Tale 28: The Lucky Wheat Stalk (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 16, story 1)

"Since Azurill is sleeping, we can't do anything too noisy." Misty reminds Ash.

Ash thinks for a moment, then begins. "There was once a man who, despite his hard work and perseverance, was very unlucky--we'll call him Kichirou. One day, he went to the village temple, and asked Arceus for just a little luck. In fact, he spent the whole day in there, pouring his heart out to Arceus."

"What did Arceus say?" Brock is interested.

"Before long, night had fallen, and Kichirou soon fell asleep." Ash continues. "As he slept, Arceus appeared to him. The light from his holy aura was so bright, it lit up the shrine like the daytime."

"That must've been beautiful to see..." Misty sighs dreamily.

"Arceus told Kichirou to take the first thing he found when he left the shrine and travel westward." Ash continues. "Kichiro thanked Arceus and left, tripping over himself on the way out."

Misty and Brock giggle at this, and Azurill laughs in her sleep. "When Kichirou brushed himself off, he saw he had picked up a small wheat stalk. He pocketed it and started down the western road." Ash continues. "He didn't get far when a Venonat started buzzing around his head and annoying him."

"And he squished it with the wheat stalk." Brock fills in what he thinks will happen next.

"Actually, Kichirou couldn't bring himself to squish the Venonat, so he carefully caught it in his hands and tied it to the wheat stalk." Ash continues. "After walking down the road for a while, he passed a mother trying to calm her crying baby girl. When the baby girl saw the Venonat tied to the wheat stalk, she laughed."

"Aw..." Melody comments over the heartwarming scene.

"The mother thanked Kichirou for calming her baby girl, and gave him some Oran berries in exchange for the Venonat on the wheat stalk." Ash continued. "Kichirou went a little farther down the road, when he saw an exhausted girl under a tree. He felt sorry for the girl, and offered her the berries and some water. The girl thanked Kichirou for his kindness, and gave him some rainbow colored cloth as thanks."

"Pini..." Happini pictures such a cloth as Brock prepares her for a nap as well.

"Lunch will be ready when you wake up, okay?" Brock assures her.

"Remember this girl--she'll be important later." Ash reminds everyone.

"Who did Kichirou help next?" Melody is interested.

"A little farther down the road, Kichirou met a horseman tending to a wounded Ponyta. The horseman told Kichirou that he had been ambushed by Mightyenas, and in the ensuing tussle, his Ponyta's leg was injured." Ash continues. "Kichirou offered to trade the rainbow fabric for the Ponyta, and the horseman agreed--he figured the rainbow fabric would fetch him enough money for a new Ponyta to add to his herd. Kichiro took a break from traveling, and nursed the Ponyta back to health."

"And then?" Brock asks as he begins rolling meatballs for spaghetti.

"The next day, Kichirou and his Ponyta continued their journey west, until they came to what is now Celadon City." Ash continues. "The village elder noticed the man's Ponyta, and invited him to his house. As the elder and the man had lunch together, he introduced his daughter--we'll call her Aiya--to him. Kichirou was shocked when he recognized Aiya as the girl he helped before!"

"Oh...." Misty muses when she puts two and two together.

"I told you she'd be important later." Ash smiles before continuing "The elder thanked Kichirou for showing his daughter kindness. Kichirou settled down there, became very wealthy, fell in love with Aiya, and married her--although not necessarily in that order."

Misty and Brock giggle at Ash's quip as he concludes "Yet he always gave thanks to Arceus for the luck a single wheat stalk brought him."

Melody leads the applause. "That was a sweet tale..."

"Let's stick with the quick stuff until the babies wake up." Brock suggests...