Tale 103: The Day Sorin Rode Ninetales (Brock)

(real tale: Br'er Rabbit and his Riding Horse)

"Christmastime was coming to Viridian Forest, and everyone was excited." Brock begins.

"But, it's the middle of May..." Misty interjects.

"I know, that's just how the story begins." Brock assures Misty before trying his introduction again. "Christmastime was coming to Viridian Forest, and everyone was excited. Everyone, that is, but Sorin. Ninetales had outfoxed him one time too many and had made him look like a fool!"

Laughter fills the air at this. "So one day, Sorin was sitting at home moping when Raku--the Pikachu who lived up the road from him--let him know she and the other girls were having a big Christmas party." Brock continues. "Everyone's coming and we sure hope you'll come too," he adds in a perfect mimic of Misty.

He continues as himself. "Now, Sorin had a little crush on Raku, and he longed to impress her, so he said..." In his standard "Sorin" voice, he interjects "I'll ask Ninetales to take me there. You know she was my daddy's Ponyta."

More laughter fills the air at this. "Even though Raku knew as well as anyone that Sorin was quite the trickster..." Brock continues as himself. After the thunderous applause calms down, he adds "this news came as a big surprise to her. Sorin asked her to send Ninetales to bring him to the party as proof."

Some "Ooh"s fill the air at this. "The day of the party arrived, and Raku begged Ninetales to pick Sorin up." Brock goes on. "So Ninetales trotted down the road, shaking snow from her tails, for snow had begun to fall. She showed up at Sorin's house, and knocked." Giggles go up as Brock knocks on the cooler in a "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm. "When no one answered, Ninetales knocked again and harder..." He knocks the "shave and a haircut" rhythm again, slightly harder. "but Sorin did not answer. She was about to give up, when she heard someone calling..." In character as Sorin, he groans "Is that you, Ninetales? Please, call for a Chansey, I'm not feeling so good. Hurry!"

"I promised Raku I'd make sure to get you to the party," he replies as Ninetales. "You have to come."

"Ohhh," he groans as Sorin. "I'm too sick to walk that far." The group roars with laughter at Brock's exaggerated groans of pain.

"And I thought I did better groans of pain..." Ash wheezes as he wipes a tear of laughter from one eye.

"Well, if you're too weak to walk, I'll carry you." Brock replies as Ninetales.

"Noooo," he sighs as Sorin.

"Just ride on my back," he assures the group as Ninetales. "Raku will be hurt if you're not there!"

"I can't ride on your back without a saddle," he protests as Sorin.

"Okay, I'll get you a saddle." he replies as Ninetales.

"But I need reins," he complains as Sorin. "or I'll fall off!"

"Fine, I'll get a bridle too." he grumbles as Ninetales.

"You'll have to wear blinders, too." he cautions as Sorin. "or you'll get nervous, and if you're nervous, you'll shiver, and if you shiver, I'm sure to fall off!"

"Okay, a saddle and a bridle and blinders!" he roars as Ninetales.

"If you get those things, I'll go with you." he assures the group as Sorin.

"There's just one thing," he interjects as Ninetales. "You have to get off a block away from Raku's house. If you do, I'll take you there."

"No problem!" he smiles as Sorin.

The group roars with applause at the interplay. "So Ninetales ran off to fetch a saddle, a bridle and blinders from a nearby barn." Brock continues as himself. "While Ninetales was away, Sorin washed his face and cleaned his fur so he'd look his best. Ninetales returned, wearing a saddle, bridle and blinders. Sorin jumped on her back, and off they went down the snowy road."

"So what's Sorin REALLY plotting?" Misty whispers.

"Knowing Sorin, something so clever even Ninetales can't see it coming." Ash replies.

"While they were riding, Sorin lifted up one foot to put on a spur." Brock explains as he shows the group some metallic dance taps and dance shoes. "But Ninetales thought Sorin was just scratching an itch." he explains as he puts a tap on one shoe. "Then he put on the other spur, but Ninetales presumed he was scratching the other foot too." More laughter fills the tent as Brock puts on the other tap on the other shoe.

Once sure the taps are on the shoes securely, Brock goes on "When they were just a few houses from Raku's, Sorin grinned slyly and stuck the spurs into Ninetales' sides." He proceeds to slam one of the shoes on the cooler's top, making a clink sound that sounds more or less like a spur.

"AIIIIIIII!!!!" he screams as Ninetales, startling everyone. "Ai-yai-yaaaa!!!!" Rveryone howls with laughter as Brock continues to make the clinking sound. "No matter how loud Ninetales screamed, Sorin stuck those spurs in again, each time harder than the last." he explains as everyone calms down. "She couldn't help herself — anything to stop the pain! In fact, Ninetales overshot Raku's house twice!"

When the laughter calms down, Brock sets aside his prop and concludes "Ninetales was still yelping with pain when Sorin leaped off and tied his reins to a post. He sauntered into Raku's house. He smiled at all the girls. He stopped to admire the Christmas tree. He sipped a cup of hot chocolate. He visited with the guests and joined in the dancing. He swapped gifts with the other guests. But most importantly, he gave the biggest smile to Raku. But Ninetales vowed she would get Sorin back, even if it took her many Christmases to do it!"

The group roars with applause as Brock takes a bow. "I didn't know you had a prop for this tale..." Melody smiles.

"Well, I can't necessarily wear boots with spurs out in the middle of nowhere." Brock explains. "Then I can't get the sound I need for the effect. So dance shoes and taps were the next best thing."

"Pika..." Pikachu gasps, impressed by Brock's clever use of a prop.

"Add 'foley artist' to Brock's list of talents..." Ash smiles...