Act 12: The Weaver's Son (part 1)


"Good morning, Moonlight Players!" Irida smiled as the group arrived in the main theater. "Now that we have performed for you, now we want to see you perform one of your plays."

"When you're done, we'll tell you what we liked, what we thought you could do better, and what you might consider tweaking to make this play even better." Kaitou went on. "If you need time to prepare, one of you can introduce the play while the others get ready."

Lita nodded as the others scrambled backstage. "We are going to perform a version of the tale 'The Weaver's Son'--with some stronger female characters."

"A nice choice--I've always wondered what that story would look like with stronger girls." Aidan smiled.

"I have a role in this play, so you'll find out shortly!" With that, Lita hurried to join her troupe mates in changing into costume...

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"...When he heard how his three sisters had chosen to go with three strangers for their weight in gold, silver, and jewels, he made a vow not to sleep three nights in one house until he found his sisters." Brenna narrated. "Brendan set out early the next morning, and walked on till he was tired and hungry. He sat down to eat the bread that his mother had given him, when a mysterious Pokemon came up and asked him for something to eat."

The lights came up on a Charmander on the set of a fantasy roadside, "eating" a piece of prop bread. "Spare a little bread for a traveler, young man?" a male Pikachu asked as it stepped into the scene.

"Please, sit down, good sir--I have more than enough to share." the Charmander smiled.

"What leads you down this road?" the male Pikachu asked. "Are you seeking your fortune, or something else?"

"I'm seeking my three sisters, good sir. A few years ago, they each chose to go with three strangers in exchange for their weight in gold, silver, and jewels. I have not heard from them in all this time, and so I want to find them, and see if they are happy and well."

A harp riff filled the air as the male Pikachu seemed to disappear in a flash of light, revealing a beautiful Arceus puppet in the male Pikachu's place. "Fear not, young one." the puppet assured the Charmander feigning shock before it. "For showing kindness to the least of these; and the purest love to your family; I want to help you."

"H-how?" the Charmander stammered.

"There may not be much use in your going, but here are three things that will serve you well,—the Celestial Blade, the Cloth of Plenty, and the Cloak of Shrouds." the Arceus puppet explained, conjuring a prop sword, a prop tablecloth, and a navy blue cloak before the Charmander. "No one--not even a demon--can kill you while you wield the Celestial Blade; and whenever you are hungry or thirsty, all you have to do is to spread the cloth and sing to it in the magical tongue, and any food or drink you want will be there before you. When you put on the Cloak of Shrouds, there won't be a living thing in the world that can see you, and you can go to whatever place you wish if you wrap yourself in it and wish yourself there."

"Th-thank you, milord." the Charmander stammered. "I promise to use these holy gifts wisely and well."

"So Arceus left for the heavens, and Brendan traveled onward with his three holy gifts." Brenna narrated as the lights went down. "His road led him to another world far beneath the ground. When he arrived in the other world, he put on the Cloak of Shrouds and warped away like a blast of wind, and never stopped until he saw a castle in the distance."

The lights came up on the Charmander approaching a gate on a castle courtyard set. After waiting a few tense moments, Sakura met the Charmander. "Do you have business here, traveler?"

"Will you go in and tell my sister, the lady of this castle, to come out to me?" the Charmander asked.

"Right away." With that, Sakura hurried offstage, prompting the gate to open.

A Torchic arrived some moments later, to a triumphant fanfare. "Brendan!" she gasped in character.

"Fiona!" The Charmander ran to hug the Torchic, to some "aw"s.

"Why are you here, and what did you come for?" the Torchic asked.

"I have come here to find my three sisters, who chose to go with three strangers for their weight in gold, silver, and jewels; and I know in my heart you are my eldest sister." the Charmander explained.

"Well, don't marvel at anything you see in here." the Torchic cautioned. "My husband is Virizion, the Sword of Wisdom. I see him only at night. He goes off every morning, is away all day, and comes home in the evening."

"Eventually the sun went down; and while they were visiting, Virizion arrived." Brenna narrated.

The lights came up on a room in the castle at night, just as a majestic Virizion puppet arrived. "Who is this that's with you?" the puppet asked the Torchic.

"This my brother, who has come from afar to see me." the Torchic replied, prompting the Charmander to wave hello.

"Then he is welcome here--any family and friends of yours are mine as well." the Virizion puppet smiled. "Will you stay a few days in my castle? You are welcome."

"Nothing would please me better, but I have made a vow never to sleep three nights in one house till I have found my three sisters." the Charmander replied.

"Well, since you must go in the morning, here is something for you."

After conjuring a prop emerald, the Virizion puppet told the Charmander "Keep this; and whenever you are in trouble, take it out, and sing the song 'Seios, higarima laisido'--I will hear it and come help you."

"Thank you, Sir Vizirion--I will use this gift wisely and well." the Charmander replied before the lights went down...

To Be Continued...