Tale 189: The Mint Leaf (Misty)

(real tale: The Sprig of Rosemary)


"Once upon a time there lived a man with one daughter--we'll call her Cherie--and he made her work hard all day." Misty begins. "One morning when she had finished everything she had been told to do, he told her to go out into the woods and get some dry leaves and sticks to build a fire."

"A thousand credits says she finds a boy, they fall in love, and marry." Ash jokingly whispers to Brock. Brock just grins--he knows Ash is not seriously making a bet.

Misty seemingly confirms Ash's prediction some moments later. "So Cherie went out, and collected a large bundle, picking a Mint Leaf for herself. But the harder she pulled the firmer the plant held, and after one great big tug, the mint remained in her hands. Then she saw before her a handsome young man, who asked why she had come to steal his firewood. Cherie, who felt very confused, only managed to stammer out as an excuse that her father had sent her.

"Very well," Brock replies as the young man; "then come with me."

"So he took her through the opening made by the torn root, and they traveled till they reached a beautiful palace, splendidly furnished, but only lit from the top." Misty goes on. "When they had entered he told her that his name was Eliwood, he was a great lord, and that he had never seen a maiden so beautiful as she was, and that if she would give him her heart he would take her hand in marriage. Cherie confessed her love for him, and so they were married."

"And they all lived happily ever after, the end!" Ash blurts.

"I'm not done yet, cowboy!" Misty reminds him. "Anyway, the next day the old housekeeper handed her all the keys, but pointed out one that she was told never to use, for if she did the whole palace would crumble to the ground, and the grass would grow over it, and she would be forgotten."

Ash swallows hard as Misty continues "Cherie promised to be careful, but after a while, when there was nothing left for her to do, she began to wonder what could be in the chest, which was opened by the forbidden key.

She adds as an aside "As everybody knows, if we once begin to think we soon begin to do."

Brock nods in agreement as Misty intones "It was not very long before the key was no longer in Cherie's hand but in the lock of the chest."

"So what was inside after all?" Ash wonders.

"Nothing but three magic jewels--a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald, which her husband, who was unbeknownst to her a mage, needed to cast spells." Misty replies. "Then the earth shook violently under her feet, the palace vanished as if it had never existed, and Cherie found herself in the middle of a field, not knowing where she was or where to go. She burst into a flood of bitter tears, partly at her own stupid act, but more for the loss of her husband Eliwood, whom she dearly loved. Then, after breaking a leaf off a mint plant nearby, she resolved, no matter what, to seek him till she found him again."

"What adventures awaited her?" Melody asks.

"So she walked, and walked. and walked some more, till she arrived at a house built of straw." Misty goes on. "She knocked at the door, and asked if they needed a servant. The mistress said she did, and if the girl was willing she might stay. But as the days went on, poor Cherie grew more and more sad, till at last her mistress begged her to tell her what was the matter. Then she told her story--how she was going through the world seeking after her husband. And her mistress answered her, 'Where he is, none can tell better than Ho'oh, Lugia, and Suicune, for they go everywhere!'

Pikachu sparks excitedly as Misty continues "On hearing these words, Cherie set forth once more, and walked till she reached Ho'oh's roost, calling..."

"All hail, Lady Ho'oh!" Melody announces as Cherie. "I have come to ask if you will help me in my hour of need. By my own fault have I fallen into these straits, and I am weary, for I seek my husband through the wide world."

"Indeed!" Misty replies as Ho'oh. "Do you, rich as you are, need help? But though you live in a palace without windows, I enter everywhere, and I know you."

As herself, she continues "Then Cherie told Ho'oh everything. and did not hide her own stupidity. And Ho'oh listened, and was sorry for her; and though she could not tell her where to go, he gave her a ruby, and and told her to invoke it in a time of great need. Cherie thanked Ho'oh with all her heart, and departed. After walking some more, she came to Lugia's roost, where a servant was sweeping the brush."

"All hail!" Melody replies as Cherie. "I have come to ask your help!"

'It is my master, Lugia, you seek." Misty assures Melody as the servant. "I will inform him of your request."

As herself, she goes on "So Lugia met Cherie, and when he saw her he knew her well, for he had watched her sleeping both in the cottage and in the palace. He told her..."

"Do you, rich as you are, need help?" Ash asks as Lugia.

"Cherie told Lugia everything, and Lugia listened, and felt sorry for her; and though he could not tell her where to find her husband, he gave her a sapphire, and told her only invoke it it when she was in great need. Cherie thanked Lugia, and departed, and walked even more until she came to Suicune's den, and she called to the servant cleaning the cave...."

"All hail! I have come to ask if you will help me in my hour of need." Melody calls as Cherie again.

'It is my master, Suicune, that you want," Misty replies as the servant. "I will tell him of your plight."

As herself, she goes on "Suicune met Cherie at the cave entrance. He knew her well, for he had seen her in the cottage and in the palace, and he asked..."

"Do you, rich as you are, want help?" Brock asks as Suicune

"And Cherie told Suicune everything."Misty continues. "Suicune listened, and felt sorry for her, and he gave her an emerald that she was to invoke only in a time of need. But Cherie didn't know where else to go. She was tired and sad, so she began to cry. Suicune nuzzled her to comfort her, and said..."

'Don't be afraid; I will go and see what I can find out." Brock assures the audience as Suicune.

"Suicune departed and was only gone for a matter of seconds, before returning in the twinkling of an eye." Misty narrates.

"From what I have heard in town..." Brock explains as Suicune., "I have learned that he is in the palace of the king, who keeps him hidden lest anyone should see him; and that tomorrow he is to marry the princess Connie, who, ugly creature that she is, has not been able to find any man to wed her."

"You can imagine the despair which gripped the poor Cherie when she heard this news!" Misty continues "As soon as she could speak she begged Suicune to do what he could to get the wedding put off for two or three days at least, for it would take her all that time to reach the palace."

[What did Suicune do?] a Meowth asks.

"He gladly promised to do what he could, and as he traveled much faster than a human, he soon arrived at the palace, where he found five tailors working night and day at Princess Connie's wedding gown." Misty continues. "Suicune leapt right in the middle of their lace and satin and trimmings of diamonds and pearls! They all went flying through the open windows, right up into the tops of the trees, across the river, among the dancing ears of Cornn Berries!"

The tent explodes in laughter at the chaos. "The tailors were not far behind, catching, jumping, climbing, but all to no avail!" Misty continues. "The lace was torn, the satin stained, the diamonds and pearls knocked off! There was nothing to do but to go to the shops to buy new ones, and to start all over again! It was plainly quite impossible that the wedding dress could be ready by the next day."

She intones "However, the king was much too anxious to see his daughter married to listen to any excuses, and he declared that a dress must be put together somehow for the bride to wear. But when he went to look at Princess Connie, she was such a figure that he agreed that it would be unfitting for her position to be seen in such a gown, and he ordered the ceremony and the banquet to be postponed for a few hours, so that the tailors might somehow make it fit."

The boys try oh-so-hard not to laugh as Misty continues "But by this time Cherie had arrived, albeit weary, at the castle, and as soon as she reached the door, she invoked the ruby Ho'oh gave her...

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and conjured the most beautiful purple cape in the world." Misty continues. "She then asked the guards if Princess Connie wanted to buy a fine cape. When Princess Connie saw the cape, she was delighted, for her white cape had been spoiled with everything else, and it was too late to make another. So she told Cherie to ask what price she would, and she would take it. Cherie asked for many pieces of gold, but Princess Connie had set her heart on the cape, and readily paid 5000 gold pieces."

Brock whistles in awe at the high price. "Now Cherie hid the gold in the pocket of her dress, and left the castle." Misty continues. "The moment she was out of sight she invoked the sapphire Lugia gave her..."

Rou iitsa non selga vichii... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and conjured the most magnificent petticoats that ever were seen." Misty continues. "Then she went back to the castle, and convinced Princess Connie to buy them too. "Then Cheriel went down the steps where none could watch her and invoked the emerald Suicune had given her..."

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

"...and the most splendid dress that any dressmaker had ever invented appeared in a flash of green light." Misty continues. "Princess Connie was eager to buy the dress too, and asked Cherie her price. Cherie answered that the price of the dress was the permission to see the groom."

"Oh boy..." Ash shudders at Princess Connie's reaction.

"Needless to say, Princess Connie was not at all pleased when she heard Cherie's reply, but, as she could not do without the dress, she was forced to give in, and contented herself with thinking that after all it did not matter." Misty continues "So Cherie was led to the rooms which had been given to Eliwood. And when she came close, she touched him with the mint leaf that she carried; and his memory returned. He recognized her right away, and kissed her, and declared that she was his true wife, and that he loved her and no other."

She concludes "They went back to Cherie's home, and lived happily all the days of their lives. But Cherie kept the magic jewels, just in case she needed their power again."