EVERYONE: - Complete Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 294: How the Sun was Saved)

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 268: The Monster of Lake Akai

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 178, story 3)

The crowd roars with applause as Brock runs out onstage to meet them, eager to hear what stories Brock and the crew have planned for an eleventh season of tales. "Thank you..." Brock grins. "We're gonna kick off this season with a history lesson hidden in an adventure tale...ever wonder why the Lake of Rage in Johto is called as such?"

Intrigued murmurs fill the auditorium as the audience dabates the question. "Long ago, many temples stood across a large swath of what is today Johto, stretching from Ecruteak City to Mahogany Town." Brock explains, quieting the chatter. "On the northern outskirts of what is today Mahogany Town, there was a lake known as Lake Akai. But no one wanted to sail or swim or fish in Lake Akai, because they feared the terrifying monster said to live there. Many a brave adventurer tried to kill the monster, but they all vanished without a trace."

More intrigued murmurs go up as Brock continues "One day, as the elders of all the area towns got together to discuss what to do, the warrior-miko Kanade happened to pass that way, and asked what had happened for all the elders to get together."

Excited whispers go up at the mention of Kanade's name. "When told about the monster of Lake Akai, Kanade volunteered to fight the monster." Brock goes on. "The elders were stunned, and warned Kanade that the monster would eat her whole. Kanade only replied that she had Arceus on her side, and she was not afraid of any monster."

Once back at center stage, he continues "The elders took Kanade to the lake, where she started singing a hymn common to the area--it went something like this..."

He then sings in a mimic of Clair for Kanade 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 rei, va neu va ze rei!
Cra riou cra neu te rei cra riou ze lei va
Lei va neu cra te lei lei!

Applause goes up at the song's end. "As the last note echoed across the lake, the water began to churn, and a massive Gyarados appeared." Brock continues. "The Gyarados complained that a lady wouldn't be enough to sate its hunger, but Kanade just giggled and told the Gyarados that it was actually quite beautiful for a water dragon. The Gyarados was not swayed by Kanade's compliment, and warned Kanade that its powers were great, and if Kanade didn't stop flattering it, it would eat her alive!"

Gasps go up as the audience worries about Kanade's fate. "Kanade calmly asked the Gyarados to show her its powers." Brock goes on. "The Gyarados agreed, terrifying the elders with a display of thunderstorms, tornadoes, and tsunamis. He then told Kanade to top his display by showing him what Arceus could do."

He grins. "Kanade just sang..."

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

Many visitors in the audience are stunned that a male storyteller can realistically mimic a female voice, much less sing and stay in character, but the residents of Pewter City in the audience just smile--they know and enjoy Brock's uncanny mimicry skills. "A bright light came streaking from the heavens, and engulfed the Gyarados in a massive explosion of rainbow light that lit up the surrounding area for several miles." Brock continues as himself. "When the light faded, a tiny Rattata was left paddling for the shore. Kanade carefully picked it up and put it in a jar so it wouldn't get out."

Relieved sighs fill the air as Brock explains "The villagers thanked Kanade, and built a shrine to Arceus by the lake shore. Even though the Gyarados had lost its magic power by being transformed into a Rattata, the jar was sealed tightly, and never opened."

He concludes "From that day on, the lake was called the Lake of Rage--the name we know it by today."

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

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 269a: The Three Travelers, part 1)

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


Week 269a: The Three Travelers, part 1

(real tale: The Three Wonderful Beggars)

"There once lived a merchant whose name was Meirion, who people called ‘Meirion the Miser’ in private." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "He was a very unkind man, and earned his nickname because he would not help poor people at all. If he saw a beggar anywhere near his house, he would order his men to chase him away, or worse, send his hunting Arcanines after him."

Angry whispers race through the crowd at this, but a familiar guitar calms the chatter. "One day three poor travelers came to the door, asking for food and shelter for the night." Brock continues over the relaxed melody he is playing. "Just as he was about to turn his Arcanines loose, his daughter--we'll call her Anya--came up to him."

"Dad," he pleads in a mimic of May for Anya, "Please let these travelers sleep here tonight-they have done nothing to deserve being chased away into the cold."

As himself he continues "Her father could not bear to say no to her, and the three travelers were allowed to sleep in an empty storeroom."

The lights dim a little to mimic nighttime. "That night, while everyone in the house was asleep, Anya got up, went to the storeroom, and looked inside." Brock continues as he starts a lullaby. The three travelers--2 young men and a young lady--were sitting in the middle of the room talking together.

He then proceeds to perform the next scene by himself. "What news is there in the realm of mortals?" he asks in a slightly higher pitched version of himself..

"In the next village over, a very poor man has just had his seventh son. What shall we name him, and what does his future hold?" he asks in a mimic of his sister Terra.

"Call him Chance, as he is the seventh son, and therefore the luckiest of sons." he replies in a mimic of Forest. "As for his fate, Arceus has decreed that this seventh son will be very lucky indeed--he will receive all the money and land of the man in whose house we stand, and who wanted to set his Arcanines upon us."

When the last note of his lullaby fades, Brock continues as himself "Anya had heard every word of this, and told her father everything the next morning." The lights come up to normal to mimic daytime. "Meirion was very much surprised. He thought, and thought, and thought some more..."

Giggles go up at this. "...and in the morning he went to the neighboring village to try and find out if such a child really had been born." Brock goes on. "He went first to the priest, and asked him if any new children had recently been born."

"Yesterday a boy was born in the house of the poorest man in the village." he replies in a mimic of Flint for the priest. "I named the little guy Chance, as it was by chance he was born. He is the seventh son, and the eldest is only seven years old. They have barely a mouthful of food among the whole family. His name may mean 'good fortune', but I sometimes worry about the future of that poor little boy."

As himself, Brock continues "Meirion’s heart started to race, and his mind was full of evil thoughts about the poor child. He went to see the poor man."

"I hear you have a new baby," he explains in a mimic of James for Meirion. "You are poor and don’t have the money to bring up the boy. I don’t have any children of my own. Give him to me and I’ll raise him as my own in return for a thousand pieces of gold."

Fearful murmurs fill the auditorium at this. "The poor man thought for a moment, then agreed to the generous offer." Brock explains. "Meirion counted out the money, dressed the baby in warm clothes, and set off with it towards his house. When he had gone some distance he stopped, carried the child to some bushes, and left the baby there."

The murmurs turn angry as many in the crowd silently scold Meirion for leaving a tiny baby to die. "Soon after this some merchants traveled along that same road." Brock assures the grumbling audience. "They were on the way to see Meirion and pay him twelve thousand pieces in return for some goods they had bought from him. As they were passing near the bushes they heard a baby crying. On looking down they saw a little area of green grass hidden in the bushes, where a baby lay among some flowers."

'Aw's go up at this. "The merchants picked up the child and continued on their way." Brock goes on. "When they saw Meirion. they told him what a strange thing they had found. Meirion immediately figured out that the child was Chance, and asked to see him."

"That’s a nice little boy," he smiles as Meirion. "I would like to keep him. If you give him to me, you won’t have to pay me the twelve thousand gold pieces."

Gasps go up as Brock continues as himself "The merchants were very pleased with this. They left the child with Meirion, and went on their way. That night, Meirion took the child, put it in a barrel, closed the lid, and threw it into the sea. The barrel floated away a great distance, until it floated close to a shrine. The mikos were just laying out their fishing nets to dry on the shore, when they heard the sound of a baby crying. It seemed to come from the barrel which was floating near the water’s edge. They pulled it onto land and opened it, and there was a little boy! When the head miko heard the news, she decided to bring up the boy and named him Chance."

He continues over a peaceful melody "The boy lived in the shrine, and grew up to be a clever, gentle, and handsome young man. No one could read, write, or sing better than he could, and he did everything so well that the head miko made him her attendant."

The lights dim to mimic nighttime again. "Now, it happened about this time that Meirion came to the shrine while on a long journey." Brock explains as he gets up from his chair after setting the guitar aside. "The mikos were very polite to him, and showed him their quarters, the grounds, and all they had. When Meirion went into the main shrine, he heard singing...."

He proceeds to sing in a mimic of Ash Ieyui...
Nobomeno...
Renmiri...
Yojuyogo...

Hasate kanae...
Kutamae...

He explains as himself "One voice was so clear and beautiful, and stood out from all the others, that he asked who it was. Then the head miko told him about the young man and how he had come to them as a child in a barrel. Meirion knew that this must be Chance, who he had twice tried to kill.

"I can’t tell you how much I enjoy that young man’s singing," he smiles as Meirion. "If he could only come to me I would make him manager of my business. As you say, he is so good and clever. Let me take him, in return for a donation of twenty thousand gold pieces."

Worried murmurs waft through the room. "The head miko thought about this for a long time--twenty thousand gold pieces would be more than enough to fix up the shrine, and have enough left to donate to the poor several times over." Brock explains as himself. "After discussing the matter with all the other mikos, they decided that they would not stand in the way of Chance’s good luck."

He returns to his guitar and plays a tense riff. "Then Meirion wrote a letter to his wife and gave it to Chance to take to her. The letter said, ‘Take the person carrying this letter into the building where we make soap. When you pass near the great pot with the hot soap in it, push him in. If you don’t follow my orders I will be very angry. This young man is sly and cunning, and will cause us to lose all that we have if he lives.’."

More gasps go up at this, but Brock has other ideas. "Chance was sent back across the sea, and after landing set off for Meirion’s house. On the way he met three travelers--but he did not know they were Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie in disguise."

"Oh"s go up as the audience figures out who the three travelers really are. "Where are you going, Chance?" Brock asks as Mesprit.

"I am going to the house of Meirion the merchant, to deliver a letter for his wife," he replies as Chance.

"Show us the letter," he requests as Azelf.

He interjects as himself "Chance handed Uxie the letter. He cast a spell on it..."

He then sings as Uxie Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... before continuing as himself "...and gave it back."

"Now go and give the letter to Meirion’s wife," he instructs as Uxie, "and you will be treated well."

He continues as himself "Chance reached the house and safely delivered the letter. When she read it, Meirion’s wife could not believe her eyes, and called for her daughter. The letter now said, very clearly: 'Let the person carrying this letter be married tomorrow to our daughter, Anya. If you don’t follow my orders I will be very angry.'" He weaves the first few bars of 'Here Comes the Bride' into his song for emphasis.

He seemingly concludes "Anya saw the letter bearer, and grew quite fond of him. They dressed Chance in fine clothes and the next day, he was married to Anya. The wedding was a grand affair, and the festivities lasted for two weeks at least."

When the last chord of his song fades, Brock interjects "Now normally, we would say they all lived happily ever after here, but we still need to give Meirion his just desserts. I will tell you what that entailed next week!"

"Aw"s and applause fill the air as Brock gets up to take a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 269b: The Three Travelers, part 2)

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


Week 269b: The Three Travelers, part 2

(real tale: The Three Wonderful Beggars)

After playing a quiet melody as an introduction, Brock begins the second part of his tale. "Some time later, Meirion returned from his travels. His wife, daughter, and Chance all went out to meet him. When Meirion saw Chance he was furious with his wife."

"How could you marry my daughter to this man without my consent?" he demands as Meirion.

"I only carried out your orders," he replies in a mimic of Lola for the wife. "Here is your letter."

As himself, he continues "Meirion read it. It obviously was his handwriting, but by no means his wishes. 'Well,' he thought, 'you’ve escaped me three times, but I think I will get the better of you now.'" So he waited a month, and was very kind to his daughter and her husband. After a month had passed, he said to Chance one day..."

"I would like you to go visit my friend the Arbok King, in his beautiful land at the world’s end." he explains as Meirion. "Twelve years ago he built a castle on some land of mine. He agreed to pay me for the use of the land and I want you to ask for this money. I also want you to ask him him what has happened to twelve of my ships which sailed for his country three years ago."

He continues as himself "Chance felt compelled to go. He said good bye to Anya, who wished him well on his journey, and set out."

Then, a thought occurs to him. "I'm not sure whether the journey was long or short, but either way it is a story in itself."

Giggles go up from the children in the audience at this. "As he walked along, he suddenly heard a voice calling him..."

"Chance! Where are you going?" he calls in a mimic of Shaymin.

Brock looks around for a moment, as if he is Chance. "Who spoke to me?" he asks as Chance.

"I did; it's me, Shaymin--I'm hiding in this old oak tree." he replies as Shaymin "Tell me where you are going."

"I am going to see the Arbok King," he replies as Chance.

"When you get there, ask him this question. 'Dead inside, half dead outside but still green, stands the old oak. Is it to stand much longer on the earth?'" he instructs as Shaymin.

"Very well, I’ll ask him." he replies as Chance.

He narrates as himself "He went on further and came to a river. As he got into a ferry boat to cross to the other side, the old ferryman asked..."

"Are you going far, my friend?" he asks in a gentle older man voice.

"I am going to see the Arbok King," he replies as Chance.

"When you get there, ask him if the tired old man will have to row much longer." he instructs as the ferryman.

"Very well, I’ll ask him." he replies as Chance.

Some in the crowd start whispering excitedly as Brock begins to play 'Lala Lila', from "The Song Mage Chronicles" for his next piece of background music. "He walked on and in time came to the sea. He could see the land of the Arbok King across the water. It was not very far, and between the two countries lay a great Wailord over whose back people walked and rode their Ponytas as they traveled from one to the other. As he stepped on the Wailord it said..."

"Do tell me where you are going." he requests in a majestic voice for the Wailord.

"I am going to see the Arbok King," he replies as Chance.

"When you get there, ask him if I am to lie here much longer." he instructs as the Wailord.

"Very well, I’ll ask him." he replies as Chance.

As the last note of "Lala Lila" segues into a majestic melody as he continues as himself "When Chance got to the other side, he walked, and walked, and walked some more, until he came to a great green field. In the field was the grand castle of the Arbok King. Its smooth white stone walls shone in the sunlight. The bright sun made the roof look like a rainbow and the windows look silver. Chance walked in, and went from one room to the other looking at all the wonderful things inside. When he reached the very definitely final room, he found a beautiful girl--whose name was Sophie--sitting on a bed."

"What brings you to this terrible place?" he gasps in a mimic of May for Sophie.

He interjects as himself "Chance told her why he had come, and all he had seen and heard on the way."

"You have not been sent here to get money, but so that the Arbok King will eat you." he explains as Sophie, to gasps from the crowd.

"Before she could say any more, the whole castle shook like an earthquake." Brock intones. "Sophie quickly pushed Chance into a large box under the bed. As she locked it, she told Chance to listen to what she told the Arbok King. Then she stood up to meet the Arbok King.

"I’ve crawled over half the world..." he groans in a nasaly "villain" voice for the Arbok King. "I’m tired, VERY tired, and want to sleep."

"You know everything in the world." he smiles as Sophie. "After you left, I had a wonderful dream. Will you tell me what it means?"

"Well, what was it?"

"I dreamed I was walking on a wide road. Shaymin called to me from an oak tree, and said to me: 'Dead inside, half dead outside, and yet green stands the old oak. Is it to stand much longer on the earth?'"

"It must stand until someone comes and cuts it down. Then it will fall, and under it will be found more gold and silver than even Meirion the Miser."

"Then I dreamed I came to a river. The old ferryman said to me 'For thirty years the ferryman has taken people across the river and back again. Will the tired old man have to row much longer?'"

"That is up to him. If someone gets into the boat to be taken across, the old man has only to push the boat off, and go on his way without looking back. The one in the boat will then have to take his place."

"Then I dreamed that I was walking over a bridge made of a Wailord’s back. It spoke to me and said 'I have been used as a living bridge these three years, and men and Ponytas have nearly broken my back. Must I lie here much longer?'"

"He will have to lie there till he has thrown up the twelve ships of Meirion the Miser which he swallowed. Then he can dive back into the sea and his back will heal."

Some applause fills the air at Brock's vocal dexterity. "With that, the Arbok King closed his eyes, rolled over, and began to snore so loud that the windows shook." he narrates as he plays a few bars of Brahms' Lullaby for effect, to some giggles. "Sophie then helped Chance out of the box. He thanked her very politely, and started off for home. When he reached the sea he told the Wailord

"Throw up those twelve ships of Meirion’s which you swallowed three years ago. Then you will be free to swim away." he explains as Chance.

As himself, he continues "The great Wailord lifted its head, threw up all the twelve ships and their sailors, who were miraculously all alive and well. It then happily dove down into the sea. Chance went on until he reached the ferry boat, where he told the old ferryman...

"Let the next man who comes sit in the boat while you step on shore. Then push the boat off and walk away without looking back. You will be free, and the other man must take your place." he explains as Chance.

As himself, he continues "Then Chance went on further still, and soon came to the old oak tree, and cut it down with an axe from home. There, in the hole left when the tree fell, was more gold and silver than even Meirion the Miser had."

"Wow"s fill the air as Brock goes on "About that time, the twelve ships which the Wailord had thrown up came sailing along and stopped nearby. On the first ship were Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie, in their true forms. They got off and called to him...."

"Arceus has been good to you, Chance," he smiles as Azelf.

"Make sure that you are good to others..." he cautions as Mesprit.

"...and you will receive goodness in return." he smiles as Uxie.

He continues as himself "Then they returned to the heavens, saying they were only a prayer away if he needed them. The sailors carried all the gold and silver onto the ships. They all then they set sail for home, with Chance on the first ship."

A tense riff from the guitar signals the story is not quite over. "As all this was going on, Meirion became angrier and angrier. He had his Ponytas made ready and set off himself to see the Arbok King. When he reached the river he jumped into the ferry boat. The ferryman, however, did not get in but pushed the boat off, and Meirion has been ferrying people to this day."

He concludes "Chance, on the other hand, led a good and happy life with his dear wife and her kind mother who continued to live with them. All Meirion’s riches became his, and throughout his life he helped the poor and gave food, clothing, and shelter to anyone in need."

The crowd roars as Brock sets the guitar aside, gets up, and takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 270: The Temple of Monsters)

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


Week 270: The Temple of Monsters

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" Episode 180, story 1)


"In a certain land there lived a mage apprentice named Chinnen." Brock begins as a spotlight appears on him. "Chinnen loved and respected his master, and hoped with all his heart that he would be a great archmage and hero like him."

Piqued murmurs waft through the auditorium as Brock goes on "One day, Chinnen asked his master if he could leave on a great journey to see the world. His master thought this a wonderful idea, and gave him his blessings for the journey. Before he left, the archmage gave Chinnen three seemimgly cryptic words of advice--the mountains have rocks, a house has a closet, and Cheri trees have roots."

The murmurs turn to whispered speculation as the audience quietly debates what the advice means. "As he walked down the road, Chinnen pondered his master's advice, wondering just what in the world his master meant by each of them." Brock explains as he acknowledges the whispers of debate in the audience with a nod. "He was snapped from his thoughts when he saw a wildfire raging in the forest, blocking him from going any further. Terrified, Chinnen ran as fast as he could away from the flames, and clambered on top of a rock. As he caught his breath, Chinnen realized that maybe this was why his master had said there are rocks in the mountains--for the rock would still stand against raging flames, unlike charred brush."

"Oh" fill the air at this. "Luckily, Chinnen managed to find another route, and before long, arrived in a nearby city." Brock assures the audience. "Even though he was polite and well-mannered, he was turned away from every house he came to. One man felt sorry for Chinnen, and offered to at least feed him dinner."

"So why was he turned away?" a girl asks.

"Chinnen asked his host why the townsfolk were so afraid, and the man explained that not far from the city was an abandoned temple, where rumors said there were monsters inside, so any priest or miko that stayed there never lasted a single night." Brock replies. "Chinnen replied he was not afraid, and said that if there was any monsters at all, he would scare them away with his magic. The man smiled, and commended Chinnen for his bravery as he saw him off to the temple, telling him that if he survived the night, ring the temple bell to let the townspeople know he was okay."

The lights dim a little to mimic nighttime. "That night, as Chinnen pondered where in the old and dusty priest's quarters he was going to sleep, he remembered his master's advice about closets in a house, and decided to sleep in the first closet he could find." Brock continues.

After making sure his harp is accounted for in the wings, he goes on "For a while, the night passed without incident, but around midnight, Chinnen was jolted awake by noise outside."

Nervous giggles go up as Brock feigns surprise, as if he is Chinnen being jolted awake. "When he looked to see what was causing all the banging, he saw a band of monsters of every shape and size turning the temple upside down in an attempt to find him. The demon leader checked the cupboard, but had no luck, and a naga looked in a basket, but didn't find Chinnen."

The lights begin to brighten, mimicking a sunrise. "But just as the demon was about to open the closet holding Chinnen, a Combusken cried to herald the dawn, and the monsters fled."

Relieved sighs fill the room as a sound effect of a Combusken cry pierces the air. "Chinnen woke up with a huge sigh of relief, and hurried to the temple belltower, ringing the bell three times to let the townsfolk know he was safe." With that, he takes the harp and plays three bright D chords to mimic a bell. "Chinnen told the townsfolk what had happened during the night, and proposed that the monsters' hideout was underneath the Cheri tree."

He grins at the enthralled crowd. "Imagine the townsfolk's surprise when they found not a monster den, but treasure beneath the Cheri tree!"

Brock continues over a quiet melody "A woman suggested that monsters were attracted to treasure, so maybe that was why the monsters were haunting the temple. Chinnen agreed, and suggested the townsfolk use the gold, silver, and gems to care for the poor and their town."

He concludes over his song "Chinnen settled in that town, and went on to become a great archmage and hero like his master, going on many other adventures."

As the last chord of his song fades, he adds "But that is another story for an other day!"

The crowd laughs and applauds as Brock takes a sweeping bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 271a: The Legend of Dimitri, part 1)

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

Week 271a: The Legend of Dimitri, part 1

(real tale: A Drum Full of Bees)

The crowd roars as Brock runs to meet the crowd. "My tale for this week is based on a true incident that took place in Pewter when I was little, but events have been adapted to a far away land, and names have been changed to protect the guilty."

Giggles go up as Brock begins "In a far away land lived a young musician named Dimitri. He was a kind hearted but trouble-prone person, who spent his time singing and spinning yarns in taverns, as well as the odd game of cards. He was an excellent musician despite his knack for getting into trouble, and everyone knew when he had arrived to perform, as his voice carried over the hills and valleys."

He explains "The main reason Dimitri always got into trouble was his fondness for playing practical jokes. While most of the time, people took his jokes in stride, there were some that did not take the joke so well. On one occasion, he was caught red handed cheating in a poker game. He pleaded for mercy, with the tears running down his face, but his host was not that forgiving after being swindled out of thousands in winnings. Dimitri at least convinced his host to let him keep his instruments."

"I have played them all since I was fourteen years old, and I know no other trade." he pleads in feigned sadness in a mimic of Ash for Dimitri. "If you take them away from me, I don't know how I am going to live, but with them I may perhaps manage to turn an honest coin or two."

"Very well," he replies in his "somebody's in trouble" voice for the host. "Keep your instruments and be off; but I don't want to see your face here again."

As himself, he continues "So off Dimitri went with a drum at his side, a flute in his pocket, and a harp and a fiddle on his back. Not having any particular place to go, he just took the first road he could see, and followed it until he was forced to rest because his legs were tired. After setting his drum on the grass and sitting on a nearby rock, he wondered what to do about food and a bed for the night. First he checked his pockets to see what he could find, but there was nothing there except two coins, his flute, and a pack of playing cards that were in surprisingly good shape despite all they had been through. Dimitri put them away with a sigh, wondering how he was going to fare."

He explains to the crowd "Now, the road he had been following was bordered by a dense forest, and Dimitri figured that he could at least find shelter in the trees. So he gathered up his instruments and entered the forest. Just then, he heard a loud humming noise, and after following the sound, he saw a swarm of Beedrills hanging to the branch of a big tree."

"Here's fine fruit!" he giggles as Dimitri. "I'll pick them. They may come in handy one of these days!"

"Ooh"s go up as Brock continues as himself "So he carefully took off the top skin of his drum, and after coaxing the swarm to fly inside the instrument, carefully replaced the skin and went on his way. Before long, he came to a little house in the forest, and knocked at the door to ask for shelter for the night." He knocks on the stage floor for effect. "The door was opened by a farmer's wife, who had a dour look on her face. She looked Dimitri up and down very sourly.

"Be off with you!" he snaps in a mimic of Misty for the farmer's wife, "We want no beggars here. We have seen your kind before, my man, and do not like them."

He intones as himself "With that, she slammed the door in his face."

"That's not very nice!" a girl near the front protests as her mother lays a hand on her arm to assure her all will be well in fantasyland.

"Now what am I to do?" Brock muses as Dimitri. "Night has fallen, and I am too weary to wander any farther. May the Legendaries judge that hard-hearted woman, who will not take pity on my misfortunes!"

The lights dim to mimic evening. "He looked around for a place to rest, and spotted a heap of logs piled up against the cottage wall." he explains as himself. "Climbing to the top of the heap, he found that it was possible to reach the window of the attic, which happened to be open, so he wasted no time in crawling inside, where he stretched himself out on the planks to sleep."

He looks out on the enthralled audience and grins. "The attic happened to be directly above the kitchen, and since there was a knothole in the wooden floor, Dimitri could see everything that was going on in the room below. The farmer's wife was busily preparing dinner, and the smells which rose from the stove tickled Dimitri's nose, and made his mouth water."

The children in the audience giggle as they picture Dimitri's dreamy look. "After a few minutes, there was a loud knock at the house door..." Brock pauses to knock on the stage floor again for effect. "and the woman hurried to open it, admitting a girl in red and white robes. She was the village priestess, and a niece of the woman's husband, but the farmer had such a hatred of priests and priestesses that he could not bear to look at one, and his niece dared not come to the house while the husband was at home. Because of this, her visits were few and far between, but when she did come, her aunt always treated her like a queen. The farmer's wife welcomed her niece tenderly, helped her with her cloak and bade her sit down at the table, on which she placed a fine roast Combusken with all the trimmings, a fine array of vegetables from the garden, and a bottle of water."

"Nothing less from my aunt!" he cries in a mimic of Serena for the priestess. "My travels have given me an appetite, and I have often longed for your cooking. May Arceus grant His blessings on this fine feast."

He interjects as himself "Dimitri, meanwhile, watched eagerly while the priestess cut into the roast Combusken. Suddenly the feast was interrupted by another loud knock at the door." He knocks on the stage floor a little harder this time, to some bemused giggles.

"My husband!" he gasps as the farmer's wife. "He has come home early. If he finds you here, something terrible will happen, for he cannot bear the sight of a priest or a priestess--he is too attached to worldly gods than Arceus and the Legendaries. Quickly! Climb into this chest and pull down the lid, while I clear the table!"

As himself, Brock describes the chaos. "The priestess, who was just as frightened as her hostess, lost no time in doing as she was told. She hopped into the chest and pulled down the lid, while the farmer's wife hurried to clear the table. All this time the husband was thundering at the door, very impatient at being kept waiting. When his wife finally let him in, he flew into a rage and began to scold her."

"I am very sorry, my love," he explained to an imagined person as the farmer's wife, "but I did not hear you knock, I was hard at work in the kitchen."

"Bring me something to eat!" he demands in an older version of himself for the farmer.

"All right," he sighs as the farmer's wife. "But if I were you, I would not eat so late--you know how it always gives you indigestion. Wouldn't it be better to go straight to bed?"

"Hold your peace, woman..." he growls as the farmer. "I am not sleepy!"

As himself, he narrates "With that, he sat down at the table. Hardly had he done so than there came a loud knocking on the floor of the attic above his head." He knocks a little softer on the stage floor for effect.

"What is that?" he gasps as the farmer. "Is there somebody in the attic?"

"Not that I know of," he replies as the farmer's wife. "Nobody has been here all day except a minstrel who came begging. I sent him away with a flea in his ear, I assure you."

"Did you, now?" he asks as the farmer. "Well, I believe he has managed to get into the attic. I remember now that I forgot to close the window."

He concludes as himself "He went upstairs to see, and sure enough, there was Dimitri, who quickly explained how he had got there. But Dimitri had hatched a plan to teach the farmer a lesson...but I will tell you about it next week!"

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

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 271b: The Legend of Dimitri, part 2)

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

Week 271b: The Legend of Dimitri, part 2

(real tale: A Drum Full of Bees)


"Without hesitation Dimitri accompanied his host to the kitchen, and sat down at the table." Brock begins as he arrives carrying a frame drum. "He paid no heed to the venomous glances that the woman of the house cast at him as she slammed down a loaf of burnt bread and a bowl of milk."

Laughter goes up at this. "Oh, ho!" Brock smiles as Dimitri. "There is meat for the priestess and dry bread for the good man and his guest. Well, we shall see!"

He narrates as himself "...and he gave a kick with his foot to the drum which was under the table." before lightly tapping on the drum with a finger for effect.

"What have you got there?" he asks as the farmer

"Oh, that is my oracle," he answers as Dimitri. He proceeds to role play the entire scene by himself:

"Your oracle! Does he speak to you, then?"

"Well, he speaks to me three times a day."

"I would very much like to hear him." he smiles as the farmer.

As himself he narrates "So our hero played a dancing rhythm on the drum, and, aroused by the noise and vibration, the swarm of Beedrills within began to angrily buzz about. But Dimitri kept singing along with his beat, as if the buzzing Beedrills were some kind of drone."

After starting a kind of dancing beat for himself, he starts singing in character Anat za za, aridavi deen lava itsplan den lan den lan do, lava ii pa pa, bari bari bala rilibilibi liku len den lan do... to laughter from the teens and young adults in the audience--they know what Brock is actually singing.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!" he cries as the farmer when he finishes his beat. "Do you really understand that language? What does the oracle say?"

"He says that there is no need for us to drink sour milk, for there is a bottle of wine standing by the wall, just behind the big chest." he explains as Dimitri.

"Ha, ha, ha! What a joke!" he replies as the farmer. "Wine in my house! I only wish it were true!"

"Tell your wife to look behind the chest, and I'll guarantee she will find it." he replies as Dimitri.

He narrates as himself "Very unwillingly the wife went to the indicated spot, and came back with the bottle of wine. She tried to look as surprised as her husband, but only succeeded in pulling a very wry mouth. After drinking to the health of this famous oracle, the farmer asked Dimitri if he could make him speak again. Dimitri agreed and played some more of his dancing beat. Once again the Beedrills began to hum loudly, and he leaned down, pretending to listen to what they had to say as he sang."

After singing Anat za za, aridavi deen lava itsplan den lan den lan do, lava ii pa pa, bari bari bala rilibilibi liku len den lan do lava rin lan ten lan day alo... in character over his own beat, he replies as Dimitri "He says that if your wife will look in the cupboard, she will find a roast Combusken and all kinds of vegetables that we can eat instead of this dry bread."

As himself, Brock narrates "The wife could not say no, so she brought the good things and set them on the table, but if looks could have killed anybody Dimitri would have been a dead Psyduck by now."

Nervous giggles go up at the snarky comment. "He paid no mind to her evil glances, however, but helped himself to the food with gusto. Before very long, between the two of them, there was nothing left of the Combusken and vegetables but bones, scraps, skins and seeds."

"Has your oracle any more agreeable surprises for us, good sir? I pray you, make him speak again." he pleads as the farmer

"With all the will in the world," he answers as Dimitri, "but this will be the last occassion, for he only speaks three times a day."

He narrates as himself With that, he played and sang a war-march he often heard soldiers singing, and the Beedrills accompanied him as before with their loud humming. The farmer leaned forward eagerly to listen, while his wife stood by trembling with fear.

The crowd roars with laughter as Brock proceeds to sing in character Anat za za, aridavi deen lava itsplan den lan den lan do, lava ii pa pa, bari bari bala rilibilibi liku len den lan do lava rin lan ten lan day alo, barala lavalava lukuluku dayavu, a rin lan ten lan den lan do barala katakata kutukutu deyavu...., backing himself with his own beat.

"Ah! This time my oracle tells me of a very serious matter." he gasps as Dimitri. "He says that in the big chest over there a big red demon is hidden!"

"What???" he cries as the farmer. "A demon, you say?"

"Exactly," he replies as Dimitri. "But don't be alarmed. I will get rid of him for you. Open the door and the windows and then place yourself here, by my side."

As himself, Brock narrates the comical scene "The farmer hurried to do what he was told, and marching boldly up to the chest, Dimitri grabbed the heavy lid and threw it open. Immediately the priestess, who had heard everything and was not a little afraid of her own skin, jumped up, and ran for the door, her red robes being the only thing the farmer could see. So sudden was her appearance, and so hasty her flight, that she ran with full force into the farmer, who had no time to get out of her way, and went tumbling head over heels. The priestess, too, stumbled and fell, but quickly recovering herself, made blindly for the door, fell over the folds of her robes, and tumbled head first into the ditch by the side of the road. There was a sudden splashing sound, a muffled murmur, and then silence.

"That was a narrow escape!" he comments as the farmer as the crowd howls with laughter. "I saw the demon plain as day! He was all red, with fiery eyes, and a forked tail! Thank heaven that your oracle warned us, good sir, or he would have devoured us as we slept!"

More laughter fills the air as Brock sets the drum aside. "The next morning, as Dimitri and the farmer ate breakfast, the farmer said..."

"Will you sell me that oracle, minstrel?" he asks as the farmer.

"That depends," he replies as Dimitri. "You know it is worth a great deal of money."

"I will give you a hundred gold pieces, that is all I have in the world."

"Very well, it is little enough for such a wonderful oracle as this is, but I won't refuse. Give me the money."

Some light applause goes up at Brock's ability to perform both roles by himself. "So the bargain was made. Dimitri received the hundred gold pieces, and in return handed over the drum." Brock continues. "Then he bade farewell to his host and was just going out of the door when the farmer called after him...

"Wait!" he calls as the farmer. "I have just remembered something. How am I to understand the language which the oracle speaks?"

"Oh, that is easy enough," he replies as Dimitri. "Listen carefully: At ten o'clock, go and plant your wife in the ground up to her armpits, then smear her face and shoulders with honey. That done, take the oracle with you into the attic where you found me, and having first bandaged your eyes, take the drum with you to the place where you left your wife and remove the top of the drum. In that moment the meaning will be revealed to you, and you will know!"

"Many thanks!" he cries as the farmer. "Good day to you, minstrel, and good luck!"

"And to you likewise!" he answers as Dimitri.

"Ooh"s fill the auditorium as the audience figures out the chaos about to ensue. "About a mile farther along the road he saw a man working in the fields, and went up to him." Brock narrates. "Dimitri offered to help him out, provided the two of them swap clothing, as Dimitri did not want to ruin his colorful clothes. After giving the man a gold piece as thanks for his help, the exchange was made and the laborer departed. Less than half an hour later the sound of hoofs was heard on the road, and looking up, Dimitri saw his former host, mounted on Ponytaback, spurring furiously towards him. The man's face was purple with fury and he was muttering threats as to what he would do to Dimitri when he caught him. He had faithfully carried out all his instructions, and had truly enough learned the meaning of the humming noise within the drum. So had his wife; for when he went to her in the garden, he found her with her face and shoulders black with Beedrills.

He then proceeds to role play the whole scene between the farmer and the disguised Dimitri "Hello, have you seen a minstrel pass by this way?"

"A man, master?"

"I said a minstrel! A boy in a colorful garb with all kinds of instruments. Have you seen him?"

"Why, yes--he went past here about fifteen minutes ago, and made his way into the forest over there. But you'll never find him, master!"

"And why won't I?"

"You would never overtake him; you would get horribly lost."

"I'll give you a gold piece if you'll help me find the rascal."

"A gold piece! You must want him badly!"

"I do, and I'll give him a beating when I catch him."

"Here, lend me your Ponyta, master. I'll catch him for you, and for nothing. I'd like to see him get a good thrashing. Get off the Ponyta quickly or the scoundrel will get away. Wait here for me."

As himself, he continues "Off he went at a gallop, smiling to himself. 'First a hundred pieces of gold, and now a fine steed,' he thought. "Come Dimitri, your luck is standing you in good stead!' He reached the forest, entered it, and the farmer waiting by the roadside, heard the sound of his Ponyta's hoofs grow fainter and fainter until at last they died away."

Giggles go up as the audience waits to hear part 2 of Dimitri's prank. "Fifteen minutes passed, then thirty, and then an hour, but the laborer did not return. The farmer, fuming with impatience, strode up and down the road, slashing at the grass and bushes with his stick. Suddenly he heard footsteps, and saw a man in colorful garb approaching. It was the laborer dressed in Dimitri's clothes, who had drunk, not one, but several glasses of wine, and was now returning very pleased with himself and all the world. As he came he trilled out a merry song. The farmer quickly jumped him, but after beating the poor man till he was three different colors, he got a full view of his face, and saw that he was not the man he meant to catch.

"Oh no!" he cries as the farmer "First I lose a hundred gold pieces, and then the love of my wife, who will never forgive me her injuries; and now, into the bargain, I have lost my Ponyta! Arceus have mercy on that minstrel if ever he falls into my hands!"

Laughter fills the air as Brock concludes as himself "As for Dimitri, he went on many other adventures after this, but as for the farmer? People say that he never came out of the forest after that!"

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

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 272a: How the Prince Won Princess Amber)

Ash and Misty join Brock as they stop at the Fireside on their tour as the trio Terzetto.

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

Week 272a: How the Prince Won Princess Amber

(real tale: How the Raja's Son won the Princess Labam)


The crowd roars with applause as Ash, Misty, and Brock, wearing their minstrel costumes, arrive on the stage. Once sure that his friends are in position backstage, Brock takes a small silver harp with green and blue trim, and starts a calm melody to alert the audience they are crossing into the realm of fantasy for the first tale in a series.

When the last chord dies, he begins "In a certain land, there was a king who had an only son--whose name is not important to us--who enjoyed hunting, and often went to the hunting grounds every day. One day the queen, his mother, said to him..."

The lights blink over to Misty, in the role of the queen, and Ash, in the role of the prince. "You can hunt wherever you like to the north, to the south, and to the east, but you must never go to the west." Misty cautions Ash.

"I understand." Ash gives Misty a respectful bow, the light making his green, blue and gold outfit glitter.

"She said this because she knew if he went to the west, he would hear of the beautiful Princess Amber, and then he would leave his father and mother and search for her." Brock explains from stage right. "The young prince listened to his mother, and obeyed her for some time; but one day, when he was hunting on the northern end close to the west border, he wondered why she had forbidden him to hunt in that region."

The projection of jungle trees appear on the background screen and ambient jungle sounds play as Ash--now carrying a prop bow and a quiver of 30 prop arrows on his back--walks in the scene. "When he got there, he found himself in a jungle, and one of the many Pokemon residents in the jungle was a flock of Chatots." Brock explains, gesturing to an archery target made to look like a Chatot hidden in one of the tree-shadows. "The prince shot at some of them..." At this, Ash aims and fires at the target, triggering a sound effect of a Chatot's warning squawks in the jungle soundscape. "...and they immediately flew away into the sky." Brock continues.

He suddenly catches himself. "All, that is, but one, and this was their king, who was named Tiki. When Tiki found himself left alone, he called out to the other Chatots..."

In a voice that sounds more or less like a speaking Chatot, he cries "Don't fly away and leave me alone when the king's son shoots. If you desert me like this, I will tell the Princess Amber."

The children giggle at just how realistic Brock's impression is. "Then the Chatots all flew back to their king, chattering all the while." Brock explains as himself.

"Why, these birds can talk!" Ash smiles as the prince before asking an imagined Chatot "Who is the Princess Amber? Where does she live?"

A sad harp melody gets the audience's attention. "But the Chatots would not tell him where she lived. 'You can never get to the Princess Amber's country.' was all they would say." Brock narrates as Ash slumps to the floor and the lights go down. "The prince was saddened when they would not tell him more; so he took his bow and returned home. When he got home, he would not talk to anyone or eat anything, but laid on his bed for four or five days, to the point where rumors began flying that he was very sick."

Gasps went up, but as one last hopeful chord echoed through the auditorium, Brock assured the audience "Finally, he told his father and mother that he wanted to go and see the Princess Amber."

With that, he sets the harp aside and steps in the scene as the king, with Misty in the role of the queen, and Ash in the role of the prince. "I must go." Ash explains. "I must see what she is like. Tell me where her country is."

"We do not know where it is," Misty sighs.

"Then I must go and look for it," Ash replies as he starts off stage left.

"No!" Brock calls in his "king" voice, stopping Ash in his tracks. "You must not leave us. You are our only son."

"I must try and find her," Ash protests. "Perhaps Arceus will show me the way. If I live and I find her, I will come back to you; but if I die, then I will never see you again. Still, I must go."

The lights go down, then come back up on Brock in his nook, playing a "traveling" song as he narrates "So they had to let him go, though they cried very much at parting with him. His father gave him fine clothes to wear, and a fine Ponyta. He took his bow, and a number of other weapons just in case. His father also gave him a bag of gold for buying supplies and services. Then he got his Ponyta all ready for the journey, and said goodbye to his father and mother. His mother took her handkerchief and wrapped some Berries in it, and gave it to her son."

"My child," Misty tells Ash, "when you are hungry eat some of these Berries." With that, she drops a bundle full of Leppa Berries in Ash's hands.

Brock then resumes his traveling song "With that, the prince set out on his journey, and rode on until he came to a jungle, where he sat down under a tree to rest." he narrates as Ash returns to the "jungle" from before and sits on a rock. "He opened his handkerchief and took out a Leppa Berry, but he balked in surprise when he found a Durant in it."

The audience laughs as Ash does this. "So he took out another, but there was a Durant in that one too." Brock narrates, the audience giggling at Ash's look of feigned disgust over the imagined Durant. "So he laid the two Berries on the ground, and took out another, and another, and another, until he had taken them all out; but every last one had a Durant inside."

"Never mind," Ash throws up his hands in a "I-give-up" gesture. "I won't eat the Berries; the Durants can have them."

"Then the Durant queen came and said to him..." Brock narrates as Misty steps in the scene as the Durant queen.

"You have been good to us." Misty smiles as she gives Ash a little bow. "If ever you are in trouble, think of me and we will come to you."

"After teaching him the words to call her, the prince thanked the Durant queen, and continued on his way." Brock narrates as he plays a little more of his traveling song. "He rode on further into the jungle, until he saw a Raikou who had a thorn in his foot, and looked very clearly in pain."

Ash notices an imagined Raikou and hurries over. "What's the matter?"

"I have had a thorn in my foot for twelve years," Brock answers from his nook in a deeper version of himself for the Raikou, "and it hurts."

"Well, I can take it out for you." Ash offers as he examines an imagined Rakou paw. "But, as you are a Raikou, when I have healed you, you're not going to eat me?"

"Oh no," Brock assures Ash as the Raikou, "I won't eat you. Do heal me, please."

As himself, Brock narrates "Then the prince took a knife from his pocket and carefully cut the thorn out of the Raikou's foot; watching and cleaning the wound for three days to make sure it healed. By the time of the fourth day, the wound had completely healed, and the Raikou's paw had no evidence the thorn had ever been there. The prince said goodbye to the Raikou, and the Raikou said to him..."

As the Raikou, he tells Ash "If ever you are in trouble, think of me, and I will come to you."

As himself, he continues over his traveling song "After the Raikou had taught him the words to call him, the prince rode on even further into the jungle. Just then, he found four priest's apprentices whose teacher and master had died, and had left four things, – a magic carpet, which carried whoever sat on it anywhere he wanted to go; a bag, which gave its owner whatever he wanted, a stone bowl that gave its owner as much water as he wanted, and a wand and rope, to which its owner had only to sing, if he was ever in danger, Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

Excited whispers fill the air at the gibberish "spellsong". "...and the wand would zap, freeze, or burn the foe accordingly and the rope would tie them up tight." Brock continues. The four apprentices were fighting over these four wondrous things. One said, 'I want this; another retorted 'No, I want it;" and on and on and on."

Ash steps in the scene and separates some imagined people. "Do not fight over these things. I will shoot four arrows in four different directions. Whoever gets to my first arrow, will have the magic carpet. Whoever gets to the second arrow, will have the bag. Whoever gets to the third arrow will have the bowl, and whoever gets to the fourth arrow, will have the wand and rope."

"The four apprentices agreed to this, and the prince shot his first arrow." Brock waits as Ash makes a shot at an offstage target. "And off the apprentices went to get it. When they brought it back to him, he shot the second." He waits as Ash makes another shot. "When they had found and brought it to him he shot the third." Ash makes a third shot at this. "When they had brought him the third he shot the last one." Ash fires a fourth shot at this.

The crowd applauds when they see Ash's four shots clustered around the bullseye. "While they were busy looking for the fourth arrow, the prince turned his Ponyta loose in the jungle and sat on the magic carpet, taking the bowl, the wand and rope, and the bag with him." Ash proceeds to sit on an ornate rug standing in for the magic carpet with some props standing in for the other items. "Then he sang..."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash fills in the spellsong, making awed gasps fill the air as the rug appears to rise off the stage before disappearing in a flash of purple light, creating the illusion Ash and the props have disappeared.

"The magic carpet took off, and it flew until it came to Princess Amber's country, where it settled on the ground." Brock narrates.

Applause fills the air as Ash returns to the stage, the background screen this time depicting the backdrop of an exotic town. "Once he had arrived in Princess Amber's country, the prince came to a house where he saw a woman. The lights come up to include Misty in the scene, pantomiming hanging some laundry.

She notices Ash approaching her. "Who are you?" she asks as the woman. "Where do you come from?"

"I come from a far away land, and have traveled far." Ash explains, clearly enjoying playing the prince. "Please, let me stay with you tonight."

"No," Misty replies. "I can't let you stay with me; the king has ordered that people from other lands may not stay in his land."

"Please, let me remain with you for this one night." Ash pleads as the lights dim a little to mimic dusk. The sun is setting, and if I go into the jungle,the wild Pokemon will eat me."

"Well," Misty thinks a moment, "Okay...you may stay here tonight; but tomorrow morning you must leave, for if the king hears you have spent the night here, he will have me arrested and thrown into the dungeon."

"Then she took him into her house, but just before the woman could begin preparing dinner, he stopped her." Brock narrates, Ash and Misty acting out in pantomime what he is saying.

"Wait." Ash tells Misty. "I will give you food."

With that, he puts his hand into his bag and sings Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... making the inside of the bag glow green.

More awed gasps and cheers go up as Ash takes out enough prop food to hypothetically feed both him and Misty. "...and in a flash of green light, the bag gave him a delicious dinner, served up on two gold plates." Brock narrates as Ash and Misty "eat" the prop food.

When the lights come up on them finishing the pantomime food some moments later, Misty gets up from the table. "Now I will go get some water for tea." she tells Ash before starting off stage left.

"Don't go!" Ash pleads, stopping Misty in her tracks. "You are going to have plenty of water shortly."

With that, he takes the prop bowl and sings to it Rou iitsa ron selga vichii...

The crowd roars as the bowl glows blue and begins filling with actual water. Once sure it is full, Ash sings Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... again, and the bowl stops filling. "See?" he smiles at Misty over the applause. "With this bowl I can always get as much water as I want."

"By this time, night had come." Brock narrates, the lights dimming completely to mimic nighttime.

"Why don't you light a lamp?" Ash asks Misty.

"There is no need," Misty replies. "Our king has forbidden the people in his country to light any lamps. As soon as it is dark, his daughter, the Princess Amber, comes and sits on her roof, and her red hair shines so that she lights up all the land and our houses, and we can see to do our work as if it were daytime."

The lights blink back to Brock. "That night, Princess Amber got up about midnight, dressed in her fine clothes and jewels, did her hair, and across her head she put a tiara studded with diamonds and pearls. Then she shone like the moon and her beauty made night turn to day. She came out of her room and sat on the roof of her palace. In the daytime she never came out of her chamber; she only came out at night. All the people in her homeland then went about their business like normal. At midnight, when everybody had gone to sleep, the princess came down from her roof and went to her room; and when she was herself asleep, the king's son got up softly and sat on the magic carpet."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash's voice echoes through the dark theater, followed by a flash of purple light.

"...and the magic carpet carried him to the room where she lay fast asleep." Brock narrates as Ash walks into the scene of a royal bedroom, where Misty, now in the role of Princess Amber, lies "asleep".

Ash tiptoes up to the ornate bed, and nearly whispers Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... prompting the bag to conjure some sprigs of mint. Once sure the mint is where someone can find it, he departs offstage, a purple flash hinting he has returned to the house from before.

The lights brighten to mimic morning, and Brock arrives in the scene as a servant. "The next morning all the princess's servants found the mint, and began to nibble on it." he narrates as he takes one of the mint sprigs and munches on it.

"Where did you get all that mint?" Misty asks, snapping Brock to attention.

"We found it near your bed." Brock explains. Misty accepts that answer with a nod as the lights go down.

Once back in his nook, Brock narrates "In fact, nobody had a clue that the prince had come in the night and put it there."

Laughter goes up as Brock continues "Meanwhile, the woman came to the king's son."

"Now it is morning," Misty tells Ash as he sits up in a simple bed. "and you must go; for if the king finds out all I have done for you, he will arrest me."

"I don't feel good..." Ash protests, the audience laughing as he clutches his stomach in a feigned stomachache; "Please, let me stay until tomorrow morning."

"Oh, all right." Misty smiles as the woman.

"And so he stayed, with the bag providing them with food, and the bowl with water." Brock narrates over a peaceful song. "When night came, Princess Amber got up and sat on her roof, and at midnight, when everyone was asleep, she went to her own bedroom, and was soon fast asleep herself. Then the king's son sat on his magic carpet..."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash's voice rings through the dark theater.

"...and it carried him to the princess." Brock narrates as the lights come up on the dark royal bedroom, where Misty is "asleep" as Princess Amber again.

Ash tiptoes into the scene and nearly whispers to the bag Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... The bag glows, conjuring a beautiful silver sapphire ring. But when he takes Misty's hand to put on the ring, she wakes up with a jump, surprising him as well.

"Who are you?" she gasps. "Where do you come from? Why do you come to my room?"

"Do not be afraid, milady," Ash assures Misty; "I am no thief. I am a great prince of a far away land, Tiki, who lives in the jungle near my hunting grounds, told me your name, and then I left my parents and came to see you."

"Well..." Misty thinks a moment. "as you are the son of such a great king, I will not have you killed, and I will tell my parents that I wish to marry you."

As the lights go down and Ash and Misty reshuffle sets and roles, Brock narrates "The next morning, the prince told the woman that he intended to marry Princess Amber."

The lights come up on Ash and Misty, now as the woman. "Leave this land, and don't even think of marrying her." Misty pleads in character. "A great many kings, heroes and princes have come here to marry her, and her father has had them all killed. He says whoever wishes to marry his daughter must first do whatever he bids him. If he can, then he can marry the princess; if he can't, it is his life in exchange."

Gasps go up at this as Misty continues "But no one can do the impossible things the king tells him to do; so all the kings, princes, and heroes who have tried have died. You may be killed too, if you try."

"But the prince would not listen to a word she said." Brock grins as the lights go down. "The king then summoned the prince to his palace, where he gave him eighty pounds of sunflower seeds, and told him to extract all the oil out of them that day, and bring it to him in the morning."

He sets the harp aside and steps in the scene as the king with a bag of sunflower seeds. "Whoever wishes to marry my daughter." he explains to Ash in his "king" voice, "must first do all I tell him to do. If he can't, it is his life in exchange. So if you can't extract all the oil out of these sunflower seeds you will die." With that, he gives the seeds to Ash.

The lights go down, save for a spotlight on Ash. "How can I extract the oil out of all these sunflower seeds in one day?" he sighs.

A hopeful chord goes up as something occurs to Ash. "Just then, he remembered the Durant queen, and as soon as he sang the words to call her..." Brock narrates as himself from his nook.

Leishu shun ji, lei si... Ash fills in the spellsong.

"...the Durant queen and her retinue came to him." Brock narrates as Misty arrives onstage in the role of the Durant queen.

"Why do you look so sad?" Misty asks as she sits next to Ash on the dark stage.

"How can I extract the oil out of all these sunflower seeds in one day?" Ash shows Misty the sunflower seeds. "If I do not take the oil to the king tomorrow morning, he will kill me."

"Take heart, and rest." Misty assures Ash as she accepts the sunflower seeds. "We will extract the oil for you during the day, and tomorrow morning you can take it to the king."

After the harp plays a "working" interlude, the lights come up on the palace set, as Ash offers Brock, now in the role of the king, a jar of sunflower oil. "You can't marry my daughter just yet." Brock replies as he takes the oil jar and sets it aside. "If you wish to do so, you must first fight with a mysterious warrior who has never lost against anyone, and defeat him in battle."

Ash trudges offstage as Brock returns to his nook and his waiting harp. "See, The king had captured a mysterious warrior some time before, who had never lost a battle." he explains as himself as he plays. "As he did not know what to do with him, he had locked him up in a remote place in the palace. He was afraid to let him out, as he feared the mysterious warrior was a demon, and would bring destruction and despair on his land. But as the mysterious warrior had never lost in battle, he did not know how to defeat him. So all the kings, heroes, and princes who wanted to marry Princess Amber had to fight this warrior; in hopes one of them would finally defeat him."

He next plays a ominous chord as the lights come up on Ash thinking. "When he heard of the mysterious warrior, the prince was saddened."

"What can I do?" Ash muses as the prince "How can I fight with this mysterious warrior when he has never lost in battle?"

Then Ash remembers something. "Then he thought of his Raikou, and when he sang the words to call him..." Brock narrates.

Seilei colfin ar kadram tro... Ash fills in the spellsong.

"...and the Raikou came to him and said..." Brock narrates before setting the harp aside and entering the scene as the Raikou. "What's the matter?" he asks in his "Raikou" voice.

"The king has ordered me to fight with a mysterious warrior who has never lost a battle, and defeat him. How can I do this?" Ash explains

"Do not be afraid," Brock assures Ash, rubbing his shoulder in a loving gesture. "Be strong..I will fight your adversary on your behalf."

He quickly retreats back to his nook before continuing as himself "Then the prince took out a splendid coat, made of gold and silver, and covered in diamonds and pearls. He put this on the Raikou to make him appear to be human, and asked the king if his companion could fight on his behalf. The king said okay, and although it was a very long, drawn out, and difficult battle, the Raikou emerged victorious!"

The crowd applauds over the harp's triumphant flourish. before Brock meets Ash again as the king. "That is good," he smiles as the king. "But you must do something else before I give you my daughter. Up in the sky I have a magical drum. You must go and play it. If you can't do this, it is your life in exchange."

The crowd gasps at this, but Ash just smiles--his character has a plan! "The prince remembered his magic carpet; so he went to the woman's house and climbed on it."

Karuto, iichiida shou... Ash sings in the darkness, complete with a purple flash.

The lights come up on Brock holding a frame drum. "The magic carpet flew up with him, and the prince played the magical drum, singing all the while, loud enough for the king to hear him." he narrates.

With that, Ash scats the reel "The Arrow's Flight", Brock backing him on the frame drum and the crowd clapping along.

When the song ends, Brock narrates "Still, when he returned to the earth, the king still would not give him his daughter."

He steps in the scene as the king again. "You have," he tells Ash, "done the three miraculous things I told you to do; but you must do one more miraculous thing."

"If I can, I will," Ash replies.

Once back in his nook, Brock continues as himself "Then the king showed him the thick trunk of a tree that stood by the palace. He gave the prince a wax hatchet, and told him that the next morning, he had to cut that trunk in two with the wax hatchet."

The lights come up on Ash musing as the prince. "I had the sunflower oil extracted by the Durants...I had his mysterious warrior killed by the Raikou. My magic carpet helped me play his magic drum. But now what can I do? How can I cut that thick tree trunk in two with a wax hatchet?"

A harp flourish signals a scene change before the lights come up on Ash and Misty in the royal bedroom. "Tomorrow your father will kill me." Ash sighs.

"Why?" Misty asks, puzzled.

"He has told me to cut a thick tree trunk in two with a wax hatchet. How can I do that?" Ash asks.

"Don't be afraid." Misty assures Ash. "Just do as I tell you, and you will cut it in two easily."

"Then she pulled out a hair from her head and gave it to the prince." Brock narrates as Misty does this.

Misty instructs Ash "Tomorrow, when no one can see you, you must sing to the tree trunk, 'Seios, higarima laisido...' Then stretch the hair down the edge of the wax hatchet's blade."

"The next day, the prince did exactly as Princess Amber had told him." Brock narrates.

Seios, higarima laisido... Ash sings for effect.

"...and the minute the hair that was stretched down the edge of the hatchet blade touched the tree trunk it split into two pieces." Brock continues, playing a triumphant flourish that segues into a song as the crowd applauds. "The king finally gave his blessing for the marriage, and the wedding took place a few days later. Kings and queens from far and wide came, and there were great rejoicings all across the land. The wedding festivities lasted six months at least, and it is still talked about in that land to this day."

He concludes over his song "The prince always kept his bag, bowl, magic carpet, and wand; however as no one dared declare war on him, he never needed to use the wand."

"YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!" the crowd cheers as Ash, Misty, and Brock take a bow, then hurry off to prepare for the next tale on their program...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 272b:The Baker's Wand)

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

Week 272b: The Baker's Wand

(real tale: The Baker's Magic Wand)


"There was once a wicked lawyer who was in love with a baker's wife." Brock begins over a calm song on the guitar. "He tried in various ways to get rid of the baker, but without success. They lived not far from the king, who owned all the land in the realm and was very powerful."

He explains to the audience "Now, in front of the king's palace there was a lake that some said was more than twelve thousand acres. One morning. the lawyer went to the palace and knocked at the door." He knocks at the stage floor for effect, to some laughter. "When the king came out, he said to him...

In a mimic of Gary for the lawyer, he tells an imagined person "Sire, there is a man not far from here who boasts that in less than seventy two hours, he can turn this lake into a beautiful meadow covered with grass that would give enough food for all your Ponytas and would be to the great benefit of the land."

"Who is this man?" he asks as the king.

"He is no less than the baker who furnishes your household with bread." he replies as the lawyer.

"I will send for him." he smiles as the king.

As himself, he continues over a tense melody "So the lawyer departed, and the king sent a letter to the baker saying that he wanted to see him. The poor baker thought he was to get his pay for the bread he had provided for the king and all his servants and soldiers. So he hurried to the palace and knocked at the door."

Ash knocks at the stage floor, prompting Brock to set the guitar aside and step in the scene as the king. "What do you wish of me, Sire?" Ash asks as the baker, bowing on one knee before Brock.

"I have heard of your boast that in less than seventy two hours, you can turn the lake into a beautiful meadow covered with grass and clover that would feed all the Ponytas, and would be a great benefit to the land." Brock explains as the king. "If you cannot do this, I will throw you into the dungeon for lying to me."

Ash trudges offstage as Brock narrates as himself over a sad melody. "The baker left the palace discouraged, for he did not know what to do. He walked off into the woods and sat down on a rock to cry."

The lights dim a little to mimic nighttime as Ash feigns crying on a stool standing in as a rock. "After an hour or two, the holy Delphox Kitsune, in disguise as an old woman, came that way, and asked what was the matter." Brock continues over a mystical melody to indicate a Legendary's appearance.

"What's the matter?" Misty asks as she arrives onstage as Kitsune.

"Have mercy, good lady! I will be a prisoner in forty eight hours; for the king has commanded me to turn the lake into a meadow, covered with grass and clover, and I am not able to do it." Ash explains through feigned sobs.

"Take heart, and do not be troubled, but go to sleep, and all will be well." Misty assures Ash.

She produces a wooden wand seemingly from thin air. "Sing to this wand before you sleep--it has great power." she explains as she gives the wand to Ash. "While you sleep, it will make whatever you desire come to pass."

"Thanks, Kitsune." Some "Aw"s go up as Ash and Misty hug. After Misty has exited the scene, Ash assumes a conductor's "ready" pose and sings to the wand <i>Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...</i> making it glow red for a moment before Ash sprawls on the floor and pretends to sleep, the wand at his side.

"When he had slept about an hour, he was jolted awake by the smell of hay, and when he looked around him, he saw that the lake was gone, and only a small river was left that ran through the middle of a beautiful meadow down to the great river not far away." Brock narrates as Ash's spotlight expands to include Misty. "Kitsune was still by his side."

"Go to the king and show him what you have done." Misty instructs Ash as the lights come up to mimic daytime.

"When he approached, he saw the king looking out the window at the meadow, and all the men and Ponytas at work making hay." Brock narrates as he sets the guitar aside. "He knocked at the door..."

Ash knocks on the stage floor again for effect. "...and when the king came downstairs, he asked him if he was satisfied."

"Are you satisfied?" Ash asks as Brock steps in the scene as the king.

"No I am not, because the river is still running through the middle of the meadow." Brock replies, a stern note in his "king" voice.

"Well the river has been left to provide water for the Pokemon and to help in making hay, because there is so much hay that all the Ponytas in the land can't carry it." Ash explains. "It will have to be brought in boats."

"That is true..." Brock muses as the king. "You are free to go." he tells Ash.

After returning to his nook and retrieving the guitar, Brock continues over a tense melody "Before long, the wicked lawyer came again, and the king showed him the meadow and the men and women and Ponytas making hay. The lawyer was surprised to see all this, but he did not show it. Instead, he told the king that he had no doubt the baker could do a great deal more than that."

As the lawyer, he brags "Why, the baker has boasted that he could cast a spellsong for the king that would create a great deal more than the meadow and would be a great advantage to the land. "

"What is a spellsong?" he asks as the king as he sets the guitar aside again. "Is it a song that is a spell? Or a spell that is a song?"

"I don't know," he replies as the lawyer; "but the baker said he could cast one."

"I will send for him," he smiles as king.

As himself, he continues "So he sent for the baker, who was just making his bread. When he had put the bread in the oven, he went to the palace and knocked again..." Ash knocks on the stage floor again. "and the king came to the door."

Ash bows before Brock as Brock steps in the scene as the king. "I have heard that you boasted that you can cast a spellsong that would be worth more than the meadow and a great advantage to the land." Brock explains. "Return home and prepare the appropriate regents for it, and unless you can bring them to me and cast it for me in forty eight hours, it is off to the dungeon for you."

"What is a spellsong? Is it a song that is a spell? Or a spell that is a song?" Ash asks, prompting laughter over the joke's repetition.

"I don't know, but I must see one cast within forty eight hours." Brock intones.

Ash trudges off again as Brock narrates as himself "The baker left the palace even sadder than before. He had no idea what a spellsong was; but he knew he would be thrown in the dungeon for all eternity unless he cast one within forty eight hours."

Ash finds the rock from before and comically feigns crying as Brock continues "He went out into the forest again and sat down on the same rock from before, and cried as hard as he could."

Ash then slumps to the floor, "asleep". "When he had cried himself to sleep, Kitsune came, woke him up, and asked him what the matter was." Brock narrates.

"What's the matter?" Misty asks, jolting Ash from his feigned sleep.

"I'll be thrown in the dungeon for sure this time!" he cries, prompting some laughter at his melodramatic pose. "I have been ordered to cast a spellsong for the king, and I don't know what one is."

Misty then reveals the truth to Ash and the audience. "It is only that wicked lawyer who is in love with your wife and wants to get rid of you. You must do exactly what I tell you, and the lawyer will be punished, for I will teach you a spellsong that will satisfy the king. Go to your house and tell your wife that you are commanded to cast a spellsong for the king and that you have no magical regents to cast it with. Tell her to put two days' provisions in a bag for you, and when she has them ready, go to your room and take the latch off the window. Then say good bye to your wife, and walk across the land until dark. As soon as you are gone your wife will send for the lawyer and invite him to dinner. Before he comes, and after it is dark, you must come back to your house, climb in the window and hide under the bed. Now, the lawyer will not eat without first washing his hands. When he comes, your wife will send him into the room where you are hiding to wash, and when he dips his hands into the wash basin you must sing Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Take the wand that I gave you, and anything you point it at when you sing this incantation will stick to whatever it is touching."

"The baker did everything Kitsune told him to do, and his wife was happy to learn that he was going on a trip for the first time since she could remember." Brock narrates as the lights go down. She packed up a large bag of provisions and sent him off. As soon as he was out of the house she sent a letter to the lawyer telling him that her husband was away on a two day journey and that she would like to have him come to dinner."

After playing a traveling melody to indicate the passage of time, Brock narrates "Meanwhile, the baker walked across the land until it was dark, and then returned and hid under the bed."

He waits for Ash to do this on a house set, then continues "His wife told a servant to set the table and prepare a nice dinner, and then she went to get ready to receive her guest.

He goes on "Soon the lawyer arrived, and he servant showed him into the spare room that served as a washroom."

He adds as an aside "Little did the lawyer know that the baker was under the bed in the room."

Giggles go up at this as Brock narrates "The water in the washbasin was cold and soapy, and when the lawyer picked the basin to throw the water out, the baker, who was under the bed, waved his wand and sang..."

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Ash sings from his hiding place, a blue aura indicating where he is on the stage.

"...and the lawyer's hands stuck to the basin, and the basin stuck to the stand." Brock continues. "He called for the servant to come and help him, but she was busy with dinner and did not hear him. When the baker's wife heard him, she panicked and ran in to see what the matter was. When she found the lawyer stuck to the wash stand, which was very large and heavy, she grabbed him with both hands to pull him away. Then her husband sang from under the bed..."

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Ash fills in the spellsong, to more laughter.

"...and the wife could not let go of the lawyer. Then the baker went out and called in some of his friends, and they ate the food and drank the wine that had been prepared for the lawyer who was stuck to the wash stand, and the wife who could not let go of the lawyer." Brock narrates.

The audience roars with laughter at the comical scene. "When morning came, the baker took the wand that Kitsune had given him." Brock narrates as Ash emerges from his hiding place to find Misty struggling to "unstick" herself from an imagined person.

"If you want to get loose, you must do as I tell you." Ash instructs.

"With his wand he loosened the basin from the wash stand." Brock interjects.

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash sings, making a prop washtub seemingly unstick from the stand it is on.

"Then he made them go out into the street, and he started them towards the king's palace." Brock continues, playing a marching melody in time to Ash and Misty walking around the stage. "So they all went to the king's palace – the lawyer with the heavy wash basin, and the woman holding on to the lawyer. The baker knocked at the door...." He waits for Ash to knock on the floor before setting the guitar aside for a moment. "...and when the king opened it, he said..."

"Your Majesty, you ordered a spellsong cast, and I have brought you one, the best that was ever made." Ash explains as Brock steps in the scene as the king. "If you will be pleased to try it, I hope you will be content."

"The king grabbed ahold of the basin to pull it away from the lawyer, but the baker sang...." Brock narrates as he does this.

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Ash fills in the spellsong.

"...and the king was stuck to the basin like the others. He tried his hardest to get away but the spellsong held him there."

The audience laughs as Brock "struggles" to "unstick" himself. "What will it take to get me off of here?" he asks as the king, "struggling" all the while.

"I will let you go if you would give me a great sum of money every year to me and my family." Ash replies as the baker. "And it has to be in writing!"

As himself, Brock narrates "The king consented, an agreement was drawn up, and the king signed it on the wash-basin. The baker undid the spellsong...."

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Ash sings again.

"...and everyone came unstuck." Brock concludes. "Needless to say, the lawyer did not bother the baker again for a long time!"

The crowd cheers as the Trio takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 273: The Lazy Mage)

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

Week 273: The Lazy Mage

(real tale: The Lazy Magician)

The crowd applauds as Brock arrives onstage. "Just me this time." he grins at his audience.

He then begins "Once upon a time, there lived a boy named Jack who was as lazy as the day was long. His poor father, a peasant, could not convince Jack to work. One day, Jack's peasant father decided enough was enough, and made the journey to a shrine of Arceus, where he spend two days pleading to Arceus to give him some kind of sign as to what to do with his son. A man of the nearby village who happened to be passing that way overheard him and whispered..."

"Teach him the way of magic." he suggests in a stage whisper, to some giggles.

"The peasant believed the voice was Arceus speaking, and decided right then to have Jack train as a mage." he continues as himself. The next day, the peasant began to search for a wizard to teach his son. Finally, Jack's father found an old troll who was well known for his magic. The troll lived deep in the forest, so it took Jack and his father three days to get there."

"I'll teach him," he explains in a deeper version of himself for the troll, "but he must stay for four years. At the end of four years, if you find him, he is yours. If you can't, he will remain mine."

As himself, he continues "The peasant agreed and returned home. He was confident Jack would be home by the end of the week. But a week passed, and then a second, and a third, with no sign of Jack to be had."

Nervous giggles fill the auditorium as Brock continues "Four years passed, and on the last day of the fourth year, the peasant set out for the troll's house. On the way, he met Kitsune, in disguise a shepherd, who told him...

"Listen carefully. When you reach the troll's house, you will see two Arcanines and a Growlithe in the yard eating porridge. The Growlithe is your son. When the troll asks you to identify your son, choose that one." he instructs in a mimic of Serena for Kitsune.

As himself, he narrates "When the peasant reached the house, he saw two Arcanines and a Growlithe, just as Kitsune had said. The Arcanines were strong and handsome, but the Growlithe was weak, trembling, and half heartedly wagging his tail."

"Which one is Jack?" he asks as the troll. "Choose correctly and he may return home with you. Choose wrongly, and he will be mine forever."

"I choose the scrawny Growlithe in the middle," he replies in a mimic of Flint for the peasant, pointing out something at stage left.

"Wise choice," he smiles as the troll as he strapped an imaginary leash to the imaginary Growlithe's collar and hands one end to an imagined person. "You are free to leave."

The audience roars with laughter at Brock's feigned look of shock. "I cannot go home with my son as a Growlithe." he protests as the peasant. "His mother will be heartbroken. Change him back!"

"If he has paid attention, he can change himself," he replies as the troll.

Some applause goes up as Brock narrates as himself "And so the peasant trudged homeward, leading the Growlithe behind him. When the peasant passed Kitsune, still in disguise as a shepherd, she asked..."

"Why are you crying?" he asks as Kitsune.

He interjects as himself "Much to the peasant's amazement, the Growlithe spoke."

In a mimic of Ash for Jack, he vows "Watch how well I have learned my trade. I will turn into a tiny Lilipup and you will sell me."

"With that, he turned into a little shaggy Lilipup. Brock interjects as himself before singing as Jack Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

He continues as himself "Soon a carriage carrying a wealthy merchant and his wife rode past, and when the wife saw the Lilipup, she told the peasant she would pay any price for it. The peasant agreed, the money changed hands, and the merchant took the Lilipup. Just then, Jack turned his father into a Buneary."

The audience laughing nearly drowns out Brock singing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... as Jack. "The Buneary raced across the road, and the Lilipup leaped from the carriage to chase after it. Father and son, Buneary and Lilipup, disappeared into the woods." he intones as himself. "When they were safely hidden, Jack turned himself and his father back into their true forms. The peasant was overjoyed, and they hurried home to celebrate their newfound wealth. But fortune was unkind to them, and before a month or two had passed, they had spent all their money."

"I will turn into an Emboar," he explains as Jack. "Take me to market and sell me, but when the purchase has been made, throw a rope over my right ear and go back home."

As himself, he continues "The peasant did as Jack instructed him. However, there was just one problem: the peasant set the price so high, no one offered to buy the Emboar until an old man came along at the end of the day."

He then intones "Jack's father did not know that this was the troll in disguise."

"Ooh"s fill the room as Brock goes on "When the deal was complete, the peasant threw a cord over the Emboar's right ear. The Emboar vanished, the peasant walked home, and he found Jack sitting at the table. Once again they celebrated their success. Some time passed, and fortune was still unkind to them, forcing them to spend all their money. This time, Jack turned himself into a Ponyta. Off to market father and son went, but this time the troll had caught on to their trick. Before he agreed to pay for the Ponyta, he said..."

"I must lock your Ponyta into a stable." he explains as the troll.

As himself, Brock continues "The peasant could not throw the rope over the Ponyta's right ear, but he hurried home, hoping Jack would be there anyway..."

He lets that hang for a moment before adding "...but he wasn't."

Nervous giggles go up as Brock continues "Meanwhile, the troll rode the Ponyta far into the forest, threw a magic bridle over his back, and locked him in the stable. In the morning, a servant girl was surprised to find a Ponyta singing a Swanna song..."

He proceeds to sing as Jack Gatrandis favel, secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si....

Some applause goes up before Brock continues "The girl felt sorry for the Ponyta, and took off the bridle. Jack turned himself into a Rattata..."

He pauses to sing Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... as Jack before continuing as himself "...and when the girl opened the door, he skittered away. The troll saw the Rattata running away, turned himself into a Meowth..."

He sings as the troll Gran zirtan vin fangan miti... before continuing as himself "...and chased after it. The Rattata then turned into a Pidove..."

He decides to sing a different song for this Jack transformation. Karuto, iichiida shou... "So the troll turned into a Talonflame...Gran zirtan vin fangan miti...--and chased the Pidove. They raced past a palace where a princess--we'll call her Elena--was sitting in a window. When she saw the Pidove in danger, she opened her window and let him inside. Then she closed it against the Talonflame."

Laughter goes up as the audience pictures the Talonflame hitting and then sliding off the window. "To get inside, the troll simply turned himself into a prince..." Brock pauses to sing Gran zirtan vin fangan miti... as the troll before continuing as himself "...and walked to the palace door. He knocked and was let in by the guards. Princess Elena introduced herself and let him walk around the palace. The prince searched for the Pidove, but couldn't find it.

"Let me see your rings," he requests to an imagined person as the troll.

He then tells the audience where Jack is. "The Pidove, sure enough, had turned into a sapphire ring. Princess Elena showed the prince her rings, "accidentally" dropping the sapphire one into the fire. But just as the troll reached for the ring, it turned into a Cornn Berry."

The audience expects Brock to sing again, but Brock explains "Since neither rings nor Cornn Berries have a way of speaking, much less singing, the troll couldn't hear the spellsong."

"Oh"s go up as Brock continues "The troll turned himself into a Combusken, ready to eat that Cornn Berry, but as he did, the Cornn Berry turned into a Talonflame and killed the Combusken. Then the Talonflame turned back into Jack."

Cheers fill the air at the troll's demise. "Jack bowed before the king and asked him if it was okay for Princess Elena to marry him, and both of them consented." Brock continues. "Jack then returned to the troll's home and carried away all his gold and silver. He gave it all to his father for helping him to learn such a fine trade."

He concludes with a grin "For Jack had learned that it pays not to be lazy."

The crowd roars as Brock takes a bow.

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 274: The Sleeping Prince)

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

Week 274: The Sleeping Prince

(real tale: The Sleeping Prince)

Applause fills the auditorium as Brock arrives onstage. "I've got something a little different for you this week--what if the princess were the one to save her prince?"

Intrigued murmurs go up as Brock takes his harp and starts a few bars of "Silent Night--never mind Christmas is a full two months away. "One snowy winter day a princess--we'll call her Ariana--sat at her window sewing a quilt, when she accidentally pricked her finger, which made a drop of blood fall onto the window ledge." he begins, feigning injury for the finger prick. "The sight of red blood in the sunlight against that startling white snow entranced Princess Ariana. It also caught the attention of a little Fletchling."

He next sings to no tune in particular Gold, white and crimson red,
A handsome prince sleeps in a bed,
White, gold and ruby red,
Sleeping as if dead...
Red, gold and snowy white,
He must wake the first summer's night...

He narrates over his melody "Princess Ariana was enchanted by the Fletchling's song, and begged him to tell her more. So the Fletching sang about the prince, a noble and brave young man of a far away land, cast into a deep sleep from which he woke once a year, on the summer solstice. If he was to be freed from the spell, he had to wake to the sight of a princess."

Some light applause fills the air as Brock finishes his song. "Princess Ariana immediately knew that she had to find the sleeping prince to free him, but her father the king would never allow her to travel that far away. So she snuck out of the castle in the middle of a frigid night, dressed in her warmest clothes."

He then plays a panicked chord. "When the king and queen discovered she was gone, they sent guards to bring her home, but Princess Ariana traveled quickly, hiding in the forest and covering her tracks. The king grieved deeply, certain his daughter was lost forever."

A hopeful chord signals that Princess Ariana is okay. "Meanwhile, Princess Ariana came to a cave, where the Legend of Thunder, Raikou lived, and asked him if he knew anything about the sleeping prince." Brock narrates.

"The Sleeping Prince..." he muses in a deeper version of himself for Raikou. "No mortal knows where he lives, but maybe Entei could tell you something."

As himself, he continues "Princess Ariana thanked Raikou, and went on her way through the pouring rain. Entei knew no more than Raikou did, but as the guardian of the North Wind, Suicune would likely know. Princess Ariana thanked Entei anyway, and hurried on through ice and wind. When she arrived at Suicune's cave, and told Suicune why she had come, Suicune said..."

"It will be a difficult task--he's guarded by Pyroars that will eat anyone who tries to pass. Take some of the white roses that grow by my cave--they can be tamed that way." he instructs in a younger version of himself for Suicune.

He continues as himself "Princess Ariana quickly picked three white roses from the bush that grew outside Suicune's cave, and then she walked on. Her clothes were tattered and her boots were worn to nothing when she finally spied two looming towers and a gate guarded by Pyroars. When the Pyroars smelled her, they growled." He plays a trilling chord on the lower strings that more or less sounds like a growl. "But she heaved the roses at them, and they turned tame and purred, opening the gates."

After starting a mysterious melody, Brock continues "Inside she discovered everyone was asleep -- the maids and the butlers, the cooks and the gardeners, the groomsmen, the Growlithes and the Meowths, and outside in the barns, the Combuskens and Tepigs and Ponytas slept, too. Finally, she reached a chamber where the handsome prince--whose name is not important to us--lay fast asleep upon his bed. His skin was white as snow, his lips ruby red. She sat down beside him. Just as the sun was setting, a delicious meal appeared, and she ate every crumb. Then the table and the plates vanished, but exhausted as she was, Princess Ariana did everything she could to stay awake.

The last chord of the mysterious song fades as Brock continues "Days passed in the manor, when one day the clock in the tower that had been silent all this time began to chime..."

He then plays a hard C chord to mimic a clock chime, startling some children in the audience. "One, two, three, and so on all the way to 12 times..." Brock narrates as he plays the "chimes". "...and on the stroke of 12..." he plays his last "chime" at this. "...the prince opened his eyes."

He then intones "It was the first night of summer--the summer solstice."

"It's over--the spell is broken!" he gasps in character as Ash for the prince, to cheers from the audience.

He continues over a festive melody "As he looked at the woman in rags beside him, The Combuskens crowed, Ponytas neighed, Growlithes barked, and people cheered."

"I owe you my life," he smiles at an imagined person as the prince. "Will you marry me?"

As himself, he continues "Princess Ariana looked into his eyes and knew he was a kind and loving young man, so she said yes. The celebration lasted three long days, and then they rode to the princess's castle. The king and queen were overjoyed to see their daughter, and the prince was amazed to discover his beloved wife was a princess."

He smiles as he concludes "It goes without saying they all lived happily ever after, right?"

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

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 275: The Raikou's Pawprint)

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

Week 275: The Raikou's Pawprint

(real tale: Folktales from Japan episode 184, story 2)

"Long ago, a certain village had to deal with heavy rains in the summer and in the fall." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "In addition to the floods, the people also had to deal with tornadoes as well as fires caused by the lightning."

Fearful whispers race through the room, but Brock still has more bad news. "One day, on a rare sunny day, the village elder succumbed to old age, and so the villagers decided to hold the funeral in a nearby temple. The brave warrior-miko Kanade served at this temple, and she agreed to perform the funeral rites. Both villager and visitor alike knew of Kanade's powerful holy magic and wisdom, despite her young age."

The chatter turns excited as Brock continues "As Kanade was in the middle of saying the prayers required to see the elder's spirit safely to heaven, a giant storm cloud formed over the temple, and a massive yellow paw burst into the door. Kanade recognized the paw as a Raikou, but no Raikou she knew--this one was a young Raikou who didn't know its own strength."

Giggles fill the air as Brock continues "Kanade pleaded with the young Raikou to have mercy on the village, and to stop the constant rain. But the young Raikou lunged at Kanade, in hopes of swatting her with its paws. But Kanade was prepared..." He pauses to sing in character as Kanade Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo...

The children listen as Brock continues "The villagers watched as Kanade grappled with the young Raikou in a battle of brains against brawn. After skillfully dodging every one of Kanade's spells, the Raikou picked up a huge rock, in hopes of crushing Kanade, But Kanade dodged the rock, and finally pinned the Raikou to the ground with windy needles."

He sings as Kanade again Karuto, iichiida shou...

As himself, he continues "As the Raikou struggled to get up, Kanade asked the Raikou if it even knew how many people had suffered because of him. The Raikou replied that he only wanted to show Arceus how strong he was, so he would let him run across the world. Kanade replied that there were better ways to show strength than sending constant rainstorms, such as protecting the people instead of harming them. The Raikou pleaded to be let go, and Kanade agreed, on the condition that the Raikou use its powers to protect the people. The two of them put the agreement in writing, with the Raikou putting his pawprint on an empty scroll to seal the deal."

He then asks the audience "There was another problem--how was the young Raikou going to get back to the heavens from the earth?"

The crowd yells enthusiastic suggestions, but Brock has other ideas. "So Kanade appealed to Arceus..."

He then sings as Kanade Gatrandis favel, secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emousto koron zen fine, si...

Some applause fills the air as Brock continues "A set of glowing stairs reaching to heaven appeared and the Raikou happily ran up them, saying he would not forget his promise."

He concludes "Ever since then, Kanade brought out the scroll with the pawprint on the first day of the month of the Raikou as a reminder of what had happened there, which her descendants continue to do in Ecruteak today."

The crowd roars as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

Re: Live from the Fireside: Season 11 (Week 276: The Legend of Lorelei)

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

Week 276: The Legend of Lorelei

(real tale: The Siren, Lorelei

Ash's solo: The Captain's Lament)

The crowd applauds as Brock--in costume as a minstrel--and Ash--in costume as a Final Fantasy red mage--arrive onstage. "Before we begin this week, I just want to warn you that this tale may be frightening or upsetting to some, so if you need to leave for any reason, inform an usher and they will direct you to the closest EXIT sign." Brock cautions.

When no one takes up his offer to leave, Brock settles in a chair at center stage, guitar in hand. "Far away from here, on the eastern shore of a great river, atop a steep rock, there once lived a sirena...."

"Not to be confused with a mermaid!" Ash interjects from a chair by Brock.

"...named Lorelei." Brock fills in the rest of the sentence. "She dressed in blue and white and wore a wreath of stars in her hair. She was exquisite, but more than her physical beauty was the song she sang -- a song so alluring, no one could resist its pull." he narrates as Ash plays a soft, but eerie melody on a whistle for effect. "People said that anyone sailing close to that rock would lose his life for her song was irresistible, and no sailors who tried to reach Lorelei ever returned."

Intrigued murmurs go up as Brock interjects "Having said this, we can properly begin this tale."

With that, he begins "There was, long ago, one proud young warrior who lived in a great city by the river with his father. The young man's name is not important to us, but what is important is he was the light of his father's life. One day, as the young man was sailing down the river with an old sea captain, he heard Lorelei's song."

Ash starts the eerie melody again, which some in the audience recognize as 'The Captain's Lament'. "In that moment, he could think of nothing but her." Brock narrates over the whistle. "He longed to hold her, and he felt as if invisible arms were pulling him toward her, though anyone seeing him from afar would have seen nothing but a sailor pulling on his oars, rowing hard toward the rock. Twilight's haze shrouded the river valley as the young man approached the rock. His boat was nearing the cliff as the sun began to set behind the mountains, and darkness and silence fell like a curtain. The only light seemed to shine from the evening star high above him. That star seemed to be an angel set in the sky to protect helpless young men. For a while, the young man stopped rowing and gazed at the star, but then the old man sitting beside him cried..."

In an older version of himself, he calls "Stop, we must turn back. You're heading toward Lorelei, the enchantress."

He intones as himself "But it was too late. Hearing that name, the young man opened his eyes wide and saw that beautiful creature combing her dark hair, her dress flowing in the evening breeze. It seemed to Ronald that the only light left in the world was the light surrounding her. Despite the darkness, she was composed of light -- gleaming crystal blue eyes, shimmering lips, her face aglow."

The whistle's spooky melody, accompanied by the guitar's ominous drone, prompts some parents to make a run for the exits, as if their frightened children know the terrifying scene Brock is about to describe. "And her song cut through him like a knife to the heart, a plaintive, longing song. It called to him, 'Come to me, come to me...'"

Just then, the music stops. "When Lorelei looked down at him, he trembled and could not take his eyes away from her. He could think of nothing but how marvelous this moment was, and in his trance, his boat crept slowly to her, and to the rocks. But the boat was moving too slowly for him. When she called his name, the young man dove into the water." He plays a soft glissando down on string for effect, to some nervous giggles. "What happened next is hard to say--some people say they heard a scream, a death-like sound coming from the rocks as the waves washed over the young man's body."

Sniffles fill the auditorium as Brock continues "The old boatman cried as he worked to steer the boat away from the shore. Lightning stabbed the sky. Thunder rumbled over the mountain. Still the song of Lorelei filled the air." At this, Ash plays a piercing, loud version of the first few notes of "The Captain's Lament" for effect, startling some in the audience.

When the instruments quiet and the audience has had a chance to collect themselves, Brock goes on "Somehow the old captain made his way home, and before long, the whole city heard the news of the young man lured by the siren to his death. The young man's father, sick with grief, ordered his soldiers to bring the enchantress to court, dead or alive. Off they set on their quest, and as those soldiers neared the rock, the leader looked up and cried..."

"Let us throw her from the rocks to the sea! Let her know the death she has caused others!" Ash fills in the leader's lines, brandishing his whistle like a sword.

"At that moment the first shade of twilight draped itself over the mountains." Brock narrates as the lights dim a little to mimic a setting sun. "The armed men began to climb up the side of the mountain, toward the peak. Above them they could see the top of that mountain was veiled in mist. They thought it was the last rays of the sun, but it was the light that wrapped Lorelei in its embrace."

He plays a soft harmonic D chord to symbolize Lorelei. "There she was, dreamily combing her hair as if nothing had happened. As the men drew close, she reached inside her dress and removed a string of pearls, bound these around her head and looked at the soldiers."

"What are you doing here?" Lotta--her voice augmented by an echo effect, asks from offstage. "You are mere men!"

"You are a sorceress, and we are here to destroy you." Ash counters as the leader.

"The next sound they heard was a laugh, a laugh that echoed from every corner of the valley. Then Lorelei sang--a different song than the one used to lure sailors to their demise." Brock narrates as the lights start to dim.

Gatrandis favel, secret, edena... Lotta's voice rings through the pitch black auditorium.
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

The lights come up on the boys again. "With that, she bent over the precipice, tore the pearls from her head and hurled them into the water. At that moment a storm burst into being. The river began to whirl and rise. Foam covered the banks, rising higher and higher until it reached the nymph. It lifted her into its arms and carried her down into the rushing current. And at the same time, the young man's body appeared, washed ashore."

More sniffles fill the room as Brock continues "The terrified men returned to the city to tell the townsfolk the news. People came from far and wide to mourn the young man and to gaze at this place, to search for a glimpse of the famed sorceress, but from that day on, no one ever saw her again."

He concludes over the introduction to "The Captain's Lament" "Some sailors say they occasionally see her on the hills. Now and then a passing boater claims to hear her voice, soft and low, echoing from high above. And everyone who passes that rock looks up, half-hoping for a sight of her, and half-afraid."

With that, he and Ash perform the familiar mournful melody, made famous in thousands of movies, TV shoes, and video games through the years. When the last note dies some moments later, Lotta--in costume as a warrior--joins the boys onstage to take a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 277: How the Demon Got a Bath

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 186, story 2)

"Once a wandering warrior--we'll call him Hayate--was passing through the mountains, on his way to a great city." Brock begins. "As he made his way through a mountain forest, he thought he heard someone calling him. When he looked to see who it was, a large furry hand came seemingly out of nowhere."

Delia gasps as Brock continues "Panicked, Hayate drew his sword and attacked, cutting off a wing about two and a half feet long. Hayate thought nothing of the massive wing and took it with him as a battle trophy."

"That must've been a huge bird!" Rylan grins as the Players listen in from backstage.

"Before long, he had arrived in what is today Lavaridge Town, which is still renowned for its hot springs today as it was in those days." Brock continues. "While he was resting there, he befriended a man who made his keep selling medicine. The medicine maker admired Hayate's sword, and told his new friend about a monster that challenged any warrior that found it. If the warrior lost, the monster would take the most precious thing they owned."

"Wait, wasn't that...?" Yuki interjects as she puts two and two together.

"Piqued, Hayate took out the massive wing and looked at it--was it possible that this was the same monster he had encountered before?" Brock asks his audience, acknowledging Yuki's thoughts with a nod. "A huge thunderstorm blew up the next day, about the same time the warrior-miko Kanade passed that way. Awed to be in the presence of a master and heroine, Hayate started bragging to Kanade about how strong he was."

"I do not doubt your strength, young warrior, but you forget that I too am a master at my weapon." Lotta interjects from offstage as Kanade.

"Hayate told Kanade of his encounter the day before, but just as he got to the part about how the monster took something from its defeated opponent, both he and Kanade saw a massive form before them in the water." Brock continues. "Kanade noticed that the monster had a sword wound in the exact place Hayate had said he had attacked, and readied her bow for battle."

"And then?" Akane asks, loud enough for Brock to hear her.

"With the medicine seller looking on from a distance, both Kanade and Hayate battled the massive demon--her bow supporting his blade." Brock continues. "After a very long and drawn out battle, the monster fled, never to return again. Hayate was hailed a hero, and the story of how he and Kanade defeated the monster was told for years to come, and is still told in Lavaridge Town today. The place where Hayate and Kanade battled became known as the Warrior's Spring, and many other warriors came to bathe there before a great battle, in hopes some of Hayate's bravery and Kanade's courage would rub off on them."

He concludes "As for Hayate, he hung the massive wing on his wall at home, and passed it down to his children when they came of age."

The crowd and the Players applaud as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 278a: The Three Brothers, part 1

(real tale: The Three Brothers)

The lights come up on the living room set, where the Players listen as Brock begins "There was once an old man who lived with his wife and three sons. They were very poor, and upon finding that they could not possibly all live at home, the three sons went out into the world to find some means of work. This left the old man and his wife alone."

Intrigued murmurs go up as Brock continues "Having neither Ponytas nor Tauros, the old man had to go every day to the forest for fuel, and carry home the firewood on his back. One day, it was nearly evening when he left for the forest, and his wife, who was afraid to remain alone in the house, begged very hard to go with him. He objected at first, but as she persisted in her pleas, he finally consented to her following him, first telling her, however, to remember to lock the door, lest someone break into the house."

He then reveals a twist in his tale. "The old woman thought the door would be safest if she took it off its hinges, and carried it on her back. So she took it off and followed her husband as fast as she could go. The old man, however, was not angry when he saw how she had misinterpreted what he said, and the manner she had chosen to look after of the door; for, he reasoned, there was little or nothing at all in the house for anyone to steal."

"Makes sense..." Lotta notes as Rylan holds her close.

"When they had reached the forest, the husband began to cut wood, and his wife gathered the branches together in a heap." Brock continues as the lights dim a little to mimic evening. "Eventually, it got very late, and they were anxious as to how they would spend the night, seeing their own house was so far off that they would be unable to reach it before morning, and there were no houses in the neighborhood where they could sleep. Just then they spotted a pine tree, so they decided to climb up and spend the night on one of its branches. The man went up first, and his wife followed him, taking, with great difficulty, the door with her."

Everyone laughs as they picture the comical scene. "Her husband asked her to leave the door on the ground under the tree; but she would not listen to him, and could not be persuaded to remain in the tree without her front door. They had hardly settled themselves on a branch, the old woman holding on tight to her door, before they heard a loud noise in the distance."

He tenses up, as if listening for the aforementioned noise. "They were understandably frightened at the noise, and dared not speak nor move."

"What was it?" Akane asks, shaking a little in her chair.

"After a few tense moments passed, they saw a bandit captain followed by twelve of his men approach the tree." Brock explains. "They were dressed all alike, in gold and silver, and one of them carried a Mareep killed and ready for roasting. When the old man and woman saw the bandits come and settle under the pine tree where they had themselves taken shelter, they thought their time was close."

Yuki swallows hard as Brock goes on "As soon as the bandits had settled in, the youngest of them made a fire and put the Mareep down to roast, while the captain conversed with the others. The Mareep was already roasted and cut up, and the bandits had begun eating, when the old woman told her husband that she could not possibly hold the door any longer, but had to let it go."

Giggles go up at Brock's 'Frigid' reference. "The old man begged her not to let it go, but to hold on and keep quiet, lest the bandits discover and kill them. The old woman said, however, that she was so tired she could no longer hold it. The old man, seeing it was no use arguing about it, declared that, as he could not hold his corner of the door any longer when she had let go her corner, it was not worth it to complain."

A comical crash startles the Players as Brock continues "Then they both let go of the door at the same time, and it fell down, making a great noise - especially with its iron lock - as it fell from branch to branch. The door made so much noise in falling, that the whole forest resonated with the sound."

Laughter fills the room as the audience imagines the door falling. "The bandits, greatly astonished at the noise, and too frightened by the unexpected clashing above their heads to see what was the cause, fled in terror, without once thinking of the roast Mareep they left behind, or of any of the treasures which they had brought with them. One of them did not run very far from the spot, but hid himself behind a tree, and waited to see what had caused so much noise." Brock continues when the laughter quiets. "The old couple, seeing the bandits did not return, came down from the tree, and, being exceedingly hungry, began to eat heartily; the old man all the time praising the wisdom of his wife in throwing down the door. The bandit who had hidden himself, seeing only the old people near the fire, came up to them, and asked to share their meal, as he had not eaten anything for the last twenty four hours. They said okay, and talked of all kinds of things, until the old man exclaimed..."

"Careful! You have a ruby on your tongue! Do not choke yourself, for I have no means to bury you here!" he cautions in character as Flint for the old man.

As himself, Brock continues "The bandit decided to play along, and begged the old man to take the ruby out of his mouth, and he would in return show him a cave where a great treasure was hidden. As he was describing the great heaps of gold, silver,and jewels which he said were in the cave, the old woman interrupted him."

"I will take the ruby out of your mouth, without pay! Only stick your tongue out and close your eyes!" he requests as Lola for the old woman.

The players giggle as Brock continues as himself "The bandit gladly did as she told him, and she picked up a knife and in a moment cut his tongue."

"Ouch..." Yuki winces at this.

"When the bandit felt what had been done to him, he jumped up in pain, and ran away without hat or coat in the same direction as his companions had gone, shouting all the while for someone to give him some plaster. His companions, however, misunderstood him, and thought he had cried to them, 'Help yourselves; here is the guard-master!' especially as he ran as if the captain of the guard were at their heels." Brock continues

The audience roars with laughter as they picture the comical scene. "Meanwhile, the old couple thought it no longer safe to stay under the pine tree, so they gathered up quickly all the money, whether gold or silver, that they could carry, and hurried back to their home." Brock continues as the laughter quiets. "When they got there, they found the Combuskens of the neighbors had pulled off the thatch of their house. They were, however, not sorry for this, since they had enough money to build another, better home. This they did, and continued to live in their fine new house without even once remembering their sons, who had been wandering the world some nine long years."

He smiles. "As for what the sons had been doing during all of this? I will tell you more next week!"

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

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 278b: The Three Brothers, part 2

(real tale: The Three Brothers)

Once the Players settle in on the living room set, Brock begins "Meanwhile, the sons--whose names are not important to us--had each been working in a different part of the world. When they had been away from home nine years, they all, had a burning desire to return to their father's house. So they took all the savings which they had saved up in their nine years' service, and started the long journey home. On his travels the eldest brother befriended some gypsies, who were teaching a Teddiursa to dance by putting him on a red hot plate of iron. He felt compassion for the little Pokemon's suffering, and asked the gypsies why they were torturing the Pokemon like this."

"Or better, let me have it, and I will give you three pieces of silver for it!" Kano offers as the eldest brother.

"The gypsies accepted the offer eagerly, took the three pieces of silver, and gave him the Teddiursa." Brock continues "A little farther on he met some huntsmen who had caught a Poochyena, which they were about to kill. He offered them three pieces of silver for the Pokemon, and they, pleased to get so much, readily sold it. A little further still he met some shepherds, who were about to kill a Growlithe. He was sorry for the poor Pokemon, and offered to give them two pieces of silver if they would give the Growlithe to him, and this they very gladly agreed to. So he traveled on homeward, attended by the young Teddiursa, the Poochyena, and the Growlithe. As all his nine years' savings were only nine pieces of silver, he had only a single piece left."

"And he ended up with a fourth Pokemon for that single silver piece?" Akane guesses.

"Before he reached his father's house he met some boys who were about to dunk a Meowth." Brock smiles as he confirms Akane's guess. "He offered them his last piece of silver if they would give him the Meowth, and they were content with the bargain and gave it to him. So, at last he arrived at his home without any money to his name, but with a Teddiursa, a Poochyena, a Growlithe, and a Meowth. The same thing had happened with the other two brothers. By their nine years' work they had only saved nine pieces of silver, and on their way home they had spent them in rescuing Pokemon, exactly as the eldest brother had done."

The look on Brock's face turns somber. "Soon after they had returned, the old father died from a horrible disease. The three brothers discussed what was to be done with the estate, and decided to invest part of the money, which their father and mother had gotten from the bandits, in the purchase of four Ponytas and a field. A few days later, they all went into the fields to bring in the hay which the two elder ones had mown. They found, however, that some of the hay was missing. They were puzzled, and looked around to see who had stolen it; but after a little while they took what was left and returned home."

"So, what was taking it?" Yuki wonders.

"The next year, however, they dared not leave their mown grass unwatched." Brock cautions. "So they discussed which of them would keep watch first. Each of them offered to do it; but they eventually agreed that the youngest brother should watch first. So he got ready, and, that night, went out into the field. Once there, he climbed up into a tree and decided to remain there until dawn. About midnight he heard a great noise and shouting, which frightened him so much that he dared not move. Some creatures came into the field and ate most of the hay, and what they did not eat they tossed about and spoiled, so that it was fit for nothing. When daylight came, the youngest brother came down from the tree and went home, to tell his brothers what he had seen.

"Three winged Ponytas came into the field." he explains in a mimic of Ash for the youngest brother.

He continues as himself "So that year they had no hay. The next year, when harvesttime came, the three brothers got together to discuss how to preserve their hay. The middle brother volunteered to watch the field, and was confident he would be able to save the hay. So he went, and climbed into the tree, just as his brother had done the previous year. About midnight three winged Ponytas came into the field with a band of fairies. The winged Ponytas began to eat the newly mown hay, and the fairies danced all over it. After the greater part of the hay had been eaten by the Ponytas, and all the rest had been spoiled by the dancing of the fairies, the whole company left the field, just as day began to dawn. The watcher in the tree had witnessed all this; he was, however, too frightened to do anything - he hardly dared to move. When he went home, he told his brothers all that he had seen; at which they were sad, since this year again they would have no hay. However, time passed, and the third summer came. Again the three brothers cut the grass in their meadow, and debated anxiously how they would manage to keep their new hay. Finally, they decided that it was now the eldest brother's turn to keep watch. If he also failed to save the hay, it was agreed that they would divide among them what little property they had left, and go out again, separately, to seek their fortunes in the world, seeing they had no luck in their own land."

The lights dim to simulate nighttime. "As agreed, the eldest brother went out into the field that night; but, instead of going up into the tree as his brothers had done, he lay down on a heap of hay, and waited to see what would happen." Brock explains. "About midnight he heard a great noise from way off in the distance, and a troop of fairies, with three winged Ponytas, came straight towards the place where he lay. Once there, the fairies began to dance, and the Ponytas to eat the hay, and prance about. The eldest brother looked on, and, at first, was very afraid, and wished the whole company would leave without seeing him. As they seemed in no hurry to do this, he debated what to do, and finally decided that it would be worth it to try to catch one of the three Ponytas. So, when they came chose to him, he jumped on the back of one of them, and hung on. The other two Ponytas immediately ran away, and the fairies with them. The Ponyta which the eldest brother had caught tried all sorts of tricks to throw off her unwelcome rider, but she was unsuccessful. Finding all her attempts to free herself quite useless, she finally said..."

"Let me go, my good man, and I will be of use to you one day." Sachi pleads as the Ponyta.

"I will set you free on one condition--you must promise not to come in this field again; and you must give me some sign that you will keep your promise." Kano warns as the eldest brother.

"The Ponyta gladly agreed to this condition, and gave the boy a ruby hidden in her tail, saying..." Brock narrates.

"Whenever you happen to be in need, sing 'Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...' to this ruby, and I will come to your aid." Sachi instructs.

"With that, the Ponyta flew off, and the eldest brother returned home." Brock continues. "His brothers had waited impatiently for his return, and, when they saw him, pressed him to tell them all that had happened. So he told them everything, except that he had gotten a ruby from the Ponyta's tail, because he did not believe that the Ponyta would keep her promise. The two younger brothers, however, had no confidence that the fairies and winged Ponytas would fulfill their promise either, so they proposed that the property be divided, and that they should part. The eldest brother tried to persuade them to stay one more year, to see what would happen; but he was unsuccessful. Accordingly they divided the rest of their property, took their team of Pokemon, and left their home, for a second time, to seek their fortunes in the world."

"So what adventures awaited them?" Lotta is intrigued.

"The first day they traveled together, but the second day they decided to part, because having come to a fork in the road, and trying to keep on the same path, they found they could not take a step forward so long as they were together. They left that path and tried another, but it was no use, for they could not move a step forward as long as they were together; and when they tried the third path, the same thing happened there too." Brock explains. "So they tried seeing if two of them could go on one road if one of them went before and the other behind. But this didn't work either, so nothing was left to do but separate and each of them go alone on a different road. They were exceedingly sorry to part, but could not help themselves. Before the brothers separated, the eldest brother said..."

"Now, brothers, before we part, let us make a mark with our knives in this oak tree." Kano suggests as the eldest brother. "As long as we live our marks will remain; when one of us dies or is in danger, his mark will turn black. If one of us finds fortune, his mark will glow. Let us come here every third year to see if the marks have changed. Then we will know something, at least, about each other."

"The other two agreed to this, and, having made marks in the oak tree and kissed each other, went their own way, taking their Pokemon with them." Brock concludes. "What adventures awaited them all? I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 278c: The Three Brothers, part 3

(real tale: The Three Brothers)

Once the Players are settled, Brock begins "The youngest brother traveled, with his team of Pokemon, all that day and the following night, and the next day came to a king's palace. Once in the throne room, he asked the king to employ him in watching his Gogoats. The king agreed to take him as Gogoat-herd, and from that day on he was in charge of the king's Gogoats, and lived quietly like this for a long time."

"Some story..." Sachi is not impressed.

"But what about the other brothers?" Yuki wonders.

The grin on Brock's face tells the girls he has other ideas. "One day. the new Gogoat-herd decided to drive his flock to a high hill, not far from the king's palace. On top of the hill was a tall pine tree, and the moment he saw it, he decided to climb up and look around at the surrounding countryside. So he climbed up, and immensely enjoyed the majestic view."

"I'm sure it was beautiful..." Sachi smiles as she pictures what the view may have looked like in her mind.

"As he looked in one direction he saw, way off in the distance, a great plume of smoke rising from a mountain." Brock continues. "The moment he saw the smoke he concluded that one of his brothers was be there, as he thought it unlikely that anyone else would be in such a wilderness. So he decided to give up his position of Gogoat-herd, and travel to the mountain. Coming down from the tree, he immediately collected his Gogoats, which was a very easy task for him to do, since he had such good help in his Teddiursa, his Poochyena, his Growlithe, and his Meowth. No sooner had he reached the palace than he went straight to the king and said...

"Sir, I can no longer be Your Majesty's Gogoat-herd. I must go away, for I have seen a smoking mountain, and I believe that one of my brothers is there. I wish to go and see if this is the case. I therefore ask Your Majesty to pay what you owe me, and let me go." he requests as the youngest brother.

He interjects as himself "All this time, he thought the king knew nothing about the smoking mountain."

The Players listen as Brock reveals the truth. "When he had said this, however, the king immediately began to plead with him not to go to the mountain - for all that had went there never returned. He told him that they had all seemed to have sunk into the earth, for no one ever heard anything more about them. All the king's warnings, however, were for naught; the Gogoat-herd was bent on going to the smoking mountain, and looking for his two brothers, no ifs, ands, or buts."

"So what was causing the smoke?" Rylan wonders.

"After he had made all his preparations for the journey he set out, accompanied, as usual, by his four Pokemon." Brock explains. "He went straight to the mountain; but, once he got there, he could not find the fire at first. Finally, however, he found a large fire burning under a beech tree, and approached it to warm himself. At the same time he looked around on all sides to see who had made the fire. After looking around a while, he heard a woman's voice, and when he looked up to see where the sound came from, he saw an old woman sitting on one of the branches above his head. She sat huddled together all in a heap, and shivering in the cold."

He concludes "But this woman had a terrifying secret...I will tell you what that entailed next week!"

As Brock gets up to take a bow, Lotta tells Rylan "Whatever the woman's secret is, it can't be good..." as they make their way backstage to prepare for the next sketch....

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 278d: The Three Brothers, part 4

(real tale: The Three Brothers)

Brock appears in a spotlight as the curtains open onstage. "Before we begin this week, I will warn you now--this part of the story might be a little on the scary side, so if you need to take children or Pokemon out for any reason, inform an usher and they will direct you to the appropriate EXIT sign."

Once he sees that no one has taken up his offer to leave, he returns to the easy chair as the lights reveal the Players waiting for him. "No sooner had he discovered her did the old woman beg him to allow her to come down to the fire and warm herself a little." he begins, picking up from where he left off the previous week. "So he told her she could come down and warm herself. She answered, however..."

"Oh, my son, I dare not come down because of your company. I am afraid of the Pokemon you have with you--your Teddiursa, and Poochyena, and Growlithe, and Meowth." Morgan fills in the dialogue.

"Don't be afraid! They will not attack you." Brock assures Morgan as the youngest brother.

He intones as himself "However, she didn't trust them, so she plucked a hair from her head, and threw it down, saying..."

"Put that hair on their necks, and then I will not be afraid to come down." Morgan instructs, aware that some parents are taking their frightened children out to calm down.

"So the youngest brother took the hair and threw it over his Pokemon, and in a moment the hair turned into an iron chain which kept his four-footed followers bound together." Brock continues before revealing the old woman's secret. "When the old woman saw that he had done as she desired, she came down from the tree and took her place by the fire. She seemed at first a very little woman; as she sat by the fire, however, she began to grow larger. When he saw this he was greatly astonished, and said to her..."

"It seems to me that you grow bigger and bigger!" he gasps as the youngest brother

"Oh no, no, no, my son! I am only warming myself!" Morgan assures Brock in character.

As himself, Brock continues "But, nevertheless, she continued to grow taller and taller, and had already grown half as tall as the beech tree. The Gogoat-herd watched her growing with eyes as big as plates, and, beginning to get frightened, said..."

"But really you are growing to an alarming size, and are growing taller and taller every moment!" he yelps as the youngest brother.

"Ha, ha, my son, I am only warming myself!" Morgan giddily replies in character.

"Seeing that she was now as tall as the tallest redwood tree, and, fearing that his life was in danger, he sang anxiously to his companions..." Brock pauses to sing Seios, higarima laisido... as the youngest brother before continuing But it was all in vain that he called to them; none of them could move a step from their place. When he saw that, he attempted to run away, but found that he could no more move from his place than if he were chained to it. Then the old woman, seeing everything had gone on just as she wished, bent down a little, and, touching him with her pinky finger, sang..."

Gran zirtan vin fangan miti... Morgan fills in the spellsong.

"And at that moment he turned to stone." Brock intones. After that, she touched, with the same finger, all his Pokemon, one after the other, sang the same evil song, and they also turned to stone as their master had done. Having collected all the dust from the stone statues, she buried it under an oak tree. Then as soon as she took the iron chain in her hand, it turned into a hair again."

He explains to the sniffling audience. "She had done this before with many other young knights and heroes just as she had now done with the poor Gogoat-herd."

The tears turn to angry murmurs at this. "The middle brother, after serving a long time in a foreign land, was compelled to go to the oak tree at the fork, where he had parted with his brothers, in order to see if their marks had changed." Brock continues. "When he got there, he found the mark of his eldest brother still unchanged, but his youngest brother's mark had turned black. Then he knew that his younger brother was either dead or in great danger of death, and he vowed to follow the way he had gone and try to discover what had become of him. Going along the same road which his younger brother had traveled, he came, on the third day, to the king's palace, and went in and begged the king to take him into his service. The king took him as Gogoat-herd, exactly as he had taken before the youngest brother."

"Gee, this sounds familiar..." Kano notes.

"When the middle brother had tended the king's Gogoats a long time, he one day drove them up a high hill, and, finding there a very tall pine tree, decided to climb up to the top and look around to see what kind of land lay on the other side of the hill." Brock continues setting up the exact chain of events to the middle brother. "When he had looked around a while from the tree he noticed a great plume of smoke rising from a mountain far off, and the thought came to his mind that his brothers might be there. Accordingly, he came down, collected his Gogoats, and went back to the king's palace, followed by his four companions--his Teddiursa, his Poochyena, his Growlithe, and his Meowth. When he had reached the palace he went straight to the king, and begged him to pay him his wages right then, and let him go to look for his brothers; for he had seen smoke on a mountain, and he believed they were there. The king tried in vain to dissuade him by telling him that none who went there ever returned; but all his words were for nothing. Seeing he was decided on going, the king paid him what he owed him, and let him go. He set out, and went straight to the mountain; but, when he got there, it was a long time before he could find any fire. At last, however, he found one burning under a beech tree, and he went up to it to warm himself, wondering all the time who had made it, since he saw no one nearby. As he warmed himself, he heard a woman's voice in the tree above his head, and, looking up, saw an old woman huddled up on a branch, and shivering with cold."

He sighs. "Needless to say, the same fate met the middle brother."

A grin forms on his face, signaling the saddened audience that all hope is not lost. "But what of the eldest brother? Did he too turn to stone, or was he the one to escape the horrifying fate that befell his brothers? I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 278e: The Three Brothers, part 5

(real tale: The Three Brothers)


"A very long time had passed, and yet the eldest brother never once thought of going back to the fork where he had parted with his brothers." Brock begins as the lights come up on the living room set. "He was employed in the service of a good and honest master, and, finding himself so well off, figured that his brothers were just fine. His master was an innkeeper, and all he had to do was prepare the beds of the guests. He did his duty so well that his master thought of adopting him as his own son, as he had no children of his own."

"Aw"s fill the air at this, but Brock has other ideas. "One day a gentleman of great distinction came to spend the night at the inn, and the servant thought that the stranger looked remarkably like his youngest brother. He wanted to ask him his name, but could not, mainly because he feared his brother would scold him for having forgotten to go to the fork; but partly because the guest's manners were so polished and his clothes were of fine silk and velvet; whereas he had left his brother in rags."

"He obviously was not his brother..." Rylan tells Lotta, who giggles nervously.

"As he thought of the likeness which the guest bore to his youngest brother, he considered that, in his travels, his brother might have found wisdom, and by his wisdom might have succeeded in some way of business, and by his business might have gained money; and then, having got money, that it would be easy for him to get as fine clothes as the stranger wore. Using that logic, he worked up the courage at last to ask the gentleman about his family, and grew bold enough to ask him plainly if he was not his brother." Brock explains. "This, however, the stranger quickly and positively denied, and asked, in return, about the servant's family. To all the particulars the servant gave him he listened with a smile."

"Toldja." Rylan smiles.

"The next morning, the guest left the inn very early; and when the servant went to arrange the bed in which he had slept, he found, under the pillow, a sapphire." Brock continues, showing the players and the audience a prop sapphire. He thought the sapphire had to be valuable, having been in the possession of so rich a man, and yet he considered its loss could hardly be felt by one who went clothed in silk and velvet. He wondered if it held some magical power, before putting it in his pocket. He eventually tried singing every song from every bedtime story he knew that invoked magic of some kind. "But the moment he tried..." Brock pauses to sing Furiya, shuru shamato... before continuing "...two Spritzee flew out and asked him..."

"What are your orders, sir?" Akane jumps in the role of the Spitzee.

"He was frightened by the suddenness of their appearance, and answered..." Brock narrates.

"I do not need anything." Kano stammers as the eldest brother.

"Then the Spritzee disappeared, and he put the sapphire in his pocket." Brock continues. The more he thought of this, the more he marveled at the wonderful sapphire, and considered what to do with it. Then he got the idea to discover just what the Spritzee could do. So he took the sapphire out of his pocket, and sang Furiya, shuru shamato... to it. The moment he did so, the Spritzee reappeared, and asked him again..."

"What do you wish, sir?" Akane asks.

"I wish to have the finest clothes prepared for me, of which no two pieces must be made from the same kind of stuff." Kano replies

"In a matter of moments the Spritzee brought him the most beautiful clothes possible; all of them so wounderful that he could not decide which piece was the most beautiful. Then, dismissing the Spritzee, who disappeared in the sapphire, he dressed himself. He was admiring the fine fit of his clothes, when his master came to the door of his room, and, seeing a stranger in such an exceedingly rich dress, said humbly..."

"Excuse me, sir, where do you come from?" he asks in a mimic of Flint for the innkeeper.

"From not far off," Kano replies.

"Wait a moment, sir," Brock replies as the innkeeper; "I will call my servant to take your orders;"

"Upon going outside, he called loudly for his servant." he continues as himself. Meanwhile, the servant quickly threw off his fine clothes and gave them back to the Spritzee. Dressing himself quickly in his old clothes, he rushed out of his room. Then, finding the pantry open, he began to arrange the items. His master found him doing this, and ordered him to stop, and to go into the house to make coffee for a distinguished guest who had just arrived."

"He has no clue the guest and his servant are one and the same!" Sachi whispers to Yuki, who smiles.

"The strange guest, however, was nowhere to be found." Brock continues. "The innkeeper looked in all the rooms, but there was no sign of a guest anywhere. Then the master, greatly astonished, thought that some thieves had been playing a trick on him, and told the servant in the future to look more carefully at who came in and who went out of the inn. The servant listened quietly to his master; but, having remembered his brothers, he now had an burning desire to look for them, and so he told the innkeeper that he wished to leave, and asked to be paid his wages. The innkeeper was saddened at hearing this, and offered to raise his wages, and tried all kinds of ways to keep him; but it was of no use. Seeing that the servant was determined to leave, the master paid him, and let him leave the inn. Then the eldest brother took with him his four Pokemon - his Teddiursa, Poochyena, Growlithe, and Meowth, and went on his way."

He concludes. "But how did he defeat the old woman with the terrifying power? I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 278f: The Three Brothers, part 6

(real tale: The Three Brothers)

As the players settle in on the living room set, Brock begins "After traveling for a very long time, his good fortune brought him to the fork where he had parted with his brothers. He immediately rushed to the oak to see if the marks had changed, but his own mark was the only one unchanged. The two others had turned black. He was understandably devastated at this, believing that his brothers were dead or in great danger."

"What about his two magic jewels?" Sachi wonders.

"In his grief, he forgot about the wonderful ruby and sapphire which he possessed." Brock acknowledges Sachi's question with a nod. "He resolved to go and search for his brothers, and so went along the same road his youngest brother had taken when they parted. As he traveled he remembered the ruby which the winged Ponyta had given him, and the sapphire which he had found at the inn; but these did not console him very much."

"We've seen what the sapphire does, but what about the ruby?" Rylan asks Lotta.

"I'm sure we will find out in due time." Akane assures both Lotta and Rylan.

"After traveling for some time he found himself before a large palace, the guard of which asked him if he would take charge of the king's Gogoats." Brock continues, unaware of the Players' speculation. "He said he would, if the king could tell him something about his two brothers, who had traveled that way with a similar company years before. The king said that no men with such a company had passed that way during his reign; which was understandable because he had only recently ascended to the throne. The old king, who the two brothers had served, had died some years before."

"Oh"s fill the air at this. "However, though the eldest brother could learn nothing of his two younger brothers, he decided to stay there, and so was appointed as Gogoat-keeper." Brock continues. "As he drove the Gogoats out, day by day, he looked everywhere for some trace of his brothers; for, although their marks were black, he wanted to believe that they were still alive. One day, as he wandered with his Gogoats, he met an old man who was going to the forest to cut wood. He asked him if he had seen anything of his two brothers. The old man answered..."

"Who knows? Perhaps they have been lost on that mountain where so many others have lost their lives." he muses in a mimic of Flint for the old man. "Drive your Gogoats up that high hill; from the top you will see a much higher mountain, which smokes, and never stops. On that mountain many people have been lost; perhaps your brothers also have perished there. I will, however, give you one piece of good advice. Do not go, under any circumstances, to the place where it smokes. I am now an old man, but I have never seen one person return from there. So, if your life is dear to you, do not go up that mountain."

He intones as himself "With that, the old man went on his way."

"The eldest brother obviously didn't obey..." Yuki grins.

"The Gogoat-keeper drove his Gogoats up the hill, and from its top he saw a very high mountain which smoked, just as the old man had said." Brock continues, grinning at Yuki's observation. "He tried to discover if any living creature was there, but he could not see the traces of a single one. He considered whether he should go there or not, and, after mulling it over in his mind, he finally decided to go. In the evening, when he drove the Gogoats home, he told the king of his intention. The king tried hard to dissuade him, and promised to raise his wages if he would stay with him; however, nothing could turn him from his resolution. So the king paid him, and he went on his way."

He goes on "Having come to the mountain he found the fire, and wondered who lit it. As he thought over this he heard a woman's voice. So he looked up, and was astonished at seeing an old woman huddled together. Her hair was longer than her body, and as white as snow. When he looked up, she said to him..."

"My son, I am so cold. I would like to warm myself, but I am afraid of your Pokemon. I made that fire myself, but, seeing you coming with your Pokemon, I was frightened, and got up here to save myself." Morgan explains as the old woman.

"Well, you can come down now, and warm yourself as much as you like." Kano assures Morgan as the eldest brother.

"I dare not--your Pokemon would bite me." Morgan explains in character. "But I will give you a hair, and you will bind them with it. Then I will come down."

"The eldest brother thought to himself that the hair must be a very powerful hair, if it could bind his Teddiursa, his Poochyena, his Growlithe, and his Meowth." Brock explains. "So, instead of throwing it over the Pokemon, he threw it into the fire. Meanwhile the old woman came down from the tree, and they both sat by the fire. But he watched her like a Braviary. Very soon she began to grow, and grow, and in a short time she was ten yards high. Then he remembered the words of the old woodcutter, and trembled. However, he only said to her..."

"How you are growing?" Kano asks in character.

"Oh, no, my son, I am only warming myself." Morgan assures him.

"She grew taller and taller, and had grown as tall as the beech tree, when he again exclaimed..." Brock narrates.

"But how you are growing, old woman!" Kano gasps in feigned fear.

"Oh, no, my son. I am only warming myself." Morgan assures him in character.

"But he saw that she meant him harm, so he sang to his companions..." Brock narrates.

Karuto, iichiida shou... Kano fills in the song, to cheers from the audience.

"They all jumped on the old woman, and began to tear her. Seeing she was unable to help herself, she begged him to save her, and promised she would give him whatever he asked." Brock continues.

"Well, I ask that you bring back to life my two brothers, with their companions, and all those you have destroyed. Besides that, I demand ten loads of gold pieces. If you do not comply with these demands, I will leave you to be torn to pieces by my Pokemon." Kano warns Morgan in character.

"The old woman agreed to do all this, only asking that one man not be brought back to life, because she had said, when she had turned him to stone, 'When you return to life, may I die in your place!' and she was afraid she would turn to stone herself if he came back to life." Brock explains. "The eldest brother thought that she was trying to cheat him, and so did not honor her request. Finding that she could not otherwise help herself, she finally said to him..."

"Take some dust from that heap under the tree, and throw it over yourself and your company, and while you do so, sing Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... Morgan instructs in character.

"The moment he did as she told him, a bright light filled the air, and crowds of men, women, children, and Pokemon appeared--at least ten million in all, if not more." Brock goes on. "He was almost struck senseless with astonishment. But he explained to them what had happened. Most of them thanked him heartily; some of them, however, did not believe him."

Some light applause fills the air as Brock describes the happy reunion. "They went their separate ways in droves; some went one way, some another, until they were all gone. Only his two brothers were left; though they too could not believe that he was their brother. However, when they saw that their Pokemon recognized his, they remembered that no one but them had such a strange team of Pokemon. Having recognized each other, the brothers ran to embrace each other. Then they divided the gold pieces which the old woman had given to the eldest, loaded their Pokemon with their treasures, and went towards their hometown."

He then reveals the old woman's fate. "As for the old woman, when the last petrified man returned to life, she herself crumbled into dust under the tree."

Some light cheers go up at the old woman's demise. "But as for our three brothers, there was still one more adventure in store for them." Brock tells the Players and the crowd. "I will tell you what it was next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 278g: The Three Brothers, part 7

(real tale: The Three Brothers)

"The three brothers built three houses for themselves, and lived there on their own for a time." Brock begins as the Players settle in on the living room set. "Finally, they began to think about what would become of their property after they were gone, and said to each other that it would be a pity for them to die without heirs. So they decided to get married, in hopes that their wealth might be left to their sons and daughters. The eldest brother said..."

"Let me go and find the best wives I can for all three of us; while you two stay here, and take care of our property." Kano suggests as the eldest brother.

"The others gladly agreed to this, as the eldest brother was proof enough that he was the wisest of the three." Brock continues "So he made the required preparations, and started on a journey to look for three wives for himself and the two younger brothers. After traveling for a long time, he arrived at a large city, and decided to stay there for the night. It just so happened that the king of that land had arranged a Ponyta race, and promised his only daughter, Princess Orla, as the prize, and, with her, ten pounds of gold to the winner."

Excited whispers race through the crowd as Brock continues "The evening the eldest brother arrived, he heard the heralds proclaiming in the streets that everyone who had a Ponyta was to come to the royal field the next day, and whoever could jump completely over the ditch would be rewarded with the king's daughter, and receive ten pounds of gold to boot. He listened to the proclamation without saying a word. The next morning he went out into the king's field in order to watch the race, and found already innumerable Ponytas of all shapes and sizes."

More chatter fills the room as Brock goes on "A little later, Princess Orla, the king's daughter, arrived as well, and behind her were brought ten pounds of gold. When he saw Princess Orla, he thought her so exceedingly beautiful that he stepped away from the crowd to get a better look at her. He then remembered his wonderful sapphire. Taking it out, he sang..."

"Furiya, shuru shamato..." Kano fills in the spellsong.

"Master, what do you wish?" Akane asks as the Spritzee.

"Bring me clothes of silk and velvet, together with precious sapphires, and ten good Ponytas!" Kano requests as the eldest brother.

"He had not winked twice before the Spritzee had placed before him everything he had requested." Brock narrates. "Then he took out the ruby, and sang...

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

"Master, what do you command?" Sachi asks as the winged Ponyta.

"I wish that today we leave all the other Ponytas behind us in the race, so that I may gain the hand of the princess. We have to hurry, as the other Ponytas are preparing to race." Kano explains as the eldest brother.

"The words were barely out of his mouth when the winged Ponyta stood, pawing the ground, ready and eager to race." Brock continues. "The young man then mounted it, and off they went. The other racers, having started a few moments before, were already pretty far from the starting line. But in a matter of moments, he had reached them, and in another had passed them all and left them behind in the dust."

The Firelights play the Zelda horse racing music for effect, prompting laughter and cheers as the audience claps along. "When he reached the ditch--which was about a hundred and five yards deep, and a hundred yards across, give or take a yard--the Ponyta made a jump so high..." Brock continues.

"HOW HIGH WAS IT???" the audience yells.

"It was so high that it touched the ground fifty yards beyond the ditch." Brock replies, trying oh-so-hard not to laugh over the awed chatter. "Then he rode back and took Princess Orla, the king's daughter, and, placing her behind him on his Ponyta, carried her off, together with the gold. All the people, seeing this, wondered who the strange knight could be who had left all the best Ponytas behind in the race, and won the princess Orla, with all her treasures."

"Where there's an Orla, there's an Ariana and a Christina too." Rylan tells Lotta, who knowingly giggles.

"He rode along until he came to a forest far from the city, and there let his wonderful Ponyta go until he needed her again." Brock continues, oblivious to the Players' commentary. "He then took off all his beautiful clothes, put on his commoner's garb, and continued on with Princess Orla and the gold. Around sunset he arrived at another city, and decided to stay there. After he had rested a little while, the people in the inn told him that all day the heralds had proclaimed that whoever had a good Ponyta was invited to go to the Ponyta race being held the next day, for the king of the palace had offered his only daughter, Princess Ariana, as a prize, together with a hundred pounds of silver and jewels. However, there was a ditch to be jumped which was three hundred and fifty yards deep and a hundred and fifty yards wide, give or take a yard."

"Told'ja." Lotta smiles.

"When he heard this he was well pleased, for he was confident that he would win this race too." Brock continues. "The next morning, by the help of the wonderful ruby and sapphire, he was again dressed in the finest clothes, and mounted on his winged Ponyta, and so took his place among the field. Everyone wondered from what country this knight came from, and were amazed at his beautiful costume. As for the Ponyta, the people were never tired of admiring it. When the other Ponytas were lined up at the start, he intentionally lagged behind. He knew well enough that this was of no consequence to him, as in one moment he could easily reach and pass them all."

He intones "Finally, he picked up his pace, and in a moment passed even the fleetest Ponyta, arriving at the ditch, and leaping over it as if it were nothing."

The Firelights play the Zelda horse racing song again, and the audience claps along. "Then, without waiting a minute, he took possession of Princess Ariana and her treasures, and went straight to the city where he had left Princess Orla and her gold." Brock continues when the song ends. Taking the two princesses and all the wealth with him, he now thought that it was time for him to go back home. On his way, however, he had the luck to come to yet another large city, where he decided to stay for the night. As with the other two cities, the heralds had been proclaiming all day that the king had decided to give his only daughter, Princess Christina, and fifteen hundred pounds of jewels to whoever could win the race being held the next day. This time, however, the Ponytas would have to jump over a ditch a thousand yards deep and four hundred and fifty yards wide, give or take a yard."

"Wow"s fill the air as Brock continues "On hearing this proclamation, the eldest brother was very joyful indeed, for he knew that no racer had any chance of beating his wonderful Ponyta."

"No human racer, anyway..." Yuki muses.

"The next day, by means of his wonderful ruby and sapphire, he ordered fifteen Ponytas to be ready, to carry away the treasures he was sure of winning, and, at the same time, directed the Spritzee to bring him his magical mount and clothes so beautiful that not even a god could buy them." Brock goes on. "Once dressed and mounted on his wonderful Ponyta, everyone who had gathered to see the great race, could look at nothing else but him."

The children whisper excitedly their ideas of what the eldest brother could have looked like as Brock continues "When the field had lined up at the start, he lagged behind and let them all speed off like Talonflames. He wanted everyone to see that he was the last to start, that they might not accuse him of cheating later. When they had already gone pretty far, he picked up his pace, and in a moment he had reached them, passed them, and left them all behind."

The Firelights play the Zelda horse racing song again, and the audience claps along with gusto. "Coming to the ditch, he touched the bridle a little, and, in a moment, his Ponyta had jumped over the ditch, and landed safely on the other side." Brock continues, to a "ta-da!" stinger from the Firelights. "So, without any delay, he took Princess Christina, together with all the jewels, and went back to the city. Having collected his immense treasures, he now took with him the three princesses and went straight home. His two brothers, when he got home, were amazed and delighted at the sight of the three beautiful princesses. They did not rejoice half so much over the great riches he had gained for them as over the marvelous beauty and wisdom of the princesses."

He concludes "And so it was that each of the three brothers married a beautiful princess; the eldest brother, however, who had proven himself the bravest and wisest of them many times over, married Princess Christina, the youngest and most beautiful of the three."

The crowd roars as Brock, the Players, and the Firelights bow together...