A Threesome's Tales

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 31: Langston, Brad, and Keane (Ash)

(real tale: Long, Broad, and Quickeye)

"There was once a king who had a son he loved very much--we'll call the prince Luke." Ash begins. "Luke's father wanted very much to see Luke take a bride before he died. Luke wanted very much to please his father, but as there were many beautiful girls in the land, he didn't know which one to choose. Luke's father took him into the royal gallery, where many portraits of princesses hung."

"Pi..." Happini sighs dreamily at what the princess portraits may have looked like.

"There were many fine portraits in the gallery, but Luke noticed one princess that was not smiling, and told his father that was the princess he wanted to marry." Ash continues. "His father warned him that that princess, who we'll call Morgan, was being held captive in the castle of an evil wizard, who we'll call Arion. Many had tried to infiltrate Arion's castle, but none had returned. If someone could make the three enchanted jewels on Arion's belt glow, Princess Morgan would be freed."

Pikachu swallows hard at this. "Pika pika chu?" he asks.

"Prince Luke left with his father's blessings early the next morning, and it wasn't long before he got horribly lost in a forest." Ash replies.

"Did his servant read the map wrong?" Misty asks as she flashes a wry smile at Brock. Brock just chuckles as he remembers all the times they have gotten lost.

"Actually, Prince Luke was by himself." Ash interjects. "He befriended a man named Langston who had remarkable agility--he could stretch himself in all directions, and used his agility to find the way out of the forest. Prince Luke was touched by Langston's kindness, and offered for him to enter his service. Langston agreed to help Luke on his quest."

"Who else did Prince Luke meet?" Misty is interested.

"Langston introduced two of his friends to Prince Luke." Ash explains. "One was Brad, who could inhale anything in a single deep breath..."

"Pini!" Happini smiles.

"Yeah, like Kirby." Ash smiles. "The second was Keane, who could see things no average human could see."

"Azu..." Azurill is amazed at the prince's party.

"It was nightfall when Prince Luke and his party arrived at Arion's castle. There were all manner of stone statues of previous knights and adventurers that had tried to save Princess Morgan lining the halls." Ash continues. "Arion met them in the great hall. Sure enough, a jewel studded belt was around his waist, and a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald were the biggest stones on it. Arion told Prince Luke that he could have Princess Morgan if he could keep her from escaping for three nights. If he failed, he and his party would be turned to stone."

"And then?" Brock is interested now.

"Prince Luke fell madly in love with Princess Morgan, and the two spent a quiet evening together. After bidding Langston, Brad, and Keane to keep an eye on Princess Morgan, Luke went to bed."

"Pika pika?" Pikachu asks, eager to know what happens next.

"The next morning, Prince Luke saw Princess Morgan was gone. Keane informed him that Princess Morgan had learned a little magic herself, and was hidden in a forest a hundred miles away, disguised as an acorn." Ash assures Pikachu. "So with Langston's help, they brought the princess back. When Arion returned and saw the princess, the ruby on his belt glowed with his anger."

"What did he see the second day?" Misty is curious to know more about the castle.

"He saw servants, maids, ladies, minstrels, and Pokemon, all frozen in stone." Ash explained. "The party spent another pleasant evening together, but the next morning, Princess Morgan was gone."

"Which way did she go, Ash? Which way did she go?" Brock asks in character as a cartoon character.

Happini laughs when she recognizes who Brock is mimicking, but Azurill is confused. "Azu?"

"Remember that one Bugs Buneary and Daffy Golduck cartoon with the abominable snowman?" Misty asks Azurill. Azurill thinks a moment, but bursts out laughing herself when she puts two and two together.

Ash is also laughing at Brock's in character request, but eventually composes himself. "Keane saw that two hundred miles away was a mountain, and Princess Morgan was hidden inside as a diamond. So he and Langston brought her back, and the sapphire in Arion's belt began to glow in his sadness of losing Princess Morgan."

Brock then interrupts the story. "The reason I pulled the 'which way did he go, George' gag on you was to see how well you could stay focused among distractions. For a minute there, I thought you were not going to be able to go on, but you pulled yourself together and kept going--well done."

Remember to focus... Ash reminds himself as he continues. "The third day, Keane told Prince Luke that Princess Morgan has disguised herself as a pearl at the bottom of a great sea three hundred miles to the west. So Brad and Langston went out to retrieve the pearl."

"Pika?" Pikachu's eyes shine in anticipation of what happens next.

"Brad swallowed the sea, which allowed Langston to retrieve the pearl." Ash tells Pikachu. "The emerald in Arion's belt glowed when he saw Princess Morgan, and he was so consumed in his emotions, he exploded in a flash of light, restoring the castle and the people and Pokemon in it to life!"

"Azu!!!!" Azurill cheers.

"Prince Luke and his party led Princess Morgan to his homeland, where they were soon married. The prince said his goodbyes to his party a week later when all the festivities ended, but they kept in touch." Ash concludes. "As for Langston, Brad, and Keane, they told Prince Luke and Princess Morgan of their many adventures in their letters--but that is another story for another day!"