COMPLETE: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 267: How Jack Got the Giant's Treasure)

[LightningTopaz]

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 241: Jack and the Azure Flute

(real tale: Ivan the Fool and St. Peter's Fife)

The crowd roars as Brock arrives onstage. "Thank you! Lest you think I'm running out of material after 240 stories, 240 stories is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my repertoire."

Laughter and some light applause go up in agreement as Brock begins "There was once a man who had three sons. The elder two were clever, but the third--we'll call him Jack--wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed."

Giggles go up at the wry comment. "Their father had divided all his possessions among them before joining Arceus in the heavens, and not long after the funeral, the three brothers went out into the world to seek their fortunes." Brock continues. "Now, the two wise brothers left all their stuff at home, but Jack, who had only inherited a large rock, took it along with him."

Akane's laughter is the loudest as the Players,who are listening from backstage, picture Jack with the rock. "They went on and on and on till it began to get dark, when they came to a large forest." Brock continues. "The wise brothers decided to climb up to the top of an oak tree and spend the night there. This way, they would know if bandits were coming. They jeered and taunted Jack and his rock, but were quite surprised when Jack climbed up in the tree with them, albeit only on the lower branches."

"Uh oh..." Kano giggles in anticipation.

"Some hours later, some bandits passed that way, fresh from a heist in town, and they too decided to spend the night under the tree." Brock goes on. "So they cut them some firewood, and made them a roaring fire beneath a huge pot, and in this pot they began to make their dinner. When the food was ready, they were about to dig in when Jack let his big rock fall smack dab in the middle of the pot, so that the food got in their eyes."

Everyone howls with laughter at the chaotic scene. "The bandits were so terrified that they ran away through the forest, forgetting all their ill-gotten gains." Brock continues when the laughter quiets. "Jack climbed down from the tree and called for his brothers to divvy up the treasure. So the wise brothers came down, put all the stuff on the backs of the robbers’ Ponytas, and went home with it; but the only thing that Jack was able to get for himself was a bag of incense. Inspired, he took the incense to the nearest shrine, placed some in the burner on one of the altars. and lit it."

"And then?" Rylan is intrigued.

"Suddenly, Arceus appeared to him and said..." Brock narrates.

“What are you doing, young man?” he asks in a gentle deep voice--his standard "Arceus" voice.

“I am burning this incense in hopes one of the Legendaries will hear my prayer and give me guidance on what to do next." he replies in a mimic of Ash for Jack.

“Well, young man, I will advise you: I accept your offering. You may take from me whatever you'd like in return." he replies as Arceus.

“Very well, Lord Arceus,” he replies as Jack; “I would like a little flute, a flute that makes any that hears it dance."

"But do you know how to play a flute?" he asks as Arceus.

"No, but I can learn.” he assures the audience as Jack.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... he sings as Arceus.

"With that, Arceus and the incense vanished, and a little silver flute was left on the altar." Brock continues as himself, acknowledging his vocal dexterity with a nod as he retrieves a silver whistle from his pocket. "Then he picked up his new flute and began to play..."

He plays the tune "The Meowth's Call" before continuing "The moment he started playing, everything around him began to dance--the Mightyenas, and the Bunearies, and the Ninetales, and the Ursarings--even the bird Pokemon started to dance, and Jack went on laughing and playing all the time. Even the Ursarings danced and danced till their legs throbbed in pain. Then they clutched the trees in an attempt to stop dancing; but it was no use, they just had to dance."

Laughter fills the room as the audience pictures the dancing Pokemon. "Finally, Jack got tired, and lay down to rest, and after he had rested a little, he got up again and went on into town." Brock continues. "There were tons of people in the marketplace, buying and selling. Some were buying pancakes, others baskets of brightly colored eggs, and still others pitchers of milk. Jack started playing his flute again..."

He pauses to play a set of tunes before continuing "..and they all started dancing in spite of themselves.. One man who had a whole basket of eggs on his head danced them into bits, and danced and danced till he looked like the yolk of an egg himself. Those who were asleep woke up and danced; there were some who danced half dressed, and there were some who danced with nothing on at all. The whole town was turned upside down: the Growlithes, the Tepigs, the Combuskens, everything that breathed came out and danced."

the audience can hardly contain itself laughing at the comical scene. "Finally, Jack got bored playing and decided to go looking for a job." Brock's voice quiets the last wheezing giggles as the audience calms down. "The miko of that town offered him five gold pieces--a day's wage in that land--and Jack agreed."

Giggles fill the air as Brock goes on "The next morning, the miko sent him out into the fields to tend the Tauros. So Jack drove the Tauros out to pasture, while he kept watch from a haystack. He got bored after a few hours, then remembered he had his flute--so he decided to play a little to pass the time."

He plays a set of jigs for effect. "...and all the Tauros started dancing." he continues, fingering the whistle. "Not just the Tauros, but all the Ninetales, and the Bunearies, and the Mightyenas, and millions more Pokemon danced too. They danced and danced till they were exhausted."

He smiles. "That night, Jack drove them home, but they were so hungry that they tugged at the dirty straw roofs of the houses they passed, and so got a few choice words I'm not going to repeat here.".

Everyone chuckles at the comment. "But Jack went in, had dinner and a comfortable night’s rest." Brock goes on. "The next day he again drove the Tauros out to pasture. They began grazing till he took out his flute again..."

He starts another set, then continues "...and they all started dancing like crazy. He played on and on till evening, when he drove the Tauros home again, and they were all as hungry as could be, and tired from dancing. Even the miko couldn't resist joining in as Jack approached--and as far as I know, she's still dancing and Jack's still playing to this day."

Laughter and applause goes up as Brock takes a bow....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 242: Danilo and the Swanna)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 242: Danilo and the Swanna

(real tale: Danilo and the Swan)


"Once there was a prince who had many servants and peasants in his household in what was then called the Aiiro City." Brock begins. "One of the nobleman on his court was named Danilo. But the prince was mean to Danilo and treated him unfairly many a time."

Angry murmurs and speculation fill the room--is Brock telling a male variant of "Cinderella"? "On the eve of the spring festival, the prince--whose name is not important to us--summoned Danilo, gave him gave him a hundred and sixty sable skinss, and commanded that he fashion for his master a fur coat for the festival." Brock continues, quieting the chatter. "But the sable skins were not prepared, the buttons had not been molded, and the buttonholes had not been braided. To make matters worse for Danilo, in the buttons he was to mold wild Pokemon of the forest, and into the buttonholes to sew different birds."

More whispers of anger waft through the room, but Brock has other ideas. "Danilo was in such great despair over the task, he hurled the skins away, ran outside, and burst into tears. An old woman--who was really the holy Delphox Kitsune in disguise--came up to him and said..."

"Why are you crying, milord?" he asks in a gentle female voice for Kitsune.

"Grandmother, forgive me. I cry because the prince I serve has given me a hundred and sixty sable skins and bid me to make a fur mantle by tomorrow morning." he sighs in a younger version of himself for Danilo. "If only the buttons had been molded and the silken buttonholes sewn! How am I to go about such a task?"

"Take heart, here is what you must do." he instructs as Kitsune. "Go to the shore of the sea and stand in front of the oak tree on the hill that overlooks the beach. At midnight the sea will boil over and the Prince of the Sea, Manaphy, will appear to you. Ask him as politely as you can to let you see the fair Swanna and talk with her."

As himself, he goes on "Danilo did everything Kitsune said to do--he went to the shore of the sea and stood in front of the oak tree that stood on the hill overlooking the beach. At midnight the sea boiled over and the Prince of the Sea, Manaphy appeared before him. Danilo asked Manaphy as nicely as he could..."

"Sir Manaphy, please let me see the Swanna." he requests as Danilo.

As himself, he goes on "Before long, the Swanna--whose name was Eila--swam up to the shore, and Danilo said..."

"Lady Eila, my master has bidden me sew a fur mantle by tomorrow. But the sable skins are not prepared, the buttons are not molded, and the buttonholes are not sewn." he explains as Danilo.

"Take me with you, and it will all be done in time." he assures the audience in a mimic of Serena for Eila.

"How am I to take you with me?" he wonders as Danilo

He interjects as himself "She flapped her wings, moved her little head and sang..." He pauses to sing as Eila Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing as himself "...and a majestic house was ready in a matter of seconds. Then Eila transformed herself into a beautiful girl with the same song. Danilo took her by the hand, kissed her, and led her into the new house. They sat down at a table and ate together."

"Aw"s fill the room at this. "She saw that Danilo had fallen asleep, so she went out to the flight of steps. There she sang the mystical song again..."

He pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... as Elia again before continuing as himself "...and the fur mantle was made in mere seconds. "When the prince saw it, he was amazed at how beautiful it was. Everyone in the Aiiro City knew the prince's happiness--probably because he was boasting about it!

"Laughter goes up at this. "The prince did not, however, expect Eila to appear before him, much less warp him and his retinue all they way out to the murky swamplands!"

More laughter goes upas Brock scolds as Eila "Milord, put your pride away. Show Danilo respect and let him sit the head of the table from now on."

He concludes as himself "Needless to say, the party had to walk all the way back to the Aiiro City, and were covered with mud from head to toe when they got there."

Laughter and applause fill the air as Brock takes a bow....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 243: Ariados and the Fey)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 243: Ariados and the Fey

(real tale: The Fairy and the Spider)

"Long, long ago, in a land not far from here, the silver moon shone brightly over the vast, cold land." Brock begins. "The stars twinkled above, and the people slept wrapped beneath thick, warm blankets. While the world lay so peacefully, a wish fairy named Maya, who was carrying a heavy bundle of dreams, was hurrying home. She had spent many hours collecting the lovely dreams, and she finally had enough for all the people."

He then looks up at the dimmed lights, as if the moon is there. "Looking up at the moon to check the time, she realized that she would have to hurry if she were to return home on time. Queen Titania, the ruler of the fey, had been very clear when she said...."

"Be home before dawn, my fairies, or else we will have no dreams to disperse to the humans." he instructs in a mimic of Akane for Queen Titania.

"Now Maya began to run." he continues as himself. "In her haste she tripped over tree roots, scraped her knees against the wild rose bushes, and then she ran smack into a Ariados web.

Tense murmurs go up. "The web held her fast. Sticky silver threads clung to her wings. She turned to twist free and another thread caught her." Brock explains. "She struggled and struggled, turning this way and that. At last she saw it was no use. She was caught. She burst into tears of frustration, and her bundle of dreams fell to the ground. She could do nothing but lie still and wait for the dawn. It came suddenly, dazzling displays of red and gold, and woke the tired wish fairy."

He intones "The daylight woke the Ariados as well. Crawling out of her den, she spotted Maya.

"What's this?" he giddily gasps in a mimic of Yuki for the Ariados. "A new kind of fly! How lovely!"

He interjects as himself "Needless to say, Maya was quite insulted."

"Ariados," he explains calmly but firmly in a mimic of Lotta for Maya, "I am not a fly at all. I am a wish fairy, and I flew into your web last night in my haste to return home."

"Just a fairy!" he gasps as the Ariados, "I suppose you are one of those fairies who help the flies to fly away from me."

"I help anyone in trouble," he explains as Maya.

"And now that you are in trouble," he snaps as the Ariados, "I am sure the flies won't come to help you."

"Won't you help me?" he pleads as Maya. "Her Majesty Queen Titania likes and trusts me. Who will do my work if I am gone? Tell me that."

As himself, he narrates "Ariados stood very still and watched Maya's teardrops fall like dew on the silver threads of her web. The sunbeams lit the drops so they glistened like diamonds. It goes without saying that Ariados was dazzled and amazed."

"Your tears are beautiful," he admits as the Ariados. "And just what sort of work is it that you do?"

"Once," he replies as Maya, "I set free a beautiful Fletchling trapped in a cage."

"Why free a Fletchling?" he asks as the Ariados.

"Oh, if you had only heard him sing," he sighs as Maya. "His voice was like an angel's voice, but in the cage he stopped singing. He longed for his home, for the lovely treetops and the freedom of the bright blue skies."

Then, a thought occurs to him as he stops to retrieve his harp from the wings. "Listen," he offers as Maya. "I will sing you a song that might lighten your heart."

He readies the harp to play as he narrates as himself "And she sang a beautiful song, which went something like this..."

With that, he starts a relaxed melody before singing as Maya Oh listen well, and I will tell,
Of the land where the fairies dwell;
The lily bells ring clear and sweet
And green grass grows beneath your feet

In the land where fairies dwell,
In the land where fairies dwell.

He narrates as himself over the harp "Now Ariados felt calm and peaceful, for she loved music. She begged Maya to go on.

He then sings the next verse as Maya There's love, sweet love, for one and all
For love is best for great and small
In the land where fairies dwell,
In the land where fairies dwell.

Applause fills the auditorium at the song's end. "Ariados was so moved by the song that she could not help herself." Brock narrates the applause dies down. "She showed Maya how to break the slender threads, one by one."

"Now, dear friend," he asks an imagined being as Maya, "what can I do for you in return?"

He things for a moment,then replies as Ariados. "I wish only that you sing to me now and then."

He narrates as himself "Maya agreed, and she flew home to the land of the fey. When she arrived, Queen Titania approached her."

"Maya," he smiles in character as Queen Titania as he plays the Zelda fairy fountain theme to represent the character. "I've been so worried about you that I can't be angry. Besides, I need a glorious dress for the grand ball."

"I know where I can find some lace and a wonderful spinner," he explains as Maya.

"Go then," he replies Queen Titania. "Bring the spinner to me, and tell her she too may attend the ball and sit at my table."

As the last note dies, he interjects as himself "Maya flew back right away to see Ariados."

"You are invited to the land of the fey to spin for the Queen," he announces as Maya. "And you will be her guest at the grand ball."

"Will there be music?" he asks as Ariados.

"The best music you will ever hear," he grins as Maya.

He concludes as himself "When Ariados finished the dress, it was the most beautiful dress that anyone had seen. Of course, Queen Titania rewarded her with a position as the court spinner, and from that day on Ariados heard the fairies singing every single day as they watched over the elements and carried their dreams to the people. Hearing their music, she was always filled with happiness." He adds one last flourish to signal the story's end.

The crowd roars with applause as Brock sets the harp aside and takes a bow....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 244: The Ninetales of the Great Marsh)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 244: The Ninetales of the Great Marsh

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 160, story 1)


"Far away in Shinou, near Pastoria City, lies the Great Marsh." Brock explains as he arrives onstage. "Millions of people come there to brave the marsh and catch its resident Pokemon, but our story concerns a certain man who lived in that area long ago."

With that, he begins "One night, he was on his way home from town, happy after a relaxing day visiting friends. He had also gotten a wide array of gifts to share with his family, so he was in high spirits as he walked on the path, singing all the while as he walked."

He proceeds to sing the complete tune of "The Hearthome Pilgrim" for effect before continuing "He was so wrapped up in happy thoughts, he failed to notice the Ninetales that had snatched the Seaking he was going to eat for dinner. He vowed he would teach the Ninetales a lesson when he got home that night."

Laughter fills the air as the crowd pictures the man's reaction. "The next day, the town elder asked the man to run an errand for him in town." Brock continues, quieting the laughter. "As he passed through the Great Marsh, a thick fog rolled in, and it didn't help that there was a fork in the road. As the man thought about which route to take, one of the other villagers met him, and asked what was the matter. While they were debating which route to take, the Ninetales stole everything--again!"

More laughter goes up at this. "Luckily, the man hadn't gone too far on the route home, so he was still able to get the items the elder asked for." Brock assures the crowd. "The elder was very understanding--he knew all about the Ninetales of the Great Marsh."

The lights dim a little to represent nighttime. "On his way back, the route took him through the Great Marsh yet again." Brock intones from a spotlight. "After working his way through the muck he thought he saw his wife coming to meet him on the road. But he saw one crucial difference--the woman he saw wore lipstick, when he knew his wife would never even touch lipstick. So he tied the woman to his Ponyta, and started for home, the woman protesting all the while. Upon their arrival home, the real wife and the false one started arguing over which one was the true wife--but the man's daughter knew the difference immediately--by trying to pull one of the Ninetales' tails!"

The audience roars with laughter as Brock concludes "The Ninetales fled upon being discovered, and she did not bother anyone for a long time!"

Applause mixes with laughter as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 245: Under the Leppa Tree)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 245: Under the Leppa Tree

(real tale: The Harper in Fairyland)

"There was once a minstrel named Tristan who ruled over an entire land of minstrels--which meant he could play the harp like no one else." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "When he played, birds stopped singing, just to listen."

"Wow"s fill the air as Brock shows the crowd his own harp. "It was a small harp, probably not much bigger than mine, but it was one he could tuck under his arm, on his back or in a bag, and take with him wherever he wanted.

After quickly putting on his harp's fingerpicks, he continues "On afternoons when the weather was nice, he and his queen, a lady named Fiona, would go into the palace garden. They would spread out a blanket to sit upon, lean against a tree and eat a picnic lunch. Then he would play his harp and she— and the birds —would listen."

With that, he plays "The Fairy's Waltz" for effect, as if he is Tristan serenading Fiona in the garden. "On one such day they sat down beneath a Leppa Berry tree and leaned as usual against the trunk. Its blossoms were open, with the sweet smell pouring out." Brock continues as the last note echoes into the auditorium. "In fact, it was not long before Fiona fell asleep. So Tristan called two servants to come and guard her."

"Protect her well." he whispers in a mimic of Flint for Tristan.

As himself he continues "Once sure his queen was safe, Tristan then went back to the palace to hold court, and other things that all kings--even a king of a land of minstrels--must do. "The servants stood under the Leppa Berry tree, one on each side of Fiona, when suddenly, and at the same time, they sneezed. Their eyes closed for just an instant — as it often happens when you sneeze — and when they opened their eyes, she was gone. Just like that...." Brock snaps on the word "that" to emphasize his point. "...she was gone. The servants looked behind the trees, the bushes, the flowers, inside the palace and out, but she was nowhere to be found."

He sighs, as if he is one of the servants. "There was no way out of it, they had to tell the king."

“What do you mean, gone?” he gasps as Tristan. “How could that be? Tell me what happened!”

As himself, he narrates "The servants told him about the sneeze and the blink. As he listened to them finish the story, Sir Tristan was already taking off his crown."

“I know what’s happened--it’s the Fair Folk." he announces as Tristan. "They have taken my beloved Fiona. When they see something they want, they make you sneeze, and in that blink, the Fair Folk take what they want. My beautiful Fiona has been taken by the Fair Folk. Well, I don’t want to sit on the throne without her beside me.”

He interjects as himself "As he took off his royal shoes, he called for the Lord High Chamberlain."

“I’m going away to find the Lady Fiona." he instructs an imagined person as Tristan. "I want you to look after the country until I return. And I won’t return, until she is with me”.

As himself, he continues "He took off his royal finery, and put on the colorful clothes of a traveling minstrel. He took no food or weapons. All he took was his harp as he walked away from that place."

After playing a "traveling" song to simulate the passage of time, he goes on "For days, weeks, months, he walked and he looked. He ate only the nuts and berries he could find. He washed in the streams, he slept on the ground. He lived the way an ordinary traveling minstrel would. But every night, before going to sleep, he’d lean against a tree and play his harp. The wild Pokemon would come to listen, furred, finned, and feathered alike. They were his only companions in all that time."

He plays "The Prayer to the Sea" for effect before continuing "One morning, as he was still waking up, he heard, then saw, 50 Rapidashes walking by. Sitting on each Rapidash, was a beautiful lady. He knew by the way they sat, so still, that they were the ladies of the Fair Folk. In the midst of them, was his own lady, Fiona. He moved to wave, so she would see him. But he forgot how he looked. In all that time, no one had cut his hair, nor trimmed his beard. His clothes were torn from the briars. He did not look like the king that he was, and so Fiona didn't recognize him. So he picked up his harp and began to play. She knew the music, and knew it was him, but a spell was on her and she could not even wave nor even smile."

He then plays "Come Give Me Your Hand" for effect. "As the Rapidashes moved on, he followed after them, hiding from bush to tree. They came to a mountain, and he thought they would go one way or the other. But no, a tunnel opened into the mountain, and the Rapidashes moved on into that tunnel. It was so dark, nothing could be seen — not even a hand before the face. Tristan followed the sound of Rapidash hooves on the stone floor, and ran his hands along the cool, damp stone walls of the tunnel. When he came out of the darkness, he was in the land of the Fair Folk."

Excited whispers fill the room as the children speculate what fairyland looks like. "As beautiful as ever it is imagined to be, that’s how beautiful it was to Tristan." Brock assures the children as parents rush to quiet the whispers. "There, across a meadow, he saw the castle of King Oberon and Queen Titania--the rulers of the Fair Folk. Around the castle was a garden, and sitting on the ground, leaning against a Leppa Berry tree was his beloved Fiona, sleeping, just the way she was when she’d been taken. He tried to speak to her, to touch her, but the spell was still on her. So he went right into the castle, marched right up to King Oberon and Queen Titania, and without even being asked, began to play his harp."

He plays "The Beautifly" for effect before continuing "His music was so beautiful, that King Oberon and Queen Titania stopped what they were doing to listen. From all over the land, Fair Folk came to listen. Tristan played happy music, for he had found his lady. He also played sad music, for he had no idea how he would get her from there. When he stopped, all the Fair Folk were silent for a moment. Then as if they were one entity, they took in a deep breath, and let out a sigh of satisfaction."

The room is silent for a moment, then Brock continues "Queen Titania leaned toward the king of mortals and said..."

In a mimic of Clair for Queen Titania, he smiles “Sir, we have never heard anything so lovely. We hear our music which is fine itself, and yours is even more grand.”

“We want to give you a reward for playing that music." he adds in a younger version of himself for King Oberon. "Just ask for what you want, and it is yours--we promise”.

“I know what I want." he replies as Tristan. "There is a beautiful lady sleeping under a Leppa tree outside your castle. I’d like her to come away with me.”

As himself, he narrates "Although the rulers of the Fair Folk were reluctant to do it, his wish was granted. He went out of the castle, right to the garden, right to the Leppa Berry tree. The spell was gone now, and he could touch her on the shoulder. She opened her eyes and took his hand as she stood. Together they walked across the meadow, away from the Land of the Fair Folk. In the tunnel, they listened to their shoes on the stone floor and felt with their hands, the cool, damp walls, ’til, there they were, back in their own land again. To their own castle they went – walking and talking – telling each other of their adventures in all that time. There in the garden, their Leppa Berry tree was still standing. Its branches were so full, the Berries nearly touched the ground. Even so, they tiptoed past it, being careful not to sneeze."

He smiles at the enthralled looks on his audience's faces. "As luck would have it, the Lord High Chamberlain was standing outside the castle. He welcomed them both, and Sir Tristan went into his room. He washed, the barber came to trim his hair and shape his beard. He put on the royal clothes that made him look like the king that he truly was.

He concludes "From that day on, Sir Tristan and Fiona ruled wisely and carefully, together. But never again did either of them sleep under a Leppa Berry tree."

The crowd laughs and applauds as Brock sets the harp aside and takes a bow....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 246: Tenshiki)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Week 246: Tenshiki

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 162, story 1)

"Not even the warrior miko Kanade was invincible to disease--one day, she caught a terrible cold, bad enough for the local healer to make a house call." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "Kanade was told to stay in bed for a few days, but before leaving, the healer asked if Kanade had any tenshiki. Not wanting to come off as stupid, Kanade said she did, but they were packed away in a back room."

The audience debates who or what a Tenshiki could be as Brock continues "In reality, Kanade had no idea who or what a tenshiki was, and mulled all kinds of possibilities as she lay there in bed. Her apprentices did what they could to help their mistress feel better. The next morning, Kanade called her apprentices together, and told them that, like you guys, she was curious to know who or what a tenshiki was. One apprentice, a girl named Satomi, eagerly volunteered to find out, and set out right then."

The debate the audience then shifts to who Satomi will ask. "Satomi went all over town, asking if anyone had a tenshiki she could show Kanade." Brock explains. "The town mayor said no--he had lent it to someone. The village elder replied he had accidentally broken his, and he would prefer to let Kanade see one whole. The teacher at the local school was confused by Satomi's question, and said that tenshiki was delicious in soup. By the time Satomi had asked every resident in town, she had gotten 15 different and conflicting answers, and had no idea where to begin figuring it out herself."

He then narrates "As she sat by the roadside contemplating her dilemma, she finally screamed..."

Many in the audience jump as Brock screams in frustration as a young girl "JUST WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A TENSHIKI????"

As himself, Brock reveals the truth. "The village healer happened to be coming down the road about then, and heard Satomi's frustrated scream. She told Satomi that tenshiki was just a made up word--she had wanted to try and trick her mistress."

"Oh"s fill the air as Brock concludes "When Kanade learned that there was really no such thing as a tenshiki, she told her apprentices to be on guard for others that might trick them like the healer did."

Laughter and applause fill the air as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 247: The Rescue of Princess Roni)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 247: The Rescue of Princess Roni

(real tale: The Giant Knarratschki and the Princess Tingaling)

"There once lived a schoolmaster who had five sons. The eldest was named Von; the second, Eliwood; the third, Nicholas; the fourth, Robin, and the youngest, Larkin." Brock begins. "Now, the schoolmaster had given all of them a very good education, and each could do something better than anyone else in the world."

Intrigued murmurs fill the air as Brock goes on "Von had been apprenticed to an apothecary, and had learned how to make a powerful medicine, which would heal any living person, and bring any dead person to life again, if only a little bit of it was given. Eliwood could climb up any cliff, or scale any castle, as easily as a Meowth climbs a garden wall. He did this by way of a set of special spurs he attached to his boots, and as he climbed the wall or cliff, they went tink-tink-tink. Nicholas could row a boat quicker than anyone else, and the boat glided over the water like an arrow from the bow, quicker than the wind. Robin was such a good shot with the bow that he could shoot the eye out of a flying Taillow, and Larkin would wander in the woods all day, and eventually he knew the song of every bird in the forest. He would practice them regularly, so that he could mimic them perfectly. He knew what the birds were talking about and could talk back to them."

"Wow"s and "cool"s fill the air at this. "Well, one day Larkin was out in the woods, hunting for bug Pokemon to feed the bird Pokemon, when a Fletchling flew by. He whistled out, 'Good morning! Any news this morning?'"

“Any news...” he muses in a mimic of Serena for the Fletching. “Have you not heard that the giant Kyojin has run off with the Princess Roni, daughter of King Triscolm of Cathasar? He has flown away with her to his castle, on a high rock in the middle of the sea, and here she has to sing to him all day long. The king has promised to give her in marriage to whoever can bring her back safely, and half his kingdom as well."

He narrates as himself "When Larkin got home, he told his brothers what the Fletchling had said, and added..."

“I’m going to set off and see if I can rescue her, for she is the most beautiful princess in the known world.” he boasts in a mimic of Ash for Larkin.

“Why don't we all go?” he suggests in a mimic of Forest for Nicholas.

He narrates as himself "So the schoolmaster put on his black coat, took his cane in his hand, shut the door after him, and they all set off, Larkin leading the way."

“I will carry her off from Kyojin,” he boasts in a mimic of Callum for Eliwood, “and you will see me climb up the rocks with my spurs quicker than a Meowth.”

“My ship will carry you over the sea quicker than the wind,” he adds as Nicholas.

“I will give him a taste of a firey arrow that he won't forget for a long time,” he adds in a mimic of Brendan for Robin.

“I will be ready with my medicine, if any of you meet with an unfortunate demise,” he concludes in a mimic of Clemont for Von.

He continues as himself "The schoolmaster was beside himself with joy, and told anyone and everyone what he would do when he got half the kingdom. While they were talking, they came to the sea. Nicholas looked for his boat, and found it right where he had left it. With one stroke the boat went a mile out into the sea. Before long they came to a steep rock right in the middle of the sea. They rowed up close to it, and Eliwood got ready to climb up. He put on his spurs, and started on his way upwards, one step at a time, until he came to the top. His brothers were as astonished at the great skill and speed he did this the millionth time as they had been the first."

Giggles go up at this. "When Eliwood was about halfway up, out flew two great Braviaries whose nest was in a cleft of the rock." Brock interjects, quieting the laughter. "They pecked and bit at Eliwood so much, it was hard for him to balance. Even though the spurs kept him from falling, he had to balance himself with one hand and fend off the Braviaries' attacks with the other. If one of the spurs ever popped out of the rock, he would meet his demise on the rocks below. When the brothers saw this, Robin nocked an arrow to his bow, and shot one Braviary through the heart, so that it fell dying into the boat. Larkin went up to it, and the Braviary spoke to him..."

“I have well deserved my death, for it is I who stole the royal diamond from the Princess Roni. My wife always wanted something better than the other Braviaries, and egged me on to steal it.” he gasps in a mimic of Lucas, to laughter.

As himself, he continues "Robin nocked another arrow, and shot it at the Braviary which was still pecking away at Eliwood; and pierced it through and through and pinned it to the rock. Now Eliwood could use both hands to balance again, and continued his perilous journey until he got to the top. Von gave some of his medicine to the dead Braviary, and it soon came back to life again. Larkin made it promise to go get his wife, who had the princess's diamond. Soon the Braviary returned with the diamond in his beak, and made excuses for his wife, who was now so ashamed of her great vanity that she wouldn't show her face. Nicholas gave him some pearls which he kept for trading to make a necklace for his wife, the Braviary thanked him, and he flew away."

A spotlight appears on a chair at center stage, where Brock's guitar waits nearby. "When Eliwood arrived at the top of the rock he saw a great hut, where he heard Princess Roni's song coming from inside, so he went up and listened." Brock explains as he settles in the chair. "Now, Kyojin had just recently lost his wife, and one of the reasons why he had kidnapped Princess Roni was so he might have someone to keep him company, make his dinner, and help him with his chores."

He starts a familiar melody as he narrates "Princess Roni's song went something like this..."

The children in the audience whisper excitedly as the recognize the tune Brock sings in a mimic of Misty for Princess Roni. Lay la loo, oh lay la loo,
All the stars, they shine for you
Guiding you, and protecting you
From their fields of blue....

Dream, child so dear
Wise beyond your years
Never lose sight of who you are...

One of the Firelights joins in on an ocarina, dropping a major clue as to what Brock is really singing. After trading solos with his bandmate, Brock continues the song in character:

In time I see, in time I see,
You'll no longer need me.
Rise to meet your destiny,
Oh how proud I'll be!

Dream, child so dear
Wise beyond your years
Never lose sight of who you are...

Lay la loo, oh lay la loo...

Wild applause goes up at the song's end. "Meanwhile, Eliwood had gone around the hut and caught one or two Ninjasks, some Nincadas and Kricketots, and a Beedrill." Brock explains as himself. "He opened the door very quietly, and whispered into the princess' ear..."

“Keep singing, don't mind me.” he whispers as Eliwood.

As himself,he continues "He took a good look at Kyojin; he was large and fat, ugly and greasy looking, and as shaggy and untidy as an old Ursaring. On his shoulders he had a pair of threadbare Crobat's wings, and at the back of his head a long pigtail, which he had tied around the princess' arm so she couldn't run away. His head lay on her lap, and he snored and blew with his nose so that the sand and dust on the floor were blown up into the air. On the wall hung a large horn, so large that a man could sleep inside it, and on the ground stood his club. Eliwood plugged up the horn and hid the club, so that he would not be able to make any noise when he woke up. Kyojin had a pair of thick locks of hair over his ears, so Eliwood put the bug Pokemon into his ears, and closed them in by tying the locks over them."

Giggles of anticipation fill the room as Brock narrates over the familiar melody of Zelda's Lullaby. "Princess Roni was still singing away..."

He sings as Princess Roni again Lay la loo, oh lay la loo,
All the stars, they shine for you
Guiding you, and protecting you
From their fields of blue...

Dream, child so dear
Wise beyond your years
Never lose sight of who you are...

He continues as himself "With that, she stopped, but the bug Pokemon inside his ears buzzed and hummed so that he believed Princess Roni was still singing her lullaby to him. Eliwood untied the pigtail from her wrist, and tied it to an old millstone which Kyojin used to grind his meal; then he got an old copper cauldron, which Princess Roni had to make Kyojin's porridge every morning, and, while the princess got up very cautiously, he placed it under the giant's head. Kyojin snored away quite peacefully, believing he was still lying on Roni's lap. They quietly left the hut, and Eliwood, telling Princess Roni to hold on tight around his neck, quickly descended to the boat."

He grins. "You can imagine how glad the schoolmaster and the brothers were when they saw him with Princess Roni! They had strained their necks watching for him. They all jumped into the boat, Nicholas gave a stroke with his oars, and away they flew from the rock."

A tense chord signals the party is not out of danger yet. "But they had not gone very far before they got a terrible surprise." Brock intones. "Kyojin had awakened soon after Eliwood had carried off Princess Roni. The bug Pokemon which he had placed in his ears had all crept out; but the Combee had settled on his big red nose. When they no longer hummed and buzzed in his ear, he figured out Roni had stopped singing, and the Combee began to sting him violently on the nose, because his snoring annoyed it so much, he got really angry and lashed out with his clenched fist at Roni. Instead of hitting the princess, however, he only skinned his knuckles against the porridge pot, and unleashed a terrible cry of pain. The cauldron vibrated like a large gong, and he sprung up in rage; but his pigtail was tied to the millstone, and he tore his hair by the roots. After a great deal of trouble he freed himself, and ran all over the rock, but no Roni could he find. He looked out to sea and, far away, a black speck on the ocean, he spied the little boat."

The audience roars with laughter at the comical scene. “He reached out his hand to grab his club, but he could not find it anywhere." Brock continues. "This made him beyond furious, and he gnashed his teeth. He wanted to blow his horn and summon help, but found it stopped up, and nearly blew a hole in his cheeks. But he vowed to have his revenge, and, grabbing the millstone, he stretched out his Crobat's wings and flew—flutter—flutter—flutter—out over the sea after the little boat."

Gasps go up as Brock continues "Roni laid herself flat on the bottom of the boat so that he wouldn't see her. But Kyojin came flying along like a black cloud, getting gradually closer and closer. Nicholas rowed as hard as he could, but Robin nocked an arrow to his bow, and told Nicholas to stop for a moment.”

Not even the Nincadas chirp as the audience waits to hear what happened next. "Nicholas stopped, and Kyojin was right above the boat. Brock continues. "Fweeew... went the arrow, and pierced right through Kyojin's heart, so that he fell along with the millstone right onto the boat, covering it with his great Crobat wings."

Cheers fill the air at Kyojin's demise. "At first the brothers were all silent from fear and terror, because Kyojin lay over them, but at last the schoolmaster asked if the brothers were okay.” Brock goes on. "All the brothers answered that they were okay, but bruised. The real concern was if Princess Roni was okay. So they all got on their hands and knees and pressed with their backs against Kyojin, and KA-SPLOOSH! he fell into the water and sank slowly down. However, the millstone had konked Princess Roni on the head and knocked her out cold. They all feared the worst, but Von gave a little of his wonderful medicine to her, and she sat up, none the worse for wear."

Cheers go up that the princess is okay. "The rest of the way was uneventful, and they soon reached land." Brock continues. "Nicholas fitted four wheels to his boat, and Larkin called six Ursarings out of the forest, and promised each of them a piece of honeycomb if they would allow themselves to be harnessed to the boat and would pull them to Cathasar. As they were very fond of honey, they consented, and the journey was soon accomplished."

He smiles as he plays a festive melody "Oh, how the people in Cathasar were astonished at the beautiful coach, pulled by six Ursarings! Princess Roni's father, King Triscolm, came out with all his court to meet them. He embraced his daughter and the schoolmaster and the brothers."

“Now,” he explains in his favorite voice--a king voice, “I will honor my word. I promised my daughter and half my kingdom to whoever brought her back, but the real question is who should have her."

“I got her from the rock,” he explains as Eliwood.

“I killed Kyojin,” he interjects as Robin.

“I took you to the rock on my boat,” he adds as Nicholas.

“I brought her to life again with my medicine," he interjects as Von.

“I love her very much, and it was I who told you where she was,” he adds as Larkin.

“I am the father of you all, and so she belongs to me,” he adds in a mimic of Flint as the schoolmaster.

As himself he narrates "Princess Roni hesitated--all of them were equally fit, so which one was the most worthy?"

He reveals Princess Roni's choice in character. “I would like to live in the forests with the bluebells, and with the bird Pokemon, and with—Larkin!”

He continues as himself "King Triscolm then took a thick feather quill and drew a line down a map of the kingdom, dividing it into two halves, and gave the schoolmaster the right half, which the schoolmaster in turn divided into five equal pieces, one for each of his sons."

He then concludes "Each of them built a mansion on his estate; and they lived very happily, often visiting one another, for many years."

The crowd roars as Brock sets his guitar aside,and joins his bandmate in taking a bow....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 248: The Song of the Pot)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 248: The Song of the Pot

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 163, story 2)

"Deep in the mountains near what is today Pewter City, a certain couple were reconsidering going to work in their fields, since it was a cold day." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "But the New Year was approaching, and they needed food to feed family and friends that would come to visit."

murmurs of agreement go up at this. "As they contemplated their dillema, they thought they heard a voice sing..." Brock pauses to sing Te lei ze cra riou te ze... before continuing "The woman asked her husband if he was singing a song, as he often did when he worked. But the husband replied he had not said, or sang anything."

He adds "Then they heard the song again..."

With that, he sings Te lei ze cra riou te ze...
Cra riou ze te riou rei neu, riou ze...
Va rei ze te, neu te riou te cra
Riou rei cra riou ze rei va ze rei...
Va neu va lei, va neu va ze lei!
Cra riou cra neu te lei cra riou ze lei va
Rei va neu cra te lei lei!

The teens in the audience chuckle as they hear Brock sing--they know what he is actually singing. "The couple concluded the song was some kind of code--so they went over the mountain, then the new path on the hill, then thickets big and small." Brock continues, quieting the chuckles. "On the way, others heard about the singing pot and its mysterious song, and eagerly joined in the so-called treasure hunt. Finally, they came to two rocks, and started digging, but try as they might, no treasure was to be had. As the villagers gave up one by one, the pot explained that the treasure in the song had been found a long time ago. Everyone was stunned--all this way, for nothing?"

Concerned murmurs waft through the crowd, but Brock just continues "On the way back, they met the town elder, who explained that one of his pots had started singing the same mysterious song. The man told the elder what had happened, but the elder replied that he believed the odd language was directing him down a different route. The three of them hurried to an old field, and dug, but nothing was found there either."

Giggles go up as the children picture the trio's reactions to an empty hole. "On the way back, they were stunned to discover that one of the poorer families in town had somehow gotten rich in hours." Brock continues. "The mother explained that her pot started singing in the odd language too, and when she had dug in the thicket behind her house, she had discovered a large stash of gold and gems."

He concludes "What the odd language actually meant, no one knows for sure, because the pots stopped singing soon after that, and they haven't sang since!"

The crowd applauds as Brock takes a bow....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 249a: The Wizard's Advice, part 1)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Week 249a: The Wizard's Advice, part 1

(real tale: The Wise Counselor)


"One day a poor young man--we'll call him Alex--was walking along a road." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "Feeling tired, he sat down on the grass by a large stone to rest and have a bite to eat. After he had eaten he stretched himself out on the ground and fell asleep. As he slept, he had a strange dream: he seemed to hear a voice saying something in his ear. But the voice did not stop when he woke up. Alex concluded that the voice came from under the stone, if not from somewhere within it."

He looks off towards stage left, as if the voice is there. "So Alex put his ear to the stone and listened hard, and he was able to make out the following..."

In a younger version of himself with an echo, he pleads "O good and kind hero! Please deliver me from my long and trying captivity! For seven hundred years have I been suffering the most terrible torture but my captors won't let me die. You were born on the first day of summer, therefore you alone can save me."

"I don't know if it is in my power to do so," he replies in a mimic of Ash for Alex, without an echo. "Tell me how you came to be where you are and what I must do in order to rescue you."

"First you must find a rowan tree that grows on the border of three fields and cut off a piece of its branch an inch long." he instructs in his echo-y young voice. "After that you must take several bunches of stevia and mint, burn them and the rowan branch together, and, walking around the stone seven times, with your face to the east, let the smoke curl over the whole of it. Only then will my prison open, allowing me to see the sun again and feel the breath of the wind. If you save me my gratitude will know no bounds; I will make you rich and famous."

"To help someone in trouble is every person's duty." he muses as Alex. Although I don't yet know whether you are good or evil, I will try to do what I can for you. But first you must swear that, once you are free, you will not do anyone any harm."

As himself, he continues "To this the captive readily agreed, swearing to Arceus that his word was true. Alex then went off to the forest in search of the rowan tree and the herbs. Fortunately, he knew of a place nearby where a rowan tree grew on the border of three fields, but it took him much longer to find the herbs. He returned with them on the following day."

The lights dim a little to mimic sunset. "That evening, he did as he had been instructed, going around the stone seven times, with his face to the east, and being careful to let the smoke curl over its whole surface." Brock narrates as he walks around the center area of the stage, as if he is Alex performing the ritual. "He was almost done when he heard a loud rumbling, if the earth itself were being rent asunder."

The audience braces themselves for rumbling noises, but Brock assures them "Relax, this isn't a 4-D theater."

Relieved giggles go up at this. "At that same moment, the huge stone rose into the air, and a tiny little man sprang from under it and rushed off on twinkling feet." Brock continues. "Then the stone crashed back down where it had been, spraying everything with earth and dust. The tiny little man ran back to his rescuer and threw himself on his neck. He even tried kissing his hands and feet, but Alex would not let him do that. Then they both dropped down on the grass beside the stone, and the little man told Alex the following...."

In his echo-y persona,he reveals the being's name. "My name is Maith--I was once a wizard, a famous one, who did good things for many people and was richly rewarded for it. I healed the sick, both human and Pokemon, and broke evil spells cast on people by witches and sorcerers who feared me because I was stronger than they were. Many a time did they get together and try to think of ways of doing away with me, but by means of the secret knowledge that I possessed, I was able to thwart their evil plots. Finally, they collected a large sum of money and sent a messenger with it to an evil sorcerer who lived in a northern land, calling on him to help them. It was this rogue who finally got the better of me, though not so much by wisdom as by cunning. He stole my tools of magic and threw me in a dark hole under the stone to languish there till the day when someone born on the summer solstice would come and free me. For seven hundred years I waited for that happy moment. Then you came, and, heeding my plea, delivered me from captivity. To the end of my days I will not tire of thanking you and will serve you selflessly, giving all my strength and knowledge to making you happy and to raising you to the greatest height a mortal can reach on earth. When I have done this, I will ask you to help me again that I might judge my enemies should they appear. Until then, lest my enemies learn of my escape, I will hide myself from all eyes. By means of magic I can take any shape I please. So I will turn myself invisible, and hide in your shirt pocket. But if ever you need my help and advice, I will tell you what to do, and only you will be able to hear me. I won't want any food, for I have done without for all the time I spent under the stone, and fresh air and sunshine are enough for me. In the morning we will set out together to seek our fortune."

He concludes "The wizard's story complete, Alex had dinner and lay down to sleep....but what adventures awaited him? I will tell you more next week!"

"Aw"s and applause go up as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 249b: The Wizard's Advice)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Week 249b: The Wizard's Advice, part 2

(real tale: The Wise Counselor)

"The next morning, when the sun was already high in the sky, Alex looked around him, but the little man he had rescued the night before was nowhere to be seen." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "Half awake as he was, Alex was not sure whether he had really seen him or whether it had all been a dream."

Intriguedmurmurs fill the air as Brock continues "He had his breakfast and was about to start on his way again when three travelers appeared on the road. Judging by their clothes, they were artisans, and there were leather bags strapped on their backs. Just then Alex felt movement in his pocket and a familiar voice said..."

"Invite the three wayfarers to stop for a rest and ask them where they are going." he instructs in his echo-y voice.

Then something dawns on Brock. "Alex realized that his adventure the night before was no dream. He remembered that the wizard--for lack of a better way to describe him--had said that he would hide in his pocket and only emerge if his rescuer needed his counsel. Alex approached the three men and invited them to sit down and rest, saying that he would go with them if they happened to be going the same way as he was. The three, who turned out to be apprentices, told him of the terrifying events that had occurred in the king's own city several days before: the king's daughter--Princess Verena, his only child, had vanished while bathing, and though the river was not at all deep, no trace of her, dead or alive, had been found."

Fearful murmurs fill the auditorium at this, but Brock just narrates "Suddenly Alex heard the voice whisper to him..."

"Go wherever they are going, for you might make your fortune there." he commands as his ethereal being.

He continues as himself "Alex heeded this counsel and went with the apprentices, whose names are not important to us. The road soon led them into a dense forest where, lying in a gutter by the wayside, was an old knapsack. The voice told Alex..."

"Take that old knapsack, it might come in handy on the way." he instructs as the ethereal entity

As himself, he interjects "Though Alex had his doubts that anything so old and worn could be of any possible use, he picked up the knapsack and hung it on his back, saying with a laugh..."

"A person must not disdain that which is lying in the road. Who knows if this old knapsack may be of use to us!" he grins as Alex.

"If you want to take it, go ahead." he scoffs in an older version of himself. "An empty knapsack is not so heavy that it will weigh down your shoulders."

He intones as himself "However, they soon changed their tune when they saw that the knapsack was no ordinary knapsack but a magical one."

Excited whispers fill the air at this. Walking in the hot sun had wearied the travelers, and after seating themselves in the shade of a leafy tree, they were about to enjoy what little they had brought along, when the voice whispered to Alex in a mystical language 'Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo...'" Brock continues, quieting the chatter. Alex, who thought this a joke but decided that it might be funny to his companions, took the knapsack off his back, opened it, and sang..."

Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... he sings as Alex.

He continues as himself "The knapsack glowed green, and when the light faded, there stood a small table spread with a white cloth and stacked high with almost every food and drink imaginable. The travelers did not wait to be asked but dove in with gusto. When everyone had had his fill, the table vanished as suddenly as it had appeared and the old knapsack again lay in its place."

The lights dim a little to mimic the passage of time, and reveal a chair and Brock's guitar at center stage. "The three apprentices now vied with each other for the right to carry the knapsack." Brock explains as he settles in the chair. "In fact, they were close to fighting over it when Alex stopped them by saying..."

"I was the one to pick it up, so it's mine by right." he explains as Alex.

As himself, he goes on "There was no way to argue with that, so they left it to him. But since it was unthinkable to allow this treasured possession to simply dangle on his back, unprotected, one of the apprentices brought out a needle and a ball of silk thread from his bag and made a cover for the knapsack out of a piece of cloth."

After checking the tuning on his instrument, he continues as two figures in the shadows make their way into position onstage "After resting, the travelers went on. A full stomach and a hopeful heart are the merriest of companions, and it was little wonder the four of them walked along singing and joking all the while."

With that, he starts the song "Pikachu Went Out to Ride". The spotlight then expands to include Ash and Misty playing along on their respective instruments before Brock starts to sing:

Pikachu went out to ride, gitty-alon, gitty alon,
Pikachu went out to ride, gitty alon and I.
Pikachu went out to ride, sword and buckle by his side;
Mecax, mekary, Ducklett-a-dil, gitty alon and I.

Emolga will marry me, gitty alon, gitty alon,
Emolga will marry me, gitty alon and I.
Emolga will marry me, ask my Pikachu, said she,
Mecax, mekary, Ducklett-a-dil, gitty alon and I.

Ash adds a little flourish on his whistle as Brock continues Pikachu, will you marry Emolga, gitty alon, gitty alon?
Pikachu, will you marry Emolga, gitty alon and I?
Pikachu, will you marry Emolga?
Why yes, kind lad, by half my house, mecax, mekary, Ducklett-a-dil, gitty alon and I....

After an interlude from the whistle and fiddle, Brock sings again. Emolga, where will the wedding be, gitty alon, gitty alon?
Emolga, where will the wedding be, gitty alon and I?
Emolga, where will the wedding be?
'Ask my Pikachu' says she, mecax, mekary, Ducklett-a-dil, gitty alon and I.

The three friends play a solo together before Brock sings the final verse. Pikachu, where will the wedding be, gitty alon, gitty alon?
Pikachu, where will the wedding be, gitty alon and I?
Pikachu, where will the wedding be?
At the top of a Cheri tree, mecax, mekary, Ducklett-a-dil, gitty alon and I...

The audience claps along as the familiar trio of whistle, fiddle, and guitar play a long solo together.

After scatting along with the whistle on the final variation of the tune, Brock sings a final Mecax, mekary, Ducklett-a-dil, gitty alon and I. to end the song.

Ash and Misty take a bow for the roaring crowd before retreating offstage. "That evening they found shelter for the night, and the knapsack provided them with as fine a meal as it had at noon." Brock continues once the applause finally quiets, still playing the main melody of "Pikachu Went Out to Ride". "Before going to bed they thought long and hard about how to protect it from thieves, deciding at last that they would all rest their heads on it while keeping their legs stretched out in four different directions. As if this were not enough, Alex tied the knapsack to one end of his belt and his left hand to the other end that none might pull at it without his feeling it. But though better ways of safeguarding the knapsack could hardly be devised, the four young men slept lightly, and whenever they woke, which was often, would grope for the knapsack to make sure it was still there."

Laughter goes up at this as the guitar's song shifts to a majestic melody. "In the morning the knapsack brought them food again and they had a hearty breakfast, and this went on like this for a week until they had arrived in the royal city." Brock continues.

He then reveals the truth about the princess' disappearance. "The wizard, who was still invisible, told Alex that Princess Verena had not been drowned, as many in the royal city had feared, but dragged into a whirlpool by a sirena--an evil water spirit similar to a mermaid. He promised to show him the way to the place where she was being held, saying that before doing anything else, he was to go to the king and announce that he would go in search of Princess Verena and try to find her no matter what, but that if he did not return the king was to send half of the gold due him to his parents and distribute the rest among the poor.The king, who had lost all hope of ever seeing his daughter again, gladly agreed, saying that he would do everything Alex asked of him.

He concludes "So how did Alex save Princess Verena? We will tell you more next week!"

The audience is initially confused over who Brock means by "we", but when Ash and Misty join Brock onstage, the confused murmurs turn to cheers as the trio take a bow together...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 249c: The Wizard's Advice)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Week 249c: The Wizard's Advice, part 3

(real tale: The Wise Counselor)

The crowd roars as Ash and Misty join Brock on the stage. "Alex left the palace, and the voice said..." Brock narrates.

"You must catch three Corphish, they will show you the way." he instructs in his echo-y voice.

As himself, he continues, with Ash pantomiming the narration "Alex heeded this counsel and did as he was told. The next day, the townsfolk flocked to the river bank where he was to begin his search for Princess Verena. The king came, too, for he wanted to see for himself what the brave young man would do, and he ordered Princess Verena's servant girls, who had witnessed the whole thing, to point out the place where they had seen her last. The servant girls did so, and now it became clear again to everyone that it was practically impossible to drown there, the river being no more than three feet deep, with a level bottom and a weak current. True, there was a deep hole much farther down the river, but how could Princess Verena have gone that far? Surely, evil magic had been at work here!"

Laughter goes up at the wry comment before Brock instructs in his echo-y voice "Let one of the Corphish down into the water without anyone noticing and see where it crawls,"

As himself, he continues along with Ash's pantomime "Alex hurried to do as he was told. Pretending that he wanted to measure the river depth with his hand, he dropped one of the Corphish in the water. The Corphish crawled alongside the shore for about fifty feet, then turned sharply left and disappeared under an overhanging cliff. When the second and the third Corphish had done likewise, the voice said..."

"Now that we know where to go there is no time to be lost. Dive in the river and sing 'Rou iitsa ron selga vichii' on the way down. Once there, we'll find the way." he instructs Ash as his echo-y persona.

He continues as himself "Alex did as he was told. He dove in so that the water all around rippled and foamed, singing the mysterious song on the way down..."

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Ash fills in the song as Alex.

"The onlookers waited silently to see what would happen next." Brock intones. "Reaching the spot underwater directly beneath the cliff, Alex saw an opening that led into a cave, and it was so narrow, it was almost more than a human's size."

"Into the cave with you!" Brock grins as his echo-y persona, making a grand gesture offstage to prove his point.

Ash proceeds to crawl on the stage as Brock continues "Alex crawled in with some difficulty, but as he pushed ahead the walls fell back and he was soon able to stand." Ash gets up at this point. "After a while a faint light gleamed in the darkness, and Alex stepped out of the cave to see a green valley spreading before him with a large house of sapphire glittering in the distance. The voice told him..."

In his echo-y voice, Brock instructs Ash "Listen carefully to all I'm going to say and do just what I tell you, for you will never rescue Princess Verena otherwise. She is being held captive by a sirena in that blue house over there, and two Ursarings stand watch by the gate day and night to prevent anyone from getting in or out. We must try and befriend the Ursarings. As soon as we come close, sing to your knapsack, and it will turn into a hive full of honey. Throw it at them and slip into the house. Once we are inside, I'll tell you what to do next."

As himself,he narrates Alex came up to the gate, he heard the Ursarings roaring and was beyond terrified. When he had peeked through a crack and spotted them, his heart was in his throat. Still, he took the knapsack down from his back and ordered it to turn into a hive full of honey..."

Seios, higarima laisido... Ash sings as Alex.

"The resulting hive was so heavy, that he could not even lift it, but the Ursarings, sensing the smell of the honey, threw the gate wide open and rushed greedily toward it. They never saw Alex making his way in." Brock grins to some laughter at Ash sneaking past him. "The voice went on..."

"There are two doors here, one on your left and one on your right. The one on the left has a golden key in it and the one on the right, a silver one. First, you must lock the door with the golden key, so the sirena will not be able to come out, and then unlock the door with the silver key and free Princess Verena." he explains in his echo-y persona.

He narrates along with Ash pantomiming the action "Alex did as he was told. He locked the door with the golden key, and such a terrible roar came from the room that the very walls shook. But he never paused and hurried to the door with the silver key."

The lights come upon Misty, as Princess Verena, on the other side of the stage. "Unlocking it, he saw Princess Verena who was sitting on her couch with a sorrowful look on her face. The sight of him frightened her at first, but when he told her that he had come to free her she was overjoyed and jumped down to the floor."

"Aw"s go up as Ash and Misty embrace. "There is no time to be lost. We must get out of here before the Ursarings have eaten all of the honey." Ash explains in character to Misty.

He narrates as Ash and Misty run around th e stage "Taking Princess Verena by the hand, he led her to the door. The Ursarings, still busy with the hive which they had rolled into the yard, paid them no heed, and the runaways tiptoed past them and ran out through the gate. Alex then locked it so the Ursarings would not rush out after them, and the two hurried on."

"Tell the knapsack to come back to you!" he calls as the echo-y persona.

<i>Seios, higarima laisido...</i> Ash sings back as Alex.

"In seconds the knapsack was back in its place on his back again." Brock narrates as himself. "They came to the cave, and Alex said to Princess Verena..."

"The cave is dark and narrow, but don't be afraid, for we will be out of it in a little while. As soon as we are in the water, shut your eyes and don't open them until I have carried you out." Ash tells Misty, who nods in response.

"The underground passage was now far wider than it had been before for some reason, and the runaways made their way through it quite easily. When they got to the river Alex took Princess Verena up in his arms and carried her out on to the shore." Brock continues. "Losing all hope of his ever returning, most of the people who had been there had gone home. But the king and his courtiers were still sitting by the river and talking about Princess Verena and the terrible fate that had overtaken her when her head and that of her deliverer suddenly bobbed up out of the water."

Cheers go up at this. "When they saw Princess Verena alive and well, the happiness of the king and those who were with him knew no bounds." Brock goes on. "The king kept embracing his daughter and crying tears of joy. The joyous news spread like wildfire, and the townsfolk flocked to the riverbank in droves to see the miracle for themselves."

He concludes "Alex and Princess Verena lived long and happily together, and in time the good wizard was avenged as well, but that is another story for another day!"

The crowd roars as the trio bow together....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 250: Kanade's Flight to Olivine)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 250: Kanade's Flight to Olivine

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 165, story 1)

"Once the great warrior-miko Kanade was traveling along the coast when she encountered a funeral procession." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "It turned out the priest of a nearby village had died, and the elder asked Kanade if she could serve in the village until a new priest was sent from the Aiiro City. Kanade agreed, and grew to be well liked in the village because of her wisdom."

"Aw"s go up at this. "But some people wondered--why was someone as famous as Kanade wearing humble traveling clothes?" Brock asks the audience. "A messenger answered that question a few days later--Kanade once served a village some miles away, where she would protect the townsfolk from a greedy and corrupt magistrate. The magistrate wanted to badly injure, or even kill Kanade to serve as a warning to those who opposed him."

Some gasps go up at the sobering turn of events, but angry murmurs soon follow--why would someone want to hurt someone as strong, brave, and kind as Kanade?

"Kanade fled during the night, but the magistrate sent pursuers after her, but Kanade had long since lost them." Brock assures the audience. "The villagers, however, wondered what to do if Kanade was somehow discovered. The elder replied that since Kanade had done so much for them, it was only fair they help her in return."

He then intones "But little did the villagers know that Kanade's pursuers had made camp outside of town."

"Uh oh..." Lotta, who is listening with some of the Players from backstage, swallows hard at this, but Rylan puts an arm around her to assure her everything would be okay in the end.

"The elder believed Kanade would be caught if she fled by land, so he arranged for one of the village's fishermen to take her across the sea, to what is now Olivine City in Johto." Brock goes on, walking across the stage as he speaks. "During the night, a fierce storm blew up, and despite Kanade's and her guide's efforts to keep the boat under control in the howling wind and rain, the boat sprung a leak. Although her guide was clearly afraid, Kanade climbed onto the prow of the boat, and sang into the storm..."

With that, he sings Gatrandis favel,secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

As soon as the last note echos through the auditorium, Brock goes on "As the last note echoed across the stormy sea, an old Shellder shell attached itself to the leak, allowing Kanade and her guide to continue on through the storm. When her guide asked Kanade just what she had sang, Kanade explained it was a powerful holy spell asking Arceus directly for help--and in response, Arceus had sent the Shellder shell to fix the leak."

"Oh"s go up at this. "But the boat was damaged, and couldn't hold up much longer--it finally broke apart moments away from the Olivine coast, throwing Kanade and her guide onto a hill covered in Shellder shells." Brock continues. Kanade had been knocked out cold from the landing, so her guide decided to carry her up the hill, never mind how cold and slippery the Shellder shells were."

The audience and the Players wait with baited breath to know if Kanade and her guide made it safely to Olivine City. "As he braved the cold and slippery shells, he heard Kanade sing again..." Brock continues before singing again Gatrandis favel,secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

Thunderous applause goes up at the song's end. "The holy spell gave Kanade's guide enough strength to reach Olivine City, where it is said Kanade sang songs of thanks to Arceus for a week in memory of the kind villagers that had risked their lives to see her safe. "

The applause intensifies as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 251: Arion and the Gorebyss)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 251: Arion and the Gorebyss

(real tale: Arion and the Dolphins)

"Once upon a time, a young man named Arion wandered throughout the land playing music and singing." Brock begins. "Everyone who heard his voice stopped to listen, for he sang more beautifully than anyone they had ever heard. When the king of a land to the east heard his voice, he invited Arion to live in the palace as his court minstrel."

Excited whispers waft through the crowd as Ash and Misty arrive with their instruments. "Arion became like a son to the king." Brock explains. "He entertained all the palace visitors, and soon his fame spread far and wide."

As the last chord of his relaxed melody fades away, he goes on "One day an invitation came to him from a southern land. 'Come play your music at our summer festival,' the invitation read. 'First prize in the competition is a bag of gold.'"

"Go, my son," he smiles in character the king. "I am sure you will win, and you should share your gift with everyone."

As himself, he continues "The king ordered his crew of sailors to take Arion by ship to the southern kingdom. As they stood at the harbor, the king said..."

"Do not forget to return to your home." he instructs Ash as the king.

"I promise to return as soon as] the contest is over," Ash replies as Arion, complete with a little bow.

"With that, the ship set sail." Brock narrates as himself.

The three of them then play the title theme from "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker" to represent Arion traveling. "When Arion arrived in the south kingdom, he saw that all the best minstrels had gathered." Brock continues when the song ends. "Music filled the air, for the minstrels played day and night. One after another they took their place on the stage and filled the world with song."

He adds as an aside "To say Arion was entranced is an understatement."

Giggles go up at the comment. "When his turn came, Arion strode to the stage and sang so beautifully that everyone fell silent, awed by the beauty of his voice."

With that, Ash sings Lips red as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes...

Eyes blue as the sea and the sky
Water flows, water flows
Heart burning like fire in the night
Gently as she goes...

Some applause goes up for Ash's solo. "The king of the south kingdom requested an encore, and when Arion had finished his song, the king stepped onto the stage and awarded Arion first prize." Brock went on. "Hundreds of admirers gathered around, offering the singer jewels and candy and all kinds of treasures. 'Please,' they begged him, 'stay here and play for us forever.'"

"I promised my king I would return to my home, and I always keep my promises," Ash replies as Arion. "But I will visit you again one day."

"A crowd gathered at the harbor to wish Arion a safe journey and to wave farewell to the famous singer." Brock narrates. "Arion stood on the prow of the ship waving goodbye until everyone was out of sight. Then he turned to enter his cabin, but he was shocked to see an angry, boisterous crew surrounding him."

"You are too wealthy," he demands in a deeper version of himself for the ship's captain. "We are going to kill you and keep your treasures for ourselves."

The crowd gasps as Brock menacingly approaches Ash. "Please," Ash pleads as Arion. "Take my treasures, but spare my life. I care nothing for jewels and gold. All I want to do is live in peace and sing."

Brock just performs one of his evil chuckles--an exact mimic of Ganondorf. "You will change your mind as soon as we arrive in the east kingdom. You will keep your treasures and leave us empty-handed. We cannot let you live." he replies as the captain.

As himself, he continues "Arion promised again and again, urging the men to let him live, but the sailors only shouted and stomped their feet, demanding Arion's life. Arion saw that all was lost. He sank to his knees and looked into the captain's dark face."

Ash proceeds to do this before Brock. "Since I see you will kill me," he sighs in character, "allow me one last wish. I want to sing one last song before I die."

"You may," Brock replies as the captain, "but when you have reached the last note, you will jump overboard. We will tell the king you drowned in a storm."

He sighs as himself "Arion climbed sadly to the prow, looking out over the sea he loved. He began to sing, and his voice, now filled with longing, was more beautiful than it had ever been."

Then something occurs to him. "The song went something like this..."

Gatrandis favel, secret, edena... Ash sings again.
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si....

"As soon as he had sang 'si', Arion leaped into the sea." Brock sighs. "The ship sailed on, leaving Arion adrift on the waves."

But then a grin formed on his face, as if to tell the audience all is not lost. "To Arion's astonishment, he suddenly he felt a swell beneath him, and he was lifted on the back of a Gorebyss. A pod of Gorebyss had heard Arion's song, and when he leaped into the water, they swam to him. The largest Gorebyss swam beneath him, pushing him on her back, while the others swam beside and behind them. They traveled all the way to the east kingdom, arriving long before the ship reached shore."

The auditorium explodes in cheers at this. "The king was so happy to see Arion that he did not notice his wet clothing, but after he had heard a sweet new song, Arion told him all that had happened." Brock goes on. "The king was furious when he heard of the crew's mutiny. When the ship reached port the next morning, the king summoned the captain and his crew."

He then proceeds to perform both ends of the king and the captain's awkward conversation. "Where is Arion?"

"He stayed in the south kingdom, He refused to come with us. We begged him to return to you, but at last we gave up and returned to tell you this news."

As himself, he goes on "The king listened and nodded. He urged the captain to add details to his tale. And so the captain talked of Arion's happiness in the south kingdom and his decision to abandon his king. When the captain was finished, he bowed to the king, and as he did, Arion stepped into the room from behind a wide curtain. He wore the same clothes he had worn when he leaped from the ship's prow. When the captain saw the figure, he began to tremble, and in his terror, he confessed everything to the king."

He concludes "The king banished the captain from his land that very day, and retrieved Arion's treasure. Arion stayed in the kingdom to sing for the king and his guests. And every time he sang, the Gorebyss gathered near the shore to listen."

The whole auditorium rings with applause as Ash, Misty, and Brock take a bow together....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 252: The Legend of Ryutaro)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;


Week 252: The Legend of Ryutaro

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 167, story 2)


"In a certain village lived a young man named Ryota, a priest's apprentice who had near superhuman strength--he could pick up massive boulders as easily as a piece of grass, and pull up trees by their roots as easily as picking a flower." Brock begins. "Because of his god-like strength, the villagers affectionately called him Ryutaro, which means 'dragon boy'".

After putting on a warrior's headband, he goes on "One day, the priest informed Ryutaro that a huge martial arts tournament was being held in the Aiiro City in honor of the Pokemon Master's birthday. One of the warriors, a man named Kokanja, had heard of Ryutaro's amazing strength, and had issued a challenge for him."

Excited chatter races through the crowd as Brock explains "Kokanja was a master of the Raikou style of martial arts, and had lines out the door at his dojo. He regularly competed in tournaments large and small, and some said that he had never lost a match."

"Wow!" Lotta gasps.

"Doesn't Brock take kung fu lessons?" Sachi wonders.

"Yeah--he's up to an orange belt in Raikou style, meaning he can fight unarmed, and fight with the staff, the nunchucks, the dagger, and the orange belt opens training in the bow--his favorite so far, according to his little brother Forest." Rylan replies. "Though archery holds a place in his heart, he says he can't wait to learn to use the sword at the red belt level."

"Cool!" Yuki gasps, starry eyed as she pictures Brock as the hero in a kung fu movie.

"The priest told Ryutaro that the choice was his to accept the challenge--if he did not want to accept it, he would not force him." Brock goes on. "Ryutaro replied that he did not fear Kokanja, nor did he fear a demon or monster. The priest smiled and said that before he left for the Aiiro City, he should at least ask Arceus' protection."

He walks around the stage as he continues "The whole village turned out to see Ryutaro off, wishing him victory in the tournament. Every time Ryutaro passed a shrine, no matter how large or small it was, he would ask Arceus for spiritual strength and protection."

Once he is back in the center of the stage, he continues "In one village, he overheard some villagers putting him down while conjecturing how Kokanja would win. He stormed over to them, and said he was the very Ryutaro they were badmouthing--and vowed that he was going to win."

The crowd cheers at this. "A girl met him on the road, and tried to give him some advice, but it went in one ear and out the other--Ryutaro was that confident." Brock grinned, to some giggles. "Before long, Ryutaro arrived in the Aiiro City. Many skilled fighters were there, and Ryutaro watched some of the matches before he prepared for his match."

He grabs his familiar referee's whistle as he goes on "The time finally came for Ryutaro and Kokanja to battle. A huge crowd had gathered to watch this face-off between Raikou and Gyarados martial arts."

After hanging the whistle around his neck, he prepares to blow it as he goes on "The whistle blew to start the match..."

Akane jumps in surprise when Brock blows his own whistle for effect. "...and Kokanja started off strong with moves such as Thundering Kick, Raikou Guards the Road, Raikou Moves the Mountain, and Raikou Descends from Heaven." He does a few moves of his own for effect. "Ryutaro was quickly overwhelmed, despite his valiant efforts to defend."

Then he remembers something. "Then Ryutaro remembered what the girl on the road had told him--though Konanja was very strong, he did have one weakness--the question was, where was the weak point?"

"In his stomach!" someone suggests.

"In his back!" another person calls.

Brock, however, has other ideas. "Just as all hope seemed lost, he spotted the girl in the stands, pointing to her forehead. He concluded the weak point was at Konanja's forehead."

"Oh"s go up as Brock gives more of the fight's play-by-play. "He started fighting back, and landed the move Gyarados Returns to the Sea at that spot. Everyone watched in horror as Ryutaro followed that with Gyarados Roams the Mist, sending Konanja flying clear to the other end of the arena!"

The PLING signaling a knockout in Super Smash Bros. echoes through the auditorium to illustrate Brock's point. "Ryutaro was declared the winner, and was rewarded the victor's crown, but deep down, Ryutaro knew the girl he had met was really Arceus watching over him, and that night, he gave thanks to Arceus for his victory." Brock smiles as the audience cheers.

He concludes "Ryutaro went on to become one of the greatest fighters in the world, but though he never lost a match in his long and fruitful career, he didn't boast about his strength anymore after that!"

The crowd roars as Brock takes a bow....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 253:The Two Heroes)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Week 253: The Two Heroes

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan", episode 168, story 1)

"Once upon a time, there lived two brothers who longed to be great heroes more than anything else." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "So every day, they would hone their skills in martial arts and a variety of weapons and magic. The elder brother--we'll call him Daisuke--was a fast learner, and soon became very strong and very smart. The younger brother--we'll call him Taiki--put in just as much, if not more, effort than his brother, but he would always struggle. But he never gave up, and slowly but surely grew in strength. But his father and his teachers knew of his struggles, and wondered if Taiki would become equal to, or even surpass, his brother."

Piqued murmurs fill the room as Brock continues "Finally, the father decided enough was enough, and kicked Taiki out of the house. Taiki was understandably upset, but the father was even more upset--deep down, he wanted to see Taiki succeed, but he concluded that being a hero was not the right path for Taiki, and so had decided to send Taiki away to find a talent he could do well with."

The murmurs turn angry, but Brock quickly assures the audience "Taiki left the next morning in high spirits, but as he went on, he started to worry--his fighting skill wasn't very good, and he could only read at a fourth grade level, so how was he going to survive?"

Silence fills the air as what Brock just told sinks in. "After a while, Taiki came to an unusually clear river." Brock continues. "As he admired his reflection in the shining water, he heard the voice of Arceus speak to him."

"There is a lake far to the east." he begins in a gentle,deep voice--his go-to "Arceus" voice. "There is something there that must be protected, and a demon will soon try to take it. But it is said that two heroes will slay it--one of them is already there, and you are the other."

As himself, he intones "Taiki pondered what the holy message meant for a moment--if Arceus believed in his meager abilities, then he could be as good as, if not better, than his brother!"

Cheers go up at this."So Taiki hurried to the eastern lake, where he found his brother struggling against the demon." Brock goes on. "Taiki rushed to join the fight, and after a very long, drawn out, and difficult battle, the demon was defeated."

The cheers intensify as Brock concludes "Daisuke and Taiki were hailed as heroes, and the two of them made their keep defending the lake--which their descendants continue to do today."

Applause joins the cheers as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 254: Destrian and the Stolen Treasure)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Week 254: Destrian and the Stolen Treasure

(real tale: The Boy and the Robber's Magical Booty)

"There was once a king who wasted his money on wine, women, and games of chance." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "Needless to say, his wife and daughters were troubled. Before long, all his money was gone. But he knew that he would have to get more somewhere, for he wished to continue in his evil ways."

Angry murmurs race through the auditorium at this. "One day he met a man in the fields." Brock continues as the chatter quiets. "The man told the king that he had heard of his beautiful daughters, and asked for the eldest, Princess Orla, as his bride. The king readily agreed, in exchange for a thousand pieces of gold. And so the king's roguish ways continued--he spent his money on worthless friends, fancy clothes, and more games of chance."

He then intones "It was not long before the money was gone again. One day in the fields he met another man, who requested his middle daughter, Princess Ariana, gave her to him in exchange for two thousand gold pieces."

The angry murmurs intensify as Brock continues "Before long, that was gone too, and he looked for more. He met a third man in the fields, and he sold him his youngest daughter, Princess Christina for three thousand gold pieces.

He assures the audience "Like you guys, the people were outraged that the three princesses were sold to strangers. No one knew where they had gone or what had become of them. Their mother often cried over them. Only her son, whose name was Destrian, was left with her."

The anger turns to sadness as Brock continues "The king soon got his just desserts of his wicked life, but he had not used up all the money he had received for Princess Christina, and left some of it behind. When Destrian grew up, he started school. His mother had told him nothing of his three lost sisters. But his playmates in school told him, for they had heard their parents talk about them. When he asked his mother about it she would not tell him at first; but finally she told him everything, and she cried because she did not know where her daughters had gone."

A smile forms on his face, as if relieved he has reached an adventurous part. "So Destrian decided to go in search of his sisters. His mother said goodbye to him and wished him good luck. Destrian traveled a long way, until he passed through a lonely forest. As he walked along the forest path, he discovered three bandits sitting on a patch of grass under the trees fighting about something."

"What seems to be the problem?" he asks in a mimic of Ash for Destrian.

"We have here a clock, a sword, and a pair of shoes which have magical power." he explains in a mimic of Gary for one of the bandits. "The coat can make its wearer invisible; the shoes can make the wearer run faster than the wind; and the sword can overcome all enemies. We cannot agree on how to divide the loot. Please be the judge in our dispute and decide for us."

"I will be happy to decide the question, but first let me think about it." he replies as Destrian.

As himself, he continues "So the bandits went to work fixing dinner. One gathered wood for a fire; another went to a stream for water; and the third looked after the food. When their backs were all turned, he put on the coat and shoes and took the sword. In moments he was invisible, and the bandits had no idea they'd been had."

Giggles fill the room as the crowd pictures the bandits' reaction. "Destrian raced down the road, and before long he stood before a very large house." Brock continues. "He went in and asked to see the lady of the house. When she came to him, she did not know who he was, until he called her 'Orla, my sister.' Once she heard her name, she immediately knew who he was, and was very happy to see him. She told him that her husband was a great wizard of the sea who could do wonderful deeds. When her husband returned, he was pleased to see his brother-in-law, and they all had a wonderful time for several days."

"Aw"s go up as Brock continues "Before Destrian left the next morning to seek his middle sister, his brother-in-law gave him a glowing sapphire, and said..."

He shows the audience a glowing prop sapphire. "This has very wonderful power." he explains in a mimic of Flint for the wizard. "If you ever get into trouble, sing to it 'Rou iitsa ron selga vichii' and it will bring you aid from the sea."

Excited chatter goes up at Brock continues "Before long, Destrian found himself at the home of his second sister, Ariana. Like her elder sister, she did not recognize him at first, until he called her by name. She told him that her husband was a great wizard of the land. Soon her husband came home and greeted him kindly, and they had a happy time together for many days."

More excited chatter fills the air as Brock continues "Before he left, his second brother-in-law gave him a glowing ruby, and said..."

He shows the crowd a prop ruby. "This has great power. If you ever get into trouble, sing to it 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul' and it will bring you help from the red earth." he explains in character as wizard.

As himself, he continues "Then Destrian himself at the home of his youngest sister, Christina. She too did not recognize him at first; but when he called her by name, she knew that he was her brother, and he found that her husband was a great wizard of the sky. He was welcomed by the sky wizard, and Destrian stayed with them a long time."

Once back in place at center stage he continues, "The years passed, and one day, Destrian decided to find himself a bride. Christina told him that in a land far away lived a very rich king who had two beautiful daughters named Alma and Perla. While both of them were very beautiful and pure of heart, Destrian decided he liked Perla better, and resolved to win her hand. Before he left, his third brother-in-law gave him a glowing emerald, and said..."

He shows the crowd a prop emerald. "This has wonderful power. If you ever get into trouble, sing to it 'Karuto, iichiida shou...' and it will bring you help from the sky." he instructs in his "wizard" voice."

As himself,he continues "Destrian thanked his third brother-in-law, and soon himself at the castle of the rich king. Before going to the castle, he went to a house on the outskirts of the village where two women lived. They welcomed him kindly, and Destrian told them he had come from afar to seek the king's younger daughter."

"The king's elder daughter, Princess Alma, is to be wed tomorrow, but she will not live long with her husband." he sighs in a mimic of Lola.

"Why not?" he asks as Destrian.

"Have you not heard of the Giant of the Sea, Leviathan?" he gasps as the woman.

"No, I have not." he sighs as Destrian.

He narrates as himself "They took him to the window, and pointed to a high cliff far across the sea. The waves were crashing at its base, and the spray dashed high on its side. But he could see an entrance in the face of the cliff."

"In that cave lives the water dragon Leviathan, the Giant of the Sea." he explains as the woman. "As soon as a girl is married in this land, he carries her off to the cave and she is never heard from again. He cannot be killed, for he keeps his heart hidden where no one can find it. He is the terror of all the land."

He intones as himself "Destrian said nothing, but he vowed to slay Leviathan."

Intrigued murmurs go up as Brock continues "Destrian went on to the castle to see the wedding of Princess Alma. The wedding was a grand affair, and there was much rejoicing, for the people did not think that the sea dragon would carry off Princess Alma. But during the wedding feast, Princess Alma vanished without a trace. The people knew that Leviathan had taken her, and there was great sadness."

Sniffles waft through the auditorium as some of the children worry about a similar fate for Princess Perla. "Destrian went to the king and told him that he wanted to marry his younger daughter. Princess Perla."

"What good will it do you to marry her? You know she will be carried off by the Giant of the Sea." he sighs in his "king" voice.

"But I can kill the dragon." he explains as Destrian.

"No one can do that," he protests as the king.

He continues as himself "Destrian told the king of his power, and the king consented to the marriage. The next day the wedding feast was held. There was not much happiness this time, for the people knew that the king's only remaining child would soon be stolen away by the Giant of the Sea. Sure enough, at the feast, the bride disappeared without a trace; and everyone within miles knew she was taken to the dragon's cave. There was much sadness among the people, but Destrian said..."

"Tomorrow I will go and bring her back!" he announces as Destrian.

Cheers go up at this. "The next day Destrian put on his magical coat and shoes, took his sword, and went to the sea dragon's cave." Brock continues, walking around the stage all the while. "The hole in the cliff was closed up, and he could not enter, but he cut a hole in the rock with his sword and got in that way."

"The lights gain a blue tinge, as if Brock is underwater. "He found himself in a very large room. Many women sat in a circle, all of them crying, but all very beautiful. In the center of the circle sat his own bride, Princess Perla. At the back of the cave sat Leviathan, the terrible sea dragon known as the Giant of the Sea. They could not see Destrian because of his magical coat. suddenly, Leviathan left the cave--as if he knew a wedding was taking place--and disappeared. Destrian then made his presence known to his wife. He told her to ask the dragon when he returned where his heart was hidden. He told her not to fear, for he would rescue her. He had hardly said these few words when Leviathan returned, bringing a bride with him. Then Princess Perla said to Leviathan..."

"Where do you keep your heart?" he asks in a mimic of Dawn for Princess Perla.

"No one has ever asked me that before, and since you are the first to ask me, I will tell you." he replies in an oddly gentle and deep voice for Leviathan. "I keep it in a box far out in the sea. It is in an iron box. There are seven boxes, one inside the other. It is in the innermost box."

"Where do you keep the keys?" he asks as Princess Perla.

"They are hidden beside the box." he replies as Leviathan.

As himself, he continues "When Destrian heard this, he left the cave and sat on the shore. He took out his sapphire..." He shows the audience the prop sapphire from earlier. "...and sang to it..."

He then sings Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... as Destrian, making the sapphire glow in response to his voice. "The sapphire glowed, and a huge Wailord swam to him and asked what he wanted."

"Bring me the iron box and the keys that lie at the bottom of the ocean." he requests as Destrian.

As himself, he continues "So the Wailord went off, and soon returned with the box and the keys. But the keys were old and rusty, and Destrian could not open the lock. Then he took out his ruby...." He next shows the audience the prop ruby. "and sang to it..."

He pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... as Destrian, making the ruby glow. "An Ampharos came running to him and asked what he wanted."

"Break open this box and each box you find inside." he requests as Destrian.

As himself,he continues "So the Ampharos Headbutted the outer box until he broke it, and Heabutted each one until he broke them all. When he broke the last one, Leviathan's heart flew out and escaped into the air."

Gasps go up at this, but Brock shows the audience the prop emerald. "Then Destrian took out his emerald, and sang to it..."

He then sings Karuto, iichiida shou... as Destrian, making the emerald glow. "A great Talonflame came flying up to him, and asked what he wanted."

"Bring me Leviathan's heart; it has just escaped from the box and is flying in the air." he explains as Destrian.

As himself, he continues "The Talonflame flew away, and soon came back with Leviathan's heart—and Destrian cut it in two with his magical sword. Then he went to the cave, still invisible. Leviathan was now vulnerable, for his heart had been found and killed. Destrian easily killed him with his sword, then removed his magical coat and showed himself to the girls who sat in the cave. He brought them all back to the palace and their husbands came and claimed them. The king gave Destrian a large house close to his castle, and there Destrian and his wife Princess Perla lived happily. Destrian also sent for his mother, and brought her to live with him and his wife."

He concludes "The years passed, and when the king died, he left all his money and possessions to Destrian. Destrian ascended to the throne, and was king of all the land. He lived to be very old, and he did many wonderful deeds with the sword, the shoes, and the cloak which he had taken from the bandits in the forest."

Then something occurs to him. "But that is another story for another day!"

Laughter and applause fill the room as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 255: The Performer Meowths)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Week 255: The Performer Meowths

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 170, story 1)

"In a certain temple lived a priest who was renowned for being hard to please." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "His only companions were a girl who served as the cook and a Meowth named Tama."

Intrigued murmurs go up as the lights go down a little to mimic nighttime. "One night, the priest was on his way home from visiting people in town when he heard noise coming from an old shrine to Meloetta." Brock continues. "Piqued, he looked inside, where he found a huge crowd of Meowths watching a play about a boy and the three Beasts of Johto."

The crowd chuckles and whispers excitedly as they remember Brock performing the story in question. "In fact, the story of the boy and the three Beasts had been the priests' favorite bedtime story as a child, and even as an adult, he enjoyed seeing storytellers, puppet troupes, and actors alike tell the story." Brock explains. "Imagine the priest's surprise when he saw that Tama was playing the role of the boy!"

The lights come back up to mimic morning. "Back at the temple, he told the cook what had happened. It didn't help that they kept finding toys and pots around the temple the next morning."

Giggles fill the air as the lights go down again. "The next night. the priest saw the shrine to Meloetta active again, and this time, the Meowths were performing 'The Hero of Shamouti Island'--but the priest found it odd they were using doll's clothes as costumes, leaves as umbrellas, and pens as swords."

He then reveals the twist in the tale. "The Meowths were nearly rioting because the Meowth that was supposed to play Lugia wasn't there. but the Meowth playing the summoner played Lugia's Song again--and the priest was stunned to find that Tama was playing Lugia!"

"Oh"s go up as Brock explains "The priest put two and two together--the Meowths gave Tama the important roles in return for her providing costumes and props!"

He continues "On the third night, Tama told her master she was leaving in a journey to become a great actor. The priest said he would miss her, but would pray that she achieve her goal. He gave her a huge bag of doll's clothes for costumes and items for props, and wished her Arceus' blessings on her journey."

He smiles as he concludes "It is said that Tama did become the leader of her own troupe of Meowth actors, and returned to her master's temple every summer to visit and perform."

"Aw"s and applause go up as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 256: The Boy with Pointed Ears)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Week 256: The Boy with Pointed Ears

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 171, story 3)


"I'm gonna be doing something a little different this week..." Brock explains as he meets the audience onstage. "In fact, we could argue that this is effectively 'The Legend of Taki' fanfiction, because this is a fleshing out of a folktale that is never told in full in the drama itself."

After picking up his harp, he begins "In the mystical land of Ransei, where many warlords vied for power, there lived a young minstrel named Houichi. While Houichi had been born blind, he made up for his lack of sight by relying on his other senses--especially sound and touch. In fact, he was known all across Ransei for his skill at the harp--he knew each string by its sound and its texture, and that the red do strings and the blue or black fa strings were thicker than the others." He refers to the red C strings and blue F strings on his own instrument for effect.

He quickly slips on the harp's fingerpicks, then continues. "Now, Houichi hailed from the kingdom of Fontaine, where creativity flowed as freely as the many rivers and waterfalls. There was a large shrine to Manaphy not far from Houichi's hometown, and Houichi enjoyed coming there to play whenever he needed inspiration."

With that, he plays "The Prayer to the Sea" for effect. "One night, as Houchi was playing hymns to Arceus and Manaphy in the temple, he heard a voice call him. The voice claimed to be a servant of Fontaine's ruling lord, Motochika, and he had come to ask Houichi to play for his master. Houichi came along and played for who he thought was Motochika, but when he returned to the temple the next morning, his guide told him not to say a word to anyone. The priest found this odd, and feared that demons had led Houichi, instead of Motochika's men."

Fearful murmurs go up as Brock goes on "The priest instructed two of his most trusted mikos--Satomi and Chikara--to follow Houichi if he wandered from the temple again, just to be sure he was not being led into a demonic trap."

The lights go down a little to mimic nighttime. "That night, as Houichi departed the temple, Satomi and Chikara followed him, where they found him in a graveyard, playing his harp and singing an epic ballad in the mystic tongue about a brave young girl who had defeated the evil warlord Nobunaga some years before." Brock explains, making excited whispers race through the auditorium as Brock prepares to play the harp again.

Once all is quiet, Brock begins to sing in a Gaelic-esque language in E minor, playing an almost Indian-like melody for accompaniment. While the audience doesn't have a clue what Brock is singing, they still listen as Brock's powerful tenor soars over the droning harp.

When the last note fades, Brock continues "Before Houichi could finish the song, Satomi and Chikara dragged him away back to the temple. Once questioned by the priest, Houichi broke down and told the priest everything, and that he thought he was playing for Motochika and his men. The priest explained that Motochika's castle was in the other direction, and that he was actually singing before Nobunaga's grave--and had he finished the song, Nobunaga would live again, and terrorize Ransei once more."

"Oh"s go up as the crowd puts two and two together. "To protect Houichi from Nobunaga's vengeful spirit, the priest cast a spell of invisibility on him..." Brock then sings Seios, higarima laisido... over a soft F chord before continuing "...and told him to hold still and be quiet.

The lights dim to mimic night again. "Houichi did as he was told, and sure enough, the spirits of Nobunaga's men returned to the temple, but just as they were about to give up, they saw that Houichi had pointed ears--a sign he was really an elf, and not a human." Brock continues. "If they harmed an elf, they would be destroyed by the spirits of nature!"

Cheers go up at this turn of events. "Houichi then sang one of the ancient elven spells..." Brock proceeds to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... over a D chord before continuing "...and the spirits of Nobunaga's men--as well as Nobunaga--were banished back to their grave, never to wake again."

More cheers fill the air as the crowd heaves a collective sigh of relief for Houichi. "The next morning, the priest found Houichi alive, and said it was fortunate that the spell had not been placed on Houichi's ears--had his ears been invisible, the spirits would have never known he was an elf, and tried to hurt him, or worse, kill him." Brock explains.

He concludes "Houichi continued to sing epic ballads of adventure and songs of peace to the people of Ransei--and the fact he was an elf, and more deeply attuned to music than a human, made every song he sang that much more of a joy to listen to."

The crowd roars as Brock sets the harp aside and takes a bow....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 257: Yume and the Cheri Tree)

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Brock and the gang share another tale at the summer festival!

Week 257: Yume and the Cheri Tree

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 171, story 2)


"In a certain village lived a family with a daughter named Yume." Brock--now clad in a familiar sea green kimono--begins as a crowd of festival-goers gathers by the main stage to listen. "Yume had a very active imagination, and preferred to spend her days imagining shapes in the clouds rather than work."

Giggles go up at this. "One day, Yume's father asked her to go into town to buy food." Brock continues. "On the way, Yume met a Berry girl on the road, and used most of her money to buy the girl's last Cheri plant, which the Berry girl claimed had a mystical aura. Yume's parents were annoyed at first, but reluctantly decided to trust Yume--maybe this one Cheri seedling really was rare or magical."

"So was it magical?" a girl asks.

"Yume dutifully tended to her Cheri tree, and in a matter of days, it got large enough and tall enough to touch the sky." Brock replies with a playful grin. "It also had a bountiful harvest--enough Cheri Berries to feed the entire village and the townsfolk for at least a year."

"Wow"s waft through the crowd, but Brock isn't done yet. "Before long, the summer festival came, and Yume's mom wanted to make some Cheri pies for the festival. Yume agreed to get some from the highest branches of the tree. In her zeal to get the Cheri Berries from the highest branches, she eventually climbed straight to the heavens!"

The children present listen in awe as Brock describes the heavens. "Yume was awed at the streets of gold and the opulent palaces for each of the Legendaries, with Arceus' being the grandest of all. Arceus saw Yume looking around, and asked if she had been the one to plant the miracle tree. Yume said yes, and said she was both flattered and humbled that even the Legendaries loved her Cheri Berries. Arceus just smiled and said he wanted to thank Yume, and so called for the Legendary Birds--Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres--to escort Yume inside."

The smell of steamed meat buns prompts him to add "Inside Arceus' palace, the three birds allowed Yume to sample some of the holy food the Legendaries ate."

He is about to say more when the taiko on the yagura get his attention--the bon odoriis about to start! "In return for allowing her to eat the legendary food, Yume decided to entertain her hosts with the same bon odori the people of her village always did for the summer festival..." Brock explains as the music for the bon odori begins. "...which went something like this..."

With that, he and the Players lead the crowd in the dance:

HAa~ hanabi agareba~ (do-n do-n pa-n pa-n, dondo pa-n pan)
HAa~ A~ kansei agaru~ (do-n do-n pa-n pa-n, dondo pa-n pan)
HAa~ ninki agareba~ (do-n do-n pa-n pa-n, dondo pa-n pan)
HAa~ A~ kyuuryou agaru~ (do-n do-n pa-n pa-n, dondo pa-n pan)

matsuri da wasshoi! (dondo panpa dondo panpa)
nipponjuu ga wasshoi! (do-n do-n pan)
SORE hikkurikaette (dondo pa-n pan)
HAa~ bonodori (dondo panpa dondo panpa do-n pa-n pan)

After a few laps around town square and his audience is back at the main stage, Brock continues "Arceus enjoyed Yume's bon odori so much, he asked Yume if she wanted to come with Zapdos and Raikou as they brought the summer rains. Yume said okay, and received Arceus' permission to ride Raikou."

"Was it a crazy ride?" a teen boy asks as his little brother giggles at the thought of Raikou dragging Yume all over the heavens.

"At first Yume was thrilled with the wind and new rain in her face as Raikou carried her from cloud to cloud, making sure to follow Zapdos." Brock explains. "But when they passed over her village, Yume spotted her parents down below, and told Raikou to unleash a great thunderbolt to let her parents know she was okay. When Raikou complied, the force of the Thunderbolt was so great, it knocked Yume off his back."

Gasps go up, but Brock assures them "Luckily, the miracle Cheri tree caught her, but she still had the wind knocked out of her. She told her parents of her adventure, but they just thought it was another of Yume's stories, and they all had a good laugh about it."

He tells the children "Raikou heaved a big sigh of relief that Yume was okay, but Zapdos noticed that the miracle Cheri tree had withstood the giant Thunderbolt that had sent Yume tumbling back to earth. When Arceus heard what happened, he too was relieved Yume was okay, and told them that he had created the Cheri tree to withstand lightning to begin with, and Yume's miracle Cheri tree was no different."

"Oh"s go up as Brock concludes "Yume's Cheri tree kept bearing fruit for many years afterwards, and continues to bear fruit today in what is now Cherrygrove City--but the people there say its best fruit comes after the first storm of the summer, in remembrance of the girl who planted it."

The square rings with applause as Brock takes a bow....

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live From the Fireside: Season 10 (Week 258: Brave Ms. Ninetales)

When a storytelling festival comes to Pewter City, Brock invites the headliners for each day to perform at the Fireside.

@Chimchar98; @The Jingster; @Tophat Dragoneye; @Soulmaster;

Week 258: Brave Ms. Ninetales

(real tale: Wise Ms. Fox)

"You know that the Storytelling Festival is this week, right?" Brock asks as he arrives onstage.

Enthusiastic applause fills the air at this. "Well, how would you like to get a little taste of each of the headlining tellers right here in the Fireside?" Brock offers.

More cheers ring through the auditorium in reply. "Okay!" Brock grins. "Kicking off our week of guests is an up and coming storyteller from Johto who also moonlights as an artist." Brock explains. "She is energetic, expressive, and as you will see here shortly, manages to find a way to work at least one member of the brass family into her performances--so please welcome Rebecca West to the stage."

Applause and cheers fill the air as a young girl charges onstage, her thick wavy brown hair flouncing along with her excited and confident strides.

Once the applause quiets and Brock has taken his leave, she begins "Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a couple of Ninetales lived with their five Vulpixes in a hole in the ground. Every evening Mr. and Mrs. Ninetales crept out of the hole and raced to the marketplace just as it was closing for the day. They waited until everyone had left, and then they crept through the stalls searching for food to bring home to their children."

"Ooh"s and giggles go up from the children in the crowd. "They often found rice, Mago Berries, peppers, beans and chickpeas." Rebecca explaines, listing off the foods on her fingers. "Sometimes they were lucky and found leftover fish or meat someone had carelessly dropped. When their sacks were full, they hurried home."

She then tells the crowd "Now, Ms. Ninetales was a fine scavenger, but Mr. Ninetales was a little braggy. As they ran among the barrels and bushes, he would call to his wife..."

"How much have you got, my love?" she asks in a slightly lower pitched voice--while she did not have the vocal dexterity to perform mimicry like Brock, she could at least slightly alter her voice to designate which role she was playing.

"Enough to fill a tiny vegetable basket," she replies as Ms. Ninetales, her voice sweet and subtle to emphasize the character's modesty. "And you, my beloved? How much do you have?"

"If I keep hunting, we'll need to find an Tauros to carry it all home!" she confidently calls as Mr. Ninetales, to some laughter from the children.

As herself, she narrates "Ms. Ninetales smiled. She understood her husband liked to brag, and she never complained about it. "As long as they had enough, she was happy."

The lights on the stage dim a little to mimic nighttime. "One evening as they were running home, Mr. Ninetales was bragging again." Rebecca explains as her spotlight expanded to reveal a silver tuba. "Just then, a Raikou stepped out from behind a bush and growled."

The audience roars with laughter as Rebecca makes a noise that sounded more or less like a Raikou growl on the tuba. "Stop right there!" she cries as Mr Ninetales.

She intones from her stool "But Mr. Raikou grinned, and Mr. Ninetales trembled at the first sight of those gleaming, razor sharp teeth."

Fearful murmurs fill the air as Rebecca adds "He might have been Mr. Raikou's dinner if Mrs. Ninetales hadn't stepped in front of him and said..."

She gets up from her tuba and addresses an imagined person as Ms. Ninetales "Nice to see you this fine evening, Mr. Raikou. We were hoping to run into someone as wise and clever as you! My husband and I were just having an argument, and we need someone to help us settle the matter."

More laughter goes up as Rebecca balks in character as Mr. Raikou. "The Raikou was pleased to hear such kind words. Almost no one ever addressed him as Mr. Raikou or praised his wisdom." she explains.

"Thank you, Mrs. Ninetales," she replies in her best attempt at a male voice for Mr. Raikou. "Tell me about your argument."

She interjects as herself "Mr. Ninetales was amazed at his wife's calm, but when he heard Mr. Raikou's words, he began to feel a little bit brave."

As Ms. Ninetales she explains "My husband and I have decided to part ways, ut we have five children at home. We can't decide how to divide them between us."

"Right," she stammers as Mr. Ninetales.

She interjects again as herself "As for Mr. Raikou, when he heard about the five Vulpixes, his mouth watered."

"I think I should have three," she continues as Ms. Ninetales, "and he should have two. But my husband says the three boys should be his, and I should keep our two girls. So which one of us is right?"

As herself, she continues "Mrs. Ninetales could see that Mr. Raikou was thinking only of how delicious those Vulpixes would taste. She watched him licking his lips and understood that her plan was working.

"Well..." she muses as Mr. Raikou, "I'll need to see the Vulpixes in order to make a decision. Why don't you take me to your house?"

"Yes, of course, Mr. Raikou. Follow us. We'll lead the way." she smiles as Ms. Ninetales.

She jogs about the stage to mimic the Pokemon traveling as she goes on "And with that, she beckoned to her husband to lead the way. He did, with Ms. Ninetales following him and Mr. Raikou close behind."

Once back at center stage, she continues "A few minutes later, they reached their house. Mrs. Ninetales turned to Mr. Raikou and said..."

"You're far too big to fit inside our house-hole. We'll just climb inside and get the children. We'll bring them out here for you to see, so you can make your decision." she explains as Ms. Ninetales.

"Good idea," she sneers Mr. Raikou, to some nervous giggles from the children.

As herself, she continues "Mr. Ninetales was still confused. But when his wife told him to go first, he leaped right in, relieved to get away from Mr. Raikou. But Mrs. Ninetales stayed a for little while."

"I'll bring them all out together," she explains to an imagined person as Ms. Ninetales. "We won't make you wait too long. I'll check to see if anyone's sleeping, though I doubt they are. They're getting big, and they don't need as much sleep as they once did."

She continues talking to her imagined Raikou in character: "Thank you, sir, for being so gracious and kind. We're very grateful. We were hoping to find just the right judge to make this important decision. You are obviously the perfect choice!"

The auditorium is silent as the audience waits to hear the Vulpixes' fate. "Now, Mr. Raikou was so flattered that he practically blushed as Mrs. Ninetales climbed into the hole." Rebecca goes on as herself. Naturally, once Mr. and Mrs. Ninetales were safely inside the hole with their Vulpixes, they moved everyone as far away from the opening as possible."

"Be as quiet as you can," she whispers to an imagined person as Ms. Ninetales, "When Mr. Raikou knows that he has been tricked, he'll leave us."

As herself, she goes on "Meanwhile, Mr. Raikou waited patiently, his mouth watering and his stomach growling with hunger and desire. After a while, the sky grew darker, the stars came out and Lugia made his nightly flight across the sky. At midnight, Mr. Raikou realized he might have been had. It seemed as if those Ninetales weren't going to come out of their hole."

She reminds her audience "Still, he waited all night anyway, just in case they did."

The lights begin to brighten a little, as if mimicking a sunrise. "As the sun began to rise, Mr. Raikou decided to look elsewhere for food. Disappointed and starving, he went on his way. When Mr. and Ms. Ninetales knew it was safe, they peered out of their hole."

"Okay! We're safe!" she assures the audience as Mr. Ninetales.

Relieved sighs fill the auditorium as Rebecca concludes "From that day on, he always kept an eye out for Raikous. He also stopped bragging about himself, and gave credit to his wife for her fine hunting skills and for her wisdom."

She smiled at the enthralled looks on the audience's faces. "Needless to say, they all lived happily ever after."

The crowd explodes into applause as Brock returns to acknowledge Rebecca, who takes a bow....