COMPLETE: Live from the Fireside, Season 14 (Week 373: Darkness and Light)

[LightningTopaz]

Brock and the gang return for a fourteenth season!

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

Week 347: The Legend of Brennan

(real tale: Brabo and the Giant)

Cheers fill the Fireside's majestic auditorium as Brock arrives onstage to begin the show's fourteenth season of tales. "Thank you..." Brock acknowledges the applause. "You hear it every year before the League begins, and I've even sang it in Indigo Stadium a few times, but what you may not know is our League anthem tells, in song, about an epic battle from folklore--what's sung before events at stadiums across Kanto is actually the last verse."

"Oh"s go up at this. "Want me to tell you about what inspired our League anthem?" Brock offers.

"Yeah"s and cheers go up in reply. "Long ago, when giants walked the earth, one of the biggest ones of all was named Argus." Brock begins before catching himself. "Well, that wasn't his original name, but someone had once told him of a fearsome giant that had a hundred eyes that bore this name; so he took it as his own."

Gasps fill the air as the crowd pictures what Argus' namesake may have looked like. "Argus was well known for being mean and cruel." Brock continues, walking around the stage as he speaks. "His castle stood by a great river, where what was then called the Aiiro City now stands. Many ships came from far and wide down this river; loaded with timber, flax, iron, cheese, fish, bread, linen, and all kinds of other things. Many merchants grew rich, and their families were well provided for. The river was grand, deep, and wide. Many a captain liked to sail on it, because there was no danger from rocks, and the scenery around it was beautiful. So every day, one could see hundreds of ships moving towards the sea, or coming in from the ocean. Kids came down to the banks in droves to see the ships coming and going. The ships brought sugar, wine, Oran Berries, Nomel Berries, olives and other good things, and wool to make clothes. Often craftsmen came from the countries to the south to tell of the beautiful cities there, and help build fine houses, beautiful shrines to Arceus, and town halls. So all the people of what is today Kanto were happy."

Brock comes to a stop at center stage and intones "But one day, the evil giant Argus built a strong castle on the river banks, with four sides and high walls, and deep down in the earth were dark, damp dungeons. One had to light a candle to find his way down there. The people wondered who lived in the foreboding castle, but they soon found out. Argus, with a big knotted club made out of an oak tree, strode through the town, and told all the people to assemble in the great town square."

Using a deep gravelly voice--his go-to "giant" voice--Brock announces “From this day forth, no ship, whether up or down the river, can pass by this place, without my permission. Every captain must pay me tribute, in money or goods. Whoever refuses or cannot pay will give his life in exchange."

Boos race through the crowd as Brock goes on as himself "As a show of his might and power, Argus proceeded to smash a merchant's cart to smithereens."

Yelps and "oh no"s waft through the crowd as Brock continues describing the terrifying events. "So every day, when the ships came, they were hailed from the giant’s castle and made to pay heavy tribute. Rich and poor alike had to hand over their money and goods. If anyone flat out refused to pay the tribute, they were brought ashore and made to kneel on a block, where they were squished flat just like the cart Argus had crushed."

The whispers turn angry at this. "If a captain had no tribute to give, he was thrown into a dungeon, until his friends bailed him out." Brock intones. "Before long, the horror stories spread far and wide, and no one dared sail to Kanto. The merchants grew poorer every day, through no fault of their own. So some of them slipped out of the city and tried to get the ships to sail at night, when they figured Argus would be asleep. But the giant’s lookouts were awake and alert as always, and every last one--man, woman, child, and Pokemon--was killed."

"Did anyone try to stop the giant?" a girl gasps, horrified at the thought of kids and Pokemon dying.

"The region was in ruins, for the foreign merchants were afraid to send their ships into Kanto." Brock intones. "The reputation of the region grew worse as well. It was nicknamed 'the land colored with tears' in Johto, while in Kalos it got the nickname 'la terre qui pleure'.--that means 'the crying land' if you don't speak French."

Nervous giggles go up as Brock continues "Eventually, the Pokemon Master of that time--Lance's distant ancestor--came to Argus' fortress and begged him to stop, for he knew full well that the giant could even destroy a whole army if he wanted to. But Argus just laughed at him. He made his castle still stronger and kept on forcing ships to pay tributes, throwing some of the crews into dungeons and killing the captains, until the Murkrows evolved into Honchkrows overnight."

He smiles, as if to assure his jittery audience that a hero was coming. "Now there was a brave young man named Brennan, who lived in what is today Pallet Town. He was proud of his homeland and her flag of red, blue, and yellow bold, and was loyal to his lord. He studied the castle well and saw a window, where he could climb up into the giant’s room."

"And then?" A boy's eyes sparkle with excitement.

"Going to the Pokemon Master, Brennan promised if his lord’s soldiers would storm the gates of the giant’s castle, that he would seek out and fight the monster one on one." Brock explains. "While they battered down the gates, he would climb the walls."

“He’s nothing but a bully and a boaster, so we should call him that, instead of Argus.” he suggests in a mimic of Ash for Brennan.

As himself, he continues "The Pokemon Master agreed. On a dark night, a thousand of his best soldiers marched with their banners, but with no drums, no trumpets, no anything that could make a noise and alert the scouts. Reaching a forest near the castle, they waited until after midnight. All the Growlithes within five miles were put into barns, so as not to bark and wake the giant up. They were given plenty to eat, so that they quickly fell asleep and were perfectly quiet.

He then narrates the play by play of the battle. "At the given signal, hundreds of men holding battering rams marched against the gates. It took a heroic effort, but they eventually smashed the iron-bound timbers and rushed in. After overcoming the garrison, they lit candles, and unlocking the dungeons, went down and set the captives free. About the same time, the barn doors where the Growlithes had been kept, were thrown open. With a mighty war howl, Growlithe and Arcanine alike charged for the castle, as if they knew what was going on and wanted in on the fun."

"But where was the giant?" a man asks

"Well, none of the captains could find him, and none of the prisoners or the garrison could tell where he had gotten to." Brock replies. "But Brennan knew that Argus was not as brave as he claimed, but actually a bully and a coward; so Brennan was not afraid. Some of his comrades outside helped him set a ladder against the wall. Then, with all the soldiers occupied defending the gates, Brennan climbed into the castle through a slit in the thick wall."

He explains "This had been cut out, like a window, for the archers, and was usually occupied by a scout."

"Oh"s go up as Brock continues "Sword in hand, Brennan made for Argus' room. Glaring at the young man before him, Argus grabbed his club and brought it down with such force that it went clear through the floor. Brennan dodged the blow and delivered a great slash with his sword. Cutting off the giant’s head, he threw it out the window, avenging the millions that had fallen by the giant's hand."

Wild cheers go up at Argus' demise. "By the time dawn broke, word spread of Brennan's valor like wildfire." Brock continues. "In a moment, every house in Kanto had candles lit, and the region was illuminated in a million points of light. From the gates of the Aiiro City came a company of maidens in white, but their leader was clothed in red, blue, and yellow, the colors of the Kanto League flag. All across Kanto, people sang the praises of Brennan their hero--which we still sing today as our League anthem, 'Red, Blue, and Yellow Bold'."

Applause and cheers go up as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 348: The Six Wonderful Brothers

(real tale: The Brothers Who Tricked a King)

"Once upon a time, there lived a farmer who did not have much in material wealth; but had plenty of love and kindness to share." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "He had six sons, who he loved deeply. The boys looked exactly alike, but each of them had an extraordinary and unique power."

Intrigued murmurs fill the room as Brock describes each brother's power. "The eldest son, Taro, was the cleverest young man in the land; he could outsmart anyone. The second son, Jiro, could stretch his arms so far he could reach the ends of the world. The third son, Keizo, had a head as hard as steel, and the fourth son, Shiro, had skin that was tough as steel. The fifth son, Goro, could withstand bone-chilling cold. And then there was the youngest son, Rokuro, who looked normal most of the time, but when he wanted to, he could move faster than even the Legendary Beasts."

"Wow"s go up as Brock continues "As the boys grew up, they learned to appreciate their gifts. Taro promised his father that one day he would reap the benefits of his sons' wondrous skills."

He goes on "The years passed, and one day the farmer came down with a mysterious disease that none of the healers knew how cure. Fearing that his time was close, the farmer called Taro to his side, and told him that Arceus was calling him home. Taro, however, had an idea to cure his father. He called his brother Jiro into the room, and asked him to reach out and borrow the huge pearl that sat in the vaults of the royal palace. Jiro proceeded to do just that, for he trusted that his clever brother's ideas always were the best ideas."

"Aw"s fill the air as Brock continues "When he had the pearl, Taro called his brothers to the room, and told them his plan. They would boil this pearl, and when their father drank the boiled water, he would be healed. And so they crowded around the pot, watched the water boil, and then poured the water into a glass. When the farmer drank the glass of water, he was perfectly healthy and strong, as if he had never been sick at all."

He interjects "There was just one tiny problem--before Jiro had time to put the pearl back, the king discovered it was missing."

Gasps go up as Brock continues "The villagers told the soldiers that they had seen a pair of arms stretching across the land, and before long they learned that only one person had arms that could stretch that far. They burst into the farmer's house, and when they saw Taro, believing him to be the thief, they arrested him and marched him to the palace."

He intones "Of course, the penalty for stealing was death by beheading."

Fearful murmurs waft down the rows at this, but Brock has other ideas. "The soldiers moved forward to seize the prisoner, but Taro pleaded to see his father one last time. The king was not a terribly cruel man, and knew that a prisoner's last request was not to be refused, and so he let Taro go, under the condition he would return the next day. Taro hurried home, and the next day, Keizo went to the palace in his big brother's place, and no one was the wiser because the boys looked exactly alike. When the axe fell on the young man's head, nothing happened. Figuring that his usual execution by beheading wasn't going to work, the king decided to try running Keizo through with a sword."

"Oh"s fill the air when the audience figures out what the brothers plan to do. "When asked what his last request was, Keizo asked to see his father one last time." Brock continues. The next day, Shiro arrived in his brother's place. When the soldiers tried to run the sword through him, even the strongest swords in the armory were no match for Shiro's thick skin. The king next decided to try leaving Shiro in the cold chamber to die. Like his brothers, Shiro asked to see his father one last time."

Gigg;es go up as the crowd imagines the king's reaction at seeing Goro unharmed. "The next day, Goro appeared at the palace in his brother's place." Brock continues. "The guards threw him into the cold chamber, but when they opened the cold chamber door the next morning, Goro was none the worse for wear."

He smiles at the enthralled crowd. "By now, the king was beyond frustrated, and decided to try throwing Goro into the sea to drown. As per his last request, Goro asked to see his father...

"One last time." the crowd fills in the refrain.

"You guys must've been paying attention!" Brock smiles before continuing. "Of course, Rokuro appeared the next day, and when the soldiers threw him into the sea, he disappeared under the waves. The guards turned to leave, but moments later they were astonished to see the young man's head rising above the waves. He had swam to the bottom of the sea and back, and he brought up with him dozens of beautiful shells and dazzling jewels of many colors."

"Wow"s waft down the rows as Brock goes on "The king summoned Rokuro to his chambers. When he saw the jewels, he offered to forgive Rokuro and his brothers in exchange for some of them."

He concludes "So Rokuro returned home, where the family gathered to celebrate. They lived happily ever after, too, for Rokuro, under the guidance of his eldest brother, had saved a few of the sea's treasures for his family."

The crowd applauds as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 349: The Legend of the Festival of Ponytas

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 268, story 2)

"Kanto has long been a place of rolling hills and green plains--so it is no surprise that Ponytas and Rapidashes have been raised here for thousands of years." Brock explains as he appears in a spotlight at center stage. "But the story I want to tell you today concerns the divine Ponyta Epona--in some stories, she is called from heaven to assist a hero, and in others, waits for a hero to find her. But in some parts of Kanto, she had a bit more humble beginning."

Intrigued murmurs waft down the rows as Brock begins "Epona was born, according to some, in a certain village not far from where Celadon City is today. She was part of a farmer's herd, and his son Hayate looked after her. Only Hayate knew of Epona's divine gifts--her speed, her strength, and her gift of speaking the words of humans, just to name a few."

Affirmative whispers fill the air in agreement. "One day, Hayate and Epona were returning home from town when Arceus, in the form of an old man, met them on the road." Brock continues. "Hayate told Arceus that it was his job to look after Epona, and Arceus replied that if he always cared for Epona well, Epona would care for him in return. He know the bond between Hayate and Epona was special, and warned Hayate not to sell Epona to anyone for any reason. Hayate promised he would do everything he could to keep Epona safe, thanked Arceus, and waved goodbye as Arceus returned to heaven."

He intones "Imagine Hayate's shock when his parents told him that they planned to sell Epona!"

"WHAAAAAAAAT???" the crowd gasps.

"Hayate's father explained that the town rich man had seen Epona, and offered a high price for her." Brock explains. "Despite Hayate's pleas, Epona was sold to the town rich man the next day."

He continues "The rich man was well known for mistreating those who worked for him, and the Pokemon were no different. Even though she was a divine Ponyta, Epona groaned under the backbreaking work she was forced to do, oftentimes being worked so hard she could barely stand."

Angry murmurs fill the room as Brock goes on "A year passed, and Hayate met Epona on the road to town. He was angry to learn how Epona had been mistreated, but the servant told Hayate that that was how the rich man had gotten so much money--working people and Pokemon to death. Hayate got an idea--he would ask to be hired as a servant. This way, he could keep his promise to Arceus."

He assures the antsy crowd "So Hayate was hired as a servant the next day with his family's blessings, and did every job under the sun without any rest or breaks. But no matter how tired he was, Hayate would find the time to care for Epona, and she soon regained much of her divine strength."

Brock pauses for a moment to let what he has told so far sink in, then continues "Fall turned to winter, and that winter there was a lot of snow. But when winter turned to spring, the snow did not melt! This angered the rich man, as this would mean a delay in planting the crops. By the time the snow did melt, the rich man worked his staff--and Epona--so hard, that Epona decided enough was enough--the rich man had no right to mistreat a god-Pokemon like a common Ponyta!"

Excited cheers go up in agreement. "So she sang to heaven..." Brock narrates before singing in an older female voice as Epona Gatrandis favel, secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

Applause goes up at the song's end. "As the song's last note echoed into the sky, Arceus appeared in all his glory before the rich man, and scolded him for treating his staff and Pokemon like tools--and especially abusing Epona, a divine Pokemon." Brock continues as himself. "He next healed Epona from her weariness, and she broke free from the harness, allowing all present to see her divine speed and power. Arceus then cursed the rich man to live a life of poverty, and to know the pain and weariness he had inflicted on so many others."

More applause goes up in approval of the rich man's judgement. "Hayate ran to Arceus' side, and begged his forgiveness for breaking his promise." Brock continues when the applause quiets. "Arceus just assured Hayate that he did not know of his parent's plans when he had made his promise, and by following Epona to the rich man's house, he had kept his promise. Epona told Hayate that even though it was time for her to return to heaven with Arceus, she would never forget him, and come down to visit him when she could. Hayate hugged Epona one last time, and built a shrine on the hill where they had enjoyed many a summer afternoon together."

He concludes "From that day forth, every year around the first day of spring, the people let their Ponytas rest for a week, declaring the week the Festival of Ponytas. To this day, we remember how Arceus rescued Epona from oppression, and tell stories of how she aided many heroes, including her first caretaker, Hayate. As part of the festivities, many people dress up their Ponytas, in honor of Epona's divine beauty."

"Oh"s and applause fills the air as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 350: The Rich Mightyena

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 269, story 1)

"In a certain village lived a poor man--he was poor enough that he couldn't even afford to buy a pot for cooking." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "So he would often go around the village and ask if he could borrow a pot or two. Most of the people didn't mind letting him borrow a pot, since he always brought them back clean the next day. But there were a few that wondered--just WHAT would a poor man be doing with so many pots?"

He smiles "So one man decided to find out."

Murmurs fill the air as Brock goes on "One day, he came to the poor man's house--and imagine his disgust when he found the poor man licking all the crumbs off the bottom of the pot like a Growlithe!"

"Ew"s waft down the rows. "Word of the man's discovery spread through the village like wildfire, and the next day, no one wanted to give the poor man any pots." Brock explains. "The poor man didn't know what else to do, and he feared he would starve to death."

He continues "So the next day, he went around the village telling people he was going away on a long journey, and this moved the townsfolk to give him small boxes of rice as a parting gift. However, the poor man had no idea where to go--he had no living relatives that he knew of, and the next town was some ways off."

The lights dim a little to mimic nighttime. "His cry of frustration attracted a Mightyena, who told him that Mightyenas didn't eat just any human--and he was too good and pure for a Mightyena to eat." Brock assures the crowd. "But when the poor man told the Mightyena of his hard life, the Mightyena gave him a sapphire with the power to reveal people for what they truly were--the good and the pure would still look like normal people, but those that were evil and deceptive would look like the Pokemon their heart resembled. The poor man thanked the Mightyena for the gift, and promised never to sell the sapphire to anyone."

He goes on "Piqued in the sapphire's power, he decided to try it on people he knew in the village. The village elder looked like an Emboar, because of how he hoarded the best food for himself and left the scraps for the poor. His servant looked like a Chimchar, because of how he played pranks on the other kids and made them cry. The elder's wife looked like a Gogoat, because of her unwillingness to change. Another worker looked like a Combusken, because he bragged often, and the list went on and on and on--it looked like every person in the village had some flaw or another."

Laughter fills the auditorium as Brock continues "Eventually, he came to the man who had revealed his secret. He looked like a Pikachu, because he had ratted out many other people's secrets. A lady looked like a Raikou because of her temper, and her children resembled a Buneary--because she was shy--and a Zigzagoon--because he tended to hoard things that had little use."

Brock then reveals the twist in his tale. "It was only when the poor man looked at himself through the sapphire, he saw that out of all the townsfolk, he was the only one good and pure!"

Cheers go up as Brock concludes "The village elder passed on a few days later, and everyone asked the the poor man be made elder. He gave up his bad habit of licking pots, since he was well fed every day, but always gave the poor a taste of the fine food, in remembrance of how he had once been like them. He ruled with a wisdom beyond his years, and everyone affectionately called him the Rich Mightyena, since he loved telling the story of the Mightyena's gift."

"Aw"s and cheers fill the air as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 351a: The Legend of Mirza, part 1

(real tale: Mirza)

"A king of a certain land, fearing that his brother would attempt to take over the throne, had him chained and suspended between heaven and earth." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "The king was old, and as his time was close, he called his three sons, and advised them not to leave the throne empty, lest their uncle take it over and put them to death. After giving the young princes some final advice, the old king closed his eyes for the last time."

Sniffles and sad whispers fill the air, never mind that the old king only existed in Brock's imagination. "Not long after this, the eldest son, who succeeded his father to the throne, went hunting." Brock breaks the silence some moments later. "The youngest brother, whose name was Mirza, remembered their father’s advice, and sat on the throne. In the evening the oldest brother--his name is not important--returned and began to scold Mirza..."

“What are you doing here? Are you planning to usurp my throne?” he scolds an imagined person in a mimic of Gary for the eldest brother.

“No, milord--I sat on the throne lest our uncle, finding it empty, take it for himself. But if it displeases you I will not do it again.” he assures the audience in a mimic of Ash for Mirza.

As himself, Brock continues "On the following day the king went hunting again, and the throne was left empty. Suddenly a loud jangling of chains was heard, and what the old king had feared the most came to pass--the uncle broke the chains that bound him, descended from the skies, and seated himself on the empty throne. He then ordered his men to put the three brothers to death, but his officials interceded and begged the king not to kill his nephews, but to banish them from the land. The king consented, and the three brothers were banished."

Gasps and "oh no"s waft down the rows of the theater as Brock continues "After a long journey, they came to a ruined mill just at the time when the sun was going down. The elder brothers dismounted to spend the night in the ruined mill, but Mirza implored them not to..."

“When our father died he told us that if the worst came to pass, and our uncle took the throne and banished us, we were not to take shelter in a ruined mill, nor camp on a green meadow, and especially not travel to the Black Mountain.” he warns as Mirza.

He intones as himself "But the elder brothers ignored him, and they prepared to rest in the mill for the night."

The lights dim to mimic nighttime. "After eating dinner, the two younger brothers went to bed, while the oldest kept watch." Brock explains from a spotlight. "Mirza only pretended to sleep, periodically looking see what his oldest brother was doing. After watching for a while the eldest brother withdrew and went to bed. By the snoring of his brothers, Mirza understood that they had fallen into a deep sleep."

Giggles go up at this. "Mirza rose, girded on his magic sword, Verita..."

"Oohs" fill the air as Brock gestures to a prop sword in its scabbard near his right leg. "and taking his bow Stellarossa..."

The whispers grow even more excited as Brock shows the crowd a familiar prop bow and a quiver filled with 30 prop arrows on his back. "...he took over the watch."

A shadow suddenly creeps onto the stage as Brock continues "In the middle of the night he saw, far off in the distance, the gleaming of a light which drew nearer and nearer, and soon, to his terror, he saw a horrible Hydreigon with nine heads, with each of them holding an enormous jewel that burned like a torch."

The shadow is revealed to be a large wooden cutout of such a Hydreigon, complete with targets hidden on the jewels in the heads, but the target Brock is supposed to hit is concealed behind a paper diamond which glows a little in the darkness. "It approached his brothers, and was about to devour them, when Mirza took aim and shot all nine heads with a single arrow."

With that, Brock readies a shot, aims for the glowing paper diamond on the wooden Hydreigon's first head, and fires, a reptilian cry of pain and the clatter of the paper jewels falling to the floor confirming he hit his mark.

Applause fills the air as Brock puts away his gear and gathers the paper jewels. "The monster stretched itself on the ground, hissing and wheezing in pain. Our hero drew Verita, cut the Hydreigon to pieces, and put the nine jewels in his pocket." he explains as he does this to the paper jewels. "He spent the rest of the night watching, and towards morning went to bed and pretended to sleep."

He smiles. "But Mirza's adventure was just beginning...I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 351b: The Legend of Mirza, part 2

(real tale: Mirza)

"The next morning, the three of them woke up and continued their journey." Brock picks up from where he left off the previous week as he arrives onstage with his prop weapons in tow. "They traveled until they came to a green meadow, where the two elder brothers dismounted and began to pitch their tents to spend the night, in spite of Mirza's reminders of the advice of their father to avoid the green meadow."

He smiles. "But just like the last time, Mirza was ignored, and all three pitched their tents on the green meadow. The middle brother kept watch until midnight, and then went to bed. Mirza, who was only pretending to sleep, got up, girded on Verita..." He shows the prop sword in its scabbard by his right leg. "and taking Stellarossa, took the second watch." He gestures to the prop bow and the quiver full of 30 prop arrows, to the excited chatter that wafts through the audience.

He braces himself, as if the monster he is about to describe is there. "Soon he saw something approaching the tents. As it drew nearer, he could see that it was a terrible giant, who reached from the sky above to the earth below. He took shelter in a nearby trench, and aimed an arrow at her, saying to himself 'If she does no harm to my brothers, I will not shoot her.'”

The audience listens intently as Brock goes on "The giant arrived, and was apparently surprised to find three tents, and three Ponytas, but only two humans. However, she--since it was a girl giant--concluded that the third human had likely been devoured by wild Pokemon. She then approached the two sleeping princes and put a ring of sleeping on their fingers, then carried them away."

Gasps fill the air at this, but Brock quickly assures them "Mirza followed her until she came to a large rock, which was the entrance to an underground cave. The rock rolled away on its own, and when she went inside, she called for her seven sons. Mirza stood at the cave’s entrance with Verita, and cut off the head of each giant as they came out one by one. Then he entered the cave, and taking hold of the mother giant, he said..."

“You demon! How dare you send your sons to devour my brothers!" he shouts at a hidden target offstage, as if the lady giant in his tale is there. "Arceus has judged your heart, and you too will share the fate of your children.”

After preparing his shot, he simply tells the audience "With that, he killed her too." before he fires, with a ting signaling that he hit the target.

Relieved applause goes up at this. "He returned to find his brothers fast asleep. He took the rings of sleeping off their fingers, and at dawn went to bed and pretended to sleep."

He tells his audience "But Mirza's adventures were not over yet...I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 351c: The Legend of Mirza, part 3

(real tale: Mirza)

"The next day they came to the Black Mountain, where the two elder brothers wished to camp." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "Mirza pleaded a third time to find another place, but was again ignored."

Giggles go up at this. "So they pitched their tents, and after having dinner, the two elder brothers went to bed. Mirza girded on Verita, took Stellarossa..." Brock refers to the prop sword and the prop bow at his side. "...and began his watch.

The lights dim a little to mimic night. "The first part of the night was uneventful." Brock assures the crowd from a spotlight. "About midnight he sat down to take a break, and as he had not slept on the two previous nights, he soon fell asleep. When he opened his eyes it was near dawn. He got up, and to his dismay he found the fire was out. It was a sign that he had slept and this would disgrace him. He could not start a new fire because the firestarters were with the elder brothers. He ran to the top of the neighboring hill, where he made his own fire."

Brock's spotlight brightens a little to mimic Mirza's fire. "Once he had made camp, he proceeded toward the gleaming light. On arriving, he saw that it came from a cave, with a fireplace over which there was a great cauldron. The meat of seven Tauros was cooking inside the cauldron, and forty giants lay sleeping around it."

Murmurs go up at this. "Our hero approached the fireplace, took the cauldron, set it down, carefully took some embers from underneath, put it back, and started back on his way." Brock explains. "He did not know that one of the giants was watching, and had seen what he had done."

"Ohh"s go up as Brock continues "As soon as Mirza disappeared, he woke his brothers and told them what the human had done. All forty were surprised, and trembled at this marvelous news in regard to a human being, who had displayed a strength surpassing the united force of the forty brothers. They decided to make that human hero their partner; so they ran after him, and proposed to him to be their friend. Our hero consented, and they adopted each other as brothers, exchanging promises to go to one another’s assistance if one should be in need. Mirza returned to the camp, and after starting the fire, lay down to take a morning nap."

He concludes "By that time his brothers had awakened, and they all mounted their Ponytas and went on their way until they came to the city of the King of the Black Mountain, and camped in a meadow outside the city."

He looks out on his enthralled audience. "What adventures awaited them there, you ask? I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 351d: The Legend of Mirza, part 4

(real tale: Mirza)

"In the middle of the night, as Mirza was keeping watch around the camp, he saw giants proceeding towards the royal palace." Brock begins as he arrives onstage with his prop weapons. "Upon getting a closer look, he saw that they were his adopted brothers each carrying a large iron nail as tall as a human."

“Hail, and well met!" he calls to an imagined person as Mirza.

“Well met! Come and help us tonight, and here are three gold Leppa Berries as a present for you." he replies in a low gentle voice for the giant. "The king has three daughters, whom we have tried to capture for seven years. We have prepared these three Leppa Berries as gifts, but we will give them to you if you help us. We have made these iron nails to use in climbing the walls.”

He interjects as himself "Mirza’s anger began to boil, but he carefully concealed his true feelings."

“Very well, this very night you will attain your desires, but you must follow my instructions exactly.” he warns as Mirza.

As himself again, Brock next describes Mirza's plan. "He walked in front, and the giants followed until they came to the foot of the palace wall. He took the iron nails, and thrusting them into the wall with his thumb, formed a row of steps, so he could ascend to the top of the wall. He then ordered the giants to mount, and as they went up one by one, he cut off their heads with Verita, throwing their bodies into a trench on the other side. After cutting out the jewels in the pendants they wore, he put them in his pocket, and arranged their heads in a row on the top of the wall. After that he jumped over and entered the palace."

Intrigued murmurs fill the air as Brock continues "In the king’s room he saw a gold candlestick burning at the head of the royal bed, and a silver candlestick burning at the foot. Mirza switched the candlesticks, and drank the syrup which was in the golden chalice near the king. As he was going out, he saw a Hydreigon coiled around the pillar ready to eat the king. He drew his dagger, Fede, and stabbed the Hydreigon, effectively nailing it to the pillar. Next he took the king’s dagger, Lucidare, from under his pillow and put it in his belt. Then he entered the bedroom of the three maidens--whose names are unimportant to us--drank the syrup in their chalices and placed a gold Leppa Berry on the pillow of each one, betrothing the eldest to his eldest brother, the middle one to his middle brother, and the youngest to himself. He also placed on the pillow of the youngest princess a necklace made of the nine jewels from the nine headed Hydreigon in the ruined mill. Then he came back to his tent, and at dawn went to bed."

The lights begin to brighten to mimic morning. "When morning came there was a great commotion among the people of the city." Brock goes on. "Informants ran to the king bearing the glad tidings that his forty foes had all been killed, and their bodies were lying in the trench and their heads were on top of the wall. The king, who by that time had discovered what had happened in his palace, was filled with amazement. His officials and subjects came to congratulate him. So the king sent out heralds to proclaim that the one who did all these wonderful things, whoever he or she was, was to come before him. Not only would they become the son or daughter-in-law of the king--and if the hero was male, also marrying the most beautiful of the three maidens, but the king would gladly bestow on them any gift they wished."

Excited murmurs go up from the audience. "Millions appeared before the king claiming to be the hero, but none of them could prove it." Brock explains. "No one was left in the city who did not make an appearance before their lord. Then the king bade his men call the strangers who were camping near the walls. Mirza did not go at first. His two brothers feared that they would be fined for trampling on the king’s ground, but as soon as they were told the reason why they were called, they began to boast that they had done the heroic deed, yet when they appeared, they too were turned away."

“Is there no one else left?”he asks in his standard "king" voice.

“No one, save for a boy lying in the tent of these strangers.” he replies in a younger version of himself for the official.

“Bring him here.”he requests as the king.

As himself, Brock continues "Mirza rose, and leaping on the back of his Ponyta, made his appearance before the king. He put before him the jewels of the forty giants and told the king how he slew them, how he switched the candlesticks, how he stabbed the Hydreigon, and betrothed the king’s daughters to his brothers and to himself. He gave Lucidare to the king, and drew Fede out from the pillar. The king jumped from his throne and kissed Mirza on the head.

“May Heaven bless you, worthy hero! You are my beloved son-in-law, and when I join Arceus in heaven, my throne is yours.” he joyfully cries in character as the king.

He goes on as himself "His brothers bowed down before Mirza, begged his forgiveness for all the times they had mistreated them and ignored him, and swore their loyalty to him. A grand wedding was planned. A few days before the wedding, the brides said to the bridegrooms..."

“We are not for you, such frail men as you are." he scolds in a "young woman" voice, to some chuckles from the crowd. "Do you think killing forty dwarfish giants a heroic act? Not so. We have our lover, upon whose breast roses and lilies grow. If you are men of valor, go fight the Roaring Giant, our lover; if you can overcome him we are yours, but not until you do so.”

He concludes as himself "On the following morning, Mirza advised his brothers to keep quiet and not reveal their secret, lest they should be the laughingstock of the people. He told the king that he had an important job to do, and would be gone for two months. The king understood, and gave his blessings."

He smiles at the excited audience. "What awaited Mirza on his quest? I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 351e: The Legend of Mirza, part 5

(real tale: Mirza)

"After a long journey, Mirza came to a castle made entirely of topaz." Brock begins as he arrives onstage with his prop weapons. "A maiden as beautiful as the morning light was sitting in the window sewing. Upon seeing our hero, she said to him..."

"Neither the Ekans nor the Fletchling could come here! How could you venture to come?” he gasps in a mimic of Serena for the princess.

“Your love brought me here, milady.” he replies as Mirza

“Here is food for you--eat, and go on your way. This castle belongs to the Thunder Giant. Leave this place before he comes, lest he devour you.” he pleads as the princess

“Who are you, fair maiden? Who has brought you here?” he asks as Mirza

“My name is Aurelia--my father is the king of the land of Fiammata." he explains as the princess. "We were three sisters, but the Thunder Giant, the Flame Giant, and the Frost Giant stole us and brought us into this lonely country. It has been seven years since I have seen a human being.”

He interjects as himself "Mirza asked if she knew where the Roaring Giant lived." before resuming the conversation between Mirza and Aurelia:

“You must pass the lands of the Flame Giant and the Frost Giant before you arrive,”

“Farewell, milady!”

“Farewell, brave hero!”

Applause goes up for Brock's vocal dexterity. "Mirza continued on his way." he continues as himself. "Towards evening he saw the Thunder Giant returning from hunting. He detected his presence by the human smell, and seeing Mirza, he exclaimed..."

“What luck! I have not tasted human flesh for a long time!” he sneers in a deeper version of himself for the giant.

“Hold! I will prove a hard nut for you to crack." he calls as Mirza. "My name is Mirza. I have so far slain forty-seven giants; and you are number forty-eight.”

The audience watches in awe as Brock fires a shot for effect, a ting signaling that he hit the offstage target. "His arrow passed through the giant’s heart, and nailed him to the ground. " he continues as himself. "Drawing Verita, he cut off his head, and thrusting it on his sword’s point took it to the topaz castle and called to Princess Aurelia..."

“Here is the head of the Thunder Giant, whom I have sacrificed to your love.” he tells an imagined person as Mirza as he presents a pantomime object to an imagined person.

He smiles. "To say Princess Aurelia was ecstatic is an understatement--she immediately opened the door of the castle, and said..."

“Enter, and may the Legendaries bless you, who came to deliver me from my oppressor!” he cries as Princess Aurelia.

As himself, Brock goes on "Our hero spent the night in the castle. Before he left the next morning, he put a topaz ring on Princess Aurelia's finger, and said..."

“Now you are my beloved. After fighting the other giants, I will come back for you." he assures an imagined person as Mirza.

He continues as himself "After bidding his beloved goodbye, he came to a sapphire castle with a beautiful maiden named Kiana sitting in the window, who gave him food and drink as her sister had done. Leaving her, he met the Frost Giant, and killing him as before, brought his head to Princess Kiana. He spent the night there, and on the following morning, he put a sapphire ring on Princess Kiana's finger, after she agreed to marry his middle brother. Another long journey brought him to a ruby castle. A maiden as beautiful as a dancing fire was sitting in the window sewing. She noticed him, and said..."

"For heaven’s sake, beware of the Flame Giant!” he gasps in a mimic of Misty for the princess

“I have come to battle with him, milady. I have already killed the Thunder Giant and the Frost Giant and freed your sisters.” he explains as Mirza.

“But the Flame Giant is a sorcerer, and when he is threatened, he changes himself into a volcano, and devours everyone who dares to get close.” he protests as the princess, to awed murmurs.

As himself, Brock intones "He had hardly left the lady, whose name was Rossi, when the Flame Giant appeared, brandishing his terrible flaming mace."

“Aha! A delicious morsel indeed is this which has come to me of its own choice.” he sneers as the Flame Giant.

“Let us fight, and see who shall be the morsel!" he retorts as Mirza, to laughter and excited cheers.

“How can you oppose me?” he snaps as the Flame Giant.

He interjects as himself "Saying this, he threw his mace at our hero, who grabbed it, and screamed..."

“I have killed forty-nine giants, your lightning and ice brothers included. Mirza is my name; do you think you will escape from my hand?” he proclaims as Mirza.

As himself, he narrates the battle. "When the giant heard that this was Mirza, the giant's bane, he was so frightened that he immediately transformed himself into a volcano. Mirza jumped on the volcano, drew Verita, and thrusting it into the smoking hole, began quickly to stir it until he found the giant's heart. Our hero then jumped down, and the volcano crumbled into ash."

Cheers go up at the Flame Giant's demise. "Mirza then went back to the ruby castle and called to Princess Rossi." Brock continues.

“Fair princess, I have sacrificed the Flame Giant to your love.” he smiles as Mirza.

He interjects as himself "Princess Rossi was beyond ecstatic with joy. She opened the door, and embracing Mirza’s feet, she said..."

“Hero, you have saved me; I owe you my life and all my being. Though I am unworthy to be your wife, please accept me as your handmaiden!” he pleads as Princess Rossi.

“No, milady, you are my love, you are a bride if you truly love me." he assures an imagined person as Mirza.

He narrates as himself "He put a ruby ring on her finger, and asked her where the Roaring Giant lived.

“Be advised, do not go, The Roaring Giant is a cruel tyrant; you will not come back alive; do not go." he pleads as Princess Rossi. "He is vulnerable only by his own bow Lunanera, and who can give it to you that you may shoot him? It is impossible. For the sake of the love you bear to me, do not go, or take me with you that I may die with you.”

“No, love, do not cry. I must go at any risk.” he explains as Mirza.

He concludes as himself "With that, he departed, with many sad farewells. But did Mirza triumph over the Roaring Giant, as he had so many others? I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 351f: The Legend of Mirza, part 6

(real tale: Mirza)

"After a long journey, he came to a magnificent castle decorated with gold and jewels--the castle of the Roaring Giant." Brock begins as he arrives with his props. "It was toward evening when our hero arrived. He disguised himself as a servant, sprinkled water around the palace, swept it clean, and hid behind the trees and bushes."

He intones "Soon a noise like thunder was heard, from the distant mountains--the Roaring Giant coming home from hunting. Every Pokemon of the forest hid in terror when they heard the giant coming. Mirza’s hair stood on end, and he realized just what a task he had undertaken.

He assured the jittery audience "The giant, seeing the courtyard around the palace swept and cleaned, was pleased, and thought to himself, 'This must be the work of a human; I must find it; it would be pleasant to have a human servant'.”

He then calls in a deeper version of himself for the giant “Where are you, human? Who are you? Come out from your hiding place. I will not hurt you, but give you what you desire.”

“My lord, I have lost my companions. Arceus was kind enough to guide me until I came to your door. Will you accept me as your servant?” he asks as Mirza, bowing before an imagined being.

As himself, he continues "The giant accepted him, and our hero served so diligently that the giant was greatly pleased, and held him in high esteem. One day the giant and our hero entered the garden. Roses, violets and other flowers of every color and perfume grew there luxuriously. Fletchlings, Oricorios, and all kinds of Pokemon of the forest were there. In the middle of the orchard a fountain gushed out its crystal waters, and formed a pond amid overhanging greenery. It was, for all intents and purposes, a paradise."

Awed chatter fills the auditorium as Brock instructs in character as the giant “Bring those flower pots and put them around this pond, Bring here all kinds of delicious foods, which you have prepared. Every day this week we shall have company, and we must prepare for them.”

He continues as himself "Our hero made the necessary preparations, assuming that the expected guests were no doubt the three sisters, the wives he and his brothers had planned to wed. Near the pond there was a tree on which the giant had hung his bow Lunanera, and its black fletched arrows."

“What are you doing?”he asks as the giant.

“I wish to take the cloth and clean them.” he replies as Mirza as he takes a black prop bow standing in for Lunanera.

He explains as himself "Mirza brought them to the giant, and after nocking Lunanera, he handed it over to our hero. Our hero took it and went back, as if to hang it up. He had hardly come to the tree, when he turned to the giant and took aim at his heart."

Gasps go up as Brock nocks a shot in the black bow and aims at an offstage target “I have come specifically to take your life--I am Mirza." he explains to an imagined being. "I have killed fifty giants; you are number fifty one.”

The audience watches as Brock fires his shot, applauding a little when they hear the ting signalling that he hit the target. "With a whistle the arrow flew, pierced the Roaring Giant through the heart, and nailed him to the ground." Brock continues as himself. "He uttered his last roar, and then lay dead as a doornail. Our hero hid himself behind a tree near the pond to see what would happen."

Murmurs waft through the audience as Brock continues "Soon three Pidoves came from the sky, and perched gently on the border of the pond. They dove into the water and transformed into three maidens. Our hero saw that they were his own wife and the wives of his brothers. He stayed quiet, and did not stir. The maidens, putting on the human dresses which they had brought with them, went to embrace the Roaring Giant, who they supposed was asleep. But seeing him nailed to the ground with an arrow through his heart and dead, they were horror-stricken. They ran back to the pond, and undressing themselves, leaped into the water. Just at that time, Mirza came up and stood on the brink of the pond.

“For shame! Did you see your lover? Did you enjoy the roses and the lilies growing on his breast?” he scolds as Mirza

As himself, Brock continues "They were horror-stricken and silent, hiding their faces with their hands. Mirza cut pieces from the skirts of their dresses, and let them go. They were turned into Pidoves, and flew away with drooping wings. Mirza entered the palace of the Roaring Giant, gathered all the riches and loaded them on forty Mudsdales. He then went and took the three princesses whom he had betrothed to himself and his brothers, in addition to the wealth of the Flame, Frost and Thunder giants. Then he returned to the city of the King of the Black Mountain."

He smiles as he looks out on the enthralled audience. "So how did Mirza make things right again? I will tell you the exciting conclusion next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 351g: The Legend of Mirza, part 7

(real tale: Mirza)

"The king, hearing that Mirza had come, bringing inestimable wealth, hurried to meet him at the city gate, with all his officials accompanying him." Brock begings the conclusion of his long tale as he arrives onstage. "As soon as they met, Mirza said to the king..."

“I cannot talk with you until you convene a meeting of all the noblemen and wise men of your realm to try your three daughters.” he explains as Mirza.

“What have they done to deserve being put on trial?” he asks as the king.

“They are false, and shameless; they must be tried and punished as a warning to the women of the realm. If you do not call a meeting as I have requested, I will leave you and go elsewhere.” he warns as Mirza.

He explains as himself "Now, the king loved Mirza as if he were one of his own, and could not part with him. So he gave the order and all the officials and wise men of his realm were summoned."

Intrigued murmurs waft through the auditorium as Brock goes on "The three maidens were brought before the court. Mirza told of his adventures, and placed before the court the pieces which he had cut from the dresses of the maidens. When they were put back in their respective places, they fit perfectly."

"Oh"s go up at this. "With everything being proved, the maidens could not deny it." Brock explains. "The court gave its decision, which the king approved. So the three daughters of the king were stripped of their titles and claims to the throne, and banished from the land, never to return again."

He concludes "Then the king adopted Rossi, Kiana, and Aurelia, the three princesses whom Mirza had brought with him. A wedding that lasted forty days in all was celebrated, and the three maidens were given in marriage to the three brothers."

"Aw"s fill the air as Brock looks out on the audience. "Mirza and his brothers went on many more adventures as royal knights--but that is another story for another day!"

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

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 352: The Straw Arbok

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 272, story 1)

"In a certain village lived a couple who loved each other very much. " Brock begins. "While the woman worked hard tending the rice field, the man was well known for being the laziest person in the village, since all he ever did was sleep. But the woman tolerated this anyway, as least reminding him to get some sunshine every so often."

Giggles go up at this. "One day, the man woke with a jump, and told the woman to get his things ready for a long journey." Brock continues. "The woman was understandably confused, so the man explained that the Fletchlings had told him that there was a mountain filled with gold somewhere in the world, and he was going to find it. Although the story was a little far-fetched, the woman saw her husband off early the next morning, and wished him luck on his adventure."

Brock walks around the stage for a moment to simulate the man traveling, speaking all the while. "Before long, the man had reached the mountains that border Kanto and Johto. Many caves dotted the mountains, as many other adventurers had come looking for treasure through the years. The man looked in every cave, but the last cave he looked in seemed to go on forever. Eventually, he stopped and made a camp, but he heard the wind echoing through the cave, and found it was coming from a small hole near some rocks. When he tried to look and see what was inside, the rocks gave way, sending him tumbling into another part of the cave."

He smiles. "When he came to some moments later, a yellow glint got his attention--he knew he had found the mountain of gold!"

Applause fills the room at this, but Brock is quick to caution "Yet for all his excitement and dreams of him and his wife living in prosperity for the rest of their days, it dawned on him that someone else could find the mountain too. So he covered the cave entrance with as much straw and as many old straw mats as he could find. Then he wove the straw into a huge Arbok, in hopes it would scare off any potential rivals. Try as he might to convince his wife to help him carry home the gold, she told him that if he had the will to find the mountain of gold, he could carry back enough for them both. She warned him not to be greedy as he departed the next day."

He grins. "Imagine the man's surprise when he saw that a real Arbok was waiting for him in the cave!"

The audience roars with laughter as Brock continues "He wondered how a real Arbok could've gotten in the cave for a moment or two, but eventually concluded that either by magic or divine will, the straw Arbok he had made had become a real Arbok!

More giggles waft down the rows. "No matter how many times he tried to go back in the cave, the Arbok would try to attack him, and he would run away." Brock deadpans. "Eventually, his cart was destroyed, and he realized that no amount of gold was worth a life. So he went back down the mountain emptyhanded. As he trudged home, he saw the gold rice stalks in his fields glittering in the morning sun like gold, and he realized that he had far better treasures all along--his wife's love, his spirit of adventure, and the lesson he had learned about hard work."

"Oh"s fill the air as Brock concludes "From that day on, he did his fair share of the work, and they both lived happily for a long time."

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

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 353: The Tanooki Field

(real tale: "Folktales from Japan" episode 275, story 1)

"Once a man--we'll call him Shiro--was on his way back home from town when what he believed to be his son, Haru, met him on the road." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "But Shiro didn't know that a tanooki had met him on the road, and it stole the Magikarp he was planning to have for dinner!"

Laughter goes up at this. "Back at home, the real Haru told his father he had been at home the whole time, and that his father had actually met a tanooki disguised as Haru on the road." Brock explains. "So the next morning, Shiro set a trap, and easily caught the tanooki. This particular tanooki had been causing trouble for the village for some time, so Shiro was excited enough to tell Kenta, his neighbor and best friend. Even Kenta's wife was excited, and dreamed about tanooki soup. Kenta, however, wasn't so sure--what if the tanooki had a family to look after?"

"Aw"s fill the auditorium as Brock continues "Kenta bought the tanooki from Shiro for a few coins. As soon as he had brought it home, he set it free on a mountain path, with a stern warning not to play any more tricks."

Intrigued murmurs waft down the rows as Brock goes on "Now, the land around Kenta's house was wild, but little by little, Kenta worked to cut down the dead trees, move the rocks somewhere else, pull the weeds, and other things to create a field. But one day, when he arrived to clear some more of the land, he found that half of it had been turned into a fine field seemingly overnight!"

"Wow"s and some applause goes up at this. "Kenta was intrigued at who could've cleared the land and planted a field so quickly, so that night, he decided to see who--or what--was tending the field." Brock continues before revealing the twist in his tale. "Imagine his surprise when he saw the tanooki from before with his two children, happily tending the field and singing a common festival song as a work song all the while..."

With that, he belts out HAa~ hanabi agareba~...

Do-n do-n pa-n pa-n, dondo pa-n pan! the audience echoes without being prompted. The enthusiastic call and response resounds through the theater with the same gusto as it did during the real summer festival:

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

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

Brock waits for the enthusiastic laughter and applause to calm down before continuing "Kenta concluded that the tanookis were tending his field as thanks for him saving their father's life a few days before, and silently thanked them as he returned to his house."

He concludes "Before long, the wild land was a fine field, and the tanookis dutifully tended it every day, no matter how hot or how cold it was. Because of this, there was always a grand harvest to be had every fall, and no one in the village ever went hungry. In time, it earned its nickname of Tanooki Field, which you can still see on the outskirts of Pewter City today. It is said that the field still yields plenty of rice and vegetables, but if you travel to the field on a spring or summer night and listen hard enough, you might hear the tanookis singing while they tend the field."

"Oh"s and applause fill the air as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 354: The Heart of Music

(real tale: The Good Man)

"Once upon a time, there lived a family with three children." Brock begins as he arrives onstage "The youngest child, a girl, was named Rina. She was forever working to prove how strong, brave and wise she was, following her brothers as they plowed the fields, milked the Miltanks, and herded the Mareep. Her brothers did tease her for not keeping up, but Rina was determined to show them what a grownup she was, and that a girl could do anything a boy could do."

Some light applause fills the auditorium as Brock starts towards stage left. "One day, her father called Rina to his side."

"We are going to go to town to sell our vegetables," he explains in a mimic of Flint for Rina's father. "Your brothers will be going with me, and I need you to stay here and help your mother care for the Pokemon and the garden."

"Of course! I will be the perfect lady of the house!" he smiles in a mimic of May for Rina.

As himself, he continues "For the first week, Rina was a perfect daughter. She milked the Miltanks, herded the Mareep, and helped her mother cook, to name a few things."

Intrigued murmurs fill the air as the audience watches Brock put on a different type of fingerpicks. "At the end of the week, Rina's mother gave her five coins to buy some vegetables for dinner. Rina had never been to town on her own before, and she had never been the one to hold the money. As she ran towards the town, she felt proud, strong and brave.

The lights brighten a little, as if mimicking the sun overhead. "When she arrived in town, it seemed brighter and shinier than she remembered. The booths looked bigger than usual, the food looked fresher, the people seemed to be smiling more broadly, and their clothes were more colorful. Everything smelled sweeter, and even the sounds seemed different."

"Oh"s fill the air as Brock retrieves an autoharp from stage right and gives the strings a gentle strum. "That's when Rina heard a sound she had never heard before." he smiles as the audience oohs and ahs over the instrument in his hands.

He continues adding soft chords for emphasis as he continues "It rose above the voices of the merchants selling their wares; it was louder and more resonant, more compelling. It had the ringing, clear quality of a harp, and yet it had the rich and full harmonies of a lute. Rina felt she had to dance to this melody. She walked towards one of the stalls selling vegetables, but she couldn't resist. That sound was luring her forward, and at long last she came to the source. A sea of people stood in the way, and she could not see what was making that sound, but all those people were clapping their hands and dancing, and Rina, too, began to dance."

The audience claps along as Brock decides to play the tune "The Forked Sawsbuck" along with the Firelights for effect.

"Rina pushed forward, trying to see what was making that sound." Brock explains as the crowd applauds his performance. "At long last, she wove way through the dancers, and she saw it: a young man in an elegant and colorful costume strumming the lively melody on an autoharp, or button-harp, as they were popularly called in the land where our tale takes place. She realized that this young man was a minstrel, wandering musicians and storytellers her brothers often told her about--and they often, but not always, played a button-harp.

He intones "Rina felt her hands begin to twitch. She had to play that button-harp, and she moved closer until the young man was smiling down at her, looking at the girl's twitching fingers."

"You want to try my button-harp?" he asks in a mimic of Ash for the minstrel as he gently strums a G chord.

"I do." he replies Rina.

"So the young minstrel laid down his instrument on a small table where Rina could reach the strings and the chord buttons, and stepped aside." Brock continues as himself. "Rina took her place before the strange thing with many strings and buttons, pressed one of the buttons, and hesitantly drew her fingers over the strings."

With that, Brock plays a soft D chord for effect. "The moment she heard that soft chord ring over the square, she felt her heart begin to soar, as if this was what she was meant to do. She quickly figured out that pressing different buttons created different sets of notes, and combining these different note sets created melodies. Overjoyed, Rina bravely attempted playing what few songs she knew well. All the people gathered closer still and danced, never mind that the melodies were dotted with lots of mistakes."

Giggles went up as the crowd imagined what the enthusiastic but mistake filled songs must have sounded like."Then a merchant selling instruments nearby asked Rina if she wanted her very own button-harp to practice on. Rina forgot all about the vegetables. She heard those five coins jingling in her pocket, and she nodded at the instrument merchant."

"I do, sir." he replies as Rina

"A beginner's button-harp is ten pieces of gold." he replies in a gentle older voice for the merchant.

He interjects as himself "A tear fell from Rina's eye as the minstrel took back his instrument."

"Forgive me, but I have only five." he sighs as Rina.

As himself, he continues. "Someone called out for her to let her have a button-harp of her own." Brock goes on. "Cries of agreement came from all over the square--many said Rina had real talent, and that she herself could be a master minstrel one day. Before long, everyone was offering coins to help Rina buy a button-harp of her own, and books of songs for her to learn."

He smiles. "And so, Rina became the proud owner of a button-harp, and never was there a happier young lady than Rina was in that moment. All thoughts of her errands and responsibilities floated away as she took her new instrument in her arms."

He prepares to play again. "After learning how to hold her instrument and strum properly, Rina began to play...."

The crowd claps along as Brock plays a set of jigs on his own autoharp for effect. "Once again, the people gathered around, and everyone began to follow Rina back home, dancing after her, cheering her on as she played." he continues when the last note fades away some minutes later. "Her song this time didn't have quite so many mistakes, but it was hard to tell where the mistakes were."

Giggles go up at this. "Suddenly, Rina froze in terror when she realized what she had done, and burst into tears." Brock intones. "Just then, one of the women in the crowd stepped forward, offering Rina some of the extra vegetables she had accidentally bought. A couple offered her some extra meat in exchange for her song. A boy offered Rina bread, and his sister offered cakes. Before long, Rina had more food than she knew what to do with!"

Applause goes up at this "From that day on, Rina was known as the young minstrel who brought joy to their village and pride to her family." Brock continues. "Her father told Rina that evening as he listened to her practice...

"You followed your kind heart and moved the hearts of the people with your song." he smiles as Rina's father. "That, my daughter, is the power of music."

He sets the autoharp aside as he concludes "Rina went on to become a great minstrel, and inspired many more people with her music and stories. But she never forgot the minstrel that had inspired her to play, and the people that had helped her thanks to her heart for music."

"Aw"s and applause fills the air as Brock acknowledges the Firelights, then takes a bow himself...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 355: The Beautifly Spirit

(real tale: Fearless Spirit)

"Once upon a time a young man named Hilo lived atop a volcano somewhere in Alola." Brock begins as he arrives onstage in a familiar palm-print Alolan shirt. "He was curious, always asking questions and learning new things. One day he decided to explore the rest of the island, and so he journeyed down from the peak. He walked for days and came to a village. The people welcomed the stranger from the peak and celebrated his visit with a big party--or luau. During the luau, Hilo met the chief's daughter, Kaili."

He smiles "Kaili and Hilo fell in love that very night."

"Aw"s fill the auditorium at this. "For many days they laughed and talked and sang together, and they promised to love each other forever." Brock continues. "One day Hilo said..."

"I must go to visit my family on the volcano. I want to tell them of my love for you, and to tell them about the village." he assures an imagined person in a mimic of Ash for Hilo.

As himself, he continues "Kaili pleaded for Hilo to stay, but Hilo promised he would return as soon as he could, and that day he began his climb back home."

He intones "As soon as Hilo was gone, Kaili became physically sick with grief. She did not believe Hilo would keep his promise, and life seemed to her not worth living. She grew feverish, and before long she could not leave her bed. Her family and friends stood at her bedside and tried all they could to heal her. Nothing they did could cure the fever, so Kaili grew weaker and weaker."

He assures the crowd "Hilo did in fact keep his promise. Weeks later he returned to Kaili's village. Sadly, by this time she was so sick, she did not recognize her lover. Like the chief and all the others, Hilo stayed at Kaili's bedside. He held her hand. He sang to her and told her stories, reminding her of their happy days together and of the joy they would have in the future."

The lights dim a little as Brock intones "But Kaili did not respond to Hilo's words. Soon afterward her spirit departed, making its way to the underworld."

Sniffles waft through the room as Brock continues "Stricken with grief, Hilo knew he had to find a way to be with her again, and so he went to speak with his mother. She knew all about the underworld, and he wished to know all he could about the place where his beloved's spirit had gone. She took him to the peak of the volcano, and they looked out at the wide, blue ocean.

"There, my son," he says as the mother, pointing out an imagined place at the back of the room. "There you see the great drop. Those who have died live below that spot. They must never return to this world, and we must not visit them."

He explains as himself "Then his mother told him the secrets she knew about the underworld. All the islanders knew about this land. They knew it was a world without sorrow and their loved ones lived in peace and joy. But they also knew that the spirits who guarded the gates would not allow anyone living to enter."

"I must go to Kaili and bring her back to the land of the living!"he vows as Hilo, to some cheers.

"That is a fool's quest--I know you are a curious young man who loves adventure, and that you love Kaili with all your heart, but I beg you not to try to break through the gates of the underworld." he pleads as Hilo's mother.

As himsel, he continues "Everyone feared Hilo's plan, but Hilo felt no fear. He was determined, and at last his friends, moved by his passion, agreed to help him in his quest. Together the young men and women of the village gathered the longest, thickest vines they could find. These they tied into a rope as strong as a thousand men."

"Wow"s fill the air at this. "Next, Hilo split a coconut and hollowed out each half." Brock explained. "These he placed in a pouch, and then he spread the oil all over his body. When he was finished, he smelled like those spirits who inhabited the underworld, as his mother had told him. As soon as everything was ready, Hilo and his friends set out for the great drop."

"When they reached the edge, Hilo's companions steadied the boat, and Hilo climbed down his rope, towards the underworld." Brock goes on. "When he saw the spirits who guarded the gates, he began to sway above them. When they smelled the coconut oil, they opened the gates, and the moment the gates were opened, Hilo slipped through. Suddenly the spirits realized that he was a living creature, and tried to send him away. But they were too late."

Some light applause goes up at this. "Kaili had seen her beloved. She ran toward him, and their hands touched. Hilo gripped her tightly and called to his companions to pull him up. Pull they did, but when Kaili saw the shadow of the boat, when she saw the heads of the young men and women, she tried to get away. She felt afraid once more. Still, Hilo held her tight."

"I cannot return to the land of the living!" he pleads in a mimic of May for Kaili.

"It's okay--don't be afraid." he assures an imagined person as Hilo.

"But Kaili was afraid, and so she transformed herself into a Beautifly and slipped from his grip." Brock continues, to gasps from the crowd. "Luckily, Hilo was ready for this sort of situation. He reached for his coconut shells and clapped the two halves around the Beautifly, trapping Kaili. This way, Hilo carried Kaili's spirit back to the land of the living. When they returned to her village, Hilo took the shell to the place where Kaili's body lay. With his tiny knife, he made a small cut in her body and placed the Beautifly spirit inside. A moment later Kaili woke up, good as new."

Relieved applause goes up as Brock concludes "The two embraced, and they lived together in joy and without fear."

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

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 356: How Jack Outwitted the Troll

(real tale: Ashlad and the Troll)

"Once upon a time there lived a woodsman who had three sons." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "The elder two sons were big and strong, but the youngest was a different sort altogether. He loved nothing more than to sit by the fire, reading and dreaming. His name was Jack, and the elder boys often teased him. They would often mockingly ask what the point of reading was, but Jack just smiled and paid no mind to them."

He continues "When the woodsman grew old and could not cut wood anymore, he called his eldest son to his side, and told him to go into the forest to cut wood. The eldest son agreed, and set out into the deep, dark forest."

He intones "Just as he raised his axe to start cutting a tree, a huge shadow loomed over him, and a deep growl of a voice warned..."

The audience shudders as Brock growls in his best "monster" voice "Chop my wood and I'll kill you."

As himself Brock continues "The eldest son turned, and saw a hideous troll standing over him. Terrified, he dropped his axe and bolted for home. When he arrived, dripping with sweat and out of breath, he told his father he could never go into the forest again, as well as what had happened. So the next day he sent his middle son into the woods, but he fared no better than his brother."

He smiled. "Now the father was distraught--who would chop the wood? Jack eagerly volunteered, but the others all laughed. But Jack did not care--he had read a great deal about trolls and had learned many different ways to outwit them, So he simply instructed his mother to pack him a big round of cheese in his bag, and then he merrily walked into the woods.

Excited whispers go up. "Now, just as Jack raised his ax, the troll came." Brock intones. "But Jack didn't run. He turned and stared at the troll, and then he reached into his bag, pulled out the big round of cheese, and then he squeezed with all his might until that round of cheese melted and dripped onto the ground."

He continues "The troll was stunned by what he thought was a boy squeezing a rock; he had never seen such strength in a human before. He offered to help Jack cut the wood, since he didn't want to be squeezed like that. so the two of them set to work, and they chopped down tree after tree until the sun began to set."

Intrigued murmurs go up at this. "As the sun sank beneath the trees, they began to pull the wagonload towards home. But the troll did not want to lose his pride, and so he invited Jack to his cave for dinner." Brock continues. "When they reached the troll's cave, they cooked up a huge pot of stew. But whenever the troll wasn't looking, Jack slipped a spoonful into another bag hidden beneath his shirt."

"Ooh"s go up as Brock continues. "This went on until the troll had eaten so much he could burst. But Jack was still going strong, and eventually, the troll really did burst!"

Laughter and applause goes up at this. "Jack found all of the troll's jewels and gold, and these he carried home, pleased to be able to help his family." Brock concludes. "He always knew that someday his reading and learning would pay off!"

More laughter and applause fills the air as Brock takes a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 357: How Dancing Saved the Day

(real tale: The Bonny Lass of Anglesy)

"Once upon a time in what is today Unova, a frightened king sat in his castle, guarding his treasure." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "He kept his treasure of gold and silver and jewels locked away in a box that opened only with a silver key. But the king was afraid, because 15 knights had descended from a nearby kingdom, coming to dance away the king's treasure and the king's land. They descended from miles around, and there sat the king in his castle high upon a hill.

"Saddle your horses, and ride out to find the Guardian of Song, Meloetta! There is no one anywhere who can dance like she can dance!" he pleads as the king to nervous giggles from the audience,

"And so the messengers set off, some riding north and some to the south, but those who rode to the east were the ones to spot her first." he explains as himself.

"Come dance for the king!" he pleads as a young man. "He has sent us to bring you to him, for the knights have come to dance away his lands."

"What will I receive if I'm victorious?" he deadpans in a mimic of Melody, to some laughter.

"The king had imagined she would ask this, so the messengers provided his answer--fifteen plows, a house and a mill, and a fine knight to marry too." he explains as himself. "Meloetta just glared at the men, but she agreed to follow the messengers back to the castle. There she shifted to Pirouette form, and began to dance. She danced so lightly, everyone stared in wonder."

The Firelights start a mysterious melody as Brock continues "She danced so elegantly, she was as light as a leaf upon the wild and windy sea. She was as buoyant as the clouds in the sky. She was as swift as the wind that sweeps across oceans and as strong as the trees, as lithe as the tallest stems. The 15 knights, seeing the tiny sprite Pokemon dancing, cried one and all, 'It's Meloetta, the melody Pokemon!'"

As the Firelights pick up into a faster tune, Brock continues over the music "One by one, she took the hand of each one of those knights. She invited them to dance with her, and so they did -- whirling, twirling, sweeping across the floor, out into the wild, breathless and tireless. The others danced with all the strength they could, but no one could compete with Meloetta, and one by one, those knights gave up, aching and sore."

He intones over the music "Meloetta danced on, till 10 o'clock at night. Then came the 15th knight, who stood and glowered at her. Watching the others fall to their knees, he had cried for them to be strong, but by now he was angry. He laid aside his sword and strode toward her.

"I'll dance you to the ground!" he challenges in an older version of himself as the knight.

As the tune picks up again, he continues as himself "And so he danced up, and he danced down. That 15th knight danced like no knight before him ever danced. 'My feet will be my death,' he vowed, 'before this Pokemon gains victory!'"

The music quiest for a moment for Brock to explain "It was 10 o'clock at night when they began their dance, and it lasted all through the night until 10 o'clock the next morning. Meloetta was strong as ever and just as proud, but the poor knight could not last, and he was forced to admit that Meloetta had won." The Firelights finish the song at this point.

Brock waits for the applause to quiet, then continues "For a moment the king was overjoyed as Meloetta danced toward him, and invited him to walk with her. And so they began, but before he had taken even a second step, she said...

"Dear king, 15 plows, a house, a mill and a knight? Come, that is no prize for victory such as this!" he protests as Meloetta before the Firelights strike up a second tune.

Brock smiles before narrating over the music "Again she began to dance until she'd won it all -- the king's treasure, too, and his lands. She took everything--all those silver buckles and those shining swords, that gold and money, all those jewels and all that land, and off she danced, back to the holy realm to give to those deserving of such treasures."

When the Firelights finish he concludes "And that, they say, is how the dance ended -- 15 knights swaggered down to dance and gain a victory, but 15 knights and one bold king were left behind, ragged and poor."

Laughter and applause fill the air as Brock and the Firelights take a bow...

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 358a: The Tale of Marianna, part 1

(real tale: Marianna)

"Once upon a time, in a land of magic far away from here, a wicked nobleman--who does not deserve to be named--rose up in rebellion against his rightful king." Brock begins as he arrives onstage, to gasps from the crowd. "Taking the royal army by surprise, the nobleman defeated them and took over the kingdom by force. The dethroned king, who had been severely wounded in battle, was thrown in the dungeon, where he soon succumbed to his wounds; but his widow, Queen Cecelia, managed to escape from the palace before the traitor could lay his hands on her."

Angry murmurs fill the air as Brock goes on "She ran into the dark forest which lay behind the palace, holding her baby daughter in her arms. It was in the deep of winter, and a heavy snow had hidden the paths and the roads. Before long Queen Cecelia realized that she was lost. All afternoon, however, she trudged bravely on through the silence and the cold, her heart sinking as mile after mile revealed no sign of a house or shelter."

He assures the jittery audience "But late in the afternoon, when Solgaleo's red shield could hardly be seen through the tangle of the wild wood, she spotted a light coming from a little grove of cedar trees by the shore of a frozen lake. Queen Cecelia made her way toward this light, and discovered a little thatched hut in the wood; it was the house of one of the dwarves of the forest, whose name was Brolin. Brolin felt sorry for Queen Cecelia, and did what he could to care for her. But despite his heroic effort, Queen Cecelia succumbed to her exhaustion without telling Brolin anything about herself or the child she carried."

Some sniffles fir the air out of respect for the fallen queen. "So Brolin, who was a good and kind person, brought the little girl up as if she were his own daughter." Brock assures his audience. "His brother Malin, who lived in the mountains, made her the prettiest red-leather shoes, and his cousins, who lived all through the forest, made the little girl dresses from cloth woven on fairy looms."

He next explains "Now, on the night her mother brought her to Brolin's house, the little girl was wearing a golden heart-shaped locket, with a crown and a diamond letter M on it. So Brolin called the little girl Marianna--the first human name that started with M he could think of."

"Oh"s fill the air as Brock continues "Seventeen years passed, and Marianna grew to be the loveliest lady in all the world. Her hair was as black as night, her eyes were as blue as the midsummer sea, and her skin was fair as the petal of a rose."

After pausing for a moment, Brock continues "One spring morning a little shiny Fletchling flew into the cedar grove, and gave Brolin a letter it held in its beak. Brolin read the letter over, then said to Marianna..."

“Marianna, Rivalion, the Emperor of the Elves, has bidden me come to the great assembly of guardians which is to be held next year on the Golden Mountain. I cannot take you with me, for it is forbidden on pain of death to bring mortals to the assembly, nor can I leave you here in this lonely wood.” he explains in a slight brogue for Brolin.

“Do not fear, dear father. Only give me the crystal flask of the Water of Life, and I will go forth into the world until it is time for you to return." he assures an imagined being in a mimic of Serena for Marianna. "Perhaps I may discover somebody who can tell me the meaning of this locket, or the history of my mother.”

As himself, Brock tells the audience "Brolin gave Marianna his blessings, and set out over hill and over dale to the Golden Mountain."

He looks out on the enthralled audience. "What adventures awaited Marianna on her journey, and what had become of her homeland? I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 358b: The Tale of Marianna, part 2

(real tale: Marianna)

"So Marianna took the crystal flask of the Water of Life, and walked boldly out of the wood into the wild world." Brock begins as he arrives onstage. "It was the middle of the spring, the ice and snow had disappeared; the trees were putting forth their leaves, and there were clusters of flowers by the roadside. In the swaying, rustling heart of a great elm tree, a little Fletchling sang."

The children in the audience are enthralled as Brock mimics a Fletchling song for effect. "Through cities and towns went lovely Marianna, bringing good cheer to the suffering and downtrodden, and curing all who came to her, rich and poor, with the wonderful Water of Life. But never did she find anyone who could tell her about the gold heart with the diamond crown."

Intrigued murmurs fill the theater as Brock continues "Now, as Marianna was walking through a village in the heart of the Adamant Mountains, a ragged old woman asked her to come to a tiny village which stood at the end of a dangerous path. Touched by the old woman’s pleas, Marianna followed her to the village, and found that in one of the tiny houses, on a ragged old bed, a beautiful young girl was nearly dying of a fever. So Marianna touched the girl--whose name was Lila--with the Water of Life, and in an moment she was healed."

“Dear lady, how sweet and kind you are! Great is the debt I owe you.” he smiles in a mimic of May for Lila.

He interjects as himself "And as Lila poured out her thanks, Marianna heard a faint chirping..."

Giggles fill the room as Brock mimics a common Fletchling call for effect. "...and looking down, spotted a shining Fletchling crouching on the hearthstone. Every now and then he hid his head under his wings and appeared to sigh."

He smiles. "It was only then that Marianna recognized it as the shining Fletchling which had brought the message from Rivalion, Emperor of the Elves."

"Oh"s fill the air at this. “Poor little Fletchling...why do you cry so? Who has done you harm?” Brock asks in character as Marianna, cradling an imagined being in his arms.

As himself, he sighs "But the Fletchling only gave a forlorn little cry, and hid his head again under his wings."

More giggles go up as Brock mimics this for effect. “I found him on the rocks at the mountaintop yesterday." he explains in a gentle female voice for the old woman. "Someone has wounded him. His wing is broken.”

He explains as himself "She put the Fletchling on the floor, and told Marianna to watch how he fluttered, trailing a wing in the dust. Again Marianna stooped, and picking up the Fletchling, touched the wounded wing with the Water of Life. Scarcely had she done so, when the shining Fletchling burst into a joyous and golden song..."

The children are enthralled as Brock mimics such a song for effect. "...and flying to the window, frantically banged the windowpanes. Then Lila opened the window, and the shining Fletchling flew out into the streaming sun."

“There he goes..." he sighs as Lila.

“No, he returns.”he interjects as Marianna, pointing out something offstage.

As himself, he continues "Sure enough, the shining Fletchling flew back and perched in Marianna's arms. Then, accompanied by Lila and the shining Fletchling, who flew singing before her, Marianna went down the dangerous path to the high road in the valley. When they reached the fork in the road, Lilia called..."

“Farewell, dear Marianna; may it some day be my honor to repay you!” he calls as Lila, waving goodbye at an imagined person offstage.

He concludes as himself. "What other adventures awaited Marianna? I will tell you more next week!"

 

[LightningTopaz]

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

Week 358c: The Tale of Marianna, part 3

(real tale: Marianna)

"Into the world again went Marianna, and with her went the shining Fletchling." Brock begins as he arrives on the stage. Before long, she came to the fairest land which she had ever seen, a land of green fields, rolling hills, and rivers bordered with pale willow trees. This pleasant land, unbeknownst to Marianna, was part of her father’s kingdom, and she was really its queen because her father had been the last rightful king."

Intrigued murmurs go up as Brock explains "Now, while Marianna had been in the forest, the wicked nobleman who had stolen the kingdom from Marianna’s father had died, leaving his brother Garabin in charge of the kingdom and of the interests of his son, Prince Brian. Garabin, however, taking advantage of the youth and naivete of his nephew, had himself assumed the role of king. For some time he had enjoyed the possession of his stolen throne; but as Brian grew taller and stronger every year, Garabin began to fear the day when he would be forced to abdicate the throne in favor of his nephew."

He intones "When Prince Brian reached his twentieth year, Garabin would have killed him in cold blood had he dared to do so; but, fearing the people, he resolved to use secret methods, and bribed an evil wizard to afflict Prince Brian with a deadly and mysterious disease."

"Boo"s go up at this. "Brian was slowly dying from this disease, for no medicine could cure him or even give him any relief from his constant pain." Brock continues setting the terrifying scene. "Every morning the cruel Garabin, in the hope of finding his nephew dead, would go to the prince's room; and you may be sure that his black heart rejoiced when he found the Prince Brian weaker and more feverish by the day."

He continues "Garabin had just returned from one such visit when the Captain of the Guard came to him with the news that the wonderful Marianna had arrived in the kingdom. The king gave orders that she be brought before him. So Marianna, walking between two spearmen and followed across the courtyard by crowds of curious people, was led before the king. The little shining Fletchling sat on Marianna’s shoulder, and never did the maiden appear lovelier or more gentle. Hardly had Garabin set eyes on Marianna, when he spotted the golden locket she wore. Had he not been very old and crafty, he would have fled from his ill gotten throne, for he knew that the little golden heart set with diamonds had been one of the crown jewels, and therefore Marianna was the missing princess, and rightful queen of the land."

He then reveals his villian's thoughts to the audience. "What was he to do? If he refused to let Marianna help the prince, the people might begin to suspect him, and rebel against him; if he allowed Marianna to cure the prince, Prince Brian would likely demand the kingdom when he reached his twenty-first year. And what was he to do with Marianna, whose right to the throne was superior even to his nephew’s?"

The audience gasps as Brock intones "Perplexed, and with fear in his heart, the king sought out the evil wizard who had cast the spell on Brian."

Fearful murmurs fill the room as Brock continues "The wizard lived in a gloomy tower, and had an enchanted Houndoom that he fed with flaming coals. He listened to Garabin’s story, stirring a great cauldron all the while, and said..."

“Fear not, milord--I will destroy both claimants to the throne in one shot." he explains in an older male voice for the wizard. "Tonight I will cast a spell of sleep on Marianna, steal the crystal flask, empty it of the Water of Life, and refill it with the Water of Longing, which will cause death within 24 hours. I will then replace the flask before Marianna wakes. You will allow Marianna to visit the prince; she will touch him with the deadly water, and the prince will die. You can then try Marianna for having killed the prince, and condemn her to die for murder.”

More boos fill the room as Brock goes on "So pleased was Garabin with this horrid plot, that he could have danced for joy."

He concludes "That very night, the wizard filled Marianna’s flask with the poisonous water, and departed, thinking that nobody had noticed him. The shining Fletchling, however, had seen the whole thing, and followed the wizard to note where he hid the real Water of Life."

The audience waits to hear what happens next, but Brock only tells them "Was the plot exposed in time? Who would rescue both Prince Brian and Marianna? I will tell you more next week!"