Tale 86: The Prince and the Dragonite (Ash)

(real tale: The Prince and the Dragon)

"Now, it's my turn to tell a favorite bedtime story." Ash explains. "I used to ask Mom to tell me this one a lot when I was little."

With that, he begins "There was once a king in a far away land that had three sons. One morning, the eldest prince--we'll call him Arden--set out to hunt. A Buneary suddenly sprang out of the bush, and Arden chased it over hill and over dale...."

[What's a dale?] Korra interrupts.

"Dale is another word for a valley." Brock explains.

"Finally, the Buneary raced into a mill that stood beside a river." Ash continues. "When Arden went in there, instead of a Buneary, he found a fierce Dragonite!"

The Pokemon yelp and laugh at Ash's dramatic announcement. "Arden turned to run, but a fiery tongue coiled around his waist and drew him into the Dragonite's mouth, never to be seen again!" More screams and giggles go up at this.

"And then?" Brock is interested.

"When his brother did not return, the second prince--we'll him Neil-- went to look for him, and the same thing happened." Ash continues. "He saw a Buneary as soon as he entered the forest, chased it to the mill, and the mighty Dragonite swallowed him, too!"

"I have a feeling this Buneary is no ordinary Buneary..." Misty muses.

"Meanwhile, the king waited and waited for any sign of his sons." Ash goes on. "When the youngest son--we'll call him Brendan--said he wished to go in search of his brothers, the king refused him at first. But Brendan did not take no for an answer. Finally, the king gave his permission and had the finest Rapidash in the palace stables saddled for him."

"Did he meet the Dragonite too?" Melody shudders in fear.

"Like his brothers, Brendan chased the Buneary over hill and over dale and to the mill." Ash explains. "But when the Buneary dashed through the mill door, Brendan knew better than to follow it. Instead he turned and rode away, in search of other game to hunt."

[This is getting exciting--and then what happened?] Mai asks, her eyes shining in anticipation like her Meowths.

"That night, Brendan returned to the mill, and met a wise woman sitting out front." Ash continues. As a young boy, he interjects "Have you seen a Buneary?"

He then attempts his best mimic of Delia. "That was no Buneary...that was the Dragonite that has eaten many people. I beg you, turn back before he eats you too!"

After acknowledging his applause for his interplay, he continues as himself "It dawned on Brendan what had happened to his brothers, and pleaded with the wise woman to come with him. But she shook her head and explained that the Dragonite had taken her prisoner, and she too was under his enchantment, meaning she could not escape."

"So what did Brendan do?" Brock is piqued.

"Brendan thought for a while, then told the wise woman..." Ash then switches to his "Brendan" voice again. "Ask the Dragonite where he goes when he leaves the mill, and ask him what makes him so strong. Tell me what you learn when I return."

[What did the wise woman learn?] a Meowth asks.

"The Dragonite returned not long after Brendan left, and the wise woman asked where he had been." Ash explains as himself before switching to his best deep voice. "Far away."

Nervous giggles fill the tent as Ash continues as himself "The wise woman began to flatter him, praising his strength and his cleverness, and when he was in a good mood, she said..." He switches to his "Delia" voice again. "If you tell me where you get your strength, I shall kiss it in gratitude."

In character as the Dragonite, he replies "My strength lies in the hearthstone,"

As himself, he interjects "But when the wise woman kissed the hearth, the Dragonite laughed and said..." As the Dragonite again, he intones "Foolish human, I was joking! My strength lies in the tree here."

As himself, he goes on " So the woman wrapped her arms around the tree and kissed it, and again the Dragonite laughed. Finally, she learned that the Dragonite's strength lay in a faraway kingdom, near its capital city, in a lake where another dragon, a Gyarados, slept. Inside that Gyarados was a wild Emboar, and inside that Emboar was a Buneary, and inside that Buneary was a Pidove, and inside that Pidove was a Spearow. Inside that Spearow lay his strength."

"Bravo!" Brock is impressed Ash remembered the whole list.

"The next morning, Brendan returned, and the wise woman told him the Dragonite's secrets." Ash continues. "So Brendan disguised himself as a shepherd, and rode to a distant kingdom where the king was seeking a shepherd. He offered his services, and was quickly hired. The king told him..." Ash switches to his best mimic of his father. "Outside the city walls there is a lake, and by its banks are the richest meadows. As you lead the flocks, they will race there, but if they reach those meadows they will never return. Protect them from that place."

"Pini?" Happini asks. Pikachu sparks excitedly as he awaits the prince's battle.

"Brendan promised to keep the Mareep safe." Ash replies as himself. "So he went to the marketplace and bought a Pidgeot, a whistle..." He pauses to retrieve his whistle from his bag. "and two Arcanines. Then, he took the Mareep out to pasture. When the Mareep saw the lake, they began to run toward it, just as the king had said."

Everyone is on the edge of their seats, eager to know what happens next. "Brendan set the Pidgeot on a tree branch, laid his whistle on the grass..." He lays his own whistle on the ground. "and bade the Arcanines to sit. Then he waded into the water and cried..."

He then opens the tent flap and calls into the raging rain "Gyarados, if you are not a coward, come out and fight me!" Some thunder rumbles at this, as if answering Ash's challenge.

"Nice touch..." Misty smiles as Ash closes up the tent.

"The Gyarados immediately emerged from the water, and the battle raged until the sun rose high in the sky the next morning!" Ash announces as he observes his enthralled audience. "Then the Gyarados gasped and said..." In his "dragon" voice, he sputters "Let me dip my burning head into the lake and I will hurl you to the top of the sky."

He laughs at this. "Ah, if only the princess of this land were here, she would kiss my forehead, and I would throw you higher still." he retorts in character as Brendan.

"Pini!" Happini cheers at the mention of a princess.

As himself, he continues "With that, Brendan delivered the final blow, and the Gyarados fell into the lake, dazed."

Wild cheers go up at this, and Pikachu unleashes a few celebratory sparks."Brendan took his Pidgeot upon his shoulder, and with his Arcanines in front and his flock following him, he set out for the city, playing his whistle all the while." With that, Ash plays 'The Meowth's Call" for effect.

Misty leads the applause when the song ends. "As they passed through the streets, people stared." Ash explains as he fingers his whistle. "A flock of Mareep had never before returned from the lake. On top of that, the king's horsemen saw the whole thing, and they hurried to tell the king what had happened. The king sent for the princess--we'll call her Kendra--and told her she was to go with who he thought was a shepherd the next day."

[Then did he defeat the Gyarados?] a Meowth asks.

"Brendan and the Gyarados fought again the next day." Ash explains "But this time when Brendan said 'if the princess of this land kissed my forehead,' Kendra did just that, and Brendan flung the Gyarados clear into the clouds!"

"Game set! This match's winner is...BRENDAN!!!!" Brock announces in character as the Super Smash Bros. announcer.

"Talk about the power of love!" Misty is equally impressed.

"When the Gyarados finally fell to earth, he burst into a gazillion pieces, and out sprang an Emboar." Ash continues. "The Arcanines chased the Emboar, caught it, and tore it to bits. Out came a Buneary, and the Arcanines caught it too and tore it to bits. Then out came a Pidove that flew into the sky."

"Sound familiar?" Brock asks Melody.

"Brendan set loose his Pidgeot, which swooped upon the Pidove and brought it to his master. When Brendan cut it open, he found the Spearow inside. "Where are my brothers?" he demands in character as Brendan.

"Behind your father's castle stands a mill. In the mill is an enchanted emerald. Take this emerald and invoke its magic, and the iron cellar door will open. There you will find your brothers safe and sound." he replies in his best mimic of a Spearow.

As himself, he continues "Brendan hurried home to his native land, and everything happened as the Spearow said-- in the mill he found the emerald, and sang..." He pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... for effect.

"Pini?" Happini asks.

"Sure enough, the iron door flew open, and countless people streamed forth, including his brothers, who were miraculously unharmed." Ash concludes. "They were eager to hear the tale of their brother's power, wisdom, and courage, and in every kingdom there was celebration for at least a week!"

Brock's applause is the loudest at the tale's conclusion. "You know, you should perform that in front of Delia and Taran..."

"Why stop at just your family?" Misty suggests. "All of Pallet needs to see your skill at storytelling!"