A Threesome's Tales

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 169: Juno and the Enchanted Rock (Ash)

(real tale: Coyote and the Rolling Rock)


"You know, Azurill's wondering if you'll ever come up with a new puppet show..." Misty interjects.

"Well, I have a potential storyline for one...wanna hear that?" Ash offers. "In lieu of me not packing Erin and Juno?"

"Pini!" Happini replies.

"Azu!" Azurill agrees.

Ash clears his throat and begins "Once upon a time, on a day much like today, a Pichu named Juno was out for a walk, when she happened to meet Erin, a young Riolu mage renowned for her spells, even if they didn't always work."

"Hi, Erin! I was going into town today, and wondered if you'd like to come with me?" he asks in Juno's high pitched voice, to some giggles from the Pokemon.

"Of caurse--a journey's much beter wit' a companion." he replies in Erin's distinctive lilt.

As himself, Ash goes on "As the two of them walked on, the sun grew hot..." He wipes his brow for effect. "and when they came upon a big rock, Juno suggested..."

"Why don't we rest here for a while?" he suggests as Juno.

"and she tossed a blanket over the rock." he continues as himself. "But this was no ordinary rock--what Juno didn't know was that Erin had enchanted it with a spell beforehand."

Misty and Brock chuckle at this. "The two of them rested as the sun rose ever higher in the sky, and the day grew warmer." Ash continues. "Eventually Juno got too hot for the blanket, and laid it on the rock."

"I don't need this blanket." he interjects as Juno. "I'll just leave it here in case somebody wants it."

"Bad idea..." Brock cautions.

"The two friends walked on, but soon it started clouding up." Ash goes on as himself. "When a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and thunder rolled, Juno and Erin had to run for shelter. Before long, rain was pouring down from the once-blue sky."

"Told'ja leaving the blanket behind was a bad idea..." Brock smiles at Misty, who giggles as she pictures the Pichu and the Riolu soaked.

"Once they had found shelter in a cave, Juno turned to Erin and said...." Ash interjects before switching to his "Juno" voice. "Will you go back and retrieve the blanket? We can cover ourselves with it and stay dry."

As himself, he goes on "Erin went back and retrieved the blanket, and as the rain fell, the two huddled under the blanket, staying dry."

He pauses for a beat, then adds "Well, mostly dry." to some giggles from the audience.

"After a while, the rain stopped, and the sun began to shine again." Ash continues. "Juno and Erin sat together sunning themselves."

"I'm hungry...why don't we stop and have some lunch?" he suggests as Juno.

"I'm gettin' a leetle hungry meself..." he agrees as Erin.

"So Juno shared her lunch with her friend." he continues as himself. After a few seconds, he continues "Just as they had finished eating, Juno suddenly heard a low rumble way off in the distance."

"Uh oh..." Misty stifles a giggle of anticipation.

"When Juno looked to see what the rumbling was, she saw the rock rolling over the top of the hill, and rushing downhill toward them!" Ash announces

The audience howls with laughter as they picture Juno's likely reaction. "Of course, Erin was safely at the top of a tree, pleased her spell had worked." Ash assures the audience.

"My giant rolling rock spell worked!" he comments as Erin.

"But as for Juno, she had to run and run." he continues as himself. "She ran as fast as she could, only staying just ahead of that rock. Just then, she smiled to see a river ahead of her. She leaped in and began to swim across, happy to know the enchanted rock could not catch her there."

He adds as an aside "Besides, any rock would sink to the bottom of the river, right?"

"By all practical logic, yes." Misty replies.

"But then again, enchanted rocks don't really follow practical logic." Brock grins, anticipating what happens next in Juno's attempt to elude the enchanted rock.

"But much to Juno's dismay, when the enchanted rock reached the edge of the river, it amazingly floated across the water, thanks to Erin's spell." Ash replies, acknowledging Brock's observation with a nod. "When she reached the other side of the river, she raced out and into a forest, and as soon as she was deep in the forest, behind a grove of trees, she lay down to rest."

"Phew!" he wheezes as Juno,to laughter from the audience.

"Don't get too comfy, Juno..." Melody cautions.

"But just as she had begun to catch her breath, she heard the sound of trees crashing down--the enchanted rock was STILL after her!" Ash intones, to more laughter. "She ran through the forest, out into the open plains."

"Hee,hee...this is too funny!" Misty can hardly contain herself laughing.

"As she ran, she saw some Ursarings crossing the plains." Ash explains.

"Help!" he calls as Juno "There's a rock chasing me!"

"But when the Ursarings saw the enchanted rock rolling toward them, they didn't stop to help. Instead they bounded into the forest as fast as they could." he continues as himself.

The audience roars with laughter before Ash continues. "Then, Juno saw a herd of Bouffalant, and she called to them..."

"Help me stop this rolling rock!" he pleads as Juno.

He grins before continuing "But it was too late. Before the last word had left Juno's mouth, the Bouffalant stared in awe as the enchanted rock squished Juno into a Pichu-cake right there."

The audience howls with laughter as they picture a "flat" Juno. "Later that day, a trainer was passing that way when he spotted the flattened Juno out there on the plain." Ash continues when the laughter quiets. "Figuring that the Pichu would make a nice little rug, he carried Juno home and laid her beside the hearth. It took Juno all night to do it, but by morning she had popped back into 3D again."

"She slipped out the window and ran away before anyone in the house was awake. But she learned a lesson from that enchanted rock..." Ash concludes. "If you give something away, you must give it away forever."

"Bravo!" Brock leads the applause.

"That would make a funny puppet show!" Misty agrees.

"Let me know when you put it on as a puppet show--I'd love to see you perform three characters." Melody adds.

"Okay! I'll write the script as soon as I get to a PC." Ash smiles, pleased his newest idea is a hit...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 170: Ninetales or Raikou? (Brock)

(real tale: Jackal or Tiger)


"One hot night, in a land far from here, a king and queen lay awake in the palace in the midst of the capital city." Brock explains. "Every now and then a faint air blew through the lattice, and they hoped they were going to sleep, but they never did. It was about two in the morning when they woke with a jump at the sound of a howl outside the palace."

A Mightyena howl echoes through the rain outside, making fearful murmurs race through the tent. "Listen to that Raikou!" Brock remarks in character as the king.

"Raikou?" he gasps as the queen. "How should there be a Raikou inside the city? It was only a Ninetales."

"I tell you it was a Raikou..." he counters as the king.

"And I tell you that you were dreaming if you thought it was anything but a Ninetales." he retorts as the queen.

As himself, he adds "The two of them argued like this for some time, until the king proposed a solution. In the morning they would call the guard and ask what that odd howl was. If it was a Ninetales, the king would leave this kingdom to his beloved and depart on a great journey. If it was a Raikou then the queen would go, and the king would take a new wife."

The audience murmurs as they speculate on whether the howl was something else entirely. "So in the morning, the king called the two soldiers who were on guard outside and put the question to them. But the arguement the night before had gotten so heated that the guards had heard everything they said, and they feared what would happen if they said they didn't know what it was. So they told the king it was a Raikou, and true to his word, the king sent away his beloved, the queen crying all the while."

"Aw"s go up at this as Brock goes on. "The royal coach came to a small house on the forest's edge, where a farmer and his wife lived, and left the queen there. The farmer heard the queen crying, and asked her what the matter was. She told him everything that had happened, and the farmer gave her a place to sleep and food and water. In time, she had a son of her own, which she named Riku, in remembrance of the land she and the kind farmer tilled every day."

He waits for a beat, then continues "The years passed without any word from the king. For all the queen knew, she was probably dead for all he seemed to care, though the queen still lived with the farmer, and Riku had grown up into a strong, handsome, and healthy young man. Out in the forest they seemed far from the world; very few ever came near them, and Prince Riku was continually begging his mother and the farmer to go out into the world and seek his own fortune. But she and the wise farmer always counseled him to wait until he was older. Finally, the day came when Riku turned eighteen, when he was allowed to go, with his mother's and adopted father's blessings. So he started off early one morning, with a sword by his side...." He sets a prop sword at his side. "a small bottle to hold water," He shows the audience a prop water bottle. "a few pieces of gold," He pockets a few prop gold pieces. "and a bow, for hunting and as a backup weapon if his sword failed."

The group watches as Brock slings a bow and quiver of prop arrows on his back. Then, he continues as he walks around the tent. "Many a weary mile he tramped day after day, until, one morning, he saw a forest not unlike the one where he had been born and raised. As he made his way through a thicket, he saw a Pidove which he thought would make a good dinner, so he fired a arrow at it..." Brock proceeds to aim at an imagined target somewhere in the tent.

"I hope you're not firing an arrow in here..." Melody warns, ever aware that should Brock actually fire the arrow, it will puncture the tent.

Much to Melody's relief, Brock doesn't fire the arrow, but goes on "...but missed the Pidove, which fluttered away. Just then, he heard a great clamor from beyond the thicket, and, on reaching the spot, he found a woman dripping wet and crying loudly as she lifted from her head an earthen vessel with a hole in it from which the water was pouring. When she saw the prince with his bow in his hand, she called out..."

In character as a young lady, he complains "Oh, why must you choose a lady like me to play your pranks upon? Where am I to get a fresh pitcher instead of this one that you have broken with your foolish tricks? And how am I to go so far for water twice when just one journey is tiring enough!"

"I played no trick on you, good lady." he explains in character as a young man. "All I did was shoot at a Pidove that should have served me for dinner, and as my arrow missed it, it must have broken your pitcher. In return, I will give you my water bottle, which will not break easily. As for getting water, tell me where to find it, and I'll go get some while you dry your clothes."

As himself, Brock continues "So the lady showed him where to find water, and when he returned a few minutes later with his bottle filled to the brim, she led the way without a word, and he followed. They eventually came to a hut in the forest, and as they came closer Prince Riku saw the loveliest girl he had ever seen. When she saw him, the girl stepped into the hut, and much as he wanted to see her again, Prince Riku could think of no reason to call her back, and so, with a heavy heart, he bade the woman farewell, and she gave him an emerald as a parting gift." He shows the audience a prop emerald. "But when he had gone a little ways, she called after him..."

"If you are ever in trouble or danger, hold this jewel in your hand and sing this song: 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul.' I will hear it and aid you in whatever way I can." he calls as the woman.

Excited whispers race through the crowd at the mention of one of Brock's gibberish spellsongs. "Prince Riku thanked her and continued his journey, but he thought little of the woman's strange song, and much of the girl." Brock continues as himself as he sets the bow and quiver aside. "A month or so later, he arrived in a great city. He was running low on funds by this point, so he walked straight to the palace of the king and asked for employment. The king said he had plenty of servants and wanted no more; but the young man pleaded so hard that at last the king felt sorry for him, and promised that he should enter his bodyguard on the condition that he would undertake any service which was especially difficult or dangerous."

He returns to his rock as thunder rumbles outside. "A few months went by, and on a particularly dark and stormy night, when the river roared beneath the palace walls, the sound of a woman weeping and wailing was heard above the storm."

Fearful whines and gasps of surprise fill the air as a particularly large thunderclap rattles the tent. "N-nice touch..." Ash stammers.

"A-and then?" Misty shudders as she tries to comfort Azurill, never mind that she too is afraid.

"The king ordered a servant to go and see what was the matter; but the servant was shaking in his shoes in fear, and begged not to go outside on such a wild night, when evil spirits, monsters, witches, and other fearsome creatures were sure to be on the prowl." Brock explains. "The king, who was very wise and kind to his people, couldn't bear to send out someone who was very clearly afraid. So he bade another to go in his stead, but each one showed the same strange fear. Then Prince Riku stepped forward..."

"This is my duty, your majesty," he announces as Prince Riku. "I will go."

As himself, he continues "The king nodded, and off he went. The night was as dark as pitch, and the wind blew furiously and drove the rain in sheets into his face; but he made his way down to the ford under the palace walls and stepped into the flooded water. Inch by inch, and foot by foot he fought his way across, now nearly swept off his feet by some sudden swirl or eddy, now narrowly escaping being caught in the branches of some floating tree that came tossing and swinging down the stream. Finally he emerged, panting and dripping wet, on the other side. Close by the bank stood a gallows, and on the gallows hung the body of some evil-doer, whilst from the foot of it came the sound of sobbing that the king had heard. Prince Riku was so grieved for the one who wept there that he thought nothing of the wildness of the night or of the roaring river. As for ghosts, monsters, and witches, they had never troubled him, so he walked up towards the gallows where crouched the figure of the woman."

"What ails you?" he asks as Prince Riku.

As himself, he intones "Now, the woman was not really a woman at all, but a horrid kind of witch who came from the shadow realm, and had no business in the mortal realm. If someone ever wandered into the shadow realm, they would likely be eaten by one of the many monsters, spirits and witches there. That was why she had been sobbing and crying in hopes that someone out of pity might come to her rescue."

Fearful gasps race through the crowd. "So when Prince Riku questioned her, she replied..." Brock intones before switching to a breathy female voice "Ah, kind sir, it is my poor son who hangs upon that gallows; help me to get him down and I will bless you for ever."

He interjects as himself "Prince Riku sensed that her voice sounded rather eager than sorrowful, and immediately figured out that she was not telling the truth, so he decided to be very cautious."

"That will be rather difficult," he explains as Prince Riku, "for the gallows is high, and we have no ladder."

"Ah, but if you will just stoop down and let me climb upon your shoulders," he replies as the witch, "I think I could reach him."

As himself, he explained "Now Prince Riku knew for sure the witch was planning to kill him by hanging. So he drew his sword, saying that he needed it to lean upon." He draws the prop sword for effect. "Then he bent so that the woman could climb onto him." He pauses to do this. "But when he felt a noose slipped over his neck, he quickly cut it!"

He makes a dramatic stab at the air for effect. "He also ended up cutting the witch's foot as it dangled above him; and with a cry of pain and anger she vanished into the shadow realm."

Sighs of relief and light applause fill the air as Brock sheathes the sword. "After spending a few minutes to collect himself, Prince Riku saw an anklet that had evidently fallen off the witch's foot. He put it into his pocket, and as soon as the storm subsided, he made his way back to the palace. He told the court everything that had happened, took the anklet out of his pocket, and handed it to the king, who, like everyone else, was amazed at the beauty of the jewels inside it. The king was delighted at its beauty, and having praised and rewarded Prince Riku, he gave the anklet to his daughter, who we'll call Taka."

Fascinated murmurs go up at the name. "Now, in the women's apartments in the palace there hung two cages, in one of which was a Chatot and in the other a Starly." Brock explains. "These two Pokemon, who were Princess Taka's pets, could speak as well as human beings. The next day, as she was walking about with the anklet around her ankle, the Starly said to the Chatot..."

"How do you think the princess looks with those new jewels?" he asks in a high pitched female voice.

"Think?" he gasps as the Chatot. "I think she looks like a washerwoman's daughter, with one shoe on and the other off! Why doesn't she wear two of them, instead of going about with one leg adorned and the other bare?"

Laughter goes up at the accuracy of Brock's Chatot impression. "When Princess Taka heard this she burst into tears," Brock explains as himself. "and told her father she wanted another jeweled anklet to wear on the other leg. So the king sent for Prince Riku and told him that he must get a second anklet exactly like the first within a month, or else."

Murmurs race through the crowd as Brock explains "Now, Prince Riku was greatly troubled at the king's command, but he thought to himself that a month was plenty of time. He left the palace at once, and asked anyone and everyone where the finest jewels were to be found. Though he searched for days, he never found one to compare with the anklet.

When he returns to his rock again, he continues "Finally only a week remained, and he was about to give up, when he remembered the woman of the forest, who he had concluded was a guardian or Legendary in disguise, and the emerald she had given him years before. So he took it out of his bag..." Brock shows the audience the prop emerald from before. "and sang the magic song the woman had taught him all those years ago..."

Cheers go up as Brock sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... making the prop emerald glow.

"The emerald glowed, and the beautiful girl he had seen before, appeared to him--he had never forgotten her in all this time." Brock goes on, the glowing prop emerald giving his face an ethereal green aura. "Prince Riku told her his story, and she conjured with her own magic not just one, but three anklets just like the one Princess Taka wore. He then duly presented these to the king with only days to spare."

Applause goes up at this, but Brock's sneaky grin is a signal that the story is not quite over yet. "A few months went by, until the Princess' Chatot and Starly commented that Princess Taka needed some bracelets and necklaces to go with the anklets. So Princess Taka told her father she wanted bracelets and necklaces to match the anklets. The king summoned Prince Riku again and ordered him to get necklaces and bracelets to match those anklets within a month, or else. Prince Riku spent nearly the whole month searching for the jewels, but all in vain. Finally, he invoked the emerald again..." He then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... again.

"Once more the beautiful maiden appeared at his summons and asked what he wanted, and when he had told her, she conjured a beautiful pair of bracelets and necklaces to match, which he presented to the king. Princess Taka next asked that she marry Prince Riku, since he had gotten her all that finery. Prince Riku was dumbfounded at the request, but when he said that was out of his authority, he was thrown into the dungeon right then and there."

The audience gasps, stunned at the turn of events. "Meanwhile the king determined that Princess Taka was of age to marry, so he sent forth heralds throughout the neighboring countries, proclaiming that on a certain day any man worthy of inheriting the throne should present himself at the palace." Brock goes on. "When the day came, all the court were gathered together, and a great crowd of men as well, all of them hoping to gain both the throne and Princess Taka. But before the king could call forth the first man in line, a farmer-- Prince Riku's adopted father--cried out that he had a petition to offer."

In character as Flint, he continues "Your majesty, you have long lived and administered justice in this land, and know well that Raikou, lord among the beasts, hunts only in the forest, while Ninetales hunt in every place where there is something to be picked up. Today there are plenty of Ninetales gathered here to try and claim your daughter and kingdom: every city has sent them, and they wait hungry and eager; but do not, your majesty, mistake or pretend again to mistake the howl of a Ninetales for the mighty roar of a Raikou."

The tent is silent as the audience thinks about what the farmer has said. "You could've heard a pin drop as the court listened, stunned at the turn of events." Brock intones as himself after a few moments. "The farmer went on..." As Flint again, he continues "There is, in fact a royal Raikou bred in the forest who has the first and only true claim to your throne. He now rots in the dungeon, but if your majesty will set him free and clear this court of the Ninetales, I will explain everything."

"Oh"s and wild applause go up as the audience puts two and two together. "The visitors left the palace, and the farmer told the king and his ministers how he had rescued the queen and brought up Prince Riku as his own son. He even brought in the old queen herself. When he saw her, the king was filled with shame and self-reproach, and deeply wished he had not sent her away. He gave his crown to his son Riku, who summoned the maiden of the forest, who was named Kaya, and asked her to marry him. This time, Kaya did not run away, but agreed to be his wife. They were married that very day, and lived long and happy lives. Yet Prince Riku kept the emerald, just in case he needed its power again."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 171: Daisy and the Roses (Misty)

(real tale: Felicia and the Pot of Pinks)


"There was once a poor laborer who, feeling that he had not much longer to live, wished to divide his possessions between his son and daughter, whom he loved dearly." Misty begins. "So he called them to him, and told that when he and their mother married. she brought as her dowry two stools and a straw bed. His three most precious possessions were a Torchic, a pot of roses, and a silver ring, which were given me by a noble lady who once lodged in the poor little house. When she left, she warned him to not lose the ring or forget to water the roses. As for his daughter, she had assured him that she would be more beautiful than anyone you ever saw in your life. So he gave his daughter--we'll call her Daisy--the ring and the pot of roses, and her brother got everything else. The two children seemed quite contented, and when their father died they wept for him, and divided his possessions as he had told them. Daisy believed that her brother loved her, but when she sat down upon one of the stools he said angrily..."

"Keep your pot of roses and your ring, but leave my things alone. I like order in my house." Brock snaps in character as the boy.

"Daisy, who was very gentle, said nothing, but stood up crying quietly; while her brother--we'll call him Kieran--sat comfortably by the fire." Misty continues. "When dinnertime came, Kieran had an egg, leaving only the shell for Daisy."

"There, that is all I will give you; and if you don't like it, go out and catch Froagies, or something." Brock fills in Kieran's dialogue. "There are plenty of them in the pond close by."

"Daisy did not answer, but she cried more bitterly than ever, and hurried up to her room." Misty continues. "She found it filled with the sweet scent of the roses, and, going up to them, she said sadly..."

"Beautiful roses, you are so sweet and so pretty, you are the only comfort I have left. Be very sure that I will take care of you, and water you well, and never allow any cruel hand to tear you from your stems." Melody sighs as Daisy.

As she looked over them she noticed that they were very dry." Misty explains. "So taking her watering can, she ran off in the clear moonlight to the fountain, which was some distance away. When she reached it she sat down to rest for a moment, but she had hardly done so when she saw a stately lady coming toward her, surrounded by numbers of attendants. Six maids of honor carried her train, and she leaned upon the arm of another."

Ash snaps Brock back to reality by squeezing his hand as Misty goes on "When they came near the fountain a canopy was spread for her, under which was placed a golden couch, and a six course dinner was served, upon a table covered with dishes of gold and crystal, while the wind in the trees and the falling water of the fountain murmured the softest music. Daisy was hidden in the shade, too much astonished by all she saw to venture to move; but then the queen said..."

In her best mimic of an older woman, Misty intones "I see a young lady near that tree...tell her to step foward, into the light."

As herself, she goes on "So Daisy stepped forward and bowed to the queen timidly, but with so much grace that all were surprised."

"What are you doing here, miss?" she asks as the queen. "Are you not afraid of bandits?"

"A poor girl who has nothing to lose does not fear bandits." Melody replies as Daisy.

"You are not very rich, then?" Misty asks as the queen, flashing a grin to Ash.

"I am so poor," Melody sighs as Daisy, "that a pot of roses and a silver ring are my only possessions in the world."

"But you have a heart," Misty assures Melody as the queen. "What should you say if anybody wanted to steal that?"

"I don't know what it's like to lose one's heart, Your Majesty" Melody replies as Daisy. "but I have always heard that without a heart one cannot live, and if it is broken one must die; and in spite of my poverty I should be sorry not to live."

"You are quite right to take care of your heart, pretty one," Misty replies as the queen. "But tell me, have you had dinner?"

"No, Your Majesty," Melody replies as Daisy. "My brother ate all the dinner there was."

Ash and the Pokemon applaud the interplay as Misty continues as herself "Then the queen ordered that a place should be made for her at the table, and loaded Daisy's plate with good things; but she was too much astonished to be hungry."

"What were you doing at the fountain at this hour?" she asks as the queen again.

"I came to fetch some water for my roses, Your Majesty." Melody answers as Daisy.

As herself, Misty interjects "When she showed it to the queen she was amazed to see that it had turned to gold, all sparkling with great jewels, and it had been filled with water more fragrant than the sweetest roses. She was afraid to take it until the queen said..."

She then reveals who the queen really is as she intones as the queen "It is yours, Daisy; go and water your roses with it, and let it remind you that Vizirion, the Queen of the Woods, is your friend."

As herself, she continues "Daisy threw herself at Vizirion's feet, and thanked her humbly for her kind words."

"Ah, my lady!" Melody cries as Daisy, "if I might beg you to stay here a moment I would run and get my pot of roses for you--they could not fall into better hands."

"Go, Daisy," Misty assures Melody as Vizirion. "I will wait here until you return."

She continues as herself. "So Daisy took her watering can and ran to her room, but while she was gone, Kieran had snuck in and taken the pot of roses, leaving a great cabbage in its place. When she saw the unlucky cabbage Daisy was much distressed, and did not know what to do; but at last she ran back to the fountain, and, kneeling before Vizirion, said..."

"Lady Vizirion, Kieran has stolen my pot of roses, so I have nothing but my silver ring; but I beg you to accept it as a proof of my gratitude." Melody pleads as Daisy.

"But if I take your ring, my pretty maid, you will have nothing left; and what will you do then?" Misty asks as Vizirion.

"If I have your friendship I shall do very well." Melody replies as Daisy.

"So Vizirion took the ring and put it on her finger, and climbed inside her coach, which was made of diamonds studded with emeralds, and moved as if it was drawn by six Rapidashes." Misty continues as herself. "Daisy watched the coach disappear into the forest, and then she went back to the cottage, thinking over all the wonderful things that had happened.

After pausing for a beat, she continues "The first thing she did when she reached her room was to throw the cabbage out of the window, but it told her that if she planted it in the garden again, it would tell her where her roses were --hidden in Kieran's bed!"

The boys murmur as Misty goes on "Daisy was in despair when she heard this, not knowing how she was to get them back. But she replanted the cabbage in the garden. She saw Kieran's Torchic, and thought about killing it for dinner that night, but then it spoke to her."

"Don't kill me; I am rather a gossip, and I can tell you some surprising things." Ash interjects in a voice that sounds like a human version of Pikachu. "You are not the daughter of the poor laborer who brought you up; your mother was a queen who had six girls already, and the king threatened that unless she had a son who could inherit his kingdom, she would die. So when the queen had another little girl, she was quite frightened, and agreed with her sister, who was really the forest Queen Vizirion, to exchange her for any of the Pokemon in her care. Now the queen had been locked away in a great tower by the King's orders, and when a fewdays went by with no word from Vizirion, she made her escape from the window by means of a rope ladder, taking her little baby with her. After wandering about until she was half dead with cold and fatigue she reached this cottage. I was the laborer's wife, and was a good nurse, and the queen gave you into my charge, and told me all her misfortunes, and then died before she had time to say what was to become of you.

"As I never in all my life could keep a secret, I could not help telling this strange tale to my neighbors, and one day a beautiful lady came here, and I told it to her also. When I had finished she sang a magical song, and instantly I became a Torchic, and there was an end of my talking! I was very sad, and my husband, who was out when it happened, never knew what had become of me. After seeking me everywhere he believed that I must have been drowned, or eaten by wild beasts in the forest. That same lady came here once more, and commanded that you should be called Daisy, and left the ring and the pot of roses to be given to you; and while she was in the house twenty-five of the King's guards came to search for you, doubtless meaning to kill you; but she sang another magical song, and immediately they all turned into cabbages. It was one of them whom you threw out of your window yesterday.

"I don't know how it was that he could speak--I have never heard either of them say a word before, nor have I been able to do it myself until now."

Brock applauds Ash's remembrance of a long section of dialogue before Misty goes on. "Princess Daisy was greatly astonished at the Torchic's story, and said..."

"I am truly sorry for you, my poor nurse, and wish it was in my power to restore you to your true form. But we must not despair; it seems to me, after what you have told me, that something must be going to happen soon. Just now, however, I must go and look for my roses, which I love better than anything in the world." Melody assures Ash as Daisy.

"Kieran had gone out into the forest, never thinking that Daisy would search in his room for the roses." Misty continues. "She was thrilled by his unexpected absence, and thought to get them back without further trouble. But as soon as she entered the room she saw a terrible army of Rattata, who were guarding the straw bed; and when she attempted to approach it they sprang at her, biting and scratching furiously. Then, she suddenly remembered the watering can, and, hoping that it might have some magic power, she grabbed, and sprinkled a few drops over the fierce-looking swarm of Rattatas. In a moment not a tail or a whisker was to be seen Each one had made for his hole as fast as his legs could carry him, so Princess Daisy could safely take her pot of roses. She found them nearly dying of thist, and hastily poured all that was left in the can upon them. As she bent over them, enjoying their delicious scent, a soft voice, that seemed to rustle among the leaves, said..."

"Lovely Daisy, the day has come at last when I may have the happiness of telling you how even the flowers love you and rejoice in your beauty." she intones as Vizirion.

"Princess Daisy, quite overcome by the strangeness of hearing a cabbage, a Torchic, and a rose speak, and by the terrible sight of an army of Rattatas, suddenly became very pale, and fainted right there." she continues as herself, to chuckles from the boys Just then, Kieran came in. Working hard in the heat had not improved his temper, and when he saw that Daisy had succeeded in finding her roses he was so angry that he dragged her out into the garden and slammed the door. The fresh air soon made her open her pretty eyes, and there before her stood Vizirion in her human form, looking as charming as ever.

"You have a bad brother," she wags a finger at Brock, who shies away. "I saw he threw you out. Shall I punish him for it?"

"No, my lady," Melody gasps as Daisy "I am not angry with him."

"But supposing he was not your brother, after all, what would you say then?" Misty asks as Vizirion.

"Oh! but I think he must be," Melody stammers as Daisy.

"Have you not heard that you are a princess?" Misty asks as Vizirion.

"I was told so a little while ago, my lady, but how could I believe it without a single shred of proof?" Melody asks as Daisy.

"Ah! dear child," Misty intones as Vizirion, "the way you speak assures me that, in spite of your humble upbringing, you are indeed a real princess, and I can save you from being treated in such a way again."

She was interrupted at this moment by the arrival of a very handsome young man. He wore a coat of green velvet fastened with emerald clasps, and had a crown of roses on his head. He knelt upon one knee and kissed Vizirion's hand.

"Ah!" she gasps as Vizirion, "my rose, my dear son, what a happiness to see you restored to your natural shape by Daisy's aid!"

She quickly interjects as herself "Then, turning to Daisy, she said..."

As Vizirion, she continues "Charming princess, I know all the Torchic told you, but you cannot have heard that the wind, who was told to carry my son to the tower where the queen, your mother, so anxiously waited for him, left him instead in a garden of flowers, while they flew off to tell your mother. Whereupon a fairy with whom I had quarrelled changed him into a rose, and I could do nothing to prevent it.

"You can imagine how angry I was, and how I tried to find some means of undoing the mischief she had done; but there was no help for it. I could only bring Prince Arden to the place where you were being brought up, hoping that when you grew up he might love you, and by your care be restored to his natural form. And you see everything has come right, as I hoped it would. Your giving me the silver ring was the sign that the power of the charm was nearly over, and my enemy's last chance was to frighten you with her army of Rattatas, which you defeated. So now, my dear Daisy, if you will be married to my son with this silver ring your future happiness is certain. Do you think him handsome and amiable enough to be willing to marry him?"

"Madam," Melody begins as Daisy, blushing a bit at what she has to say next, "you overwhelm me with your kindness. I know that you are my mother's sister, and that by your art you turned the soldiers who were sent to kill me into cabbages, and my nurse into a Torchic, and that you do me only too much honor in proposing that I shall marry your son. How can I explain to you the cause of my hesitation? I feel, for the first time in my life, how happy it would make me to be beloved. Can you indeed give me Prince Arden's heart?"

"It is yours already, lovely Princess!" Brock assures Melody in a gentler male voice; "but if not for the horrible spell which kept me silent, I would have told you long ago how dearly I loved you."

Misty continues as herself "This made Princess Daisy very happy, and Virizion, who could not bear to see her dressed like a poor farm girl, laid a hand on her and sang..."

She sings as Vizirion Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

As herself, she continues "And Princess Daisy's cotton dress became a magnificent robe of silver brocade embroidered with rubies and sapphires, and her soft dark hair was encircled by a crown of diamonds and pearls, from which floated a clear white veil. With her bright eyes, and the charming color in her cheeks, she was altogether such a dazzling sight that Prince Arden could hardly bear it."

"How pretty you are, Daisy!" Brock cries as Prince Arden. "Don't keep me in suspense, I beg of you; say that you will marry me."

Misty just continues "Just then Kieran, who was going back to his work, came out of the house, and thought he must be dreaming when he saw Daisy; but she called him very kindly, and begged Vizirion to take pity on him."

"What!" she gasps as Vizirion, "When he was so unkind to you?"

"Ah, my lady, I am so happy that I should like everybody else to be happy too." Melody explains as Daisy.

"Vizirion seemed to accept that answer, and with another spellsong..." Misty sings as Vizirion again Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing as herself "she turned the poor little house into a splendid palace, full of treasures; only the two stools and the straw bed remained just as they were, to remind him of his former poverty. Then she made Kieran gentle and polite and grateful, and he thanked her and Princess Daisy a thousand times over. Finally, Vizirion restored the Torchic and the cabbages to their true forms, and left them all very happy. Prince Arden and Princess Daisy were married with great splendor, and they all lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 172: Chimchar Returns the Favor (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 63, story 1)

"There was once a certain seaside village in Shinou that was so poor, the people had to live on Clamperls, Shellders, and seaweed." Ash begins.

"Didn't Dawn teach you this one?" Brock recognizes the tale's beginning.

"On the way to Sunyshore, if memory serves." Ash replies. "Anyway, one day a woman noticed a Chimchar struggling to free its hand, which was stuck in a small hole. Despite warnings not to, the woman helps the Chimchar out. But then, the Chimchar snatched the woman's Pichu!"

"But, Chimchars don't normally take other Pokemon..." Misty is confused rather than shocked at the turn of events

"After chasing both Pokemon for a while, the woman caught up to the Chimchar, who ran up into a tree with the Pichu." Ash goes on. "As if that wasn't enough, the Pichu's fearful cries attracted a Braviary, who figured the Pichu was food."

Happini swallows hard, worried for the Pichu. "But just before the Braviary could attack, the Chimchar whacked it with a branch." Ash continues. "More Braviaries came, but they too got whacked by branches."

"I see! The Chimchar must've seen the Braviaries coming and took the Pichu somewhere safe as thanks for the woman helping it." Misty muses.

"What Braviaries that didn't get whacked by branches fled in terror after most of the flock got whacked away." Ash continues. "When the coast was clear, the Chimchar set the Pichu on the ground before returning to the brush."

He then confirms Misty's prediction. "It dawned on the woman that the Chimchar saved her Pichu in return for her helping it before. The townsfolk used the Braviary feathers to make arrows, and the town soon became world famous for its Braviary arrows, which are said never miss. Each time someone from the town fires one of these arrows, the townsfolk remember the brave Chimchar that saved a Pichu."

"Pika pika pikachu pi Pichu." Pikachu notes as the others applaud.

"Yeah, shocking them all at once with a Thunderbolt would be faster than whacking them away one by one." Brock agrees...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 173: The Beasts' Treasures (Brock)

(real tale: The Three Treasures of the Giants)


"A long time ago, in a land far away, there lived an old man and his wife who had three sons; the youngest of which was named Jack." Brock begins. "One evening they were all seated around the table, having dinner, when the old man suddenly told the eldest brother that he believed his time to die was drawing near. As the eldest, he would inherit the house; but he had to be be good to his mother and brothers, too. The eldest brother agreed to this, helping himself to all the best parts as he spoke. The old man saw nothing, but the middle brother looked on in surprise, and Jack was so appalled that he forgot to eat his own dinner."

Giggles go up at this as Brock intones "A few months went by, and the father caught a terrible disease. Despite the healers' best efforts, the disease ravaged him to the point where not even their strongest spell would do anything. They sent for his sons, so they could say their final farewells. After giving good advice to the two eldest, he turned to Jack. He told Jack that while he wasn't the sharpest tack in the drawer, his kind heart more than made up for it. He implored Jack to always listen to his heart, and the words of his mother and brothers."

There is a brief silence before Brock delivers the bad news. "The old man clung to life for a few more days before joining Arceus in the heavens. The two elder brothers wept bitterly, but Jack remained by the bedside of his father, as if he were dead too. He finally got up, ran into the garden, hid himself in some trees, and wept profusely, while his two brothers got ready for the funeral."

"Aw"s go up at this. "Not long after the funeral, the eldest brother and the middle brother agreed that they would go out into the world together to seek their fortunes, while Jack stayed home with their mother." Brock continues. "Jack would have liked nothing better than to sit and dream by the fire, but the mother, who was very old herself, conceded that there was no work for him to do, and that he too had to seek it with his brothers. So the next morning, all three set out. The eldest brother and the middle brother carried two great bags full of food, but Jack carried nothing. This made his brothers very angry, for the day was hot and the bags were heavy, and about noon they sat down under a tree and began to eat. Jack was as hungry as they were, but he knew that it was no use asking for anything. In fact, this frustrated him so much, he couldn't help but cry."

Angry murmurs fill the air as Brock goes on "The eldest brother taunted Jack for being so lazy, but Jack countered that they were doing no better by carrying every bit of food left in the house and leaving their mother to starve. After an awkward silence, they offered their brother some of their food, and when they were done eating, they went on their way."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Around nightfall they reached a small hut, and knocking at the door, asked if they might spend the night there." Brock replies. "The man, who was a woodcutter, invited them in, and encouraged them to sit down to dinner. The eldest brother thanked him, but being very proud, explained that it was only shelter they wanted, as they had plenty of food with them; and he and the middle brother at once opened their bags and began to eat, while Jack hid himself in a corner. The wife, on seeing this, took pity on him, and called him to come and share their dinner. At this, the eldest brother regretted deeply that he had been so foolish as to refuse, for his bits of bread and cheese seemed very hard when he smelled the savory soup his brother was enjoying."

Soft laughter fills the air as Brock continues "The next morning, he insisted on going through a thick forest where they were not likely to meet anyone. For a long time they wandered this way and that, for they had no path to guide them; but they finally came upon a wide clearing, in the midst of which stood a castle. Jack shouted with delight, but the eldest brother, who was in a bad temper, blew it off as taking a wrong turn. The middle brother defused the impending fight by saying that if they had set out to travel through the world with no destination in mind, did it really matter if they went right or left?"

He intones "With that, they headed for the castle."

Interested murmurs race through the tent as the audience debates what the brothers will find. "The door of the castle stood wide open, and they entered a great hall, and looked around in awe." Brock's voice quiets the chatter. "Not a creature was to be seen, and suddenly the eldest brother--he did not know why--felt a little frightened. He would have left the castle right then, but stopped when Jack walked up to a door and opened it. He couldn't bear to be outdone by his younger brother, and ran on ahead of him into another splendid hall, which was filled from floor to ceiling with a bewildering array of crystals of all colors. The sight quite dazzled the eldest brother and the middle brother, who emptied all the provisions that remained out of their bags, and heaped them up instead with handfuls of crystals."

Giggles go up as the audience pictures the brothers frantically scrambling for crystals. "Then Jack opened another door, which led to a hall filled with silver. In an instant his brothers had emptied their bags of the crystals and shoveled in handfuls of the silver instead." Brock explains, making the laughter intensify. They had hardly finished when Jack opened a third door, and all three balked in amazement, for in this room was a mass of gold, so bright that their eyes felt sore looking at it. However, they soon recovered from their surprise, emptied their bags of silver, and filled them with gold instead. When they had gathered as much as they could carry, the eldest brother began worrying about what would happen if the castle's owners caught them. While he and the middle brother fled, Jack stayed behind for a few minutes to put pieces of gold, silver, and some crystals into his pocket, and to gather the food that his brothers had dropped in the first room. Then he went after them, and found them resting in the forest. It was near sunset, and the eldest brother began to feel hungry, so, when Jack arrived, he asked him to return to the castle and bring the bread and cheese that they had left there. But when Jack told them what he had done, they called him all kinds of horrible names to the point where Jack fled into the forest, fearing for his life."

The angry murmurs at Jack's fleeing grow louder as Brock continues "His brothers, however, went home and bought a beautiful house, where they lived with their mother like kings."

The playful grin on Brock's face is an assurance to the audience that the story is nowhere near over--and that magical aspects will soon come into play. "Meanwhile Jack remained for some hours in hiding, thankful to be safe from his tormentors; but when no one came to trouble him, and his feet did not ache so much, he began to think about his next move. He finally made up his mind to return to the castle and take as much money that would him to live in comfort for the rest of his life. So he hurried back to the castle, and into the hall of gold, and there he took off his jacket and tied the sleeves together so that it might make a kind of bag. He then began to pour in the gold by handfuls, when, all at once, some roars like thunder shook the castle, and the three Beasts appeared."

"So, puny mortal! it is you who steal our treasures!" he proclaims as Entei.

He interjects as himself "...exclaimed Entei. They had half a mind to eat Jack right there, until Suicune motioned for them to huddle. After they had debated for a moment, Raikou said..."

As Raikou, he intones "We will spare your life on condition that you shall guard our treasures. If you are hungry. take this little table and sing 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...' to it, and you will get as much food as you want."

The audience whispers excitedly as Brock continues as himself "Jack promised he would do all that was asked of him, and for some days enjoyed himself mightily. He had everything he could wish for, and did nothing from morning till night; but before long, he began to get very tired and bored. 'Let the Beasts guard their treasures themselves,' he thought, and left that night, taking only the little table with him."

"Ooh" s go up at this. "So, after placing the table in his bag, he started off for the forest, but he did not stay there long, and soon found himself on the plains on the other side. There he saw an old man, who begged Jack to give him something to eat." Brock explains.

'You could not have asked a better person,' he smiles in his best mimic of Ash.

As himself, he continues "After motioning to him to sit down with him under a tree, he set the table in front of them, and sang... He then sings as Ash Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

"That was pretty good!" the real Ash grins.

Some applause goes up at the gibberish spellsong. "He had hardly finished singing the words when fish and meat of all kinds appeared on it!" Brock announces as himself. "The old man was amazed at this, so after he had eaten as much as he wanted., he asked Jack to give it to him in exchange it for a magic whistle that would summon whatever kind of hero Jack needed if he were in danger." Ash shows the audience a silver tin whistle with a green mouthpiece to illustrate Brock's point.

After Ash pockets the whistle, he goes on "Now, since he had been left to himself, Jack had grown ambitious, so, after a moment's hesitation, he took the whistle and gave the table in exchange. The old man bade him farewell, and set off down one path, while Jack chose another. For a while, he was quite pleased with his new possession. Then, he started getting hungry, and wished for his table back again. Then he remembered his whistle, and a devious thought entered his mind."

"He asked for a regiment of 200 soldiers, and played the whistle." Some giggles go up as Ash plays the Zelda whistle theme for effect. "A regiment exactly like Jack requested appeared in a flash of light, and the commander asked him what he wished them to do. Jack told them his orders, and off the soldiers marched to battle. They returned with the table ten minutes later, and when Jack told them he had no further orders for them, they disappeared inside the whistle with a flash of light."

Awed applause goes up at this. "Jack feasted that night, never mind that he earned it due to a cruel prank." Brock deadpans, to some laughter. "The next day he ate breakfast early, and then walked on towards the nearest town. On the way there, he met another old man, who begged for something to eat."

"Oh"s go up as the audience realizes this has happened before. "The same thing happened--Jack summoned an epic meal with..." Brock then sings as Ash Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing as himself "The old man offered a bag that held anything in the world in exchange for the table, Jack traded it, but had it brought back to him by a brigade of dragoons. Now that he owned three magic objects, he resolved to return home. After disguising himself as a beggar, he asked passersby about the latest rumors. He learned that his brothers had become great men, and highly respected in all the country. When he heard that, he wasted no time in going to the door of their fine house and imploring them to give him food and shelter; but the only thing he got was hard words, and a command to beg elsewhere. Finally, at their mother's request, he was told that he could spend the night in the stable. Here he waited until everybody in the house was sound asleep, when he drew his bag from under his cloak, and pulled out a castle. The whistle gave him soldiers, archers, mages, and other heroes to guard the castle, while the table furnished him with a good dinner. In the morning, he caused it all to vanish, and when his brothers entered the stable they found him lying on the straw."

Interested murmurs fill the air as Brock returns to his place at center stage. "Jack remained here for many days, doing nothing, and--as far as anybody knew--eating nothing. This puzzled his brothers greatly, and they kept bugging him constantly about it, that he finally told them the secret of the table, and even gave a dinner to them, which far outdid any they had ever seen or heard of. But though they had solemnly promised to reveal nothing, somehow the secret got out, and before long reached the royal ears of the king himself. That very evening his chamberlain arrived at Jack's dwelling, with a request from the king that he might borrow the table for three days. Jack agreed, on condition that if he did not return it at the end of three days he would declare war. So the chamberlain carried away the table and took it straight to the king, telling him at the same time of Jack's threat, which they blew off as little more than hot air."

Giggles go up from the Meowtha as Brock goes on "The king was so delighted with the table, and the dinners it gave him, that when the three days were over he could not make up his mind to part with it. Instead, he sent for his carpenter, and bade him copy it exactly, and when it was done he told his chamberlain to return it to Jack with his best thanks. It happened to be dinner time, and Jack invited the chamberlain, who knew nothing of the trick, to stay and dine with him. The good man, who had eaten several excellent meals provided by the table in the last three days, accepted the invitation with pleasure, even though he was to dine in a stable, and sat down on the straw beside Jack."

He then sings as Ash Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

The Pokemon laugh at the awkward silence, but Brock intones as himself "But not even a cookie crumb appeared."

He sings as Ash again Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

He pauses for a beat before continuing as himself "Then it dawned on him what had happened; and, crushing the fake table between his hands, he turned to the chamberlain, who, bewildered and half frightened, was wondering how to get away."

"Tell your false king that tomorrow I will destroy his castle as easily as I have broken this table." he warns in his Ash voice.

As himself, he continues "The chamberlain hurried back to the palace, and gave the king Jack's message, at which he laughed more than before, and called all his courtiers to hear the story. But no one was laughing when they woke up the next morning and saw ten thousand cavalry, and as many archers, mages, pegasus knights, dragoons, spellsingers, and all kinds of other warriors surrounding the palace."

Laughter fills the air as the crowd pictures the king's reaction. "The king saw it was useless to hold out--he waved the white flag with one hand, and with the real table in the other, set out to look for Jack." Brock continues.

In an older male voice, he pleads "I committed a crime, but I will do my best to make up for it. Here is your table, which I own with shame that I tried to steal, and you shall have besides, my daughter, Princess Serena, as your wife!"

Applause goes up at this as Brock concludes "There was no need to delay the marriage when the table was able to furnish the most splendid banquet that ever was seen, and after everyone had eaten and drunk as much as they wanted, Jack took his bag and commanded a castle filled with all sorts of treasures to arise in the park for himself and his bride. When the old king joined Arceus in the heavens, Jack succeeded him, and there his ambition was satisfied. He could not hope to be more than king, and as long as he had his whistle to provide him with heroes, he was secure against his enemies. He never forgave his brothers for the way they had treated him, though he presented his mother with a beautiful castle, and everything she could possibly wish for. In the center of his own palace was a treasure chamber, and in this chamber the table, the whistle, and the bag were kept as the most prized of all his possessions. He reigned long and well, and was deeply beloved by his people."

The applause intensifies as Brock takes a bow....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 174: The Man with the Golden Beard (Misty)

(real tale: The Gold-bearded Man)

"Once upon a time there lived a great king who had a wife and one son whom he loved very much." Misty begins. The boy--we'll call him Kenta--was still young when one day, the king told the queen he felt that his time to die was close, and he wanted her to promise that she would never take another husband but dedicate herself to bringing up Kenta. Naturally, the queen burst into tears at the news, and vowed that she would never, never marry again, and that her son's welfare should be her first thought as long as she lived. Her promise comforted the troubled heart of the king, and a few days later, he joined Arceus in the heavens."

"Pini..." Happini sighs at this.

"But no sooner had the funeral rites been completed, did the queen realize that to promise is one thing, and to keep is quite another." Misty explains. "The last spadeful of earth had hardly settled over the coffin before she married a noble from a neighboring country, and had him made king instead of Prince Kenta. Her new husband was a cruel, wicked man, who treated his stepson very badly, and gave him hardly anything to eat, only rags to wear; and he would even have killed the boy if it weren't for the will of the people."

"Sounds like 'Cinderella'..." Melody notes.

"Now, by the palace grounds there ran a stream, but instead of water, it was filled with milk." Misty continues. "Both rich and poor flocked to it daily and drew as much milk as they liked. The first thing the new king did was to forbid anyone to go near the brook, on pain of being arrested. On top of that, the move was purely spite, for there was plenty of milk for everyone."

"Pika pi!" Pikachu sparks angrily at this.

"For some days no one dared venture near the banks of the stream, but eventually some of the guards noticed that early in the morning a man with a gold beard came down to the brook with a pail, which he filled up to the brim with milk, and then vanished like smoke before they could get close enough to see who he was. So they went and told the king what they had seen. At first the king didn't believe their story, but as they kept insisting that it was true, he assured them that he would go and watch the stream that night himself. Sure enough, at dawn the gold-bearded man appeared, and filled his pail as he always did. Then he vanished, as if by magic."

"Whoa..." Ash is impressed.

"The king stood dumbfounded at the place where the man had disappeared. He had never seen him before, that was for sure; but what mattered much more was how to catch him, and what to do with him when he was caught. He would have a cage built as a prison, and everyone would talk about it, for in other countries thieves were put in the dungeon, and it had been some time since any king had used a cage. It was all well and good to plan, and even to station a guard behind every bush, but it was no use, for the man was never caught." Misty explains. "They would sneak up to him softly on the grass, as he was stooping to fill his pail, and just as they stretched out their hands to grab him, he vanished before their eyes. Time after time this happened, till the king grew mad with rage, and offered a large reward to anyone who could tell him how to capture his enemy. The first person that came with a plan was an old soldier who promised the king that if he would only put some bread and bacon and a flask of wine on the bank of the stream, the gold-bearded man would be sure to eat and drink, and they could shake some sleeping powder into the wine, which would put him to sleep right then. Then there was nothing to do but to put him in the cage. This idea pleased the king, and he ordered bread and bacon and a flask of spiked wine to be placed on the bank of the stream, and the number of guards to be doubled. Then, full of hope, he waited and watched to see what would happen."

"So what happened?" Brock is interested.

Everything happened just as the soldier had said-- early the next morning the gold-bearded man came down to the brook, ate, drank, and fell sound asleep, so that the guards easily bound him, and carried him off to the palace." Misty intones. "In a moment the king had him captive in the golden cage, and showed him, with near-on euphoria, to any guests that visited his court. The poor captive, when he awoke from his induced sleep, tried to talk to them, but no one would listen to him, so he stayed completely quiet, and the people who came to stare took him for a hermit. He cried and bemoaned his fate to himself all day, and would hardly touch food, though, in dread that he should die and escape his tormentors, the king ordered his head cook to send him dishes from the royal table."

"I don't get what makes this guy so special..." Ash muses.

"The gold-bearded man had been in captivity about a month, when the king was forced to go to war upon a neighboring country, and left the palace to take command of his army." Misty continues. "But before he went he called his Prince Kenta to him and told him to make sure his captive had plenty to eat and drink, but not to let him escape, or even let out for any reason. If that happened, it would be his life in exchange."

The boys swallow hard as Misty intones "Prince Kenta was thankful that his stepfather was going off to war, and secretly hoped he would not return. No sooner he had ridden off did Prince Kenta go to the room where the cage was kept, and never left it night and day. He even played chess and backgammon beside it."

"Interesting..." Melody notes.

"One day he was practicing his aim with his bow, when one of his arrows fell into the golden cage. Prince Kenta asked for it back, but the gold-bearded man said he would, only if he was let out. Prince Kenta said no, and explained that if he did, it would be his life in exchange. The man handed the arrow through the bars, but when he had done so he pleaded harder than ever that Prince Kenta would set him free." Misty goes on. "Seeing him pray to Arceus for his freedom touched Prince Kenta's heart, for he hated seeing others suffer. So he undid the lock, and the gold-bearded man stepped out into the world."

"Pika?" Pikachu gasps, afraid for Prince Kenta.

"The man thanked Prince Kenta profusely, and said he would repay him a thousand times over before he vanished." Misty assures Pikachu. "Prince Kenta began to think about what he would say to the king when he returned; then he wondered whether it would be wise to wait for his stepfather's return and run the risk of dying in place of the captive. He finally decided to flee the castle and go out into the world."

[So what happened to Prince Kenta?] Mai asks.

"He snuck out of the castle when dusk fell, and for many days he wandered over mountains and through forests and valleys without knowing where he was going or what he should do. He had only berries for food. One morning, he saw a Pidove sitting on a branch. Just as he prepared to shoot, the Pidove spoke to him,saying she had two little ones of her own. Prince Kenta stood down, and the Pidove thanked him, saying she would repay him in return if he only sang 'Karuto, iichiida shou...'."

"Pini?" Happini smiles.

"Before long he reached the edge of a lake, and he spotted a wild Ducklett flying towards some reeds which grew near the shore." Misty explains. "Now, when his real father was alive, and he had everything to eat he could possibly wish for, the prince always had roast Ducklett for his birthday dinner. But before he could shoot, the Ducklett pleaded for him not to, as she too had two little ones of her own. Prince Kenta stood down and the Ducklett thanked him,saying she would repay him if he only sang 'Rou iitsa ron selga vichii'. He had not wandered far from the shores of the lake, when he noticed an Altaria in the water, and got ready to shoot, but the Altaria pleaded for him to spare her, as she had two Swablus of her own."

"Prince Kenta stood down, and the Altaria thanked him." Ash fills in the blank.

"She told him she would repay him somehow, if he only sang the song..." Brock thinks for a moment for a good spellsong before suggesting "'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...'".

Misty smiles,pleased the boys are paying attention. "He had not gone far when he fell in with two discharged soldiers looking for another job. When Prince Kenta told them he was looking for a job as well, they agreed to go together they went on, and on, and on, through at least seven kingdoms, without finding anything they were able to do. They finally reached a palace in a distant land, and told the king they were seeking a job.
The king appointed the soldiers as his new coachmen; but he made Prince Kenta his companion, and gave him rooms near his own. The soldiers were jealous when they heard this, for they didn't know who Prince Kenta really was; and they soon began to brainstorm ways to have him lose the king's favor."

"Uh oh..."Ash giggles.

"So one day, they came before the king and told him they had heard Prince Kenta boasting if he were the royal steward he would not lose a single grain of Cornn out of the storehouses." Misty continues. "The king ordered that a sack of wheat be mixed with one of barley, and gave Prince Kenta two hours to separate both grains, or else."

She waits for a beat, then continues "Prince Kenta hardly knew where to begin the impossible task, and in desperation sang Karuto, iichiida shou... The song was barely out of his mouth when a huge flock of Pidoves appeared, and they all separated the grains into two neat heaps in a matter of minutes. When the king came back he could not believe his eyes; but search as he might through the two heaps, he could not find any barley among the wheat, or any wheat amongst the barley. So he praised Prince Kenta for his industry and cleverness, and appointed him his steward. This made the two soldiers even more jealous, and they began to hatch another plot."

"I think I know where this is going..." Brock grins.

"They told the king a few weeks later that they had overheard Prince Kenta saying if he had the care of the royal jewels not so much as a gold pin should ever be lost." Misty goes on. "So the king had his daughter--we'll call her Motoko--throw her favorite sapphire ring into the river, and told Prince Kenta to find it in two hours, or else. He looked upand down both banks, but couldn't find it. In desperation, he sang Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

[And then? And then?] the Meowths beg

"He had hardly finished singing the song when a huge flock of wild Duckletts were swimming all up and down the stream looking with all their might, and found the ring in a matter of minutes." Misty replies. "The king was even more astonished at the cleverness of his steward, and appointed him keeper of the royal jewels."

Now you would have thought that by this time the king would have been satisfied with Prince Kenta and left him alone; but it wasn't long before the two jealous soldiers came to him with a new farfetched claim." Misty continues. "They told him that they had heard Prince Kenta say that he could call forth Meloetta, a talent which only the best summoners and mages had. So the king ordered Prince Kenta to summon Meloetta for him, or else be tied to a Ponyta's tail and dragged about until dead."

Azurill gasps at this. "In spite of what the soldiers had said, Prince Kenta had no inkling of magical power, and his task seemed more hopeless than before." Misty continues. "He lay crying in the chamber which he was forbidden to leave, when suddenly he heard a sharp tapping at the window, and, looking up, he saw the Altaria, and told her his dillema. The Altaria reminded him of the incantation of how to summon Meloetta, and Prince Kenta sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

"Sure enough, Meloetta appeared to him in a flash of light and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... herself, conjuring...." Misty thinks of an instrument for a moment, then continues. "a mandolin. With that, she played a set of tunes so lively and beautiful that even Prince Kenta forgot his sorrows as he listened."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings the same spellsong, conjuring a mandolin just like in the story.

Everyone listens as Melody plays a set of her own. When the applause dies down, Misty continues "Then she conjured a flute and a harp, and played them just as well!"

Ash and Brock fill in the music by playing their own solo sets on their own instruments. "The next morning the king went straight to Prince Kenta's room, and saw Meloetta play with his own eyes." Misty continues when Brock finishes his set on his harp. "he was amazed that Prince Kenta had summoned Meloetta, and that he had to be an archmage to pull off the feat. On top of that, Princess Motoko confessed her love for Prince Kenta, and they were married right there."

She concludes "When the festivities were finally over, he asked Prince Kenta how he pulled off all three tasks. Prince Kenta told the king everything, and thw king chased the two soldiers away with whips, and told them that if they ever dared to show their faces across the borders of his kingdom, they would die. As for Prince Kenta and Princess Motoko, they both lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 175: The Heroes and the Coach (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 64, story 3)

"Once a great hero slew a demon that was terrorizing all of Kanto--which is a story in itself." Ash begins. "He and his companions returned to the Aiiro City to a hero's welcome. So great was the celebration, even the Pokemon dropped what they were doing to cheer for the heroes that had saved Kanto."

"Must've been a really powerful demon..." Misty muses.

"The fervor was so great, that the people were still cheering for them for months afterwards--which made it hard to even stay at home." Ash continues. "It wasn't long before the summer festival was approaching, and the four of them contemplated how to get there."

"If they rode, they would probably be mistaken for invaders..." Misty muses.

"...and if they walked, they would still be mobbed by the people." Brock adds.

"So what did they do to get there to the festival unseen?" Melody wonders.

"Finally, one of them suggested they travel in a coach, like nobles did." Ash replies. "They agreed to the plan, and set out the next morning."

He waits for a beat, then continues "As they entered into town, another coach sped by, its young driver urging the Ponytas too much and going too fast. The heroes' driver tried to catch up to the rogue coach and tell the driver to slow down, but it eventually turned into a race between the two coaches, jostling the heroes all the while as they sped through town and crashed into everything."

Everyone laughs as they picture the wild chase. "It turned out that while the two coaches were making a mess of everything, they missed the entire festival." Ash interjects, quieting the laughter. "The heroes decided to walk home, and got mobbed by the people all the while."

He concludes "They didn't take a coach for a long time after that!"

"I can see why!" Melody giggles as she applauds.

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 176: The Water Lilly and the Goldspinners (Brock)

(real tale: The Water-Lily and the Gold Spinners)

"Once upon a time, in a large forest, there lived an old woman and three maidens." Brock begins. "They were all beautiful, but the youngest--we'll call her Heather--was the fairest. Their hut was quite hidden by trees, and none saw their beauty but Ho'oh by day, and Lugia by night, and Jirachi as he danced among the stars. The old woman kept the girls hard at work, from morning till night, spinning gold thread into yarn, and when one spool was empty another was given to them, so they had no chance to rest."

"And why couldn't they at least get a break?" Misty wonders.

"The thread had to be fine and even, and when it was done, it was locked up in a secret chamber by the old woman, who went on a few long journeys every summer. Brock continues. "Before she left, she gave out work for each day of her absence, and always returned at night, so that the girls never saw what she brought back with her, nor would she tell them from whence the gold flax came, or what it was to be used for."

"I have a bad feeling about this...." Ash shudders.

"Now, when the time came for the old woman to set out on one of these journeys, she gave each girl work for six days, with the usual warning: don't let your eyes wander, and under no circumstances speak to a man." Brock explains. "If they did, their thread would lose its brightness, and misfortunes of all kinds would follow. The girls would laugh at this oft-repeated caution, asking each other how their gold thread could lose its brightness, and how they had any chance of speaking to a man."

"And then some guy gets lost in the forest..." Misty guesses.

"On the third day, a young prince--we'll call him Grant--was hunting in the forest, when he got separated from his companions, and completely lost to boot." Brock replies, confirming Misty's prediction. "When he got tired of seeking a way out, he laid down under a tree, leaving his Ponyta to graze, and fell asleep."

He pauses for a beat, then goes on "The sun had set when he woke, and he kept working on a way to try and find his way out of the forest. At last he spotted a narrow path, which he eagerly followed and found that it led him to a small hut. The girls, who were sitting at the door of their hut to keep cool, saw him approaching, and the two elder girls were quite panicked , for they remembered the old woman's warning; but Heather talked them into having one look. The other girls pleaded with her to come in, but, seeing that she would not, left her, and Prince Grant courteously greeted Heather, and told her he had lost his way in the forest and was both hungry and weary. She set food before him, and was so delighted with his conversation that she forgot the old woman's caution, and lingered for hours."

"Pika pika chu?" Pikachu asks.

"Meanwhile, Prince Grant's companions sought him far and wide, but to no avail, so they sent two messengers to tell the sad news to the king, who immediately ordered a regiment of cavalry and one of infantry to go and look for him." Brock goes on. "After three days' search, they found the hut. Prince Grant was still sitting by the door and had been so happy in Heather's company that the time had seemed like an hour. Before leaving, he promised to return and take her to his father's court, where he would make her his bride. When he had gone, she sat down to her wheel to make up for lost time, but was dismayed to find that her thread had lost all its brightness. Her heart beat fast and she wept bitterly, for she remembered the old woman's warning and knew not what misfortune might now befall her."

Happini swallows hard at the thought of some terrible thing or another happening to Heather. "The old woman returned that night and knew by the tarnished thread what had happened in her absence. She was furiously angry and told Heather that she had brought down misery both on herself and on Prince Grant." Brock intones. "Heather could hardly sleep thinking about this. At last, she could bear it no longer, and resolved to seek help from Prince Grant."

"How could he help?" Misty asks, intrigued

"As a child she had learned to understand the language of Pokemon, and this proved to be a big help to her. When she saw a Murkrow preening itself on a pine branch, she cried softly to it..." Brock narrates.

"Dear Murkrow, cleverest of all Pokemon, as well as swiftest on wing, will you help me?" Melody pleads as Heather.

"How can I help you?" Ash asks as the Murkrow.

"Fly away, until you come to a great city, where stands a king's palace; seek out the king's son and tell him that a great misfortune has befallen me." Melody tells Ash as Heather.

"Heather told the Murkrow how her thread had lost its brightness, how terribly angry the old woman was, and how she feared some great disaster." Brock narrate when the applause for the interplay dies down. "The Murkrow promised to do her bidding, and, spreading its wings, flew away. Heather went home and worked hard all day at winding up the yarn her elder sisters had spun, for the old woman would let her spin no longer. Around sunset she heard the Murkrow's cry from the pine tree, and eagerly hurried to hear the answer."

[What did the Murkrow find out?] Mai asks.

"By sheer luck, the Murkrow had found a wind mage's son in the palace garden, who understood the language of Pokemon, and to him he entrusted the message." Brock goes on. "When Prince Grant heard it, he was very sorrowful, and took counsel with his friends how to free Heather. Then he told the wind mage's son..." In an older version of himself, he continues "Beg the Murkrow to fly quickly back to Heather and tell her to be ready on the ninth night, for then will I come and take her to the palace."

As himself, he continues "The wind mage's son did this, and the Murkrow flew so swiftly that it reached the hut that same evening. Heather thanked the Murkrow heartily and went home, telling no one what she had heard."

"Azu?" Azurill asks.

"As the ninth night drew near she became very worried, for she feared that some terrible mishap would come up and ruin them all." Brock intones. "On this night she crept quietly out of the house and waited trembling at some little distance from the hut. Suddenly, she heard the muffled beats of Ponyta hooves, and soon the armed troops appeared, led by Prince Grant, who had marked all the trees beforehand in order to find the way. When he saw Heather, he sprang from his Ponyta, lifted her into the saddle, and then, mounting behind, rode homeward. The moon shone so brightly that they had no difficulty in seeing the marked trees."

"Pika..." Even Pikachu fears something bad is about to befall Heather and Prince Grant.

"The coming of dawn unleashed all the songs of all the bird Pokemon, and, had Prince Grant only known what they were saying, or Heather been listening, they might have been spared much sorrow, but they were thinking only of each other, and when they came out of the forest the sun was high overhead." Brock intones. "The next morning, when she saw that Heather did not come to her work, the old woman asked where she was. The sisters pretended not to know, but the old woman easily guessed what had happened, and, as she was actually a wicked witch, determined to punish the fugitives. Accordingly, she collected nine different kinds of nightshade, added some salt, which she first bewitched, and, doing all up in a cloth into the shape of a fluffy ball, sent it after them on the wings of the wind."

[Oh no!] a Meowth gasps.

"At noon the Prince and his men came to a deep river, spanned by so narrow a bridge that only one rider could cross at a time. The Ponyta that Prince Grant and Heather were riding had just reached the middle when the magic ball flew by. The Ponyta in its fright suddenly reared, and before anyone could stop it flung Heather into the swift current below." Brock goes on. "Prince Grant tried to jump in after her, but his men held him back, and in spite of his struggles led him home, where for six weeks he holed up in a secret chamber, and wouldn't even eat nor drink, so great was his grief."

"Pi ni..." Happini sighs.

"He finally got so sick everyone feared the worst, and the king caused all the clerics and healers in the land to be summoned. But not one of them had a clue how to cure him." Brock goes on. "Finally the wind mage's son asked the king if he could call down Meloetta from the heavens, as it was said that with her holy spellsong, she knew more than all the mages and clerics in the kingdom combined."

"Wow!" Ash is impressed.

"So many prayers went up to heaven, and a week later Meloetta arrived on the wings of the wind and a song." Brock narrates.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody sings before continuing "Your Majesty, the wind has blown this illness upon your son, and a cursed ball has snatched away his beloved. This is what makes him grieve so. Let the wind blow upon him that it may blow away his sorrow."

"So the king had Prince Grant go out into the wind, and he gradually recovered and told his father everything." Brock narrates, acknowledging Melody with a nod. "The king tried to talk Prince Grant into taking another bride; but Prince Grant said he could never love another."

"And then?" Ash asks as he pets Korra.

"A year went by, until one day Prince Grant happened upon the bridge where his beloved Heather had been lost. As he remembered the painful memory, he wept bitterly, and would have given all he owned to have her alive again." Brock continues. "In the midst of his grief he thought he heard a voice singing, and looked around, but couldn't see anyone. Then he heard the voice again, and it said..."

Emis! Wennanned es es bonnizen, 'kas a vyas clii bor ester renna! Ve wemosted tee gees ris kizen, kee go ras gasa, gith fis cee zuar! Melody sings some gibberish in the holy language for effect.

"Prince Grant was stunned at this--he sprang from his Ponyta,, and looked everywhere to see if someone was hidden under the bridge; but no one was there." Brock continues. "Then, he noticed a yellow water lily floating on the surface of the water, half hidden by its broad leaves; but he knew normal flowers did not sing, and so he waited, hoping to hear more. Then the voice sang again..." He motions for Melody to sing.

Emis! Wennanned es es bonnizen, 'kas a vyas clii bor ester renna! Ve wemosted tee gees ris kizen, kee go ras gasa, gith fis cee zuar! Melody sings again.

"Prince Grant suddenly remembered the gold spinners, and thought to himself: 'If I ride there, maybe they could explain this to me...'" Brock goes on. "He rode to the hut, and found the two maidens at the fountain. He told them what had happened to their sister the year before, and how he had twice heard a strange song, but yet could see no singer. They concluded that the yellow water lily could be none other than their sister, who was not dead, but transformed by the magic ball. Before he went to bed, the eldest girl made a cake of magic herbs, which she gave him to eat."

"And he turned into a Froagie, or something!" Ash guesses.

"That night, he dreamed that he was living in the forest and could understand all that the Pokemon said to each other." Brock replies, shooting down Ash's prediction. "The next morning, he told this to the girls, and they said that the enchanted cake had caused it, and advised him to listen well to the Pokemon, and see what they could tell him. When he had recovered his bride they pleaded with him to return and deliver them from their bondage."

"Then what?" Misty asks, excited.

"Having promised this, Prince Grant started for home, and as he was riding through the forest he could perfectly understand all that the Pokemon said." Brock replies. "He heard a Pikachu say to a Fletchling...

"How stupid people are! They cannot understand the simplest thing." Ash interjects in a voice that more or les sounds like Pikachu. "It has now been a year since the girl was transformed into a water lily, and, though she sings so sadly that anyone going over the bridge must hear her, yet no one comes to her aid. Her former bridegroom rode over it a few days ago and heard her singing, but was no wiser than the rest."

"And he is to blame for all her misfortunes," Melody adds as the Fletchling. "If he heeds only the words of men she will remain a flower forever. She were soon delivered were the matter only laid before Meloetta."

Brock waits for the applause to die down before continuing "After hearing this, Prince Grant wondered how he could get a message conveyed to Meloetta. He then overheard one Taillow telling another how he wished he could hear Meloetta sing. Prince Grant then asked the Taillows to ask Meloetta how he could restore a maiden transformed into a flower to her true form."

[What did Meloetta say?] a Meowth asks.

"The Taillows flew away, and Prince Grant rode on to the bridge. There he waited, hoping to hear the song. But he heard nothing but the rushing of the water and the moaning of the wind, and, disappointed, rode home." Brock replies. "A few days later, he was sitting in the garden, thinking that the Taillows must have forgotten his message, when he saw an Braviary flying above him. The magnificent Pokemon gradually descended until it perched on a tree close to Prince Grant and told him..."

In a deeper version of himself, he intones "Meloetta greets you from heaven and bids me to tell you that you free the maiden like so: Go to the river and douse yourself completely in water; then sing this magic song--'Rou iitsa ron selga vichii' and you will transform into a Buizel. Dive into the water, swim as close as you can to the water lily's roots, and loosen them from the mud and reeds. This done, hold onto the roots and rise with them to the surface. Let the water flow all over the flower, and drift with the current until you come to an oak tree on the left bank with a large stone nearby. Stop there and sing this magic song: 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul' and you both will be restored to your true forms."

As himself, Brock continues "Prince Grant let some time pass before he worked up the courage to attempt to rescue Heather. So he mounted his Ponyta and went to the bridge. Again he heard the water lily's lament, and after dousing himself completely in water, sang Rou iitsa ron selga vichii..., transformed into a Buizel in a flash of blue light, and plunged into the river. For a moment the water hissed in his ears, and then all was silent. He swam up to the plant and began to loosen its roots, but so firmly were they fixed in the mud and reeds that this took him a long time. He then grasped them and rose to the surface, letting the water flow over the flower. The current carried them down the stream, but nowhere could he see the oak tree."

"So where was the oak tree?" Ash wonders.

"He finally saw it and the rock some minutes later." Brock replies he climbed on the bank and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... and to his delight found himself once more a prince, and Heather was by his side. She was ten times more beautiful than before, and wore a magnificent pale yellow robe, sparkling with jewels. She thanked him for having freed her from the cruel witch's power, and confessed her love for him."

[Aw...] the Meowths chorus as Ash and Misty start to applaud, thinking the story's over.

"But when they came to the bridge where he had left his Ponyta, it was nowhere to be seen." Brock interrupts, quieting the applause. "Though Prince Grant thought he had been a Buizel only a few hours, he had in reality been under the water for more than ten days. While they were wondering how they should reach his father's court, they saw a splendid coach driven by six festively decorated Rapidashes coming along the bank. The king and the queen had been crying out to Arceus in hopes that their son was alive somewhere. Great was their delight and astonishment when Prince Grant entered the shrine, leading Heather by the hand."

He concludes "The wedding was celebrated right there, and there was feasting and merry-making throughout the kingdom for six weeks, at least."

"But what about Heather's sisters?" Misty reminds Brock. "Did Prince Grant save them from the witch like he said he would?"

"Prince Grant did keep his promise, and saved Heather's sisters." Brock assures Misty. "But that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 177: The Legend of Kari Leafgown (Misty)

(real tale: Kari Woodengown)


"There was once a king of a far away land who had just lost his wife." Misty begins. "His queen had left one daughter--who we'll call Kari. Now, Kari was as beautiful in heart as she was in looks, so it was nigh on impossible for any one to be wiser or prettier. For a long time the king wept for his wife, for he had loved her very much; but he finally got tired of living alone, and married a queen who had also lost a husband, She too had a daughter--we'll call her Kiara--who was just as mean and cruel as Kari was good and beautiful. The stepmother and her daughter were jealous of Kari because she was so pretty, but so long as the king was at home, they didn't dare hurt her, because his love for her was so great."

"I dread to know what would happen if the king had to leave..." Brock muses, a note of worry in his voice.

"Well there came a time when he had to go to war against a rival king." Misty replies. "The new queen saw that as a ticket to do whatever she liked; so she both starved and beat Kari and chased her about into every corner. Finally, she thought that nothing she could try would break Kari, and so she banished her to the royal barn to look after the Tauros and Miltanks. So she traveled with the Tauros and the Miltanks, and herded them in the woods and in the fields. Despite her best efforts, she hardly got any food, and she grew pale and thin, and was almost always crying."

"Poor Kari..." Ash sighs.

"Now, among the herd there was a great shining Tauros, which always kept itself very strong and sleek, and often came to Kari's side and let her stroke him. So one day, when she was crying yet again, the Tauros came up to her and asked why she always cried." Misty continues. "Kari didn't answer, but continued to cry."

"I know what it is, though you will not tell me; you are crying because the queen is unkind to you, and because she wants to starve you to death." Brock fills in the Tauros' dialogue. "But you don't have to worry about food, for in the ruby in my collar lies a cloth, and if you will only sing the song 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul', you can have as much food as you want."

"So Kari did as she was told, and sang..." Misty pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... and suddenly, all sorts of food and drink appeared before her in a flash of red light. She became healthy again, and grew so beautiful that the queen and Kiara turned red with anger at it. The aueen could not imagine how her step-daughter could look so well on such bad food, so she ordered one of her maids to follow her into the forest and watch her, and see what was happening, for she had the idea that some of the servants were giving her food. So the maid followed her into the forest and watched, and saw Kari meet the Tauros, sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul..., and millions of different kinds of food and drink would appear in a flash of red light, which Kari would then eat."

"Pini..." Happini smiles, starry eyed as she pictures the enormous feast.

"Meanwhile, the king returned home victorious." Misty continues. "There was great rejoicing in the palace, but no one was more glad than Kari. The queen, however, faked sick, and bribed the royal healer to say that she would never be well again unless she had some of the meat of the shining Tauros. Both Kari and the rest of the court asked the royal healer if there were no other means of saving her, and begged for the Tauros' life, for they were all fond of him, and they all declared that there was no such Tauros in the land; but it was all in vain."

"Pika..." Pikachu sparks angrily at the queen's plot.

"When Kari heard was happened she was devastated, and went down to the clearing to see the Tauros one last time." Misty goes on. "He too was standing there hanging his head, and looking so downcast that Kari held him close, crying all the while."

"What are you crying for?" Brock asks as the Tauros.

"Kari told him that the king had returned, the queen had faked sick, and she had made the royal healer say that she would never be well again unless some of his meat was given to her to eat, and that now he was to be killed." Misty narrates.

"Once they have killed me, they will kill you next," Brock warns as the Tauros. "If you trust me, we will flee this place tonight."

"Now, Kari thought that it was bad to go and leave her father, but that it was worse still to be in the same house with the queen, so she promised the Tauros that she would go with him." Misty continues. "That night, when everyone else was asleep, Kari quickly down to the clearing to the Tauros, and he took her on his back and got out of the courtyard as quickly as he could. So at dawn next morning, when the people came to kill the Tauros, he was gone, and when the king got up and asked for his daughter she was gone too. He sent forth messengers to all parts of the kingdom to search for them, and published his loss in all the shrines and town squares, but there was no one who had seen them."

"But what became of Kari and the Tauros?" Melody asks.

"Meanwhile, the Tauros traveled through many lands with Kari on his back, and one day they came to a great forest where the trees, and the branches, and the leaves, and the flowers, and everything else was made of gold." Misty continues. "But before they entered the forest the Tauros said to Kari...."

"When we enter into the forest, you must be very careful not to touch a leaf of it, or we will both be done for, for a troll with three heads lives here." Brock cautions as the Tauros.

"Azu!" Azurill gasps.

"Kari said she would be on her guard, and not touch anything." Misty assures the Pokemon. "She was very careful, and leaned out of the way of the branches, and put them aside with her hands; but it was so thickly wooded that it was all but impossible to go forward, and try as she might, she somehow or other tore off a leaf. It wasn't long before they came to the edge of the forest, and the troll came running up to meet them."

"Who is that who is touching my wood?" Ash demands as the troll.

"The wood is just as much mine as yours!" Brock retorts as the Tauros.

"We shall battle for that!" Ash declares as the troll.

"Bring it on!" Brock yells as the Tauros.

"So the troll and the Tauros charged to battle, and after a very long and drawn out battle, the Tauros won." Misty continues. "However, the Tauros was pretty banged up from the fight, so he told Kari to take the healing potion that hung at the troll's belt, and douse him with it; and he was healed as if nothing had happened."

[Then what adventure did they get into?] Mai wonders.

"The next day they set out, and they journeyed on for many, many days, until they came to a silver forest. The trees, and the boughs, and the leaves, and the flowers, and everything else was of silver." Misty continues. "The same thing happened--despite Kari's best efforts not to touch anything,she accidentally broke off a leaf, summoning a six headed troll. The Tauros and the troll fought, and the Tauros won, though he was battered afterwards, though he was fine after a healing potion bath."

"Interesting..." Melody muses.

"Then Kari and the Tauros came to a crystal wood. It was so beautiful that the crystals dripped off it, and the trees, and the branches, and the flowers, and the leaves were all of pure crystal. The same thing happened here, as well--despite Kari's best efforts not to touch anything,she accidentally broke off a leaf, summoning a nine headed troll. The Tauros and the troll fought, and the Tauros won, though he was battered afterwards, though he was fine after a healing potion bath. They traveled on a ways, until they came to a castle of another land." Misty continues, before motioning for Brock to speak.

"Immediately below the castle there is a Tepig sty, where you will dwell. When you get there, you will find a gown made of leaves which you are to put on, and then go to the castle and say that you are called Kari Leafgown, and that you are seeking a place to work. " Brock instructs as the Tauros. "But now I must leave you--you must lay the gold leaf, the silver leaf, and the crystal leaf by a certain rock. When you need me, simply sing 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul', as you have always done."

"Kari did as the Tauros told her to, then went to the Tepig sty, but all the way as she went she wept, and was very sorrowful. Then she put on the leaf gown, and walked to the King's palace. When she got there she went into the kitchen and begged for a place, saying that her name was Kari Leafgown." Misty goes on. "The cook felt sorry for her, and allowed her to work in the royal kitchen."

[Poor Kari...] a Meowth sighs.

"One day some guests were coming to the palace, so Kari begged to have leave to carry up the water for the Prince's--who we'll call Lucian--bath. But everyone laughed at her and scoffed that Prince Lucian would never look at such a fright as her. She would not give up, however, but went on begging until at last she got leave. When she was going upstairs her leaf gown made such a noise that Prince Lucian came out and said..." Misty continues.

"What sort of a creature are you?" Ash asks as Prince Lucian.

"I was to take this water to you," Misty replies as Kari.

"Do you think that I will have any water that you bring?" Ash challenges before accidentally splashing some water in Misty's face as he strikes a dramatic pose.

Misty isn't sure whether to yell at Ash for the mishap, but seeing the Pokemon and the Meowths, decides to continue for the sake of setting a good example for them. "She had to bear that, but then she asked permission to go to the shrine. She got that, for the shrine was close by. But first she went to the rock and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul....

[What did the spell do?] a Meowth asks.

"A Charmander appeared in a flash of red light and asked what she wanted." Misty replies. "Kari explained that she had gotten leave to go to the shrine and say a few prayers to Arceus, but that she had no clothes to go in. So the Charmander brought her a gown that was as bright as a red flame, and she also got a Ponyta too. "

"Wow!" Ash is impressed.

"When she reached the shrine she was so pretty and so splendidly dressed that everyone wondered who she could be, and hardly anyone listened to what the miko was saying, for they were all looking far too much at her." Misty explains. "Even Prince Lucian himself liked her so well that he could not take his eyes off her for an instant. As she was walking out of the shrine, Prince Lucian followed her, keeping one of her gloves in his hand. Then she went away and mounted her Ponyta, but before Prince Lucian could give Kari the glove back, Kari sang Karuto, iichiida shou... and raced away like the wind."

"Did he give it back?" Melody asks.

"Prince Lucian had never seen the equal of that glove, and he went far and wide, asking who owned the beautiful glove, but no one had a clue." Misty explains. "The next week, it happened again--Prince Lucian whapped a towel in Kari's face, she got leave to go to the shrine, she returned to the rock and sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... where a Squirtle gave her a gown as blue as the sea, and a Ponyta to boot."

"Pika." Pikachu smiles--he knows what is coming next.

"When Kari got to the shrine all the people were standing outside upon the hillside, and all of them wondered who on earth she could be, and Prince Lucian immediately knew who she was." Misty assures Pikachu. "There was hardly anyone who listened to what the miko was saying, for they were all looking far too much at her, and Prince Lucian fell much more deeply in love with her than he had been before. When he realized Kari had dropped her hanky and went to give it back, Kari just sang Karuto, iichiida shou... and vanished."

[And then?] Korra asks.

"The next week, Kari received a beautiful emerald gown from a Bulbasaur, and ended up losing her shoe as she left the shrine, where no one even bothered to listen to the miko." Misty goes on. "As Prince Lucian was asking around as to who owned the shoe,a passing Fletchling told him that it belonged to Kari Leafgown. Since he understood the language of Pokemon, Prince Lucian met Kari in the throne room, where the shoe fit!"

She concludes "Kari then threw off her gown of leaves, and there she stood in the emerald gown, and on her other foot she had the fellow to the shoe. Prince Lucian recognized her right then, and was so glad that he ran and took her in his arms and kissed her, and when he heard that she was a princess, he was happier still, and confessed his love for her. It wasn't long before they were married, and they all lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 178: Prince Milan's Escape (Ash)

(real tale: King Kojata)

"There was once a king of a far away land--we'll call him Ryori--whose beard was so long that it reached below his knees. Three years had passed since he had married the love of his life, but for some reason, Arceus had not granted him an heir, which bugged him immensely." Ash begins. "So one day, he left on a journey of discovery through his kingdom. He traveled for almost a year through the different parts of his territory, and after seeing everything there was to see, he started for home."

"What did King Ryori see on his adventures?" Melody is piqued.

"That's another story for another time." Ash assures Melody. "Anyway, as it was very hot that day, he commanded his servants to pitch their tents in the field until it cooled down enough to continue. Suddenly, King Ryori grew very thirsty, and as he saw no water anywhere, he mounted his Ponyta, and rode through the area looking for a river or spring."

"Did he get some water?" Misty asks.

"Before long he came to a well filled to the brim with water that sparkled like crystal, and a gold jug was floating on the surface." Ash continues. "King Ryori tried to grab the jug, but no matter how hard he tried, the jug always eluded his efforts and refused to let itself be caught."

Everyone howls with laughter as they picture the comical chase. "And I thought grabbing a bar of soap was bad..." Brock chuckles as he dries a tear of laughter.

Ash waits for the laughter to quiet, then continues "Finally, King Ryori gave up on the jug, so he bent over and lapped up the water so greedily that he eventually dunked his face in the water. But when he had his fill, he couldn't lift his head out of the water, because someone--or maybe someTHING--held his beard."

Misty swallows hard at this. "King Ryori pleaded and pleaded for the being to let go, but there was no answer; only an ominous being looked up from the bottom of the well with two great red eyes, glowing like rubies, and a wide mouth reaching from ear to ear. To top it off, the king's beard was held not by mortal hands, but by two ethereal claws."

"Darkrai!" Melody grumbles as she puts two and two together.

"Finally a deep and oddly pleasant sounding voice resonated from the depths...." Ash narrates.

"Your trouble is all in vain, King Ryori..." Brock intones in his go-to "Darkrai" voice, which sounds just like how Ash described it. "I will only let you go on condition that you give me something you know nothing about."

"King Ryori found Darkrai's request weird, but agreed anyway." Ash continues. "After he had dripped dry, he mounted his Ponyta and continued home with his retinue. When they approached the royal city, all the people came out to meet them with cheers and rejoicing, and when King Ryori reached his castle, the queen met him at the gate with the lord high chamberlain at her side. She held a bundle that had a newly born healthy baby boy inside."

"Uh oh..." Misty figures out what King Ryori will have to give up to honor his deal with Darkrai.

"Just then, it dawned on King Ryori what Darkrai had meant by 'something he did not know about', and the tears rolled down his cheeks." Ash continues. "All the courtiers were astonished at the king's grief, but no one dared ask him why he cried. He took the baby boy in his arms and kissed it; then laying the baby in its cradle, he calmed down enough to continue his royal duties."

"He had to find a way to save his son, right?" Melody wonders

"The secret remained a secret, though King Ryori's grave expression escaped no one's notice." Ash explains. "In the constant dread that his son would be taken from him, poor Ryori knew no rest. However, time went by and nothing seemed to happen. The years passed, and the Prince--who they had named Milan--grew up into a handsome young man, and King Ryori forgot all about the encounter with Darkrai that had happened so long ago."

The tent is silent, save for the rain outside as they wait to hear what happens next. "One day Prince Milan went out hunting, and while chasing a wild Emboar, he got separated from the rest of his party in the middle of a dark forest." Ash goes on. "The trees grew so thick and close together that it was almost impossible to see through them, only straight in front of him lay a little patch of meadowland. It was overgrown with thistles and rank weeds, and in the center of it all, a leafy Nomel tree stood. Suddenly, a rustling sound was heard in the hollow of the tree, and Darkrai flew out of it."

"A fine day, Prince Milan," Brock intones as Darkrai. 'You've kept me waiting a good number of years; it was about time for you to come and pay me a visit.'

"Who are you, in the name of wonder?" Ash demands as Prince Milan.

"You'll find out soon enough, but in the meantime do as I tell you." Brock replies as Darkrai. "Greet your father for me, and don't forget to remind him of his debt; the time has long passed since it was due, but now he will have to pay it. Farewell for now; we shall meet again."

Applause goes up for the interplay as Ash continues "With that, Darkrai disappeared into the tree, and Prince Milan returned home rather frightened, and told his father all that he had seen and heard."

"I bet King Ryori freaked out..." Misty muses.

Ash smiles as he confirms Misty's guess. "King Ryori grew as white as a Gastly when he heard the prince's story, and with a heavy heart he told Prince Milan what had happened the day he was born."

"Don't worry or distress yourself, Father," he assures his audience as Prince Milan. 'Things are never as bad as they seem. Only give me a Rapidash for my journey, and I wager you'll soon see me back again."

As himself, he continues "King Ryori gave his son a beautiful Rapidash that wore a gold saddle, and his favorite sword. The queen gave him a holy charm, and after many tearful goodbyes, Prince Milan set out on his journey."

[What adventures did he get into?] Korra wonders.

"He rode straight on for two days, and on the third he came to a lake as smooth as glass and as clear as crystal." Ash replies. "Not a whisper of wind moved, not a leaf stirred, all was silent as a graveyard, only on the still surface of the lake thirty Swannas, with shining plumage, swam about in the water. Not far from the shore Prince Milan noticed thirty little white dresses lying on the grass. So after dismounting from his Rapidash, he crept down under the brush, took one of the dresses, and hid himself with it behind the bushes which grew around the lake. The Swannas swam about all over the place, dove down into the depths and rose again and glided through the waves. After a while, they swam to the shore, and twenty-nine of them put on their little white dresses and instantly turned into so many beautiful maidens."

"Wow!" Misty is awed by the sight, but she quickly shoots The Look at a heart eyed Brock.

"When they finished dressing, they disappeared." Ash explains. "Only the thirtieth Swanna couldn't come to the land; it swam about close to the shore, and, after giving out a piercing cry, Prince Milan's heart was so moved with pity for the poor Pokemon that he came out from behind the bushes to see if he could be of any help. As soon as the Swanna spotted him, it cried in a human voice..."

"Oh, dear Prince Milan, for the love of heaven give me back my dress, and I will be so grateful to you." Melody fills in the dialogue.

"Prince Milan lay the little dress on the bank beside her, and stepped back into the bushes." Ash continues In a few seconds a beautiful girl in a white robe stood before him, so fair and sweet and young that no words were worthy enough to describe her. She gave the prince her hand told him..."

Melody flies over to Ash, takes his hand, and says "Many thanks, Prince Milan, for your courtesy. I am the daughter of a wicked mage named Jarkuna, and my name is Bianca. My father has thirty young daughters, and, as an envoy of Darkrai, is a mighty ruler in the underworld, with many castles and great riches. He has been expecting you for ages, but you need have no fear if you will only follow my advice. As soon as you come into his presence, prostrate yourself before him. Don't mind if he stamps furiously with his feet and says words not fit to repeat to young Pokemon. I'll attend to the rest, and in the meantime we had better be off."

Everyone applauds Melody's in character speech. "With those words, Bianca sang..." Ash narrates before motioning for Melody to sing.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody fills in the song.

"and both of them were warped to the underworld." Ash continues. "Jarkuna's castle was all hewn out of a single ruby, which gave the whole surrounding region an ethereal red glow."

"Oh my..." Brock is awed as he pictures the castle in the underworld.

"Jarkuna himself sat on a throne, a sparkling crown on his head; his eyes blazing like a red fire, and instead of hands he had ethereal claws just like Darkrai." Ash intones. "As soon as Prince Milan entered, he prostrated himself before the throne. Jarkuna tried to frighten Prince Milan by stomping loudly with his feet, glaring frightfully out of his red eyes, and saying words not fit to repeat in front of the little ones loud enough that the whole underworld shook. But Prince Milan, mindful of the counsel he had been given, wasn't the least bit afraid."

After pausing for a beat, he narrates "Finally, Jarkuna laughed, and said..."

Brock adds an evil chuckle before speaking in one of his standard villain voices. "You rogue, you have been well advised to make me laugh; I won't threaten you any more. Welcome to the underworld! All the same, for your delay in coming here, I will ask three tasks from you. Today you are free to go, but tomorrow I will have something more to say to you."

"Then two servants led Prince Milan to a beautiful apartment, where he lay down on the soft bed that had been prepared for him, and was soon fast asleep." Ash continues. "Early the next morning, Jarkuna sent for him, and said..."

"Let's see what you've learned." Brock interjects as Jarkuna. "I challenge you to build me a palace with a roof of pure gold, walls of marble, and windows of crystal. A beautiful garden must surround it, with fish-ponds and misty waterfalls. Succeed, and I will reward you richly; but if you fail, it is your life in exchange."

"Prince Milan trudged back to his room, and sat brooding over his fate till sunset." Ash continues. "When it grew dark, he heard a familiar song...."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody fills in the song.

"...and Bianca materialized in the room in a flash of blue light." Ash narrates.

"Good evening, Prince Milan. Why are you so sad?" Melody asks Ash as Bianca

"How can I not be sad? Your father has threatened to kill me, and I see myself already without a head, or worse." Ash sighs as Prince Milan.

"And what have you decided to do?" Melody presses Ash further.

"There's nothing I can do." Ash sighs in defeat.

"Now, don't be so foolish, my dear prince; but keep up your spirits, for there is no need to despair." Melody assures Ash. "Go to bed, and when you wake up tomorrow morning the palace will be finished, exactly as requested. Then you must walk around it, giving a tap here and there on the walls to look as if you had just finished it."

"The next morning, everything happened just as Bianca had said." Ash continues as himself. "As soon as it was daylight Prince Milan stepped out of his room, and found a palace which was quite a work of art down to the tiniest detail. Even Jarkuna himself was stunned at its beauty, and could hardly believe his eyes."

"Well, you certainly are a splendid craftsman," Brock smiles as Jarkuna. "I see you are very clever with your hands, now I must see if you are equally accomplished with your head. As you know, I have thirty daughters in my house, all beautiful princesses. Tomorrow I will line them up all in a row. You must walk past them three times, and the third time you must show me which one is my youngest daughter Bianca, or else."'

"Prince Milan thought he was done for, and sat down sulking at the window. Just how hard would it be to pick Bianca out of a lineup?" Ash asks his audience. "But then he heard Bianca's voice on the wind..."

"It is not as easy as you think," Melody cautions. "If I weren't able to help you, you'd never guess. We are thirty sisters so exactly alike that our own father can hardly tell us apart."

"Then what am I to do?" Ash asks as Prince Milan.

"Listen," Melody instructs Ash. 'You will recognize me by a tiny marking on my left cheek."

"The next day, Jarkuna led Prince Milan to his garden, where his daughters were lined up in a row in front of him, dressed exactly alike, and with the same smile on their faces." Ash narrates.

"Now, Mr. Know-it-all," Brock intones as Jarkuna. "look at these beauties three times, and then tell us which one is Princess Bianca."

"Prince Milan went past them and looked at them very closely." Ash explains. But they were all so alike that for all intents and purposes, they looked like one face reflected in thirty mirrors. But then, he spotted a very small pink splotch on one girl's cheek, and told Jarkuna that that girl was Bianca."

"You're right again," Brock gasps in amazement as Jarkuna; "'but I've still another challenge for you. Before this candle burns to a nib, make me a pair of boots reaching to my knees, or else."

"Prince Milan returned to his room in despair." Ash continues. "Bianca met him there and asked him..."

"Why are you so sad, Prince Milan?" Melody asks Ash again.

"How can I not be sad? Your father has challenged me to perform an impossible task. Before a candle which he has lit burns to a nib, I am to make a pair of boots." Ash explains as Prince Milan. "But what does a prince know of shoemaking?"

"And what do you mean to do?" Melody asks.

"Well, what is there to be done? What he demands I can't and won't do, so he can just kill me now and get it over with." Ash sighs in defeat.

"Not so, my friend." Melody assures Ash. "I love you dearly, and want to marry you, and I'll either save your life or die trying. Let's go while we still can!"

Ash waits for the applause for the interplay to quiet, then continues "With that, she sang..."

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Melody fills in the song.

"conjuring a pathway of ice that lead to the ground." Ash continues. "Then she led Milan out of the room with her, locked the door, and threw away the key. They hurried to the spot where they had warped into the underworld, and warped back to the lake in the world of light."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Melody sings again.

"Prince Milan's Rapidash was still grazing on the grass which grew near the water. The Rapidash recognized its master, and allowed Prince Milan and Bianca on its back. Then it took off like a rocket!" Ash cries. "Meanwhile, Jarkuna was waiting impatiently for Prince Milan. He finally sent his servants to find him, as he was getting tired of waiting."

"Uh oh..." Misty giggles in anticipation of a chase.

"The servants came to the door, and finding it locked, they knocked; but an ice ball that marked the start of the frozen path at the window replied in Prince Milan's voice, "Coming!" Jarkuna didn't buy this one bit, and sent the servants back to be sure Prince Milan was coming." Ash intones. "The ice ball always gave the same answer, but the prince never came. Finally, Jarkuna lost all patience, and commanded the door to be broken down. But when his servants broke the door down, they found the room empty. In his anger, Jarkuna rallied his troops to chase Prince Milan."

[And then? And then?] the Meowths beg.

"Prince Milan and Bianca heard Jarkuna's troops approaching, so Bianca sang..." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings.

"and turned herself into a river, Prince Milan into an iron bridge, and the Rapidash into a Fletchling. Behind the bridge the road branched off into a three way fork." Ash continues."Jarkuna's troops hurried after the fresh tracks, but when they came to the bridge, they stood there confused, not knowing which road to take, as the footprints stopped suddenly, and there were three paths for them to pick from. When they told their lord what had happened, Jarkuna sighed and said..."

"Oh, you fools! the river and bridge were them in disguise!" Brock sighs in frustration as Jarkuna. "Go back and bring them to me, or else!"

"Prince Milan heard the troops coming and thought he and Bianca were done for, but Bianca assured him..."

"As a being of the dark, my father is powerless before the Great Lord Arceus." Melody adds in character.

"So Prince Milan gave Bianca his holy charm, and Bianca invoked it...." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"and it bathed the path in holy light." Ash continues. "Jarkuna raced home to the underworld in fear, and he had every one of his servants beaten till they were at least three different colors."

Everyone laughs as Ash concludes."As for Prince Milan and Bianca, they had many more adventures before returning to Prince Milan's homeland, but that is another story for another day!