Pokemon: Stars of the Indigo Stage

[EmeraldSky]

Episode 2: A New Way to Tell the Story


The smell of pancakes lured Chelsea downstairs the next morning. Brock was before the stove tending to the pancakes, Ash was at the table munching on some cereal while reading the newspaper comics, and Misty was with Ash's mom by the front walk, getting the mail. For the most part, it was no different from mornings back home in Unova.

Misty arrived in the kitchen moments later. "Mail call! Our scripts for our first Pokemon Musical are here!" she reported as she set aside four scripts, then sorted the rest of the mail.

Ash took one of the scripts. "Well, this is definitely a different version of 'Brian and Epona' than you've told and sang about, Brock..." he noted as he thumbed through the script.

"The director wanted the three princesses to have a part in defeating the Hydreigons--so rather than being Hydreigon bait, they're actively helping Brian kill off the Hydreigons." Misty explained, showing off a note from the director attached to her script.

"I can always get behind some more active princesses." Brock grinned as he turned off the stove and brought the pancakes to the table. "I'll do Delia a favor and clean the oven up after I get the toppings organized."

Ash smiled at this. "Mom's a stickler for making sure the oven's clean after you use it."

"There's an array of Berries, chocolate chips, whipped cream, pecans, cinnamon and sugar, and of course, the classic maple syrup." Brock explained as he made a grand gesture to his toppings spread. "So make it as healthy or junky as you like."

"I'll go for some Nanab Berries with cinnamon and sugar." Chelsea replied as she doused her pancake stack with cinnamon and sugar, then crowned the top pancake with some sliced Nanab Berries, pecans, and a large pillow of whipped cream.

Ash noticed Chelsea's creation. "That looks amazing! Almost like it walked out of a restaurant!"

"It's based on a special breakfast my sister Christine makes when we have a long day onstage ahead of us." Chelsea explained in between bites. "Nanab Foster pancakes. It's healthier than it sounds, because Christine swaps the flour and sugar for lots of Nanab Berries. The protein is an Arceus-send on long rehearsal days!"

"Huh--never would've thought to mix Nanab Berries directly in the batter." Brock smiled as he wiped down the oven. "I'll have to keep that in mind for long traveling days and our own long rehearsal days."

"Once we get done here, we'll get together in the living room and do a readthrough and discussion of our roles." Misty suggested as Brock arrived to enjoy his share of breakfast.

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After breakfast, the group gathered in the living room with their scripts. "Let's see...Ash is of course playing Prince Brian...I'm voicing Epona, who is portrayed as a puppet, Brock is the minstrel narrating the story with plenty of song, a little snark, and maybe some fourth wall breaking, and Chelsea is playing Princess Christina, the youngest princess." Misty began.

"One letter off from my sister's name--that should be easy to remember." Chelsea smiled.

"They were considerate enough to include guitar chords in my copy of the sheet music." Brock agreed as he perused his script, which had music interwoven with lines.

An idea occurred to him. "Hold that thought..." With that, he hurried off down the hall.

Chelsea balked when Brock returned some minutes later--he was now wearing an ornate purple, red, and gold minstrel's costume. "Whoa..." was all she could gasp as she watched Brock fine tune his guitar. "That looks like it came out of the Melody's costume closet!"

"Actually, it's hand made." Brock replied as he settled in a hard chair nearby the piano, guitar in tow. "I initially got it while participating in Shinou's Fantasy Stage--a storytelling competition where the competitors dress up as minstrels to tell their tales. Found out from one of the local tellers that every costume used in the Fantasy Stage is hand made--the original tag tells you the name of the person that 'made the costume with love.'

He turned his attention to the music in the script. But the more he looked at the music, the more he winced. "Is something wrong?" Chelsea asked. Brock looked less and less enthused by the music the more he looked at it.

"Would the director object if I used my own song in place of this cheesy narration?" Brock asked before reading out the song's lyrics. "Now let me just tell you how happy I am, to welcome you all to the lands of arcane. Where demons and pixies of magical grace, will charm you and bring a smile to your face..."

Even Misty and Ash winced at the lyrics. "Let me e-mail the director real quick..." Misty mused as she found her PokeNav and furiously started typing something.

"Give me your song as the narration over that any day!" Ash cried. "Who are we performing for, kids?"

"Nope--the Pokemon Musical, and by extension the Pokemon Revue, is for everyone to enjoy." Misty replied.

The bling of a new e-mail got her attention. "And there is the director's reply."

She read over the e-mail, then told Brock. "Yes, you can use your song for the narration--if you'll perform it for her when we rehearse in the theater tomorrow. She'll even write up a new version of the script with your song in it too."

Brock was relieved by the news. "Thank Arceus I won't have to be singing those cheesy narrations..."

"At least the other songs have decent lyrics--that goofy narration clashes with the tone and style of the other songs." Misty agreed as she set aside her PokeNav and made her way to the piano. "Ash? Chelsea? You two up for rehearsing some of your songs?"

"Sure!" I smiled. Ash nodded in agreement.

"Okay...Ash, let's do 'Brian's Promise'--you sing this after the king tells Brian the sad story about the Hydreigons and the princesses." Misty explained as she settled before the keys. "After the actor playing the king has told you the story, in song."

Ash flipped to the scene Misty was talking about. "When you're ready."

Misty started a quiet introduction in C. This small seed of hope is in bloom... Ash sang over the piano.
And it reaches out towards the stars...
From a little spark from deep within the heart
I believe fate has brought me here.

I will not back down, I will not give up
I will bring them home--if they'll take my hand!
I will fight for them, I would die for them,
And bring glory to this bright land.

I know they long for you!
And a hero to come and set them free,
And once again, the bonds of the stars
They will bring a miracle!

Chelsea smiled and applauded as Ash finished the song. "Not bad for a sight reading."

"Any suggestions on how I can do better?" Ash looked over at me. "Since you're part of a real revue troupe, you should know a thing or two about giving a song some punch!"

"Well, before I tell you what you need to work on, let me start by telling you what you're doing right." Chelsea began. "You have a strong heroic voice, and this song is Brian's vow to the king he will do everything he can to save the princesses from a horrible fate. So remember to give each word some oomph, but not so much you're overacting."

"Give it power, but not too much--got it!" Ash reminded himself. "Anything else?"

"It might help if you gradually crescendo along with the music." Chelsea suggested. "The song starts out quiet, since Brian is reflecting on what the king has told him. Then as you move into the heroic lyrics, crescendo with the music so that the third verse gets that triumphant punch."

"That makes sense." Ash mused as he found a pencil to make a note in the music...

To Be Continued...