Ekans the Oracle

(as performed by Mare, the Singer in the Mist)

Once upon a time, a king woke with a jump from his sleep. He had just had the strangest dream, and because he did not understand its meaning, he sat up and worried for a while. Then he called his wise men to his chamber.

"I dreamed that a dead Fennekin was hanging by its tail above my bed," the king said. "Tell me what this means."

The wise men looked at the king, and at each other, and they shrugged, for not one of them knew the answer. They called on the scholars of the court, but the scholars did not know.

"I must find someone to tell me what my dream means," the king said. So he ordered every man, woman, child, and Pokemon in the kingdom to appear before him and listen to his dream. He demanded that someone in his kingdom--anyone at all--tell him the meaning of the Fennekin hanging over his bed.

On the third day a poor farmer from the mountains started his journey to the palace. To reach the city, the farmer had to walk on a steep, winding mountain path. As he trudged uphill, he came upon a Ekans in the road. He jumped in fright, for he had never seen such a fearsome-looking Pokemon before. Its tongue shot in and out of its slender mouth, and it hissed, "What do you want? Why are you walking on my road?"

The farmer nervously answered, telling the Ekans of the king's dream.

"I can tell you the meaning," the Ekans said, "but in return you must give me half of the reward the king gives you."

The farmer agreed.

"Tell the king," the Ekans said, "that the dead Fennekin is a sign of stealing and lying and cheating. There is too much of that in his kingdom, and he must put a stop to it or his kingdom will be destroyed."

The farmer thanked the Ekans and walked on to the palace. There he told the king all that the Ekans had told him. The king was so relieved to know the meaning of his dream, and so grateful to know what he must do, that he showered jewels and beautiful cloth upon the farmer.

When the farmer turned to travel home, he decided to take a longer route around the mountain. He didn't want to see the Ekans, for he wanted to keep all the gifts for himself.

A month later the king dreamed another dream. This time he saw a sword hanging over his bed. He sent for the farmer at once.

The farmer was terrified. He knew that only the Ekans would know the meaning of the king's dream, but he had betrayed the frightening creature. Still, he had no choice, and so he traveled to the same place on the mountain path. When he saw the Ekans, he bowed before him and said, "I come to ask you the meaning of the king's second dream. I would have given you half the reward, but the king gave me nothing."

The Ekans nodded his huge, shiny head. "A hanging sword is the sign of coming war," said the Ekans. "This time bring me half of your reward if the king gives you one."

The farmer thanked the Ekans and hurried to the palace.

The king was happy, for now he had time to gather his army, and when his enemies attacked, he was prepared. He quickly defeated them and returned the kingdom to safety. Again he showered the farmer with gifts, among them a magic sword. So the farmer climbed the mountain, and when he saw the Ekans he chased him, firing beams from the sword to frighten him. When he reached the Ekans, he cut off a tiny piece of his tail, just before the Ekans slithered away into the rocks to hide.

A month later the king had a third dream. This time a Mareep hung over his bed.

The king again sent for the farmer. The farmer knew he had no choice. He would have to beg forgiveness, for the Ekans knew the truth. He had seen the sword. He had felt its cut.

Again he bent down before the Ekans. "Can you ever forgive me? I cheated you. I lied to you. I chased you and tried to kill you."

"I forgive you for cutting my tail," said the Ekans. "Tell the king the Mareep is a sign of peace and joy."

When the king heard this news he rejoiced. He loaded the farmer with more gifts and money and jewels, and added a Ponyta so that the farmer could carry all of his fortune. The farmer was so filled with joy, he decided he would happily give half his gifts to the Ekans. And so he returned to the mountaintop and said: "I am so sorry. Here are half your gifts. I will go home and bring the rest for you, the things I stole from you. I lied to you. I cheated you."

The Ekans shook its shiny head. "No, it is not your fault that you lied and cheated and hurt me."

The farmer was amazed. What could this mean? And though he was surprised, he no longer felt afraid. Now when he looked at the Ekans, he saw a magnificent creature, one of strength and beauty. Everything seemed changed, but the farmer knew the Ekans had remained the same. It was his sight and his heart that had changed.

"When you came the first time," the Ekans said, "there was lying and stealing in the kingdom, and so you too lied and stole. When you came the second time, there was war, and you attacked me as an enemy would. But you come to me now when there is peace in the kingdom, and you bring your gifts to share. I need none of your jewels or coins, farmer. I want only peace and joy."

With that, the Ekans slithered away.

From that day on, the farmer was grateful to the Ekans for giving him such understanding.