The Shining Mareep

"There was once a poor man who had a son--we'll call him William, or Will, for short--and as Will grew up, his father sent him out to look for work." Brock begins. "So Will traveled around looking for a place to work, and eventually met with a man who offered to hire him as a shepherd. The next day, his master gave him a flute..."  Ash digs out a whistle at this. "...and sent him out with the Mareep to see whether he was fit for the job."

"Let me guess--William is a counterpart of Jack?" Serena grins.

"Actually, William didn't laze around all day, unlike many lazy people." Brock assures Serena. "He drove his Mareep from place to place, and played his flute all day."

Ash decides to play a few reels for effect. "Now, among the Mareep there was one female Mareep that had shining wool, and whenever Will played his flute, always danced along." Brock explains. "Will became very fond of this Mareep, and decided not to ask any wages of his master, but only this Mareep in return, which he named Rosa in honor of its shining pink wool."

"Nice name..." Misty smiles.

"In the evening he returned home, where his master waited at the gate." Brock goes on. "When he saw the Mareep all there, fed, and watered, he was very pleased, and began negotiating with Will, who said he wanted nothing more than his beloved Rosa, the Mareep with the shining wool."

"So did Will get to keep Rosa?" Misty asks.

"Well, the farmer was very fond of this Mareep himself, and it was with great reluctance he promised it: but he gave in when he saw what a good servant Will was." Brock replies. "The year flew by; and Will received Rosa for his wages, and set off for home with her. As they journeyed, night fell just as the two of them reached a village, so Will went to a farmhouse to ask for lodging for the night."

He then intones "There was a daughter in the house--we'll call her Bianca--who when she saw the shining Mareep, decided to steal it. So about midnight she woke up, and the moment she touched Rosa, she stuck like glue to its fleece, so that when the Will got up, he found her stuck to Rosa. He could not separate them, and he could not leave Rosa behind, so he took them both."

The girls laugh at the comical scene. "As he passed another house, he took out his flute and began to play." Brock continues as he takes his guitar.

With that, the boys launch into another set. "Rosa began to dance, and Bianca along with her." Brock narrates as he plays. "Around the corner a woman was putting bread into the oven; and she saw the Mareep dancing, and a girl along with it. She ran over and tried to get Bianca to snap out of it, but her hand stuck to her, and Rosa carried them all off."

The girls roar with laughter over the music. "As they went, they came to the local shrine." Brock continues as he plays. "Will kept on playing, Rosa kept on dancing, and Bianca and the woman along with them. About then, the miko stepped out to sweep the path, and wondered what in the world was going on. Just as he laid her hand on the woman in an attempt to get her attention, to her surprise the miko stuck to the woman."

The girls are hysterical as they imagine the comical scene. "And so, this strange company went on; and towards nightfall reached the royal city." Brock continues as he takes a solo, speaking all the while. "They stayed with an old woman for the night, and they learned that the king's daughter, Princess Laura, was very sick, and no healer knew how to cure her, but that if she could laugh, she would be healed. No one had yet been able to make her smile; and the king had issued a proclamation stating that whoever could make her laugh would have her for his bride, and succeed him as king."

He grins. "Will could hardly wait until dawn, he was so anxious to try his fortune."

"So did--hee hee--he make Princess Laura laugh as hard as we are right now?" Misty giggles as she wipes away a tear of laughter.

"In the morning he presented himself before the king, and was very graciously received." Brock continues over his solo. "Princess Laura stood in the hall at the entrance to the throne room."

Ash joins back in as he continues "Will then began to play his flute, and Rosa began to dance, and Bianca, the woman, and the miko along with her. When Princess Laura saw this sight she burst out laughing, which made Rosa so happy that she shook everything off her back, and Rosa, Bianca, the woman, and the miko each danced by themselves for joy." They finish the long set at this point.

Brock then concludes "And so, Will and Princess Laura were married; the miko was put in charge of the royal shrine; the woman was appointed chief baker; and Bianca as Princess Laura's lady-in-waiting. The wedding lasted for as least a week, and the whole land was in great joy."

He adds over a playful chord "And as far as I know, they may still be dancing today!"

Serena's applause is the loudest as the boys bow...