Tale 191: The Castle de Milagros (Brock)

(real tale: Soria Moria Castle)

"There was once a couple in a certain town who had a son named Garon." Brock begins. "Ever since he was little he had been unwilling to do any work, and many times just sat there in the ashes, which was ironic because his name meant 'guardian'."

Ash and Misty giggle at this. "His parents sent him away to learn one thing or another, but Garon never really stayed anywhere." Brock explains "After about two or three days--sometimes a bit more-- he always ran away from his master, hurried home, and sat down in the chimney corner to grub among the ashes again."

More laughter goes up as Brock continues "One day, a boat captain came and asked Garon if he wanted to come aboard his ship, and travel to exotic and foreign lands. Garon loved the sound of that, so he wasted no time in getting ready."

"Well, what exotic and foreign lands did Garon see?" Melody is interested.

"How long they sailed I have no idea, and the sheer number of adventures they had on the way are too many to tell in one sitting." Brock confesses. "but after a long, long time a terrible storm blew up, and when things had calmed down again, they didn't know where in the world they were, for they had wound up by a strange coast that no one had any knowledge of."

"So did Garon explore this exotic land?" Ash asks, excited at the prospect of adventure.

"Since there was no wind to make the ship go, it sat there for a good long time." Brock explains. "Finally Garon asked the skipper to let him go on the shore to look around and explore--it beat lying there and sleeping all day."

"Are you sure you look presentable enough to go out in public?" he asks in his best mimic of Drake for the skipper. "You have no other clothes but those rags!"

"That was pretty good!" Ash smiles, impressed at how accurate Brock's Drake impression is.

As himself, Brock goes on "Garon still begged to go, and the skipper said okay, but he was to return if the wind picked up enough to sail again."

"So what did Garon see on the island?" Misty wonders.

"Well it was a delightful land; wherever he went there were wide plains with fields and meadows, but as for people, there were none to be seen. The wind began to pick up some hours later, but Garon still wanted to explore some more." Brock explains. "After a while, he came to a great road, which was so smooth that an egg could be rolled along it without breaking. Garon followed this road, and when evening came, he saw a huge castle far away in the distance, with lights in it. He had been walking the whole day and had not brought anything to eat with him, so he was famished, to say the least. But the closer he came to the castle, the more afraid he was."

"W-what was in there?" Melody stammers.

"A fire was burning in the castle, and Garon went into the kitchen, which was more magnificent than any kitchen he had ever seen." Brock explains. "There were bowls and chalices of gold and silver and crystal, but not one human being was to be seen. When Garon had stood there for some time, and no one had come out, he went in and opened a door, and inside a princess--we'll call her Raina--was sitting at her wheel spinning."

"How...how can anyone dare to come here?" Melody gasps as Princess Raina. "But the best thing that you can do is to leave this place, for if you don't the troll will devour you--a troll with three heads lives here."

"I wouldn't mind even if he had seven heads, so I'm not scared!" Ash proclaims as Garon. "I'm not going anywhere, for I have not hurt anything, but I would like something to eat, for I am very hungry.'

"When Garon had eaten his fill, Princess Raina told him to try and see if he could wield the sword which was hanging on the wall." Brock narrates. "but he could not wield it, much less pick it up."

"Well, try drinking some of that potion of strength next to the blade--that's what the troll does when he wants to use the sword,' Melody suggests as Princess Raina.

"So Garon took a drink of the potion of strength..." Brock narrates, just as Ash opens and takes a drink of a soda. "and he was able to wield the sword easily."

"BA-Da-DA-DAAAAAAAAH!!!!" Misty can't resist singing the Zelda 'got item stinger.

"Just then, Garon heard the troll coming, and braced himself for battle." Brock intones."It was a very long and drawn out fight, but in the end, Garon was victorious!"

The Pokemon cheer at this. "Princess Raina was elated to be free, but then she remembered her two sisters, and asked Garon to free them too." Brock goes on. "The middle sister, Princess Valerie, was held by a six headed troll, and the eldest, Princess Saisha, was held by a nine headed troll. Needless to say, Garon saved both of them as well, and they were more than overjoyed to be together again, and they were happier than they had ever been in their lives. but of the three of them, Raina loved him best."

"And they all lived happily ever after?" Misty guesses.

"But Garon got homesick after a while, and longed to see his family again." Brock continues. "So the three princesses dressed him so beautifully that he would have been mistaken for a prince; and they put a diamond ring on his finger, which would warp him anywhere by invoking a song of power. They warned him that he was not to throw it away, or name them; for if he did, all his riches would disappear, and he would never see them again."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash sings as Garon.

"...and no sooner had he sang this did he find himself at home in the blink of an eye." Brock continues. "It was getting dark, and when his father and mother saw such a beautiful and handsome stranger, they were so startled that they both began to bow and curtsey, not knowing he was their own son. Garon then asked if he could stay there for the night. The couple refused at first-they had hardly the trappings fit for a prince. It was only when Garon asked to make himself at home in the ashes that they recognized their son.'

"Cue the happy reunion..." Ash smiles.

"In his excitement of telling his parents of his many adventures, Garon made the mistake of naming the princesses." Brock intones. "Just like they had warned, his riches disappeared, leaving him in rags again. Garon cried himself to sleep that night, but in one of his dreams, Princess Raina appeared to him, saying she and her sisters were waiting at the Castle de Millagros, a mythical castle said to exist somewhere in the world. The next morning, his parents pleaded for Garon to stay, but Garon said no--he had to find the princesses again, or die trying to find them."

"Poor Garon..." Melody sighs. Pikachu sniffles in agreement.

"Garon had three hundred gold pieces to buy supplies for the long journey." Brock explains. "When he arrived in town, he bought himself a Ponyta to carry his supplies, and set out while the sun was hot. He traveled over hills and fields, eventually arriving in a dark forest."

[And what frightful beasts lurked in the wood?] Mai asks.

"Not so much monsters as it was thick with trees that seemed to go on forever." Brock assures Mai. "But after wandering in the forest for two days straight, he saw a light shining through the trees."

"What was it?" Misty asks.

"He came to a little cottage, where an old couple lived." Brock replies. "He asked the old woman if she knew of the Castle de Milagros, and if she knew the way there."

"No, I do not..." Misty sighs in her best impression of an old woman. "but Lugia will pass this way soon, and I will ask him, and he will know. He can easily see it, for he shines on all things on his nightly flight."

"So when Lugia flew high above the treetops, giving them a silver sheen, the old woman went out and called..." Brock narrates.

"Oh, Lugia! Can you tell me the way to the Castle de Milagros?" Misty asks as the old woman.

"No, I cannot..." Brock replies in a deep and gentle voice for Lugia. "for when I shone there, there was a cloud in the way."

"Wait a little longer," Misty assures Ash as the old woman. "for Suicune will soon pass here, and he will know what you seek, for he breathes gently or runs into every corner."

"About then, the old woman noticed Garon's Ponyta, and offered to trade some enchanted boots for it." Brock interjects as himself. "Garon readily agreed, and wanted to set off immediately; but the old woman reminded that there was no need to hurry." It wasn't long before Suicune came--and he ran so fast that the walls creaked. The old woman went out and cried..."

"Oh, Suicune! Can you tell me the way to the Castle de Milagros?" Misty fills in the old woman's dialogue.

"Yes, I know that place well," Brock chooses a regal deep voice to represent Suicune. "I am on my way there to dry the clothes for the wedding which is to take place there soon. If your guest is strong, I can take him there."'

As himself, he continues. "Garon wasted no time in climbing aboard Suicune, He ran over hill and over dale, Garon hanging on tightly all the while. When they arrived in front of the castle and Suicune let him off, it was so full of Pokemon and people that it swarmed with them. But Garon was so ragged and torn from his ride aboard Suicune, and hid himself among the crowd until the day before the wedding, when a great feast was to be held at noon.

"Did Princess Raina recognize him?" Ash wonders.

"So just before the toasts to the bride and groom were made, Princess Raina recognized the diamond ring on Garon's hand, and asked the guests..."

"Who is most worthy to have one of us--he who delivered us from the trolls or he who is sitting here as my bridegroom?" Melody asks as Raina.

"Garon revealed himself to Princess Raina, and they were the ones married the next day." Brock concludes. "And they all lived happily ever after."