Tale 120: The Bean, The Straw, and the Ash (Misty)

(real tale: "Folktales in Japan" episode 42, story 3)

"Once, a woman was about to prepare some beans for her dinner one evening when one of them fell out of the basket," Ash decides to perform a "falling" sound effect with a slide whistle to illustrate Misty's point. "rolled across the floor..." Brock scrapes a stick on a rock for effect. "and into the grass."

The Pokemon giggle at the sounds. "The woman figured one missing bean wouldn't ruin the meal, and went to get some straw to light the fire." Misty assures her audience. "Suddenly, a breeze blew up, and blew a piece of straw near where the bean landed."

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"She figured one missing piece of straw wouldn't hurt anything, and lit the stove." Misty replies. Brock lights a match himself for effect.

"Pika?" Pikachu asks as Brock uses the match to light a camp stove.

"But one of the embers went flying out of the stove and into the grass, where it became a piece of ash." Misty explains. "The bean suggested that the three of them go to Wishmaker Peak. The straw and the ash loved the idea, and the three departed on their journey early the next morning, eager to ask Jirachi for a wish."

"Did they get there safely?" Ash asks, toying with the slide whistle all the while.

"The journey was relatively uneventful until they came to a raging river." Misty replies. "The straw suggested stretching himself across the gap so the bean and the ash could cross. The ash volunteered to go first, but then made the mistake of looking down at the river far below and chickened out, burning the straw and sending them into the river." Ash does another "falling" note for effect, to the Pokemon's delight.

"The bean found this so funny, his shell split, making him cry in pain." Misty intones, quieting the laughter. "Luckily, a needle happened to be passing that way, and sewed him back up, creating the distinct black line certain beans have to this day."

Brock acknowledges Ash as the others applaud. Ash just smiles nervously and takes a bow...