Episode 10: Kira's Story

Kira woke the next morning to an odd clacking noise coming from the desk. Upon sitting up in her basket, she could see Kimi--or at least, her fingers--furiously typing away at a PC's keyboard. The letters on the screen piqued her. I wonder what those characters say? she wondered. Being a Pichu, human language was alien to her.

She nudged Brenna awake. Brenna..

Hm? Brenna groggily asked as she eased from her shell.

Can you teach me how to read human language?

Brenna was confused by Kira's request. Why would you want to learn to read human language?

Maybe so she can read the story Kimi's writing? Lita asked from the desk, bemused by the ever appearing stream of letters on the screen.

What's a story? Kira was interested...

Well...it would take a long explanation for me to tell you, but I'll try anyway. Lita began. It's basically a sequence of events, whether they're real or not.

They typically start by introducing the audience to the characters involved and the big problem in the story. Brenna added. This big problem might be anything from a Dragonite terrorizing a town to the hero wanting to get stronger for some reason.

What's going on? Starshine interrupted as she too woke up.

Kira wanted to know what a story was, so we're telling her. Brenna assured Starshine before continuing. There's also a character that doesn't want the hero to solve the big problem--or is the cause of the big problem.

The bad guy? Kira asked.

Something like that, but not all of these kinds of characters want to kidnap princesses, use magic items for the wrong reason, or take over the world. Brenna replied. Sometimes the bad guy, for lack of a better way to say it, is misunderstood or is causing the problem for a silly reason.

So a story is essentially about the hero overcoming the bad guy--or something else--to solve a big problem. Lita concluded as she watched Kimi edit the chapter she just wrote.

Kira, however, dashed to the stack of printer paper and grabbed as many sheets she could carry in her tiny paws. I'm going to write a story!

I can help you write it! Starshine volunteered. I can write human language, so you tell me what to write, and I'll write it down on the paper. she explained, grabbing a pencil from the desk drawer.

Let's see... Kira mused for a moment, then began dictating to Starshine Once upon a time...and they lived happily ever after! The end!

But what happens in between 'Once upon a time' and 'They all lived happily ever after'? Brenna asked.

Starshine sweatdropped. Let's start over... She wadded up the piece of paper and threw it in the trash, then grabbed another sheet. Okay...be sure to include something else this time...

Umm... Kira thought some more, then began Once upon a time...there was a beautiful kingdom...the people were happy so long as the king had seven magical gems in his possession.

That's a good start, what else? Starshine asked.

Once a year, on the day of the Rainbow Festival, the seven gems would shine down on the kingdom from their place in the royal vault, granting the people blessings for the next year. Kira continued dictating. However, the royal wizard longed to use the gem's powers to rule the kingdom himself. So late one night, he snuck inside the royal vault and stole the gems, hiding them in seven well guarded locations throughout the kingdom...

the...kingdom. Starshine finished writing down the sentence. You're doing great, but talk a little slower so I can write everything down.

Okay! Kira smiled before continuing. The next morning, the king was horrified to find the gems gone! He looked all over the castle, but didn't find them. To make matters worse, the Rainbow Festival was coming, and the gems being gone on that day would mean a terrible year was ahead for the kingdom...

Keep going, this is getting good! Lita smiled.

Kimi just smiled. "You're a natural storyteller, you know that, Kira?"

Thanks! Kira replied before continuing over the whir of the printer The king decreed that whoever could find the seven gems and bring them safely back to the castle would be greatly rewarded during the Rainbow Festival. At this, heroes began coming from all around to try and find the gems, but none returned. One day, a wandering adventurer came to the kingdom and asked if he could try to find the gems...

Several hours later...

...The people cheered when they saw the adventurer returning with the seven gems, just in time for the Rainbow Festival. As thanks, the king granted the adventurer a piece of land and made him a citizen of the kingdom. And so he lived there, helping the people as often as he could for a very long time...the end. Kira concluded. prompting applause from Kimi. Brenna and Lita had fallen asleep listening on top of the huge stack of paper Starshine had written on.

That was a long story... Lita groaned as she hopped off the tower of paper.

You lost me around Chapter 37... Brenna agreed.

Kimi smiled. "Maybe I should let you write the next chapter of my story..."

Knowing Kira, you'd need twenty posts just to fit the chapter in. Lita joked. Everyone laughed as Kira blushed.