A Threesome's Tales

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 190: The Speaking Cheri Tree (Ash)

(real tale: Amedeo and the Talking Tree)


"Once upon a time, there lived a wealthy man named Aidan who liked to collect rare and wondrous things." Ash begins. "One day, a stranger came and asked to see his collection."

"What kind of stuff did Aidan have?" Misty is interested.

"Aidan loved to show off his glassware and jewelry and rugs and lamps, but as the stranger studied these, she shook her head and looked quizzically at Aidan." Ash explains.

“You’re missing the best thing of all,” Melody interjects as the girl.

“What could I possibly have missed?” Ash asks as Aidan.

“You do not have the Speaking Cheri Tree, one of the rarest and finest things of all,” Melody replies.

"Well, That night, Aidan could think of nothing but the Speaking Cheri Tree." Ash goes on. "He hired men to scour the world, but his explorers and adventurers returned empty-handed. Some of them said there was no such thing."

"So what did Aidan do?" Brock is intrigued.

"Aidan thought the woman had been making fun of him." Ash explains. "He called her to his home, but she looked him in the eye and said...

“I’ve seen the Speaking Cheri Tree with my own eyes. I’ve heard it speak with my own ears.” Melody pleads as the girl.

“What did it say?” Ash asks as Aidan.

“Ever to wait for what will never be is the plight of he who does not see.” Melody replies.

The Pokemon giggle at Ash's confused look, but he continues "Aidan sent another team of adventurers and a year went by, but they too returned with nothing.By now, Aidan was furious, and ordered the police to arrest the woman."

Everyone gasps, but Ash assures his friends "Now, Aidan was an important man, and the police did not wish to upset him, but the woman said..."

"It is not my fault if Aidan’s men do not know how to search." Melody muses

“'Why else would she persist so?' Aidan wondered." Ash continues. "He decided he would find this treasure himself, so he set off early the next morning when it was still dark."

"Cue the adventure..." Misty smiles.

"After many days, he came to a valley where birdsong filled the earth and the air was thick with the scent of rich soil and leaves." Ash continues. "He lay down to rest, and just as he was falling asleep, he heard a voice call out..."

“Ever to wait for what will never be is the plight of he who does not see.” Melody intones.

"Was this a dream?" Ash grins at his friends. "Aidan looked around and again heard..."

“Ever to wait for what will never be is the plight of he who does not see.” Melody interjects.

“Who are you?” Ash calls as Aidan.

Misty and Brock giggle as he continues as himself "But nobody answered, and again he fell asleep, but when he woke at dawn he noticed a beautiful Cheri tree with its branches bending to the earth. He picked one petal of the soft pink flowers, and a voice said..."

“Why do you hurt me?” Melody pleads.

“Who are you?” Ash asks as Aidan.

“My name is Holly--I am the daughter of the king of a far away land, and a warlock has me under his spell,” Melody explains. "I will not be freed until someone swears to marry me, learns a magical song guarded by an ogre, and then sings it while laying his hands on the tree trunk."

Then, she freezes in fear, as if something or someone is there. “Shh,” she suddenly whispers, “the warlock is near.”

"Suddenly, the witch appeared and asked Aidan..." Ash narrates.

“Who were you talking to?” Brock asks as the warlock.

“Only the wind,” Ash replies as Aidan.

As himself, he continues. "The warlock did not believe him, but he could not prove him wrong, so Aidan decided to try to break the spell. Just as he was falling asleep in the woods, he heard thundering footsteps. An ogre was storming toward home, and Aidan knew ogres ate people. He quickly climbed a tree and hid, and the ogre passed by like nothing was there. At dawn, Aidan slid down the tree, and at the bottom stood the ogre’s daughter, a beautiful girl named Rana.

As Aidan, Ash tells Misty “Help me break the warlock’s spell, and keep me safe from your father.”

“If you wish to break the spell,” Misty cautions as Rana, “you must marry me.”

Ash interjects as himself "Now, Rana was lovely, but Aidan wanted to marry Holly, the girl of the Speaking Cheri Tree."

“I’m promised to another,” he sighs as Aidan.

“Very well,” Misty replies as Rana, “I’ll protect you and teach you the magic song.”

The Pokemon applaud the interplay as Ash continues "She led him through the forest, and when they reached its edge, she reached into a tree hollow and brought out a scroll and some magical powder. This she sprinkled upon his face and said...

“Close your eyes and wish and you shall be back at the tree.” Misty explains as Rana.

"He did just that, and sure enough, he was transported back to the tree in a second." Ash continues. "He laid his hands on the tree trunk, but just before he could sing the song written on the scroll, the warlock appeared."

Pikachu holds Happini close as Ash tells Brock as Aidan “I’m merely blessing the tree, and nothing more.”

“Very well,” Brock replies as the warlock, “but only say what I tell you to say.”

"Aidan knew he must not follow his directions." Ash continues as himself. "So when he told him to say words that he knew formed a curse, he sang the song written on the scroll..."

With that, he sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul....

Happini cheers at the gibberish song. "Before the warlock could protest, he disappeared in a flash of light, never to be seen again." Ash goes on. And in that moment a beautiful girl stepped out of the tree--Holly!"

The other Pokemon cheer as Ash concludes "They returned to Aidan's homeland, where they both lived happily for many years."