An Encounter with Gyarados

Tale 214: An Encounter with Gyarados (Misty)

"Long ago, during a time of peace in a far away land, many explorers journeyed in search of treasures." Misty begins. "Ship captains and sailors returned to their homeland with spices and jewels for the king. They brought stories, too, for the king loved stories of the world beyond his realm and the lessons they taught."

Ash smiles as Misty continues "So one day, a sailor came before the king and told him his tale..."

"Nice, a story in a story...." Brock grins.

"'I sailed from home on a great ship', he said. 'A hundred sailors rowed our ship. Each one was strong and brave, and we rowed for many days. We sailed across the eastern sea, and into the ocean beyond. All was well when suddenly a great storm blew up. The wind thrashed our ship, whipping us toward land, and waves broke over us. Terrified, I grabbed a piece of wood and threw it overboard, and then I threw myself over as well and held onto the wood for dear life. I prayed, and then watched in horror as our ship crashed upon the shore. Tears filled my eyes, but I had no time to mourn, for at that moment another wave rose up and cast me and my plank on the shore.'"

Melody brushes away a tear, "The poor sailor..."

"There I lay upon the sand, panting for breath." Misty continues as the sailor. "With the little strength I had left, I crawled to a grove of trees for shelter, and there I lay, watching the sky turning purple, listening to the howling wind.

The storm raged for two days, but eventually the sun broke through a blanket of clouds. I thanked the Legendaries who saved me. And then, for the first time, I looked around and I saw that I was all alone in a land of plenty. Figy Berries and Grepa Berries grew from the vines and trees, and the ground was thick with herbs and other kinds of berries. When I walked deeper into the thicket I found gardens dense with fruit, and when I walked back to the sea I saw more fish than it is possible to imagine."

"Wow..." Ash gasps as he pictures the island in his mind.

"I was beginning to feel at peace when suddenly I heard a roar like thunder." Misty intones as the sailor. "I threw myself behind the bushes, certain that a tsunami was about to sweep me out to sea again. The trees bent low to the ground. The sky turned dark. The earth trembled.

But then the sound stopped, and again I felt the sun on my shoulders. I opened my eyes and saw an enormous serpent Pokemon with gold whiskers and a body covered with sapphire scales. He was crawling toward me.

The serpent Pokemon slithered closer, reared his head high, and in a grumbling voice asked..."

"What has brought you here, little man?" Brock jumps in the role of the Gyarados.

"The serpent Pokemon reached down and picked me up in his jaws, careful not to harm me." Misty narrates as the sailor. "He carried me to the beach and lay me down before him."

"Speak quickly now," Brock demands as the Gyarados.

I told him I had sailed for a great king." Misty continues as the sailor. "I told him of our ship lost in the storm, and when I had finished, he nodded. He told me Arceus had sent me to this island of the blessed, for that is what he called his island. And then he told me of my future. He said I would remain on his island until four months had passed, and after that a ship would come and carry me to safety. He told me I would die in my own city, that I would rest in the tomb I had prepared.

And now I tell you the most wondrous part of this adventure. The serpent Pokemon brought before me his family, 75 of them in all. Gyarados, they were called? Only one stranger before me had ever come to them, a girl who appeared on the island one day in a cloud of fire. But she showed no kindness to the Gyarados and had no patience. He told me I must have patience and kindness, and that I would be rewarded. The girl without patience had thrown herself into the sea, for she did not trust the Gyarados' word. No one ever saw her again.

I bowed to him, and promised that if all came to pass as he predicted, I would bring his tale to the king and speak of his greatness, and I told him I would send a ship to him filled with the riches of my homeland. He laughed. 'We have all the riches we need here,' he said, and from that day on, he and his family showered me all manner of kindness. I waited patiently and trusted the Gyarados' word, for I knew he spoke with the blessings of Arceus.

Four months after I arrived, a ship appeared on the horizon. I climbed into a tree to see who sailed, and I saw men of this land. I waved farewell to the Gyarados and again promised him riches."

"Return in safety to your home..." Brock fills in the Gyarados' dialogue.

"...was all he said, and he gave me precious gifts of perfume and incense, gold and gems." Misty finishes the sentence in character. "When I climbed aboard the ship, the island seemed to float away from us. Night fell, and when the moon rose, the island was gone, as if it had never existed.

We sailed north toward home for many weeks. Now I have come to you, Your Highness , for I wish to offer you the gifts of the Gyarados. And I want to tell you that the Great Lord Arceus watches over us all."

She concludes "When the sailor finished his tale, the king was so moved that he ordered his chief scribe to write it down for all to read. This is how the story of the shipwrecked sailor and the Gyarados has lasted to this day, though no one has since seen the island."