Tale 149: Sorin's Trap (Brock)

(real tale: Kalulu's Trap)

"Once King Entei gathered all the Pokemon together to announce that that spring they would not only clean house, they would also build a new village." Brock begins.

"We've grown too crowded here," he explains as King Entei.

"But as King Entei spoke, assigning everyone a task, Sorin was too busy watching Chimchar swinging from branch to branch, all the while chattering with delight." he goes on as himself. "Sorin gasped as Chimchar leaped this way and that, but then he had an idea--because everyone knows Sorin is quite the trickster...."

Enthusiastic cheers go up at the familiar beginning, but Brock just grins and savors the applause for a moment before continuing. "The next morning, when all the Pokemon set off to build their new village, Sorin stayed behind in his burrow. He had collected dozens of vines, and he wove then together to make an ingenious noose trap, which worked almost like a Chimchar's tail."

Giggles of anticipation go up at this. "When Sorin was sure he was alone, he tiptoed toward Braviary's nest and whirled a vine in the air, catching the nest." Brock proceeds to pantomime twirling a lasso for effect. "As he pulled it down to the soft forest floor, one of Braviary's eggs rolled out. Sorin picked it up and ran home to add it to his collection of treasures. That evening, when Braviary discovered her nest lying on the ground, she called to the others..."

"A thief stole one of my eggs," he screams as Braviary. "We must catch him!"

Laughter goes up at Brock's melodramatic pose. "We'll leave the nest here," he assures the audience as King Entei. "Surely the thief will return tomorrow to steal another egg. But this time we'll catch him."

"But King Entei didn't know Sorin had heard the whole thing." he goes on as himself. "They would leave Delcatty to catch the thief. Strong and beautiful as Delcatty was, Sorin wasn't afraid, and that night while everyone slept, Sorin spread his noose of vines across the forest path to Braviary's nest, cunningly attaching it to two palm trees, disguising it beneath the forest floor. Then he returned home to sleep."

The group tries oh-so-hard not to laugh as Brock continues "The next morning, the Pokemon set off to work, but Delcatty stayed behind, hidden behind a tree. Sorin, meanwhile, hid himself in some bushes near the fallen nest and rustled some leaves. Hearing this, Delcatty leaped from behind the tree to protect Braviary's nest, but as she crossed the path, she tripped upon the noose. It wrapped around her paw, and a moment later she was swinging high in the air."

The audience roars with laughter as they picture Delcatty in the trap. "Delcatty called and called for help, but nobody heard her." Brock continues when the laughter quiets. "This gave Sorin time to snatch another egg."

"And then?" Misty asks, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye.

"In the evening when the Pokemon returned, they found Delcatty swinging from the noose and quickly set her free." Brock replies, as if Misty's question was planned. "The next day, Primeape stayed behind to guard the nest, and he too was caught in the trap."

He adds as an aside "Needless to say, Primeape was deeply embarrassed when the others returned." to some laughter. "Liepard said he could outwit any trickster, but the next evening the Pokemon found him swinging from the noose. One by one, the other Pokemon all had their time in the trap, swinging foolishly in the air, unable to free themselves, and unable to protect Braviary's nest."

He then intones "Finally, only one egg remained."

"So who finally caught Sorin?" Melody asks.

"It was Wartortle who volunteered that night." Brock replies. "King Entei had his doubts, but Wartortle assured him she knew just what to do. That night, instead of hiding in the bushes, Wartortle climbed into Braviary's nest, just beside the last egg. She was hiding there when Sorin arrived to prepare his noose."

Ash and Misty grin at each other as Brock goes on. "When no one came when he rustled leaves, he crept to the nest and peered inside, where he swore he saw two eggs. He reached to grab the new, strange egg. As he did, Wartortle bit down as hard as she could on Sorin's foot."

More laughter fills the air as the audience pictures Sorin's reaction to the pain. "Sorin pleaded and pleaded for Wartortle to let him go, but Wartortle just held on, allowing the Pokemon to see who had been taking Braviary's eggs." Brock explains

He concludes "King Entei commanded that Sorin return Braviary's eggs, which he did, after Wartortle let go of his foot."

Even more giggles go up at this. "But as he limped home, he thought about just what trick he was gonna play next--cause that's Sorin for you!"