Tale 68: Inabiki's Bride (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 24, story 1)

"Once there was a family of Pikachus that lived in a certain house." Ash begins. "Before long, their only Pichu, a daughter named Inabiki, had evolved. That made her eligible for a mate."

"Fascinating..." Misty smiles.

"True--Pikachus can't reproduce until they evolve." Brock agrees.

"Now, Papachu didn't want Inabiki to go to just any old Pikachu, so Mamachu suggested that Inabiki marry Meowth." Ash explains.

He is cut off by Mai laughing. [But Inabiki would be eaten...most Meowths don't know any better to eat a Pikachu, and get horrible stomachaches.]

[Don't remind me, Mama...] One Meowth shudders at the memory of eating a Pikachu.

"Mamachu and Papachu asked Meowth if he would marry Inabiki." Ash continues, oblivious to the comments. "Before Meowth could answer, a Growlithe chased him off. Mamachu concluded that Growlithe was stronger than Meowth, and so asked Growlithe to marry Inabiki."

[And then?] Korra wonders.

"Before Growlithe could answer, his master, a young boy, called him back." Ash replies. "Mamachu concluded that a human was stronger than Growlithe, and asked the boy if he would marry Inabiki. Then, the Pikachus overheard some townsfolk saying the rice wasn't doing well, and concluded that rice was stronger than people."

"Pika?" Pikachu is confused as to how a plant is stronger than a human.

"They asked the rice stalk if it would marry Inabiki, but the rice stalk declined, saying that Ho'oh had refused to appear and help it grow. Mamachu concluded that Ho'oh was stronger than the rice." Ash explains.

"Now that makes more sense.." Brock muses.

"Papachu saw Ho'oh passing by, and asked her for a suggestion on the best mate for Inabiki." Ash goes on. "Ho'oh replied that the clouds were making it hard for her to fly that year, so that was why the rice was suffering. Mamachu concluded the clouds were stronger than Ho'oh, and asked a cloud to marry Inabiki."

"Pi pini ha pi?" Happini asks.

"One cloud said they were at the mercy of Suicune, and blown about as he ran across the plains." Ash replies. "Papachu suggested they ask Suicune. When Papachu asked Suicune to marry Inabiki, Suicune said..."

Brock fills in Suicune's dialogue. "Oh, but there is something stronger than me--the wall."

"So Mamachu asked the wall, and the wall replied that Pikachu bury through it many times." Ash continues.

[I see! We're back where we started again.] Mai muses.

"Mamachu and Papachu were surprised to hear how strong they were." Ash concludes. "Before long, Inabiki was married to a brave male Pikachu named Seiden, and they lived happily ever after."

"Pika..." Pikachu sighs dreamily as he pictures a perfect mate of his own...