The Giant of the Black Mountain

"Once upon a time there was a hunter who had a son named Brian." Brock begins. "When Brian was still a little boy the hunter said to his wife..."

In character as Flint, he instructs Misty "My dear, our child will no doubt grow up to be a hunter as I am, and if I should die before that time comes, I want you to tell him that he must not go to the Black Mountains to hunt; for evil befalls whoever goes there."

As himself, he continues "Some months passed, and the hunter died of a horrible disease. In time Brian grew up and became a hunter as his father did before him. Then his mother said..."

"My son, your father told me to warn you not to go to the Black Mountains to hunt." Misty warns Ash as the mother.

"But Brian saw no good reason why he could not hunt there, and one day he took his bow and arrows, mounted his faithful Ponyta, and rode to the Black Mountains." Brock narrates as he plays a "galloping" melody on the harp. "Before long, he was among the lofty forests, and he saw that they were perfectly peaceful and free from danger."

"What could my father have meant by his warning?" Ash muses.

"...and he kept riding on until suddenly a huge giant appeared before him." Brock intones as he plays an ominous chord.

"You there!" he intones as the giant, " How dare you come and hunt on my ground?"

As himself, he goes on "...and he picked up three great rocks and hurled them at the intruder..." Ash quickly dodges three rocks from a wooden giant with a target hidden on its body. "but Brian managed to dodge them, and nocking an arrow to his bow he shot the giant and killed him."

The audience holds their breath as Ash takes a prop bow he is carrying on his back, carefully nocks an arrow, and after a few tense seconds, fires. The arrow hits the target on the wooden giant,  making it sink below the stage to symbolize its "death. " I understand my father's warning now," Ash muses as he slings the bow back on his back. "but as this fiend, is no longer to be feared I will seek out his lair and see what treasure it contains."

"So he went farther into the mountains and came to a magnificent castle." Brock narrates. "When he approached the entrance, a beautiful maiden appeared at a window." As if on cue, Serena appears in the wings at stage left.

"Whose castle is this, milady?" Ash asks Serena.

"Its owner is a great giant who will soon come and tear you to pieces," Serena replies. "But what compels you to venture among these terrible mountains?"

"The giant is dead," Ash assures Serena. "I have killed him." He gestures to the bow and quiver of prop arrows he is carrying to prove his point.

The look on Serena's face turns joyful. "I have been his prisoner for many years, and you are my hero! Wait there, and I will come and let you in."

"She soon had the gates open and welcomed Brian, and after he had led his Ponyta to the stables the beautiful maiden, whose name was Haley, led Brian into the palace." Brock explains as Serena leads Ash to the other end of the stage. "She told him she was the daughter of a king, and that the giant had captured her and that she had almost given up hope of being rescued. They talked together for a long time, and before long, they had fallen in love, and married some time later."

"Aw"s go up as Brock weaves the first few notes of "Here Comes the Bride" into his song. "However...he intones as his song shifts to a minor key. "There was an old witch who had a hut in a wild glen not far from the castle, and when she learned that the giant was dead,  she vowed to avenge her friend the giant, and started plotting ways to dispose of Brian."

Fearful murmurs fill the air as Misty steps in the scene, now as the witch. "So one day, the witch went to the palace and asked to be hired as a servant, and work was given to her in the kitchen." Brock narrates.  "It did not take her long to discover how fond Brian was of Princess Haley, and on her third day at the palace she managed to spike Princess Haley's dinner with poison."

Gasps go up as Serena collapses to the ground in feigned sickness. "No sooner was this accomplished did the witch tell Brian..." Brock continues.

"I fear your princess will die."  Misty announces to Ash as she watches Serena writhe in feigned pain.

"Oh no!" Ash gasps as Brian. "She must not die. We must make her well again."

"But there is only one thing can cure her," Misty reminds him, "and that is the Water of Life."

"Then I will get the Water of Life!" Ash announces before dashing offstage.

"So he traveled all day, and that evening he came to the house of a wise woman, who gave him lodging for the night." Brock narrates as Calli meets Ash onstage. "He told the the wise woman the quest he was on, and the wise woman said..." "

"My son, you have been deceived. The expedition is a fatal one. Do not go." Calli warns Ash.

"I will not turn back!" Ash protests.

"Well," Calli muses as she gives Ash a prop ruby, a prop sapphire, and a prop emerald. "if you must go, I will give you three magic jewels to protect you. Here is a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald. The Water of Life is guarded by a horde of fifty giants, and if they pursue  you, invoke their powers as needed."

"After the wise woman taught him the mystical songs needed to invoke the jewels, Brian took the jewels and went on his way." Brock narrates. "Finally, he came to the garden of the fifty giants. He succeeded in getting inside without being seen, and there he found the Water of Life."

Ash quickly grabs a prop vial of water. "He wasted no time in starting on his return journey, but in climbing through the garden hedge some twigs snapped, and that woke up the giants." Brock narrates  as a sound of a twig snapping plays to illustrate his point. "They looked around the garden to learn what had caused the noise, and soon discovered that the Water of Life was gone. "It wasn't long before they were chasing Brian."

Ash dashes onstage, as if something is chasing him. "When he saw that they were getting close, he invoked the sapphire first." Brock narrates.

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Ash sings, making the sapphire glow.

"In a flash of blue light, the sapphire conjured a great lake." Brock narrates.  "While the giants were crossing the lake, he ran as far ahead as he could. But before long, he saw them coming again. Then he invoked the emerald..."

Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... Ash sings, making the emerald glow.

"...and in a flash of green light, the emerald conjured a thick jungle, through which the giants had great difficulty in forcing their way. Brock narrates. "This bought Brian some more time, but the giants eventually came out of the jungle and were on his trail once again. As soon as he saw them he invoked the ruby..."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash sings, making the ruby glow.

"...and in a flash of red light, the ruby conjured a wall of fire around the giants." Brock narrates. "This allowed him to escape and return safely to the palace."

"Aw"s go up as Ash and Serena hug. "Princess Haley had recovered while he was away, and so did not need the Water of Life" Brock concludes. "Brian decided to lock it up for safekeeping. They figured out the witch's deception, and chased her away, where she was never seen again."

The crowd roars as the group bows...