(SASS) Tales from Camp Redwing

Tales from Camp Redwing

Prologue: The Bus Ride

The big day I left for Camp Redwing arrived, but this time I was actually excited--knowing Brock was going to be there spinning yarns made the whole three weeks worth it. Seeing Sunny there, swimming and attempting archery were just gravy.

But first, I had to get to camp.

Mom was understandably teary eyed--this was the first time I'd been away from the house by myself for longer than a weekend. Dad assured her that since Brock was going to be there, I was in good hands.

I added that I would try to send letters as often as I could, and after hugging Mom and Dad, I boarded the camp bus.

A familiar voice calling "Forest!" got my attention--Sunny was waving at me from a seat towards the back on the left.

"Sunny!" I gasped as I sat down next to her. "I didn't know you were coming to Camp Redwing too!"

"I go every year--my camp name is Phoenix." she explained as she brushed a wisp of red hair from her face. "What's your camp name gonna be?"

"I'm not sure--I really want to try archery while we're there, so how does Arrow sound?" I asked.

"Arrow and Phoenix--I like it!" Sunny smiled.

"Arrow it is!" I cried.

About then, someone started a rendition of "99 Bottles of Beer of the Wall", so we joined in. 99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer on the wall, if one of those bottles should happen to fall, 98 bottles of beer of the wall...

 

Day 1: Welcome to Camp Redwing

...69 bottles of beer on the wall, 69 bottles of beer on the wall, if one of those bottles should happen to fall, 68 bottles of beer on the wall... we enthusiastically sang as the bus rounded the corner into the entryway of Camp Redwing some hours later. 68 bottles of beer on the wall, 68 bottles of beer on the wall, if one of those bottles should happen to fall--!

"We're here!" Sunny called when we passed under the sign leading into the campground and came to a stop overlooking the huge cabin that I presumed was the meeting place for the whole camp.

The driver waved goodbye as we disembarked, but it wasn't long before I spotted Brock--or should I say, Pewter Song--waving as Sunny and me stepped off.

"You made it!" he smiled as Sunny ran to hug him. "Good to see you again, Phoenix..."

He then addressed me. "Thought of a camp name yet?"

"Yeah--Arrow." I replied. "Since I really want to try archery while I'm here."

"Great choice--that one's not taken yet." Brock grinned as he wrote my new camp name on a name tag. "I dub thee Arrow." he smiled as he stuck the name tag on me with a flourish. "Head on into the council house--the welcome ceremony's about to start!"

We found a seat overlooking stage right of a stage, but all went quiet when an auburn haired girl arrived onstage. "Hello there everybody!!!" she called to thunderous cheers. "First of all, thank you for spending your summer here at Camp Redwing! My true name is Rebecca, but while you're here, you can call me by my camp name--Boss Cardinal."

Cheers went up at this. "How many are here for the very first time?" Boss Cardinal asked.

I raised my hand as high as the others. "Whether you're here for the first time, or come here every year, the next three weeks are going to be filled with new friends and memories that last a lifetime." Boss Cardinal went on. But the most unique part of being here is the camp name--not only is a fun nickname that people will have fun guessing all session long, it is also a reflection of things that are important to you. So once you've picked one, you're stuck with it--so think carefully!"

She noticed a boy and a girl carrying the Pokémon League flag and the camp flag. "All rise, and honor our League and the camp." Boss Cardinal instructed as she retrieved a trumpet. Sunny took off her hat as everyone else stood up and removed their hats, Ash and Brock included.

I'd heard "Red, Blue, and Yellow Bold" a million times before, but hearing it on a solo trumpet sent a chill up my spine--Boss Cardinal had clearly taken lessons or had played for years.

When the song ended, an example camp schedule blipped on the screen. "Here at Camp Redwing, what you want to do is limited only by your imagination." Boss Cardinal explained. "But there are a few things that happen at the same time each day...Reveille is played at 8:00 every morning..."

A smile formed on Sunny's face as Boss Cardinal played the familiar call. "All right, all right, I'm up already!" Ash commented, making the cabin roar with laughter.

"I was wondering when you'd be up, Thunderbolt." Boss Cardinal grinned.

The rest of the ceremony was uneventful--mess call was at 9, noon, and 6, mail call at 3, Brock's storytelling show started at 7, and lights out was at 10 PM. We also learned about the camp mediators, what to do in case of an emergency, and the camp store and post office. After learning a few camp songs, it was off to get our cabin assignments.

Sunny and me were in Leaf Cabin 3 with four other kids, and our counselor, Rainbow (so named because of her tie dye shirt)

After everyone had unpacked and settled in, Rainbow went over the cabin rules--keep your space clean, respect each other's personal space, no pranks, and to come to her if there was any questions or concerns.

All told, there were six of us kids in all:

--Me, aka Arrow

--Sunny, aka Phoenix

--Cottonee, who was a nice girl, but a little shy

--Neon, a boy who loved music and dancing (he was a cool person too)

--Flyer, a girl who had visited regions across the world (she had some cool stories too)

--Mint, a girl who was quite adventurous, unlike her camp name (she told me later that mint plants grew around her house, so that was why she chose her camp name)

We were all tired from the trip, so we rested in the cabin for the afternoon--I read one of my comics, Sunny drew, Neon dozed on his bed (with his headphones on), Cottonee read a book as well, and Flyer and Mint exchanged pictures. The afternoon flew by, and it wasn't long until we heard the trumpet playing mess call...

 

Day 1: Kanade's Flight to Olivine

After a wonderful dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs, and Combusken with all the trimmings (which Sunny said was the traditional welcome and farewell meal). we made our way to the stage overlooking the campfire pit. Brock had apparently been there some time before--a chair and his guitar were present, as was Ash's rank of wind instruments and Misty's fiddle.

As the campfire roared to life, Boss Cardinal appeared on the stage. "As our music cheers us, so be the melody of our lives;
As our mirth unites us, so be the harmony of our hearts;
As our spirits rise to the lilt of our song, so may the spirits of trainers who have gone before uplift us to renewed endeavor;
And may the happy fellowship of this circle go out into all the world."

She then sang The evening star is shining bright
So make a wish and hold on tight
There's magic in the air tonight...

And anything can happen... Brock filled in the last line as the spotlight shifted over to him.

After a moment to compose his thoughts, he jumped into his first tale of the night. "Once the great warrior-miko Kanade was traveling along the coast when she encountered a funeral procession. It turned out the priest of a nearby village had died, and the elder asked Kanade if she could serve in the village until a new priest was sent from the Aiiro City. Kanade agreed, and grew to be well liked in the village because of her wisdom."

"Aw"s went up at this. "But some people wondered--why was someone as famous as Kanade wearing humble traveling clothes?" Brock asked us. "A messenger answered that question a few days later--Kanade once served a village some miles away, where she would protect the townsfolk from a greedy and corrupt magistrate. The magistrate wanted to badly injure, or even kill Kanade to serve as a warning to those who opposed him."

Sunny gasped at this, but I softly growled angrily--why would someone want to hurt someone as strong, brave, and kind as Kanade?

"Kanade fled during the night, but the magistrate sent pursuers after her, but Kanade had long since lost them." Brock assured us. "The villagers, however, wondered what to do if Kanade was somehow discovered. The elder replied that since Kanade had done so much for them, it was only fair they help her in return."

He then intoned "But little did the villagers know that Kanade's pursuers had made camp outside of town."

"Uh oh..." Cottonee swallowed hard at this, but I put an arm around her to assure her everything would be okay in the end.

"The elder believed Kanade would be caught if she fled by land, so he arranged for one of the village's fishermen to take her across the sea, to what is now Olivine City in Johto." Brock went on, walking across the stage as he spoke. "During the night, a fierce storm blew up, and despite Kanade's and her guide's efforts to keep the boat under control in the howling wind and rain, the boat sprung a leak. Although her guide was clearly afraid, Kanade climbed onto the prow of the boat, and sang into the storm..."

With that, he sang Gatrandis favel,secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

As soon as the last not echoed across the camp, Brock went on "As the last note echoed across the stormy sea, an old Shellder shell attached itself to the leak, allowing Kanade and her guide to continue on through the storm. When her guide asked Kanade just what she had sang, Kanade explained it was a powerful holy spell asking Arceus directly for help--and in response, Arceus had sent the Shellder shell to fix the leak."

"Oh"s went up at this. "But the boat was damaged, and couldn't hold up much longer--it finally broke apart moments away from the Olivine coast, throwing Kanade and her guide onto a hill covered in Shellder shells." Brock continued. Kanade had been knocked out cold from the landing, so her guide decided to carry her up the hill, never mind how cold and slippery the Shellder shells were."

We waited with baited breath to know if Kanade and her guide made it safely to Olivine City. "As he braved the cold and slippery shells, he heard Kanade sing again..." Brock continued before singing again Gatrandis favel,secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si...

Thunderous applause went up at the song's end. "The holy spell gave Kanade's guide enough strength to reach Olivine City, where it is said Kanade sang songs of thanks to Arceus for a week in memory of the kind villagers that had risked their lives to see her safe. " Brock concluded, taking a sweeping bow as the camp exploded in applause.

"Wow! I wish I had a big brother like Pewter Song!" Neon raved as he applauded.

"He truly loves to do this--I'm proud to call him my big brother." I smiled back.

 

Day 1: Reflecting a Dragon's Eyes

When our applause died down, Brock asked us "Is there anyone with a request for me tonight--our first night of camp?"

As everyone else debated suggestions for runners to take to the stage, Flyer found me in the crowd. "Ask your big bro to tell the one about the boy that reflected a dragon's eyes."

I nodded, wrote the request on a scrap of paper, and gave it to the runner, who then delivered it to Brock.

He looked at the scrap and grinned. "Long ago, long before any of us existed, dragon Pokémon were a lot stronger than they are today. They were everywhere, though they were not often seen. People who saw them often did not live to tell the tale, and when people heard of terrifying, unexplained deaths, they knew that it was the dragons that were to blame."

Fearful gasps went up at this. "Once they took up residence, people said, the dragons wreaked havoc on a town or village." Brock went on. "Their eyes shot fiery flames, so anyone who even looked at a dragon was instantly killed. Most dragons lived in cellars and other dark places. This was because a dragon's fiery gaze could kill even another dragon."

"Oh my!" Cottonee gasped. Mint was shuddering as well, and probably thanking Arceus that dragon Pokémon were not this powerful anymore!

But Brock wasn't done yet. "If someone, by some miracle, survived the dragon's stare, they would die by one of the dragon's other attacks, like their elemental breath or the poisonous spines along its back."

Not even the Nincadas wanted to chirp as Brock continued his terrifying prologue. "It was no wonder that people talked a great deal about the dragons. They told tales of the poor maiden who chanced upon a dragon in her family's attic and died right there, and how the family had to flee their home. They spoke of children attacked while playing in the forests. No one knew how many people had died from the dragons' powerful gaze, but everyone thought that there was no weapon powerful enough to kill a dragon. If a dragon came to a town, every man, woman, child, and Pokémon would warn one another, 'Beware, beware...'"

He smiled. "Having said all of this, I can now properly begin my story.

With that, he continued "For some time, the town of Solarosa was spared from the dragons, but one day, the tavern's barkeep sent an apprentice to bring up a new barrel of ale from the cellar.When the apprentice did not return after an hour, the barkeep figured he had gotten distracted or into the ale, and sent a second apprentice. When that apprentice did not return, rumors began flying, and before long everyone in Solarosa knew that a dragon had taken up residence in the tavern cellar.

The next morning, everyone gathered in the town square to discuss the dragon. Yet no one had any idea how to deal with a dragon."

Fearful murmurs wafted across the camp. "Finally, a boy announced that he would be the one to slay the dragon." Brock continued. "The people tried to talk him out of it--they said he would never hear the dragon coming, but the boy said he would know. They said that the stare would kill him, but the boy said he would blindfold himself for protection."

"What was he going to do?" Cottonee stammered.

"Just listen." I grinned--the best part was coming up!

"After many pleas and rebuttals, they allowed the boy into the cellar after praying to Arceus for protection, blindfolded and carrying a mirror." Brock made a prayerful gesture, as if representing the people's prayers. "It didn't take long for him to find the dragon--it roared and blew a stream of red flame at the boy as he approached, but his blindfold and the protection of Arceus rendered the flames harmless. The dragon then slunk to the bottom of the stairwell as quiet as could be, but when the boy arrived on the last step of the stairwell, he aimed the mirror in the dragon's face, allowing it to burn in its own flames!" Cheers went up at this. "The people hailed him a hero and erected a statue in his honor--which you can still see in Solarosa today."

Everyone loved Brock's first camp show, but I knew he was just getting warmed up--as Boss Cardinal played Taps to end my first day of camp, I was already dreaming of what he would tell tomorrow!

 

Day 2: Tracking a Friend


I couldn't wait for Boss Cardinal to play Reveille the next morning--so after getting dressed and having breakfast, we met Rainbow on a forest path not far from camp, where she was waiting with what looked like bingo cards.

"Today we're going to venture into the forest and search for Pokémon tracks." Rainbow explained when we met up by the path. "These cards list the Pokémon both native to and known to visit Viridian Forest. When you find that Pokémon's track, put a check in the box by that Pokémon. I'm not requiring you find them all, but those that do find them all will get a little something special at lunch. Try and stay close to the forest path--we don't want anyone getting lost."

With that, we charged off into the forest. Caterpie and Weedle were easy to find--Caterpie's feet are farther apart than Weedle's, so there are fewer prints.

But a tiny trail of circles puzzled me--they weren't far apart like Caterpie, and they were much smaller than Weedle's.

"Stuck, Arrow?" Cottonee asked as she met me on the path.

"I can't figure out what these tracks belong to." I explained. "I know it's not Weedle, and it can't be Caterpie..."

Cottonee's eyes brightened when she saw the trail I had been studying. "I know what Pokémon these are! They are Sewaddle tracks!"

"I didn't know Sewaddle came all the way here..." I smiled.

"You'd be surprised how far they can travel--they do visit here around this time of year." Cottonee explained. "I see them all the time back home in Celadon."

"I see." I smiled.

A Fletchling song got my attention some moments later, but what I looked around, I didn't see a Fletchling anywhere. Then it dawned on me--Brock knew how to mimic bird whistles, so was it possible he mimicked a Fletchling song to get my attention?

I didn't see any signs of human prints, but just as I was about to write it off and keep looking for Pokémon tracks, I heard the song again--just as a Fletchling hopped down from a nearby tree and sang again.

"Aw!" Cottonee smiled. "Fletchlings are so cute!"

I checked the ground by the tree, and sure enough--Fletchling tracks were there. "They're famous for their song as well."

"Hey look! Pikachu tracks!" Neon called from a little farther down the path.

We hurried over to take a look, but Cottonee gasped when she spotted Pichu tracks intermingled with the Pikachu tracks. "The Pikachu that made these must be a mom!" she smiled.

A rustle in the bushes got our attention before a Pikachu peeked out. After assuming we were no threat, she hopped out of the brush, then called "Pika pi!"

I counted five Pichus following their mom, very much like Duckletts following their mother Swanna. "Aw...I wish Thunderbolt were here to see this..." Sunny smiled, referring to Ash's camp name.

"What's Misty's camp name?" I asked Sunny.

"Cascade...she's usually the one overseeing those in the pool or other water games." Sunny replied.

"i hope we get to have an epic water fight between all the cabins." Neon grinned.

"Either that, or a camp wide treasure hunt, or finding the camp trinket." I agreed as we made our way back to camp.

"Finding the camp trinket?" Flyer wondered.

"I saw it in a movie once---I don''t remember the name of it, but at one point, the camp plays a game where the director says someone's plotting to steal the camp baseball at dinner, and whoever catches the thief in the act gets extra dessert." I explained. "The bugler was in on the game, and instructed to play 'To Arms' when the person playing the thief was spotted. It was essentially tag with a long setup, but I think it would be fun to play in real life."

You can always suggest events by telling Boss cardinal." Sunny suggested as we emerged back in camp, just as we heard the trumpet playing mess call for lunch.

 

Day 2: A New Kind of Water Sport


We were all hot after our excursion into the forest, so we were all eager to jump in the pool. So after lunch, imagine our surprise when we saw Misty looking down on us from way up in the air!

So one long trek up eight flights of stairs later, we met Misty overlooking an intricate maze of water tunnels and the main pool below But what was intriguing was what was next to her-- what looked like a giant blue see-through tube shaped water balloon perched on a tilting platform, a slim air tank similar to a scuba tank, a full face mask, and a respirator.

"What are those?" Mint asked.

"Glad you asked!" Misty smiled. "These are all you need to participate in <i>mizujin</i>, or water tunnel racing."

"I've seen that on TV before!" Neon gasped. "Some of those pipe mazes look insane!"

"Well, here's your chance to try it." Misty replied. "First, you suit up in the safety gear, then climb inside the protective balloon. The platform will then tilt into a horizontal position, so you are lying on your stomach. Once you're in position, it will tilt down even more, sending you down into the tunnels. The safety gear is mainly for the final splashdown, since the protective balloon is designed to pop at that point."

She then asked. "Anyone want to be the first one to brave the camp's maze?"

For all his excitement, Neon clammed up when Misty asked this question, There was an awkward silence for a moment before I stepped forward. "I will."

So after being suited up, I was launched into the tunnels like a human rocket. I could hear the water rushing as I sped downward and around turns, down rollercoaster-like dips, and even a loop in the darkness.

Then all too quickly, I felt myself being launched out of the exit ramp at the bottom, then the actual water in the pool as my protective bubble burst.

Misty arrived by elevator to meet me some minutes later. "How was it?"

"That was amazing!" I wheezed, more from my eight flight walk earlier than the trip down. "Can I do it again?"

"Come on up and get a fresh balloon and tank, and you can go again." Misty replied.

Although you could have told us there was an elevator earlier... I thought as the elevator carried us back to the top, where my cheering cabinmates were waiting.

I deferred my second trip so my cabinmates could try it--my trip down spurred Neon to try it, then HE wanted to go again. Flyer went next, then Sunny, then Cottonee and Mint worked up the courage to try it before Neon went again. Once Neon took a third trip and Sunny had gone again, I took my second trip down--which was just as exhilarating as the first time.

I was still riding the adrenaline high when the trumpet sounded mess call at six--I couldn't wait to tell Mom, Dad, and Brock about the experience!

 

Day 2: Arion and the Gorebyss


After dinner, we all made our way to the campfire stage, where Boss Cardinal lit the fire with the same blessing as the night before. "As our music cheers us, so be the melody of our lives;
As our mirth unites us, so be the harmony of our hearts;
As our spirits rise to the lilt of our song, so may the spirits of trainers who have gone before uplift us to renewed endeavor;
And may the happy fellowship of this circle go out into all the world."

She then sang The evening star is shining bright
So make a wish and hold on tight
There's magic in the air tonight...

And anything can happen... Brock filled in the last line as the spotlight shifted over to him.

He then began "Once upon a time, a young man named Arion wandered throughout the land playing music and singing. Everyone who heard his voice stopped to listen, for he sang more beautifully than anyone they had ever heard. When the king of a land to the east heard his voice, he invited Arion to live in the palace as his court minstrel."

Excited whispers wafted through the crowd as Ash and Misty arrived with their instruments. "Arion became like a son to the king." Brock explained. "He entertained all the palace visitors, and soon his fame spread far and wide."

As the last chord of his relaxed melody faded into the sky, he went on "One day an invitation came to him from a southern land. 'Come play your music at our summer festival,' the invitation read. 'First prize in the competition is a bag of gold.'"

"Go, my son," he smiled in character the king. "I am sure you will win, and you should share your gift with everyone."

As himself, he continued "The king ordered his crew of sailors to take Arion by ship to the southern kingdom. As they stood at the harbor, the king said..."

"Do not forget to return to your home." he instructed Ash as the king.

"I promise to return as soon as the contest is over," Ash replied as Arion, complete with a little bow.

"With that, the ship set sail." Brock narrated as himself.

The three of them then played the title screen song from "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker" to represent Arion traveling.

"When Arion arrived in the south kingdom, he saw that all the best minstrels had gathered." Brock continued when the song ended. "Music filled the air, for the minstrels played day and night. One after another they took their place on the stage and filled the world with song."

He added as an aside "To say Arion was entranced is an understatement."

Giggles went up at the comment. "When his turn came, Arion strode to the stage and sang so beautifully that everyone fell silent, awed by the beauty of his voice."

With that, Ash sang Lips red as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes...

Eyes blue as the sea and the sky
Water flows, water flows
Heart burning like fire in the night
Gently as she goes...

I knew Ash could sing, but Sunny was stunned. "I didn't know Thunderbolt could sing!"

"He can--you should hear him mimic Kochou from Legendary Idol 'Kochou'. I replied before turning my attention back to the stage.

"The king of the south kingdom requested an encore, and when Arion had finished his song, the king stepped onto the stage and awarded Arion first prize." Brock went on. "Hundreds of admirers gathered around, offering the singer jewels and candy and all kinds of treasures. 'Please,' they begged him, 'stay here and play for us forever.'"

"I promised my king I would return to my home, and I always keep my promises," Ash replied as Arion. "But I will visit you again one day."

"A crowd gathered at the harbor to wish Arion a safe journey and to wave farewell to the famous singer." Brock narrated. "Arion stood on the prow of the ship waving goodbye until everyone was out of sight. Then he turned to enter his cabin, but he was shocked to see an angry, boisterous crew surrounding him."

"You are too wealthy," he demanded in a deeper version of himself for the ship's captain. "We are going to kill you and keep your treasures for ourselves."

We all gasped as Brock menacingly approached Ash, "Please," Ash pleaded as Arion. "Take my treasures, but spare my life. I care nothing for jewels and gold. All I want to do is live in peace and sing."

Brock just performed one of his evil chuckles--an exact mimic of Ganondorf. "You will change your mind as soon as we arrive in the east kingdom. You will keep your treasures and leave us empty-handed. We cannot let you live." he replied as the captain.

As himself, he continued "Arion promised again and again, urging the men to let him live, but the sailors only shouted and stomped their feet, demanding Arion's life. Arion saw that all was lost. He sank to his knees and looked into the captain's dark face.

Ash proceeded to do this before Brock. "Since I see you will kill me," he said in character, "allow me one last wish. I want to sing one last song before I die."

"You may," Brock replied as the captain, "but when you have reached the last note, you will jump overboard. We will tell the king you drowned in a storm."

He sighed as himself "Arion climbed sadly to the prow, looking out over the sea he loved. He began to sing, and his voice, now filled with longing, was more beautiful than it had ever been."

Then something occurred to him. "The song went something like this..."

Gatrandis favel, secret, edena... Ash sang.
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...
Katoradis favel siicletu edena...
Emusto koron zen fine, si....

"As soon as he had sang 'si', Arion leaped into the sea." Brock sighed. "The ship sailed on, leaving Arion adrift on the waves."

But then a grin formed on his face, as if to tell us all was not lost. "To Arion's astonishment, he suddenly he felt a swell beneath him, and he was lifted on the back of a Gorebyss. A pod of Gorebyss had heard Arion's song, and when he leaped into the water, they swam to him. The largest Gorebyss swam beneath him, pushing him on her back, while the others swam beside and behind them. They traveled all the way to the east kingdom, arriving long before the ship reached shore."

The camp exploded in cheers at this. "The king was so happy to see Arion that he did not notice his wet clothing, but after he had heard a sweet new song, Arion told him all that had happened."Brock went on. "The king was furious when he heard of the crew's mutiny. When the ship reached port the next morning, the king summoned the captain and his crew."

He then proceeded to perform both ends of the king and the captain's awkward conversation. "Where is Arion?"

"He stayed in the south kingdom, He refused to come with us. We begged him to return to you, but at last we gave up and returned to tell you this news."

As himself he went on "The king listened and nodded. He urged the captain to add details to his tale. And so the captain talked of Arion's happiness in the south kingdom and his decision to abandon his king. When the captain was finished, he bowed to the king, and as he did, Arion stepped into the room from behind a wide curtain. He wore the same clothes he had worn when he leaped from the ship's prow. When the captain saw the figure, he began to tremble, and in his terror, he confessed everything to the king."

He concluded "The king banished the captain from his land that very day, and retrieved Arion's treasure. Arion stayed in the kingdom to sing for the king and his guests. And every time he sang, the Gorebyss gathered near the shore to listen."

I think the whole forest rang with our applause as Ash, Misty, and Brock took a bow....

 

Day 2: The Legend of Ryutaro

In a certain village lived a young man named Ryota, a priest's apprentice who had near superhuman strength--he could pick up massive boulders as easily as a piece of grass, and pull up trees by their roots as easily as picking a flower." Brock began. "Because of his god-like strength, the villagers affectionately called him Ryutaro, which means 'dragon boy'".

After putting on a warrior's headband, he went on "One day, the priest informed Ryutaro that a huge martial arts tornament was being held in the Aiiro City in honor of the Pokémon Master's birthday. One of the warriors, a man named Kokanja, had heard of Ryotaro's amazing strength, and had issued a challenge for him."

Excited chatter raced through the crowd as Brock explained "Kokanja was a master of the Raikou style of martial arts, and had lines out the door at his dojo. He regularly competed in tournaments large and small, and some said that he had never lost a match."

"Wow!" Flyer gasped.

"Doesn't Brock take kung fu lessons?" Sunny asked me.

"Yeah--he's up to an orange belt in Raikou style, meaning he can fight unarmed, and fight with the staff, the nunchucks, the dagger, and the orange belt opens training in the bow--his favorite so far." I replied. "Though archery holds a place in his heart, he says he can't wait to learn to use the sword at the red belt level."

"Cool!" Mint was starry eyed at this. "Maybe in the morning, if we ask really nicely, he can show us his bow skills!"

"The priest told Ryutaro that the choice was his to accept the challenge--if he did not want to accept it, he would not force him." Brock went on "Ryutaro replied that he did not fear Kokanja, nor did he fear a demon or monster. The priest smiled and said that before he left for the Aiiro City, he should at least ask Arceus' protection."

He walked around the stage as he continued "The whole village turned out to see Ryutaro off, wishing him victory in the tournament. Every time Ryutaro passed a shrine, no matter how large or small it was, he would ask Arceus for spiritual strength and protection."

Once he was back in the center of the stage, he continued "In one village, he overheard some villagers putting him down while conjecturing how Kokanja would win. He stormed over to them, and said he was the very Ryutaro they were badmouthing--and vowed that he was going to win."

We cheered at this. "A girl met him on the road, and tried to give him some advice, but it went in one ear and out the other--Ryutaro was that confident." Brock grinned, to some giggles "Before long, Ryutaro arrived in the Aiiro City. Many skilled fighters were there, and Ryutaro watched some of the matches before he prepared for his match."

He grabbed his familiar referee's whistle as he went on "The time finally came for Ryutaro and Kokanja to battle. A huge crowd had gathered to watch this face-off between Raikou and Gyarados martial arts."

After hanging the whistle around his neck, he prepared to blow it as he went on "The whistle blew to start the match..."

Cottonee jumped in surprise when Brock blew his own whistle for effect. "...and Kokanja started off strong with moves such as Thundering Kick, Raikou Guards the Road, Raikou Moves the Mountain, and Raikou Descends from Heaven." He did a few moves of his own for effect, but I wasn't sure what they were named. "Ryutaro was quickly overwhelmed, despite his valiant efforts to defend."

Then he remembered something. "Then Ryutaro remembered what the girl on the road had told him--though Konanja was very strong, he did have one weakness--the question was, where was the weak point?"

"In his stomach!" I suggested, memories of playing "Punch-Out" on the NES at home dancing through my mind.

"In his back!" Neon suggested.

Brock, however, had other ideas. "Just as all hope seemed lost, he spotted the girl in the stands, pointing to her forehead. He concluded the weak point was at Konanja's forehead."

"Oh"s went up as Brock gave more of the fight's play-by-play. "He started fighting back, and landed the move Gyarados Returns to the Sea at that spot. Everyone watched in horror as Ryutaro followed that with Gyarados Roams the Mist, sending Konanja flying clear to the other end of the arena.

The PLING signaling a knockout in Super Smash Bros. echoed through the camp to illustrate Brock's point. "Ryutaro was declared the winner, and was rewarded the victor's crown, but deep down, Ryutaro knew the girl he had met was really Arceus watching over him, and that night, he gave thanks to Arceus for his victory." Brock smiled as everyone cheered.

He concluded "Ryutaro went on to become one of the greatest fighters in the world, but though he never lost a match in his long and fruitful career, he didn't boast about his strength anymore after that!"

"WOW!!!" Neon gasped. "I hope he has another hero tale tomorrow night!"