Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Performers of Harmony

[EmeraldSky]

Act 29: The Stormy Stage of Mt. Citron (part 4)


"The next day, Destrian put on his magical coat and shoes, took his sword, and went to the sea dragon's cave." Brenna narrated over a tense interlude. "The hole in the cliff was closed up, and he could not enter, but he cut a hole in the rock with his sword and got in that way."

She let that hang as Ruby lightly jumped into the set of a cave, where hundreds of female extras feigned crying. At the back of the cave set, a large blue glittering snake-like dragon puppet "slept". "Wow...so this is Leviathan..." Ruby mused. "Good thing he can't see me!" She gestured to a dull red coat as part of her costume.

After a few tense moments, the beautiful dragon puppet woke up with a yawn, then elegantly "flew" offstage. "Leviathan's no doubt gone to take another maiden..." Ruby mused. "If I'm going to rescue Perla and her sister Alma, now's my chance!"

With that, she jumped and skipped over the rocks on the set, locating the Shiny Sylveon by stage left. "Destrian?" the Shiny Sylveon gasped when she saw Ruby. "How did you make it in here without Leviathan seeing you?"

"My cloak has the gift of invisibility." Ruby explained. "That's how I got in."

"So, how do you plan on saving us?" the Shiny Sylveon asked.

"When Leviathan returns, ask him where his heart is hidden." Ruby explained. "This way, I know where to begin in rescuing all of you."

The Shiny Sylveon smiled. "Whatever your plan is, I hope to Arceus it works."

About then, the blue dragon puppet returned, gently setting down a "struggling" Petilil before returning to its roost.

"Leviathan, may I have the honor of asking you a question?" the Shiny Sylveon asked.

"What is your question? You are welcome to ask me anything at all." the majestic puppet assured the Shiny Sylveon.

"Well, I have long wondered...where do you keep your heart?" the Shiny Sylveon asked.

Some awkward giggles went up at the puppet's surprised reaction. "No one has ever asked me that before, but since you are the first to ask me, I will tell you." it replied. "I keep it in a box far out in the sea. It is in an iron box. There are seven boxes, one inside the other. It is in the innermost box."

"Okay...where do you keep the keys to the box?" the Shiny Sylveon wondered.

"They are hidden beside the box." the Leviathan puppet replied.

The lights blinked over to Ruby listening in from an alcove. "This is perfect! All I have to do is use the three jewels to find the box, and cut the heart!"

The lights went down, then came up again on Ruby arriving on a beach set, complete with palm trees and glittering "waves". After a few tense moments, Ruby took out the prop sapphire, and sang Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

The audience gasped in awe as the sapphire glowed, and a huge Wailord puppet appeared in the prop "water". "Ye have called, Sir Destrian, and I have come." it began in a deep, gentle voice. "What do you need?"

"Please bring me the iron box and the keys that lie at the bottom of the ocean." Ruby requested.

The Wailord nodded, dove into the "water", then returned with an ornate prop box and matching keys. "Here you are. If you need me again, only call."

"Thanks!" Ruby smiled, waving as the Wailord puppet departed. "Now...let's try opening this!"

Laughter rippled through the peak as Ruby feign struggling to open the box. "It's no use...the keys are all rusted from being in the water for so long!"

She tossed away the prop keys and sighed. "NOW how am I supposed to open the box?"

A red glint got her attention. "Oh, of course!" she smiled as she unearthed the prop ruby from her bag

She held the ruby to the sky, and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

The ruby glowed, and after a few moments, an Ampharos puppet dashed into the scene. "Ye have called, and I have come." it smiled in a gentle voice. "What is it you need?"

"Can you please break open this box and each box you find inside?" Ruby asked, offering the puppet the box. "I've tried opening them myself, but the keys are all rusted."

"With pleasure." the Ampharos replied as Ruby set the box on the sand, then stepped back to stage left.

The audience watched in awe as the Ampharos puppet Headbutted the outer box until it broke, and Headbutted each one until it broke them all. When the last one broke, an ornate ruby encrusted heart with glowing magenta wings flew out, to Ruby's shock. "Well, the box is open, at least..." she deadpanned. "Thanks!" she called as the Ampharos puppet departed.

Then she took out the prop emerald, and sang to it Karuto, iichiida shou...

The audience gasped again as the emerald glowed, and a beautiful Talonflame puppet appeared before Ruby. "Ye have called, and I have come, little one." it smiled in a gentle female voice. "What is it that you need?"

"Can you please bring me Leviathan's heart? Ruby asked. "It has just escaped from the box and is flying to Arceus-knows-where."

"With pleasure." The Talonflame puppet soared offstage. It returned a few moments later with the ruby heart. "Here it is. Cut it quickly, before it escapes again!"

"HIIIIIIII-YAH!" Ruby cried, making a dramatic stab at the prop heart with the prop sword, to cheers from the audience.

The lights came up on the cave set again. "You did it, Destrian!" the Shiny Sylveon smiled as the various girl Pokemon danced and celebrated. "The moment you cut Leviathan's heart, he fell down, dead as a doornail!"

"Well, now he won't bother any more girls." Ruby smiled. "Let's get everyone home!"

The lights went down as the orchestra started a victorious theme. "Of all those in the realm, none was happier than the king, as he watched the girls of the land reunite with their beloveds." Brenna narrated. "The king gave Destrian a large house close to his castle, and there Destrian and his wife Princess Perla lived happily. Destrian also sent for his mother, and brought her to live with him and his wife."

She concluded "Destrian did many more wonderful deeds with the magic jewels, and the sword, the shoes, and the cloak which he had taken from the bandits in the forest."

She looked out on the smiling Zapdos, and the enthralled mountain Pokemon. "But that is another story for another day!"

The Pokemon of the mountain cheered as the curtains closed. They cheered even louder when the lights came up for the curtain call. That was very well done. Zapdos smiled after the group had taken their bows. But every performance, be this a child's bedtime story or a grand adventure in many parts, can always be improved on.

He went on Your road now leads you into the Great Canyon and Xatu--no doubt he has already felt our excitement and joy watching you all perform. You've all put your hearts into your performances--and it shows in every play you perform. Keep the spirit of the stage alive as you travel, and it will carry you through all life's storms.

He next conjured a thunderbolt shaped topaz. As thanks for your wonderful performance, I bestow upon you the Topaz of Spirit. May it remind you to never let the glory go your heads--and that every show you do is a team effort.

"Thanks, Zapdos." Ruby smiled as she accepted the Divine Treasure. "We promise to protect the spirit of the stage."

"No matter what happens, the show must go on!" Lita agreed, to more cheers as the group celebrated a successful show...

To Be Continued...