Tale 77: Three Axes (Ash)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 22, story 1)

"Have you ever wondered why upgrading the bomb bag in Zelda requires proving your honesty to a fairy?" Ash asks the others.

"Why?" Misty is piqued.

"The puzzle is itself a reference to this tale from Shinou, which Dawn told to Brock and me our first night together." Ash explains before beginning "There once was a woodcutter that lived in a certain village. And every morning, he went into the forest to cut wood. Although he would cut a lot of wood every day, he would not make much money. Although his axe was old, he took good care of it."

"Mm-hm, and then?" Misty asks as she pets Azurill.

"One day, as it was getting dark, he was still not done cutting down a certain tree." Ash continues, pantomiming cutting down a tree to prove his point. After wiping the feigned sweat from his brow, he continues "In his rush to try and finish cutting the tree down, he lost his axe, which fell in a spring."

"Pika?" Pikachu holds Happini and Azurill close.

"As the woodcutter pondered how to find his axe, Manaphy appeared to him and asked what the matter was." Ash assures Pikachu. "The woodcutter told Manaphy what happened, and Manaphy showed him a gold axe, asking if it was the right one--and the woodcutter said no. Manaphy showed him a silver axe next, but the woodcutter said that wasn't the right one either. When Manaphy showed him the old axe, the woodcutter recognized it right away as the right one."

"Sound familiar?" Brock asks Happini.

"Manaphy was pleased with the woodcutter's honesty, and gave him all three axes." Ash continues.

Ba-da-da-DAAAAAAAAHHHH! Brock can't resist singing the Zelda 'got item' fanfare for effect. The Pokemon find this hilarious and howl with laughter.

"Nice one, Brock!" Misty giggles as she wipes away a tear of laughter.

Ash waits for the laughter to quiet, then continues "The woodcutter was about to thank Manaphy, but Manaphy disappeared before he could say anything. He returned home and told his wife what happened. His wife explained that Manaphy rewarded him for being honest, and so they kept the gold and silver axes as heirlooms."

"Just like you get a bigger bomb bag by being honest with the fairy." Brock grins.

"The next day, a neighbor of the woodcutter came over and spotted the three axes." Ash continues. "The woodcutter told his neighbor what happened, and the neighbor was inspired to try and get three axes of his own."

[The problem with neighbors in stories is they are often greedy and cruel...] Mai mutters.

"It wasn't long before he found the spring and threw his axe into the water." Ash pauses to do this for effect. "Manaphy appeared, and the neighbor explained that he lost his axe. When he was shown the gold axe, the neighbor claimed it is his."

"Pini..." Happini giggles at Manaphy's likely reaction.

"This angered Manaphy, and he told the neighbor he wouldn't share with liars as he disappeared." Ash explains as the Pokemon giggle over Manaphy's reaction. "The neighbor was undeterred, and waded into the water in an attempt to find his own axe--and it is said he is still looking!"

"Moral of the story--be honest to fairies, spirits and Legendary Pokemon." Brock smiles as he leads the applause...