A Threesome's Tales

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 199: The Legend of Minnikin (Ash)

(real tale: Minnikin)

"There was once a poor couple who lived in a tiny, run down house, and they had neither food to eat nor wood to burn." Ash begins. "But if they had next to nothing of everything else, they had the blessing of Arceus so far as children were concerned, and every year brought them one more."

"Oh my!" Melody gasps as she picture a house full of children.

"The man was not pleased at this." Ash acknowledges Melody with a nod. "He was always going about grumbling and saying that it seemed to him that there might be such a thing as having too many children; so shortly before another baby was born he went into the forest for some firewood, saying that he did not want to see the new child; he would hear him quite soon enough when he began to cry for some food."

Giggles go up at the wry comment. "As soon as this baby was born it began to look around the room.

"Ah, my dear mother!" he pleads in a higher pitched version of himself, "give me some of my brothers' old clothes, and enough food for a few days, and I will go out into the world and seek my fortune, for, so far as I can see, you have plenty of children."

"Heaven help you, my son!" Misty gasps as the mother, "that will never do; you are still far too little."

"But the little boy was determined to do this, and begged and pleaded for so long that the mother was forced to let him have some old rags, and tie up a little bundle of food for him, and then he went out into the world." Ash goes on as himself. "But almost before he was out of the house another boy was born, and he too looked around him, and said..."

In a slightly lower pitched version of his first voice, he interjects "Ah, my dear mother! give me some of my brothers' old clothes, and food for some days, and then I will go out into the world and find my twin brother, for you have enough children."

"Heaven help you! You are far too little for that," Misty scolds as the woman; `it would never do.'

"But her words fell on deaf ears, for the boy begged and pleaded until he had gotten some old rags and a bundle of supplies, and then he set out into the world to find his twin brother." Ash goes on as himself. "When the younger brother had walked for some time he saw his brother a short distance in front of him, and called to him."

"Wait a minute," he muses as the brother; `you are walking as if you made a bet, but you ought to have stayed to see your younger brother before you hurried off into the world."

As himself, he continues "So the elder brother stood still and looked back, and when the younger brother had met him, and had told him that he was his brother, he said..." As the elder brother again, he suggests "But now, let us sit down and see what kind of food our mother has given us." .

"When they had walked on a little farther they came to a stream which ran through a green meadow, and there the younger brother said that they ought to name each other." he continues as himself. "As we had to hurry, and had no time to do it at home, we may as well do it here."

"What will you be named?" he asks as the elder brother.

"I will be called Minnikin," he answers as the younger brother before doing both voices at the same time. "and you, what will you be named?"

"I will be called Pippin."

Brock applauds the interplay, pleased that Ash has simultaneously performed two characters. "Having named themselves, they continued on their way." Ash explains as himself. "When they had walked for some time they came to a fork in the road, and there they agreed to part, and each take a different route. They had not gone very far before they met again. So they parted once more, and each took another route, but in a very short time the same thing happened again--they met each other before they were at all aware, and it happened a third time too. Then they agreed that one should go east and the other west."

"So where did they go?" Melody asks.

"But if ever you fall into any need or trouble," Ash cautions as Pippin, "remember this song--'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul', and I will come and help you; but only sing the song when you are in great need."

He answers Melody's question as himself. "With that, they said goodbye to each other, and Minnikin went east and Pippin went west."

"When Minnikin had walked a long way, he met an old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole it." With that Ash proceeds to swipe a marble from a bag of marbles Misty is organizing.

`Oh! oh!' Misty cries as the old hag, `what has become of my eye?'

`What will you give me to give your eye back?' Ash challenges as Minnikin.

`I will give you a sword which is such a sword that it can conquer a whole army, let it be ever so great,' Misty replies as the hag.

`Let me have it, then,' Ash replies Minnikin.

He continues as himself "The old hag gave him the sword..." Misty hands Ash a stick. "so she got her eye back." Ash then gives Misty the marble he swiped back. "Then Minnikin went on, and when he had traveled for some time he again met another old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole it before she was aware." He then swipes a different marble, and the rigamarole begins again:

"Oh! oh! what has become of my eye?"

"What will you give me to give your eye back?"

"I will give you a ship which can sail over fresh water and salt water, over high hills and deep valleys,"

"Let me have it then,"

As himself, Ash goes on "So the old woman gave him a little ship no bigger than a toy, and then she got her eye back..." He returns the marble he swiped. "and she went her way and Minnikin his. When he had walked on for a long time, he met a third old, old crook-backed hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin stole this eye too..." Brock chuckles as Ash takes a third marble. "and when the woman screamed and lamented, and asked what had become of her eye, Minnikin said...

The rigamarole begins a third time: "What will you give me to give your eye back?"

"I will give you the art to brew a hundred bottles of beer in one brewing."

Brock laughs even harder, as if expecting Ash to break out singing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall". "So, for teaching that art, the old hag got her eye back, and they both went their separate ways." Ash explains as he returns the third marble he swiped. "But when Minnikin had walked a short way, it seemed to him that it might be worth it to see what his ship could do; so he took it out of his pocket, and no sooner had he set it on the ground did it become much larger in a flash of blue light, and when the light faded it was as large as a typical sailing ship."

[Wow...] Mai gasps at this.

"Then Minnikin said..." As Minnikin, Ash calls "Now go over fresh water and salt water, over high hills and deep valleys, and do not stop until you come to the king's palace."

As himself. he goes on "And in a matter of seconds the ship flew away till it was just below the king's palace. From the windows of the king's palace many people had seen Minnikin come sailing there, and had gathered at the windows and peeked out of doors to watch. They were all so astounded that they ran down to see what kind of man this could be who came sailing in a ship that could fly. But while they were running down from the king's palace, Minnikin had gotten out of the ship and had put it in his pocket again. The moment he got out of it, it shrank back down to the size of a toy, and those who came from the King's palace could see nothing but a ragged little boy who was standing down by the seashore. The king asked where he had come from, but the boy said he did not know, nor could he tell them how he had got there, but he asked for some work in the royal palace. If there was nothing else for him to do, he said he could at least gather wood and water for the kitchen maids, and the king decided to let him do just that."

"Pika pika pikachu?" Pikachu asks.

"When Minnikin went up to the king's palace he saw that it was not its usual regal and colorful appearance--everything there was decorated with black." Ash explains to Pikachu. "So one day, he asked a kitchen maid what had happened."

"So what had happened?" Brock wonders.

"The kitchen maid explained that the king's daughter, Princess Rosin, was long ago promised to three trolls, and in a few days, one of them was coming to get her. The so called hero Ritter the Red had said that he would be able to set her free, but it was anyone's guess whether he meant it or was just boasting." Ash explains, to some giggles. "So when the appointed day came, Ritter the Red accompanied Princess Rosin to the seashore to meet the first troll, and he was to stay with her and protect her. He, however, was very unlikely to do much damage, for no sooner had Princess Rosin arrived by the seashore did Ritter the Red climbed up into a nearby tree, and hid himself among the branches."

"Some hero..." Melody grumbles.

"Pika pika pikachu, pi pika." Pikachu assures Melody.

"Princess Rosin cried and begged for him not to go and leave her; but Ritter the Red did not worry about that." Ash continues. "'It is better that one should die than two," he said. Meanwhile, Minnikin begged the kitchen maid let him go down to the town square for a short time."

"Oh, what could you do down at the square?" Misty asks as the kitchen maid. "You have nothing to do there."

"Oh yes, just let me go," Ash replies as Minnikin. "I really would like to go and play games with the town children."

`Then go!' Misty replies as the kitchen maid, "but don't let me find out you stayed out too late, and while you're out, bring some more wood for the stove"

"Minnikin promised this, and ran down to the seashore. Ash goes on as himself. "Just as he got to the place where Princess Rosin was sitting, the troll came rushing up with a great whistling and whirring, and he was so huge that he was terrible to see, and he had five heads."

`Fire!' Brock jumps in the role of the troll.

`Fire yourself!' Ash retorts as Minnikin.

`Can you fight?' Brock asks as the troll.

`If not, I can learn,' Ash replies as Minnikin.

Misty leads the applause. "So the troll tried to crush him with a great thick iron bar--the blows were so hard, dirt flew at least five feet in the air." Ash makes a form in the air to give his audience an idea of how high that is.

"Well!" he notes as Minnikin. "That was not much of a blow. Now you shall see one of mine."

"So he drew the sword he had received from the old hag, and slashed at the troll so hard, all five heads went flying." Ash continues as himself before poking Brock with the stick.

Misty tries oh-so-hard not to laugh at Brock comically playing dead. "When Princess Rosin saw that she had been saved, she was so happy that she did not know what to do, and cheered and danced across the beach." Ash goes on before doing a little dancing himself.

"Come and sleep a bit with your head in my lap," Melody interjects as Princess Rosin.

"she said to Minnikin, and as he slept she put a golden coat on him." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings, making an identical gold coat appear on Ash.

"But when Ritter the Red saw that the coast was clear, he lost no time in climbing down from the tree. He then threatened Princess Rosin, until she was forced to promise to say that it was he who had rescued her, for he told her that if she did not he would kill her." Ash intones, a little confused about what to make of the new clothes. "Then he took the troll's lungs and tongue and put them in his pocket, and led Princess Rosin back to the king's palace; and he returned to a hero's welcome, for the king did not know how to exalt him enough, and always set him at the most prominent place at the dinner table, to name one honor."

Pikachu sparks angrily at this. "As for Minnikin, first he went aboard the troll's ship and took a great quantity of gold, silver, and jewels with him, and then he returned to the palace." Ash continues. "When the kitchen maid saw all the treasure she was quite amazed, and asked him where he got all that from, for she was half afraid that he had not earned it honestly."

`Oh,' he answers as Minnikin, "I have been home a while, and these hoops had fallen off some of our buckets, so I brought them with me for you."

"So when the kitchen maid heard that they were for her, she asked no more questions about the matter. She thanked Minnikin, and for a time, all was well." Ash goes on. "The next week, the same thing happened, and everyone had the blues, but Ritter the Red said that he had been able to deliver Princess Rosin from one troll, so that he could very easily deliver her from another, and he led her down to the seashore. But he did not do much damage to this troll either, for when the time came for the troll to arrive, he said as he had said before: `It is better that one should die than two,' and then climbed up into the tree again. Minnikin again begged the cook's leave to go down to the seashore for a while."

"Oh, what can you do there?" Misty asks as the cook.

"Please let me go!" Ash pleads as Minnikin; "I really like to go down there and play with the other children."

As himself,he goes on "So she said that he could go, but he had to promise that he would be back by dark with fresh wood for the stove. No sooner had Minnikin got down to the beach did the troll came rushing along with a great whistling and whirring, and he was twice as big as the first troll, and he had ten heads."

Brock leads off the battle rigamarole. "Fire!"

"Fire yourself!"

"Can you fight?"

"If not, I can learn."

Ash quickly narrates as himself. "So the troll struck at him with his iron club--which was still bigger than the first troll's weapon--so that the earth flew at least ten feet in the air."

`Well!' he notes as Minnikin. "That was not much of a blow. Now you shall see one of my blows."

"Then he grasped his sword and struck at the Troll, so that all his ten heads went flying." he narrates before poking Brock with the stick again.

Everyone laughs as Brock comically plays dead again. "Sleep a while on my lap," Melody requests as Princess Rosin.

"and while Minnikin lay there she draped a silver cape over him." Ash narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Sure enough, Melody conjures a silver cape just like Ash described and ties it on Ash's shoulders.

After admiring the new cape for a moment, Ash goes on "As soon as Ritter the Red saw that the coast was clear, he climbed down from the tree and threatened Princess Rosin, until she was again forced to promise to say that it was he who had rescued her; after which he took the tongue and the lungs of the Troll and put them in his pocket, and then he led Princess Rosin back to the palace. There was joy and gladness in the palace, as you can imagine, and the king did not know how to show enough honor and respect to Ritter the Red."

Pikachu sparks angrily at the mention of Ritter the Red. "Minnikin, however, took home with him an armful of gold, silver, and jewels from the troll's ship. When he came back to the palace the kitchen maid clapped her hands and wondered where he could have gotten all that treasure, but Minnikin answered that he had been home for a short time, and that it was only the odds and ends which had fallen off some pails, and that he had brought them for the kitchen maid." Ash continues.

"Do we have to do the whole battle scene again?" Brock interrupts. "That stick hurts..."

"When the third week came, everything happened as it had happened on the two previous weeks." Ash continues, making Brock groan. "Everything in the king's palace was decorated with black, and everyone was sorrowful and distressed; but Ritter the Red said that he did not think that they had much reason to be afraid--he had delivered Princess Rosin from two trolls, so he could easily deliver her from the third too."

"Pika chu." Pikachu grumbles.

"He led her down to the beach, but when the time came for the troll to come, he climbed up into the tree again and hid." Ash goes on. "Princess Rosin cried and pleaded for him to stay, but to no avail. He stuck to his old speech, `It is better that one life should be lost than two.' Meanwhile, Minnikin asked to go down to the seashore."

"Oh, what can you do there?" Misty asks as the kitchen maid.

"However, he begged until he got permission to go, but he had to promise that he would be back before dark." Ash continues. Just as he had arrived at the seashore the troll came with a great whizzing and whirring, and he was much, much bigger than either of the two other ones, and he had fifteen heads."

Here we go again... Brock sighs before starting the rigamarole again. "Fire!"

"Fire yourself!"

"Can you fight?"

"If not, I can learn,"

"I will teach you!" Brock makes a lunge at Ash, but Ash steps aside, making Brock hit the tent.

`Well!' Ash notes as Minnikin. "That was not much of a blow. Now I will let you see one of my blows."

As himself, he narrates "With that, he drew his sword, and cut at the troll in such a way that all his fifteen heads rolled." before poking Brock with the stick again.

Everyone roars with laughter as Brock comically feigns playing dead again. "Then Princess Rosin was saved again, and she thanked Minnikin and blessed him for saving her." Ash narrates.

"Sleep a while now on my lap," Melody requests as Princess Rosin.

"and while he lay there she put a jewel studded suit on him." Ash narrates.

He gasps as Melody sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul..., making his remaining clothes transform into the exact suit he described. "But now, how shall we have it made known that it was you who saved me?" Melody asks as Princess Rosin.

"That I will tell you," Ash answers as Minnikin. "When Ritter the Red has taken you home again, and given out that it was he who rescued you, he will, as you know, have you offered as his bride, and half the kingdom. But when they ask you on your wedding day who you will have to be your cup bearer, you must say, 'I will have the ragged boy who is in the kitchen, and carries wood and water for the kitchen maid;' and when I am filling your cups for you, I will spill a drop on his plate but none upon yours, and then he will be angry and strike me, and this will take place three times. But the third time you must say, 'Shame on you to harm my beloved. He was the one who delivered me from the trolls, and he is the one who I will have.'"

As himself, he continues "Then Minnikin ran back to the king's palace as he had done before, but first he went on board the troll's ship and took a great quantity of gold and silver and other precious things, and he gave to the kitchen maid a whole armful of gold, silver and jewels. No sooner did Ritter the Red see that the coast was clear, than he crept down from the tree, and threatened Princess Rosin till he made her promise to say that he had rescued her. Then he led her back to the King's palace, and if honor enough had not been done him before it was certainly done now, for the King had no other thought than how to make much of the man who had saved his daughter from the three trolls; and it was agreed that Ritter the Red should marry her, and receive half the kingdom."

"Pika..." Pikachu is not pleased with the idea of Ritter the Red marrying Princess Rosin.

"On the wedding day, however, Princess Rosin begged that she might have the little boy who was in the kitchen, and carried wood and water for the kitchen maid, to fill the wine cups at the wedding feast." Ash narrates.

"Oh, what can you want with that dirty, ragged boy in here?" Brock sighs as Ritter the Red.

"but Princess Rosin said that she insisted on having him as cup bearer and would have no one else; and at last she got her wish, and then everything was done as Princess Rosin and Minnikin agreed on." Ash narrates. "He spilled a drop on Ritter the Red's plate but none on hers, and each time that he did it Ritter the Red got mad and struck him. At the first blow all the ragged garments which he had worn in the kitchen fell off Minnikin, at the second blow the jeweled suit fell off, and at the third the silver cape, and there he stood in the golden coat, which was so bright and beautiful that it shone like the sun." As if on cue, all the clothes Melody conjured disappear from Ash, leaving him in his normal clothes again. "Then Princess Rosin said..."

"Shame on you to harm my beloved. He was the one who delivered me from the trolls, and he is the one who I will have." Melody scolds Brock as Princess Rosin.

"Ritter the Red swore that he was the man who had saved her, but the king said..." Ash narrates.

"He who delivered my daughter must have some token as proof of it." Brock interjects in his standard "king" voice.

"So Ritter the Red searched his pockets for the lungs and tongue, and Minnikin went and brought all the gold and silver and precious things which he had taken out of the trolls' ships; and they each of them laid their tokens before the king." Ash continues.

"He who has such precious things in gold and silver and jewels," Brock explains as the king, "must be the one who killed the trolls, for such things are hard to find anywhere else."

Ash then concludes "So Ritter the Red was thrown to the Arboks, and Minnikin and Princess Rosin were married, and he received half the kingdom. They lived happily for many years, and Minnikin went on many more adventures with his brother Pippin. But that is another story for another day!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 200: The Core of Blackrock Mountain (the Trio)


"And now, time for another song from the repertoire of Flynn Devine..." Brock grins before taking the harp and starting a mournful melody:

A long time ago, in a land far away,
Three dwarven clans vied for supremacy
While two walked the path of light
The third walked the way of the dark

The duergar wished to rule them all
With the wisps of fire by their side
But though he sought an army,
He summoned the Wisp King Ragnaros...

Ash joins in with a tense melody on the Pokeflute as Brock continues:

He had been imprisoned under Redbridge Mountain,
Where he'd built up years of rage,
And now that he was free again,
To the dwarven city he laid siege

The battlefield burned with flames and ashes
Until the duergar city was no more
The battle created Blackrock Mountain,
With its white hot molten core..

Misty and Ash trade solos for a moment, over which Brock scats the fiddle line as he plays a harmony line. After playing the long and mostly improvised solo, he sings the final verses:

To this day Ragnaros remains
Inside the core with duergar slaves
Across the shore from a lake of fire,
Which has been many an adventurer's pyre

Many fire wisps will
Come from the fire realm still
And among the fire frolic and play
As a warning to keep heroes away!

Melody leads the applause as the Trio takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 201: Kitsune's Sacrifice (Brock)

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 89, story 1)

"Thanks for the long letter with some Kalos tales for me." Brock grins as he switches out his harp for his guitar. "In fact, I think I've got one polished already..."

"Let's hear it!" Misty begs, her eyes sparkling with excitement over a tale from a new region.

Brock just starts a calm melody. "In a certain village lived a man named Manzou, who made his keep as a hired worker. One day, a particularly rich man hired him, and many others. Although Manzou and his family were not too well off, they were still very happy."

"Aw..." Misty smiles.

"Late that year, the rich man had a son born to him around the winter festival, so he got the idea to give Manzou one of his fields, in hopes the other hands would be inspired by their master's generosity and work to receive fields too." Brock continues over a playful chord. "As Manzou came to inspect his new field, he noticed a statue of Kitsune, a wise and sometimes crafty Delphox said to be an envoy of Arceus in Kalos. But he saw the statue was in disrepair, and set to work fixing the statue and cleaning the grime from it. Once the statue had been cleaned and repaired, he said a little prayer to Kitsune in hopes she would intercede for him before Arceus."

"So, what happened?" Melody wonders.

"All through the fall, Manzou worked very hard to repay his master's kindness, and when the sun set, would offer the day's first fruits to Kitsune." Brock goes on over a peaceful interlude. "When winter came, he did his best to clean the snow off the statue, and repair what broke off in the bitterly cold winds."

He then plays a mystical melody to signal the passage of time. "Winter turned to spring, and spring turned to summer, but the next fall, a Nincada swarm wiped out all the other fields. However, only Manzou's field was untouched. In his anger, the rich man ordered the north field returned, and the Kitsune statue destroyed, despite Manzou's pleas that Kitsune would never bring harm on those she favored."

Even Ash swallows hard at this. "Manzou salvaged what pieces of the statue he could, and used the pieces to build a mini Kitsune in his house." Brock assures his jittery friends. "Some months later, the rich man's son got sick, and no healer within miles had a clue how to cure him. Finally, the town miko told the rich man that the only way to save his son was to sacrifice a young girl with pure heart to Arceus. The rich man then got the idea to sacrifice Manzou's little girl, Chiyo."

"How dare he kill an innocent girl!" Melody fumes at the idea.

"The rich man took Chiyo into a remote clearing in the forest, but just as he drew his sword to strike the girl, he heard an oddly pleasant female voice singing..." Brock then sings over a D chord Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

The Pokemon cheer at the familiar "spellsong". "When he turned to see who it was, he gasped when he saw Kitsune before him, about to engulf the man in her Mystical Fire!" Brock announces over a triumphant chord. "Terrified, the rich man hurried back to Manzou's house, but when he arrived, he saw Manzou and his family were all present. Manzou noticed his mini Kitsune was glowing for some reason, and the rich man realized it had not been Chiyo he had tried to kill, but Kitsune in disguise!"

"I see...Kitsune didn't want to see anyone she favored hurt." Misty muses as she puts two and two together.

"The rich man's son was healed, Manzou received his field back, and rebuilt the large statue of Kitsune, which still stands today, watching over that village." Brock concludes over a soft flourish.

Ash's applause is the loudest. "I'd say that one's ready for primetime! I can't wait to hear you tell the others!"

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 202: Jack and the Seven Ponytas (Misty)

(real tale: The Seven Foals)


"There was once a poor couple who lived in a small thatched hut, far away from any civilization, in a forest." Misty begins. "They only just managed to live from hand to mouth, and had great difficulty in even doing that, but they had three sons. The youngest of them was named Jack, and he did nothing else but lie and poke about among the ashes."

"Sounds familiar..." Ash muses.

"Typical Jack tale beginning..." Brock agrees.

"One day the eldest brother said that he would go out into the world to seek his fortune; he soon got permission to do that, and set out on his way into the world." Misty goes on. "He walked on and on for the whole day, and when night was beginning to fall he came to a royal palace. The king was standing outside on the steps, and asked where he was going."

`Oh, I am going about seeking my fortune, my lord,' Ash replies in a deeper version of himself for the eldest brother.

"Will you serve me, and watch my seven Ponytas?" Brock asks as the king. "If you can watch over them for a whole day and tell me at night what they eat and drink, you can have the Princess Elena and half my kingdom, but if you fail, I will cut three red stripes on your back."

The Pokemon gasp at the painful condition for failure. "The eldest brother thought that it was very easy work to watch the Ponytas, and that he could do it well enough." Misty quiets the fearful speculation. "The next morning, when day was beginning to dawn, the King's Master of the Ponytas and Rapidashes let out the seven Ponytas; and they ran away, and the eldest brother not far behind, over hill and dale, through woods and bogs. After running for a long time he began to get tired, and when he had held on a little longer he was weary of watching at all, and at the same moment he came to a cave hollowed in a rock where an old woman was sitting spinning with her distaff in her hand."

"And then?" Melody wonders.

"As soon as she spotted the eldest brother, who was running after the Ponytas till the sweat streamed down his face, she cried..." Misty then switches to the best "old woman" voice she can muster. "Come here, come here, my handsome son, and let me comb your hair for you."

"Pika..." Pikachu comments.

"The lad was willing enough, so he sat down in the cave beside the old hag, and laid his head on her knees, and she combed his hair all day while he lay there doing absolutely nothing." Misty continues as herself, to some giggles. "When evening approached, the eldest brother wanted to leave. `I may just as well go straight home again,' he thought, `for it is no use to go to the king's palace.'"

"Wait till it is dusk," she instructs as the old hag, "and then the king's Ponytas will pass by this place again, and you can run home with them; no one will ever know that you have been lying here all day instead of watching the Ponytas."

As herself, she continues "So when they came she gave the lad a bottle of water and a bit of moss, and told him to show these to the King and say that this was what his seven Ponytas ate and drank."

"Have you watched faithfully and well all day?" Brock asks as the king.

"Yes, that I have!" Ash replies as the eldest brother.

"Then you are able to tell me what it is that my seven Ponytas eat and drink," Brock grins as the king.

"So the eldest brother produced the bottle of water and the bit of moss which he had got from the old woman..." Misty narrates as Ash pantomimes doing this.

"Here you see their food, and here you see their drink." Ash sets the pantomime props before Brock.

"Then the king figured out what had really happened, and got so mad that he ordered his knights to chase the eldest brother back to his own home; but first they were to cut three red stripes in his back, and rub salt into the bleeding wounds to make them hurt even more." Misty goes on.

"I am not pantomiming that, for our safety and to keep this relatively family friendly." Brock assures Ash. Ash just heaves a sigh of relief at this,

"When the eldest brother reached home again, you can imagine the state of mind he was in." Misty acknowledges the boys with a nod. "He had gone out once to seek his fortune, he said, but never would he do such a thing again."

She then continues "The next day the middle brother said that he would go out into the world to seek his fortune. His father and mother said no, and bade him look at the red stripes on his brother's back, but the middle brother would not give up, and stuck to his guns, and after a long, long time he got permission to go, and set out on his way. When he had walked all day he too came to the king's palace, and the king was standing outside on the steps, and asked where he was going; and when the middle brother replied that he was going about in search of fortune, the king offered for him to enter into his service and watch his seven Ponytas. Then the king promised him the same punishment and the same reward that he had promised his brother."

"That didn't go so hot, did it?" Ash grins.

"The middle brother consented to this and entered into the king's service, for he thought he could easily watch the Ponytas and inform the King what they ate and drank. Misty continues. "In the grey light of dawn the Master of the Ponytas and Rapidashes let out the seven Ponytas, and off they went again over hill and dale, and off went the middle after them. But the same thing happened--when he had run after the Ponytas for a long, long time and was hot and tired, he passed by the cave in the rock where the old woman was sitting spinning with a distaff, and she called to him..."

As the old hag, she calls "Come here, come here, my handsome son, and let me comb your hair."

As herself, she goes on "The middle brother liked the thought of this, let the Ponytas run where they chose, and seated himself in the cave in the rock by the side of the old hag. So there he sat with his head on her lap, taking it easy all the livelong day."

"Bad idea..." Brock smiles in anticipation.

"The Ponytas came back in the evening, and then he too got a bit of moss and a bottle of water from the old hag, which he was to show to the king." Misty replies. "But when the king asked the middle brother..."

"Can you tell me what my seven Ponytas eat and drink?" Brock asks as the king.

"and the middle brother showed him the bit of moss and the bottle of water, and said..." Misty narrates.

"Yes--here is their food, and here their drink," Ash fills in the middle brother's line.

"...the king got mad again, and commanded that three red stripes be cut on the middle brother's back, that salt should be sprinkled on them so it hurt even more, and that he should then be chased back to his own home. So when the middle brother got home again he too related all that had happened to him, and he too said that he had gone out in search of fortune once, but that he never would he do it again." Misty continues.

After pausing for a beat, she continues "On the third day Jack wanted to set out. He had a fancy to try to watch the seven Ponytas himself, he said. The two others laughed at him, and teased him. `How do you suppose that you are going to succeed?' they said. 'You look like succeeding--you who have never done anything else but lie and poke about among the ashes!'"

"Yes, I will go too," Ash confidently replies as Jack, "for I have a plan."

"The two brothers laughed at him, and his father and mother begged him not to go, but all to no avail, and Jack set out on his way." Misty goes on. "So when he had walked the whole day, he too came to the king's palace as night began to fall. There stood the king outside on the steps, and he asked where he was going."

"I am in search of fortune," Ash replies as Jack.

"From where do you come, then?" Brock asks as the king,

Ash pantomimes talking to Brock as Misty continues "So Jack told him from where he came from, and that he was brother to the two who had watched the seven Ponytas for the king, and then he inquired if he might be allowed to try to watch them on the following day."

"Oh, shame on them!" Brock sighs as the king. "If you are brother to those two, you too are not good for much. I have had enough of such people."

"Well, I am already here, you might just let me try," Ash assures Brock as Jack.

"Oh, very well, if you are absolutely determined to have your back cut, you may have your own way if you will,' Brock sighs in defeat as the king."

"I would much rather have Princess Elena," Ash notes as Jack.

"Pika pika pi pika pikachu?" Pikachu asks as the other Pokemon applaud the boys' interplay.

"The next morning, in the grey light of dawn, the Master of the Ponytas and Rapidashes let out the seven Ponytas again, and off they set over hill and dale, through woods and bogs, and off went Jack after them." Misty assures Pikachu. "When he had ran for a long time, he too came to the cave in the rock. There the old hag was once more sitting spinning from her distaff, and she cried to Jack..."

"Come here, come here, my handsome son, and let me comb your hair for you." she intones as the old hag.

"Come to me, then; come to me!" Ash retorts as Jack.

"When he had got safely past the cave in the rock, the youngest Ponyta said..." Misty narrates as herself.

"Get on my back, for we have still a long way to go." Melody instructs Ash as the Ponyta.

"They traveled a long, long way." Misty narrates as Melody flies around the tent with Ash not far behind.

"Do you see anything now?" Melody asks when she and Ash complete their lap.

"No," Ash replies as Jack.

"So they went even farther." Misty narrates as Melody and Ash begin a second lap.

"Do you see anything now?" Melody asks as the Ponyta.

"Oh, no," Ash replies as Jack.

"When they had gone on for a long, long way, the Ponyta asked again..." Misty narrates.

"Do you see anything now?" Melody asks as she and Ash complete a third lap.

"Yes, now I see something that is white," Ash replies as Jack. "It looks like the trunk of a great sycamore tree."

"Yes, that is where we are to go in," Melody explains as the Ponyta.

"When they got to the trunk, the eldest Ponyta broke it down on one side, and then they saw a door where the trunk had been standing, and inside this there was a small room." Misty continues. "In the room there was hardly anything but a small fireplace and a couple of benches, but behind the door hung a great sword and a small pitcher."

"Can you wield that sword?" Melody asks as the Ponyta.

"Jack tried, but could not do it." Misty narrates, trying oh-so-hard not to laugh at Ash pantomiming lifting something heavy. "so he had to take a drink from the pitcher..." Ash takes a long drink from a water bottle at this. "and then one more, and after that still another, and then he was able to wield the sword with perfect ease."

"BA-DA-DA-DAAAAAAAAAA!!! Brock can't resist singing the Zelda 'got item' stinger as Ash lifts the pantomime sword over his head.

"Good," Melody smiles as the Ponyta. "Now you must take the sword with you, and with it lay it on the heads of all seven of us on your wedding day, and sing the Great Holy Spellsong: 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul'. Then we shall become princes again as we were before. For we are brothers of Princess Elena, but there is a mighty troll who has cast a spell over us. When you touch our heads, be sure not to wound us, and then the spell the troll has cast upon us will be broken."

"Jack promised to do this, and then they went on farther." Misty narrates. "When they had traveled a long, long way, the Ponyta said..."

"Do you see anything?" Melody asks.

`No,' Ash replies as Jack.

"So they went on a great distance farther." Misty narrates.

"And now?" Melody asks as the Ponyta, "Do you see anything now?"

"Alas! no," Ash sighs as Jack.

"So they traveled onwards, for many and many a mile, over hill and over dale." Misty narrates.

"Now, then," Melody asks as the Ponyta, "do you see anything now?"

"Yes,' Ash replies as Jack; "now I see something like a bluish streak, far, far away."

"That is a river," Melody explains as the Ponyta, "and we have to cross it."

"There was a long, handsome bridge over the river, and when they had got to the other side of it they again traveled on a long, long way, and the Ponyta asked if Jack saw anything." Misty narrates. "Yes, this time he saw something that looked black, far, far away, like a shrine."

`Yes,' Melody adds as the Ponyta, "we shall go into that.'"

"When the Ponytas arrived into the shrine's courtyard they turned into young men in flashes of light and looked like the sons of a king, and their clothes were so magnificent that they shone with splendor."Misty narrates, to awed chatter. "They went into the shrine and received blessings from the miko, who was standing before the altar, and Jack went in too. But when the miko had laid her hands on the princes and blessed them, they left, and Jack went out too, but he took with him some of the food the miko had served them. No sooner had the seven princes come out into the courtyard than they became Ponytas again, and Jack got on the back of the youngest, and they returned the way they had come, only they went much, much faster."

After a moment to collect her bearings, Misty goes on "First they went over the bridge, and then past the trunk of the sycamore tree, and then past the old hag who sat in the cave of the rock spinning, and they went by so fast that Jack could not hear what the old hag screeched after him, but just heard enough to understand that she was terribly enraged."

Giggles go up at this. "It was all but dark when they got back to the king at nightfall, and he himself was standing in the courtyard waiting for them."

"Have you watched well and faithfully the whole day?" Brock asks as the king.

"I have done my best," Ash replies as Jack.

"Then you can tell me what my seven Ponytas eat and drink?" Brock presses Ash for more information in character.

"So Jack pulled out the food from the shrine, and showed them to the king." Misty narrates as Ash pantomimes doing this to Brock.

"Here is their food, and here their drink," Ash gestures to the pantomime props for effect.

"I see you have watched diligently and faithfully," Brock smiles as the king. "and you may have Princess Elena and half the kingdom."

"So the entire castle got ready for the wedding, and the king said that it was to be so stately and magnificent that everyone would hear of it, and everyone talk about it."Misty goes on. "But when they sat down to the marriage feast, Jack left the table and went down to the stable, for he said that he had forgotten something which he must go and tend to. When he got there, he did what the Ponytas had told him--he lay the sword on each of their heads and sang..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul.... Ash sings as Jack.

"One by one, the Ponytas became princes again in flashes of red light." Misty goes on. "When he returned to the banquet hall with the seven princes, the king was so joyful that he both kissed Jack and hugged him tight, and Princess Elena's love for him grew even stronger."

"Half my kingdom is yours already," Brock grins as the king, "and the other half will be yours when I join Arceus in the heavens, for my sons can get countries and kingdoms for themselves now that they have become human again."

Misty smiles as she concludes "It goes without saying there was joy and merriment at that wedding."

"I'm sure there was..." Ash smiles as he leads the applause

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 203: A Mage in Disguise (Ash)

(real tale: The Hairy Man)


"Somewhere in a far away land--I don't know where--there lived a king who owned two remarkably fine fields of wheat, but every night two of the wheat bundles were burnt down in one of the fields." Ash begins. "Understandably, the king was very mad at this, and sent out soldiers to catch whoever had set fire to the wheat; but it was to no avail--they could not see who did it."

"So who did it?" Brock is intrigued.

"Then he offered nine gold pieces to anyone who caught the perp, and at the same time ordered that whoever did not keep proper watch over the fields would be killed." Ash intones, making the Pokemon shudder. "Although there were a great many people that volunteered, none of them seemed to be able to protect the fields."

"He'll kill off his whole kingdom at this rate..." Misty is unamused at the king's barbaric order

"The king had already killed ninety-nine people to death, when a little swineherd came to him who had two Growlithes; one was named Hunter, and the other Goldie." Ash goes on. "The boy--we'll call him Alex--told the king that he would watch over the wheat."

"Pika?" Pikachu asks, fearing for Alex.

"When it grew dark, Alex climbed up on top of a hill, where he could see the whole field." Ash goes on. "Around eleven o'clock he thought he saw someone sneaking up to a wheat stalk and setting it on fire. 'Just you wait,' he thought, and called out to his Growlithes..."

In character as Alex, he calls "Oi! Hunter, Goldie, go get him!"

Laughter fills the tent at Ash's realistic call. "But Hunter and Goldie had not waited to be told what to do, and in five minutes the man was caught." Ash continues as himself.

"Good puppies..." Brock grins, petting an imaginary Growlithe by his side.

"The next morning he was brought before the king, who was so pleased with Alex that he gave him a thousand gold pieces at once." Ash explains. "The prisoner appeared to be all covered with hair, almost like a Pokemon. In fact, he was so strange and frightening to look at that the king locked him up in a strong room and sent out letters of invitation to all the other kings and queens asking them to come and see this wonder."

"Oh boy..." Misty sighs--charging admission for a freak show in a tale never ended well for the captors.

"That was all well and good; but the king had a son that was ten years old--we'll call him Shane--who went to look at the hairy man too, and the man begged so hard to be set free that Prince Shane felt sorry for him." Ash continues. "So he stole the key to the strong room from his mother and opened the door. Then he put the key back, but the hairy man escaped and went out into the world."

"And then?" Melody asks

"Then the kings and queens began to arrive, all of them anxious to see the hairy man; but he was gone! The king nearly burst with rage and with the shame he felt." Ash intones. "He gave his wife the third degree, and told her that if she could not find and bring back the hairy man he would put her in a hut made of reeds and burn her there."

"Such a tyrant..." Misty is still angry at the king's order.

"The queen swore to Arceus that she had had nothing to do with the matter; if her son had happened to take the key it had not been with her knowledge." Ash explains. "So they summoned Prince Shane and grilled him for a good thirty minutes, until he finally confessed that he had let the hairy man out. The king ordered his servants to take the prince into the forest, kill him there, and bring back his heart as proof."

"This is starting to sound like 'Snow White'...." Misty muses.

Ash just smiles--his tale actually is not a 'Snow White' variant at all. "There was great sadness all over the kingdom when word of the king's command got out, for Prince Shane was well loved and well liked among the people. But there was nothing to be done, and they took Prince Shane out into the forest."

Melody swallows hard at this, but Ash assures his jittery audience "But the guards felt sorry for him, and so killed a Tepig and carried its heart to the king, who seemed satisfied, and considered the matter closed."

"Now to see when--or if--His Highness figures out what he really has..." Brock grins.

"Prince Shane wandered about in the forest and lived as best as he could for five years." Ash assures Brock. "One day he came upon a poor little cottage where an old man lived. They got to talking, and Prince Shane told his story and sad fate. Then they recognized each other, for the old fellow was actually a mage and the same hairy man whom Prince Shane had set free. He explained that all the hair was a disguise to help him blend in in the forests and fields."

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

"Prince Shane stayed with the mage for two years; then he wished to go further into the world." Ash goes on. "The old mage pleaded for him to stay, but Prince Shane's mind was made up, so the old mage gave him a ruby--when 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...' was sung to it, it would glow and produce a Shiny Ponyta, and a beautiful crystal bow to use as a mounted weapon."

"Whoa..." Even Brock is amazed at the gifts.

"Next, the mage gave Prince Shane a sapphire, when 'Furiya, shuru shamato' was sung to it, it would conjure an array of knights mounted aboard not just Ponytas, but Salamences, Braviaries, and pegasi too." Ash continues before adding "and a beautiful sword to command them all."

"Wow!" Misty pictures herself as a Braviary riding knight.

Then Prince Shane received an emerald--when 'Seios, higarima laisido...' was sung to it, it would summon as many heroes that he wanted, and a staff made of crystal to cast spells with if his other weapons failed." Ash goes on. "The mage made Prince Shane swear to Arceus to take the greatest care of these presents, and then they parted."

"Pika pi?" Pikachu sparks happily in anticipation of a quest.

"Prince Shane wandered on and on till he came to a large city in another land." Ash explains. "He found work in the king's palace, and as no one cared about where he came from, he lived as a servant, and grew to be loved and respected."

After a pause to collect his bearings, Ash goes on "One day, news was brought to the king that he had to go to war, for an enemy king was due to invade at any moment. He was horribly frightened, for he had a very small army, but he had to go defend his lands all the same."

"Oh my!" Melody gasps.

"When they had all left, Prince Shane said to the housekeeper..." Ash then switches to a younger version of himself. "Give me leave to go to the next town--I owe a small debt there, and I want to go and pay it"

As himself,he continues "and as there was nothing much to do in the palace, the housekeeper gave him leave."

[And then?] a Meowth begs.

"When he got beyond the city, he took out his ruby and sang..." Ash pauses to sing as Prince Shane Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul..., "and when the Shiny Ponyta appeared in a flash of red light, he swung himself into the saddle. Then he took the sapphire..." Ash then sings Furiya, shuru shamato.... "and the emerald...." He next sings Seios, higarima laisido... "and with all those heroes by his side, he joined the king's army."

Pikachu sparks excitedly in anticipation of a battle. "The king saw them approach with fear in his heart, for he did not know if it was a friend or foe; but Prince Shane rode up, and bowed low before him.

He then bows on one knee before Brock. "I bring Your Majesty reinforcements."

"The king was delighted, and all dread of his enemy disappeared like that." Ash snaps to illustrate his point, prompting Brock to strike a heroic pose, much to Misty's bemusement. "The king's two daughters--Princess Crisanta and Princess Ariana--were there too. They both liked Prince Shane, and begged him to get into their carriage so they could talk with them."

"There's your princesses..." Brock grins at Happini, who is laughing happily at the mention of a princess in Ash's tale.

"But he respectfully declined, and remained mounted, as he did not know when the battle would begin; and while they were all talking, Princess Ariana took off her favorite sapphire ring, and her sister tore her hanky in two, and they gave these gifts to Prince Shane." Ash continues. "Suddenly the enemy armies came into view. The king asked whether his army or Prince Shane's troops would lead the way; but Prince Shane charged first and with his knights, he fought so bravely that only two of the enemy troops were left alive, and these two were only spared to act as messengers."

"Talk about a resounding victory!" Melody is impressed.

"The king was overjoyed and so were the princesses at this brilliant victory." Ash affirms Melody's observation with a nod. "As they drove home they begged Prince Shane to join them, but he would not come, and galloped off with his troops. When he got near the city, he called back the troops into the jewels, and then strolled into town. On his return to the palace he was scolded by the housekeeper for staying out so late."

Everyone laughs at this. "Well, you'd think my tale would be over here; but it happened that Princess Ariana had fallen in love with Prince Shane, as he had with her." Ash cautions as Misty starts to applaud, thinking the story is over. "He gave her the emerald as a token of his love."

"Uh oh..." Brock notes.

"One day, as the princesses were talking with their father, Princess Ariana asked him whether it might not have been their servant who had helped him so much. The king was angry at the idea; but, just to make her happy, he ordered the servant's room to be searched." Ash continues. "And there, to everyone's surprise, they found Princess Ariana's ring and the half of the hanky. When these were brought to the king he summoned Prince Shane and asked if it had been he who had come to their rescue."

"Yes, your Majesty, it was me." he answers as Prince Shane.

"But where did you get your army?" Brock asks as the king.

"If you wish to see it, I can show it to you outside the city walls." Ash offers

"And so he did; but first he asked for the emerald from Princess Ariana, and when all the heroes were summoned, there were so many that there was barely room for them."

[Oh my!] Mai gasps as she pictures the crowd of heroes.

"The king gave him Princess Ariana and the kingdom as a reward for his aid, and when he heard that Prince Shane was himself a king's son his joy knew no bounds." Ash continues. "After calling back all the heroes, they went back into the town."

He concludes "Not long after there was a grand wedding; and perhaps they are still celebrating, but I don't know for sure."

"That was wonderful!" Misty grins as she applauds....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 204: The Legend of Jack and Epona (Brock)

(real tale: Sivka-Burka)

Just as Brock is about to begin his next tale, he notices movement inside his bag. Huh? When he peeks inside, he balks when he sees a Pichu wearing a miniature red mage's hat and a matching cape. "Tarina? How did you get here?"

[Easy--I found a map to your campsite on the table, and followed it here.] Tarina explains, pleased with herself. [Since you were busy telling tales and playing music, I managed to find your bag and hide in there to dry off from the rain.]

Brock isn't sure whether to scold Tarina or be amazed that she managed to find the group from home, but Ash is quick to the Pichu's defense. "Don't punish her! She didn't know any better!"

"That, and the more listeners we have, the better." Misty agrees.

Brock thinks for a moment, but decides Tarina's journey isn't worth punishing. "Okay...but next time, if you want to go with me somewhere, ask first."

[Okay.] Tarina smiles.

"Well, since she's here, what kind of stories does she like?" Ash wonders.

[Oh! Tell the one about Jack and the magical Ponyta!] Tarina requests.

"Which one?" Brock presses Tarina for more information. "I know several Jack tales that involve a magic Ponyta, so you have to tell me which one..."

[The one where you do the grasswhistle every time Jack summons the Ponyta.] Tarina requests.

Brock grins--he knows which tale Tarina is requesting. "Long ago, there was an old man who had three sons. The two elder sons looked after the farm, and they liked dressing up in fancy clothes and fantasizing about being rich. But the youngest, whose name was Jack, liked to go off into the forest to collect mushrooms, and when at home he spent most of his time sitting by the great kitchen stove. One year, The father got very sick, and knew his time to die was close. So he called in his sons and told them..." He switches to a gentle older man voice. "When I have joined Arceus in the heavens, bring me bread to my grave for three nights."

He pauses to pick a suitable blade of grass. "After clinging to life for a few weeks, the father succumbed, and was buried. That same night the eldest son should have gone to the grave as his father ordered. But either he was lazy or he was afraid, for he said to his youngest brother...."

He whispers to Ash in a younger man voice "Jack, take my place tonight; you go to father's grave. I'll buy you a cookie in return."

As himself, he continues "Jack agreed, packed some bread, and went to his father's grave. There he sat down and waited. At midnight the grave opened, his father's spirit rose out of it and said..."

In character as the father he asks "Who's there? Is it you, my eldest son ? Tell me what is happening in the world. Are the Growlithes barking or the Mightyenas howling?"

"Yes, it is I, your son," Ash answers as Jack. "But all is quiet in the world."

"The spirit ate the bread Jack had brought and vanished." Brock continues as himself. "Jack made his way home, gathering mushrooms as he went. His eldest brother asked him..."

As the eldest brother, he asks Ash "Did you see Father?"

"Yes." Ash replies as Jack.

"Did he eat the bread?" Brock presses for more information.

"Yes. He ate all he wanted." Ash assures Brock as Jack

As himself, Brock continues "The next night, the middle brother should have gone to the grave. But either he was lazy or he was afraid, for he said..."

In a slightly higher pitched version of himself, he tells Ash, "Jack, you go to father in my place. I will make you a pair of shoes if you will."

"All right," Ash replies as Jack.

"So Jack packed some bread, went to his father's grave, sat down, and waited." Brock continues. "At midnight the grave opened, his father's spirit rose from it, and asked..."

As the father again, he asks "Who is there? Is it you, my second son? Tell me what is happening in the world. Are the Growlithes barking or the Mightyenas howling?"

"Yes, it is I, your son," Ash answers as Jack. "But all is quiet in the world."

"His father ate as much of the bread as he wanted, and vanished." Brock narrates. "Then Jack went home, gathering mushrooms on the way. When he reached home the second brother asked him...

He and Ash perform the rigamarole again. "Did father eat the bread?"

"Yes, he ate all he wanted."

As himself, he continues "The next night it was Jack's turn to go to the grave. But he said to his brothers..."

"I have been the last two nights. Now one of you go, while I rest." Ash complains as Jack.

"But his brothers answered..." Brock switches to his "brother" voice. "Why, Jack, you know the spot now; it would be better for you to go."

"Oh, all right," Ash sighs as Jack.

Brock narrates "He packed some bread, and went. At midnight the grave opened, and his father's spirit rose from it...."

As the father, he and Ash start the rigamarole a third time. "Who is there? Is it you, my youngest son? Tell me what is happening in the world. Are the Growlithes barking, or the Mightyenas howling?"

"Yes, it is Jack. But all is quiet in the world." Ash replies as Jack.

Brock forms a grasswhistle as he narrates "The father ate the bread, and then said...."

As the father, he intones "You are the only son who has done as I asked. You were not afraid to come to me in my grave three nights in a row. Now go out into the open field, pick a blade of grass, and play this song..."

Brock then proceeds to play the first six notes of Epona's Song on the grasswhistle. "A shining Ponyta named Epona will come galloping up to you. Sing to her..." Brock then sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul..., before continuing in character "and you will be turned into a handsome young man. Mount Epona, and ride her."

Tarina sparks happily when she hears the familiar song. "Jack thanked his father and went home, gathering mushrooms as he went." Brock narrates. "When he arrived home his brothers asked him..."

He and Ash perform this exchange a third time. "Did you see father?"

"Yes."

"Did he eat the bread?"

"He ate all he could, and did not order us to go any more."

"But Jack said nothing about Epona." Brock intones as himself. "A few months passed, and the king issued a proclamation: all the fine young men in the land who were unmarried were to assemble in the royal courtyard. His daughter Princess Amy, who was a girl of matchless beauty, had ordered a tower twelve stories high, and raised on twelve pillars, to be built for her. She was going to sit at a small window at the top of the tower, and wait there until a young man riding a Ponyta jumped right up to her and kissed her as he passed. Then, no matter what his birth or origin, the king would marry Princess Amy to this man, and would give half his kingdom as a dowry. Jack's brothers heard of the king's proclamation, and agreed that they would try their luck."

"So what did they do?" Melody asks as Tarina and Pikachu share a few excited sparks.

"They fed Ponytas well, and dressed themselves in their finest clothes." Brock explains as he toys with his grasswhistle.
"Jack, who was sitting on the stove, said to them..."

"Brothers, take me with you--I want to try too." Ash pleads as Jack.

"You dolt, you go on sitting on the stove, or else go off into the forest to gather mushrooms," Brock scolds in his brother voice. "And do not get in our way."

"That's not very nice!" Misty protests.

"With that, the two elder brothers mounted their good Ponytas, cocked their hats jauntily, whistled and whooped, and rode off, making the dust fly up in clouds." Brock narrates before readying the grasswhistle again. "But Jack went out into the open field, picked a suitable blade of grass, and played the song his father had taught him..."

He then plays Epona's Song on the grasswhistle again. "A few seconds later, Epona galloped up. The earth trembled under her hoofs, glowing flames streamed from her nostrils, and smoke rose in columns from her ears. She stood as though rooted to the ground and asked..."

"What are your commands?" Misty asks as Epona.

Jack petted Epona, saddled her and bridled her, laid his hands on her, and sang...." Brock narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash sings as Jack.

"...and transformed into the most dashing young man one could imagine." Brock narrates. "Then he mounted Epona and rode off to the king's palace. As Epona galloped along, the earth trembled; it flew over hills and valleys, through plains and forests till they arrived."

"So what happened when Jack got there?" Melody wonders.

"When Jack rode into the royal courtyard, he found a great number of young men already gathered." Brock explains. "In the center of the courtyard a high tower, twelve stories high, was raised on twelve pillars, and at the very top Princess Amy was sitting at a little window."

"Pika..." Pikachu gains heart eyes as he pictures Serena as Princess Amy.

"The king came out to the courtyard and said..." Brock switches to his standard "king" voice "If any one of you can jump right up to that little window and kiss my daughter, Princess Amy, I will give her to that once as his bride with half my kingdom as the marriage dowry."

He continues as himself. "So the fine young men began to jump, one after another. But the window was very high, and not one succeeded in reaching it. Jack's brothers tried too, but they did not even get halfway. Finally, it was Jack's turn to make the attempt."

[How did he do?] Tarina asks, sparking happily.

"He urged Epona into a jump, and failed by only two stories." Brock explains "He turned Epona, ran up a second time, and failed by only one story. So he turned Epona again, circled around the courtyard, urged er on and took the jump at full gallop. Like a shooting star he flew up to the little window and kissed Princess Amy on the lips as he went past. Princess Amy's emerald ring left an imprint in his forehead as confirmation of his feat. Seeing that Jack had succeeded, everybody cheered."

[And then?] the Meowths ask.

"But Jack had already galloped away, and was nowhere to be found." Brock replies. "He galloped into the open field, where his transformation wore off, turning him back into Jack. He let Epona go, and returned home, gathering mushrooms on the way. He tied a bandanna on his forehead hide the emerald ring's mark, hurried to the stove and sprawled himself out in the ashes. When his brothers rode home they told him where they had been and all they had seen. Then Jack untied the bandanna and revealed where Princess Amy's ring had left its mark. The room was filled with a bright green light, so much so that the brothers feared Jack would set the house on fire."

Everyone laughs at this. "So he tied the bandanna over his forehead again." Brock smiles. "The next day, the king summoned all his princes and noblemen, and even ordinary people, whether rich or poor, old or young, to a big party. Jack's brothers also got ready for the party, so Jack asked them..."

"Take me with you." Ash requests as Jack.

"You would only make the people laugh, stupid!' Brock scolds in his "brother" voice, to everyone's laughter

As himself, he continues "The two brothers got on their Ponytas and rode off, but Jack followed them on foot. He arrived at the king's palace in time for the party and seated himself in a distant corner. Princess Amy began to go from one guest to another, offering each guest some candy and looking to see if anyone had the mark of her ring on his forehead. She greeted all the guests and gave them candy, and finally came to Jack sitting in the corner. As she approached him her own heart suddenly beat faster. She looked at him; he was smothered in dirt, and his hair was standing on end untidily. Nevertheless, Princess Amy asked him..."

"Whose son are you? Where are you from? Why is your forehead bandaged?" Melody asks as Princess Amy.

"I bumped it," Ash answers as Jack.
.
"She took the bandanna off his forehead, and the entire palace was lit up in green." Brock narrates. "Princess Amy announced to all the guests..."

"That is my ring's mark. Here is my destined husband." Melody fills in Princess Amy's dialogue.

"The king came up, looked at Jack, and said..." Brock switches to his "king" voice again. "How can he be your destined husband? He is covered in soot."
:
"Let me go out and wash myself." Ash requests as Jack.

"The king gave his permission. Jack went out into the courtyard with a piece of grass and played...." Brock plays Epona's Song on the grasswhistle again. "Epona came galloping up, making the ground tremble under her hoofs. Jack laid his hands on her, and sang again..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash sings as Jack.

"...and was transformed into the handsomest young man anyone had ever seen." Brock concludes. "All the people cried out in astonishment. Needless to say, the king threw another party some days later--and this one was a wedding party!"

[Bravo!] Tarina leads the applause as Brock leads the bows....

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 205: The Legend of Princess Gabrielle (Misty)

(real tale: Geirlug, the King's Daughter)

"One day a powerful king and his beautiful wife were sitting in the gardens of their capital city, talking earnestly about the future life of their son, who was sleeping by their side in his beautiful golden cradle." Misty begins. "They had been married for many years without children, so when this baby came they thought themselves the happiest couple in the world. He was a fine little boy, who loved to kick and punch the air; but even if he had been weak and small they would still have thought him the most wonderful creature on Arceus' green earth. They were so absorbed in making plans for him, that they never noticed a huge dark shadow creeping up, till a ethereal head with a gaping red maw stretched over them, and in seconds, their beloved baby was gone."

Ash grins--he knows who kidnapped the little prince. "For a while, the king and queen stayed where they were, speechless with horror." Misty goes on/ "Then the king got up, and holding out his hand to his wife, led her crying into the palace, and for many days their subjects didn't see them come out."

[That's awful...] Tarina brushes away a tear as Brock gently pets her to reassure her everything will be okay in the end.

"Meanwhile, Darkrai, the Nightmare Pokemon, soared high into the air, holding the cradle in his ghostly arms, and the baby still slept." Misty continues. "He flew so fast that he soon crossed the borders of another kingdom, and again he noticed the king and queen of the country seated in the garden with a little girl lying in a wonderful cradle of white satin and lace. Swooping down from behind as he had done before, he was just about to grab the cradle, when the king jumped up and cast a powerful light spell with his favorite gold staff."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Brock fills in the spell incantation.

"Darkrai reared back as the light stung him, but in his pain let the boy fall as he fled in panic." Misty continues.

"That was close," Brock grins in character as the king

"Indeed..." Melody murmurs as the queen before feigning surprise at a small rock. "But look, what is that glittering object that is lying out there?"

"The king walked in the direction of her finger..." Misty narrates as Brock heads for the rock Melody is pointing at. "and to his astonishment found another cradle and another baby."

Brock gasps in feigned surprise. "Darkrai must have stolen this as he sought to steal Gabrielle." he reports in character as the king.

"He knelt down, and he read the writing that was written on the fine linen that was wound around the boy, which said 'This is Garret, son of the king!'" Misty explains as Brock does this. "Unfortunately, the two neighboring kingdoms had had a serious falling out, and for many years had stopped speaking with each other. So, instead of sending a messenger to the western king to tell him his son was okay, the eastern king adopted Prince Garret as his own son, alongside Princess Gabrielle."

[And then?] a Meowth asks.

"For a while the children were quite happy, but there came a time when the queen could no longer run races or play hide-and-seek with them in the garden as she once loved to do." Misty intones. "But she was always nearby, watching them from a pile of soft cushions. Before long she gave up doing even that, and worrying rumors started flying in the palace. Even Gabrielle and Garret moved quietly when they approached her room. Finally, one morning, they were summoned by the king himself, who broke the news that the queen was dead."

Sniffles fill the tent at the bad news. "Garret and Gabrielle were understandably devastated, for they had loved their mother very dearly, and life seemed dull without her." Misty explains. "But the ladies-in-waiting who took care of them in the tower which had been built for them while they were still babies, were kind and good, and when the king was busy or away in other parts of his kingdom she entertained them as well as, if not better than, their mother. They were taught everything that a prince and princess should know."

"This is getting good...then what happened?" Ash is intrigued.

"Two or three years went by, when, one day, as the children were anxiously awaiting their father's return from a distant city, a herald rode into the courtyard and announced that their father was bringing back a new wife." Misty continues.

"Uh oh..." Brock grins, half excited--evil stepmothers usually mean magic--be it for good or evil--or a quest is not far behind.

"Now, in itself, there was nothing very strange about the king marrying again..." Misty assures the small audience. "But, as the old lady-in-waiting soon guessed, the queen, in spite of her beauty, was a witch, and as it was easy to see that she was jealous of everyone who might gain power over her husband-- which meant bad news for Gabrielle and Garret."

Brock smiles at hearing his prediction confirmed. "The faithful lady could not sleep, she worried so much about her charges, and her soul sank when, a few months after the marriage, war broke out with a far away kingdom across the sea, and the king and the troops marched off to battle." Misty continues. "Then what she had so long feared, happened."

The Pokemon swallow hard at this. "One night, the witch came to the tower." Misty intones. "What she did, no one knew, but, when the sun rose, the beds of Garret and Gabrielle were empty. At dawn the queen summoned some of her guards, and told them that she had been warned in a dream that some evil fate would befall her through a wild Pokemon, and bade them go out and kill every Pokemon within two miles of the palace."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT????" Ash is shocked and appalled that anyone would kill innocent Pokemon.

"But the only Pokemon they found were two beautiful shining Ponytas, fitted for royalty to ride." Misty assures Ash. "It seemed a pity to kill them, for what harm could two little Ponytas do, anyway?"

"Well, they kick,, they bite, they have a lot of Fire attacks...." Ash lists the offensive properties of Ponytas on his fingers.

"Misty didn't ask you." Brock shushes Ash, making everyone laugh.

After composing herself, Misty continues "So they let them run away over the plain, and returned to the palace. The queen asked them if they were SURE they saw no Pokemon, and the guards said they were sure. But the queen did not believe them, and when they had left, she ordered to her steward that at dinner the guards be offered extra wine in hopes they would tell the truth, and report to her whatever they said while they were tipsy."

She grins. "Later that evening, the steward reported that he had listened to their drabble from beginning to end, and nothing did they see save two shining Ponytas. He might have added more, but the look in the queen's eyes terrified him, and, bowing hastily, he fled her presence."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats to hear what the wicked queen did next. "A week later, the king returned victorious, and everyone was happy to see him." Misty calms the audience's jangled nerves. "Unfortunately, their joy was short lived; the very first night after the king's return, the queen told him about the evil dream she had, and begged him to go out the next morning and kill every living creature he saw within two miles of the city. The king, who always believed everything the queen said, promised to do as she wished. But before he had ridden through the lovely gardens that surrounded the palace, he was attracted by the singing of two little Fletchlings perched in a holly bush, which made him think of everything beautiful that he had ever heard of or imagined."

Ash grabs a whistle and starts mimicking every Fletchling song he knows for effect. "The hours ticked by, and still the Fletchlings sang, and still the king listened, though he never guessed that it was Gabrielle and Garret that mesmerized him. Misty explains over the whistle. "Before long, night fell; the Fletchlings' voices were hushed, and the king woke with a jump to find that for that day his promise to the queen would not be kept. When asked if he saw anything, the king told her about the Fletchlings, and said he would try again the next day. But he didn't know his wife planned to kill him."

Tarina swallows hard in fear. "That night the king hosted a huge victory feast. The three men whom the queen had sent out to slay the wild Pokemon held positions of trust in the household, for they had custody of the queen." Misty goes on. "Every time a feast was held their places were always next to the king, so it was easy for the queen to scatter a slow but fatal poison in their cups without anyone being the wiser. Before dawn the next day, the palace was roused by the news that the king was dead, and that the three officers of the guards were dying too. Of course, nobody's cries and laments were as loud as those of the queen."

She intones "But when once the splendid funeral was over, she told the crowds that she was going to lock herself up in a distant castle till the year of mourning was over, and after appointing a regent of the kingdom, she set out attended only by a maid who knew all her secrets. Once she had left the palace she quickly began to work her dark magic, to discover under what form Gabrielle and Garret lay hidden."

Korra displays her claws, but Misty assures her "Luckily, Princess Gabrielle had studied the magic of light under the royal wizard, so she was able to figure out her stepmother's plot, and quickly transformed herself and her adopted brother into a pair of Raichus, and fled in the direction of a lake."

She then sings as Princess Gabrielle Karuto, iichiida shou... before continuing as herself. "The queen turned herself into a Gyarados to chase them, but the two Raichus were way faster than her, barely skipping across the water."

Pikachu's cheering is the loudest as Misty continues "For several hours a fierce game of Meowth and Rattata played on the lake, with neither side gaining an edge. But the crowd of fishes that were watching knew well what happens when you pit an an Electric type against a Gyarados."

"Game, set, and match--Raichu!" Ash smiles.

"After a mighty struggle, the Gyarados floated dead and harmless on the surface of the water, the two Raichus were so exhausted that they had only enough strength to drag themselves onto the shore of a quiet little bay, and for three days they stayed there as still and motionless as if they had been dead themselves." Misty explains. "When the three days were up, their wounds were healed, and after returning to their true forms, they began to think about what to do next."

She concludes "They returned to Garret's homeland, and I can't even begin to describe the joyous reunion--That evening Garret was married to Gabrielle as a sign of forgiveness between the two kingdoms, and they lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 206: The Oracle Branch (Ash)

(real tale: The Magic of the Tell-Tale)


"Once upon a time, a woodcutter returned home early from his work in the forest." Ash begins. "He had cut down a great deal of wood, and he was glad to be home before dark. But just as he was about to walk inside, he heard his wife talking to someone."

"Who was it?" Melody wonders.

"He peeked in the window..." Ash pantomimes doing this. "and he saw his wife preparing to sell his favorite statue to the local moneylender."

"I bet he was mad..." Brock grins.

"The woodcutter was beyond mad--he was simply furious." Ash agrees. "He loved this statue of Arceus, and though the family was poor, his wife had promised she would never sell it."

"Oh"s fill the tent at this. "Brimming with rage, the woodcutter was about to rush inside the house to punish his wife and the moneylender for this misdeed, but he suddenly stopped." Ash goes on. "Arceus, after all, was the ruler of all things, and he ruled with warmth and love, wisdom and peace and compassion. So he knew he had to follow Arceus' holy example. He stopped himself and looked down at the ground."

An uneasy silence fills the air before Ash goes on "Just then, he noticed in his woodpile a branch with a hole in the middle, and this gave him an idea. He called 'I'm home!' The wife quickly turned to the moneylender and whispered...."

"Quick, you must hide. It's my husband," Misty fills in the dialogue.

"and she hurried to hide the moneylender in a large wooden chest." Ash continues. "Just as she was closing the lid, the woodcutter walked inside."

"What brings you home so early?" Misty asks as the wife.

"I rushed home to show you this gift from Celebi," With that, Ash picks up a branch and offers it to Misty, never mind it doesn't have a hole in the middle. "Celebi gave me this because I work so hard. It is an oracle branch that tells the future."

"What is that?" Misty asks, intrigued.

"When I look through this," Ash explains as the woodcutter, "I can see everything that is normally hidden to mortal eyes."

"Wow!" Misty gasps as the wife. "That is amazing!"

"Watch how it works." Ash instructs as the woodcutter.

As himself, he continues "...and he peered through the hole and walked around the house. When he reached the wooden chest, he said..."

As the woodcutter again, he balks at an imagined chest near the tent entrance. "My, my, there is something inside this chest. Quick, bring me a rope."

As himself, he explains "The wife was terribly nervous, but she did as her husband requested, and the woodcutter promptly tied up the chest.

"I shall take this to the pawn shop to sell it. There must be something valuable inside, for the oracle branch never lies!" he smirks as the woodcutter.

Everyone laughs as they realize the moneylender is still inside the chest. "Naturally, the moneylender was not there, but his son was, and when the woodcutter showed him the chest, the young man said..." Ash narrates.

"This is worthless!" Melody gasps in her best attempt at a young male voice.

"I believe it must be valuable," Ash explains as the woodcutter. "I'll step outside to give you time to think it over."

He intones "The moment the woodcutter walked outside, the moneylender whispered from inside the chest..."

"Give him 50 pieces of gold!" Brock whispers through cupped hands, creating the illusion his character is inside something.

"The son immediately recognized his father's voice." Ash explains. "When the woodcutter stepped back inside, the moneylender's son paid him, and the woodcutter returned home carrying his sack of gold."

[That's pretty clever!] Tarina comments.

"The next morning, the woodcutter's wife told her best friend the story of the oracle branch and, of course, before the day was out, the story had spread far and wide." Ash continues. "One friend told another, who told another, and soon the story reached a faraway town, where a group of mikos decided the woodcutter might be able to solve their problem."

[What happened?] Mai purrs.

"They set off early the next morning to visit him, and when they arrived, they explained..." Ash narrates.

"A thief has stolen all the money from our temple," Misty sighs as the miko. "We lost everything we had, and we have heard about your oracle branch. We have come to ask your help in finding the thief."

"The woodcutter was terribly embarrassed." Ash interjects. "He didn't dare confess his lie to a miko. And so, carrying his oracle branch, he traveled with them back to their temple. He looked around, walking behind the temple and examining the mikos' own statue of Arceus in the garden. But the woodcutter saw nothing, and finally he said..."

As the woodcutter, he tells Misty "In three days, I will have your money back."

He intones as himself "Back home, he could not sleep. How would he ever find the thief? He lost his appetite. By the second day he was sick with worry, but that night, as he lay awake in bed, he heard someone tapping at his window."

Brock gently taps a finger against a soda can, making a slight ringing effect similar to a windowpane. "Who is it?" Ash asks as the woodcutter.

"I stole the money from the temple, and I've come to beg you for mercy." Brock explains as the thief. "I promise to return the money, but please, keep my secret or my family will be ruined!"

"I am glad you came to me," Ash smiles in character, "for of course I already knew you were the thief, but I hoped you would repent. This is what you must do. Take the treasure and bury it beneath the statue of Arecus behind the temple. And you must promise never to steal again."

As himself, he narrates "The thief agreed, and the next day the woodcutter returned to the mikos."

"I must look again," he tells Misty in character.

As himself, he continues "...and he took out the oracle branch and began to search through the temple and out in the garden. At last, he came to the statue of Arceus."

He smiles when he finds a grassy spot in the tent. "Ah-ha! Dig beneath this statue and you shall find your gold!"

As himself, he continues "The mikos dug up the ground, and they found their treasure, and they were so grateful to the woodcutter that they rewarded him with more gold than most people ever earned in a lifetime."

He concludes "The thief lived an honest life from that day on, and the woodcutter's wife never again kept a secret from her husband."

Everyone applauds, so Ash takes a bow...

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 207: The Birch Tree (Brock)


(real tale: The Wonderful Birch)

"Once there were a man and a woman, who had an only daughter--we'll call her Holly." Brock begins. "One day, one of their Mareep got lost, and they set out to look for it, They looked and looked, each in a different part of the forest. Then the wife met a witch, who said to her..."

"If you spit, you miserable creature, if you spit into the sheath of my knife, or if you run between my legs, I will turn you into a black Mareep." Misty sneers in her best "witch" voice, making Azurill, Happini, and Tarina shiver in fear and anticipation.

Brock isn't sure what to make of Misty's line at first, but decides to run with it. "The woman didn't spit, nor did she run between her legs, but yet the witch turned her into a Mareep anyway."

[That's breaking a promise!] Tarina protests.

"Pika pika pikachu pikapi, pika chu." Pikachu assures Tarina.

"Now, where was I?" Brock thinks a moment as to where he is in the story, the continues "Then she made herself look exactly like the woman, and called out to the man..."

"Ho, old man, hello! I have found the Mareep already!" Misty calls in a younger version of herself.

"The man thought the witch was really his wife, and he did not know that his wife was the Mareep; so he went home with her, happy because his Mareep was found safe." Brock continues. "When they were safe at home the witch said to the man..."

"Look here, we must really kill that Mareep lest it run away to the forest again." Misty fills in the dialogue.

The man, who was a quiet sort of fellow, made no objections, but simply said okay." Brock continues. "Holly, however, had overheard the whole thing, so she ran to the flock and cried..."

`Oh, dear mother, they are going to kill you!" Melody cries as Holly.

`Well, then, if they do kill me,' Misty replies as the black Mareep, "do not eat the meat nor the broth that is made of me, but gather all my bones, and bury them by the edge of the field."

Brock sighs--parts with innocent people dying are one of his least favorite parts to tell in stories. "The next morning, they took the black Mareep from the flock and killed it. The witch made soup out of it, and set it before Holly. But Holly remembered her mother's warning. She did not touch the soup, but she carried the bones to the edge of the field and buried them there; and a few days later, a very lovely birch tree started growing on that spot."

[That's awful...the mama had to die, even though she did nothing to deserve it...] Tarina sighs.

[It's gonna get better, okay?] Korra assures her. [That mean old witch will get her just desserts in the end.]

A hopeful smile forms on Tarina's face. [Yeah...I hope Holly learns magic and pays the witch back for killing her mom!]

"Some years went by--exactly how many, I don't know for sure--when the witch, who soon received a child of her own, began to turn an evil eye to Holly, and to torment her in all kinds of ways." Brock intones, oblivious to the Pokemon chatter. "Now it happened that a great festival was to be held at the palace, and the king commanded that all the people in the land be invited. "The following proclamation went out across the entire kingdom..."

In character as a herald, he announces "Come, people all! Poor and wretched, one and all! Blind and crippled though ye be, Mount your steeds or come by sea!

As himself, he continues "People came by the millions to the royal feast--even all the poor, the outcasts, and those with disabilities. In the good man's house, too, preparations were made to go to the palace. The witch said to the man..."

`Lead the way with our youngest; I will give the elder girl work to keep her from getting any ideas while we are away." Misty fills in the dialogue.

"So the man took the child--we'll call her Cora--and set out. But the witch kindled a fire in the fireplace, threw a pot full of barley among the cinders, and said to Holly...." Brock narrates.

"If you have not picked the barley out of the ashes, and put it all back in the pot before nightfall, I shall eat you up!" Misty intones as the witch, making the Pokemon shudder again.

"Then she hurried after the others, and poor Holly stayed at home and cried. She tried to pick up the grains of barley, but she soon saw how useless her labor was; and so she went to the birch tree on her mother's grave, and cried and cried, because her mother could no longer help her. In the midst of her grief she suddenly heard her mother's voice speak to her..."

"Why do you cry, little one?" Misty asks as herself.

"The witch has scattered barley on the hearth, and bid me pick them out of the ashes." Melody sighs as Holly

"Don't cry..." Misty assures Melody. `Break off one of the leaves on my branches, and sing the Great Holy Spellsong, and all will be well."

"Holly did as she was told--She took a leaf from the tree held it to the sky, and sang...." Brock narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

...and the barley flew into the pot, and the hearth was clean." Brock continues. "Then she went back to the birch tree and laid the leaf on the grave. Then her mother told her to lay her hand on the trunk, and sing the Great Holy Spellsong again...."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"...and in a flash of blue light, she grew so lovely that no one on earth could compare." Brock continues. "Beautiful clothing was given to her, and a Ponyta, with fur that shone like moonlight and sapphire blue fire. Holly sprang into the saddle, and rode as swiftly as an arrow to the palace. As she turned into the courtyard of the castle the king's son--we'll call him Rowan-- came out to meet her, tied her mount to a pillar, and led her in. He never left her side as they passed through the castle rooms; and all the people gazed at her, and wondered who the lovely maiden was, and from what land she came from; but no one knew her--no one knew anything about her. At the banquet, Prince Rown invited her to sit next to him at the place of honor; but Cora gnawed the bones under the table. Prince Rowan did not see her, and thinking it was a stray Growlithe, he gave her such a push with his foot that her arm was broken."

"Ouch..." Misty comments.

"That had to hurt..." Ash agrees.

"When evening came, Holly thought it was time to go home; but as she went, her ring caught on the latch of the door, for Prince Rowan had had it smeared with oil." Brock goes on. "She did not have time to pull it off, but, hastily unfastening her Ponyta from the pillar, she rode away beyond the castle walls as swift as an arrow. Once at home, she sang the Great Holy Spellsong by the birch tree, left her Ponyta standing there, and hurried to her place behind the stove. A short time later, the man and the woman came home themselves, and the witch said to Holly..."

"There you are! You don't know what a time we have had at the palace! Prince Rowan carried my daughter about, but the poor thing fell and broke her arm." Misty fills in the dialogue as the witch.

"Holly knew well what really happened, but she pretended to know nothing about it, and sat there behind the stove." Brock continues. "A few months went by, and the anniversary of the kingdom's founding drew near. Not surprisingly, they were invited to this party too. This time, the witch threw a potful of hemp seed among the ashes, and said to Holy..."

"If you do not get this sorted, and all the seed back into the pot, I shall kill you!" Misty nearly screams as the witch, making the young Pokemon squeal in both fear and delight."

Brock just grins, pleased that Misty is getting into her role. "Naturally, Holly wept bitterly; and she went to the birch tree, laid her hands on the trunk and sang..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"...and this time she transformed into still finer clothes, and received a very beautiful steed. She broke off a leaf from the birch tree, and sang..." Brock narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"..so that the seeds flew into the pot, and then hurried to the castle." Brock continues "Again Prince Rowan came out to meet her, tied her Ponyta to a pillar, and led her into the banquet hall. At the feast Holly sat next to him in the place of honor, just as she had done at the previous party. But Cora gnawed bones under the table, and Prince Rowan gave her a push by mistake, which broke her leg again--he had never noticed her crawling about among the people's feet!"

Laughter goes up at this. "Holly hurried home again, but Prince Rowan had smeared the doorframe with oil, and Holly's golden circlet stuck to it. She had no time to look for it, but sprang to the saddle and rode like an arrow to the birch tree. There she left her Ponyta and her fine clothes, and said to her mother..."

"I have lost my circlet at the castle; the doorframe had oil on it, and it stuck." Melody explains as Holly.

`And even had you lost two of them,' Misty replies as the mother, `I would still give you finer ones.'

Then Holly rushed home, and when her father came home with the witch, she was in her usual place behind the stove. Then the witch said to her...." Brock narrates.

"You poor thing! What is there to see here compared with what WE have seen at the palace? Prince Rowan carried my daughter from one room to another; he let her fall, and my child's foot was broken." Misty explains as the witch.

"Holly held her peace all this time, and did her best to look busy." Brock continues. "A few more months went by, and Prince Rowan's birthday drew near...."

"Which meant another party." Ash fills in the blank without being prompted.

"This time it was a dish of milk she poured on the ashes, saying..." Brock narrates

"If you do not get all the milk into the dish again before I come home, you will suffer for it." Misty warns as the witch.

"You can imagine how frightened Holly was this time!" Brock explains to the audience. She ran to the birch tree, and by its power and the Great Holly Spellsong her task was accomplished; and then she rode away to the palace like before. When she got to the courtyard she found Prince Rowan waiting for her. He led her into the hall, where she was highly honored; but Cora sucked the bones under the table, and crouching at the people's feet she alomost got an eye knocked out!"

Everyone laughs at this. "Now no one knew any more than before about Holly, no one knew from whence she came; but Prince Rowan had had the threshold smeared with oil, and as she fled her gold slippers stuck to it. She reached the birch tree, and laying aside her finery, she said...." Brock narrates

"Alas! I have lost my gold slippers!" Melody sighs as Holly.

"Let them be," Misty replies as the mother. "If you need them, I shall give you finer ones."

"Hardly was she in her usual place behind the stove when her father came home with the witch. Immediately the witch began to mock her, saying...." Brock narrates.

`There is nothing for you to see here, and WE--ah, what great things we saw at the palace! My little girl was carried about again, but had the ill-luck to fall and nearly get her eye knocked out. You stupid thing, you, what do you know about anything?'

`Yes, indeed, what can I know?' Melody retorts as Holly. "I had enough to do to get the hearth clean."

"Now Prince Rowan had kept all the things Holly had lost, and he soon set to work finding their owner." Brock goes on. "After some time had passed with no luck, he decided to throw another party, and all the people were invited to the palace. The witch got ready to go too. She tied a wooden Heracross on Cora's foot to hide her wounded leg, a log of wood to hide her wounded arm, and fashioned an eyepatch of dirt to cover her wounded eye, and took Cora with her to the castle. When all the people were gathered, Prince Rowan stepped into the crowd and announced...

"The maiden whose finger this ring slips over, whose head this golden crown encircles, and whose foot this shoe fits, will be my bride." Ash announces as Prince Rowan.

"A riot nearly broke out as people rushed to try the items on." Brock continues. "But the items would fit no one."

"The cindergirl is not here," Ash sighs as Prince Rowan. "Go and fetch her, and let her try on the items."

"So Holly was summoned and Prince Rowan was just about to hand the items to her, when the witch held him back, saying..." Brock narrates.

"Don't give them to her; she dirties everything with cinders; give them to my daughter instead." Misty sneers as the witch.

"Well, Prince Rowan gave Cora the ring, and the woman pushed and shoved till the ring fit." Brock continues. "The same thing happened with the circlet and the shoes of gold. The witch would not allow them to be given to Holly; she worked at her own daughter's head and feet till she got the things forced on. What was to be done now? Prince Rowan had to take Cora for his bride whether he liked it or not; he sneaked away to her father's house with her, however, for he was ashamed to hold the wedding festivities at the palace with so strange a bride. Some days passed, and he finally had to take his bride home to the palace, and he got ready to do so. Just as they were leaving, Holly jumped down from her place by the stove, on the ruse of getting something from the barn, and as she passed by, she whispered in the prince's ear as he stood in the yard...."

"Alas! dear prince, do not rob me of my silver and my gold." Melody whispers as Holly.

Prince Rowan recognized Holly; so he took both the girls with him, and set out." Brock continues. "After they had gone a little ways they came to the bank of a river, and Prince Rowan threw the witch and Cora across to serve as a bridge, and so got over with Holly. The witch and Cora eventually froze in that place, where they remain for all eternity."

[See? I toldja the witch would get her just desserts.] Korra smiles at Tarina.

"Prince Rowan greeted Holly as his bride, and they traveled together to the birch tree which grew upon the mother's grave." Brock concludes. "There they received all sorts of treasures and riches, at least three sacks full of gold, and as just as much silver, and a splendid Ponyta, which bore them home to the palace, where they lived happily ever after."

[EmeraldSky]

Tale 208: Prince Christopher's Journey (Misty)

(real tale: The Prince Who Wanted to See the World)

"There was once a king who had only one son--we'll call him Christopher--and Christopher constantly bugged his father morning, noon, and night to allow him to travel around the world." Misty begins. "For a long time, the king refused to give him leave; but at last, tired and at the end of his rope, he granted permission, and ordered his treasurer to set aside a large sum of money for the expenses a trip around the world would incur. Prince Christopher was overjoyed at the thought that he was really going to see the world, and after embracing his father, he set out early the next morning."

"What adventures did he get into?" Ash wonders.

"Well, he rode on for some weeks without having any adventures worth speaking of; but one night, while he was resting at an inn, he befriended another traveler, they got to talking, and the other traveler asked Prince Christopher if he ever played cards." Misty explains. "Prince Christopher replied that he very much enjoyed a friendly game of cards. So a deck of cards was brought out, but the other traveler had to have been cheating--because in a very short time Prince Christopher had lost every dime he had to his new acquaintance. When there was nothing but Venomoths left at the bottom of the bag, the stranger proposed that they play one more game. If Prince Christopher won, he would get his money back and then some. If he lost, he would stay at the inn for three years, and be his servant for another three. Prince Christopher agreed to those terms, played as best he could, and lost; so the stranger bought rooms for him, and furnished him with food and water every day for three years."

"The other guy was probably cheating..." Brock muses.

"Prince Christopher had a little pity party at first, but his three years of service in the inn went by faster than he thought." Misty goes on. "He then had to go to the house of the stranger, who was really the king of a neighboring country, and be his servant. Before he had gone very far he met a woman carrying a child, which was crying from hunger. The prince fed the little girl with his last crust of bread and last drop of water. The woman thanked him gratefully, and said...

"Listen, millord. You must walk straight ahead till you notice a very strong scent, which comes from a garden by the side of the road. Go in and hide yourself close to a pond, where three Pidoves will come to bathe. As the last one flies past you, grab one of its feathers, and refuse to give it back till the Pidove has promised you three things." Melody instructs as the woman.

"Prince Christopher did as he was told, and everything happened as the woman had said." Misty continues. "He grabbed a tail feather from the Pidove, who gave him in exchange a ring, a collar, and one of its own feathers, saying..."

In a younger version of herself, she instructs "When you are in any trouble, sing 'Karuto, iichiida shou...' I am Princess Linnette, the daughter of the king you are going to serve, who hates your father and made you gamble in hopes of causing your ruin."

As herself, she continues "So Prince Christopher went on his way, and it wasn't long before he arrived at the royal palace. As soon as his master knew he was there, Prince Christopher was summoned before the king, and three bags were handed to him..."

"Take this wheat, this millet, and this barley, and sow them all at once, so that I may have loaves of them all tomorrow." Brock instructs in his standard "king" voice.

"Prince Christopher stood speechless at this command, but the king did not bother to give any further explanation." Misty goes on. When he was dismissed, Prince Christopher hurried to the room which had been set aside for him, and pulling out his feather, he sang...."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash fills in the spellsong

"What is it?" Melody asks as the Pidove.

"...and Prince Christopher told her of what he had to do, and of his despair at being unable to accomplish it." Misty narrates as Ash pantomimes talking to Melody.

"Fear nothing; it will be all right," Melody smiles.

"The next morning, when Prince Christopher woke up, he saw the three loaves lying beside his bed." Misty goes on. "He jumped up and got dressed, and he was just barely ready when a page arrived with the message that he was to go into the king's chamber right away. Taking the loaves in his arm, he followed the boy, and, bowing low, laid them down before the king. The king looked at the loaves for a moment, then he said...

"Good. The man who can do this can also find the ring which my eldest daughter, Princess Linette, dropped into the sea." Brock adds in the king's dialogue.

"Prince Christopher hurried back to his room and summoned the Pidove..." Misty narrates.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash sings again.

"...and when she heard this new command she said..." Misty narrates some more.

"Listen closely." Melody instructs. Tomorrow, go down to the shore and get into a boat you will find there."

"Prince Christopher did not know what he was to do when he was in the boat or where he was to go, but as the Pidove had come to his rescue before, he knew he had to do whatever she told him." Misty explains. "When he reached the boat he found the Pidove perched on one of the masts, and at her signal he set sail; the wind was behind them and they soon lost sight of land. The Pidove then spoke for the first time and said..."

"Lay your hands on my head and sing the Great Holy Spellsong--'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...'" Melody instructs.

"Although initially confused at this strange order, Prince Christopher laid his hands on the Pidove's head, and sang...."Misty narrates.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash fills in the spellsong.

"...and the Pidove temporarily transformed into a beautiful girl, who presented him with a sapphire ring." Misty continues. "Minutes later, it was a Pidove again, and Prince Christopher took the ring and made his way back to the palace. The king stared with surprise at the sight of the ring, but he thought of another way of getting rid of the young man which was surer even than the other two."

"This evening you will mount my Ponyta and ride him to the field, and break him in properly." Brock instructs as the king.

"Prince Christopher received this command as silently as he had received the rest, but no sooner was he in his room than he called for the Pidove, who said...." Misty narrates.

"Listen to me." Melody warns Ash. "My father longs to see you dead, and thinks he will kill you by this means. He himself is the Ponyta, my mother is the saddle, my two sisters, Paloma and Peri. are the stirrups, and I am the bridle. Do not forget to take a good whip, to help you in dealing with such a crew."

"So Prince Christopher mounted the Ponyta, and whipped it so hard that when he came to the palace to announce that the Pokemon was now so gentle that it could be ridden by even a child, he found the king so bruised that he had to be wrapped in cloths dipped in vinegar, the mother was too stiff to move, and several of the daughters' ribs were broken. The youngest, Peri, was unharmed. That night, she came to Prince Christopher and whispered to him..."

"Now that they are all in too much pain to move, we had better seize our chance and run away." Melody whispers in a younger version of herself. "Go to the stable and saddle the skinniest Ponyta you can find there."

"But Prince Christopher made the stupid mistake of choosing the fattest." Misty intones. "When they had started out and Princess Peri saw what he had done, she was very sorry, for though this Ponyta ran like the wind, the other flashed like thought. However, it was dangerous to go back, and they rode on as fast as the Ponyta would go. Meanwhile, the king sent for Princess Peri, and when she did not come, he called again; but she still did not come. The queen, who was a witch, discovered that Princess Peri had gone off with Prince Christopher, and told her husband he must leave his bed and go after them. The king got slowly up, groaning with pain, and dragged himself to the stables, where he saw the lean Ponyta still in its stall. Leaping on his back he shook the reins, and Princess Peri, who knew what to expect and had her eyes open, saw the Ponyta depart, sang her own spell..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody fills in the spellsong.

"and in the twinkling of an eye turned her own steed into a shrine, Prince Christopher into an apprentice, and herself into a miko." Misty goes on. "When the king reached the shrine, he pulled up his Ponyta and asked if a girl and a young man had passed that way. The miko raised her eyes, which were bent on the ground, and said that she had not seen a living creature. The king, much disgusted at this news, and not knowing what to do, returned home and told his wife that, though he had ridden for miles, he had come across nothing but a shrine."

"Why those were the runaways, of course," she cries, as the queen If you had only brought a scrap of the miko's robe, or a bit of stone from the wall, I would have had them in my power."

As herself, she continues "At this, the king hurried back to the stable, and brought out the lean Ponyta who traveled quicker than thought. But Peri saw him coming, and changed her Ponyta into a plot of ground, herself into a rosebush covered with roses, and Prince Christopher into a gardener."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Melody sings again.

"As the king rode up, the gardener looked up from the tree which he was trimming and asked if anything was the matter." Misty narrates.

"Have you seen a young man and a girl go by?" Brock asks the king,

Ash shakes his head. "No one has passed this way since I started working here."

"So the king turned his steps homewards and told his wife." Misty narrates before assuming the role of the queen. "If you had only brought me one of the roses, or a handful of earth, I should have had them in my power. But there is no time to waste. I shall have to go with you myself."

As herself, she intones "Princess Peri saw them from afar, and a great fear fell on her, for she knew her mother's skill in dark magic of all kinds. However, she vowed to fight to the end, and changed the Ponyta into a deep pool, herself into an Eelektrik, and Prince Christopher into a Wartortle. But it was no use. Her mother recognized them all, and, pulling up, asked her daughter if she did not repent and would not like to come home again. The Eelektrik wagged 'no' with her tail, and the queen told her husband to put a drop of water from the pool into a bottle, because it was only by that means that she could take control of her daughter. The king did as he was told, and was just about to draw the bottle out of the water after he had filled it, when the Wartortle knocked against it and spilled it all. The king then filled it a second time, but again the Wartortle was too fast for him."

She concludes "He returned defeated, allowing Prince Christopher and the three sisters to continue on their way safely. They had many more adventures, but that is another story for another day!"