The Legend of Dame Robin

Ash smiles as he meets Calli backstage at the conclusion of the musical interlude."You're doing great so far."

"Thanks." Calli replies. "Playing the heroine was fun...can I play the heroine in the next story?"

"What IS the next story, anyway?" Serena wonders. When Brock whispers it to her she smiles. "Calli would be perfect for that one!" With that, everyone rushes into position.

The lights flash the five minute warning before coming up on Brock in his nook. "Once upon a time, in a great kingdom, a grand tournament was being held in honor of the king's birthday. "But among all the spectators that flocked from far and near to watch the competitions, the princess, who was named Robin, longed to be one of the competitors jousting, shooting arrows and slinging spells, to name a few of the competitions."

He then plays a sad chord. "Her father, meanwhile, felt that jousting, archery, and magic were not proper things for a lady to learn, and so sent Robin out to spread the word about the tournament."

Calli walks onstage, where she spots a Pikachu puppet, operated by Ash, and a Squirtle puppet, operated by Misty, romping about. "As Princess Robin walked along the road, she spotted a Pikachu and a Squirtle playing in the grass. " Brock narrates.

"Well, hello." Calli grins as she stoops down to the puppets' eye level. "Do you want to come watch the grand tournament?"

"You won't chase us away?" Misty's Squirtle asks.

"Why would anyone chase two Pokemon away?" Calli wonders.

"We were not always like this." Ash's Pikachu explains. "We were once two great mages, but an evil wizard cursed us to these Pokemon forms, and people have chased us away from their towns and homes."

"But we won't chase you--you'll be my honored guests." Calli assures the puppets as the lights go down.

"And so, Princess Robin took the Pikachu and Squirtle to the royal city." Brock narrates. "Many were awed and bewildered by the two Pokemon that spoke, but they dared not laugh. But when they came to the royal court, the lords and ladies couldn't help but laugh. This annoyed the two mage-Pokemon so much, they decided to turn any in the royal court that had laughed to Pokemon just so they would learn what it was like to be treated as a Pokemon."

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash sings in character from offstage.

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Misty sings in character from offstage.

The audience gasps when they see Calli surrounded by Pokemon dolls. "Is there any way to get the court back to normal?" she asks the two puppets.

"The only way is to retrieve the Miracle Ring from the castle of the ogre of the north mountain." Misty's Squirtle explains.

"That, and it is a long journey to get there." Ash's Pikachu adds.

"I don't care--I'd do anything to save my friends." Calli vows as the lights go down.

"And so, Princess Robin took her father's sword, and set out early the next morning for the north mountain." Brock narrates over a tense melody. "They traveled over rolling plains, green valleys, and deep forests, and before long, reached the castle. "It was a hard enough task climbing the million and one stairs to the castle proper, but it didn't help that the ogre was waiting for them!"

"Haaaaaah!!!" Calli rushes to engage a bag of wet sand standing in for the ogre as the harp plays a battle melody.

After Calli and the puppets "fight" for a while, a SPLAT!!!! signals Calli's victory. "Princess Robin emerged victorious with the ring, and restored the royal court and others that had laughed to their normal sizes." Brock concludes. "the king was so grateful to be normal sized, he made Princess Robin the first female knight in the kingdom, making her Dame Robin, He also made the two mage Pokemon chambers of their own, where they could relax when not on adventures."

Then a thought occurs to him. "Dame Robin and the Pokemon went on many more adventures, but that is another story for another day!"

The crowd roars as the group bows...