Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Performers of Harmony

[EmeraldSky]

Act 4: The First Show (part 1)

The entire town arrived to watch the very first play in the Moonlight Theater a few weeks later. But backstage, there was even more excitement. Actors and performers hurried to get into their costumes, those in the orchestra made their way to the pit and started tuning their instruments, and those on the crew made sure the lights, the sound, and the effects were working.

In the wings, Lita gawked in awe as the audience members took their seats. Wow...we sold out the theater! she thought as she looked out on row after row of Pokemon, all of them excited to see the play.

"Well, this is it..." Ruby smiled as she joined Lita in the wings. "All our hard work to build this place and put on plays comes to a head here."

She pointed out a Kadabra in the audience. "That right there is Trista, a pro theater critic. If we can impress her, that's one step closer to Luminous City. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves, here."

"We have to do well before our home crowd first." Lita agreed. "Break both legs, okay?"

"You got it!" Ruby hugged Lita, then hurried off to change into her costume.

The lights flashed a five minute warning, snapping Lita to attention. Here we go...our very first play begins now!

Applause filled the air as she walked out before the elegant red and gold curtain. "Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Moonlight Theater." she began. "Out of respect for our actors, performers and crew, please refrain from talking during the show. If you need to leave the theater for any reason, inform an usher and they will direct you to the closest EXIT sign. In the event of an emergency, exits are at the sides and back of the theater. There will be a brief intermission between Act 1 and Act 2."

She looked out at the excited audience. "So, without any further ado, please enjoy 'How Solgaleo, Lunala, and Jirachi Were Saved.'"

With that, she departed the stage to some applause. After a few tense seconds, the orchestra started a majestic overture, evoking a time of magic and adventure.

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"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful kingdom, ruled by a kind and just king and queen." Brenna began as the overture ended. "But one day, terror struck the land. The shining lion Solgaleo, the great moon-bat Lunala, and the wish-maker Jirachi disappeared from the sky at roughly the same time. leaving the world in darkness."

The lights blinked off over a stinger from the orchestra. "Who has taken Solgaleo, Lunala, and Jirachi from us?" a Piplup pleaded from a spotlight.

"What have we done to offend them?" a Sylveon agreed.

"What grave crime have we committed to have them turn their light away from us?" a Chikorita asked.

The lights came up on a fantasy throne room, revealing Yuki in a beautiful blue and silver robe, with a prop crystal crown on her head to match. "Whoever they are, they will have to bring them back!" she vowed. "Is there a hero among us that will go forth to find Solgaleo, Lunala, and Jirachi and return them to their rightful places in the sky?"

The various Pokemon playing townsfolk crowded around the throne as Brenna narrated from her nook at stage right. "There were many people willing to offer themselves for the great adventure, but the king and the queen both realized that something more was needed than willingness. So the queen sent out a call for heroes of great strength and endurance who could risk the dangers of so perilous a journey."

The lights revealed Ruby, Rio, and Sakura bowing before Yuki in the throne room. "Finally, the three heroes were found." Brenna narrated. "Gaia, a mystic of the earth..." Sakura looked up at Yuki with a reverent look. "Irvine, a brave Piplup skilled with the blade..." Rio rendered a salute with a prop sword before he bowed before Yuki. "...and Eliana, who was known as 'the phoenix arrow' for her archery skill."

Ruby, now in an elegant red tunic with gold trim and a cape to match, also bowed before Yuki. "Here now, are the three heroes who are to release Solgaleo, Lunala, and Jirachi from whoever are holding them in captivity and restore them to their places in the sky!" Yuki announced.

"Say the word, Your Highness--I will travel to the ends of the world to find Solgaleo, Lunala, and Jirachi." Sakura vowed, a quiet strength informing her line.

"I will not rest until the three guardians are back in the sky!" Rio vowed.

"Whoever dared to take Solgaleo, Lunala, and Jirachi away from us will meet my fury in battle!" Ruby proclaimed.

Lita just smiled from backstage as the scene continued. "Then go forth, heroes! We await the day the three guardians shine down on us once more!" Yuki replied, to a triumphant interlude as the lights went down.

After a few moments, a spotlight appeared on Brenna as the orchestra started playing again. "And so, the three heroes rode off in the dark." she began. "While some were sad to see them go, many of them cheered and wished that they, too, were going."

The orchestra segued into a quieter theme. "They rode on and on for many days that seemed like nights, until they had crossed the borders of their own land and entered the boundaries of an unknown kingdom." Brenna went on. "Here the darkness was less dense. There was no actual daylight, but a faint greyness, as if dawn was approaching. They rode on until they saw looming up before them the spires of a ruined temple. Before going to the temple, they ventured deep into a nearby forest, where they found the cave of the holy Delphox, Kitsune."

Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... Ruby sang from the dark stage, cuing a sound effect of a cave opening.

Amazed chatter raced through the theater as the lights came up on a set of a glittering cave. But the chatter quieted as Charlotte--now wearing prop Delphox ears and a long maroon robe--met Sakura, Rio, and Ruby. "Good day to you, good lady!" Rio smiled.

"We are adventurers seeking to rescue Solgaleo, Lunala, and Jirachi." Sakura explained. "Do you know anything that could help us on our quest?"

Charlotte nodded. "It is the evil primal dragon Eternatus that took Solgaleo, Lunala, and Jirachi from you."

"Eternatus!" Rio gasped.

"Why did Eternatus capture Solgaleo?" Ruby asked.

"Because he's evil, that's why!" Charlotte replied with a giggle. "He said Solgaleo's rays blistered him, so he caught Solgaleo and gave him to a nine-headed Hydreigon. He caught Lunala, too, because at night, when Lunala shone, he could not perform his evil misdeeds. When he caught Lunala, he handed her over to another lackey, a six-headed Hydreigon. Then he caught Jirachi because he said he couldn't sleep at night because of her. So he caught Jirachi, and gave her to a third lackey, a normal Hydreigon with three heads."

"Where do the Hydreigons keep Solgaleo, Lunala, and Jirachi?" Rio asked.

"Listen closely--when they go far out in the sea they carry with them Solgaleo, Lunala and Jirachi." Charlotte explained as the orchestra played Kitsune's mystical leitmotif. "The normal Hydreigon stays there one day and then returns at night. The six-headed Hydreigon stays two days and then returns, and the mighty nine-headed monster does not return until the third night. As each returns a faint glow spreads over the land. That is why we are not in utter darkness."

"As we journeyed here, we noticed many had one eye laughing and one eye crying. How could this be?" Sakura asked.

"It is because of the fate that is hanging over the king's three daughters." Charlotte sighed as the orchestra played a somber theme. "Those three evil monsters are demanding them one by one. Tonight, when the normal Hydreigon comes back from the sea he expects to devour the eldest, Princess Orla. If the king refuses to give her up, then Eternatus' henchman will destroy half the kingdom, half of the castle itself, and half the shining stones. I wish that some hero would kill the monster, save Princess Orla, and at the same time release Jirachi, so our wishes could be granted again!"

"If it pleases you, let me be the one to save Princess Orla and release Jirachi." Sakura volunteered.

"All right--she has even now been brought to the ruined temple where the normal Hydreigon makes his lair." Charlotte replied. "If you hurry, you may have time to rescue her!"

To Be Continued...