literature

The Magic of Jewels

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"I have to ask you...how come magic jewels keep appearing in your stories?" Caroline asks Brock.

"Most of the time, it's for adaptation reasons--I've found some really strange ways of invoking magic in tales." Brock explains. "But sometimes, that's just how the magic is invoked to begin with. This next one--the first ever 'magic jewels' story I learned--is one of those 'it's invoked that way to begin with' stories."

With that, he begins "Once upon a time, there lived an old man who had only one son, whom he loved dearly; but they were very poor, and often had hardly enough to eat. Then the old man got very sick, and things grew worse than ever, so he called his son--we'll call him Allan--and said to him..."

"My dear boy, I have no more food left to give you, so you must go into the world and get it for yourself." he instructs as an older man. "It does not matter what work you do, but remember if you do it well and are faithful to your master, you will always have your reward."

As himself, he goes on "So Allan put a piece of rye bread in his bag, and strapping it on his back, took a stick in his hand, and set out to seek his fortune. For a long while he traveled on and on, and nobody seemed to want him; but one day he met an old man, and being a polite lad, he took off his hat and said..."

"Good morning!" he calls in his standard "young boy" voice.

"Good morning," he answers as the old man; "and where are you going?"

"I am wandering through the country in search of work," he replies as Allan.

"Then stay with me, for I can give you plenty,' he explains as the old man.

When the applause for the interplay dies down, Brock goes on as himself "His work did not seem hard, for he had only two Ponytas and a Miltank to look after, and though he had agreed to work for a year, it went by fast enough to seem like three days, so that it was not long before he received his wages. The old man gave him a ruby, and offered to hire him for another year; but Allan was homesick; and besides, a ruby, or any jewel, was a priceless treasure, so why had he received such a priceless treasure for simple chores? However, he did not say this to the old man, who had been kind to him, but just bade him farewell."

Piqued murmurs go up at the mention of a gem, but Ash just smiles--he knows better than anyone that if magic gems are involved in a story, Brock will be singing at least one gibberish spellsong. "The closer Allan got to his father's house, the more afraid he was of carrying it." Brock intones as he paces the floor in front of his chair. "What could one jewel do for him? Then, he remembered that jewels were often a means for magic, and in every bedtime story he had heard, the magic was invoked by a song. What song and what it did differed from story to story, and even teller to teller, but whatever it did, it was amazing. So he sat down on a rock and tried the most common song used in those bedtime stories of yore..."

With that, he sings Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

Applause goes up at the spellsong, but Brock continues "The ruby glowed, and in a flash of red, Ponytas and Tauros and Mareeps stepped out in such numbers that they seemed as if they would stretch around the world several times!"

Laughter fills the air as the group pictures Allan's reaction. "The sight gave Allan such a shock that he wrung his hands in dismay. What was he to do with all these Pokemon, and where was he going to put them? He stood and gazed in terror, and at this moment a mage named Eisenkopf came by."

"What is the matter, young man?" he asks in an older version of himself.

"Oh, my friend, there is plenty the matter," he sighs as Allan. "I have received a ruby as my wages, and when I sang to it this crowd of Pokemon came out, and I don't know what to do with them all!"

"Listen to me, my son," he intones as Eisenkopf. "If you will promise never to marry I will make them disappear."

As himself, he interjects "In his trouble Allan would have promised far harder things than this, so he gladly gave the promise Eisenkopf asked for; and at a whistle from the stranger..." He whistles for effect, startling Max. "the Pokemon all disappeared in a flash of red light. Then Allan put it in his pocket and went on to the house. No sooner had he got there did he sing to the ruby a second time, and out came the Ponytas, Mareeps, and Tauros again. Indeed Allan thought that there were even more of them than before. The old man could not believe his eyes when he saw the millions of Pokemon standing before him."

'How did you come by all these?' he gasps as the old man, to some laughter.

As himself, he continues "Allan told him the whole story, and of the promise he had given Eisenkopf. The next day some of the Tauros were driven to market and sold, and with the money the old man was able to buy some of the fields and gardens around his house, and in a few months had grown the richest and most prosperous man in the whole town. Everything seemed to turn to gold in his hands, until one day, when he and his son were sitting in the orchard watching their herds of Tauros grazing in the meadows, he suddenly said..."

"Allan, my boy, it is time that you were thinking of marrying." he intones as the old man.

"But, my dear father, I told you I can never marry, because of the promise I gave to Eisenkopf." he explains as Allan, over the whispers of "Oh no" and "Don't do it!" from Max, May, and Caroline.

"Oh, one promises here and promises there, but no one ever thinks of keeping such promises." he assures the crowd as the old man. "If Eisenkopf does not like your marrying, he will have to put up with it all the same! Besides, there stands in the stable a Shining Ponyta which is saddled night and day; and if Eisenkopf should show his face, you have only got to jump on her back and ride away, and nobody on earth can catch you. When all is safe you will come back again, and we shall live as happily as two fish in the sea."

As himself, he continues "And so it all happened. Allan met a pretty girl named Elena who was willing to take him for a husband, and the whole village came to the wedding. The music was at its most festive, and the dance at its merriest, when Eisenkopf peeked in at the window."

"Oh, ho, my brother! what is going on here?" he demands as Eisenkopf. "It has the air of being a wedding feast. Yet I fancied--was I mistaken?--that you had given me a promise that you never would marry."

As himself, he goes on "But Allan had not waited for the end of this speech. Scarcely had he seen Eisenkopf than he ran like the wind to the stable and flung himself on the Shiny Ponyta's back. In another moment he was way over the mountain, with Eisenkopf not far behind him. On they went through thick forests where the sun never shone, over rivers so wide that it took a whole day to sail across them, up hills whose sides were all of glass; on they went through many countries till Allan arrived at the house of a wise woman."

"Good day, miss," he smiles as Allan.

"Good day, my son," he replies in a mimic of an older girl, "and what are you doing here, so far away from home?"

"I am flying for my life, flying to the world which is beyond all worlds; for Eisenkopf is at my heels." he explains as Allan.

"Come in and rest then, and have some food, for I have a little Growlithe who will begin to howl when Eisenkopf is still seven miles off." he assures the crowd as the wise woman.

He interjects as himself "So Allan went in and warmed himself and ate and drank, till suddenly the Growlithe began to howl."

A Growlithe howl plays from a tape deck Brock has concealed, surprising May. "Allan rivaled the Legendary Beasts at how quickly he ran." Brock continues.

"Wait a moment," he interjects as the wise woman again. "Take this ruby and put it in your bag where you can get ahold of it easily."

He continues as himself. "Allan took it and put it into his bag, and waving his thanks for her kindness, he was off like the wind. Round and round he rode, through many countries, through forests still thicker, and rivers still wider, and mountains still more slippery than the others he had passed, till he reached a house where dwelt another wise woman, who gave him a sapphire when he fled. On he rode, through many countries, till he came to the house of a third wise woman, who welcomed him as the others had done. But when the Growlithe howled, and Allan sprang up to flee, she said, as she gave him the same gifts for his journey..."

As the wise woman, he explains "You have now a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald, for I know that my sisters have each given you a jewel. Listen to me, and do what I tell you. Ride seven days and nights straight on, and on the eighth morning you will see a great fire. Do not fear, no sooner will you approach it will part in two. Then ride into the opening, and when you are in the middle of the opening, throw the gems to the sky, and they will tell you the songs of power you must sing to evoke them."

as himself, he continues "Allan thanked her for her counsel, and was careful to do everything the woman had told him. On the eighth morning he reached a fire so large that he could see nothing else on either side, but as he approached, it parted, and stood on each side like a wall. As he rode through the opening, he threw the gems to the sky. As the gems came down, they sang their spellsong, which summoned one of the Legendary Beasts. Entei would be called if he sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... to the ruby, Suicune would be called if he sang Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... to the sapphire, and and Raikou would be called if he sang Karuto, iichiida shou... to the emerald. Then he spotted Eisenkopf at the edge of the fire, but the opening had closed up behind Allan, and he could not get through."

"Stop, you promise-breaker," he yells as Eisenkopf; "you have slipped through my hands once, but just you wait till I catch you again!"

Shudders ripple through the room, but Brock assures his audience as himself. "When Allan knew that he was safe, he rode on slowly till he came to a small white house. Here he entered and found himself in a room where a gray-haired woman was spinning and a beautiful girl was sitting in the window combing her jet black hair."

"What brings you here, my son?" he asks as the old woman.

"I am seeking for a place, mother," he explains as Allan.

"Stay with me, then, for I need a servant," he replies as the old woman.

Applause goes up for the interplay as Brock continues as himself "After that Allan's life was a very happy one. He sowed and plowed all day, except when he took the Beasts and went to hunt. And whatever game he brought back, the girl--who was named Liana--knew how to cook it. One day the old woman had gone into town to buy some flour, and Allan and Liana were left to watch the house. They got to talking, and she asked him where he was from, and how he had managed to come through the fire. Allan told her everything that had happened. Liana listened attentively and wondered if what he said was true. So after Allan had gone out to the fields, she took some jewels of her own, and then hurried as fast as she could to the fire by a secret path."

Nervous giggles fill the air as Brock intones "No sooner did her jewels go skyward did the flames divide, and Eisenkopf, who had been watching and hoping for a chance of this kind, ran down the opening and stood before her. At this Liana was almost scared to death, but with a great effort she recovered herself and ran home as fast as she could go, closely pursued by Eisenkopf. Panting for breath she rushed into the house and fell on the floor, exhausted; but Eisenkopf entered behind her, and hid himself in the kitchen under the hearth. Not long after, Allan came in, and he gasped in horror when he saw the form of Liana lying on the floor, as white as a Gastly. He lifted her up and carried her to her bed, where she soon woke up, but she did not tell Allan about Eisenkopf."

Once back in his chair, he continues "The next morning Allan turned the Beasts loose on a plain and went out into the forest alone. Eisenkopf followed so closely at his heels that Allan had barely time to clamber up a tall tree, where Eisenkopf could not reach him."

"Come down at once, you gallows bird," he cries as Eisenkopf. "Have you forgotten your promise that you never would marry?"

"Oh, I know my time is close," he answers as Allan, "but let me sing my Swanna song."

"You can sing a hundred verses if you like," he retorts as Eisenkopf, "for now I have got you in my power, and you shall pay for what you have done."

He continues as himself "Allan just sang Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul..., making the ruby glow. Entei heard the call, and raced off towards the forest, but even though all three Beasts were quick, it would take them some time to get to Allan. Fearing that Entei would be too late to save him, Allan sang Rou iitsa ron selga viichii..., making the sapphire glow. Suicune heard the call, and bounded off, making sure to follow Entei's route. Allan sat trembling on the tree worrying and hoping that Entei and Suicune were on their way, at least. He had one jewel left, so he heaved a deep sigh and sang Karuto, iichiida shou..., making the emerald glow. Raikou heard the call, and hurried off in the direction of the song. When they had reached the foot of the tree--and all at the same time--Allan said..."

He points at an imagined person in the hallway and commands as Allan "At him!"

He adds as himself "...and Eisenkopf was consumed in the fury of fire, ice, and lightning."

Wild applause goes up at this. "As soon as his foe had fallen, Allan got down and returned to the house, where he bade farewell to the old woman and Liana, who gave him a beautiful diamond ring." Brock continues. "Unbeknownst to Allan and Liana, it was really a magic ring."

Intrigued whispers fill the air as Brock continues "Allan's heart was heavy as he set out for home. He no longer loved the wife whom he had left at his wedding feast, and his heart went out to Liana. However, it was no use thinking of that, so he rode forward steadily. The fire had to be passed through before he had gone very far, and when he came to it, Alan threw the gems to the sky and a passage opened for trim. But then a curious thing happened; the three Beasts, who had followed at his heels all the way, returned to the gems like they were Poke Balls, and the gems flew home to their rightful masters. When he got home, Allan asked..."

"Where is my wife?' he asks as Allan.

"Oh, my dear son, why did you ever leave us?" he asks in his standard townsfolk voice. "After you had vanished, no one knew where, your poor wife grew more and more saddened, and would neither eat nor drink. Little by little she faded away, and a month ago we laid her in her grave, when she joined Arceus in the heavens."

As himself, he continues "At this news Allan began to cry, for he had loved his wife before he went away and had seen Liana. He went sorrowfully about his work for half a year, when, one night, he dreamed that he sang to the diamond, and Liana appeared to him. When he woke up, he sang to the diamond Furiya, shuru shamato...

Applause goes up at the new "spellsong" in B minor. "and sure enough, Liana was standing before him." Brock smiles. "He ran and kissed her, and said...."

"Now you are mine forever and ever, and no power in heaven or on earth can tear us apart!" he joyfully cries as Allan.

He concludes as himself "And so it was that they both lived happily for many years."
3 more days to OR/AS!

Brock tales everyone the first "magic jewel" story he ever learned...

(real tale: www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlan…
© 2014 - 2024 LightningTopaz
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