Tale 60: The Seven Mareeps (Brock)

(real tale: The Wolf and the Seven Kids)

"Once an Ampharos became the proud mom to seven little Mareeps, who she loved very much." Brock begins. "One day, she had to go gather food for all of them, so she called them all together, and told them to be on the lookout for the great Mightyena that roamed the wood. She knew as well as her children that if he got inside, he would eat them all."

One Meowth swallows hard at this. "The Mightyena was also known to disguise himself as well, but his raspy voice and black fur always gave him away. The seven Mareeps, meanwhile, assured their mother they would be fine, so after they all said their goodbyes, Mama Ampharos went into the wood."

[And then Mr. Mightyena showed up, right?] a Meowth asks.

"That he did, and he called to the seven Mareeps..." Brock switches to a deeper version of his own voice. "Open the door--it is I, your dear mother."

As himself, he continues "But the seven Mareeps recognized the raspy voice, and didn't open the door. "So the Mightyena found some Combee honey and ate some in an attempt to literally sweeten his voice. But the seven Mareeps could see his black furred paws on the window, and didn't let him in."

"So what did they do?" Ash is piqued.

"They knew that the Mightyena would likely do anything in his power to get inside, including disguising his voice and fur." Brock explains. "So they found seven rocks that were about their size, and hid them in various places in the house--under the table, on the bed, in the oven, in the kitchen, in the cupboard, under the sink, and in the clock case. Their handiwork complete, they left the door open just a bit, and hid in a safe place to see when--or if--the Mightyena would return."

"But what about the Mightyena?" Misty was interested. "What was he doing while the Mareeps were busy?"

"Meanwhile, the Mightyena had gone into town and asked the baker to spread dough over his feet, and the miller to scatter white meal over his paws." Brock explained. "The baker readily complied, but the miller had refused at first. It was only when the Mightyena had threatened to eat him that he complied."

[Strange--Mightyenas are more afraid of humans than humans are of them.] Mai sighs.

"Well, the Mightyena has always been the bad guy in human lore since ancient times." Melody muses.

"When the Mightyena returned, he saw the door slightly ajar, so he burst into the house and ate what he thought were the seven Mareeps." Brock continues. "His meal over, he strolled into the meadow and curled under a tree to doze. When Mama Ampharos returned a few moments later, she was panicked to see the house had been ransacked, and frantically called for her children."

[And then?] Korra swallows hard at what will happen next.

"The seventh Mareep called back to Mama Ampharos, and explained just what he and his six brothers and sisters had done. The eight of them watched and waited to see what would happen when the Mightyena woke up."

"What happened when the Mightyena woke up?" Melody asks.

"He was very thirsty for one thing, and the rocks rattled inside him as he walked to a river." Brock replies before musing as Mightyena "What is this I feel inside me, knocking hard against my bones? How should such a thing betide me? I thought they were lambs, and now they're stones."

Everyone giggles in anticipation. "When the Mightyena bent over to take a drink, he fell in the water. Since he couldn't swim, he sank like the rocks inside him!" Brock continues as himself, to some laughter. "Mama Ampharos congratulated her seven children for being so clever, and they celebrated the Mightyena's demise that night, knowing he wouldn't bother them or any other Pokemon anymore."

[Interesting...] Mai muses. [I know you guys would do the same if a Mightyena tried to hurt you, right?]

[Yeah!] Korra replies. [We'd scratch him like no tomorrow!]