ANP #036: The Legend of Ash
(Cue OP-On Our Way-as the song plays, we see various shots of the Pokemon cast in the backstage area, getting ready for a show: Misty walks past one member of the lighting crew, making her trip and drop her paints, which color some of the notes on Brock's sheet music. He tries to clean the music, only to get walloped by a basketball in the face (thrown by May) Pikachu runs past all of this, down a hallway, and through a door with a star on it marked "Ash". He cries "Pika!" and points at a clock, which is ticking dangerously close to "Show Time!" Ash notices the time on the clock and ducks behind a screen to get ready, when he finishes, he's now decked out in a red top hat (with the same design as his cap) and tails. Ash then runs head on at the camera and makes a flying entrance onto a stage as the song concludes)
Female announcer: And now, it's time for the Ash and Pikachu Show!
(Pikachu climbs onto Ash's shoulder and smiles as the title card flies in from the right, a short clip of "On Our Way" in the background)
(Suddenly, Brock appears in the scene in his normal clothes and sunglasses)
Brock: Hey, I wanted a Triforce too! (smiles over one last hit of music as the scene fades out)
(We look in on an orchestra tuning up--from our perspective, we can see the conductor's podium, empty. As the instruments finish tuning, we see Ash step up to the podium, to thunderous applause. Ash bows to the audience, then raises his baton. The orchestra begins to play a majestic version of
the Zelda theme song. We take a look around the theater: some in the audience are nodding their heads to the beat, others just sit quietly. We observe the orchestra playing, and Ash conducting, culminating in one last hit of music. The audience applauds as Ash steps down from the podium and acknowledges the orchestra, who bow and troop offstage.)
Misty: Bravo!
May: Encore!
Brock: You make a great conductor, Ash! In fact, I know the perfect pair who would enjoy that number... (heads backstage)
Ash: Thanks, guys...I wanted to do something special tonight--(Ash is cut off by the voice of the Transporter) Huh?
Transporter: Coordinates entered: 0787. Destination: Hyrule.
(a column of light appears on the stage, unlike what the Transporter has done before)
Ash: What the?
(the group watches, amazed, as Link and Zelda descend down to the stage, to some applause. Navi flies out from under Link's cap and surveys the audience.)
Navi: We're inside a theater, and a show was obviously in progress when we arrived; but it looks like we got here in between an act.
Zelda: It's a nice theater...reminds me of the royal theater back home.
Pikachu: Pika! (swats at Navi, knocking her backwards)
Navi: Hey! (smooths her wrinkled dress out and tosses her hair back)
Ash: Pikachu! That wasn't very nice! Now tell Navi you're sorry!
Pikachu: Pika, Pi...
Navi: Apology accepted.
Link: Who knew that Bombchus like this little guy (gestures to Pikachu) liked fairies as toys?
Zelda: Link's right...I think the cute mouse wanted to play with Navi.
Navi: Well, if you want to play, play nice! (laughter as Pikachu romps offstage, beckoning for Navi to follow.)
Ash: Anyway...perhaps you guys would like to see some of the stories of your exploits? (starts the projector as Link and Zelda get comfortable)
(CARTOON-"Sing For the Unicorn!")
(some applause as the projector rewinds. Link is a little embarrassed as to what he just watched)
Link: I can't believe I used to be that obsessed with kissing you, Zelda....
Zelda: It's all right, Link...we all have our childish phases sometimes... (she is about to say more when Navi and Pikachu return to the stage)
Navi: I will admit, little guy, you're good at hide and go seek!
Pikachu: Pika.
Zelda: Say...should we teach our new friends one of the court dances? The Hylian Fling, maybe?
Link: Good idea. (he and Zelda join hands for a moment, then a march with an Irish feel begins to play. The pair skip in a circle to the beat before Link spins Zelda, then the pair dance in a circle going the other direction. Ash and the others watch the dance, bemused.)
Ash: That looks like fun! (grabs Misty and starts copying the dance)
Misty: Ash, wait! (stumbles along to Ash's dancing for a few moments, then gets the hang of the skipping)
Brock: Dance with me! (grabs May and begins doing the dance with her.)
(Pikachu grabs Mudkip and dances with her as Navi and the audience clap along. When the song concludes, everyone collapses to the floor, exhausted. Pikachu and Mudkip, meanwhile, are still going strong)
Link: The only problem with the Hylian Fling is, it's very exhausting. (laughter as Ash starts the projector)
Ash: Let's watch this while we rest. (starts the projector)
(CARTOON-"Fairies in the Spring")
(Back onstage, Ash tunes a fiddle while Link and Zelda watch.)
Ash: Link, Zelda, I thank you for teaching us that dance earlier... (light laughter as Pikachu and Mudkip dance by)
Zelda: Our pleasure.
Ash: Now it's our turn to perform something for you in return...take it, Brock.
[guitar intro]
Brock:
Epona, Epona, come out here by me...
As long as I see you out here, I never shed lonely tears.
Tell me now, Epona, since you're here with me...
We shall rest here together, and our dreams will grow!
However, as wind blows and rain becomes like snow...
As the fire of dawn comes again...
The moon, it is setting now, rising is the sun...
Along with its bright light, you return...
Epona, Epona, come out here by me...
As long as I see you out here, I will never shed a tear.
Tell me now, Epona, since you're here with me...
Listen, please, for I will sing, the song of this time!
[guitar and fiddle solo]
Brock:
Hmm...Hmm...
However, as wind blows and rain becomes like snow,
As the time, keeps on, passing by...
Even when I pass on, my voice will sing for you,
The song of this time!
Hmm...Hmm...
As long as I see you out here, I will never shed a tear!
Hmm...Hmm...
I will always remember, the song of this time!
The song of, this time!
(Link and Zelda lead the applause as Brock, Ash and the band bow.)
May: One more cartoon... (starts the projector)
(CARTOON-"Underworld Connections")
(Ash waves goodbye as the portal disappears)
Ash: There they go...home to Hyrule...
Pikachu: Pika pika Pi...
Ash: You'll miss Navi? (light laughter)
Brock: You know, Navi wasn't half as annoying as I thought! (laughter)
Ash: Well, we're out of time for tonight, so see ya next time! (waves)
Pikachu: Pika! (continues doing the Hylian Fling as the credits roll)
THE END