EmeraldSky
Make the Colors in the Sky!
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- At the arcade, playing DDR with Ash
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(Rated E10+ for comic violence)
Ash and co. and Team Rocket
in
"Much Dismay About Drama"
A pink haired woman smiles as a Chansey hangs up a poster reading "Coming Soon to the Diamond Theater--Spring Melodrama!" Another reads "Laugh! Cry! Cheer! Help Pokemon!". "I just love this time of year--the crew picks out a great show every year..."
"Not to mention a certain lovesick breeder that has the hots for you puts on a great performance, no matter what role he plays!" a black haired girl giggles as she runs to help a Chansey examine a young Squirtle.
"True, Yuka. Brock may be annoying sometimes, but he does have an excellent stage prescence." the woman agrees. "Speaking of which, what role is he playing this year?"
"The host, Ace Chandler--saw him leaving Crafty Central this morning with an old hat and a bag of prop hair." Yuka reports. "Wonder what he's going to make with that, Joy?"
"Knowing Brock, probably a wig." Nurse Joy replies, stifiling a giggle at the image of Brock with long hair.
Meanwhile, at the Harrison house...
"Why are you putting hair onto a hat, Brock?" a brown haired girl asks, piqued in the red-brown prop hair that an older boy with similar features to her is attaching to a faded brown cowboy hat.
"You know that the Pokemon Center's annual melodrama fundraiser is coming up soon, Terra." Brock replies as he ties some of the fake hair into a small ponytail.
"Oh yeah--you did great as the bad guy last year!" Terra smiles at the memory.
"Well, this year's production is called 'Not Fit for Man or Beast--or 'It Was a Dark and Stormy Knight'." Brock continues. "I'm playing the host, Ace Chandler."
"You mean, the narrator?" Terra is confused.
"Not just the narrator, but also the music provider and the one to tell the audience when to cheer for the hero or boo the villian." Brock explains. "The director told me she sees Ace as a long haired drifter, so I'm making this wig hat. So when I put it on..." He pauses to put on the completed hat. "it looks like I have a completely different hairstyle."
"So, you're essentially going to play your guitar, do the 'when we last left our heroes' bits, and cue the audience." Terra muses.
"Only no singing from me." Brock replies as he retrieves a yellow-brown guitar from a stand and tunes up. "I have my own little motif for each character or situation...."
"Will you sing 'The Cowgirl's Yodel'?" Terra begs.
"Well..." Brock plays a few uncertain notes--the song actually has no place in the written script.
"Not even during the intermission?" a boy begs. "I really want to hear you yodel!"
"Okay, Forest...I'll see if I can work it in during the intermission." Brock assures his siblings. before turning his attention back to demonstrating his soundtrack. "This is one of the 'introduction' riffs..." He then plays a bluesy riff in E minor. "And this little progression actually heralds the start of the show..." With that, he plays a D minor chord progression. "You'll hear little variations in it throughout the show."
"So that's the main theme?" Terra asks.
"You could put it that way." Brock smiles. "This is the heroine's theme..." He then plays a soft melody in D major.
"Pretty!" Terra comments.
"The bad guy's entrance..." Brock begins before playing a tense E minor chord.
"It's missing something..." Forest muses.
"Well, it'll have a harmonica, a fiddle, and the occassional mandolin in there during the actual show." Brock assures his brother. "The bad guy's full theme, which has a harmonica included with it..." He then plays a rhythmic riff in E minor.
"Who's in the band with you?" Terra wonders.
"Misty's playing fiddle and Crystal's playing harmonica and mandolin." Brock explains. "Only they're not seen during the show." He then interjects "The hero appears..." before playing an exciting riff in D. "Of course, you need to have Ash do the scream for best results."
"I need to save my voice..." Ash replies from another room, his voice a bit scratchy from screaming and war whooping all afternoon.
"Good thing we don't have rehearsal tomorrow..." Brock replies back.
"Your mom and dad were essentially volunteered to play the mom and the dad in the play this year." an older man with slightly graying brown hair adds as he walks by the room studying a script.
"Didn't Dad have a part last year?" Forest wonders.
"Nice hat, cowboy..." a brown haired woman smiles as she walks past the room with a load of laundry. "The ponytail's a cute touch."
"Thanks--thought it would give me a bit of a rustic look." Brock replies.
"What's the play about?" Terra asks.
Brock plays an uneasy riff before playing a quiet melody in G. "Without giving too much away, one stormy night, the heroine, Rebecca Hart, and her mom are visited by the evil Guy Forsythe and his Pokemon sidekick, a Meowth named Snag L. Tooth." Forest and Terra giggle at the pun. "Guy wants the Hart's homestead, but he also wants to marry Rebecca. Rebecca, meanwhile, actually loves Darien Lyons, our hero and an adventurous young cowboy with a heart of gold."
"YIIIIIIIIIIII-OOH!" Ash unleashes a war cry for effect, prompting Forest and Terra to cheer.
In character as Ace, Brock continues as he plays the main theme. "Can Darien defeat Forsythe and win Rebecca's hand? What about her paw, and what role does he play in all this? Find out when the Diamond Theater proudly presents 'Not Fit For Man or Beast'!" Forest and Terra applaud.
"I'm at least thankful only the Pokemon get the punny names." Ash muses as he grabs a bottle of water and takes a long drink. "and thankful that Flint and Lola come see the melodrama every year."
"Well, it's a nice evening out." Lola smiles as she listens to Brock practicing the tune "Maid in the Kitchen".
"And who doesn't love a story where good ultimately triumphs over evil?" Flint agrees before spotting Brock's disguise. "Is that real?"
"Oh, it's just a wig hat." Brock confesses, removing the hat long enough to allow Flint to see where he attached the prop hair. "The director envisioned the host as a long haired drifter, so this was my solution."
"This is gonna be a cool play!" Forest smiles, excited as he listens to his brother experiment with putting "Leppas in June" with "Maid in the Kitchen".
Elsewhere, at Team Rocket's base...
"How's dis one?" a small cat Pokemon asks as he models a black bandanna around his neck.
"Too dark..." a lavender haired boy replies as he smooths out the wrinkles on a white Rocket uniform identical to the one he is wearing and wipes a spaghetti sauce stain from the familiar red R on the shirt.
"Okay, how about dis one?" The Pokemon next models a pale blue bandanna.
"This is a villian you're playing, here...shouldn't it be a bit darker, Meowth?" a maroon haired girl wonders.
"Ya do have a point, dere, Jessie..." Meowth muses as he digs for another bandanna. "Besides, I don't have dat big a part, so when I'm true sayin' my lines, I can look for Pikachu while James plays Forsythe."
"Hat twerp won't even know Pikachu's gone until the final curtain call." Jessie smiles.
"Jus' tink of da boss as a fan of da melodrama..." Meowth muses as the scene swirls to Giovanni and a group of Rockets in a theater. "Da coitin goes up, and da audience is entralled by your performance of da lovely heroine..." We then see Jessie as the heroine of the imagined melodrama, shuddering in fear as Ash, now playing the villian, approaches her. The Rockets in the audience boo at Ash. "Just when all hope seems lost, da hero appears to save da day!" Just then, James, as the hero, appears onstage, to the cheers of the Rockets. "But da cherry on top? Watchin' it with da twerp's Pikachu by your side." Giovanni pets Pikachu as a dust cloud rolls about on the stage.
Back in the present, Meowth finds a red bandanna. "How bout dis one?"
"Yeah! Perfect!" both human Rockets cry.
"You look perfect as Snag L. Tooth." Jessie muses. "You'll do perfectly on opening night and possibly get Pikachu too!" The Rockets laugh at this, giddy about their new plot.
A week or two later...
"Are you going to introduce our characters before the play or after?" Misty asks as she puts on a small white cowboy hat over her wispy red hair.
"Before." Brock, now clad in a black shirt, tan overcoat, dull gold trousers, black shoes, and his wig hat, replies as a blue haired girl in a denim cowgirl's outfit with white fringe arrives onstage and sets a harmonica on a crate next to a chair. A mandolin sits on the right side by the chair.
"Cool costume, Brock." the blue haired girl smiles as Brock gives Misty an A note to tune by.
"Made the hat myself, Crystal." Brock replies as he finishes tuning his guitar and listens to the girls tuning their instruments and the chatter in the audience.
The lights flash the five minute warning a few moments later, and Nurse Joy walks out onstage, quieting the audience as the last few people find their seats. "Good evening, and thank you all for coming to this year's Spring Melodrama!" Applause fills the air. "Thanks to your generosity, we've sold out the theater and raised 100,000 credits from ticket sales, which will go towards improving the Pokemon Center and helping less fortunate Pokemon. You've come through for us yet again, and in return, we promise you a show you won't forget!" More cheers and applause waft through the crowd in agreement. "So without any further ado, please welcome your host for this evening--that rascally drifter Ace Chandler!"
Applause fills the air as Brock saunters onstage in a spotlight. "Howdy, everybody!" he calls, to an enthsiastic cheer from the crowd. "It's a wonderful night for a tale of dastardly villians, brave heroes, lovely ladies, evil plots, and finally, things workin' out all right in the end, isn't it?" soft cheers waft through the audience. "Say what?" Brock asks, prompting a louder cheer. "That's better--wouldn't want y'all to fall asleep before we even start the show." he smiles as he walks back over to stage right, where a chair and his guitar are waiting. "Before we git started here, allow me to introduce my posse--the lovely Marian Lawson on fiddle..." Misty gives the audience a polite nod as she appears by the crate, then checks her tuning. "and the lovely Skye Newman on harmonica and mandolin..." Crystal waves as she appears in a spotlight in the chair by the crate. "and of course, I've got my trusty gitar and my own sweet voice." he smiles as he makes himself comforable in his chair. "So now that we've met everybody, let's play a tune or two to start the show." With that, the guitar, fiddle and harmonica kick off the main theme, prompting the audience to clap along.
Once the song ends, Brock segues into the heroine's theme. "Our story begins on a night when the wind was a-howling, the rain was-a-blowing, and thunder lit the black sky on the plains. A prospector known as Nicholas Hart--or Nicky, to those that knew him--had set out from those parts five years before, leavin' his wife and daughter behind. Missus Hart hadn't heard a peep from Ol' Nicky in all those five years, and she was beginning to think he had died on his latest quest for gold. Her daughter Rebecca, meanwhile, had a little better fortune--she fell in love with a handsome young rider named Darien Lyons." Some cheers go up at the name. "But even she was beginning to think her daddy had ridden off that great trail in the sky..." He lets that hang as he finishes the song and the curtains open, revealing the set of a Western house.
Dawn, clad in a maroon gown, is looking out one of the windows at the "rain" and "lightning". Lola is nearby in a pale blue gown, pretending to be asleep in a chair. A soft sound effect of thunder plays before Dawn comments "Not fit for man or beast..."
"What's not fit, hon?" Lola asks as she feigns waking up.
"The night, ma--cain't ya hear the storm?" Dawn asks. Some "thunder" rumbles to illustrate her point.
"Shore can, now that ya mention it." Lola replies. "I kin only imagine your daddy out on a night like this...been gone five years now..."
"...and he's not comin' home." Dawn sighs over a sad harmonica riff.
"Now what makes ya say that, Becky, hon?" Lola asks as the fiddle and guitar join in the sad melody.
"I kin sense it...and even if Daddy finds gold, what would make him wanna come back here to this ol' shack?" Dawn asks.
"Cause he said he would--your pa's known as Honest Nicky, and when Honest Nicky says he'll be back, he'll be back, no matter how long it takes." Lola assures Dawn as the melody shifts to a major key for a moment.
A sound effect of Ponyta hooves gets Dawn's attention. "Maybe that's him!"
"Now who would come to call at this hour?" Lola asks as a knock comes at the door. When she opens it, she gasps and Brock plays an E minor chord as James, clad in a black gunslinger suit, and Meowth, wearing a miniature black cowboy hat and his red bandanna, are framed on the stoop.
"Why, Guy Forsythe...what brings you all the way out here tonight?" Dawn asks as Meowth "struggles" to carry in a heavy sack.
"So you do remember me, Miss Becky." James replies with a sweeping bow. "It's been some time since you and your daddy came to the bank and signed this here..." He then produces a prop deed from one pocket and shows it to Dawn, to some boos from the audience as Brock adds a tense riff.
"Yes--five years." Dawn replies.
"Correct...and you know what that means..." James replies with a sneer.
"W-what?" Dawn stammers fearfully.
"Today is when the money is due!" James replies. He laughs gleefully at this, despite the audience's boos.
"Oh no...didja hear that, ma?" Dawn gasps.
"Course I did!" Lola growls in anger. "No wonder your daddy was in such a hurry to join the gold rush...."
"Cause if he struck gold, he'd pay off the mortage!" Dawn explains.
Lola sighs. "Well, if Mr. Forsythe wants the house, we'll just have to wander among the cactuses..."
"Cacti." Dawn corrects Lola.
"Cacti--excuse me...I seem to be forgittin' my p's and q's here." Lola nervously giggles. "We'll just have to wander among the cacti lookin' for a new town to call home..."
"Ah, but it isn't that easy, madam." James interjects. "I only want my money and nothing more."
"Now see here, mister!" Lola snaps, making James rear back in surprise. "If I had money I wouldn't be livin' in this ol' shack!"
"That may be true, but I will have my money or else." James replies.
"Or else what???" Lola demands.
James puts an arm around Dawn. "Or else your precious Becky Hart must marry me." he sneers. The fiddle and harmonica punctuate this with a panicked chord as the audience boos.
"No! No! A thousand times no!" Dawn pleads as the audience continues booing James.
"You seem to have spirit, little lady." James continues. "I have a nice surprise for you--we will live together in my private vill-ah down south, man and wife." More boos and giggles at James' mangled pronounciation fill the air.
"But what about--" Dawn starts.
"The town's dried up, the bank is closed, and the townsfolk have moved on to greener pastures." James replies. "I managed to salvage the remaining gold, which is all there in that bag--right, Snag L. Tooth?"
"Meowth! Dat's right!" Meowth replies before scanning the rafters for any sign of Pikachu.
Then, something dawns on James. "I take that back--not every one of the townsfolk has moved on. One of the few out here that remain is Darien Lyons." The crowd cheers at the name as the small band plays a triumphant stinger.
Misty leads the heroine's theme as Dawn muses. "Oh, Darien Lyons...he's strong, brave, handsome, smart, a real sweetheart..." Cheers punctuate the musing.
"So you know Darien?" James gasps before sneering as the heroine's theme turns to a minor key. "He'll only be catching tumbleweeds instead of bandits before too long--and I hope to be down south before that happens."
"So are YOU going south, Snag L. Tooth?" Dawn challenges, snapping Meowth to attention.
"Dat's what da boss said." Meowth deadpans as he plucks the petals off a daisy. "But it's too hot down dere--I'd rather live in Willow Gulch to da east--by da riverside."
"You'll do as I tell you, Snag L. Tooth." James warns.
"Sure, sure, anyting you say, boss--it's just I'd rather be down by da riverside." Meowth protests. Some people in the audience laugh at the reference to the old song.
A knock at the door startles Dawn. "Who is it?"
"Could it be your pa?" Lola asks.
"Oh no!" Meowth gasps. "What'll we do, boss?"
"We've been followed...hide the gold and make it appear these folks took it." James whispers.
"Where?" Meowth asks.
"In the woodbox there." James whispers.
Meanwhile, Dawn opens the door to reveal Whitlea on the stoop in a checkered dress. "Missus Fleming, what a surprise! How sweet of you for comin' to call on a night like this..."
"May not be great for walkin' but I had to talk to someone." Whitlea smiles.
"Don't you get lonely livin' all by your lonesome?" Dawn asks.
"I thought I'd like it here on the plains..." Whitlea sighs as Meowth sneaks over to the woodbox and hides the bag. "But I'd give anything to head back to Willow Gulch and the riverside."
"Did someone say da riverside?" Meowth gasps, excited.
"I did, sweetie." Whitlea replies. "And who might your guests be, Missus Hart?" she asks Lola.
"Everyone, this is Missus Fleming, our neighbor." Lola explains to James and Meowth. "Missus Fleming, the handsome man in black is Guy Forsythe, and his Meowth Snag L. Tooth."
"How d'ya do?" Meowth tips his hat to Whitlea before asking "How'd ya like to go down south?"
"Quiet!" James barks before addressing Whitlea. "A pleasure to meet you, madam...you may not know me, but I do know you."
"Say, didja hear the bank was robbed last night?" Whitlea interjects.
"Dat's old news! We were da ones who--" Meowth starts.
"AHEM!!!" James interrupts, annoyed that Meowth almost told the truth about the town and the bank. "Oh really? The bank was robbed?""
"They say Honest Nicky returned the other night and left a bag of gold in the bank." Whitlea explains.
"Pa?" Dawn's eyes shine at this.
"Really?" Lola is just as excited.
"I remember a handsome stranger depositing a bag of gold, cause I put it in the safe myself." James muses.
"You best git yerself a new safe, cause someone cleaned out the bank the next day." Whitlea continues. "Every cowboy's out lookin' fer the rascal right now."
"A posse?" James gasps as an aside.
"I'll be on my way..." Meowth starts for the door.
"Wait." James cautions Meowth before asking Whitlea "Where did the posse go?"
"All I know is what the paper said." Whitlea replies. "And the paper didn't say where the posse's gone."
"But, Mr. Forsythe, you said the bank was closed!" Dawn protests.
"Only closed for the night." James assures Dawn. "And now someone's made off with a bag of gold. Don't worry--we'll find the culprit."
"Don'tcha worry, Becky! I'll put a claw--" Meowth starts.
"That's enough, Snag. L. Tooth!" James snaps.
"Well, if the bank's closed for the night, then way are ya taking the bag down south?" Lola wonders.
"What bag of gold?" James feigns ignorance, to some laughter.
"The one Snag L. Tooth carried in before." Lola explains.
James looks around the room. "I don't see a bag of gold anywhere..." He addresses Whitlea. "Did you?"
"No I don't--but I don't see Mt. Moon and I wouldn't be surprised if it was up your sleeve." Whitlea retorts.
"Smart cookie, ain't she?" Meowth remarks, to some laughter.
"You saw that bag, didn't you, Rebecca?" Lola asks Dawn.
"I did so!" Dawn replies over a tense riff from Brock.
"There's somethin' fishy goin' on here..." Whitlea grumbles. "I jes know it!"
The lights go down on the set and come up on Brock and the girls. "Is Missus Fleming's hunch correct?" Brock starts. "Has Honest Nicky Hart returned? And what about Darien Lyons? Will he be the one to uncover the truth?" Misty adds a tense riff. "Find out in Part 2 of 'Not Fit For Man or Beast', or 'It Was a Dark and Stormy Knight'!" With that, the theater lights come up for intermission...
Ash and co. and Team Rocket
in
"Much Dismay About Drama"
A pink haired woman smiles as a Chansey hangs up a poster reading "Coming Soon to the Diamond Theater--Spring Melodrama!" Another reads "Laugh! Cry! Cheer! Help Pokemon!". "I just love this time of year--the crew picks out a great show every year..."
"Not to mention a certain lovesick breeder that has the hots for you puts on a great performance, no matter what role he plays!" a black haired girl giggles as she runs to help a Chansey examine a young Squirtle.
"True, Yuka. Brock may be annoying sometimes, but he does have an excellent stage prescence." the woman agrees. "Speaking of which, what role is he playing this year?"
"The host, Ace Chandler--saw him leaving Crafty Central this morning with an old hat and a bag of prop hair." Yuka reports. "Wonder what he's going to make with that, Joy?"
"Knowing Brock, probably a wig." Nurse Joy replies, stifiling a giggle at the image of Brock with long hair.
Meanwhile, at the Harrison house...
"Why are you putting hair onto a hat, Brock?" a brown haired girl asks, piqued in the red-brown prop hair that an older boy with similar features to her is attaching to a faded brown cowboy hat.
"You know that the Pokemon Center's annual melodrama fundraiser is coming up soon, Terra." Brock replies as he ties some of the fake hair into a small ponytail.
"Oh yeah--you did great as the bad guy last year!" Terra smiles at the memory.
"Well, this year's production is called 'Not Fit for Man or Beast--or 'It Was a Dark and Stormy Knight'." Brock continues. "I'm playing the host, Ace Chandler."
"You mean, the narrator?" Terra is confused.
"Not just the narrator, but also the music provider and the one to tell the audience when to cheer for the hero or boo the villian." Brock explains. "The director told me she sees Ace as a long haired drifter, so I'm making this wig hat. So when I put it on..." He pauses to put on the completed hat. "it looks like I have a completely different hairstyle."
"So, you're essentially going to play your guitar, do the 'when we last left our heroes' bits, and cue the audience." Terra muses.
"Only no singing from me." Brock replies as he retrieves a yellow-brown guitar from a stand and tunes up. "I have my own little motif for each character or situation...."
"Will you sing 'The Cowgirl's Yodel'?" Terra begs.
"Well..." Brock plays a few uncertain notes--the song actually has no place in the written script.
"Not even during the intermission?" a boy begs. "I really want to hear you yodel!"
"Okay, Forest...I'll see if I can work it in during the intermission." Brock assures his siblings. before turning his attention back to demonstrating his soundtrack. "This is one of the 'introduction' riffs..." He then plays a bluesy riff in E minor. "And this little progression actually heralds the start of the show..." With that, he plays a D minor chord progression. "You'll hear little variations in it throughout the show."
"So that's the main theme?" Terra asks.
"You could put it that way." Brock smiles. "This is the heroine's theme..." He then plays a soft melody in D major.
"Pretty!" Terra comments.
"The bad guy's entrance..." Brock begins before playing a tense E minor chord.
"It's missing something..." Forest muses.
"Well, it'll have a harmonica, a fiddle, and the occassional mandolin in there during the actual show." Brock assures his brother. "The bad guy's full theme, which has a harmonica included with it..." He then plays a rhythmic riff in E minor.
"Who's in the band with you?" Terra wonders.
"Misty's playing fiddle and Crystal's playing harmonica and mandolin." Brock explains. "Only they're not seen during the show." He then interjects "The hero appears..." before playing an exciting riff in D. "Of course, you need to have Ash do the scream for best results."
"I need to save my voice..." Ash replies from another room, his voice a bit scratchy from screaming and war whooping all afternoon.
"Good thing we don't have rehearsal tomorrow..." Brock replies back.
"Your mom and dad were essentially volunteered to play the mom and the dad in the play this year." an older man with slightly graying brown hair adds as he walks by the room studying a script.
"Didn't Dad have a part last year?" Forest wonders.
"Nice hat, cowboy..." a brown haired woman smiles as she walks past the room with a load of laundry. "The ponytail's a cute touch."
"Thanks--thought it would give me a bit of a rustic look." Brock replies.
"What's the play about?" Terra asks.
Brock plays an uneasy riff before playing a quiet melody in G. "Without giving too much away, one stormy night, the heroine, Rebecca Hart, and her mom are visited by the evil Guy Forsythe and his Pokemon sidekick, a Meowth named Snag L. Tooth." Forest and Terra giggle at the pun. "Guy wants the Hart's homestead, but he also wants to marry Rebecca. Rebecca, meanwhile, actually loves Darien Lyons, our hero and an adventurous young cowboy with a heart of gold."
"YIIIIIIIIIIII-OOH!" Ash unleashes a war cry for effect, prompting Forest and Terra to cheer.
In character as Ace, Brock continues as he plays the main theme. "Can Darien defeat Forsythe and win Rebecca's hand? What about her paw, and what role does he play in all this? Find out when the Diamond Theater proudly presents 'Not Fit For Man or Beast'!" Forest and Terra applaud.
"I'm at least thankful only the Pokemon get the punny names." Ash muses as he grabs a bottle of water and takes a long drink. "and thankful that Flint and Lola come see the melodrama every year."
"Well, it's a nice evening out." Lola smiles as she listens to Brock practicing the tune "Maid in the Kitchen".
"And who doesn't love a story where good ultimately triumphs over evil?" Flint agrees before spotting Brock's disguise. "Is that real?"
"Oh, it's just a wig hat." Brock confesses, removing the hat long enough to allow Flint to see where he attached the prop hair. "The director envisioned the host as a long haired drifter, so this was my solution."
"This is gonna be a cool play!" Forest smiles, excited as he listens to his brother experiment with putting "Leppas in June" with "Maid in the Kitchen".
Elsewhere, at Team Rocket's base...
"How's dis one?" a small cat Pokemon asks as he models a black bandanna around his neck.
"Too dark..." a lavender haired boy replies as he smooths out the wrinkles on a white Rocket uniform identical to the one he is wearing and wipes a spaghetti sauce stain from the familiar red R on the shirt.
"Okay, how about dis one?" The Pokemon next models a pale blue bandanna.
"This is a villian you're playing, here...shouldn't it be a bit darker, Meowth?" a maroon haired girl wonders.
"Ya do have a point, dere, Jessie..." Meowth muses as he digs for another bandanna. "Besides, I don't have dat big a part, so when I'm true sayin' my lines, I can look for Pikachu while James plays Forsythe."
"Hat twerp won't even know Pikachu's gone until the final curtain call." Jessie smiles.
"Jus' tink of da boss as a fan of da melodrama..." Meowth muses as the scene swirls to Giovanni and a group of Rockets in a theater. "Da coitin goes up, and da audience is entralled by your performance of da lovely heroine..." We then see Jessie as the heroine of the imagined melodrama, shuddering in fear as Ash, now playing the villian, approaches her. The Rockets in the audience boo at Ash. "Just when all hope seems lost, da hero appears to save da day!" Just then, James, as the hero, appears onstage, to the cheers of the Rockets. "But da cherry on top? Watchin' it with da twerp's Pikachu by your side." Giovanni pets Pikachu as a dust cloud rolls about on the stage.
Back in the present, Meowth finds a red bandanna. "How bout dis one?"
"Yeah! Perfect!" both human Rockets cry.
"You look perfect as Snag L. Tooth." Jessie muses. "You'll do perfectly on opening night and possibly get Pikachu too!" The Rockets laugh at this, giddy about their new plot.
A week or two later...
"Are you going to introduce our characters before the play or after?" Misty asks as she puts on a small white cowboy hat over her wispy red hair.
"Before." Brock, now clad in a black shirt, tan overcoat, dull gold trousers, black shoes, and his wig hat, replies as a blue haired girl in a denim cowgirl's outfit with white fringe arrives onstage and sets a harmonica on a crate next to a chair. A mandolin sits on the right side by the chair.
"Cool costume, Brock." the blue haired girl smiles as Brock gives Misty an A note to tune by.
"Made the hat myself, Crystal." Brock replies as he finishes tuning his guitar and listens to the girls tuning their instruments and the chatter in the audience.
The lights flash the five minute warning a few moments later, and Nurse Joy walks out onstage, quieting the audience as the last few people find their seats. "Good evening, and thank you all for coming to this year's Spring Melodrama!" Applause fills the air. "Thanks to your generosity, we've sold out the theater and raised 100,000 credits from ticket sales, which will go towards improving the Pokemon Center and helping less fortunate Pokemon. You've come through for us yet again, and in return, we promise you a show you won't forget!" More cheers and applause waft through the crowd in agreement. "So without any further ado, please welcome your host for this evening--that rascally drifter Ace Chandler!"
Applause fills the air as Brock saunters onstage in a spotlight. "Howdy, everybody!" he calls, to an enthsiastic cheer from the crowd. "It's a wonderful night for a tale of dastardly villians, brave heroes, lovely ladies, evil plots, and finally, things workin' out all right in the end, isn't it?" soft cheers waft through the audience. "Say what?" Brock asks, prompting a louder cheer. "That's better--wouldn't want y'all to fall asleep before we even start the show." he smiles as he walks back over to stage right, where a chair and his guitar are waiting. "Before we git started here, allow me to introduce my posse--the lovely Marian Lawson on fiddle..." Misty gives the audience a polite nod as she appears by the crate, then checks her tuning. "and the lovely Skye Newman on harmonica and mandolin..." Crystal waves as she appears in a spotlight in the chair by the crate. "and of course, I've got my trusty gitar and my own sweet voice." he smiles as he makes himself comforable in his chair. "So now that we've met everybody, let's play a tune or two to start the show." With that, the guitar, fiddle and harmonica kick off the main theme, prompting the audience to clap along.
Once the song ends, Brock segues into the heroine's theme. "Our story begins on a night when the wind was a-howling, the rain was-a-blowing, and thunder lit the black sky on the plains. A prospector known as Nicholas Hart--or Nicky, to those that knew him--had set out from those parts five years before, leavin' his wife and daughter behind. Missus Hart hadn't heard a peep from Ol' Nicky in all those five years, and she was beginning to think he had died on his latest quest for gold. Her daughter Rebecca, meanwhile, had a little better fortune--she fell in love with a handsome young rider named Darien Lyons." Some cheers go up at the name. "But even she was beginning to think her daddy had ridden off that great trail in the sky..." He lets that hang as he finishes the song and the curtains open, revealing the set of a Western house.
Dawn, clad in a maroon gown, is looking out one of the windows at the "rain" and "lightning". Lola is nearby in a pale blue gown, pretending to be asleep in a chair. A soft sound effect of thunder plays before Dawn comments "Not fit for man or beast..."
"What's not fit, hon?" Lola asks as she feigns waking up.
"The night, ma--cain't ya hear the storm?" Dawn asks. Some "thunder" rumbles to illustrate her point.
"Shore can, now that ya mention it." Lola replies. "I kin only imagine your daddy out on a night like this...been gone five years now..."
"...and he's not comin' home." Dawn sighs over a sad harmonica riff.
"Now what makes ya say that, Becky, hon?" Lola asks as the fiddle and guitar join in the sad melody.
"I kin sense it...and even if Daddy finds gold, what would make him wanna come back here to this ol' shack?" Dawn asks.
"Cause he said he would--your pa's known as Honest Nicky, and when Honest Nicky says he'll be back, he'll be back, no matter how long it takes." Lola assures Dawn as the melody shifts to a major key for a moment.
A sound effect of Ponyta hooves gets Dawn's attention. "Maybe that's him!"
"Now who would come to call at this hour?" Lola asks as a knock comes at the door. When she opens it, she gasps and Brock plays an E minor chord as James, clad in a black gunslinger suit, and Meowth, wearing a miniature black cowboy hat and his red bandanna, are framed on the stoop.
"Why, Guy Forsythe...what brings you all the way out here tonight?" Dawn asks as Meowth "struggles" to carry in a heavy sack.
"So you do remember me, Miss Becky." James replies with a sweeping bow. "It's been some time since you and your daddy came to the bank and signed this here..." He then produces a prop deed from one pocket and shows it to Dawn, to some boos from the audience as Brock adds a tense riff.
"Yes--five years." Dawn replies.
"Correct...and you know what that means..." James replies with a sneer.
"W-what?" Dawn stammers fearfully.
"Today is when the money is due!" James replies. He laughs gleefully at this, despite the audience's boos.
"Oh no...didja hear that, ma?" Dawn gasps.
"Course I did!" Lola growls in anger. "No wonder your daddy was in such a hurry to join the gold rush...."
"Cause if he struck gold, he'd pay off the mortage!" Dawn explains.
Lola sighs. "Well, if Mr. Forsythe wants the house, we'll just have to wander among the cactuses..."
"Cacti." Dawn corrects Lola.
"Cacti--excuse me...I seem to be forgittin' my p's and q's here." Lola nervously giggles. "We'll just have to wander among the cacti lookin' for a new town to call home..."
"Ah, but it isn't that easy, madam." James interjects. "I only want my money and nothing more."
"Now see here, mister!" Lola snaps, making James rear back in surprise. "If I had money I wouldn't be livin' in this ol' shack!"
"That may be true, but I will have my money or else." James replies.
"Or else what???" Lola demands.
James puts an arm around Dawn. "Or else your precious Becky Hart must marry me." he sneers. The fiddle and harmonica punctuate this with a panicked chord as the audience boos.
"No! No! A thousand times no!" Dawn pleads as the audience continues booing James.
"You seem to have spirit, little lady." James continues. "I have a nice surprise for you--we will live together in my private vill-ah down south, man and wife." More boos and giggles at James' mangled pronounciation fill the air.
"But what about--" Dawn starts.
"The town's dried up, the bank is closed, and the townsfolk have moved on to greener pastures." James replies. "I managed to salvage the remaining gold, which is all there in that bag--right, Snag L. Tooth?"
"Meowth! Dat's right!" Meowth replies before scanning the rafters for any sign of Pikachu.
Then, something dawns on James. "I take that back--not every one of the townsfolk has moved on. One of the few out here that remain is Darien Lyons." The crowd cheers at the name as the small band plays a triumphant stinger.
Misty leads the heroine's theme as Dawn muses. "Oh, Darien Lyons...he's strong, brave, handsome, smart, a real sweetheart..." Cheers punctuate the musing.
"So you know Darien?" James gasps before sneering as the heroine's theme turns to a minor key. "He'll only be catching tumbleweeds instead of bandits before too long--and I hope to be down south before that happens."
"So are YOU going south, Snag L. Tooth?" Dawn challenges, snapping Meowth to attention.
"Dat's what da boss said." Meowth deadpans as he plucks the petals off a daisy. "But it's too hot down dere--I'd rather live in Willow Gulch to da east--by da riverside."
"You'll do as I tell you, Snag L. Tooth." James warns.
"Sure, sure, anyting you say, boss--it's just I'd rather be down by da riverside." Meowth protests. Some people in the audience laugh at the reference to the old song.
A knock at the door startles Dawn. "Who is it?"
"Could it be your pa?" Lola asks.
"Oh no!" Meowth gasps. "What'll we do, boss?"
"We've been followed...hide the gold and make it appear these folks took it." James whispers.
"Where?" Meowth asks.
"In the woodbox there." James whispers.
Meanwhile, Dawn opens the door to reveal Whitlea on the stoop in a checkered dress. "Missus Fleming, what a surprise! How sweet of you for comin' to call on a night like this..."
"May not be great for walkin' but I had to talk to someone." Whitlea smiles.
"Don't you get lonely livin' all by your lonesome?" Dawn asks.
"I thought I'd like it here on the plains..." Whitlea sighs as Meowth sneaks over to the woodbox and hides the bag. "But I'd give anything to head back to Willow Gulch and the riverside."
"Did someone say da riverside?" Meowth gasps, excited.
"I did, sweetie." Whitlea replies. "And who might your guests be, Missus Hart?" she asks Lola.
"Everyone, this is Missus Fleming, our neighbor." Lola explains to James and Meowth. "Missus Fleming, the handsome man in black is Guy Forsythe, and his Meowth Snag L. Tooth."
"How d'ya do?" Meowth tips his hat to Whitlea before asking "How'd ya like to go down south?"
"Quiet!" James barks before addressing Whitlea. "A pleasure to meet you, madam...you may not know me, but I do know you."
"Say, didja hear the bank was robbed last night?" Whitlea interjects.
"Dat's old news! We were da ones who--" Meowth starts.
"AHEM!!!" James interrupts, annoyed that Meowth almost told the truth about the town and the bank. "Oh really? The bank was robbed?""
"They say Honest Nicky returned the other night and left a bag of gold in the bank." Whitlea explains.
"Pa?" Dawn's eyes shine at this.
"Really?" Lola is just as excited.
"I remember a handsome stranger depositing a bag of gold, cause I put it in the safe myself." James muses.
"You best git yerself a new safe, cause someone cleaned out the bank the next day." Whitlea continues. "Every cowboy's out lookin' fer the rascal right now."
"A posse?" James gasps as an aside.
"I'll be on my way..." Meowth starts for the door.
"Wait." James cautions Meowth before asking Whitlea "Where did the posse go?"
"All I know is what the paper said." Whitlea replies. "And the paper didn't say where the posse's gone."
"But, Mr. Forsythe, you said the bank was closed!" Dawn protests.
"Only closed for the night." James assures Dawn. "And now someone's made off with a bag of gold. Don't worry--we'll find the culprit."
"Don'tcha worry, Becky! I'll put a claw--" Meowth starts.
"That's enough, Snag. L. Tooth!" James snaps.
"Well, if the bank's closed for the night, then way are ya taking the bag down south?" Lola wonders.
"What bag of gold?" James feigns ignorance, to some laughter.
"The one Snag L. Tooth carried in before." Lola explains.
James looks around the room. "I don't see a bag of gold anywhere..." He addresses Whitlea. "Did you?"
"No I don't--but I don't see Mt. Moon and I wouldn't be surprised if it was up your sleeve." Whitlea retorts.
"Smart cookie, ain't she?" Meowth remarks, to some laughter.
"You saw that bag, didn't you, Rebecca?" Lola asks Dawn.
"I did so!" Dawn replies over a tense riff from Brock.
"There's somethin' fishy goin' on here..." Whitlea grumbles. "I jes know it!"
The lights go down on the set and come up on Brock and the girls. "Is Missus Fleming's hunch correct?" Brock starts. "Has Honest Nicky Hart returned? And what about Darien Lyons? Will he be the one to uncover the truth?" Misty adds a tense riff. "Find out in Part 2 of 'Not Fit For Man or Beast', or 'It Was a Dark and Stormy Knight'!" With that, the theater lights come up for intermission...