When we last left our heroes…

“So, where do we begin?” Dawn wonders.

“Travel to the town of Sundol–there you will learn of the first jewel, the ruby named Vatradaina–the Firesong.” Karmina replies. “It is a day’s journey west of here.” With that, she disappears.

Ash waves goodbye as Karmina disappears. “So, shall we?”

“Yeah!” Dawn smiles.

“Vatradaina, here we come!” Brock agrees as the three friends, Happini and Pikachu walk off into the sunset.

Episode 3: The Story of the Sage

“How much further do we have to go?” Ash complains. “We left the Ivy Hill some hours ago…”

“Pini…” Happini sighs in agreement.

Brock points out what look like roofs of houses in the distance. “We’re getting close…I can see houses in the distance.”

Dawn dashes on ahead. “Last one there’s a rotten Exeggcute!”

“Hey, wait for us!” Ash protests as the boys and Happini scramble to catch up. When the group arrives, they look at the three way intersection past the entry gate.

“Who goes there?” a guard clad in dull grey chain barks, surprising the group.

“I am Arran Seluna…” Brock explains. “I seek permission to conduct a holy mission from the Lady Karmina, and to perform in the city.”

The guard’s mood brightens. “If the Goddess Karmina has bid you come, you may pass. A Song Mage has not come in several weeks, so the children would especially like a performance.” With that, he motions to the gatekeepers in the guardhouse, allowing the group inside.

“Wow…” Ash is amazed at the size of the streets and the number of buildings that dot the square, marking the center of a three way intersection. Some of the houses have colorful flags and banners flying on them. The left route leads to the entertainment district, the right route the marketplace, and the center route to the craftsman’s district.

“So this is Sundol…” Dawn notes as the group looks around at the stone and wood buildings around them.

“Doesn’t look like a place to find Vatradaina…” Ash sighs. “Just a normal old village to me.”

“And furthermore, how am I going to protect myself if my spinners fail?” Dawn asks. “You have Song Magic, Ash will eventually learn Song Magic, but what about me?”

“Remember the canon?” Brock interjects. “On the show, Loras does quite all right with just the spinners, but if you really want to learn Song Magic, the person we need to see teaches Loras how to use it in the comic.”

“Since we are simply in an illusion of Thianon, I suppose we can take a page from the comic and have me learn Song Magic…no pun intended.” Dawn replies, now in a noticably better mood.

“Remind me again who teaches Loras Song Magic in the comic?” Ash asks as the group walks to the fountain in the center of the square.

“The elf sage Raina Telmiras, who is the oracle of Sundol, and who we need to see.” Brock replies before taking his harp and strolling towards the fountain. “I come with stories to tell, and a song or two as well, gathered from my exploits and travails…” he begins, adding a soft glissando for effect. “For the price of a coin, let us all join in an intimate gathering together.” No sooner does he finish his character’s traditional spiel for attracting an audience, do a number of children and their parents approach and drop coins in the small bag Happini holds.

One child spots a noblewoman with a Vulpix fur cap on the street and asks “Why do the rich ladies wear Vulpix fur caps, Sir Arran?”

“It is because of a Vulpix that gave her life to save a man, and in his grief, he fashioned her fur into a hat in her memory, as per her last request.” Brock replies, unaware of the tall brown-haired woman in gold, purple, and blue sage’s robes that has arrived to join the crowd in listening to his performance. “Be warned, this is a tragic tale, so those with sensitive hearts may find it best to leave if the story gets to be too much for you.” When no one decides to leave, Brock continues. “Very well…I will ask the great lady Karmina to grant me the words to tell you this tale…” With that, he plays a soft lullaby like tune before speaking again. “There was once a poor man who owned nothing except for a small house and a Pomeg tree–I will call him Kenta.” He plays some more as he continues “Now, Kenta loved his Pomeg tree, and took very good care of it–watering it twice a day and pruning branches like clockwork. When the evenings were warm, he would even sleep beneath its branches. If a child ever tried to steal one of the Pomeg berries, he would confront the child and lecture them about stealing–the child would return what he had stole and hurry away. This led to the townspeople nicknaming him “Lord of the Pomeg Tree.” The crowd laughs at this, even the tall woman.

Dawn smiles at the crowd’s laughter. Keep it up, Brock–you’re doing great!

“One year, Kenta had a great harvest of Pomeg berries, and worked very hard picking them all. At the end of the day, he was exhausted, and dozed off under the tree’s branches. But when he woke the next day, a Pomeg Berry had disappeared!” Brock continues. The crowd laughs again as Brock feigns surprise…

An hour or so later…

…although Kenta did what he could, the Vulpix died of her wounds some days later.” Brock continues over a sad riff. He waits for the soft cries and sniffling in the crowd to quiet before concluding “Kenta was greatly saddened by the loss of his friend, but honored the Vulpix’s last request and fashioned her fur into a soft hat. At first, the townspeople found the hat quite odd-looking, but in time, man and woman alike began to wear them in honor of the brave Vulpix…so ends the tale called ‘The Lord of the Pomeg Tree’. The crowd roars with applause and coins go flying as Brock takes a bow.

As the crowd disperses and Ash and Dawn pick up what coins are scattered on the pavement, the tall woman approaches Brock. “Well told, Song Mage…I would expect nothing more from the great Arran Seluna.”

“My pleasure, Lady Sage.” Brock replies, trying all the while not to break character and go crazy over the woman’s beauty.

“Are you Raina Telmiras?” Ash asks.

“You speak the truth, Jelan Mirana…” the woman replies before addressing Brock again. “As thanks for a wonderful performance, I bid you spend some time at my house, for I know much of the quest Karmina has given you…”

TO BE CONTINUED….