Tale 183: How Ho'oh and Lugia Met (part 1) (Misty)

(real tale: The Sister of the Sun)

"A long time ago, the Pokemon we know as Lugia was a young prince whose favorite playmate was the son of the gardener who lived on the palace grounds." Misty begins. "The king would have preferred Lugia befriend one of the pages who were brought up at court; but Lugia would have nothing to say to them, and as he was a little spoiled, and demanded his way in almost everything, and the gardener's boy was quiet and well-behaved, he seemed destined to be in the palace, morning, noon, and night."

"Interesting..." Ash notes.

"The sport the children loved best was archery, for the king had given them two identical bows." Misty explains "They would spend entire days trying to see which could shoot the highest. Of course, this was--and is--very dangerous, and it was a miracle they were not poked in the eye."

The boys chuckle at Misty's observation. "One morning, when Lugia had finished school for the day, he ran out to meet his friend, and they both hurried off to the grounds where they most often played. They took their bows out of the little hut where their toys were kept, and began to see which could shoot the highest. They somehow managed to both shoot at the same time, and when the arrows landed, the tail feather of a golden bird was found sticking out of one." Misty goes on. "Then there was the question of who shot the lucky arrow, for they were both exactly alike. Lugia declared that the arrow was his, and the gardener's boy was quite sure it was his--and on this occasion he was right; but, as they could not decide the matter, they went straight to the king."

"So what did His Highness decide?" Melody wonders.

"When the king heard the story, he decided that the feather belonged to his son; but the other boy would not listen to this and claimed the feather for himself." Misty replies. "Finally the king's patience ran out, and he yelled...

"Very well; if you are so sure that the feather is yours, then it is yours; only you will have to search until you find a golden bird with a feather missing from her tail. And if you fail to find her, it will be your life in exchange." Brock threatens as the king.

Silence fills the tent for a moment, save for the rain outside. "Lugia needed all his courage to listen to the king's words." Misty finally breaks the uneasy calm. "He had no idea where such a bird might be, or, if he discovered one, how he was to catch it. But there was nothing to do except do the king's bidding, and he felt that the sooner he left the palace the better. So he went home, put some food and supplies into a bag, and then set out early the next morning, hoping that some miracle might show him which path to take."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, interested

"After walking for several hours he met a Fennekin, who seemed to be friendly, and the was so glad to have anyone to talk to that he sat down and talked for while." Misty continues.

"Where are you going?" she asks as the Fennekin.

"I have got to find a golden bird who is missing a feather out of her tail," Ash explains as Lugia. "but I don't know where one lives or how I will catch it!"

"Oh, I can show you the way!" Misty assures Ash as the Fennekin. "Far towards the east, in that direction, lives a beautiful maiden who is named Ho'oh, which means 'the sister of the sun.' She has three golden birds in her house. Perhaps the feather belongs to one of them."

As herself, she continues "Lugia was delighted at this news, and they walked on all day together-- Fennekin in front, and Lugia following. When evening came they lay down to rest, and put the knapsack under their heads for a pillow. Suddenly, about midnight, a man approached and asked them where they were going. Lugia told him everything, which interested the man so much that he asked to go with them. So when the sun rose the next morning they set out again, with the Fennekin leading, and the man and Lugia following."

"So what happened when they reached Ho'oh's abode?" Brock is interested

"After some time, they reached Ho'oh's castle." Misty replies. "They stopped before the gate and discussed who would take the bird with the missing feather."

"I think it would be best for me to enter and steal the birds." she offers as the Fennekin.

'No, it is my quest, so it is only fair that I should go." Ash counters as Lugia

"You will find it hard to get ahold of the birds." Misty cautions as the Fennekin.

"Oh, what could possibly go wrong?" Ash asks as Lugia.

"Okay then," Misty sighs as the Fennekin. "but be careful not to make any mistake. Take only the bird which has the feather missing from its tail, and leave the others alone.

As herself, Misty notes "The man heard the whole thing, but did not interfere, and so Lugia entered the court of the palace. He soon spotted the three birds prancing about, though they were really wondering if there were some grain lying on the ground that they could eat. As the last one passed by him, he saw she had one feather missing from her tail."

She tiptoes up to a rock, as if she is Lugia sneaking up on the bird. "Then Lugia dashed forward and grabbed the bird by the neck so that she could not struggle. Then, tucking her comfortably under his arm, he ran for the gate. But just as he was about to go through, he looked back and caught a glimpse of wonderful splendors from an open door of the palace, which bought the bird a window of opportunity to escape."

The boys laugh as Misty continues. "He was so much fascinated by the sight of all the beautiful things that he could see through the door that he hardly noticed that he had lost the bird; and he did not remember there was such a thing as a bird in the world when he beheld Ho'oh sleeping on a bed before him.

Brock gains heart eyes for a moment as he imagines what human Ho'oh could have looked like, but Ash squeezing his hand snaps him back to the story. "For some time he stood there staring; then he snapped back to reality, and seeing that he had no business there, softly hurried away, and was fortunate enough to recapture the bird, which he took with him to the gate." Misty goes on. "This happened two more times--he would get close to the gate, then hurry back for another look at Ho'oh. But by the fourth time he returned to retrieve his bird, the other two birds began to squawk so loud that it woke Ho'oh up! She ran to the door and told Lugia..."

"You shall never, never, have my bird till you bring me back my guardians, the Beasts, who were carried off by a giant to his castle far away." Melody fills in Ho'oh's dialogue.

"Lugia trudged back to the palace gate and told his friends what had happened." Misty goes on.

"I knew that we would not get off so easily,' she grumbles as the Fennekin. "but we have not a moment to lose. Let's go find the beasts. Luckily, I know the way."

As herself, she narrates "They walked on for many days, till the Fennekin stopped and looked out at the road."

"The giant's castle is not far now," she explains as the Fennekin, "but when we reach it you two must remain outside while I go and find where the Beasts are being held. When I bring them out you must choose which one to ride, and flee as fast as you can; while I return to the castle and talk to the giants--for there are many of them--so that they may not notice the beasts' escape."

She continues as herself "A few minutes later they arrived at the castle, and the Fennekin, who had often been there before, slipped in easily. There were several giants, both young and old, in the hall, and they were all dancing around the three Beasts. As soon as they saw the Fennekin, they invited her to dance as well."

She is surprised when her fiddle and bow fly into her hands. Once Melody's silent request registers in her mind, she sets to work tuning up as the boys retrieve their own instruments..

Once everyone is in tune, she and Ash lead the way into a set of tunes. When the set ends, Misty continues. "When the giants took a break in between sets, Fennekin claimed that she knew a charming new dance, and that she would be more than happy to demonstrate it with the Beasts. The giants readily agreed, and set the Beasts free from their cages. Of course this was all a ruse for Fennekin to kick over the great torch stand that lited the hall, and in the darkness had led the Beasts to the gate. The man leapt aboard Entei, and Lugia aboard Suicune, and Fennekin returned to the hall before anyone had missed her. She found the giants busy trying to kindle a fire and get some light; but after a while, they realized the Beasts were gone, and they ran after the Fennekin as fast as their great legs could carry them."

Inspired, Ash switches to the harmonica and leads Misty and Brock into a slightly watered down version of "Catching the Fennekin" to represent a chase scene.

"It works better with a banjo as well as the guitar, fiddle, and harmonica." Melody suggests when the song ends.

Misty acknowledges Melody's feedback with a nod before continuing "The Fennekin, however, was far too clever to choose the same route that her friends had taken, but wound through of the forest, till at last even SHE was tired out, and fell fast asleep under a tree. She was so exhausted she never heard the giants coming, but before they could grab her, she had ran out of their reach." A grin forms on her face, then motions to Ash to play "Catching the Fennekin" again.

Pikachu sweeps Happini in his paws and dances with her as the tune is played again. "The Fennekin eventually lost the giants, and reunited with Lugia, the Beasts, and the man, and all six of them traveled night and day till they reached Ho'oh's castle." Misty continues when the tune ends. "You can imagine the joy and feasting there was throughout the palace when the Beasts appeared, who they had thought were dead. The palace denizens could not thank Lugia enough for going through such dangers in order to rescue them. The golden bird was given to him right then, and Ho'oh confessed her love for Lugia, saying that when she came of age in a few years, she would pay a visit to his home and become his bride. Lugia could hardly believe his ears when he heard what was in store for him, for he had won the heart was the most beautiful princess in the world; and however thick the darkness was, it was no match for her golden aura."

"Pini?" Happini asks, excited.

"So Lugia set forth on his journey home, saying his goodbyes to his friends on the way." Misty continues. "With the golden bird under his arm, he presented himself before the king, and told of all his adventures, and how he was going to have for a wife a princess so wonderful and unlike all other princesses, that the many colored aura she commanded could turn night into day. The king listened silently, and when Lugia had finished, he said quietly..."

"If I find that you have lied to me, I will have you thrown into a pool of tar." Brock half whispers in character as the king.

"It is true--every word of it!" Ash pleads as Lugia.

Misty grins, "But was Lugia doomed to be thrown into tar, and what else would he have to do to win Ho'oh? You'll find out on my next turn!"