got on the back of the youngest, and they returned the way they had come, only they went much, much faster."

After a moment to collect her bearings, Misty goes on "First they went over the bridge, and then past the trunk of the sycamore tree, and then past the old hag who sat in the cave of the rock spinning, and they went by so fast that Jack could not hear what the old hag screeched after him, but just heard enough to understand that she was terribly enraged."

Giggles go up at this. "It was all but dark when they got back to the king at nightfall, and he himself was standing in the courtyard waiting for them."

"Have you watched well and faithfully the whole day?" Brock asks as the king.

"I have done my best," Ash replies as Jack.

"Then you can tell me what my seven Ponytas eat and drink?" Brock presses Ash for more information in character.

"So Jack pulled out the food from the shrine, and showed them to the king." Misty narrates as Ash pantomimes doing this to Brock.

"Here is their food, and here their drink," Ash gestures to the pantomime props for effect.

"I see you have watched diligently and faithfully," Brock smiles as the king. "and you may have Princess Elena and half the kingdom."

"So the entire castle got ready for the wedding, and the king said that it was to be so stately and magnificent that everyone would hear of it, and everyone talk about it."Misty goes on. "But when they sat down to the marriage feast, Jack left the table and went down to the stable, for he said that he had forgotten something which he must go and tend to. When he got there, he did what the Ponytas had told him--he lay the sword on each of their heads and sang..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul.... Ash sings as Jack.

"One by one, the Ponytas became princes again in flashes of red light." Misty goes on. "When he returned to the banquet hall with the seven princes, the king was so joyful that he both kissed Jack and hugged him tight, and Princess Elena's love for him grew even stronger."

"Half my kingdom is yours already," Brock grins as the king, "and the other half will be yours when I join Arceus in the heavens, for my sons can get countries and kingdoms for themselves now that they have become human again."

Misty smiles as she concludes "It goes without saying there was joy and merriment at that wedding."

"I'm sure there was..." Ash smiles as he leads the applause

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 203: A Mage in Disguise (Ash)

(real tale: The Hairy Man (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/254.htm))


"Somewhere in a far away land--I don't know where--there lived a king who owned two remarkably fine fields of wheat, but every night two of the wheat bundles were burnt down in one of the fields." Ash begins. "Understandably, the king was very mad at this, and sent out soldiers to catch whoever had set fire to the wheat; but it was to no avail--they could not see who did it."

"So who did it?" Brock is intrigued.

"Then he offered nine gold pieces to anyone who caught the perp, and at the same time ordered that whoever did not keep proper watch over the fields would be killed." Ash intones, making the Pokemon shudder. "Although there were a great many people that volunteered, none of them seemed to be able to protect the fields."

"He'll kill off his whole kingdom at this rate..." Misty is unamused at the king's barbaric order

"The king had already killed ninety-nine people to death, when a little swineherd came to him who had two Growlithes; one was named Hunter, and the other Goldie." Ash goes on. "The boy--we'll call him Alex--told the king that he would watch over the wheat."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, fearing for Alex.

"When it grew dark, Alex climbed up on top of a hill, where he could see the whole field." Ash goes on. "Around eleven o'clock he thought he saw someone sneaking up to a wheat stalk and setting it on fire. 'Just you wait,' he thought, and called out to his Growlithes..."

In character as Alex, he calls "Oi! Hunter, Goldie, go get him!"

Laughter fills the tent at Ash's realistic call. "But Hunter and Goldie had not waited to be told what to do, and in five minutes the man was caught." Ash continues as himself.

"Good puppies..." Brock grins, petting an imaginary Growlithe by his side.

"The next morning he was brought before the king, who was so pleased with Alex that he gave him a thousand gold pieces at once." Ash explains. "The prisoner appeared to be all covered with hair, almost like a Pokemon. In fact, he was so strange and frightening to look at that the king locked him up in a strong room and sent out letters of invitation to all the other kings and queens asking them to come and see this wonder."

"Oh boy..." Misty sighs--charging admission for a freak show in a tale never ended well for the captors.

"That was all well and good; but the king had a son that was ten years old--we'll call him Shane--who went to look at the hairy man too, and the man begged so hard to be set free that Prince Shane felt sorry for him." Ash continues. "So he stole the key to the strong room from his mother and opened the door. Then he put the key back, but the hairy man escaped and went out into the world."

"And then?" Melody asks

"Then the kings and queens began to arrive, all of them anxious to see the hairy man; but he was gone! The king nearly burst with rage and with the shame he felt." Ash intones. "He gave his wife the third degree, and told her that if she could not find and bring back the hairy man he would put her in a hut made of reeds and burn her there."

"Such a tyrant..." Misty is still angry at the king's order.

"The queen swore to Arceus that she had had nothing to do with the matter; if her son had happened to take the key it had not been with her knowledge." Ash explains. "So they summoned Prince Shane and grilled him for a good thirty minutes, until he finally confessed that he had let the hairy man out. The king ordered his servants to take the prince into the forest, kill him there, and bring back his heart as proof."

"This is starting to sound like 'Snow White'...." Misty muses.

Ash just smiles--his tale actually is not a 'Snow White' variant at all. "There was great sadness all over the kingdom when word of the king's command got out, for Prince Shane was well loved and well liked among the people. But there was nothing to be done, and they took Prince Shane out into the forest."

Melody swallows hard at this, but Ash assures his jittery audience "But the guards felt sorry for him, and so killed a Tepig and carried its heart to the king, who seemed satisfied, and considered the matter closed."

"Now to see when--or if--His Highness figures out what he really has..." Brock grins.

"Prince Shane wandered about in the forest and lived as best as he could for five years." Ash assures Brock. "One day he came upon a poor little cottage where an old man lived. They got to talking, and Prince Shane told his story and sad fate. Then they recognized each other, for the old fellow was actually a mage and the same hairy man whom Prince Shane had set free. He explained that all the hair was a disguise to help him blend in in the forests and fields."

"Oh..." Misty nods when she puts two and two together.

"Prince Shane stayed with the mage for two years; then he wished to go further into the world." Ash goes on. "The old mage pleaded for him to stay, but Prince Shane's mind was made up, so the old mage gave him a ruby--when 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...' was sung to it, it would glow and produce a Shiny Ponyta, and a beautiful crystal bow to use as a mounted weapon."

"Whoa..." Even Brock is amazed at the gifts.

"Next, the mage gave Prince Shane a sapphire, when 'Furiya, shuru shamato' was sung to it, it would conjure an array of knights mounted aboard not just Ponytas, but Salamences, Braviaries, and pegasi too." Ash continues before adding "and a beautiful sword to command them all."

"Wow!" Misty pictures herself as a Braviary riding knight.

Then Prince Shane received an emerald--when 'Seios, higarima laisido...' was sung to it, it would summon as many heroes that he wanted, and a staff made of crystal to cast spells with if his other weapons failed." Ash goes on. "The mage made Prince Shane swear to Arceus to take the greatest care of these presents, and then they parted."

"Pika pi?" Pikachu sparks happily in anticipation of a quest.

"Prince Shane wandered on and on till he came to a large city in another land." Ash explains. "He found work in the king's palace, and as no one cared about where he came from, he lived as a servant, and grew to be loved and respected."

After a pause to collect his bearings, Ash goes on "One day, news was brought to the king that he had to go to war, for an enemy king was due to invade at any moment. He was horribly frightened, for he had a very small army, but he had to go defend his lands all the same."

"Oh my!" Melody gasps.

"When they had all left, Prince Shane said to the housekeeper..." Ash then switches to a younger version of himself. "Give me leave to go to the next town--I owe a small debt there, and I want to go and pay it"

As himself,he continues "and as there was nothing much to do in the palace, the housekeeper gave him leave."

[And then?] a Meowth begs.

"When he got beyond the city, he took out his ruby and sang..." Ash pauses to sing as Prince Shane Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul..., "and when the Shiny Ponyta appeared in a flash of red light, he swung himself into the saddle. Then he took the sapphire..." Ash then sings Furiya, shuru shamato.... "and the emerald...." He next sings Seios, higarima laisido... "and with all those heroes by his side, he joined the king's army."

Pikachu sparks excitedly in anticipation of a battle. "The king saw them approach with fear in his heart, for he did not know if it was a friend or foe; but Prince Shane rode up, and bowed low before him.

He then bows on one knee before Brock. "I bring Your Majesty reinforcements."

"The king was delighted, and all dread of his enemy disappeared like that." Ash snaps to illustrate his point, prompting Brock to strike a heroic pose, much to Misty's bemusement. "The king's two daughters--Princess Crisanta and Princess Ariana--were there too. They both liked Prince Shane, and begged him to get into their carriage so they could talk with them."

"There's your princesses..." Brock grins at Happini, who is laughing happily at the mention of a princess in Ash's tale.

"But he respectfully declined, and remained mounted, as he did not know when the battle would begin; and while they were all talking, Princess Ariana took off her favorite sapphire ring, and her sister tore her hanky in two, and they gave these gifts to Prince Shane." Ash continues. "Suddenly the enemy armies came into view. The king asked whether his army or Prince Shane's troops would lead the way; but Prince Shane charged first and with his knights, he fought so bravely that only two of the enemy troops were left alive, and these two were only spared to act as messengers."

"Talk about a resounding victory!" Melody is impressed.

"The king was overjoyed and so were the princesses at this brilliant victory." Ash affirms Melody's observation with a nod. "As they drove home they begged Prince Shane to join them, but he would not come, and galloped off with his troops. When he got near the city, he called back the troops into the jewels, and then strolled into town. On his return to the palace he was scolded by the housekeeper for staying out so late."

Everyone laughs at this. "Well, you'd think my tale would be over here; but it happened that Princess Ariana had fallen in love with Prince Shane, as he had with her." Ash cautions as Misty starts to applaud, thinking the story is over. "He gave her the emerald as a token of his love."

"Uh oh..." Brock notes.

"One day, as the princesses were talking with their father, Princess Ariana asked him whether it might not have been their servant who had helped him so much. The king was angry at the idea; but, just to make her happy, he ordered the servant's room to be searched." Ash continues. "And there, to everyone's surprise, they found Princess Ariana's ring and the half of the hanky. When these were brought to the king he summoned Prince Shane and asked if it had been he who had come to their rescue."

"Yes, your Majesty, it was me." he answers as Prince Shane.

"But where did you get your army?" Brock asks as the king.

"If you wish to see it, I can show it to you outside the city walls." Ash offers

"And so he did; but first he asked for the emerald from Princess Ariana, and when all the heroes were summoned, there were so many that there was barely room for them."

[Oh my!] Mai gasps as she pictures the crowd of heroes.

"The king gave him Princess Ariana and the kingdom as a reward for his aid, and when he heard that Prince Shane was himself a king's son his joy knew no bounds." Ash continues. "After calling back all the heroes, they went back into the town."

He concludes "Not long after there was a grand wedding; and perhaps they are still celebrating, but I don't know for sure."

"That was wonderful!" Misty grins as she applauds....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 204: The Legend of Jack and Epona (Brock)

(real tale: Sivka-Burka (http://www.artrusse.ca/FairyTales/sivka-burka.htm))

Just as Brock is about to begin his next tale, he notices movement inside his bag. Huh? When he peeks inside, he balks when he sees a Pichu wearing a miniature red mage's hat and a matching cape. "Tarina? How did you get here?"

[Easy--I found a map to your campsite on the table, and followed it here.] Tarina explains, pleased with herself. [Since you were busy telling tales and playing music, I managed to find your bag and hide in there to dry off from the rain.]

Brock isn't sure whether to scold Tarina or be amazed that she managed to find the group from home, but Ash is quick to the Pichu's defense. "Don't punish her! She didn't know any better!"

"That, and the more listeners we have, the better." Misty agrees.

Brock thinks for a moment, but decides Tarina's journey isn't worth punishing. "Okay...but next time, if you want to go with me somewhere, ask first."

[Okay.] Tarina smiles.

"Well, since she's here, what kind of stories does she like?" Ash wonders.

[Oh! Tell the one about Jack and the magical Ponyta!] Tarina requests.

"Which one?" Brock presses Tarina for more information. "I know several Jack tales that involve a magic Ponyta, so you have to tell me which one..."

[The one where you do the grasswhistle every time Jack summons the Ponyta.] Tarina requests.

Brock grins--he knows which tale Tarina is requesting. "Long ago, there was an old man who had three sons. The two elder sons looked after the farm, and they liked dressing up in fancy clothes and fantasizing about being rich. But the youngest, whose name was Jack, liked to go off into the forest to collect mushrooms, and when at home he spent most of his time sitting by the great kitchen stove. One year, The father got very sick, and knew his time to die was close. So he called in his sons and told them..." He switches to a gentle older man voice. "When I have joined Arceus in the heavens, bring me bread to my grave for three nights."

He pauses to pick a suitable blade of grass. "After clinging to life for a few weeks, the father succumbed, and was buried. That same night the eldest son should have gone to the grave as his father ordered. But either he was lazy or he was afraid, for he said to his youngest brother...."

He whispers to Ash in a younger man voice "Jack, take my place tonight; you go to father's grave. I'll buy you a cookie in return."

As himself, he continues "Jack agreed, packed some bread, and went to his father's grave. There he sat down and waited. At midnight the grave opened, his father's spirit rose out of it and said..."

In character as the father he asks "Who's there? Is it you, my eldest son ? Tell me what is happening in the world. Are the Growlithes barking or the Mightyenas howling?"

"Yes, it is I, your son," Ash answers as Jack. "But all is quiet in the world."

"The spirit ate the bread Jack had brought and vanished." Brock continues as himself. "Jack made his way home, gathering mushrooms as he went. His eldest brother asked him..."

As the eldest brother, he asks Ash "Did you see Father?"

"Yes." Ash replies as Jack.

"Did he eat the bread?" Brock presses for more information.

"Yes. He ate all he wanted." Ash assures Brock as Jack

As himself, Brock continues "The next night, the middle brother should have gone to the grave. But either he was lazy or he was afraid, for he said..."

In a slightly higher pitched version of himself, he tells Ash, "Jack, you go to father in my place. I will make you a pair of shoes if you will."

"All right," Ash replies as Jack.

"So Jack packed some bread, went to his father's grave, sat down, and waited." Brock continues. "At midnight the grave opened, his father's spirit rose from it, and asked..."

As the father again, he asks "Who is there? Is it you, my second son? Tell me what is happening in the world. Are the Growlithes barking or the Mightyenas howling?"

"Yes, it is I, your son," Ash answers as Jack. "But all is quiet in the world."

"His father ate as much of the bread as he wanted, and vanished." Brock narrates. "Then Jack went home, gathering mushrooms on the way. When he reached home the second brother asked him...

He and Ash perform the rigamarole again. "Did father eat the bread?"

"Yes, he ate all he wanted."

As himself, he continues "The next night it was Jack's turn to go to the grave. But he said to his brothers..."

"I have been the last two nights. Now one of you go, while I rest." Ash complains as Jack.

"But his brothers answered..." Brock switches to his "brother" voice. "Why, Jack, you know the spot now; it would be better for you to go."

"Oh, all right," Ash sighs as Jack.

Brock narrates "He packed some bread, and went. At midnight the grave opened, and his father's spirit rose from it...."

As the father, he and Ash start the rigamarole a third time. "Who is there? Is it you, my youngest son? Tell me what is happening in the world. Are the Growlithes barking, or the Mightyenas howling?"

"Yes, it is Jack. But all is quiet in the world." Ash replies as Jack.

Brock forms a grasswhistle as he narrates "The father ate the bread, and then said...."

As the father, he intones "You are the only son who has done as I asked. You were not afraid to come to me in my grave three nights in a row. Now go out into the open field, pick a blade of grass, and play this song..."

Brock then proceeds to play the first six notes of Epona's Song on the grasswhistle. "A shining Ponyta named Epona will come galloping up to you. Sing to her..." Brock then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul..., before continuing in character "and you will be turned into a handsome young man. Mount Epona, and ride her."

Tarina sparks happily when she hears the familiar song. "Jack thanked his father and went home, gathering mushrooms as he went." Brock narrates. "When he arrived home his brothers asked him..."

He and Ash perform this exchange a third time. "Did you see father?"

"Yes."

"Did he eat the bread?"

"He ate all he could, and did not order us to go any more."

"But Jack said nothing about Epona." Brock intones as himself. "A few months passed, and the king issued a proclamation: all the fine young men in the land who were unmarried were to assemble in the royal courtyard. His daughter Princess Amy, who was a girl of matchless beauty, had ordered a tower twelve stories high, and raised on twelve pillars, to be built for her. She was going to sit at a small window at the top of the tower, and wait there until a young man riding a Ponyta jumped right up to her and kissed her as he passed. Then, no matter what his birth or origin, the king would marry Princess Amy to this man, and would give half his kingdom as a dowry. Jack's brothers heard of the king's proclamation, and agreed that they would try their luck."

"So what did they do?" Melody asks as Tarina and Pikachu share a few excited sparks.

"They fed Ponytas well, and dressed themselves in their finest clothes." Brock explains as he toys with his grasswhistle.
"Jack, who was sitting on the stove, said to them..."

"Brothers, take me with you--I want to try too." Ash pleads as Jack.

"You dolt, you go on sitting on the stove, or else go off into the forest to gather mushrooms," Brock scolds in his brother voice. "And do not get in our way."

"That's not very nice!" Misty protests.

"With that, the two elder brothers mounted their good Ponytas, cocked their hats jauntily, whistled and whooped, and rode off, making the dust fly up in clouds." Brock narrates before readying the grasswhistle again. "But Jack went out into the open field, picked a suitable blade of grass, and played the song his father had taught him..."

He then plays Epona's Song on the grasswhistle again. "A few seconds later, Epona galloped up. The earth trembled under her hoofs, glowing flames streamed from her nostrils, and smoke rose in columns from her ears. She stood as though rooted to the ground and asked..."

"What are your commands?" Misty asks as Epona.

Jack petted Epona, saddled her and bridled her, laid his hands on her, and sang...." Brock narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash sings as Jack.

"...and transformed into the most dashing young man one could imagine." Brock narrates. "Then he mounted Epona and rode off to the king's palace. As Epona galloped along, the earth trembled; it flew over hills and valleys, through plains and forests till they arrived."

"So what happened when Jack got there?" Melody wonders.

"When Jack rode into the royal courtyard, he found a great number of young men already gathered." Brock explains. "In the center of the courtyard a high tower, twelve stories high, was raised on twelve pillars, and at the very top Princess Amy was sitting at a little window."

"Pika..." Pikachu gains heart eyes as he pictures Serena as Princess Amy.

"The king came out to the courtyard and said..." Brock switches to his standard "king" voice "If any one of you can jump right up to that little window and kiss my daughter, Princess Amy, I will give her to that once as his bride with half my kingdom as the marriage dowry."

He continues as himself. "So the fine young men began to jump, one after another. But the window was very high, and not one succeeded in reaching it. Jack's brothers tried too, but they did not even get halfway. Finally, it was Jack's turn to make the attempt."

[How did he do?] Tarina asks, sparking happily.

"He urged Epona into a jump, and failed by only two stories." Brock explains "He turned Epona, ran up a second time, and failed by only one story. So he turned Epona again, circled around the courtyard, urged er on and took the jump at full gallop. Like a shooting star he flew up to the little window and kissed Princess Amy on the lips as he went past. Princess Amy's emerald ring left an imprint in his forehead as confirmation of his feat. Seeing that Jack had succeeded, everybody cheered."

[And then?] the Meowths ask.

"But Jack had already galloped away, and was nowhere to be found." Brock replies. "He galloped into the open field, where his transformation wore off, turning him back into Jack. He let Epona go, and returned home, gathering mushrooms on the way. He tied a bandanna on his forehead hide the emerald ring's mark, hurried to the stove and sprawled himself out in the ashes. When his brothers rode home they told him where they had been and all they had seen. Then Jack untied the bandanna and revealed where Princess Amy's ring had left its mark. The room was filled with a bright green light, so much so that the brothers feared Jack would set the house on fire."

Everyone laughs at this. "So he tied the bandanna over his forehead again." Brock smiles. "The next day, the king summoned all his princes and noblemen, and even ordinary people, whether rich or poor, old or young, to a big party. Jack's brothers also got ready for the party, so Jack asked them..."

"Take me with you." Ash requests as Jack.

"You would only make the people laugh, stupid!' Brock scolds in his "brother" voice, to everyone's laughter

As himself, he continues "The two brothers got on their Ponytas and rode off, but Jack followed them on foot. He arrived at the king's palace in time for the party and seated himself in a distant corner. Princess Amy began to go from one guest to another, offering each guest some candy and looking to see if anyone had the mark of her ring on his forehead. She greeted all the guests and gave them candy, and finally came to Jack sitting in the corner. As she approached him her own heart suddenly beat faster. She looked at him; he was smothered in dirt, and his hair was standing on end untidily. Nevertheless, Princess Amy asked him..."

"Whose son are you? Where are you from? Why is your forehead bandaged?" Melody asks as Princess Amy.

"I bumped it," Ash answers as Jack.
.
"She took the bandanna off his forehead, and the entire palace was lit up in green." Brock narrates. "Princess Amy announced to all the guests..."

"That is my ring's mark. Here is my destined husband." Melody fills in Princess Amy's dialogue.

"The king came up, looked at Jack, and said..." Brock switches to his "king" voice again. "How can he be your destined husband? He is covered in soot."
:
"Let me go out and wash myself." Ash requests as Jack.

"The king gave his permission. Jack went out into the courtyard with a piece of grass and played...." Brock plays Epona's Song on the grasswhistle again. "Epona came galloping up, making the ground tremble under her hoofs. Jack laid his hands on her, and sang again..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash sings as Jack.

"...and was transformed into the handsomest young man anyone had ever seen." Brock concludes. "All the people cried out in astonishment. Needless to say, the king threw another party some days later--and this one was a wedding party!"

[Bravo!] Tarina leads the applause as Brock leads the bows....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 205: The Legend of Princess Gabrielle (Misty)

(real tale: Geirlug, the King's Daughter (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/328.htm))

"One day a powerful king and his beautiful wife were sitting in the gardens of their capital city, talking earnestly about the future life of their son, who was sleeping by their side in his beautiful golden cradle." Misty begins. "They had been married for many years without children, so when this baby came they thought themselves the happiest couple in the world. He was a fine little boy, who loved to kick and punch the air; but even if he had been weak and small they would still have thought him the most wonderful creature on Arceus' green earth. They were so absorbed in making plans for him, that they never noticed a huge dark shadow creeping up, till a ethereal head with a gaping red maw stretched over them, and in seconds, their beloved baby was gone."

Ash grins--he knows who kidnapped the little prince. "For a while, the king and queen stayed where they were, speechless with horror." Misty goes on/ "Then the king got up, and holding out his hand to his wife, led her crying into the palace, and for many days their subjects didn't see them come out."

[That's awful...] Tarina brushes away a tear as Brock gently pets her to reassure her everything will be okay in the end.

"Meanwhile, Darkrai, the Nightmare Pokemon, soared high into the air, holding the cradle in his ghostly arms, and the baby still slept." Misty continues. "He flew so fast that he soon crossed the borders of another kingdom, and again he noticed the king and queen of the country seated in the garden with a little girl lying in a wonderful cradle of white satin and lace. Swooping down from behind as he had done before, he was just about to grab the cradle, when the king jumped up and cast a powerful light spell with his favorite gold staff."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock fills in the spell incantation.

"Darkrai reared back as the light stung him, but in his pain let the boy fall as he fled in panic." Misty continues.

"That was close," Brock grins in character as the king

"Indeed..." Melody murmurs as the queen before feigning surprise at a small rock. "But look, what is that glittering object that is lying out there?"

"The king walked in the direction of her finger..." Misty narrates as Brock heads for the rock Melody is pointing at. "and to his astonishment found another cradle and another baby."

Brock gasps in feigned surprise. "Darkrai must have stolen this as he sought to steal Gabrielle." he reports in character as the king.

"He knelt down, and he read the writing that was written on the fine linen that was wound around the boy, which said 'This is Garret, son of the king!'" Misty explains as Brock does this. "Unfortunately, the two neighboring kingdoms had had a serious falling out, and for many years had stopped speaking with each other. So, instead of sending a messenger to the western king to tell him his son was okay, the eastern king adopted Prince Garret as his own son, alongside Princess Gabrielle."

[And then?] a Meowth asks.

"For a while the children were quite happy, but there came a time when the queen could no longer run races or play hide-and-seek with them in the garden as she once loved to do." Misty intones. "But she was always nearby, watching them from a pile of soft cushions. Before long she gave up doing even that, and worrying rumors started flying in the palace. Even Gabrielle and Garret moved quietly when they approached her room. Finally, one morning, they were summoned by the king himself, who broke the news that the queen was dead."

Sniffles fill the tent at the bad news. "Garret and Gabrielle were understandably devastated, for they had loved their mother very dearly, and life seemed dull without her." Misty explains. "But the ladies-in-waiting who took care of them in the tower which had been built for them while they were still babies, were kind and good, and when the king was busy or away in other parts of his kingdom she entertained them as well as, if not better than, their mother. They were taught everything that a prince and princess should know."

"This is getting good...then what happened?" Ash is intrigued.

"Two or three years went by, when, one day, as the children were anxiously awaiting their father's return from a distant city, a herald rode into the courtyard and announced that their father was bringing back a new wife." Misty continues.

"Uh oh..." Brock grins, half excited--evil stepmothers usually mean magic--be it for good or evil--or a quest is not far behind.

"Now, in itself, there was nothing very strange about the king marrying again..." Misty assures the small audience. "But, as the old lady-in-waiting soon guessed, the queen, in spite of her beauty, was a witch, and as it was easy to see that she was jealous of everyone who might gain power over her husband-- which meant bad news for Gabrielle and Garret."

Brock smiles at hearing his prediction confirmed. "The faithful lady could not sleep, she worried so much about her charges, and her soul sank when, a few months after the marriage, war broke out with a far away kingdom across the sea, and the king and the troops marched off to battle." Misty continues. "Then what she had so long feared, happened."

The Pokemon swallow hard at this. "One night, the witch came to the tower." Misty intones. "What she did, no one knew, but, when the sun rose, the beds of Garret and Gabrielle were empty. At dawn the queen summoned some of her guards, and told them that she had been warned in a dream that some evil fate would befall her through a wild Pokemon, and bade them go out and kill every Pokemon within two miles of the palace."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT????" Ash is shocked and appalled that anyone would kill innocent Pokemon.

"But the only Pokemon they found were two beautiful shining Ponytas, fitted for royalty to ride." Misty assures Ash. "It seemed a pity to kill them, for what harm could two little Ponytas do, anyway?"

"Well, they kick,, they bite, they have a lot of Fire attacks...." Ash lists the offensive properties of Ponytas on his fingers.

"Misty didn't ask you." Brock shushes Ash, making everyone laugh.

After composing herself, Misty continues "So they let them run away over the plain, and returned to the palace. The queen asked them if they were SURE they saw no Pokemon, and the guards said they were sure. But the queen did not believe them, and when they had left, she ordered to her steward that at dinner the guards be offered extra wine in hopes they would tell the truth, and report to her whatever they said while they were tipsy."

She grins. "Later that evening, the steward reported that he had listened to their drabble from beginning to end, and nothing did they see save two shining Ponytas. He might have added more, but the look in the queen's eyes terrified him, and, bowing hastily, he fled her presence."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats to hear what the wicked queen did next. "A week later, the king returned victorious, and everyone was happy to see him." Misty calms the audience's jangled nerves. "Unfortunately, their joy was short lived; the very first night after the king's return, the queen told him about the evil dream she had, and begged him to go out the next morning and kill every living creature he saw within two miles of the city. The king, who always believed everything the queen said, promised to do as she wished. But before he had ridden through the lovely gardens that surrounded the palace, he was attracted by the singing of two little Fletchlings perched in a holly bush, which made him think of everything beautiful that he had ever heard of or imagined."

Ash grabs a whistle and starts mimicking every Fletchling song he knows for effect. "The hours ticked by, and still the Fletchlings sang, and still the king listened, though he never guessed that it was Gabrielle and Garret that mesmerized him. Misty explains over the whistle. "Before long, night fell; the Fletchlings' voices were hushed, and the king woke with a jump to find that for that day his promise to the queen would not be kept. When asked if he saw anything, the king told her about the Fletchlings, and said he would try again the next day. But he didn't know his wife planned to kill him."

Tarina swallows hard in fear. "That night the king hosted a huge victory feast. The three men whom the queen had sent out to slay the wild Pokemon held positions of trust in the household, for they had custody of the queen." Misty goes on. "Every time a feast was held their places were always next to the king, so it was easy for the queen to scatter a slow but fatal poison in their cups without anyone being the wiser. Before dawn the next day, the palace was roused by the news that the king was dead, and that the three officers of the guards were dying too. Of course, nobody's cries and laments were as loud as those of the queen."

She intones "But when once the splendid funeral was over, she told the crowds that she was going to lock herself up in a distant castle till the year of mourning was over, and after appointing a regent of the kingdom, she set out attended only by a maid who knew all her secrets. Once she had left the palace she quickly began to work her dark magic, to discover under what form Gabrielle and Garret lay hidden."

Korra displays her claws, but Misty assures her "Luckily, Princess Gabrielle had studied the magic of light under the royal wizard, so she was able to figure out her stepmother's plot, and quickly transformed herself and her adopted brother into a pair of Raichus, and fled in the direction of a lake."

She then sings as Princess Gabrielle Karuto, iichiida shou... before continuing as herself. "The queen turned herself into a Gyarados to chase them, but the two Raichus were way faster than her, barely skipping across the water."

Pikachu's cheering is the loudest as Misty continues "For several hours a fierce game of Meowth and Rattata played on the lake, with neither side gaining an edge. But the crowd of fishes that were watching knew well what happens when you pit an an Electric type against a Gyarados."

"Game, set, and match--Raichu!" Ash smiles.

"After a mighty struggle, the Gyarados floated dead and harmless on the surface of the water, the two Raichus were so exhausted that they had only enough strength to drag themselves onto the shore of a quiet little bay, and for three days they stayed there as still and motionless as if they had been dead themselves." Misty explains. "When the three days were up, their wounds were healed, and after returning to their true forms, they began to think about what to do next."

She concludes "They returned to Garret's homeland, and I can't even begin to describe the joyous reunion--That evening Garret was married to Gabrielle as a sign of forgiveness between the two kingdoms, and they lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 206: The Oracle Branch (Ash)

(real tale: The Magic of the Tell-Tale (http://www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory/index.html?uc_full_date=20140126))


"Once upon a time, a woodcutter returned home early from his work in the forest." Ash begins. "He had cut down a great deal of wood, and he was glad to be home before dark. But just as he was about to walk inside, he heard his wife talking to someone."

"Who was it?" Melody wonders.

"He peeked in the window..." Ash pantomimes doing this. "and he saw his wife preparing to sell his favorite statue to the local moneylender."

"I bet he was mad..." Brock grins.

"The woodcutter was beyond mad--he was simply furious." Ash agrees. "He loved this statue of Arceus, and though the family was poor, his wife had promised she would never sell it."

"Oh"s fill the tent at this. "Brimming with rage, the woodcutter was about to rush inside the house to punish his wife and the moneylender for this misdeed, but he suddenly stopped." Ash goes on. "Arceus, after all, was the ruler of all things, and he ruled with warmth and love, wisdom and peace and compassion. So he knew he had to follow Arceus' holy example. He stopped himself and looked down at the ground."

An uneasy silence fills the air before Ash goes on "Just then, he noticed in his woodpile a branch with a hole in the middle, and this gave him an idea. He called 'I'm home!' The wife quickly turned to the moneylender and whispered...."

"Quick, you must hide. It's my husband," Misty fills in the dialogue.

"and she hurried to hide the moneylender in a large wooden chest." Ash continues. "Just as she was closing the lid, the woodcutter walked inside."

"What brings you home so early?" Misty asks as the wife.

"I rushed home to show you this gift from Celebi," With that, Ash picks up a branch and offers it to Misty, never mind it doesn't have a hole in the middle. "Celebi gave me this because I work so hard. It is an oracle branch that tells the future."

"What is that?" Misty asks, intrigued.

"When I look through this," Ash explains as the woodcutter, "I can see everything that is normally hidden to mortal eyes."

"Wow!" Misty gasps as the wife. "That is amazing!"

"Watch how it works." Ash instructs as the woodcutter.

As himself, he continues "...and he peered through the hole and walked around the house. When he reached the wooden chest, he said..."

As the woodcutter again, he balks at an imagined chest near the tent entrance. "My, my, there is something inside this chest. Quick, bring me a rope."

As himself, he explains "The wife was terribly nervous, but she did as her husband requested, and the woodcutter promptly tied up the chest.

"I shall take this to the pawn shop to sell it. There must be something valuable inside, for the oracle branch never lies!" he smirks as the woodcutter.

Everyone laughs as they realize the moneylender is still inside the chest. "Naturally, the moneylender was not there, but his son was, and when the woodcutter showed him the chest, the young man said..." Ash narrates.

"This is worthless!" Melody gasps in her best attempt at a young male voice.

"I believe it must be valuable," Ash explains as the woodcutter. "I'll step outside to give you time to think it over."

He intones "The moment the woodcutter walked outside, the moneylender whispered from inside the chest..."

"Give him 50 pieces of gold!" Brock whispers through cupped hands, creating the illusion his character is inside something.

"The son immediately recognized his father's voice." Ash explains. "When the woodcutter stepped back inside, the moneylender's son paid him, and the woodcutter returned home carrying his sack of gold."

[That's pretty clever!] Tarina comments.

"The next morning, the woodcutter's wife told her best friend the story of the oracle branch and, of course, before the day was out, the story had spread far and wide." Ash continues. "One friend told another, who told another, and soon the story reached a faraway town, where a group of mikos decided the woodcutter might be able to solve their problem."

[What happened?] Mai purrs.

"They set off early the next morning to visit him, and when they arrived, they explained..." Ash narrates.

"A thief has stolen all the money from our temple," Misty sighs as the miko. "We lost everything we had, and we have heard about your oracle branch. We have come to ask your help in finding the thief."

"The woodcutter was terribly embarrassed." Ash interjects. "He didn't dare confess his lie to a miko. And so, carrying his oracle branch, he traveled with them back to their temple. He looked around, walking behind the temple and examining the mikos' own statue of Arceus in the garden. But the woodcutter saw nothing, and finally he said..."

As the woodcutter, he tells Misty "In three days, I will have your money back."

He intones as himself "Back home, he could not sleep. How would he ever find the thief? He lost his appetite. By the second day he was sick with worry, but that night, as he lay awake in bed, he heard someone tapping at his window."

Brock gently taps a finger against a soda can, making a slight ringing effect similar to a windowpane. "Who is it?" Ash asks as the woodcutter.

"I stole the money from the temple, and I've come to beg you for mercy." Brock explains as the thief. "I promise to return the money, but please, keep my secret or my family will be ruined!"

"I am glad you came to me," Ash smiles in character, "for of course I already knew you were the thief, but I hoped you would repent. This is what you must do. Take the treasure and bury it beneath the statue of Arecus behind the temple. And you must promise never to steal again."

As himself, he narrates "The thief agreed, and the next day the woodcutter returned to the mikos."

"I must look again," he tells Misty in character.

As himself, he continues "...and he took out the oracle branch and began to search through the temple and out in the garden. At last, he came to the statue of Arceus."

He smiles when he finds a grassy spot in the tent. "Ah-ha! Dig beneath this statue and you shall find your gold!"

As himself, he continues "The mikos dug up the ground, and they found their treasure, and they were so grateful to the woodcutter that they rewarded him with more gold than most people ever earned in a lifetime."

He concludes "The thief lived an honest life from that day on, and the woodcutter's wife never again kept a secret from her husband."

Everyone applauds, so Ash takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 207: The Birch Tree (Brock)


(real tale: The Wonderful Birch (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/110.htm))

"Once there were a man and a woman, who had an only daughter--we'll call her Holly." Brock begins. "One day, one of their Mareep got lost, and they set out to look for it, They looked and looked, each in a different part of the forest. Then the wife met a witch, who said to her..."

"If you spit, you miserable creature, if you spit into the sheath of my knife, or if you run between my legs, I will turn you into a black Mareep." Misty sneers in her best "witch" voice, making Azurill, Happini, and Tarina shiver in fear and anticipation.

Brock isn't sure what to make of Misty's line at first, but decides to run with it. "The woman didn't spit, nor did she run between her legs, but yet the witch turned her into a Mareep anyway."

[That's breaking a promise!] Tarina protests.

"Pika pika pikachu pikapi, pika chu." Pikachu assures Tarina.

"Now, where was I?" Brock thinks a moment as to where he is in the story, the continues "Then she made herself look exactly like the woman, and called out to the man..."

"Ho, old man, hello! I have found the Mareep already!" Misty calls in a younger version of herself.

"The man thought the witch was really his wife, and he did not know that his wife was the Mareep; so he went home with her, happy because his Mareep was found safe." Brock continues. "When they were safe at home the witch said to the man..."

"Look here, we must really kill that Mareep lest it run away to the forest again." Misty fills in the dialogue.

The man, who was a quiet sort of fellow, made no objections, but simply said okay." Brock continues. "Holly, however, had overheard the whole thing, so she ran to the flock and cried..."

`Oh, dear mother, they are going to kill you!" Melody cries as Holly.

`Well, then, if they do kill me,' Misty replies as the black Mareep, "do not eat the meat nor the broth that is made of me, but gather all my bones, and bury them by the edge of the field."

Brock sighs--parts with innocent people dying are one of his least favorite parts to tell in stories. "The next morning, they took the black Mareep from the flock and killed it. The witch made soup out of it, and set it before Holly. But Holly remembered her mother's warning. She did not touch the soup, but she carried the bones to the edge of the field and buried them there; and a few days later, a very lovely birch tree started growing on that spot."

[That's awful...the mama had to die, even though she did nothing to deserve it...] Tarina sighs.

Korra assures her. [That mean old witch will get her just desserts in the end.]

A hopeful smile forms on Tarina's face. [Yeah...I hope Holly learns magic and pays the witch back for killing her mom!]

"Some years went by--exactly how many, I don't know for sure--when the witch, who soon received a child of her own, began to turn an evil eye to Holly, and to torment her in all kinds of ways." Brock intones, oblivious to the Pokemon chatter. "Now it happened that a great festival was to be held at the palace, and the king commanded that all the people in the land be invited. "The following proclamation went out across the entire kingdom..."

In character as a herald, he announces "Come, people all! Poor and wretched, one and all! Blind and crippled though ye be, Mount your steeds or come by sea!

As himself, he continues "People came by the millions to the royal feast--even all the poor, the outcasts, and those with disabilities. In the good man's house, too, preparations were made to go to the palace. The witch said to the man..."

`Lead the way with our youngest; I will give the elder girl work to keep her from getting any ideas while we are away." Misty fills in the dialogue.

"So the man took the child--we'll call her Cora--and set out. But the witch kindled a fire in the fireplace, threw a pot full of barley among the cinders, and said to Holly...." Brock narrates.

"If you have not picked the barley out of the ashes, and put it all back in the pot before nightfall, I shall eat you up!" Misty intones as the witch, making the Pokemon shudder again.

"Then she hurried after the others, and poor Holly stayed at home and cried. She tried to pick up the grains of barley, but she soon saw how useless her labor was; and so she went to the birch tree on her mother's grave, and cried and cried, because her mother could no longer help her. In the midst of her grief she suddenly heard her mother's voice speak to her..."

"Why do you cry, little one?" Misty asks as herself.

"The witch has scattered barley on the hearth, and bid me pick them out of the ashes." Melody sighs as Holly

"Don't cry..." Misty assures Melody. `Break off one of the leaves on my branches, and sing the Great Holy Spellsong, and all will be well."

"Holly did as she was told--She took a leaf from the tree held it to the sky, and sang...." Brock narrates.

[I]Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

...and the barley flew into the pot, and the hearth was clean." Brock continues. "Then she went back to the birch tree and laid the leaf on the grave. Then her mother told her to lay her hand on the trunk, and sing the Great Holy Spellsong again...."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"...and in a flash of blue light, she grew so lovely that no one on earth could compare." Brock continues. "Beautiful clothing was given to her, and a Ponyta, with fur that shone like moonlight and sapphire blue fire. Holly sprang into the saddle, and rode as swiftly as an arrow to the palace. As she turned into the courtyard of the castle the king's son--we'll call him Rowan-- came out to meet her, tied her mount to a pillar, and led her in. He never left her side as they passed through the castle rooms; and all the people gazed at her, and wondered who the lovely maiden was, and from what land she came from; but no one knew her--no one knew anything about her. At the banquet, Prince Rown invited her to sit next to him at the place of honor; but Cora gnawed the bones under the table. Prince Rowan did not see her, and thinking it was a stray Growlithe, he gave her such a push with his foot that her arm was broken."

"Ouch..." Misty comments.

"That had to hurt..." Ash agrees.

"When evening came, Holly thought it was time to go home; but as she went, her ring caught on the latch of the door, for Prince Rowan had had it smeared with oil." Brock goes on. "She did not have time to pull it off, but, hastily unfastening her Ponyta from the pillar, she rode away beyond the castle walls as swift as an arrow. Once at home, she sang the Great Holy Spellsong by the birch tree, left her Ponyta standing there, and hurried to her place behind the stove. A short time later, the man and the woman came home themselves, and the witch said to Holly..."

"There you are! You don't know what a time we have had at the palace! Prince Rowan carried my daughter about, but the poor thing fell and broke her arm." Misty fills in the dialogue as the witch.

"Holly knew well what really happened, but she pretended to know nothing about it, and sat there behind the stove." Brock continues. "A few months went by, and the anniversary of the kingdom's founding drew near. Not surprisingly, they were invited to this party too. This time, the witch threw a potful of hemp seed among the ashes, and said to Holy..."

"If you do not get this sorted, and all the seed back into the pot, I shall kill you!" Misty nearly screams as the witch, making the young Pokemon squeal in both fear and delight."

Brock just grins, pleased that Misty is getting into her role. "Naturally, Holly wept bitterly; and she went to the birch tree, laid her hands on the trunk and sang..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and this time she transformed into still finer clothes, and received a very beautiful steed. She broke off a leaf from the birch tree, and sang..." Brock narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"..so that the seeds flew into the pot, and then hurried to the castle." Brock continues "Again Prince Rowan came out to meet her, tied her Ponyta to a pillar, and led her into the banquet hall. At the feast Holly sat next to him in the place of honor, just as she had done at the previous party. But Cora gnawed bones under the table, and Prince Rowan gave her a push by mistake, which broke her leg again--he had never noticed her crawling about among the people's feet!"

Laughter goes up at this. "Holly hurried home again, but Prince Rowan had smeared the doorframe with oil, and Holly's golden circlet stuck to it. She had no time to look for it, but sprang to the saddle and rode like an arrow to the birch tree. There she left her Ponyta and her fine clothes, and said to her mother..."

"I have lost my circlet at the castle; the doorframe had oil on it, and it stuck." Melody explains as Holly.

`And even had you lost two of them,' Misty replies as the mother, `I would still give you finer ones.'

Then Holly rushed home, and when her father came home with the witch, she was in her usual place behind the stove. Then the witch said to her...." Brock narrates.

"You poor thing! What is there to see here compared with what WE have seen at the palace? Prince Rowan carried my daughter from one room to another; he let her fall, and my child's foot was broken." Misty explains as the witch.

"Holly held her peace all this time, and did her best to look busy." Brock continues. "A few more months went by, and Prince Rowan's birthday drew near...."

"Which meant another party." Ash fills in the blank without being prompted.

"This time it was a dish of milk she poured on the ashes, saying..." Brock narrates

"If you do not get all the milk into the dish again before I come home, you will suffer for it." Misty warns as the witch.

"You can imagine how frightened Holly was this time!" Brock explains to the audience. She ran to the birch tree, and by its power and the Great Holly Spellsong her task was accomplished; and then she rode away to the palace like before. When she got to the courtyard she found Prince Rowan waiting for her. He led her into the hall, where she was highly honored; but Cora sucked the bones under the table, and crouching at the people's feet she alomost got an eye knocked out!"

Everyone laughs at this. "Now no one knew any more than before about Holly, no one knew from whence she came; but Prince Rowan had had the threshold smeared with oil, and as she fled her gold slippers stuck to it. She reached the birch tree, and laying aside her finery, she said...." Brock narrates

"Alas! I have lost my gold slippers!" Melody sighs as Holly.

"Let them be," Misty replies as the mother. "If you need them, I shall give you finer ones."

"Hardly was she in her usual place behind the stove when her father came home with the witch. Immediately the witch began to mock her, saying...." Brock narrates.

`There is nothing for you to see here, and WE--ah, what great things we saw at the palace! My little girl was carried about again, but had the ill-luck to fall and nearly get her eye knocked out. You stupid thing, you, what do you know about anything?'

`Yes, indeed, what can I know?' Melody retorts as Holly. "I had enough to do to get the hearth clean."

"Now Prince Rowan had kept all the things Holly had lost, and he soon set to work finding their owner." Brock goes on. "After some time had passed with no luck, he decided to throw another party, and all the people were invited to the palace. The witch got ready to go too. She tied a wooden Heracross on Cora's foot to hide her wounded leg, a log of wood to hide her wounded arm, and fashioned an eyepatch of dirt to cover her wounded eye, and took Cora with her to the castle. When all the people were gathered, Prince Rowan stepped into the crowd and announced...

"The maiden whose finger this ring slips over, whose head this golden crown encircles, and whose foot this shoe fits, will be my bride." Ash announces as Prince Rowan.

"A riot nearly broke out as people rushed to try the items on." Brock continues. "But the items would fit no one."

"The cindergirl is not here," Ash sighs as Prince Rowan. "Go and fetch her, and let her try on the items."

"So Holly was summoned and Prince Rowan was just about to hand the items to her, when the witch held him back, saying..." Brock narrates.

"Don't give them to her; she dirties everything with cinders; give them to my daughter instead." Misty sneers as the witch.

"Well, Prince Rowan gave Cora the ring, and the woman pushed and shoved till the ring fit." Brock continues. "The same thing happened with the circlet and the shoes of gold. The witch would not allow them to be given to Holly; she worked at her own daughter's head and feet till she got the things forced on. What was to be done now? Prince Rowan had to take Cora for his bride whether he liked it or not; he sneaked away to her father's house with her, however, for he was ashamed to hold the wedding festivities at the palace with so strange a bride. Some days passed, and he finally had to take his bride home to the palace, and he got ready to do so. Just as they were leaving, Holly jumped down from her place by the stove, on the ruse of getting something from the barn, and as she passed by, she whispered in the prince's ear as he stood in the yard...."

"Alas! dear prince, do not rob me of my silver and my gold." Melody whispers as Holly.

Prince Rowan recognized Holly; so he took both the girls with him, and set out." Brock continues. "After they had gone a little ways they came to the bank of a river, and Prince Rowan threw the witch and Cora across to serve as a bridge, and so got over with Holly. The witch and Cora eventually froze in that place, where they remain for all eternity."

[See? I toldja the witch would get her just desserts.] Korra smiles at Tarina.

"Prince Rowan greeted Holly as his bride, and they traveled together to the birch tree which grew upon the mother's grave." Brock concludes. "There they received all sorts of treasures and riches, at least three sacks full of gold, and as just as much silver, and a splendid Ponyta, which bore them home to the palace, where they lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 208: Prince Christopher's Journey (Misty)

(real tale: The Prince Who Wanted to See the World (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/051.htm))

"There was once a king who had only one son--we'll call him Christopher--and Christopher constantly bugged his father morning, noon, and night to allow him to travel around the world." Misty begins. "For a long time, the king refused to give him leave; but at last, tired and at the end of his rope, he granted permission, and ordered his treasurer to set aside a large sum of money for the expenses a trip around the world would incur. Prince Christopher was overjoyed at the thought that he was really going to see the world, and after embracing his father, he set out early the next morning."

"What adventures did he get into?" Ash wonders.

"Well, he rode on for some weeks without having any adventures worth speaking of; but one night, while he was resting at an inn, he befriended another traveler, they got to talking, and the other traveler asked Prince Christopher if he ever played cards." Misty explains. "Prince Christopher replied that he very much enjoyed a friendly game of cards. So a deck of cards was brought out, but the other traveler had to have been cheating--because in a very short time Prince Christopher had lost every dime he had to his new acquaintance. When there was nothing but Venomoths left at the bottom of the bag, the stranger proposed that they play one more game. If Prince Christopher won, he would get his money back and then some. If he lost, he would stay at the inn for three years, and be his servant for another three. Prince Christopher agreed to those terms, played as best he could, and lost; so the stranger bought rooms for him, and furnished him with food and water every day for three years."

"The other guy was probably cheating..." Brock muses.

"Prince Christopher had a little pity party at first, but his three years of service in the inn went by faster than he thought." Misty goes on. "He then had to go to the house of the stranger, who was really the king of a neighboring country, and be his servant. Before he had gone very far he met a woman carrying a child, which was crying from hunger. The prince fed the little girl with his last crust of bread and last drop of water. The woman thanked him gratefully, and said...

"Listen, millord. You must walk straight ahead till you notice a very strong scent, which comes from a garden by the side of the road. Go in and hide yourself close to a pond, where three Pidoves will come to bathe. As the last one flies past you, grab one of its feathers, and refuse to give it back till the Pidove has promised you three things." Melody instructs as the woman.

"Prince Christopher did as he was told, and everything happened as the woman had said." Misty continues. "He grabbed a tail feather from the Pidove, who gave him in exchange a ring, a collar, and one of its own feathers, saying..."

In a younger version of herself, she instructs "When you are in any trouble, sing 'Karuto, iichiida shou...' I am Princess Linnette, the daughter of the king you are going to serve, who hates your father and made you gamble in hopes of causing your ruin."

As herself, she continues "So Prince Christopher went on his way, and it wasn't long before he arrived at the royal palace. As soon as his master knew he was there, Prince Christopher was summoned before the king, and three bags were handed to him..."

"Take this wheat, this millet, and this barley, and sow them all at once, so that I may have loaves of them all tomorrow." Brock instructs in his standard "king" voice.

"Prince Christopher stood speechless at this command, but the king did not bother to give any further explanation." Misty goes on. When he was dismissed, Prince Christopher hurried to the room which had been set aside for him, and pulling out his feather, he sang...."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash fills in the spellsong

"What is it?" Melody asks as the Pidove.

"...and Prince Christopher told her of what he had to do, and of his despair at being unable to accomplish it." Misty narrates as Ash pantomimes talking to Melody.

"Fear nothing; it will be all right," Melody smiles.

"The next morning, when Prince Christopher woke up, he saw the three loaves lying beside his bed." Misty goes on. "He jumped up and got dressed, and he was just barely ready when a page arrived with the message that he was to go into the king's chamber right away. Taking the loaves in his arm, he followed the boy, and, bowing low, laid them down before the king. The king looked at the loaves for a moment, then he said...

"Good. The man who can do this can also find the ring which my eldest daughter, Princess Linette, dropped into the sea." Brock adds in the king's dialogue.

"Prince Christopher hurried back to his room and summoned the Pidove..." Misty narrates.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash sings again.

"...and when she heard this new command she said..." Misty narrates some more.

"Listen closely." Melody instructs. Tomorrow, go down to the shore and get into a boat you will find there."

"Prince Christopher did not know what he was to do when he was in the boat or where he was to go, but as the Pidove had come to his rescue before, he knew he had to do whatever she told him." Misty explains. "When he reached the boat he found the Pidove perched on one of the masts, and at her signal he set sail; the wind was behind them and they soon lost sight of land. The Pidove then spoke for the first time and said..."

"Lay your hands on my head and sing the Great Holy Spellsong--'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...'" Melody instructs.

"Although initially confused at this strange order, Prince Christopher laid his hands on the Pidove's head, and sang...."Misty narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash fills in the spellsong.

"...and the Pidove temporarily transformed into a beautiful girl, who presented him with a sapphire ring." Misty continues. "Minutes later, it was a Pidove again, and Prince Christopher took the ring and made his way back to the palace. The king stared with surprise at the sight of the ring, but he thought of another way of getting rid of the young man which was surer even than the other two."

"This evening you will mount my Ponyta and ride him to the field, and break him in properly." Brock instructs as the king.

"Prince Christopher received this command as silently as he had received the rest, but no sooner was he in his room than he called for the Pidove, who said...." Misty narrates.

"Listen to me." Melody warns Ash. "My father longs to see you dead, and thinks he will kill you by this means. He himself is the Ponyta, my mother is the saddle, my two sisters, Paloma and Peri. are the stirrups, and I am the bridle. Do not forget to take a good whip, to help you in dealing with such a crew."

"So Prince Christopher mounted the Ponyta, and whipped it so hard that when he came to the palace to announce that the Pokemon was now so gentle that it could be ridden by even a child, he found the king so bruised that he had to be wrapped in cloths dipped in vinegar, the mother was too stiff to move, and several of the daughters' ribs were broken. The youngest, Peri, was unharmed. That night, she came to Prince Christopher and whispered to him..."

"Now that they are all in too much pain to move, we had better seize our chance and run away." Melody whispers in a younger version of herself. "Go to the stable and saddle the skinniest Ponyta you can find there."

"But Prince Christopher made the stupid mistake of choosing the fattest." Misty intones. "When they had started out and Princess Peri saw what he had done, she was very sorry, for though this Ponyta ran like the wind, the other flashed like thought. However, it was dangerous to go back, and they rode on as fast as the Ponyta would go. Meanwhile, the king sent for Princess Peri, and when she did not come, he called again; but she still did not come. The queen, who was a witch, discovered that Princess Peri had gone off with Prince Christopher, and told her husband he must leave his bed and go after them. The king got slowly up, groaning with pain, and dragged himself to the stables, where he saw the lean Ponyta still in its stall. Leaping on his back he shook the reins, and Princess Peri, who knew what to expect and had her eyes open, saw the Ponyta depart, sang her own spell..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"and in the twinkling of an eye turned her own steed into a shrine, Prince Christopher into an apprentice, and herself into a miko." Misty goes on. "When the king reached the shrine, he pulled up his Ponyta and asked if a girl and a young man had passed that way. The miko raised her eyes, which were bent on the ground, and said that she had not seen a living creature. The king, much disgusted at this news, and not knowing what to do, returned home and told his wife that, though he had ridden for miles, he had come across nothing but a shrine."

"Why those were the runaways, of course," she cries, as the queen If you had only brought a scrap of the miko's robe, or a bit of stone from the wall, I would have had them in my power."

As herself, she continues "At this, the king hurried back to the stable, and brought out the lean Ponyta who traveled quicker than thought. But Peri saw him coming, and changed her Ponyta into a plot of ground, herself into a rosebush covered with roses, and Prince Christopher into a gardener."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"As the king rode up, the gardener looked up from the tree which he was trimming and asked if anything was the matter." Misty narrates.

"Have you seen a young man and a girl go by?" Brock asks the king,

Ash shakes his head. "No one has passed this way since I started working here."

"So the king turned his steps homewards and told his wife." Misty narrates before assuming the role of the queen. "If you had only brought me one of the roses, or a handful of earth, I should have had them in my power. But there is no time to waste. I shall have to go with you myself."

As herself, she intones "Princess Peri saw them from afar, and a great fear fell on her, for she knew her mother's skill in dark magic of all kinds. However, she vowed to fight to the end, and changed the Ponyta into a deep pool, herself into an Eelektrik, and Prince Christopher into a Wartortle. But it was no use. Her mother recognized them all, and, pulling up, asked her daughter if she did not repent and would not like to come home again. The Eelektrik wagged 'no' with her tail, and the queen told her husband to put a drop of water from the pool into a bottle, because it was only by that means that she could take control of her daughter. The king did as he was told, and was just about to draw the bottle out of the water after he had filled it, when the Wartortle knocked against it and spilled it all. The king then filled it a second time, but again the Wartortle was too fast for him."

She concludes "He returned defeated, allowing Prince Christopher and the three sisters to continue on their way safely. They had many more adventures, but that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 209: The Murkrow (Ash)

(real tale: The Raven (http://www.whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Fairy_Tales_From_The_Brothers_Grimm&story=Raven))

"There was once a queen who had a little daughter, we'll call her Keri." Ash begins. "Princess Keri was an energetic baby ever since she first entered the world, and one night, she was so fussy and restless that her mother could get no peace. As she mulled ways to calm her little one, she spotted a flock of Murkrows passing over the castle. So she opened the window and said to her child..."

"Oh, that you were a Murkrow and could fly away, then I might be at peace." Misty sighs as the queen.

"No sooner had she said these words, did Princess Keri actually turn into a Murkrow, and fluttered from her arms out of the window." Ash continues. "She flew into a dark forest and stayed there for a long time, and her parents knew nothing of her. Once a man--we'll call him Morgan--was passing through the forest, and he heard the Murkrow cry. He followed the voice; and when he got close, it said..."

"I was born a king's daughter, and have been bewitched, but you can set me free." Melody requests as Princess Keri

"What must I do?" Brock asks as Morgan.

"Go deeper into the forest," Melody instructs, "and you will find a house and an old woman sitting in it: she will offer you food and drink, but you must take none of it. If you eat or drink any of it, you will fall into a deep sleep, and won't be able to set me free at all. In the garden behind the house is a big heap of leather, stand on that and wait for me. For three days, at about noon, I will come to you in a coach drawn by four young Ponytas the first time, by four normal ones the second time, and by four shiny ones the third day; and if you are sleeping, you will fail to set me free."

"Morgan promised to do everything she said." Ash narrates.

"But ah!" Melody gasps, "I know quite well you are not my rescuer; you will probably take something from the old woman."

"But Morgan promised yet again that he would not touch the food or the drink." Ash intones. "But when he came to the house the old woman came up to him."

"My poor man," Misty coos as the old woman, "you are quite tired, come and be refreshed, and eat and drink."

"No," Brock waves Misty away. "I will not eat or drink anything."

"Even if you eat nothing, at least take a drink." Misty offers Brock a glass of water.

"Morgan was finally convinced to take a drink." Ash narrates as Brock drinks the water. "That afternoon, about two o'clock, he went out into the garden to watch for the Murkrow. As he stood there, he felt tired, and couldn't stand it any longer, and laid down for a little; but not to sleep. But no sooner was he sprawled on the leather heap did his eyes close, and slept so soundly, not even an earthquake could wake him up."

"I wish I could sleep that well every night." Brock smiles.

At two o'clock the Murkrow arrived in the coach drawn by four young Ponytas, but she was sad, knowing already that Morgan would be asleep, and when she came into the garden, sure enough, there he was." Ash continues. "She got out of the coach, and shook him, and called to him, but he did not wake up. The next day at noon, the same thing happened--the old woman came and brought him food and drink, but Morgan would take nothing. But she kept bugging him until he took a drink. About two o'clock he went into the garden to watch for the Murkrow, but he was overcome with weariness that he could no longer stand, and had to lie down. He fell into a deep sleep. When the Murkrow came up with her four normal Ponytas, she was sad, knowing already that Morgan would be asleep. She went up to him, and there he lay, and nothing would wake him up."

Giggles go up as Melody tries to rouse a "sleeping" Brock. "The next day the old woman came and asked what was the matter with him, and why he would not eat nor drink; but he answered..."

"I neither can nor will eat and drink." Brock retorts as Morgan as he sits back up.

"But she brought the dishes of food and the cup of water, and placed them before him, and when he smelled it all, he could not resist, but took a deep drink." Ash continues. "When the hour approached, he went into the garden and stood on the leather heap to wait for Princess Keri; as time went on he grew more and more weary, and at last he laid down and slept like a rock."

Brock sprawls out on the ground, "asleep". "At two o'clock the Murkrow came with four shiny Ponytas, and the coach also glowed like the sun." Ash goes on. "She was sad, knowing already that he was sleeping, and would not be able to set her free. When she came up to him, there he was. She shook him and called to him, but she could not wake him up."

Giggles go up as Melody tries to rouse Brock again. "Then she laid a loaf by his side and some meat, and a flask of water, but no matter how much he ate and drank, it didn't matter." Ash goes on. "Then she took a sapphire ring from her finger, and put it on his finger, and her name was engraved on it." He waits for Melody to do this with a prop sapphire ring she discretely conjured beforehand. "She also laid by him a letter, which said..."

"I see that here you cannot save me, but if your mind is set, come to the golden castle at the edge of the world. I know well that where there is a will, there is a way." Melody muses.

"With that, she got into her coach, and went to the golden castle at the edge of the world." Ash continues. "When Morgan woke up and noticed that he had been sleeping, he was sad to think that she had been, and gone, and that he had not set her free. Then, spotting the things she had left, he read the letter. He immediately set off for the golden castle, though he didn't know where on the edge of the world it was."

[Where was it?] Tarina asks, sparking with anticipation.

"Just listen, sweetie." Brock pets Tarina to assure her that Ash will tell her at the proper time.

"When he had wandered around the world for a long time, he came to a dark forest, and spent two weeks trying to find a way out, with no luck." Ash continues. "Eventually he was so tired that he laid down under a clump of bushes and went to sleep. The next day he continued on, and that evening, when he was going to rest, he heard wailing and crying, so much so that he could not sleep."

Misty swallows hard."Was it a ghost?"

"He looked up and saw a light glimmering in the forest; so he got up and followed it, and found that it came from a house that looked very small, because a giant stood before it." Ash shoots down Misty's prediction. "Morgan thought to himself that if he were to try to enter and the giant spotted him, he was toast. But he made up his mind, and walked in--and the giant spotted him!"

Gasps go up at the turn of events. "I am glad you have come," Brock smiles in his standard gentle deep voice for giants. "It has been a long time since I have had anything to eat; you will make a good dinner.

"That may be," Ash replies as Morgan, "but I would not relish it; besides, if you want to eat, I have somewhat here that may satisfy you."

"If that is true," Brock muses as the giant, "be at ease--it was only for want of something better that I wished to eat you."

They went inside and sat down to dinner, and Morgan brought out plenty of bread, meat, and drink." Ash narrates. The giant was pleased, and ate to his heart's content. After a while, Morgan asked him if he could tell him where the golden castle at the edge of the world was.

"I will look on my magical map," Brock offers as the giant, "for on it all towns and villages and houses are marked."

"So he brought down the map in his room, and looked for the castle, but it was not to be found." Ash narrates as Brock pantomimes studying a map.

"Never mind," Brock sighs as the giant. "I have upstairs in the cupboard much bigger maps than this; we will have a look at them."

"And so they did, but all in vain." Ash continues. "Morgan wanted to continue his journey, but the giant begged him to stay a little longer, until his brother, who had gone to town to buy supplies, returned. When the brother came, they asked him about the golden castle at the edge of the world.

"When I have had time to eat, I will look at the map." Brock assures the audience in a slightly younger giant voice.

He went into his room with them, and they looked at his maps, but couldn't find anything." Ash continues. "He brought in other old maps, and they never stopped searching until they found the golden castle at the edge of the world, but it was many thousand miles away."

"How will I ever get there?" he sighs as Morgan.

"I have a couple of hours to spare," Brock offers as the giant, "and I will start you on your way, at least."

"The giant guided Morgan until they got within five days journey of the castle, then left Morgan on his own." Ash continues. "Finally, he came to the golden castle at the edge of the world. It stood on a mountain of glass, and he could see Princess Keri circling around it, then going inside. He rejoiced when he saw her, and began to climb the mountain to get to her; but it was so slippery, as fast as he went he fell back again."

Laughter goes up at this. "When he saw this he thought he would never reach her, and thought seriously about giving up, but he decided to stay at the foot of the mountain and wait for her. So he built himself a house, and waited a whole year; and every day he saw Princess Keri circle around go in, but was never able to reach her."

"Did he ever reach her?" Misty wonders.

"One day he looked out and saw three bandits fighting over something." Ash explains. "When he went out and asked them what they were fighting over, one of them told him he had found a stick which would open any door only by touching it to the door and casting a spell. The second said he had found a cloak which, if worn, made the wearer invisible. The third said he had a Ponyta that would ride over everything, even the glass mountain. They were fighting because they could not agree whether they should keep the magical items for themselves,or share them.

"Suppose we make a bargain," Brock offers as Morgan; "I will confess I have no money, but I have other things more valuable to exchange for these. I will, however, try them out beforehand, to see if you are telling the truth."

"So they let him mount the Ponyta, and put the cloak on him, and they gave him the stick, and as soon as he had all of them, he was not to be seen; but he gave them all a sound thrashing!" Ash grins.

"Now, you good-for-nothing fellows, you have got what you deserve; perhaps you will be satisfied now!" Brock cries as Morgan as he whacks the cooler with a stick he picked up from earlier, making everyone howl with laughter at the comical scene.

Once Ash recovers, he continues "He rode up the glass mountain, and when he reached the castle gates he found them locked; but he touched his stick to the door, and sang..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock fills in the spellsong.

"and it opened with a creak." Ash continues. He walked in, and went up the stairs to the great room where Princess Keri sat with a golden cup before her. She could not see him so long as the cloak was on him, but as he approached he pulled off the sapphire ring she had given him, and threw it into the cup with a clink."

Misty gasps when she sees the prop sapphire ring in her hands. "This is my ring, and the man who is to set me free must be here too!"

"But though she looked through the whole castle, she didn't find him--he had gone outside, seated himself on his Ponyta, and thrown off the cloak." Ash explains. "When she came out to look, she saw him and shrieked out for joy; and he dismounted and took her in his arms, and she kissed him."

"Sorry, I don't do kissing scenes." Brock tries to shoo Misty away, but she eventually plants a small kiss on his left cheek, making him turn Charizard red.

Ash grins as he concludes. "Before long, Morgan and Princess Keri were married, and they all lived happily ever ever."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 210: The Brave Little Tailor (Brock)

(real tale: The Valiant Little Tailor (http://www.worldoftales.com/fairy_tales/Brothers_Grimm/Margaret_Hunt/The_Valiant_Little_Tailor.html))


[I want to hear the story about the brave little tailor that killed seven in one blow.] Tarina requests.

"Oh, that Mickey Marill cartoon was one of my favorites!" Ash smiles, sighing nostalgically as he remembers the timeless cartoon.

"I practically wore out the poor cartoon DVD because Azurill likes it too." Misty agrees. "It's a cute cartoon, but it loses its charm when you watch it fifty times a day."

"Oh, but in my version of the tale, the titular character does more than kill a single giant." Brock smiles as Tarina clambors into his lap.

With that, he begins "On one warm summer's morning in a far away land, a little tailor--we'll call him Tomlin--was sitting by the window, happily sewing as he always did. Though the pay he earned wasn't much, it was enough to get by from day to day."

He adds as an aside "It helped that Tomlin enjoyed his work."

He continued "On this particular day, a Berry girl came to town, calling for anyone longing for fresh jam to come and buy. Her call got Tomlin excited, and he eagerly bought a jar of Grepa jam. Next, he got the bread out of the cupboard, cut himself a piece, and spread the jam over it."

Tarina and Pikachu lick their lips as Brock pantomimes spreading jam on a piece of pantomime bread. "But then he saw the half done jacket he'd been sewing, and decided that his snack could wait. So after setting the bread aside, he sewed on, quickly, yet carefully. The smell of the sweet jam started attracting Venonats...."

"Ew!" Misty winces as she pictures Venonats landing on a piece of bread.

"Hey! Who invited you?" Ash calls to some imagined Venonats as Tomlin.

"...Tomlin yelled as he shooed the Venonats away." Brock narrates, trying oh-so hard not to laugh at Ash shooing away pantomime Venonats. "The Venonats, meanwhile, did not understand a word of English, and kept coming back in ever-increasing swarms."

Tarina's laughter is the hardest as she pictures the comical scene. "Eventually, Tomlin lost his patience, got a bit of cloth from under his worktable, and clomped it down hard on the table. When he counted how many he had killed, he saw he had managed to kill seven with one blow." Brock continues. "Needless to say, he could not help admiring his own bravery."

"The whole town will know of this!" Ash grins as Tomlin.

"So Tomlin eagerly set to work making a suit of cloth armor, with a huge number 7 embroidered in red on the torso." Brock narrates, tracing out the 7 over his own shirt to show Tarina where the 7 was.

"Why stop at just the town?" Ash brags as Tomlin. "The whole world will hear of it!"

"So Tomlin put on his armor, and decided to go out into the world, because he thought his workshop was too small for his valor." Brock continues. "Before he left, he looked around the house to see if there was anything he could take with him; but he found nothing but some hard cheese, which went in his pocket. In front of the door he found a Fletchling which had gotten caught in the bush. It went in his pocket with the cheese."

"Mm-hm, no different than the cartoon so far...except the armor bit." Misty muses.

"The road led him up a mountain, and when Tomlin had reached the peak, there sat a powerful giant looking about him quite comfortably." Brock continues. "Tomlin strolled up to him and said..."

"Good day, comrade, sitting there overlooking the whole wide world!" Ash announces as Tomlin. "I am just on my way there, and want to try my luck. Want to come with me?"

"You ragamuffin! You miserable creature!" Brock roars as the giant, making the young Pokemon squeal in fear and delight.

"Oh, indeed?" Ash replies before proudly displaying his shirt to Brock, as if the red 7 is on it.

"The giant saw the big red 7 and thought that the number signified people Tomlin had killed, and began to feel a little respect for the little guy." Brock narrates as himself. " But as a test, the giant took a stone in his hand and squeezed it so that water ran out of it."

"If you can do that, I will trust you." he tells Ash as the giant.

"Is that all?" Ash retorts, "That's child's play!"

"Tomlin put his hand into his pocket, brought out the cheese, and pressed it until the liquid ran out of it." Brock continues as himself. "The giant did not know what to say, and could not believe his eyes, so he devised one more test. He picked up a stone and threw it so high up, no human eye could see it."

"Let's see you top that." he challenges as the giant.

"Well thrown," Ash grins as Tomlin, "but what goes up must eventually come down--I will throw you one that doesn't come back at all."

"Tomlin put his hand into his pocket, took out the Fletchling, and threw it into the air, where it flew away and did not come back." Brock continues as himself

"How does that please you, comrade?" Ash smirks as Tomlin.

"You can certainly throw," Brock confesses as the giant, "but now we will see if you are able to carry anything properly."

As himself, he goes on "He took the little tailor to a mighty oak tree which lay on the ground, and said..."

As the giant, he instructs "If you are strong enough, help me carry the tree out of the forest."

"Sure!" Ash grins as Tomlin. "Take the trunk on your shoulders, and I will carry the branches and twigs; they are the heaviest."

"The giant took the trunk on his shoulder, but Tomlin sat on a branch, and since the giant couldn't see him, he had to carry away the whole tree, and Tomlin too." Brock goes on. "Eventually the giant could go no further, and had to set the tree down. Tomlin climbed down, grabbed the tree with both arms as if he had been carrying it, and said to the giant..."

"You are such a great fellow, and yet you can't even carry the tree!" Ash taunts as Tomlin.

"They went on together, and as they passed a Cheri tree, the giant carefully gripped the top of the tree where the ripest Berries were hanging, bent it down, and gave some to Tomlin." Brock continues. "But Tomlin was much too weak to hold the tree, and when the giant let it go, it sprang back again, and Tomlin went flying into the air with it."

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Ash screams for effect, making everyone laugh.

Even Brock is laughing before he composes himself. "What is this? Are you not strong enough to hold the weak twig?" he asks as the giant.

"There is no lack of strength," Ash explains as Tomlin. "Do you think that could be anything to a man who has killed seven in one blow? I jumped over the tree because the hunters are shooting down there in the thicket. Jump as I did, if you do it."

"Well, the giant made a valiant effort, but could not get over the tree, and got stuck in the branches." Brock narrates

As the giant, he offers "If you are such a valiant fellow, come with me into our cave and spend the night with us."

He continues as himself "Tomlin was willing, and followed him. When they went into the cave, other giants were sitting there by the fire, and each of them had a roasted Mareep in his hand. Tomlin looked round and thought, 'It is much more spacious here than in my workshop.' The giant showed him a bed, but it was much too big for a person like Tomlin. He did not lie in it, but crept into a corner. Around midnight, when the giant thought that Tomlin was fast asleep, he got up, took a great iron bar, and cut through the bed with one blow, thinking he had killed Tomlin once and for all."

"He obviously didn't..." Melody grins.

"Imagine the giants' surprise when Tomlin walked up to them unharmed." Brock affirms Melody's prediction. "They were terrified, and ran away in a great panic."

The tent explodes in laughter as the group imagines the giants fleeing. "Tomlin went on his way, following where the wind led him." Brock continues. "After he had walked for a long time, he came to the courtyard of a royal palace, and as he was very tired, he lay down on the grass and fell asleep. While he was lying there, the people came and saw the big red number 7 on his armor, and wondered what a great warrior was doing there in a time of peace. They concluded he was a great lord, so they went and told the king, and explained if war ever broke out, this would be a good person to have in their ranks. The advice pleased the king, and he sent one of his courtiers to Tomlin to offer him service in the royal court."

"That's why I came here," Ash smiles as Tomlin, "I would be more than honored to enter His Majesty's service."

"He was honorably received, and he got his own house all to himself." Brock continues. "The other soldiers, however, were very jealous of Tomlin. They knew well if they argued with him, and it came to blows, seven of them would fall at every blow. So they came to the king and said they were not prepared to stay with a man who kills seven in one blow. The king was sorry that for the sake of one he had to lose all his faithful servants, and thought seriously about running Tomlin out of town. But he decided against it, he feared Tomlin would strike him and all his people dead, and place himself on the royal throne."

[So what did he do?] Korra wonders.

"He summoned Tomlin, and told him that in a certain forest lived two giants, who caused great terror with their robbing, murdering, plundering, and burning, and no one could approach them without putting himself in danger." Brock explains. "If Tomlin killed these two giants, he would give him his only daughter, Princess Natalie, as his bride and half the kingdom as a wedding gift. On top of that, a hundred cavalry would go with him to assist him. "

"That would be a wonderful thing for someone like me!" Ash muses as Tomlin. "It's not every day one is offered a beautiful princess and half a kingdom!"

He then addresses Brock "I will soon subdue the giants, and do not require any help to do it; he who can hit seven in one blow, has no need to be afraid of two."

"And so, Tomlin went forth, and the hundred cavalry followed him. When he came to the outskirts of the forest, he said to his party..." Brock narrates.

"Wait here, I will soon finish off the giants." Ash instructs an imagined crowd.

"Then he bounded into the forest and looked around." Brock narrates as Ash does this. "After a while he spotted both giants. They were sleeping under a tree, and snored so much that the ground shook. Tomlin, meanwhile, gathered two pockets full of stones, and climbed up the tree. When he was halfway up, he slipped down by a branch, until he sat just above the sleeping giants, and then let one stone after another fall on one of the giants. For a long time the giant felt nothing, but eventually he woke up, pushed the other, and accused him of shoving him. They argued about it for a while, but as they were both tired, they let the matter go, and their eyes closed once again. Tomlin began his game again, picked out the biggest stone, and threw it with all his might onto the first giant."

[Uh oh...] Tarina giggles.

"He was understandably angry, and pushed his companion against the tree until it shook." Brock continues. "The other pushed him likewise, and they got into such a fight that they tore up trees and struck each other for so long, that at last they both fell down dead on the ground at the same time."

"It is a lucky thing," Ash adds in an aside as Tomlin, "that they did not tear up the tree I was sitting in, or I should have had to jump onto another like a Parchirisu; but we tailors are nimble."

"He drew his sword and gave each of them a couple of wounds in the torso..." Ash pantomimes a few sword moves with a stick, to Misty's bemusement. "and then went out to the cavalry and said..." Brock narrates.

"The battle is over; I have given both of them their final blow, but it was hard work! They tore up trees to use as weapons, but all that is to no avail when someone like myself comes, who can kill seven in one blow." Ash brags as he sheathes his pantomime sword.

"But are you not wounded?" Melody asks as one of the cavalry.

"You need not worry about that," Ash assures Melody as Tomlin, "They have not harmed one hair of mine."

"The cavalry understandably did not believe him, and rode into the forest." Brock continues "But sure enough, they found the giants swimming in their own blood, with the torn-up trees nearby, just as Tomlin had said."

Misty starts to applaud, but the grin on Brock's face signals the story is not quite over. "Tomlin demanded has promised reward; but the king reneged on his promise."

"Before you receive my daughter, and half my kingdom," he instructs Ash as the king. "you must perform one more heroic deed. In the forest roams a wild Beast which does great harm, and you must catch him first."

"I fear one Beast still less than two giants. Seven in one blow, is my kind of affair." Ash smiles as Tomlin.

"He took a rope and a bow with him, went into the forest, and bade those who were sent with him to wait outside." Brock continues. "He didn't have to look for too long--a wild Raikou soon approached, and rushed directly on Tomlin, as if it would eat him right there. Tomlin stood still and waited until the majestic Pokemon was quite close, shot an arrow with a rope around it into the tree..." Ash pauses to pantomime firing a bow. "then leaped like a Sawbuck behind the tree. The Raikou was easily tangled in the rope, and struggled mightily to get out, to no avail. He led the Beast away and took it to the king."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, sparking happily.

"The king still would not give him the promised reward, and made a third demand--before the wedding Tomlin was to catch a certain wild Emboar that wreaked great havoc in the forest, and the huntsmen would give him their help." Brock narrates.

"Willingly," Ash grins as Tomlin, "that is child's play!"

"He did not take the huntsmen with him into the forest, and they were well pleased that he did not, for the wild Emboar had often ambushed them." Brock explains. "When the Emboar spotted Tomlin, it charged at him, and was about to throw him to the ground, but Tomlin hurried into an abandoned shrine which was close by, and went in and out the window. The Emboar ran in after him, but Tomlin ran around outside and shut the door behind it, and then the raging Pokemon, which was much too heavy to fit through the window, was caught."

"Wow!" Misty is impressed at Tomlin's cleverness.

"Tomlin called the huntsmen over, so they could see the Emboar with their own eyes." Brock narrates. "He returned to the king, who was now, whether he liked it or not, obliged to keep his promise, and gave him Princess Natalie and half of his kingdom."

He concludes "The wedding was held with great magnificence and equally great joy, and out of a tailor a king was made."

"Bravo!" Misty leads the applause. "I'd take your version over Mickey Marill any day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 211: Princess Hatchling (Misty)

(real tale: The Egg Born Princess (http://europeisnotdead.com/disco/books-of-europe/european-fairy-tales/estonia-the-egg-born-princess/))


"Once upon a time, there lived a queen whose heart ached because she wanted so much to have a child." Misty begins. "She was sad enough when her husband was at home, but when he was away she would see nobody, but sat and cried all day long."

"Pi ni..." Happini sighs.

"Now it happened that a war broke out with the king of a neighboring country, and the queen was left in the palace alone." Misty explains. "She was so depressed that she felt as if the walls would stifle her, so she wandered out into the garden, and threw herself down on a grassy bank, under the shade of a Meli tree. She had been there for some time, when a rustle among the leaves caused her to look up, and she saw an old woman limping towards the stream that flowed through the grounds. When she had drank her fill, she came straight up to the queen, and said to her..."

"Do not take it as an evil omen, noble lady, that I speak to you, and do not be afraid, for it may be that I shall bring you good luck." she begins in an older version of herself.

"You do not seem very lucky yourself, or had much good fortune to spare for anyone else."Melody sighs as the queen

"Sometimes the sweetest berries have the roughest skins," Misty replies as the old woman. ‘Let me see your hand, that I may tell your fortune."

Melody holds out her hand, and Misty pretends to read her palm, "Your heart is heavy with two sorrows, one old and one new. The new sorrow is for your husband, who is fighting far away from home but, believe me, he is well, and will soon bring you joyful news. But your other sorrow is much older than this. Your happiness is spoiled because you have no children."

Misty then interjects as herself "At these words the queen became quite angry, and tried to pull away her hand, but the old woman said..."

"Have a little patience, for there are some things I want to see more clearly." she assures Melody as the old woman.

"But who are you?" Melody asks as the queen, "for you seem to be able to read my heart."

"Never mind my name," Misty replies, "but be glad that I can show you a way to lessen your grief. You must, however, promise to do exactly what I tell you, if any good is to come of it."

"Oh, I will obey you exactly,’ Melody cries giddily in character, ‘and if you can help me you will have in return anything you ask for."

"The old woman thought for a moment, then produced a tiny basket made of birch." Misty continues as herself. "She held it out to the queen, saying..."

As the old woman, she instructs Melody "In the basket you will find a bird’s egg. You must be careful to keep it in a warm place for three months, when it will hatch into two children, a boy and a girl. The boy you will bring up yourself, but you must entrust the little girl to a nurse. When the time comes to have them christened you will invite me to be godmother to the princess, and this is how you must send the invitation. Hidden in the cradle, you will find a Swanna’s wing...invoke the charm inscribed on it, and I will be with you directly; but be sure you tell no one of these wondrous things."

As herself, she continues "The queen was about to reply, but the old woman was already limping away, and before she had gone two steps she had turned into a Delphox, who moved so quickly that she seemed rather to fly than to walk. The queen, watching this transformation, could hardly believe her eyes."

Ash smiles--he knows the old woman was really the Delphox Kitsune in disguise. "She thought seriously about blowing it all off as a dream, had it not been for the basket which she held in her hand." Misty goes on. She hurried to her room, and felt around in the basket for the egg. It was a tiny soft blue egg with little green spots, and she kept it wrapped in a warm blanket every day."

"And then?" Brock asks.

"Two weeks after the old woman had paid her visit, the king came home victorious." Misty goes on. "At this proof that the old woman had spoken truth, the queen’s heart leaped for joy, for she now had fresh hopes that the rest of the prophecy might be fulfilled. She cherished the basket and the egg as her chiefest treasures, and had a golden case made for the basket, so that when the time came to lay the egg in it, it might not risk any harm. Three months passed, and the egg hatched into two children, a boy and a girl. She sent for the king, who was ecstatic at the sight of the children."

"Aw..." Melody smiles.

"Soon there came a day when the whole court was ordered to be present at the christening of the royal babies, and when all was ready the queen softly opened the window a little, held the Swanna wing out towards the sky, and invoked the charm written on it."Misty then pauses to sing Karuto, iichiida shou... "The guests were coming in droves, when suddenly there drove up a splendid coach drawn by six shining Ponytas, and out of it stepped a young lady dressed in garments that shone like the sun. Her face could not be seen, for a veil covered her head, but as she came up to the place where the queen was standing with the babies she drew the veil aside, and everyone was dazzled with her beauty. She took the little girl in her arms, and holding her up before the assembled crowd, decreed that she would be named Danielle–a name which no one understood but the queen, who knew that the baby had come from the yolk of an egg. The boy was named Damien."

"Wonderful names..." Brock grins.

"After the feast was over and the guests had left, the godmother laid the baby in the cradle, and said to the queen..."

In a younger version of her older voice, she instructs "Whenever Danielle goes to sleep, be sure you lay the basket beside her, and leave the eggshells in it. As long as you do that, no evil can come to her; so guard this treasure as the Leppa of your eye, and teach your daughter to do likewise."

As herself, she continues "Then, kissing the baby girl three times, she returned to her coach and drove away. The children grew up healthy and strong, and Danielle’s nurse loved her as if she were the baby’s real mother. Every day the little girl seemed to grow prettier, and people used to say she would soon be as beautiful as her godmother, but no one knew, except the nurse, that at night, when the child slept, a strange and lovely lady bent over her. Finally she told the queen what she had seen, but they determined to keep it as a secret between them."

"Kitsune is not gonna like this...." Ash muses.

"When the children were nearly two years old, the queen caught a terrible disease." Misty continues. "All the best healers in the country were summoned, but it was no use--nothing they did seemed to help. The queen knew she was dying, and sent for Danielle and her nurse, who had now become her lady-in-waiting. To her, as her most faithful servant, she gave the lucky basket in charge, and told her to treasure it carefully. "

"When my daughter," Melody weakly whispers as the queen, "is ten years old, you are to give this to her, but warn her that her whole future happiness depends on the way she guards it. As for Damien, I have no fears. He is the heir to the throne, and his father will look after him."

"The lady-in-waiting promised to carry out the queen’s last request, and above all to keep the affair a secret." Misty continues. "The next morning, the queen had joined Arceus in the heavens."

Tarina sniffles a bit, but Brock pets her to reassure her everything will be okay. "After some years had passed, the king married again, but he did not love his second wife as he had his first, and had only married her for ambition's sake." Misty intones. "She hated her step-children, and the king, seeing this, kept them out of the way, under the care of Danielle’s old nurse. But if they ever crossed the path of the queen, she would kick them out of her sight like Growlithes."

"That's not very nice!" Ash gasps in anger.

"On Danielle’s tenth birthday her nurse handed her over the cradle, and repeated to her her mother’s dying words; but Danielle was too young to understand the value of such a gift, and at first thought nothing of it." Misty goes on. "Two more years passed, when one day, while the king was away, the stepmother found Danielle sitting under a Meli tree. She fell as usual into a rage, and beat Danielle so badly that she went staggering to her own room. Her nurse was not there, but suddenly, as she stood there crying, she spotted the golden case in which lay the precious basket. She thought it might contain something to help her, and looked eagerly inside, but nothing was there save a handful of wool and two empty eggshells. Curious, she lifted the wool, and there lay the Swanna’s wing. Figuring the charm on it was worth a shot to invoke, she held it out and sang Karuto, iichiida shou....

She next confirms Ash's suspicions. "In a moment the beautiful Delphox Kitsune stood beside her."

"Do not be afraid," she assures Melody as Kitsune. "I am your godmother, and have come to visit. Your red eyes tell me that you are unhappy. I know that your stepmother is very unkind to you, but be brave and patient, and better days will come. She will have no power over you, and no one else can hurt you either, if you are careful never to part from your basket, or to lose the eggshells that are in it. Make a silken case for the little basket, and hide it somewhere safe, and you will be safe from your stepmother and anyone else that tries to harm you. "But if you should happen to find yourself in danger, and don't know what to do, take the Swanna wing from the basket, hold it out of a window, and invoke the spell I inscribed on it--'Karuto, iichiida shou...' and I will come to help you. Now come with me to the garden, so I can talk to you under the Meli trees, where no one can hear us."

As herself, Misty continues "They had so much to say to each other, that the sun was already setting when Kitsune finished giving all the good advice she wished to give Danielle, and saw it was time for her to go."

"Hand me the basket," she tells Melody, "for you must have some dinner. I cannot let you go to bed hungry."

"Then, bending over the basket, she softly sang some magic words...." Misty then nearly whispers as Kitsune Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... and in a flash of red light, a table covered with fruits and cakes stood on the ground before them. When they had finished eating, Kitsune led Danielle back, and on the way taught her the spell she had to sing to the basket when she wanted it to give her something--'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...'

Tarina and Pikachu spark happily, eager to know if there is a quest involved. "In a few more years, Danielle had grown into a fine young lady, and those who saw her thought that the world did not contain so lovely a girl." Misty goes on. "About this time a terrible war broke out, and the king and his army were beaten back, till they had no choice but to retreat back into town, and prepare for a long siege. It lasted so long that food began to run out, and even in the palace there was not enough to eat."

Ash swallows hard at the turn of events. "So one morning Danielle, who had had neither dinner nor breakfast, and was feeling very hungry, weakly invoked the Swanna wing." Misty continues.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody's spellsong doesn't have its usual gusto, reflecting her role's condition.

"She was so weak and miserable, that no sooner had Kitsune appeared she burst into tears, and could not speak for some time." Misty continues

"Don't cry, little one." Misty assures Danielle as Kitsune.. "I will carry you away from all this, but the others I must leave in the hands of fate."

She continues as herself "Then, motioning for Danielle follow her, she passed through the gates of the town, and through the army outside, and nobody stopped them, or seemed to see them. The next day the town surrendered, and the king and all his courtiers were taken captive, but in the confusion, Damien managed to make his escape. The queen had already met her death from an enemy spear."

"So, what became of Damien?" Brock is intrigued.

"As soon as Danielle and Kitsune were safe, Danielle disguised herself as a peasant, and in order to disguise her better, Kitsune transformed her face completely.

"When better times come," she instructs as Kitsune. "and you want to look like yourself again, you have only to softly sing the spell I have taught you into the basket, and your true form will be restored. But you will have to wait a little longer."

As herself, she goes on "Then, warning her once again to take care of the basket, Kitsune told Danielle goodbye. For many days Danielle wandered from one place to another without finding shelter, and though the food which she got from the basket prevented her from starving, she was glad enough to take service in a peasant’s house till brighter days came. At first the work she had to do seemed very difficult, but either she was wonderfully quick in learning, or else the basket may have secretly helped her. At the end of three days she could do everything as well as if she had cleaned pots and swept floors all her life."

"One morning Danielle was busy cleaning a wooden tub, when a noble lady happened to pass through the village. The girl’s bright face as she stood in the front of the door with her tub attracted the lady, and she stopped and called the girl to come and speak to her." Misty continues.

"Would you like to come and enter my service?" she asks as the lady.

"Very much," Melody replies as Danielle, "if my present mistress will allow me."

As herself, she continues "The same day they set out for the lady’s house, Danielle sitting beside the coachman. Six months went by, and then came the joyful news that Damien had raised an army and had defeated the usurper who had taken his father’s place, but at the same moment Danielle learned that the old king had died in captivity. She mourned for his loss, but secretly, as she had told her mistress nothing about her past life."

"Azu?" Azurill asks.

"At the end of a year of mourning, King Damien announced that he intended to marry, and commanded all the maidens in the kingdom to come to a party, so that he might choose a bride from among them." Misty explains. "For weeks all the mothers and all the daughters in the land were busy preparing beautiful dresses and trying new hairstyles, and the three lovely daughters of Danielle’s mistress were just as excited. Danielle was quick with her fingers, and was busy getting ready their beautiful clothes, but at night when she went to bed she always dreamed that her godmother Kitsune bent over her and said, "Dress your young ladies for the feast, and when they have started follow them yourself. Nobody will be so fine as you."

"Now it's turning into 'Cinderella'" Brock muses.

"When the big day came, Danielle could hardly contain herself, and when she had dressed her young mistresses and seen them off with their mother, she flung herself on her bed, and burst into tears. Then she seemed to hear a voice whisper to her..."

She whispers as Kitsune "Look in your basket, and you will find in it everything that you need."

"Danielle did not wait to be told twice!" she grins as herself. "She grabbed her basket, and repeated the magic words...."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and in a flash of red, there lay a dress on the bed, glittering like the stars." Misty continues. "She put it on with fingers that shook with joy, and, looking in the mirror, was awestruck at her own beauty. She went downstairs, and in front of the door stood a fine carriage, into which she stepped and was driven away like the wind."

"And then?" Ash asks, excited.

The king’s palace was a long way, yet it seemed like only a few minutes before Danielle arrived at the great gates." Misty continues "She was just about to get out, when she suddenly remembered she had left her basket behind. What was she to do?"

"Go back and get it, of course." Brock guesses.

"Thankfully a little Taillow flew up with the basket in its beak." Misty assures Brock. "The party was in full swing, and the hall was shining with youth and beauty, when the door was flung open wide and Danielle entered, making all the other maidens look pale and dim beside her. Their hopes faded as they gazed, but their mothers whispered together, saying, ‘Surely this is our lost princess!’"

A sick feeling wells up in Ash's stomach--are brother and sister going to marry each other?

"King Damien did not recognize her, but he never left her side nor took his eyes off her." Misty continues, noting Ash's pained look. "Around midnight a strange thing happened. A thick cloud suddenly filled the hall, so that for a moment all was dark. Then the mist suddenly grew bright, and Kitsune appeared in the room."

"This," she tells Ash as Kitsune, "is the girl whom you have always believed to be your sister, and who vanished during the siege. She is not really your sister at all, but the daughter of the king of a neighboring country, who was given to your mother to bring up, to save her from the hands of an evil wizard.’

She concludes as herself "Then she departed for heaven, and she and King Damien lived happily ever after."

"Are you sure you didn't just put that in to satisfy me?" Ash asks--the previous events and the ending don't add up in his mind.

"No, it's how the story goes." Brock assures him. "I've read several versions of this tale, and up until the end you think the brother and sister are blood related, but there is a subtle clue before the supernatural godparent--who it is depends on where it comes from--reveals the sister's true identity. It sounds like an Arceus ex machina, and in some versions, it flat out is, but if you really think about it, this version makes sense."

Ash thinks back over the story's plot. Is it possible that the usurper Danielle fled from was the evil wizard?

Misty notices Ash thinking hard. "Did you at least like it?"

"Yeah..." Ash smiles."But I'll leave the twist open to interpretation as to how it happened."

"Let's hope your next tale makes a little more sense." Melody smiles as Ash gets up to start his next tale....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 212: A Flower Adventure (Ash)

(real tale: What Came of Picking Flowers (http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/213.htm))

"There was once a woman who had three daughters, whom she loved very much." Ash begins. " One day the eldest--we'll call her Miriam--was walking in the shallows of a river, when she saw a pink rose somehow growing in the water. She stooped to pick the flower, but her hand had barely touched it, when she vanished into thin air--poof!"

"Where did she go?" Misty wonders, fearing for Miriam.

"The next morning, the middle sister--we'll call her Hailey--went out into the meadow, to see if she could find any trace of her sister." Ash continues. "As she was searching, she spotted a rosebush by the road, with one branch sticking out into the road. As she bent down to move it away, she could not resist picking one of the roses. In a moment she too had disappeared. Wondering what could have become of her two sisters, the youngest--we'll call her Jen--followed in their footsteps, and fell victim to a jasmine branch. So the old woman was left without any daughters at all."

"So what sort of fiend captured these sweet little girls?" Brock asks--it pains him to hear about any girl, real or fictional, in danger. "And what about their mother?"

[Yeah, what did she do?] Tarina echoes Brock's concern.

"Simply put, she did what anyone else would've done in these circumstances--she cried." Ash replies. "She cried, and cried, and cried some more. In fact, she cried for so long, her son, who had been a little boy when his sisters disappeared, grew up to be a young man. Then one night he asked his mother to tell him what was wrong."

[And then?] Tarina sparks excitedly.

When our hero--we'll call him Gavin--had heard the whole story, he said..." Ash switches to a sightly higher pitched version of himself to represent Gavin. "Give me your blessing, mother, and I will go and search the world till I find them."

As himself, he continues "So he set out early the next morning, and after he had traveled several miles without anything of note happening, he came upon three boys fighting in the road. He stopped and asked what they were fighting about, and one of them replied..."

"Our father left to us, when he died, a pair of boots, a key, and a cap." Brock explains in one of his standard 'young man' voices. "Whoever puts on the boots and wishes himself in any place while singing the magic spell 'Seios, higarima laisido', will find himself there. The key will open any door in the world, and with the cap on your head no one can see you. Our eldest brother wants to have all three things for himself, and we wish to draw straws for them."

"Oh, that is easily settled," Ash smiles as Gavin. "I will throw this rock as far as I can, and the one who picks it up first, will have the three things."

"So he took a rock and threw it..." Ash pantomimes throwing something. "and while the three brothers were running after it, he quickly put on the boots, and cast the spell."

He then sings as Gavin Seios, higarima laisido...

As himself, he continues "In a flash of bright light, Gavin was standing on a steep mountain before the gates of a great castle guarded by bolts and bars and iron chains. The key, which he had not forgotten to put in his pocket, opened the doors one by one, and he walked through a number of halls and corridors, till he met a beautiful and richly-dressed young lady--his sister Miriam--who jumped in surprise at the sight of him, and exclaimed...

"Oh, sir, how did you contrive *to* get in here?" Misty gasps as Miriam.

"Gavin replied that he was her brother, and told her how he had been able to pass through the doors." Ash goes on. "In return, she told him how happy she was, except for one thing--her husband lay under an evil spell, and it would not be broken until a man who could not die was put to death."

[How's that s'posed to work?] Korra wonders.

"They talked together for a long time, and then Miriam said he had to leave her, as she expected her husband back at any moment, and he might not like him there." Ash explains. "but Gavin assured her not to be afraid, as he had with him a cap which would make him invisible. They were still deep in conversation when the door suddenly opened, and a Talonflame flew in, but he saw nothing unusual, for, at the first noise, Gavin had put on the cap of invisibility. Miriam jumped up and brought a large golden basin, and as soon as the water touched him, he became a handsome man. Turning to his wife, he cried...

"I am sure someone is in the room!" Brock thunders in his "somebody's in trouble" voice.

"Miriam was scared stiff, and explained that she was quite alone, but her husband persisted, and in the end she had to tell him." Ash narrates.

"But if he is really your brother, why did you hide him?" Brock asked in a gentler version of the voice he used. "I would not harm any friends or family of yours, so long as I can see them with my own eyes."

"At this Gavin took off his cap, and stepped forward." Ash continues. "Then the husband saw that he was indeed family as Miriam claimed, and embraced his brother-in-law with delight. Drawing a ruby from his pocket, he said..."

Brock offers Ash a prop ruby. "If you are in danger, only sing, Karuto, iichiida shou... and I will come to your aid." he instructs in character.

"Gavin thanked him and went on his way, and after he had left the castle he invoked the boots again..." Ash then sings Seios, higarima laisido... again. "and came to the place where his middle sister Hailey was living. As before, he found himself at the gates of a huge castle, and within was his second sister, very happy with her husband, who loved her dearly, but longing for the moment when he should be set free from the spell that kept him half his life a Gyarados. When he arrived and had been introduced by his wife to her brother, he welcomed him warmly, and gave him a sapphire, saying...

Brock next offers Ash a prop sapphire. "If you are in danger, call to me, Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... and I will come to your aid."

"Gavin thanked him and took his leave, and when he was outside the gates he invoked the boots..." Ash sings Seios, higarima laisido... again. "and came to the place where his youngest sister Jen lived. It was a dark cavern, with steps of iron leading up to it. Inside she sat, crying, and as she had done nothing else the whole time she had been there, the poor girl had grown very thin. When she saw a man standing before her, she jumped to her feet and exclaimed..."

"Oh, whoever you are, save me and take me from this horrible place!" Melody pleads as Jen. "He told her who he was, and how he had seen her sisters, whose happiness was spoiled by the spell both their husbands were under, and she, in turn, told her story."

Melody pantomimes talking as Ash goes on "She had been carried off in the river by a horrible monster, who wanted to force her to marry him, and had kept her a prisoner all these years because she would not submit to his will. Every day he came to beg her to consent to his wishes, and to remind her that there was no hope of her being set free, as he was the most constant man in the world, and he could never die. At these words Gavin remembered his two enchanted brothers-in-law, and he advised Jen to promise to marry the old man, if he would tell her why he could never die. Suddenly everything began to shake, as if it was shaken by a whirlwind, and the old man entered, and flinging himself at Jen's feet, he said...."

"Are you still determined never to marry me?" Brock sneers in a low, deep voice. "If so you will have to sit there crying till doomsday, for I will always be faithful to my wish to marry you!"

"Well, I will marry you," Melody replies as Jen, "if you will tell me why it is that you can never die."

Brock erupts into one of his villain laughs, a perfect mimic of Ganondorf. "You are thinking how you would be able to kill me?" he sneers in character, making Tarina shudder in fear and delight. "Well, to do that, you would have to find an iron casket which lies at the bottom of the sea, and has a shining Pidove inside, and then you would have to find the egg the Pidove laid, and bring it here, and smash it on the ground."

He snickers as Ganondorf, much to the Pokemon's delight. "Now you will be obliged to marry me, as you know my secret."

"But Jen begged so hard that the wedding be put off for three days, that he consented, and went away rejoicing at his impending victory." Ash continues. "When he had left, Gavin took off the cap of invisibility, and told his sister not to lose heart as he hoped in three days she would be free. Then he put on his boots, and sang Seios, higarima laisido... teleporting him to the seashore. Once there, he took out the sapphire..." He shows the group the prop sapphire from before. "and sang..."

He then sings as Gavin Rou iitsa ron selga vichii..., making the sapphire glow blue.

"...and his brother-in-law swam up, and asked what he could do." Ash explains as he passes the glowing sapphire from hand to hand. "Gavin explained everything, and when he had finished his listener summoned all the fish Pokemon to his presence. The last to arrive was a little Magikarp, who apologized for being so late, but said he had hurt herself by knocking his head against an iron casket that lay in the bottom of the sea. The Gyarados ordered several of the largest and strongest of his subjects to take the Magikarp as a guide, and bring him the iron casket. They soon returned with the box placed across their backs and laid it down before him. Then Gavin produced the key and opened it, and though they were all crowding round, ready to catch it, the shiny Pidove flew away."

[Oh no!] Tarina gasps.

"It was useless to go after it, and for a moment Gavin's heart sank." Ash sighs. "Then he remembered that he had still his ruby, so he took it out..." He shows the group the prop ruby from before. "and sang..."

As Gavin, he sings Karuto, iichiida shou... making the ruby glow red.

As himself, he continues "A mighty rushing wind was heard, and the Talonflame perched on his shoulder, and asked what he could do to help. Gavin told him the whole story, and when he had finished the Talonflame commanded all his subjects to hurry to his presence. In a moment the air was dark with bird Pokemon of all sizes, and at the very last came the Pidove, apologizing for being so late by saying that an old friend had arrived at his nest, and he had been obliged to give him some dinner. The Talonflame ordered some of them to show the young man the Pidove's nest, and when they reached it, there lay the egg which was to break the spell and set them all free. When it was safely in his pocket, he invoked the boots..." He pauses to sing Seios, higarima laisido... "and they carried him straight to the cavern where Jen sat waiting for him."

[And then? And then?] Tarina sparks excitedly.

"Now, it was already far on into the third day, which the old man had fixed for the wedding." Ash reminds Tarina. "and when Gavin reached the cavern with his cap on his head, he found the fiend there, urging Jen to keep her word and let the marriage take place right away. When Gavin gave a signal, she sat down and invited the old fiend to lay his head on her lap. He did so with delight, and Gavin, standing behind her, passed her the egg unseen. She took it, and smashed it on the ground. With a groan that some mistook for the rumblings of an earthquake, he turned over and died."

The Pokemon cheer at the old man's demise. "In a flash of red and blue light, the husbands of the two eldest daughters regained their true forms, and, sending for their mother-in-law, whose sorrow was so unexpectedly turned into joy, they had a great feast, and Jen was rich to the end of her days with the treasures she found in the cave." Ash concludes with a grin.

Misty leads the applause. "You have the villainous laugh down to an art, Brock--you even had ME scared for a second."

"That was one of my tamer ones." Brock replies. "I didn't want to frighten Tarina too much."

"Yeah, save your good ones for when the little ones are in bed." Melody agrees.

[EmeraldSky]

Finally the tales continue!

Tale 213: The Disguised Girl, part 1 (Brock)

(real tale: The Adventures of Florian (http://www.tonightsbedtimestory.com/the-adventures-of-florian/))

"Once upon a time, there lived in an old house by the shore of the sea, a widowed noble and his only child, a daughter named Isabel." Brock begins. "They were very poor in spite of their noble birth, so much so that one by one the fields and woods they once owned had been sold just to buy the basic necessities."

Melody gasps at this. "Knowing that once he died, Isabel would be all alone, her father brought her up like a boy." Brock explains. "She could ride a Rapidash as well as any man, she could swim as well a mermaid, and even outdo her father in both fencing...." He draws a prop sword for effect. "and archery." he continues, referring to the bow and quiver of arrows on his back as he sheathes the sword. "Yet so sweet was the gentle nature the girl had inherited from her mother, that this strange upbringing didn't spoil her at all."

"So, did anyone confuse her for a boy?" Misty wondera.

"Late one evening, when the fierce gusts of wind from the sea shook the old house to its very foundations and made the ragged tapestries on the walls flutter like flags, Isabel’s father succumbed to a horrible disease, leaving her only the house, a handful of pennies, and a single gold coin." Brock continues, acknowledging Misty's question with a nod. "The money was enough for a few weeks, but what was Isabel to do when that little pittance was gone? Her father had once told her to go to the king and ask for his protection if she fell on hard times; but the royal city was hundreds of miles away, and Isabel bristled at the thought of begging or what awaited her on the road."

He smiles to reassure his jittery audience. "Finally, Isabel made the brave decision to make her own way in the world. Taking the gold coin with her, she went to a neighboring town, and bought clothes fit for a page or a squire. She then cut her hair into a boy's style, put on the boy’s clothes she had bought, and went into the marketplace in hopes she could find work in the service of some great family."

He then explains to his audience "Now, it was the custom in that land for masters and servants to meet by a certain fountain in the marketplace. The masters that needed a servant would stand on one side of the fountain, and the servants who needed a master stood on the other. When Isabel came to the marketplace, there was no one standing on the masters’ side of the fountain, but on the other side, ready for any master at all, was a small group of fidgety and impatient squires and pages. Isabel, or, as she now called herself, Fiore, strolled over and joined the group, her heart racing with the excitement and possibility of going on a great adventure."

"I bet some king tells her to go slay a Salamence, or something!" Ash muses.

Brock has other ideas. "Suddenly, a black knight, mounted on a black Ponyta and leading another Ponyta by the bridle, clattered over the cobblestones of the square, and taking his place by the fountain, told the pages to come to him. In spite of the horseman’s summons, however, the pages paid no attention to him at all. Curious to know why the group had refused when just minutes earlier they were wanting any master at all, Fiore asked a fellow page, and was told that the knight was none other than the wizard of Black Rock, and no page or squire would enter into his service because his castle was supposedly haunted by goblins, ghosts, and all manner of terrifying monsters."

[Was Isabel-as-Fiore afraid?] a Meowth asks.

"Now, Fiore was no coward, and, as the saying goes, beggars can't be choosers." Brock reminds the audience. "So much to the astonishment of the pages, Fiore walked over to the wizard, and offered to go with him. The knight bade Fiore mount the Ponyta he was holding; and amid the teasing and laughter of the other pages, master and boy rode away."

The tent is silent for a moment before Brock goes on "All day long they rode, and late that afternoon Fiore found himself at the edge of a wild and desolate plain. Within the great circle of the horizon, under the pale sky, not a tree, not a house, not even a shepherd’s hut was to be seen–nothing but the great barren waste rolling, rising and falling as far as the eye could see. The sun sank beneath the trees; it grew cold, and a blue mist fell. Twilight came, a green, mysterious twilight."

He then looks towards the tent's entrance, as if expecting something to appear there. "Suddenly, at the top of a hill off in the distance, Fiore spotted his new home. A great sunken marsh lay before him, beginning at the foot of the hill and stretching mile after mile, till its farther shore was hidden in the gathering darkness. The wind stirred the dead branches at its brim, and though the dying twilight was still gleaming in the sky, the great bog had caught little of its glow, and lay full of coiling blue mists, pale quagmires, and islands of mysterious darkness. A dreadful moaning cry, probably made by some demon or another, sounded through the mist, chilling the blood in Fiore’s veins; and as if answering the cry, millions of will-o’-the-wisps appeared in a rainbow of colors, darting and dancing. In the very heart of this dark marsh a great black rock stood, and on this rock, its turrets and battlements outlined against the burning face of the moon, stood the castle. Ghostly lights, some green, some red, and some blue, flickered in its windows."

"Wow"s and awed whispers fill the tent at the epic description. "The wizard reined up his Ponyta at the brink of the mire, and sang..."

He then sings in an older version of himself Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

As himself, he continues "Hardly had the last note echoed into the sky when the dancing fire spirits hurried toward him from all sides of the marsh. Soon a pale road leading across the bog to the castle appeared, an enchanted road which melted away behind the riders just as smoke melts into the winter air. The wisps escorted the wizard to his castle gate; then, rising swiftly high into the air, they fled into the night. The doors opened on their own, strange goblins and ghostly creatures passed, and bright, whirling globes of fire fled hissing across the castle courtyard. Just as they were about to enter the castle itself, the wizard turned, and looked at Fiore."

“Boy,” he explains as the wizard, “let nothing that you hear or see frighten you. Be assured that no power or spirit here can harm you. There is only one demon in the world whose power is greater than mine, and that is fear itself. Be brave, guard you heart against Fear; be faithful, and you will never have a reason to regret your coming.”

"Oh"s go up at the turn of events--the wizard seems friendly after all! "Fiore, who was by nature brave, was ashamed of having allowed fear into his heart, and vowed never to let his courage fail, no matter what happened." Brock assures his audience, pleased they have put two and two together. "Fiore kept his promise for all the years he served the wizard. At first, he had to struggle to conquer his fear of some of the spirits; but as time passed and no ghost or spirit ever ventured to annoy him, he grew accustomed to their presence by paying no more attention to them than he paid to the great Murkrows who flew croaking over the mire. So faithful and courageous was the little page that, when the year was up, the wizard begged him to stay for another year, promising him rich rewards if he stayed. When the second year was up, however, Fiore longed to see the world again, and told the wizard that he had to go."

“Very well,” he sighs as the wizard. “Do as you will--I will not try to stop you. You are a brave and faithful lad. Here is a purse of gold for your wages, and here are three gifts to reward your courage and kindness.”

He shows the audience a doll of a Shiny Fletchling with outstretched wings, a prop gold key, and a prop crystal. “This little Fletchling,” he explains as the wizard, “will protect you from the spells of any sorcerer whose power is less than mine, and will sing when you are in danger. This key will open any door in the world; and should you ever lose your way, you have but to put this crystal on the ground, and it will fly back here on its own. If you are ever in peril, call me with the spell 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...', and I will come and help you.”

He grins at his friends. "As for what adventures Fiore got into? I will tell you more on my next turn!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 214: An Encounter with Gyarados (Misty)

(real tale: The Serpent's Island (http://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/1996/10/6/the-serpents-island-a-tale-from))

"Long ago, during a time of peace in a far away land, many explorers journeyed in search of treasures." Misty begins. "Ship captains and sailors returned to their homeland with spices and jewels for the king. They brought stories, too, for the king loved stories of the world beyond his realm and the lessons they taught."

Ash smiles as Misty continues "So one day, a sailor came before the king and told him his tale..."

"Nice, a story in a story...." Brock grins.

"'I sailed from home on a great ship', he said. 'A hundred sailors rowed our ship. Each one was strong and brave, and we rowed for many days. We sailed across the eastern sea, and into the ocean beyond. All was well when suddenly a great storm blew up. The wind thrashed our ship, whipping us toward land, and waves broke over us. Terrified, I grabbed a piece of wood and threw it overboard, and then I threw myself over as well and held onto the wood for dear life. I prayed, and then watched in horror as our ship crashed upon the shore. Tears filled my eyes, but I had no time to mourn, for at that moment another wave rose up and cast me and my plank on the shore.'"

Melody brushes away a tear, "The poor sailor..."

"There I lay upon the sand, panting for breath." Misty continues as the sailor. "With the little strength I had left, I crawled to a grove of trees for shelter, and there I lay, watching the sky turning purple, listening to the howling wind.

The storm raged for two days, but eventually the sun broke through a blanket of clouds. I thanked the Legendaries who saved me. And then, for the first time, I looked around and I saw that I was all alone in a land of plenty. Figy Berries and Grepa Berries grew from the vines and trees, and the ground was thick with herbs and other kinds of berries. When I walked deeper into the thicket I found gardens dense with fruit, and when I walked back to the sea I saw more fish than it is possible to imagine."

"Wow..." Ash gasps as he pictures the island in his mind.

"I was beginning to feel at peace when suddenly I heard a roar like thunder." Misty intones as the sailor. "I threw myself behind the bushes, certain that a tsunami was about to sweep me out to sea again. The trees bent low to the ground. The sky turned dark. The earth trembled.

But then the sound stopped, and again I felt the sun on my shoulders. I opened my eyes and saw an enormous serpent Pokemon with gold whiskers and a body covered with sapphire scales. He was crawling toward me.

The serpent Pokemon slithered closer, reared his head high, and in a grumbling voice asked..."

"What has brought you here, little man?" Brock jumps in the role of the Gyarados.

"The serpent Pokemon reached down and picked me up in his jaws, careful not to harm me." Misty narrates as the sailor. "He carried me to the beach and lay me down before him."

"Speak quickly now," Brock demands as the Gyarados.

I told him I had sailed for a great king." Misty continues as the sailor. "I told him of our ship lost in the storm, and when I had finished, he nodded. He told me Arceus had sent me to this island of the blessed, for that is what he called his island. And then he told me of my future. He said I would remain on his island until four months had passed, and after that a ship would come and carry me to safety. He told me I would die in my own city, that I would rest in the tomb I had prepared.

And now I tell you the most wondrous part of this adventure. The serpent Pokemon brought before me his family, 75 of them in all. Gyarados, they were called? Only one stranger before me had ever come to them, a girl who appeared on the island one day in a cloud of fire. But she showed no kindness to the Gyarados and had no patience. He told me I must have patience and kindness, and that I would be rewarded. The girl without patience had thrown herself into the sea, for she did not trust the Gyarados' word. No one ever saw her again.

I bowed to him, and promised that if all came to pass as he predicted, I would bring his tale to the king and speak of his greatness, and I told him I would send a ship to him filled with the riches of my homeland. He laughed. 'We have all the riches we need here,' he said, and from that day on, he and his family showered me all manner of kindness. I waited patiently and trusted the Gyarados' word, for I knew he spoke with the blessings of Arceus.

Four months after I arrived, a ship appeared on the horizon. I climbed into a tree to see who sailed, and I saw men of this land. I waved farewell to the Gyarados and again promised him riches."

"Return in safety to your home..." Brock fills in the Gyarados' dialogue.

"...was all he said, and he gave me precious gifts of perfume and incense, gold and gems." Misty finishes the sentence in character. "When I climbed aboard the ship, the island seemed to float away from us. Night fell, and when the moon rose, the island was gone, as if it had never existed.

We sailed north toward home for many weeks. Now I have come to you, Your Highness , for I wish to offer you the gifts of the Gyarados. And I want to tell you that the Great Lord Arceus watches over us all."

She concludes "When the sailor finished his tale, the king was so moved that he ordered his chief scribe to write it down for all to read. This is how the story of the shipwrecked sailor and the Gyarados has lasted to this day, though no one has since seen the island."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 215: Ofuku and the Demon (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 147, story 1)

"Once upon a time, a certain village was struck by a harsh drought." Ash begins. "Many of the crops died, and the villagers feared they would starve that winter. One traveler even feared he would have to sell his daughters into slavery."

Misty swallows hard at this. "As he sat by the road and pondered what to do, he thought he saw a rock in the evening fog." Ash continues. "But when he looked again, it turned out to be a demon sitting on a rock!"

Melody gasps at what the demon will do to the man. "The demon told the man that he knew about the drought, and promised to make it rain in exchange for one of the man's daughters." Ash assures the jittery Meloetta. "Before the man could react, the demon was gone. It started to rain not long after, and the village rejoiced--the rivers and creeks refilled, and the fields were revived. The man called his family together and explained everything. The eldest daughter and the middle daughter refused, but the youngest daughter, whose name was Ofuku, was braver than her sisters, and eagerly volunteered to go with the demon, despite her mother's protests. Besides, she assured her family, she had a plan."

"So what did she do?" Now Brock is interested.

"Sure enough, the demon came on the day the rain stopped." Ash explains. "He took Ofuku, and crossed rolling plains, green valleys, deep forests, and high mountains, unaware that Ofuku was leaving a trail of Berries behind him."

"I see--Ofuku's making a trail to find her way home." Misty predicts.

"Before long, Ofuku arrived at the demon's cave, where she did the demon's laundry, swept the floor, and cooked for him, among other chores." Ash went on, acknowledging Misty's eager prediction with a nod. "Whatever the demon asked her to do, Ofuku did it well."

After a few moments to let the audience process what has happened, Ash continues "A year passed, and one day, Ofuku noticed the Berries she had scattered had taken root and began to grow into trees. She eagerly followed the path home, but it was not long before the demon was on her trail!"

"Oh no!" Melody yelps.

"Ofuku called to her parents to find a holy scroll." Ash explains. "Her mother found one, and heaved it at the demon, making sure to say 'Akuryo taisen!'"

"That means 'evil spirit, begone!', by the way." Brock explains.

"The demon fled in fear of the holy scroll's divine magic, and Ofuku was hailed as a hero." Ash concludes. "Ever since then, on the final day of winter, the people of that village always hung a holy scroll at their doors so the demon would not return."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 216: The Disguised Girl, part 2 (Brock)

(real tale: The Adventures of Florian (http://www.tonightsbedtimestory.com/the-adventures-of-florian/))

"So, what became of our disguised heroine?" Melody asks Brock.

After thinking as to where he is in the tale, Brock continues "Fiore thanked the wizard, and taking his gifts, went back out into the world again. But he was so gentle and kind, he soon gave away everything he had earned, and was forced to go in search of work once again. After some adventures--which are stories in themselves--he entered the service of the king and queen of the Twelve Towers."

He paces the tent as he explains "Now, this royal couple, who were renowned in both the world of mortals and the world of the fey for their goodness and generosity, as well as their wealth and magnificence, had one son, Prince Kiran. No mortal prince could compare. He had driven the Gyarados of the blue cavern out of his father’s kingdom; he had fought three ogres one after the other, and slain each one; he had delivered the diamond castle of a terrible spell--if I were to list all the other feats of bravery he did, we'd be here all day."

Giggles go up at Brock's wry comment. "When Fiore entered the service of the king and queen, they were sending their son on a visit to his uncle, the Emperor of the Plain, and Fiore was ordered to join the company of lords and ladies, knights and soldiers who were to make the journey." Brock continues "According to the rumors he heard, Prince Kiran was being sent to his uncle’s in the hope that he would fall in love with his uncle’s daughter, the beautiful Princess Rosalie."

Interested murmurs go up at this, but Brock has another twist to introduce. "Now, after the company had been on the road for a few days, Prince Kiran, who watched over the company like a captain does over his soldiers, became aware of the bravery, trustworthiness, and modest bearing of Fiore, the little page, and promoted him to be his own personal squire. But no sooner had he been promoted, did Fiore show a glimpse of his true self--the runaway girl, Isabel. Though she fought as hard as she could against her own feelings, it was no use, and she knew herself to be falling in love with Kiran. Yet she kept her feelings to herself, for Prince Kiran thought her only a little page, and to speak would be to betray the secret she had so long and successfully guarded."

"I wonder what will happen when Prince Kiran figures out he's a she." Misty muses.

"One morning, as the caravan was riding through a far country, Fiore--as we must continue to call Isabel for now..." Brock reminds the audience. "was following close behind his master, when the prince spotted a beautiful scarlet lily blooming by the roadside. At the same moment, the little shining Fletchling that Fiore wore round his neck sang a few clear notes as if it were alive."

Ash retrieves his whistle and mimics a Fletchling song with it, to some laughter from the Pokemon. "Just as he was about to pick the flower, Fiore ran on ahead, grabbed the enchanted flower, and tossed it into a ditch. The lords and ladies scolded Fiore, of course, but deep down, he knew he had saved his master's life."

"And then?" Misty asks.

"The company rode on a little more, and the prince spotted a beautiful jeweled dagger lying in the road." Brock replies as Ash readies the whistle to play again. "At the same moment, the little shining Fletchling sang a few clear notes of warning."

The Pokemon laugh as Ash plays the Zelda whistle theme in the style of a bird call. 'Just as the prince went to pick up the dagger, Fiore ran on ahead of him, grabbed the dagger, and tossed it into a ditch. The lords and ladies scolded Fiore again, but deep down, he knew he had saved his master's life."

Nervous giggles go up at what the company would find next. "The company rode on some more, and the prince saw a beautiful enchanted garden at a fork in the road. Birds of many colors sang in the branches of the trees, fountains sparkled and danced in the sunlight, and the sweet music was heard everywhere. At the same moment, the shining Fletchling sang louder and longer than ever."

The tent explodes in bemused laughter as Ash performs a spot on mimic of a Fletchling's warning cry through his fingers. "So Fiore hurried to the prince’s side, and begged him not to enter, saying that the garden was cursed, and who knew what harm would befall him?" Brock intones. "At this, all the lords and ladies, who were a little jealous, that a page knew more than they did, laughed at poor Fiore, and even Kiran smiled at him and said there was nothing to worry about. With that, Prince Kiran led the way through the garden gate. For a minute or so everything seemed normal, and the first to enter teased Fiore again; but when the whole company had entered, there was a clap of thunder..."

Many in the audience jump as Misty rattles a piece of aluminum and "lightning" illuminates Brock's place. "...and everybody except the prince and Fiore, who was protected by the wizard’s charm, was turned to stone." Brock intones. "The echoes of the thunder had barely faded when two demons rushed at them, grabbed the prince, and spirited him away to Arceus-knows-where, leaving Fiore alone in the garden. As if that wasn't enough, night was fast approaching."

[What did Fiore do?] Tarina worries as Ash comforts her.

"Now, the owner of the enchanted garden was a witch, who had a daughter so ugly that even her mother’s dark magic could make her beautiful." Brock explains, acknowledging Tarina with a nod. "In spite of her ugliness, however, the witch’s daughter considered herself quite beautiful, and was always asking her mother to invite to the castle princes she considered worthy of her hand. So the old witch threw all kinds of wonderful dances and parties, to which all the eligible young kings and princes of the neighborhood were invited; but just as soon as the witch’s daughter appeared with a horrid smirk on her ugly face, the young men rode far away in the other direction!"

Laughter fills the air as the audience pictures the guests of a ball fleeing. "Finally the old witch, who had just gotten the riot act from her daughter yet again, couldn't stand her daughter’s scolding any longer, and vowed to catch the first prince who entered her garden, and force him to accept her ugly daughter." Brock continues. "Kiran had walked hook, line, and sinker into her trap, and the witch, hoping to bend him to her will by terrifying him, had thrown him into a deep dungeon. The ugly daughter had immediately peeked through the key-hole of the prison, and fallen in love with Kiran at first sight."

Fearsome murmurs waft through the tent at this. "The witch was considering what to do next, when her demon servants informed her that one of the company had resisted her spell, and was wandering in the garden." Brock continues. "So the witch put on her cloak of invisibility, and going down to the garden, found Fiore wandering under the trees. She saw that it was the shining Fletchling which had protected him from her dark magic; and being afraid of the light magic and yet unable to do the boy any harm while the Fletchling was in his possession, she decided to rid herself of Fiore by transporting her castle, gardens and all, over to the other side of the world. So she cast a spell..."

He pauses to sing in a mimic of Jessie Gran zirtan vin fangan miti...

As himself, he goes on "...and everything disappeared like that." He snaps on the word "that" to emphasize his point. "When Fiore woke up the next morning, and saw that the castle was gone, his heart sank. But he did not despair, but taking from his pocket the crystal which his master the wizard had given him, he put it on the ground, and told it to guide him back to the enchanted garden. The crystal flew on ahead at Fiore’s pace; at night it glowed with a scarlet fire. Day after day, month after month, the crystal flew on; it led Fiore over hill and over dale, through the land of the cyclops, through the mountains of the dwarves, the forests of the elves, the springs of the fey, and the valley of the treants, never stopping until it reached the gate of the witch’s garden."

The tent is quiet, save for the rain outside. "A year, meanwhile, had passed, and during that year the witch had done everything in her power to force Prince Kiran to accept her ugly daughter." Brock explains. "First she had tried scaring him, then she had tried to win his favor by throwing lavish parties, then she had tried scaring him again; but as the prince was unafraid and unswayed, she came to her wits’ end. Finally she told the prince that, if he did not accept her daughter in marriage the very next day, she would turn him into a Buneary and set her Houndours upon him. The prince gave no answer to her threat, so the witch went ahead and made preparations for the grandest of weddings."

He intones "It was on this night, Fiore arrived in the garden."

The Meowths smile with anticipation as Brock goes on "When it was very late, and the moon, which was a quarter full, had disappeared behind the clouds, Fiore crept unobserved to the door of Kiran’s prison-- the witch had locked him up so securely that she had not taken the trouble to find a guard. Prince Kiran was at the top of a high tower, and twenty different doors, each one opened by a different key, stood between him and the ground. Not one to be daunted, and taking the key the wizard had given him, Fiore opened one door after the other till he arrived in Prince Kiran's cell."

The Pokemon whisper excitedly, but Brock lifts a hand to quiet the chatter. "Prince Kiran lay chained on a bed of straw, trying to read a book by candlelight. He was very unhappy, for he would rather be torn in pieces rather than marry the ugly witch maiden."

Brock grins as he savors the audience's enthralled looks, especially the Pokemon. "It goes without saying that he was glad to see Fiore."

“Dear Fiore,” he sighs in a mimic of Ash, “if I had only heeded your warning, none of this would have happened.”

As himself, he goes on "He begged Fiore to tell him where he had been all year. So Fiore told the prince of his adventures--which are stories in themselves."

Nervous giggles go up at this. "Now, the chains binding Prince Kiran had no lock to them, so the magic key was no use." Brock explains "Kiran eventually managed to work them off; but in doing so, he hurt his foot, and found to his dismay that he could only limp along."

Giggles go up as Brock feigns a broken foot to mimic Prince Kiran. "Little by little the fresh air and the stir of leaves heralded the coming of the dawn. Finally, just as the sky started to lighten, Kiran and Fiore hurried out of the prison through the twenty doors, and fled to the road. But they had traveled only a few miles, when the witch discovered Kiran had escaped, and in a fit of rage, commanded that her Hydreigons be roused and her coach prepared so she could chase him. So the coach was brought forth, and off the witch and her Hydreigons went into the sky. Hearing the hissing and roaring of the Hydreigons in the air, Fiore and Kiran tried to hide under some trees; but the witch saw them, and cast a spell to turn them into Bunearies."

He sings as Jessie again Gran zirtan vin fangan miti...

As himself, he intones "But though the hate of the witch was strong, the woman’s heart in Isabel was stronger, and deciding to sacrifice herself for the one she loved, she threw the chain and the Shining Fletchling over the prince’s head. And a few seconds later, she had turned into a little Buneary crouching at Kiran’s feet."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Ash cries.

"At the same moment, the cruel witch, who had arrived at her castle, let loose her pack of Houndooms, who soon took up the trail of the Buneary and came bounding toward her in all their firey fury." Brock intones. "Prince Kiran picked up the Buneary and limped forward as fast as he could go, never mind the pain it caused him; but the Houndooms were running a hundred times faster than he. Luckily, just as the leader of the pack was about fifty feet away, Isabel remembered the promise which the wizard had made to her, and called upon him."

He sings as May Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

As himself, he continues "...and in a flash of light, an invisible wall, as high as a castle tower, shot up from the ground behind Isabel and the prince; and the pack, hurrying forward, found themselves deprived of their prey. Snarling and howling, they threw themselves against the magic wall; but to no avail. In another flash of light, the wizard himself stood before them, and laying his hands on the Buneary..."

He pauses to sing as the wizard Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

As himself, he continues "...he restored Isabel to her true form. She still wore Fiore's clothes, however, and the prince still thought she was a boy."

But Brock isn't done yet. "Suddenly a shadow fell on the ground near them, and looking up, all of them beheld the wicked witch and her ugly daughter, who had ridden out in the dragon coach to enjoy Kiran’s cruel death. The wizard immediately caused the dragon coach to vanish, and the witch and her daughter fell tumbling through the air into a pond, and were turned into ugly little Feebases. Then the wizard carried Kiran and Fiore back to the witch’s castle, where they found the tables spread and the dinner being prepared which was to celebrate the wedding of Kiran and the witch’s daughter. Finally, he released Kiran’s company from the witch’s spell."

Cheers go up at the witch's demise. "Now, one of the ladies, when she heard how the witch had tried to match Kiran with her daughter, and saw the preparations for the wedding, told the prince that it was a pity that Princess Rosalie wasn't there, so that there would be a wedding after all." Brock continues.

“A wedding? No,” he explains as Kiran, “Not until I have found a wife who has proved herself as faithful and true as little Fiore.”

“She is already here,” he intones as the wizard. before singing as the wizard again Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

"Immediately there was a flash of red light and fire, and out of it, Fiore no more, but her true self, appeared Isabel." Brock announces to wild cheers. "Her hair had grown long again, and the wizard had clothed her in a magnificent gown. Never was there a lovelier girl to be seen in the world."

He grins. "I don't need to tell you that Prince Kiran claimed her as his bride."

He concludes "Prince Kiran's parents, who had been summoned by the wizard, arrived, and there was a wedding after all. When the festivities were over, the wizard returned to his castle on the Black Rock, while Kiran and Isabel returned to their own country, and lived there happily for many years."

"Wow!" Ash gasps as he applauds. He looks over at Misty "The piece of aluminum was a nice touch."

"Aw, it was nothing!" Misty assures him as Melody puts away the flashlight she used for the "lightning".

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 217: The Language of Pokemon (Misty)

(real tale: The Wise Princess (http://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/1999/1/31/the-wise-princess-a-tale-from))

"Once upon a time a king had one daughter whose name was Marla." Misty begins. "He wished her to be the wisest woman in the world, and so he sent far and wide for the finest scholars. Teachers came from everywhere. Daily they taught Marla all they knew, such as math, science, literature, history, and the arts."

"Wow..." Ash sighs dreamily as he imagines what Princess Marla looks like.

"Marla loved learning, and most of all, she loved the many languages of the world." Misty goes on. "In addition to her native tongue and English, she learned Greek, Spanish, French and Japanese. She also learned Portuguese, Latin, German, Chinese, and even a few mystical tongues. Before long, Marla knew more than all her teachers combined. She could speak to every visitor in his own language."

"COOL!!!" Brock is especially impressed.

"The king soon understood that Marla must find a husband who was as wise as she was." Misty explains. "He sent out a proclamation: 'Princess Marla will marry the man who can speak a language she does not know. Beware, suitors: Anyone who dares to seek the hand of the princess but cannot speak a new tongue will be thrown into the wintry sea.'"

Melody swallows hard as Misty continues "Princes and dukes, knights and lords heard the proclamation and sighed. They shook their heads and grumbled among themselves. "No one knows as many languages as the princess," they all agreed. And so no one came to seek Marla's hand in marriage."

"I don't think gibberish counts as a new language..." Ash agrees.

"Marla grew lonely and sad." Misty adds before assuming the role of her heroine. "Father, will no one marry me?" she asks Brock, in the role of the king.

Brock takes Misty's hands in his. "I fear that may be true, my child," he sighs as the king. "There seems to be no man wise enough for you."

"Meanwhile, outside the palace, a young shepherd carrying a leather satchel on his back appeared at the gates." Misty narrates.

"I am Martin," Ash jumps in the shepherd's role. "I have come to seek the hand of the wise princess Marla."

"Run to your flocks, boy." Brock jeers as a guard. "You are a simple shepherd. You could never hope to win so marvelous a woman. Run before the king throws you into the sea."

"Open the gates," Ash retorts. "I can speak many languages the princess has never heard before."

"Give up, boy," Brock shoots back.

"I will not," Ash proudly replies in character.

Misty stiffles a giggle at how well the boys are getting into their roles. "And so at last the guards led Martin to the king's throne room. There the lovely princess sat beside her father. When she saw the lad, she smiled, for she liked the gleam in his eye."

"Your majesty," Brock announces, "this lad has come to woo your daughter." He makes a grand gesture to Ash for effect.

"Father," Misty whispers in character to an imagined person. "Please don't harm him. He seems kind, and so very brave."

Brock, now back in the role of the king, frowns at Ash. "If you dare fail to speak an unknown language, son, do you know what will happen to you?"

"I do," Ash replies. "And I am not afraid of the sea. Besides, I believe you will find that your daughter does not know all there is to know."

Brock shrugs. "Speak your language, then," he sighs, a note of frustration in his "king" voice.

Ash, meanwhile, walks to Misty's side. "Beautiful princess, listen closely." he instructs as he pulls out a pantomime object from his own bag.

"He reached into his satchel and pulled out a tiny Taillow. 'Biyo-biyo,' the Taillow chirped." Misty narrates as herself.

"Do you understand?" Ash asks in character. When Misty shakes her head no, he balks. "But princess, "you claim to understand all languages. The Taillow asks if he can sit upon your shoulder."

"He let go of the Taillow and whispered, 'Tsiii, tsii,' and the Taillow flew to Princess Marla and landed on her shoulder." Misty continues as herself.

"Wait!" Ash interjects in character, raising his hand.

"He again reached into his satchel and pulled out a shiny Murkrow." Misty narrates as herself. "'Ah-eh-oh,' the Murkrow cried."

"You understood, of course?" Ash asks in character.

"No," Misty softly replies in character.

"He wants his freedom," Ash explains as Martin.

"...and he walked to the door and opened it. 'Kaa-kaa,' he cried. When the Murkrow heard these words, he flew out the door to his freedom." Misty narrates.

"How do you know what they say?" she gasps as Princess Marla.

"I have spent my days in the forest, listening carefully. I can speak the language of Pokemon. If you marry me, I will teach you, for there are many languages even the greatest scholars do not know." Ash explains as Martin.

"I thought you were the smartest person in the world!" Brock protests as the king. "How can you let a lowly shepherd make a fool of you?"

"Sire, your daughter is wise beyond words," Ash assures Brock in character. "for only the wise can admit that they do not know everything."

Misty concludes as herself "Marla was so pleased with Martin's understanding that she begged her father to allow her to marry him. Martin and Marla were married, and lived happily ever after, always surrounded by the bird and beast Pokemon, always seeking wisdom, always wise enough to know that they could always learn more."

Melody leads the applause. "Well done! I wasn't expecting that to become a full dramatic production!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 218: The Legend of the Pokeflute and the Whistle (Ash)

(real tale: The Woodpecker and the Flute (http://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2001/12/30/the-woodpecker-and-the-flute-a))

(what Ash performs at the end: The North Wind/The Thunderbolt Reel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCWw27UqvCQ))

"Once upon a time, long, long ago, a young hunter went out to hunt for food to help feed his people." Ash begins. "As he was following the tracks of a Sawsbuck, he had two thoughts on his mind. The Sawsbuck would feed his people, true. But his other thought was about a young maiden who would not pay attention to him, no matter how many times he confessed his love for her."

Once sure his Pokeflute is where he can find it, Ash goes on "He hunted for many hours, and his prey managed to elude him, but he continued to follow the Sawsbuck's tracks deeper into the forest. As the light began to fade, he noticed that the Sawsbuck's tracks disappeared, and he knew he could no longer find his way home. He would have to sleep in the forest that night."

[So what did he do?] Tarina asks, worried for the hunter.

"So he settled down, rolling out his robe and wrapping himself inside it not unlike a sleeping bag." Ash explains. "He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but the forest was a sea of strange sounds. He heard the howling of Mightyenas, the hooting of Noctowls, the scratching of Pikachus burrowing, the rustling of leaves in the nighttime wind. Every sound aroused his senses, and he could not fall asleep."

He retrieves his Pokeflute as he continues "With his eyes wide open, he stared into the dark forest, wondering how he would survive the night. Suddenly he heard a sound like nothing he had ever heard before."

With that, he plays a few bars of the air "The North Wind" for effect. "He cocked his head to one side. The sound was beautiful, mournful, haunting. It was a sound he could not describe or explain, but it lulled him into a comforting sleep, and while he slept, he dreamed."

"What did he dream about?" Misty wonders, intrigued.

"The hunter dreamed of Suicune, the Beast of the North Wind." Ash replies. "In his dream Suicune appeared and sang the beautiful song the hunter had heard in the forest. 'Follow me,' Suicune said in the dream. 'Follow me, and I will show you how to sing this song.'"

Everyone waits to hear what happens next. "The next morning, the hunter woke up and was startled to see Suicune before him." Ash goes on. "The hunter and the Beast looked into each other's eyes for a moment, and then the Beast ran by another tree, one not far away. The hunter hesitantly stood up. Suicune ran to the next tree, and so the hunter began to follow him, remembering the words from his dream: 'Follow me, and I will show you how to sing this song.'"

He pauses for a moment, then continues "After a while, Suicune stopped, pointing out the highest branch of a cedar tree. When the hunter looked closely at the branch, he saw that bug Pokemon had hollowed out holes in it. He didn't know how or why Suicune had led him to this hole filled branch, but he knew, somehow, that he would learn something."

A wind gust bursts againt the tent, but Ash continues "Then the wind picked up as Suicune watched, and as it did, it blew hard against the tree, and the hunter heard the song again, but now he saw that it came from the branch--and when the leaves covered the holes in the branch as they were blown about in the wind, different notes were made."

[Just like a Pokeflute!] Tarina guesses.

"'Let me take this branch home,' the hunter asked, and Suicune conjured a wind gust just hard enough to make the branch fall to the ground at the hunter's feet." Ash continues, pleased Tarina has guessed what his tale is about. "He picked it up and hurried back to his village, carrying the branch as if he had found gold."

"So, how did his friends and family react to the song of the wind?" Brock wonders.

"When he returned home, his family was disappointed to see he had brought them no food, but the hunter said, 'I bring something much better.'" Ash explains. "He took the branch into his house and tried to make the branch sing. He waved it in the air like a sword..."

"Giggles fill the air as Ash does this to his own instrument. "He took it outside and held it skyward, letting the wind blow past it. But the branch would not sing for him."

He intones "That night the hunter fell asleep holding the branch. Again Suicune came to him in his dreams. 'Watch me play the branch,' Suicune said, and he transformed into a man. Then he took the branch from the hunter's hand and carved the top into a mouthpiece...." He refers to the mouthpiece of his own instrument. "He painted the branch with ivy and leaf inlays..." He refers to the diamond inlays on his own instrument. "...and he showed the hunter how to finger the holes. Then he blew into the mouthpiece, and once again the hunter heard the beautiful, melancholy song."

He plays the same phrase from "The North Wind" again. "When the hunter woke up, he saw that the branch had been transformed into the instrument Suicune had made--the first Pokeflute. He took it in his hand and stepped outside into the morning light. He fingered the holes and blew into the mouthpiece, just as Suicune had shown him in his dream. And when he did, the song rose up beside his house, and all the villagers heard the song and came running toward him, amazed in what they heard."

He smiles. "The young woman the hunter loved came, too. She listened to his song and then stepped closer. 'I love your song,' she said, and before they knew it, they were falling in love."

"Aw..." Brock grins as he eases a drum closer to him.

"Ever since then, the people of the world have made Pokeflutes and their smaller cousins the whistles, and have played all manner of songs on them." Ash concludes. "...and we continue to make and play them ourselves today, in honor of Suicune."

With that, he plays the excerpt from "The North Wind" again, only this time transitioning into "The Thunderbolt Reel" as Brock keeps the beat...