Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Performers of Harmony

[EmeraldSky]

Act 17: The Hero of Three Colors (part 1)

The orchestra started a majestic overture evoking a time of high adventure. Once the exciting main theme had given way to a more subdued theme evoking magic, Brenna began narrating over the strings. "There once was a king in a far away land who was feared by all his subjects, and his court. As strange as it seemed, the king had a brave and handsome son, who was kind and helpful to everyone he happened to meet--we will call him Rowan."

Shaymin nodded in approval at the name. "One day the king was very angry with three of his noblest knights, because they had scolded him for being so unjust." Brenna went on. "Without even so much as a chance for them to defend themselves, he ordered them thrown into the dungeon beneath the palace, where he hoped they would remain for the rest of their lives. He commanded the jailer to only feed them bread and water, and to beat them with an iron rod every night."

The flowers on Shaymin's head started to glow, as if she wanted to unleash an Energy Ball at the king. "Prince Rowan's heart ached when he went to his room every night." Brenna assured Shaymin. "Since his room was right over the dungeon. he could hear the knights weeping and groaning as they were beaten every night."

She let that hang as the lights came up on the set of a dungeon. After a few tense moments, Charlotte, in the role of Prince Rowan, arrived in the dungeon, where Ruby, Rio, and a Treecko were wincing in feigned pain from their feigned wounds. "Prince Rowan?" the Treecko gasped as Charlotte unlocked the door.

"Hurry away as fast as you can, noble sirs and ladies, for if the jailer finds you gone, the palace will be in an uproar." Charlotte whispered as she unlocked the prop shackles and delivered some props.

"May Arceus bless you, noble prince. No good deed goes unrewarded." Rio smiled as the lights went down.

Shaymin gasped over the orchestra's somber melody as the lights went down, then came up on the set of a throne room, where a male Delphox in royal robes looked out at a crowd of extras. "Someone here has set free the three knights without my permission..." the Delphox intoned. "If that person wishes to confess the deed, I may spare their lives."

When no one said a single thing, the Delphox approached the Lucario playing the jailer. "Since no one dares to admit their guilt, the one who was charged with watching over them will pay the price!"

"Stop!" Charlotte cried as she entered the scene, spurring the male Delphox to stay his weak Mystical Fire attack. "Be merciful to him, father, for he is not to blame. It was I who set the knights free, and I do not regret it at all."

One Luxray playing a noble saw the Delphox aim his show Mystical Fire at Charlotte. "Your Majesty, would you be so cruel to execute your own son?" he asked.

"You yourself said you would spare the life of the one that confessed." a Dewott agreed. "Prince Rowan has confessed, so see to it he receives an appropriate and yet merciful sentence.

The Delphox didn't know what to think as the extras' worried pleas filled the air. "All right...I will hereby strip Rowan's claim to the throne; and forbid him to return here, on pain of death."

The orchestra started a traveling melody as Brenna narrated the pantomimed action onstage."The king gave Prince Rowan an abundance of money and clothes, as well as a fine steed, and sent him forth into the wide world to makes his fortune as best he could. Prince Rowan had some letters to the kings and queens of other lands, which he put in his pocket. He had only one companion, a lad of his own age, who was also well fitted for the journey."

She then intoned over another solemn melody "The boy--who does not deserve to be named--was not trustworthy, and the king had taken the opportunity to get rid of him." She gestured to the Litten in the role in a spotlight. "He looked with longing upon Prince Rowan's fine clothes, his money, and his letters to foreign rulers, and made up his mind to get them for himself."

"Boo!" Shaymin called as she watched the Litten sneak up on Charlotte.

"So he ambushed our hero one night, stripped him of his valuables, and rode away on his fine steed, leaving his master without anything but the clothes on his back." Brenna sighed as the Litten and Charlotte pantomimed the struggle onstage.

When the lights came up on a forest set, Charlotte stumbled into the scene. "That rogue took everything, including my good name..." she muttered. "What do I do now?"

The lights revealed a small house at stage left. "A house! Maybe whoever lives there can help me out." Charlotte smiled.

She hurried to the house's front stoop and knocked. "Coming..." came a female voice, revealing a Flareon at the front stoop. "Oh, a traveler! Come on inside--I can at least give you food and a bed for tonight."

"Thank you, good lady." Charlotte replied as the outdoor forest set gave way to the interior set of a house, where two Eevees waited at a table.

"Mama, why do you always let travelers in at night?" one Eevee asked as the Flareon led Charlotte to the table.

"It's a long way from here to a city." the Flareon explained as she served some prop food. "That, and the traveler may be down on their luck, and not have much to spend on a room in the inn."

After the actors playing the family and Charlotte pantomimed eating the prop food for a moment, the Flareon asked "What is your name, good lad?"

Charlotte said nothing for a moment, then replied "My name is Tristan, good lady. I came from a far away country, and I have nowhere to call home."

"Then you can stay in my home, and be educated with my own children." the Flareon smiled.

"Aw..." Shaymin smiled as the lights went down and the orchestra started a hopeful melody...

To Be Continued...