Pokemon Moonlight Silver (COMPLETE!!!)

[EmeraldSky]

@Scytherwolf; @Soups;

Episode 105: Tales on the Frontier

"Tintri, use Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded, training his eye on the Smoochum his navy haired opponent commanded.

"Wait...stay your attack." the navy haired girl requested as her Smoochum trudged back to her, prompting Tintri to stay his attack. "I applaud your enthusiasm, but such an intense battle tired Josephine out."

"Then, do you want to have another match some other time?" Ash offered.

"Maybe, but if you really want to test your skills, I'd recommend you go to the Battle Frontier." the girl smiled. "It's a great place where a lot of trainers bring their Pokémon to battle, and is run by five professional trainers called the Frontier Brains."

"Okay..." Ash motioned for the girl to go on as they started down the road.

"In fact, the Battle Frontier has almost every Pokémon that exists." the girl went on as the tops of festival tents and a tall tower came into view. "If any of you are storytellers, there is a Lore Stage going on to celebrate its grand opening."

Now Brock was excited. "Think I can finally complete my rainbow?"

"I know you can!" Misty replied.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Ash cried as he dashed down the road. "Let's go!"

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"Wow..." the group gasped as they gawked at the five massive buildings and walkways filled with trainers and Pokemon. "Where do I even begin?" Ash wondered as he watched the crowds criss cross the white walkways leading to and from the various facilities.

"The facilities are laid out in the shape of a star." a guide explained. "If you like, I can take you to see each one, and allow you to meet the Frontier Brain that leads it."

"Sure!" Ash replied.

"All right..." The guide first led the group to the tower at the north end of the Frontier. "This is the Battle Tower, led by Palmer." She pointed out a young man with spikey blonde hair wearing a green jacket signing autographs and posing for pictures by the tower entrance.

Ash made a beeline to the man as the last person in line departed. "Hi, I'm Ash Ketchum, of Pallet Town!"

"A pleasure to meet you, Ash." Palmer smiled, admiring the seven badges on Ash's right vest flap. "I think you've got real potential to meet me and my fellow Frontier Brains in battle--I'm sure earning those was no easy task."

"Nope--I worked hard to get those." Ash replied. "And I'll work hard to get my last one, too!"

Palmer grinned. "With spirit and enthusiasm like that, I think you could get that last badge and make a splash in the League. Whatever you do, never give up, no matter how hard things get."

"I promise." Ash gave Palmer a little bow before running to catch up to Misty, Brock, and the teal haired guide.

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"Up next is the Battle Factory, led by Thorton." the guide went on, pointing out a black haired young man with a small green highlight meeting guests at the entrance to a factory-like building.

Ash waited for the line to shrink a little before approaching Thorton. "Hi, I'm Ash Ketchum, of Pallet Town!"

"Nice to meet you, Ash." Thorton replied. "I've heard rumors that they're building a Battle Frontier in Kanto, only this one will have seven facilities instead of five."

He admired the seven badges on Ash's vest. "You've done well to come this far, and I believe you could do very well here. The Pokemon League should be an easy way to measure how ready you are to challenge the Frontier."

"I'll do the best I can." Ash replied before hurrying to catch up with the others.

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"This is Dahlia, leader of the Battle Arcade." the guide explained as the group approached a black haired woman in a yellow costume near a cathedral-like building decorated in neon lights.

"Hello, Ash..." Dahlia smiled. "Palmer and Thorton told me you and your friends were coming."

"What can you tell me about the Battle Arcade?" Ash wondered.

"My state of the art Event Board will determine the battle conditions." Dahlia explained. "Some of them may help you, some of them may harm you, and some may affect the entire arena. Either way, every game is a new surprise, so you need to think fast."

"Sounds fun!" Ash grinned as he and the others turned to leave.

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The group gasped in awe as the group arrived inside a majestic castle. "This place is beautiful..." Misty gasped as she admired the beautiful flowers in the foyer, and banners displaying the Battle Frontier logo hanging on the wall.

"This is Darach, the head of the Battle Castle." the guide explained as she returned with an elegantly dressed black haired man with a blonde highlight.

"A pleasure te meet ye, Ash." Darach smiled, a slight Scottish brogue lending a touch of class to his voice. "What brings ye all tis wey to Johto?"

"I've competed in my home league, and want to challenge myself to be even stronger." Ash replied.

"No matter how many badges ye get, remember that true strength is not mere power alone." Darach reminded him. "Ye also need a strong mind, and most importantly, a strong heart."

He smiled. "If what my fellow Brains say is true, ye have te heart down pat, at least."

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"And finally, this is Argenta, head of the Battle Hall." the guide explained as a red suited woman with matching sunglasses perched in her lavender hair met Ash in the large glowing battlefield at the end of a runway.

"So...many...lights..." Ash sighed as he rubbed the spots out of his eyes.

"I want to make sure every trainer that comes in here is treated as the superstar they were meant to be." Argenta explained as Misty and Brock hurried outside. "This is why we give them the full red carpet experience, including rolling out the red carpet for them, and souvenir photos."

"Oh..." Ash mused. "Are you or the other Brains taking challenges right now?" he asked.

"Well, we are also judging the Lore Stage, so unfortunately, we don't have the time to battle today."

"Okay..." Ash replied. "Maybe when I get my eighth badge, I can challenge you and the other Brains."

"Maybe--for now, your storyteller companion needs your support." Argenta smiled, gesturing to a crowd beginning to form at the center square, where a large stage was set up for the Lore Stage.

"I'll go cheer my friend on for now, but I still want to battle sometime." Ash assured Argenta before hurrying off to find Misty and Brock.

"There you are!" Brock smiled as Ash caught up to him at the check in area. "Tellers are allowed to have no more than two other people assisting this round, so would you and Misty like to help me?"

"Sure!" Ash smiled.

"Then follow me backstage, and I'll tell you and Misty what you have to do." Brock smiled as he finished checking in...

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"Number K-93098, telling 'The Faithful Son'." Palmer announced to the crowd before hurrying offstage, revealing Brock in a spotlight with his guitar.

"Once upon a time, many years ago, there lived an old man and a old woman." Brock begins. "Between the two of them, they had lived nearly a hundred years, at least. But they took neither joy nor pleasure in anything, this was because they had no children."

"Aw"s go up at this. "They were about to celebrate their seventy-fifth anniversary, known as the Diamond Wedding, but no guests were invited to share their simple feast." Brock explains from stage left. "As they sat there at the table, they savored the many happy memories across the years of their long life, and as they did, they were sure that it was punishment for some misdeed that Arceus had denied them the happiness of having children, and as they thought, their tears fell fast."

More 'aw's fill the air over the guitar's sad melody. "At that moment, someone knocked." Brock narrates, knocking on the stage sides for effect.

“Who's there?” he calls in character as the old woman.

"A man in a traveler's cloak leaning on a stick, and white as a Pidove was waiting for her when she opened the door." he narrates as himself.

“What do you want?” he asks as the woman.

“Just a poor traveler seeking alms." he replies in a mimic of an older man.

"The good woman was kind-hearted, and she cut her last loaf in two, giving one half to the traveler, who said..." Brock narrates as himself.

“I see you have been crying, good lady, and I know the reason of your tears." he smiles in character. "But take heart, by heaven's grace you will be comforted. Though poor and childless today, tomorrow you shall have family and fortune.”

Some laughter goes up at Brock's look of feigned ecstasy. "When the old woman heard this she was overjoyed, and told her husband to invite the man in." Brock continues. "But he was gone, and though they searched for him, they found nothing but his stick lying on the ground."

He smiles as he reveals the traveler's true identity. "For it was not a poor traveler, but Arceus himself who had knocked. Our friends did not know this, so they picked up the stick and hurried off to find its owner, in hopes of returning it. But it seemed as if the stick, like its master, were endowed with some marvelous power, for whenever the old man or the old woman tried to pick it up it slipped out of their hands and rolled along the ground."

Laughter fills the air as the crowd pictures a wild chase. "They followed it into a forest, and at the foot of a shrub which stood close by a stream, it disappeared." Brock narrates over a 'running' melody. "They looked all around the shrub thinking to find the stick there, but instead of the stick, they found a bird’s nest containing twelve eggs, and from the shape of the shells it seemed as if the young ones were ready to hatch."

“Pick up the eggs,” he suggests as the old man, “they will make us an omelette for our wedding feast.”

"The old woman grumbled a little, but she took the nest and carefully carried it home." he narrates as himself "Imagine their astonishment when at the end of twelve hours there came out, not unfledged bird Pokemon, but twelve children--six boys, and six girls...."

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..."The old couple were happy in the thought that their son was brave as well as strong." Brock goes on. "One day it occurred to the old woman that she would like to see them all married, and to have the house filled with her sons and daughters-in-law and their children. So she asked her friends to talk the matter over, and finally persuaded her husband to agree. He called his sons and daughters around him and said..."

“Listen to me, my children: In a certain country lives Arceus' envoy on Earth, the crafty Delphox Kitsune." Brock explains as the old man. "Like all Delphoxes, she has holy magic, but hers is especially powerful. She can fly like a bird Pokemon, though she has no wings, and when she travels leaves no trace of her steps. She has twelve beautiful sons and daughters of her own, who have large dowries; do your best to win them for your husbands and wives. Do not return without bringing them with you.”

Brock then plays an expectant chord. "Both parents blessed their sons and daughters, who, mounting their Ponytas, were soon out of sight."

He then catches himself. "Well, all but Dillon, who went to the stable and began to shed tears." "Aw"s fill the air as Ash sits in one corner of stage left, feigning crying.

“Why do you cry so?" Misty asks, now in the role of the Ponyta.

“Don’t you think I have a good reason?” Ash rants through feigned tears. “I have to go a long long way in search of a wife, and you, my friend, are so thin and weak that were I to depend upon your strength I would never be able to join my brothers and sisters.”

“Do not despair, Dillon,” Misty assures Ash, “not only will you overtake your brothers and sisters, but you will leave them far behind. My name is Epona--I am the daughter of Lightfoot of the Golden Mane, and if you will do as I tell you, I will gain the same powers as he has. You must take me to a secluded location, bury me under a layer of earth and manure, then sow some wheat over me, and when the Cornn is ripe, it must be gathered and some of it placed near where I am buried.”

"Dillon threw his arms around Epona's neck and embraced her..." Brock narrates as Ash and Misty hug and the lights go down. "...then led her into a secluded glade and buried her there, as if she had died. Then Dillon covered her with a layer of manure and earth, upon which he sowed wheat, as had been told to do. It was immediately watered by a gentle rain, and warmed by the heat of the sun’s rays. The Cornn Berries took root and ripened so quickly that on the twelfth day Dillon set to work to cut, thresh, and winnow it." Ash pantomimes doing this. "He harvested so much, that he was able to give most of it to his parents, and keeping one for himself, spread it over where Epona was buried."

Ash proceeds to scatter some uncooked Cornn Berries over a leaf pile, where Misty is hidden. "After a few tense moments, Epona peeked from the mound, sniffed the air..."

"Oh"s go up as Misty peeks from the pile. "and began to eat the Cornn." Brock narrates as Misty pantomimes eating the uncooked Cornn Berries "As soon as she had her fill, she sprang up, and was so full of life that she wanted to jump over the fence in a single bound..."

He plays an upward glissando on one string as Misty bursts from the leaf pile, to some applause. "but Dillon held her by the mane, and getting lightly on her back, said..."

“Whoa there, Epona, I do not want others to have the benefit of all the trouble I have had with you. Carry me to Kitsune's house.” Ash tells Misty as the lights go down.

"To tell you the truth, Epona was a magnificent Ponyta, big and strong, with eyes that flashed like lightning. She leaped up into the air as high as the clouds, and the next moment descended in the middle of a field, saying to her master..." Brock narrates

“As we need to first see the crafty Kitsune, even though are still a long way off, we can stop here for a short time." Misty assures Ash as they walk onstage over a peaceful interlude in the background. "Eat and drink, I will do the same. Your brothers and sisters may pass us, but we are a good ways ahead of them. When they come you can go on together to visit the holy Delphox--remember, though it is difficult to get into her house, it is much more difficult still to get out because of all the ghosts that try to reach her, but are kept away by holy magic. But if you want to be perfectly safe, take from under my saddle three magic jewels--a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald."

After handing Ash the prop jewels, Misty goes on "They will helpful to you to escape the ghosts; for when you sing to the sapphire 'Rou iitsa ron selga vichii', a river will flow between you and your enemy; if you sing to the emerald 'Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo...' it will become a thick forest; and by singing to the ruby 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul' it will conjure a wall of fire, as well as other things. After you have been welcomed into Kitsune's house, and your siblings have stabled their Ponytas and gone to bed, I will tell you what to do next.”

"For twelve days Dillon and Epona rested and gained strength, and at the end of that time, the other eleven brothers and sisters arrived." Brock narrates over a soft heroic motif. "They were stunned to see the youngest, and wondered where on earth he had come from, and whose Ponyta he rode.”

“I have come from home." Ash assures an imagined crowd. "The Ponyta is the same one I chose initially. We have been waiting here twelve days; let us go on together.”

"In a short time they came to a cave near a sycamore tree, and knocked at the entryway." Brock knocks on the side of the stage for effect. "Kitsune peeked out through the peephole in the door and called..."

"What do you want?” Misty calls from offstage, now as Kitsune.

“We are twelve brothers and sisters come to ask the twelve sons and daughters of yours in marriage." Ash explains. "If you are willing to be our mother-in-law, open the door.”

"The door opened and Kitsune appeared. She was a beautiful Pokemon, old as the hills; and yet still had the youth and <i>joie de vivre</i> of a young lady, thanks to the immortality given to her by Arceus himself." Brock narrates over a majestic melody some in the audience recognize as the Final Fantasy Prelude. "Although she was usually a good Pokemon that would not harm the good and the pure, the evil and the selfish often didn't come out of her cave."

Murmurs fill the air, but Brock assures the audience "She received the young travelers very graciously, shut the gate of the courtyard behind them, and led them into the cave. Dillon’s siblings dismounted, and taking their Ponytas to the stables, tied them up to rings made of silver; but Dillon fastened Epona to a gold ring. Kitsune served her guests with a generous dinner, and gave them wine and ale to drink. Then she made up twelve beds on the right side of the room for the travelers, and on the left side twelve beds for her own sons and daughters".

The lights dim to simulate nighttime, and the guitar's song turns foreboding. "All were soon asleep except for Dillon." Brock narrates as he plays the ominous tune. "He had been warned by Epona beforehand that the ghosts that constantly tried to enter this holy domain would try again tonight, and if he wasn't careful, he, his own siblings, and Kitsune's children would be captured and taken to the underworld, never to be seen again. He got up quietly and changed the positions of the twenty-four beds, so that all twenty four beds were on the left side of the room, and wood blocks standing in for bodies lay in the beds on the right."

He then intones "Around midnight, everyone heard a great ruckus outside, and Kitsune sang...."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Misty sings from offstage as Kitsune, making Ash's Mega Ring glow in response to her voice.

"They heard strains of sweet music coming from a harp way off in the distance, which overpowered the screams of dying ghosts." Brock explains as he plays a series of harp-like chords. "At the same moment, a band of Haunters burst into the room, and flying over to the beds on the right, grabbed what they thought were bodies one by one."

"When the sun rose, the harp stopped playing, the Haunters fled, and silence reigned." Brock continues. "Then Kitsune, relieved to see everyone safe, woke them and led them outside, warning them that it was only a matter of time before the ghosts figured out the prank Dillon had played on them, and they needed to flee now. Each of them mounted their Ponyta with their chosen groom or bride, and made their escape as fast as they could go."

Gasps go up at this. "The ghosts, when they realized what they really captured the night before, set off after the fugitives. They had nearly reached them, and were already stretching out their hands to grab them, when Dillon took the sapphire and sang..."

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Ash sings, making the prop sapphire in his hands and Misty's Mega Ring glow.

"...and a deep river flowed between the ghosts and the caravan. Not knowing how to cross it, the ghosts stopped on the banks, and howling savagely began to drink it up." Brock narrates.

“Before you have swallowed all that river you will all burst!” Ash taunts some imagined ghosts as Dillon, to some laughter.

"But it wasn't long before the ghosts were at their heels again." Brock cautions. "Dillon took the ruby, and sang..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash fills in the spellsong, making the prop ruby in his hands and his Mega Ring glow.

"...and a wall of fire spread out between them." Brock narrates. "So the ghosts were forced to stop, and shrieking with rage began to look for a way around the fiery wall."

“Before you find a way through that you will have burnt yourselves to a crisp!” Ash taunts, to some laughter.

"The ghosts eventually found a way around, and they were closing in when Dillon took the emerald and sang...." Brock narrates.

Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... Ash sings,making the prop emerald in his hands and Brock's Mega Ring glow.

"...and a thick forest rose between them." Brock continues. "For a while, the ghosts were at a loss as to what to do. On one side, they saw Dillon, his siblings, and their mates rapidly disappearing, while they stood on the other hindered by the branches and torn by the thorns of the thick bushes, unable either to advance or retreat. Foaming with rage, with fire flashing from their eyes, they struck right and left with dark magic, felling trees on all sides, but before they could clear a path, their prey had gotten more than a hundred miles ahead. They were forced to give up, and were soon lost to sight."

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..."The king was beside himself with joy; he showered Dillon with honors and presents, and, in order to always have him at court, raised him to an even higher rank in the army." Brock continued his epic tale. "In this new post he had many under him, and he showed laser-like precision in drill and other matters, punishing somewhat severely when necessary. He made, too, no difference in the treatment of his two eldest brothers, which angered them greatly, and caused them to be still more jealous and to plot against him. So they forged his handwriting again and composed another letter, which they left at the king’s door."

He picks up a piece of blank paper and tells Ash as the king “I would much like to have the marvelous sword you speak of in your letter.”

“Sire, I have not written anything about a sword,” Ash protests

“Well, read it for yourself.” Brock offers Ash the paper.

Ash studies the paper for a moment. "In a certain land, within the cave of holy Kitsune, is a sword that fires magical beams when a certain song is sung to it. If the king would like to have it, I will do everything in my power to bring it to him."

With that, he folds up the paper. “This writing resembles mine, but I never wrote those words.”

“Never mind, as you succeeded in bringing me the harp, you will find no difficulty in obtaining the sword." Brock assures Ash. "Go without delay, and do not return without it at your peril.”

Ash bows and departs as Brock narrates as himself "Dillon bowed and went to the stable, where he found Epona looking very thin and miserable, with her head drooping."

“What is the matter, Epona?" Ash asks when he returns to the stage to find Misty slumped on the floor. "Do you want anything?”

“I am unhappy because I foresee a long and dangerous journey.” Misty replies

“You're right, for we are ordered to return to Kitsune's house for the sword. But how can we get ahold of it? No doubt she guards it as the Leppa of her eye.”

“Do as I tell you and all will be well.” Misty assures Ash as she gets up.

"Epona gave him certain instructions." Brock narrates as Misty pantomimes talking to Ash. "Dillon came out of the stable, saddled his friend, and mounting her sang..."

Epona, Epona, come out here by me! Ash sings Epona's Song again.

"Epona rose immediately as if she had been beckoned to by someone in the clouds, and passing swiftly through the air, crossed rivers and mountains, till at midnight she stopped before Kitsune's cave." Brock narrates as he plays some long, flowing chords to simulate Epona traveling. "Since the disappearance of the harp, the sword had been keeping a watchful eye over the cave, and anyone who came near it was cut to pieces."

Ash pantomimes drawing a circle around himself as Brock continues "Dillon traced a magic circle around him with holy chalk, stood in the middle of it, and sang...."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash sings.

"The sword glowed as if it had heard the sung spell, leaped into the air, and turned into at least a thousand other swords, which arranged themselves in battle array and began to attack Dillon with their holy beams." Brock narrates "But they were powerless to touch him; for on reaching the magic circle the beams scattered in all directions, as if they had hit a mirror. Then the chief sword, seeing how useless it was to go on trying to wound him, submitted itself to Dillon and pledged its loyalty to him. Taking the magic weapon in his hand, he mounted his Ponyta and sang...."

Epona, Epona, come out here by me! Ash sings Epona's Song again.

"Epona started with renewed courage, and by noon was eating hay in the royal stables." Brock continues. "Dillon went in to the king and presented him with the sword."

As this, Ash presents Brock a prop sword. "While he was admiring it, one of his servants rushed in quite out of breath and said..." Brock narrates as he draws and admires the prop sword with emerald inlays.

Just then, Misty runs into the scene in the role of a courtier. “Sire, invaders surround our town. Being unable to redeem their sovereign, they have come with an immense army, and threaten to destroy us if their king is not released.” she breathlessly explains.

"The king armed himself with the magic sword, and going outside the city walls, sang to it, as he pointed to the enemy’s camp..." Brock narrates before drawing the prop sword again and aiming it at a target offstage. Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

Gasps of awe go up as the prop sword fires a beam of green light as if on cue. "The sword glowed, leaped flashing in the air, and fell in a thousand blades and beams that threw themselves on the camp. One regiment was destroyed during the first attack, another was defeated in the same way, while the rest of the terrified soldiers fled and completely disappeared."

The lights go out, and a light show of beams plays across the stage, as if the thousand swords Brock described are there. After a few moments, the lights come up again on Brock holding the prop sword. "Once there were no enemies left to battle, the thousand swords again became one, and so it returned to its master’s hand." he narrates as he sheathes the prop sword. "The victorious king came home filled with joy. He called Dillon to him, showered him with gifts, and assuring him of his favor, made him the highest general of his forces. In carrying out the duties of this new post, Dillon was often asked to punish his eldest brothers, who became more and more enraged against him, and debated how they might bring about his downfall."

He then picks up another prop letter, reads it, and tells Ash "I would very much like to see Princess Susanna, whom you say you wish to bring me.”

“Sire, I do not know the lady, and have never spoken to her.” Ash protests.

“Here, look at your letter.” Brock offers Ash the prop letter.

Ash studies the imagined writing for a moment, then reads “Beyond the nine kingdoms, far beyond the ocean, within a silver vessel with golden masts lives Princess Susanna. If the king wishes it, I will seek her for him.”

He folds up the paper. “It is true the writing is like mine; nevertheless, I never wrote this.”

“No matter,” Brock answers as the king. “You will be able to get this princess, as you did the harp and the sword. If not, I will have you killed.”

Ash shakily bows as Brock continues "Dillon bowed and went out. He entered the stable where Epona stood looking very weak and sad, with her head bent down.

“What is the matter, Epona? Do you need anything?” Ash asks as he arrives to see Misty slumped on the floor.

“I am sad,” Misty sighs as Epona, “because I foresee a long and difficult journey.”

“You are right, for we have to go beyond the nine kingdoms, and far beyond the ocean, to find Princess Susanna. Can you tell me what to do?” Ash asks.

“I will do my best, and if it is Arceus’ will, we will succeed." Misty smiles as she gets up. "Bring your sword, and let us be off.”

"Dillon saddled Epona, took his sword, and on mounting, sang..." Brock narrates

Epona, Epona, come out here by me! Ash sings Epona's Song again.

Then Epona looked up as if there were something she wanted in the clouds, and with a spring flew through the air, swift as an arrow; and so by the second day they had passed over ten kingdoms, and finding themselves beyond the ocean, came to rest on the shore." Brock narrates over some long chords to mimic Epona traveling. "Then Epona said to Dillon...."

“Do you see that silver ship with golden masts that rides on the waves over there?" Misty points out the imagined ship to Ash. "That beautiful vessel is the home of Princess Susanna, youngest daughter of Kitsune. For after she mysteriously lost the harp and magic sword she was afraid she'd lose her daughter too. She locked her up in that vessel, and having thrown the key into the sea, cast a magical shield around it, which keeps storms away, and keeping all other ships away. The first thing to be done is to get the diamond key that opens the ship. In order to get this you must throw a hair from my mane into the water, which will lure King Crawdaunt. Do not set him free until he has promised to get you the key, for it is this key that controls the ship.”

Ash carefully pulls one of Misty's hairs and heaves it offstage. "Dillon carefully plucked a suitable flaming hair from Epona's mane and heaved it into the water, where it landed with a hiss." Brock narrates as the sound of a soft hiss plays. "Soon there came a crowd of Corphish, and among them a gigantic Crawdaunt as large as a Tauros. Dillon grabbed him and threw him on the beach."

“I am king of all Corphish. Let me go, and I will give you great riches in return.” he pleads in a mimic of Meowth for King Crawdaunt.

“I do not want your riches,” Ash replies, “but in exchange for your freedom give me the diamond key which belongs to the silver ship with the golden masts, for in that vessel dwells Princess Susanna.”

"King Crawdaunt whistled..." Brock pauses to do this, to some giggles. "...and millions of Corphish appeared. He spoke to them, and they all hurried off to look. After a few moments, one returned with the magic diamond key in his claws. Dillon set King Crawdaunt free, just as he saw the marvelous ship sparkling white in the sun. She was made entirely of pure silver, with golden masts. The rigging was of silk, the sails of velvet, and the whole ship was enclosed in a casing of impenetrable steel. Dillon hurried down to the water’s edge armed with his sword, and holding the key in the air, sang..."

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Ash sings, making an identical prop key glow blue.

"The ship turned around and came full speed ahead towards land, where it stopped on the shore." Brock narrates. "Dillon smashed the steel network with his sword..." Ash pantomimes slicing something with the prop sword. "and opening the doors with the diamond key, found Princess Susanna." The lights come up on Misty lying on the stage as Princess Susanna. "He put her to sleep with lavender..." Ash flings some more lavender leaves in Misty's direction, making her feign sleep as the lights go down. "and after carefully lifting her onto Epona, sang..."

Epona, Epona, come out here by me! Ash sings Epona's Song again.

"Then Epona, as if she saw some strange thing in the clouds, lifted herself in the air and began to fly through space so rapidly that in about two hours he had crossed rivers, mountains, and forests, and had arrived home. Although Dillon had fallen madly in love with Princess Susanna himself, he took her straight to the royal palace and introduced her to the king."

Applause goes up as Ash leads Misty into the scene, where he makes a grand gesture to Brock. "Princess Susanna was so exquisitely beautiful that the king was quite dazzled by looking at her, and lost in his admiration, he put his arm around her as if to embrace her..." He approaches Misty and reaches out a hand to touch her. "but she harshly scolded him." Misty angrily slaps Brock's hand away, to some laughter as Brock rubs his hand in pain.

“What have I done to offend you, princess? Why do you treat me so harshly?” he asks as the king.

“Because in spite of your rank you are ill-bred." Misty growls as Princess Susanna. "You neither ask my name nor that of my parents, and you think to capture me as if I were a Pokemon. You must understand that he who would be my husband must have strength of heart, soul, and body.”

“Charming princess, if I could become young again we would be married directly.” Brock protests as the king.

“But I have the means of making you so, and by help of this magical powder in my hand." Misty explains as she reveals a bag full of baby powder colored orange. "One sprinkle of this powder and you will be consumed in it, but it will only reform into you if you have a pure heart--those with evil and impure hearts disappear forever. When the pile of powder reforms into you again, you will have eternal youth and life.”

“Indeed!" Brock gasps, intrigued. "I want to know if your magic powder truly works; first try it on Sir Dillon here.”

Misty looks over at Ash, who unbeknownst to the audience, has a clear poncho over his clothes, so it is not damaged by the baby powder. “Lovely princess, I willingly submit, although I am young enough without it. In any case life without you would be meaningless.” he smiles.

"Princess Susanna sprinkled a little of the magical powder onto Dillon, and he was immediately engulfed in it, making it seem he had disappeared." Brock narrates as Misty flings the orange baby powder onto Ash, making him appear to disappear in a puff of orange, leaving behind a pile of powder where Ash was standing. "But after a few tense moments, the powder reformed into Dillon again..."

Cheers fill the air as Ash returns to the stage, his clothing seemingly brighter and more colorful than before. "...and he looked so handsome that the old king, who was dreadfully jealous, exclaimed..."

As the king, Brock pleads “Make me, too, young again, princess; do not lose a moment.”

Misty throws more of the powder in the air as Brock narrates "Princess Susanna sprinkled the powder onto the king, but as his heart was impure, the powder consumed him, never to be seen again. The people were ecstatic, for the old king had often oppressed them, and they crowned Dillon the new king, and he made Princess Susanna his queen.”

"Aw"s go up as Ash and Misty hug. "It was not long before they were married." Brock concludes as he plays a festive song on his guitar. "His brothers, whom he had pardoned, and his parents were invited to the wedding. On their way back from the shrine, the magic sword suddenly clinked, and, flashing in the air, divided itself into a thousand swords that placed themselves on guard as sentinels all round the palace. The harp, too, began to play so sweetly that every living thing began to dance for joy."

The crowd roared as the group took a bow, causing the score meter to rocket to the top. "Tat's it! Te winner has been decided!" Darach announced, to more thunderous cheers.

"You three clearly have real talent..." Palmer smiled as he arrived with a purple stripe for Brock. "But it is your leader who deserves this prize, and the right to go to the Grand Lore Stage."

With that, he carefully pinned the purple stripe to Brock's vest. "A rainbow of lore has been completed!" Argenta announced as daytime fireworks lit up the sky over the Battle Frontier...

---------

"Well done on completing your rainbow, Brock..." Ash smiled as the group departed the Battle Frontier later that evening. "And thank you for letting Misty and me help you tell that epic tale."

"Yes, it was fun playing all the girl roles." Misty smiled. "Has it hit you that you're going to the Grand Lore Stage yet?"

"It's still sinking in..." Brock smiled as he lead the way to a grove of flowers overlooking a plain. "I never dreamed I would make it this far, and tell for the Pokemon League..."

"Well, you did it." Ash smiled as he pitched his tent. "Misty and I are both proud of you for that, and honored to help you, if you're allowed to have help."

"And even if you don't have help, you'll still do well." Misty agreed. "So read and learn as many tales as you can--the tellers in the Grand Lore Stage are likely to be tougher than anything you've faced before!"

To Be Continued...