Tale 209: The Murkrow (Ash)

(real tale: The Raven)

"There was once a queen who had a little daughter, we'll call her Keri." Ash begins. "Princess Keri was an energetic baby ever since she first entered the world, and one night, she was so fussy and restless that her mother could get no peace. As she mulled ways to calm her little one, she spotted a flock of Murkrows passing over the castle. So she opened the window and said to her child..."

"Oh, that you were a Murkrow and could fly away, then I might be at peace." Misty sighs as the queen.

"No sooner had she said these words, did Princess Keri actually turn into a Murkrow, and fluttered from her arms out of the window." Ash continues. "She flew into a dark forest and stayed there for a long time, and her parents knew nothing of her. Once a man--we'll call him Morgan--was passing through the forest, and he heard the Murkrow cry. He followed the voice; and when he got close, it said..."

"I was born a king's daughter, and have been bewitched, but you can set me free." Melody requests as Princess Keri

"What must I do?" Brock asks as Morgan.

"Go deeper into the forest," Melody instructs, "and you will find a house and an old woman sitting in it: she will offer you food and drink, but you must take none of it. If you eat or drink any of it, you will fall into a deep sleep, and won't be able to set me free at all. In the garden behind the house is a big heap of leather, stand on that and wait for me. For three days, at about noon, I will come to you in a coach drawn by four young Ponytas the first time, by four normal ones the second time, and by four shiny ones the third day; and if you are sleeping, you will fail to set me free."

"Morgan promised to do everything she said." Ash narrates.

"But ah!" Melody gasps, "I know quite well you are not my rescuer; you will probably take something from the old woman."

"But Morgan promised yet again that he would not touch the food or the drink." Ash intones. "But when he came to the house the old woman came up to him."

"My poor man," Misty coos as the old woman, "you are quite tired, come and be refreshed, and eat and drink."

"No," Brock waves Misty away. "I will not eat or drink anything."

"Even if you eat nothing, at least take a drink." Misty offers Brock a glass of water.

"Morgan was finally convinced to take a drink." Ash narrates as Brock drinks the water. "That afternoon, about two o'clock, he went out into the garden to watch for the Murkrow. As he stood there, he felt tired, and couldn't stand it any longer, and laid down for a little; but not to sleep. But no sooner was he sprawled on the leather heap did his eyes close, and slept so soundly, not even an earthquake could wake him up."

"I wish I could sleep that well every night." Brock smiles.

At two o'clock the Murkrow arrived in the coach drawn by four young Ponytas, but she was sad, knowing already that Morgan would be asleep, and when she came into the garden, sure enough, there he was." Ash continues. "She got out of the coach, and shook him, and called to him, but he did not wake up. The next day at noon, the same thing happened--the old woman came and brought him food and drink, but Morgan would take nothing. But she kept bugging him until he took a drink. About two o'clock he went into the garden to watch for the Murkrow, but he was overcome with weariness that he could no longer stand, and had to lie down. He fell into a deep sleep. When the Murkrow came up with her four normal Ponytas, she was sad, knowing already that Morgan would be asleep. She went up to him, and there he lay, and nothing would wake him up."

Giggles go up as Melody tries to rouse a "sleeping" Brock. "The next day the old woman came and asked what was the matter with him, and why he would not eat nor drink; but he answered..."

"I neither can nor will eat and drink." Brock retorts as Morgan as he sits back up.

"But she brought the dishes of food and the cup of water, and placed them before him, and when he smelled it all, he could not resist, but took a deep drink." Ash continues. "When the hour approached, he went into the garden and stood on the leather heap to wait for Princess Keri; as time went on he grew more and more weary, and at last he laid down and slept like a rock."

Brock sprawls out on the ground, "asleep". "At two o'clock the Murkrow came with four shiny Ponytas, and the coach also glowed like the sun." Ash goes on. "She was sad, knowing already that he was sleeping, and would not be able to set her free. When she came up to him, there he was. She shook him and called to him, but she could not wake him up."

Giggles go up as Melody tries to rouse Brock again. "Then she laid a loaf by his side and some meat, and a flask of water, but no matter how much he ate and drank, it didn't matter." Ash goes on. "Then she took a sapphire ring from her finger, and put it on his finger, and her name was engraved on it." He waits for Melody to do this with a prop sapphire ring she discretely conjured beforehand. "She also laid by him a letter, which said..."

"I see that here you cannot save me, but if your mind is set, come to the golden castle at the edge of the world. I know well that where there is a will, there is a way." Melody muses.

"With that, she got into her coach, and went to the golden castle at the edge of the world." Ash continues. "When Morgan woke up and noticed that he had been sleeping, he was sad to think that she had been, and gone, and that he had not set her free. Then, spotting the things she had left, he read the letter. He immediately set off for the golden castle, though he didn't know where on the edge of the world it was."

[Where was it?] Tarina asks, sparking with anticipation.

"Just listen, sweetie." Brock pets Tarina to assure her that Ash will tell her at the proper time.

"When he had wandered around the world for a long time, he came to a dark forest, and spent two weeks trying to find a way out, with no luck." Ash continues. "Eventually he was so tired that he laid down under a clump of bushes and went to sleep. The next day he continued on, and that evening, when he was going to rest, he heard wailing and crying, so much so that he could not sleep."

Misty swallows hard."Was it a ghost?"

"He looked up and saw a light glimmering in the forest; so he got up and followed it, and found that it came from a house that looked very small, because a giant stood before it." Ash shoots down Misty's prediction. "Morgan thought to himself that if he were to try to enter and the giant spotted him, he was toast. But he made up his mind, and walked in--and the giant spotted him!"

Gasps go up at the turn of events. "I am glad you have come," Brock smiles in his standard gentle deep voice for giants. "It has been a long time since I have had anything to eat; you will make a good dinner.

"That may be," Ash replies as Morgan, "but I would not relish it; besides, if you want to eat, I have somewhat here that may satisfy you."

"If that is true," Brock muses as the giant, "be at ease--it was only for want of something better that I wished to eat you."

They went inside and sat down to dinner, and Morgan brought out plenty of bread, meat, and drink." Ash narrates. The giant was pleased, and ate to his heart's content. After a while, Morgan asked him if he could tell him where the golden castle at the edge of the world was.

"I will look on my magical map," Brock offers as the giant, "for on it all towns and villages and houses are marked."

"So he brought down the map in his room, and looked for the castle, but it was not to be found." Ash narrates as Brock pantomimes studying a map.

"Never mind," Brock sighs as the giant. "I have upstairs in the cupboard much bigger maps than this; we will have a look at them."

"And so they did, but all in vain." Ash continues. "Morgan wanted to continue his journey, but the giant begged him to stay a little longer, until his brother, who had gone to town to buy supplies, returned. When the brother came, they asked him about the golden castle at the edge of the world.

"When I have had time to eat, I will look at the map." Brock assures the audience in a slightly younger giant voice.

He went into his room with them, and they looked at his maps, but couldn't find anything." Ash continues. "He brought in other old maps, and they never stopped searching until they found the golden castle at the edge of the world, but it was many thousand miles away."

"How will I ever get there?" he sighs as Morgan.

"I have a couple of hours to spare," Brock offers as the giant, "and I will start you on your way, at least."

"The giant guided Morgan until they got within five days journey of the castle, then left Morgan on his own." Ash continues. "Finally, he came to the golden castle at the edge of the world. It stood on a mountain of glass, and he could see Princess Keri circling around it, then going inside. He rejoiced when he saw her, and began to climb the mountain to get to her; but it was so slippery, as fast as he went he fell back again."

Laughter goes up at this. "When he saw this he thought he would never reach her, and thought seriously about giving up, but he decided to stay at the foot of the mountain and wait for her. So he built himself a house, and waited a whole year; and every day he saw Princess Keri circle around go in, but was never able to reach her."

"Did he ever reach her?" Misty wonders.

"One day he looked out and saw three bandits fighting over something." Ash explains. "When he went out and asked them what they were fighting over, one of them told him he had found a stick which would open any door only by touching it to the door and casting a spell. The second said he had found a cloak which, if worn, made the wearer invisible. The third said he had a Ponyta that would ride over everything, even the glass mountain. They were fighting because they could not agree whether they should keep the magical items for themselves,or share them.

"Suppose we make a bargain," Brock offers as Morgan; "I will confess I have no money, but I have other things more valuable to exchange for these. I will, however, try them out beforehand, to see if you are telling the truth."

"So they let him mount the Ponyta, and put the cloak on him, and they gave him the stick, and as soon as he had all of them, he was not to be seen; but he gave them all a sound thrashing!" Ash grins.

"Now, you good-for-nothing fellows, you have got what you deserve; perhaps you will be satisfied now!" Brock cries as Morgan as he whacks the cooler with a stick he picked up from earlier, making everyone howl with laughter at the comical scene.

Once Ash recovers, he continues "He rode up the glass mountain, and when he reached the castle gates he found them locked; but he touched his stick to the door, and sang..."

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

"and it opened with a creak." Ash continues. He walked in, and went up the stairs to the great room where Princess Keri sat with a golden cup before her. She could not see him so long as the cloak was on him, but as he approached he pulled off the sapphire ring she had given him, and threw it into the cup with a clink."

Misty gasps when she sees the prop sapphire ring in her hands. "This is my ring, and the man who is to set me free must be here too!"

"But though she looked through the whole castle, she didn't find him--he had gone outside, seated himself on his Ponyta, and thrown off the cloak." Ash explains. "When she came out to look, she saw him and shrieked out for joy; and he dismounted and took her in his arms, and she kissed him."

"Sorry, I don't do kissing scenes." Brock tries to shoo Misty away, but she eventually plants a small kiss on his left cheek, making him turn Charizard red.

Ash grins as he concludes. "Before long, Morgan and Princess Keri were married, and they all lived happily ever ever."