Act 28: The Stormy Stage of Mt. Citron (part 3)


The orchestra started a regal melody as Brenna narrated "Destrian soon found himself at the castle of the rich king. Before going to the castle, he went to a house on the outskirts of the town where two women lived."

The lights came up on a set of a large cabin, where Lita and a Shinx met Ruby. "Welcome, traveler." Lita smiled. "What brings you here to our fair city?"

"My name is Destrian, good ladies." Ruby replied. "I have come from afar to seek the king's younger daughter, Perla."

"The king's elder daughter, Princess Alma, is to be wed tomorrow, but she will not live long with her husband." the Shinx sighed.

"Why not?" Ruby asked as the orchestra started a sad melody.

"Have you not heard of the Giant of the Sea, Leviathan?" the Shinx asked.

"No, I have not." Ruby replied.

"They took him to the window, and pointed to a high cliff far across the sea. The waves were crashing at its base, and the spray dashed high on its side. But he could see an entrance in the face of the cliff." Brenna narrated as Lita and Ruby pantomimed what she described.

"In that cave lives the water dragon Leviathan, the Giant of the Sea." Lita explained. As soon as a girl is married in this land, he carries her off to the cave and she is never heard from again. He cannot be killed, for he keeps his heart hidden where no one can find it. He is the terror of all the land."

"He may keep his heart hidden, but I will find out where the heart is hidden, and slay Leviathan!" Ruby vowed over a hopeful melody. "Either that, or die trying!"

"If you can defeat Leviathan, it would bring this realm peace." the Shinx smiled. "Even more so if the missing girls were found alive."

Ruby nodded. "Leave it to me! I'll find a way!"

Awed chatter filled the air as the lights came up on a beautifully decorated shrine set. "The next morning, Destrian went on to the castle to see the wedding of Princess Alma." Brenna narrated as the wedding procession paraded inside the set. "The wedding was a grand affair, and there was much rejoicing, for the people did not think that the sea dragon would carry off Princess Alma. But during the wedding feast, Princess Alma vanished without a trace." She let that hang as the lights went down and "Here Comes the Bride" came to a halt.

"Alma! Alma, where are you?" a Jolteon called as he frantically searched a set of a royal hall. "I've searched this entire castle from top to bottom, and I can't find Princess Alma anywhere."

"That's because Leviathan has taken her." a Leafeon playing a maid sighed.

"Many a brave hero has tried to slay Leviathan, but so far, all have failed." an Umbreon playing a noble agreed. "Arceus have mercy on the poor girls..."

"Aw"s filled the peak as the lights came up on a throne room set, where Ruby bowed on one knee before the Flareon playing the king. "Your Majesty...I have come from afar seeking the hand of your younger daughter. Princess Perla."

The Flareon balked at this. "What good will it do you to marry her? You know she will be carried off by the Giant of the Sea, Leviathan!"

"But I can kill that big ol' water dragon." Ruby smiled, to some giggles as she struck a heroic pose.

"How?" the Flareon asked. "No one can do that!"

"On my travels around this world, I met three great wizards, who granted me three magical stones." Ruby explained. "I also managed to recover three magic items from the clutches of bandits."

"What sort of treasure?" The Flareon was interested.

"One was a coat that can make its wearer invisible." Ruby explained. "Another was a pair of shoes that can make the wearer run faster than the wind. The third was a sword that can overcome all enemies--not even the primal dragon Eternatus can stand against the one that wields it!"

She vowed "You have my word I will use my treasures to defeat Leviathan and bring back Princess Alma and the other lost girls, or die trying. I also promise to be faithful to Princess Perla, now and forever."

The Flareon smiled. "Very well, Destrian. I give my heartiest blessings on your marriage. May Perla be faithful to you, now and forever."

The orchestra started an ominous melody as the lights went down. "The next day the wedding feast was held." Brenna narrated from her nook. "There was not much happiness this time, for the people knew that the king's only remaining child would soon be stolen away by the Giant of the Sea."

She intoned "Sure enough, at the feast, the bride disappeared without a trace; and everyone within miles knew she was taken to the dragon's cave."

The lights came up on the royal hall set, where Destrian noticed a crowd of extras playing nobles feigning crying. "I knew this place would be an uproar when Perla was taken by Leviathan, but nothing like this!"

"How long, O Arceus?" a Sylveon playing a priestess cried. "How long until we are delivered from the scourge of Leviathan, and our daughters and sisters brought back to us?"

Ruby grimaced at this. "This has gone far enough!"

This got the crowd of extras' attention. "For far too long you have suffered because of the great water dragon Leviathan, and lost many beloved daughters. But I intend to break this cycle of woe, so your daughters and sisters can unite before Arceus without fear!"

"Are you sure?" a Glaceon playing a noble asked. "I applause your willingness to slay Leviathan, but you have a long quest ahead of you. Are you sure you want to try and bring back your beloved Perla and the other girls?

Ruby nodded. "Tomorrow I will go and bring them back!"

To Be Continued...