Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Performers of Harmony

[EmeraldSky]

Act 26: The Stormy Stage of Mt. Citron (part 1)

"Our performance in Silver Town puts us at the Silver Rank!" Ruby smiled as the group and their caravan--now with even more excited actors and crew--made their way up Citron Pass. It had been a few days since their successful performance in Silver Town--"The Legend of Kiiro" had won the hearts of the press and the townsfolk. But now, the band of actors was climbing Mt. Citron for what they believed to be their biggest challenge yet--performing for Zapdos and the Pokemon of Mt. Citron.

Lita just smiled at the glittering silver badge Ruby carried. "They say that performing for the Legendaries speeds up the rank up process, so performing for the three mountain guardians and Lugia should at least get us to the Gold rank, if not higher."

"What about Xatu of the Great Canyon?" Shimmer wondered. "Surely he too would appreciate a fine show..."

"As a Psychic type, Xatu would turn away troupes he feels are not good enough." Lita cautioned. "But he learns of good shows even from the Legendaries. So if we do well for Zapdos, Xatu might hear of it, and allow us to perform."

"Here's hoping..." Brenna sighed as the caravan approached a bend in the path, where two Manetrics stood guard at the road leading to the peak.

"Hold! You are approaching Citron Peak, where the great Zapdos roosts." one Manetric announced.

"Please state your business at the peak." the other Manetric requested.

"Good sirs, we are but a humble troupe of actors traveling around the world." Lita explained to the two blue dog Pokemon with spiky, yellow manes and yellow tufts of fur on their haunches and front feet. "May we have the honor of performing for the great Zapdos?"

The Manetric's stern looks softened. "It is not often that actors journey up into these harsh peaks..." one smiled.

"You may enter the peak--we will prepare the Stormy Stage for your performance." the other Manetric replied.

"Sir Zapdos is away bringing rain to the eastlands right now..." the first Manetric explained as he led the group and their caravan to the peak. "Should he return while you set up, I will inform him you wish to perform for him."

"Thank you, good sirs." Lita smiled as the caravan approached an alcove with a rock like stage inside. Every once in a while, the rock pulsed with electricity, giving the structure an ethereal blue sheen.

"At least we won't have to worry about lighting..." Charlotte smiled as she helped unload the costumes.

The whooshing of wings got the group's attention. "Zapdos!" Lita gasped as a majestic yellow and black bird with thick thunderbolt like wings elegantly circled down to a large perch overlooking the peak and the Stormy Stage.

It has been some time since the Stormy Stage has been awakened. Zapdos smiled, his voice powerful and yet gentle. The Pokemon in the valley have spoken of a highly promising young troupe...are you the ones they speak of?

Lita nodded. "We are, Great Stormbringer. If it pleases you, we would like to share our skills with you."

All right...what sort of performance have you prepared? Zapdos asked as he watched a fantasy house set take shape on the Stormy Stage.

"It is a tale entitled 'Destrian and the Stolen Treasure', milord." Lita explains. "Basically, a boy encounters three magical treasures while on a journey to find his three sisters. He then uses these to save a kingdom from the terrifying water dragon, Leviathan."

Zapdos' feathers pulsed with excited sparks. Inform the Pokemon of the mountain to gather here at the peak. he instructed one of the Manetrics. They too deserve to see this troupe perform.

"Yes, milord!" the Manetric replied before hurrying off down the mountain path.

Lita and Ruby looked at each other and smiled as the Pokemon of the mountain started to arrive. "You ready?" she asked as throngs of Growlithes, Nidorans, and Electrikes arrived to watch the Stormy Stage take shape.

Ruby nodded as Electabuzzes, Stantlers, Beedrill, and Ampharos joined the growing audience. "My first britches role, and I can't wait."

Lita smiled as some Pidgeottos and Gligars perched on outcroppings overlooking the Stormy Stage. "Whether I'm a hero or a princess, I'll always be happy to perform with you."

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The crowd of Pokemon applauded as Shimmer departed backstage, and the orchestra started a quiet overture. "There was once a king who wasted his money on wine, women, and games of chance." Brenna began from a nook at stage right. "Before long, all his money was gone. But he knew that he would have to get more somewhere, for he wished to continue in his evil ways. So over time, he sold each of his three daughters in exchange for money."

Angry whispers floated over the overture at this. "Like you guys, the people of the land were outraged that the three princesses were sold to strangers." Brenna assured the antsy crowd and Zapdos. "No one knew where they had gone or what had become of them. Their mother often cried over them. Only her son, whose name was Destrian, was left with her."

"Aw"s filled the air as the overture turned sad. "The king soon got his just desserts of his wicked life, but he had not used up all the money he had received for Princess Christina, and left some of it behind." Brenna continued. "When Destrian grew up, he started school. His mother had told him nothing of his three lost sisters. But his schoolmates told him, for they had heard their parents talk about them..." She let that hang as the overture ended and the lights came up on the fantasy house set. A Cinderace in in a simple red peasant woman costume feigned cooking in the kitchen.

"Mom?" Ruby called from offstage. "I'm home!"

"Welcome home, Destrian...how was school today?" the Cinderace smiled as Ruby--now in a simple red tunic and leggings to match--arrived in the scene.

Ruby sighed. "My classmates won't leave me alone! They tell me each of my three sisters was sold to strangers for money...and I want to know if that is true or not. If it is true, I want to find them."

The Cinderace was silent as the orchestra started a sad melody. "It's true....they were each sold to a stranger for a high price. Your father lived a life of excess, and wished to continue wasting his money on wine, women, and song."

She looked up at Ruby with feigned tears. "But now...I don't know where in the world my girls are! What if they were sold to evil people, or worse, monsters???" With that, she burst into convincing stage sobs.

"Take heart, Mom--I will venture forth into the world, and find my sisters--or die trying!" Ruby vowed as the orchestra's song turned hopeful. "Even if I have to go to the very ends of the world to find them, I will not rest until I see they are safe."

"All right..." the Cinderace replied as she dried her feigned tears. "I will have enough supplies for three weeks waiting for you in the morning."

She hugged Ruby as the lights went down. "Be safe, my son..."

To Be Continued...