Tale 165: The Language of Pokemon (Misty)

(real tale: Bobino)

"Once upon a time there was a rich merchant who had an only son--we'll call him Washa." Misty begins. "Now, since Washa was very clever, and always yearned to learn something, his father sent him to a private teacher, where he thought he would learn to speak all kinds of foreign languages."

"So he would at least know how to survive in any foreign land." Ash smiles.

"At the very least, how to say 'I'm hungry', 'I'm thirsty', 'I need help', 'How do I get to such and such a place?', and 'How much does this cost?', as well as how to understand the answers to those." Brock agrees.

"After some years with his teacher, Washa returned home." Misty goes on. "One evening, as he and his father were walking in the garden, the Taillows in the trees began making so much racket that they found it impossible to hear each other speak. This annoyed the merchant very much, so Washa offered to explain what the Taillows were saying to each other."

Giggles go up as she continue "The merchant looked at his son in astonishment, and asked how Washa could explain what the Taillows said. Washa replied that though he was no oracle or mage, his master taught him the language of all Pokemon."

"I'm sure the merchant wanted Washa to learn the language that humans speak, and not the language of Pokemon." Ash grins.

"Washa went on to explain that his master thought it best to begin with the language of Pokemon, and then learn the languages of humans." Misty confirms Ash's prediction. "On their way into the house, the Growlithe ran to meet them, barking furiously. The merchant had no clue why the Growlithe was making so much racket, but rebuffed Washa's offer to translate."

"Then what Pokemon did they hear?" Melody is piqued.

"A little later, as they sat down to dinner, some Froagies in a neighboring pond started croaking and singing like no tomorrow." Misty continues, to some chuckles from the boys. "The noise bugged the merchant so much that he lost his temper, and sent Washa to bed without dinner when he offered to translate."

"Azu azu!" Azurill is appalled.

"Pini!" Happini agrees.

"Yeah, that's a silly reason to go without dinner." Brock adds.

"So Washa went to bed, but his father, was so mad that he sent for two servants and told them to kill Washa the next morning." Misty intones.

Gasps go up at this. "The next morning, one of the servants woke Washa early, and took him to a carriage that was waiting for him. The servant sat by him, while the other servant rode alongside the carriage as an escort." Misty explains. "Washa didn't know what they were going to do with him, or where he was being taken; but he noticed that the servant beside him looked very sad, and his eyes were watery with tears. So he asked what the matter was, and where he was going.

"Did the servant answer?" Ash wonders.

"At first, the servant said nothing." Misty replies. "But after Washa bugged him for a while, he finally admitted he was taking him to be killed, by his father's orders. Washa asked what he did to deserve to die, and the servant replied he had done nothing that deserved death, but his father was mad because in all those years of study, he had learned nothing but the language of Pokemon. He expected something quite different from you, and that was why he was bent on killing him."

"That's a stupid reason to die!" Now Brock is angered at Washa's "crime".

"However, despite their orders, neither servant could bring themselves to kill Washa." Misty assures the boys. "They had frantically pondered ways to save Washa and their own skins--once their master discovered that had let Washa live."

The boys nervously giggle as Misty continues "By sheer luck, a Mareep had been following the coach. The servants agreed to kill it in Washa's stead, and give the heart to their master. By then, Washa would be long gone, and no one would be the wiser."

"So, where did Washa travel?" Brock asks.

"Washa walked for a long time, until he came to a house where some herdsmen lived. He knocked at the door and asked for shelter for the night. The herdsmen, seeing how kind he was, welcomed him, and allowed him to stay for dinner. While they were eating, the Growlithe in the courtyard began to bark. Washa walked to the window, listened for a minute, then told to the herdsmen to send their wives and daughters to a safe place, and arm themselves as best they could, because at midnight, a band of thieves would attack the house."

Pikachu sparks excitedly as Misty goes on. "Naturally, the herdsmen thought Washa was nuts, but he told them about his gift of speaking to Pokemon. The herdsmen were amazed, but they decided to do as Washa advised. They sent their wives and daughters upstairs to a safe room, then, after arming themselves, they took up their position behind a hedge, waiting for midnight."

"And then?" Ash grins in anticipation.

"Just as the clock struck twelve they heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and a band of thieves cautiously crept towards the house." Misty intones. "But the herdsmen were on the lookout; they sprang on the robbers from behind the hedge, and with blows from sword, arrow, and spell, sent the thieves packing!"

The boys applaud at this. "The herdsmen were thankful Washa had warned them, and they begged him to stay, but he declined, as he wanted to see more of the world. Misty continues. "So after some days of travel, he came to a peasant's house. While he was debating whether he should knock and ask for shelter for the night, he heard a great croaking of Froagies in a ditch behind the house. Stepping to the back he saw a very strange sight. Four Froagies were throwing a small bottle about from one to the other, making a great croaking as they did so. Washa listened for a few minutes, and then knocked at the door of the house. The peasant asked him to come in and have dinner."

After pausing for a beat, she goes on "When the meal was over, his host told him that they were in big trouble--his eldest daughter was so sick, that they feared she would not recover. A great healer had promised to send her some medicine that would have cured her, but the servant to whom he had entrusted the medicine had lost it, and now there seemed no hope for the girl."

The boys grin at each other, then listen as Misty explains "Then Washa told the father of the small bottle he had seen the Froagies play with, and that he knew that was the medicine which the healer had sent to the girl."

"Told'ja." Brock whispers to Ash.

"The peasant asked him how he knew this, and Washa explained to him that he understood the language of Pokemon, and had heard what the Froagies said as they tossed the bottle about. So the peasant retrieved the bottle from the ditch, and gave the medicine to his daughter. In the morning she was much better, and the grateful father did not know how to thank Washa enough. But Washa would accept nothing from him, and having said good-bye, went on his way. He went on like this for some time,and helped many people with his gift."

"Who else did he help?" Melody wonders.

"One day, he came upon two men resting under a tree." Misty continues. "As he was tired, Washa stretched himself on the ground at no great distance from them, and soon they all began to talk to one another. In the course of conversation, Washa asked the two men where they were going; and they replied that they were on their way to a neighboring town, where, that day, a new mayor was to be chosen by the people."

"Ooh, cool!" Ash smiles.

"While they were still talking, some Taillows settled on the tree under which they were lying. Washa was silent, and appeared to be listening. At the end of a few minutes he told his companions that the Taillows said that today one of them would be chosen as the mayor of that town."

"But how to choose the mayor?" Brock wonders.

"A great crowd was assembled in the marketplace, waiting for the hour when a Braviary should be let loose from a cage, for it had been decided that wherever the Braviary landed, the owner of that house would become mayor of the town." Misty explains. "The appointed hour arrived; the Braviary was set free, and all eyes strained to see where it would land. But circling over the heads of the crowd, it flew straight in the direction of a young man who was entering the town--Washa!"

The Pokemon cheer as Misty concludes "All the people cheered and proclaimed that he was their mayor, and he was led to the mayorial mansion. From that day on he lived there happily, and ruled wisely over the people."