A Threesome's Tales

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 61: The Swanna Maiden (Misty)

(real tale: The Goose Girl)

"There was once a queen who had a daughter she loved very much." Misty begins. "We'll call her Eira. Now Eira was engaged to a prince of a neighboring land, and the two were very deeply in love. So on the day she was to wed, her mother saw her off with all her royal finery, her faithful steed named Epona..." At this, Ash fumbles for the harmonica. " and one of her maids, who we'll call Lila."

"Mm-hm, not a bad start..." Brock muses.

"At first, the journey was uneventful, but as time wore on, Lila grew more and more jealous of Eira, until one day, she forced Eira off Epona, and passed herself off as Eira." Misty continued to shocked gasps. "They arrived in the prince's homeland, and Lila's disguise was so convincing, even the prince believed Lila was Eira. The real Eira, meanwhile, was presumed to be a servant girl in need of work, and put in charge of the Swannas that roamed the royal grounds."

[That's not nice!] a Meowth gasps, appalled that someone would steal a princess' beloved.

"What Lila didn't know was that Epona could speak, but would only do so to those she knew." Misty explained. "For example, she knew when Eira was near because Eira would play a special song on the reeds that grew by the stables--which went something like this..."

Ash plays Epona's Song on the harmonica for effect. "Anyway, the next morning, after Eira had guided the Swannas back to roost, she went to the stables and saw the same kind of reeds grew in her beloved's homeland. So she picked a few and played the song..."

Ash plays Epona's Song on the harmonica again. "Sure enough, Epona came trotting up and said to her..." Misty uses an older version of herself to intone "My heart is troubled, princess fair. If your mother only knew, her heart would surely break in two."

"Eira was troubled at why Epona said this, so she went out and sat down on the hill, where she sang..." With that, Misty sings "Wind, wind, gently sway, blow my master's hat away. Let him chase o'er field and wold, till my locks of ruddy gold, now astray and hanging down, be combed and plaited in a crown."

"Sure enough a breeze came and blew the head Pokemon caretaker's hat away, buying Eira just enough time to put her hair up." Misty continues. This wore on for some weeks, until finally, the Pokemon caretaker went to the king and told him of everything that had happened. The king asked Eira if what her master said was true, but Eira was so afraid of what would happen, all she could muster was a sob. The king assured her that if something was bothering her, she could tell it to the pillows on a bed. So Eira cried to the pillows "Here I sit, deserted by all the world, I who am a princess, and a jealous lady has forced me to take off my own clothes, and has taken my place with my bridegroom, while I have to fulfill the lowly office of Swanna girl. If my mother only knew her heart would surely break in two."

[Poor Eira...] Korra brushes away a tear.

"But the king heard Eira's rant, and ordered her dressed in the best clothes in the royal closet." Misty continues. "He then told his son his bride was fake, and showed him the real Eira, who was even more beautiful. A great feast was held that night, with the prince and Eira getting the honored seats at the table."

[But what about Lila?] Mai asks. [Did she get her just desserts?]

"The king asked Lila what should the best punishment be for someone who lied to a king and the entire royal court." Misty explains. "Lila replied that that person should be banished, never to return to that kingdom on pain of death. Lila didn't know she had pronounced her own sentence, and she was banished the next day, never to return on pain of death. Eira was married to her rightful prince, and they all lived happily ever after."

"Moral of the story? Do not lie to a king." Brock adds, to some nervous giggles.