Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Performers of Harmony

[EmeraldSky]

Act 22: A Show in Silver (part 2)


As the orchestra concluded a traveling interlude, Brenna narrated from her nook "It only took them two hours to get there, since the royal city was only thirty miles away from the farm. When Kiiro arrived, she was surprised to see that she had to descend in a tiny dirty courtyard, where a page attended her."

Nervous laughter filled the air as the lights came up on a dingy out of the way corner of a castle. More nervous laughter went up as Lita winced at the imagined dust on the ground. "Come, princess, I am instructed to show you to your chamber." a Riolu playing a page smiled as he arrived to meet Lita.

"Can I not see the queen my mother?" Lita asked as she brushed the imagined dust from her costume.

"In a few hours, princess--when they are assembled for dinner, you will see her." the Riolu assured Lita. "In the meantime you can get ready."

The lights went down, save for a spotlight on Brenna. "Kiiro followed the page, who led her through a long corridor with a narrow staircase at the end of it. She climbed, slowly, and after what felt like an eternity, arrived at another corridor where she entered the chamber reserved for her--in one of the servants' rooms."

Giggles went up as the lights came up on Lita and the Riolu arriving in a simply furnished servants' quarters. "A thousand pardons, princess, for having led you into this chamber, so unworthy of you." the Riolu begged as he set the prop truck in a corner. "The queen has reserved all the other apartments for her guests, the kings, queens, princes and princesses. There was no other room vacant and--!"

"I do not blame you. Besides, this is comfortable enough." Lita assured the Riolu.

"I will come for you, princess, to lead you to Their Majesties at the proper time." the Riolu replied as he started for stage left.

"I will be ready." Lita called back.

Once the Riolu had left, she retrieved the prop trunk and set it on the bed with a sigh.

"Kiiro took out her robe of coarse cloth and the other pieces of her outfit." Brenna narrated from her nook, hiding Lita changing costumes. "But imagine her amazement when she saw that it was made of gold brocade, embroidered with rubies that glowed like little flames. Her shoes were now white satin, adorned with ruby buckles; her stockings were of silk and as fine as a Spinarak's web; her necklace was of rubies surrounded with large sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds; her bracelets of diamonds and pearls."

'Wow's and applause filled the theater as the lights came up on Lita in the outfit Brenna described. "Kiiro ran to the mirror and saw that the Pidgey feather had become a magnificent locket, and the pendant was a ruby of such beauty and brilliancy that a fairy or deity alone could possess it." Brenna continued, trying oh-so-hard not to laugh at Lita's reaction of feigned shock.

"Oh, wow! Wow, wow wow!" Lita cried as she danced around the set in the new costume. "Thank you, Lady of Light, for rewarding my faithfulness to you!"

A knock from offstage startled Lita. "Come in?" she asked.

The Riolu balked when he saw Lita's new costume. "Oh, Arceus in heaven; that looks beautiful! I know not where you acquired that outfit, but it is worthy for a princess like you."

He composed himself, and offered a paw to Lita. "Come...Their Majesties await."

The orchestra started a majestic interlude before the lights went down. When they came up again, Lita and the Riolu arrived on a set of an elegant ballroom, filled with extras playing kings, queens and nobles. A pair of Raichus and two more Pikachu in elegant royal garb watched them approach from stage left.

The Riolu made a grand gesture to the Raichus. "Princess, behold the queen your mother and the king!"

There was an awkward silence before the male Raichu spoke. "Madam, be graciously pleased to tell me your name. You are no doubt some great queen or still greater deity whose unexpected presence is an honor and a happiness for us."

"Sire, I am neither a great queen nor a powerful deity, but your daughter Kiiro, for whom you were kind enough to send." Lita replied.

"Kiiro! Kiiro clothed more magnificently than I have ever been! Who, then, miss, has given you all these beautiful things?" the female Raichu asked.

"My godmother, madam." Lita replied. "Graciously permit me to kiss your hand and present me to my sisters."

The female Raichu nodded, and gestured to the other Pikachus. "There are your sisters."

Laughter filled the air as the red clad Pikachu and the blue clad Pikachu reared back from Lita's attempted embrace. "Don't come any closer, I just had my makeup done!" the red clad Pikachu protested.

"What if you have some disease, or something?" the blue clad Pikachu protested. "Arceus forbid I spend the whole festival sick in bed because of you!"

A crowd of extras approached Lita as she trudged away from the throne area. "Don't mind them, milady--they're far too concerned about their looks than the true treasure." a Grovyle extra assured her.

The extras and Lita pantomimed talking, feigned amazement, and laughing as Brenna narrated "As Kiiro conversed with the guests and spoke several languages upon request, she charmed all those who approached her. Homura and Sora were beyond jealous. The king and queen were furious that Kiiro absorbed all the attention and no one paid any attention to the sisters."

The orchestra started another song as the lights went down, revealing a majestic royal dining room set. The red clad Pikachu was pantomime playing a prop harp near stage left, pantomiming singing with the blue clad Pikachu along with the orchestra.

It was only when the orchestra finished playing did the red and blue clad Pikachus actually sing. All at once, everything looks different, now that I see you...

The gathered extras and Lita politely applauded the imagined song's end. "Thank you..." the blue clad Pikachu smiled as she took a bow.

"Now that we've sang, it's our little sister's turn." the red clad Pikachu began as she got up from the prop harp.

"What?" Lita gasped. "I-I'm sorry, but I don't really have anything prepared to perform...perhaps I can sing tomorrow night, when I have had time to rehearse?"

"No!" the blue clad Pikachu snapped back.

"You're just saying that because you probably sound awful!" the red clad Pikachu agreed as both of them approached Lita.

"I'm speaking the truth--I don't have anything prepared!" Lita pleaded.

"Kiiro, I command you to sing!" the female Raichu demanded. "NOW!!!"

Lita sighed as she got up from the table, and walked out onto center stage. "Very well, Your Majesty. I will apologize in advance for any mistakes."

With that, the orchestra's harpist started the introduction to a lighthearted love song. Oh, the summertime has come... Lita sang over the harp.
And the leaves are sweetly blooming,
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows around the blooming heather....

Will ye go, laddie, go?
And we'll all go together,
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather....
Will ye go, laddie, go?

I will build my love a bower
By yon crystal fountain...
And on it I will pile
All the flowers of the mountain...

Will ye go, laddie, go?
And we'll all go together,
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather....
Will ye go, laddie, go?

If my true love, he were gone...
I would surely find another,
Where wild mountain thyme
Grows around the blooming heather...

Will ye go, laddie, go?
And we'll all go together,
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather....
Will ye go, laddie, go?

A tin whistle joined in with the harp and some of the strings as Lita swayed and danced to the song. Even Brenna couldn't help smiling. Maybe we are in fact ready for a musical...

Oh, the summertime has come.... Lita sang again.
And the leaves are sweetly blooming,
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows around the blooming heather....

Will ye go, laddie, go?
And we'll all go together,
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather....
Will ye go, laddie, go?

Will ye go, laddie, go?

The extras and the audience roared with applause as the song ended and Lita took a bow. Just then, a Luxio in royal garb approached Lita. "Princess, I have never heard so beautiful a voice." he began. "May I have the honor of hearing you again?"

Lita looked around. "Forgive me milord, but it has been a long day, and I am tired."

The Luxio nodded. "All right...at least allow me to escort you back to your room, and see that you are comfortable for the night..."

"Please do." Lita replied as the lights went down...

To Be Continued...