Just when it seems the Pokepals are about to lose the duel with Ken, Brock reveals his best card, Onix lv. 43, and single handedly pulls off a win, giving the group the resolve to carry onward into the next rounds! There are many more duelists ahead for our heroes, but for now, they plan to enjoy the thrill of victory!
What will happen on this special evening? Find out!
The Heart of the Cards, part 8: A Star is Born
The group smiled and laughed as they strolled into the myriad of tables, people, food, music, and laughter. "Here we are! The Pokemon Dome Dinner Theater!" Maya explained.
"Wow...this place is huge!" Misty commented as she glanced around the room. There were people occupying every table, some enjoying a meal, others talking among each other, and still others enjoying the music of the house band.
"It is, because a lot of people come here after a long day of dueling cards." Maya replied. "I have a few friends that work here..."
"Where are we going to sit?" Ash wondered. "All the tables are taken!"
"There's still a few seats at the bar." Maya assured Ash. "We'll all sit there. By the way, dinner's on me tonight!" she giggled as the group sat down.
"Good evening, Maya!" the bartender called. "Want a root beer?"
"Sure, and three more for my friends." Maya replied.
"All right..." and the bartender returned with four glasses of root beer. "Here you are. Call if you need refills." With that, he went off to tend to the other customers.
"Wow, I'm thirsty after that duel!" Ash smiled, taking a huge gulp of his drink.
"Which reminds me..." Misty raised her glass. "A toast! To our first victory!"
"And to Pokepower!" Brock added. With that, four glasses clinked together.
Maya sipped her drink, then continued. "Oh, tonight's Amateur Talent night, so if you have an act to share, feel free to go up onstage and wow the crowd!"
"I would, but I have stage fright!" Ash stammered. "If I had the courage to do it, I'd sing a song or tell jokes..."
"Well, your singing's pretty good, but the comedy act needs some improvement." Brock commented.
"Go on up there, Ash!" Maya put a shoulder around Ash. "I would like to hear how you sound!"
"Well..." Ash got up from his chair and stretched. "Since you guys have talked me into it, I might as well sing...but I might do something else too." With that, he strolled through the maze of tables and up to the stage, where the band was warming up. He tapped the microphone a few times, checking to see if it was on. "Check: Testing, testing, one, two...can you guys hear me okay in the back?" A few cheers came from the back. Satisfied with that reply, Ash motioned to the band. "Hit it, guys."
With that, the drummer began a steady rhythm as Ash began his song:
If you're gonna play in Titian, you gotta have a fiddle in the band.
That lead guitar is hot, but not for this kind of trainer man!
So rosin up that bow to play 'Hey Love', and let's all dance!
If you're gonna play in Titian, you gotta have a fiddle in the band....
With this, the rest of the band joined in the song as Ash began the first verse:
One day in Titian City, I was puttin' on a show,
When a pretty girl in the back stood up and yelled 'Don Gato!'
She said "Now, I love what you're doing, please don't get me wrong,
There's just something missing in your song.....
The audience began to clap as the backup singers joined in with Ash on the chorus:
If you're gonna play in Titian, you gotta have a fiddle in the band.
That lead guitar is hot, but not for this kind of trainer man!
So rosin up that bow to play 'Hey Love', and let's all dance!
If you're gonna play in Titian, you gotta have a fiddle in the band....
The band members each took a turn soloing, then Ash reappeared in his spotlight for the second verse:
So, I dusted off my boots and put my cowboy hat on straight,
Everybody raised the roof as I opened up my case... Everyone in the audience cheered as a recording of a fiddle blared over the speakers.
You say you guys wanna two-step?
Or do you wanna do-si-do?
Well, here's a fiddling song before we go!....
Just then, the lights went out on the stage and the audience began to holler in anticipation for the promised song. Misty stood up as she clapped, eager to see Ash play. Suddenly, the drummer quickened his rhythm, and the tell-tale notes of a fiddle filled the air!
"All right!" Brock led the audience in clapping as Ash reappeared onstage, playing a fiddle along with the band. The entire room jumped to life, clapping along with Ash's every stroke.
"Yee-ha!" Maya cheered in encouragement as Ash continued.
"Oh yeah!" Brock agreed, enthusiastically clapping for his friend and fellow Pokepal. He led the applause when Ash concluded his song. Ash took a bow for his audience, then returned to his seat.
"Great job!" Maya called as Ash sat down. "That sounded really good!"
"Thank you..." Ash replied, sipping his drink. "Right now, my fingers need a rest..." He flexed his fingers a few times, then drummed them on the table as he glanced around at passersby that were coming and going.
"Well, they'd have to be tired playing all that at a million notes per minute!" Misty laughed. She sipped her drink a little, then turned to Brock, who was obvously enjoying the steak sandwich he had ordered. "Are you going to get up and do something?" she asked.
"Yeah! I think I will..." and Brock brushed off the crumbs from his shirt, got up, and walked off towards the stage.
"What's going to do? Sing some sappy ballad to all the girls in the audience?" Ash asked.
"Knowing Brock, he'd probably do that..." Misty sighed as the band began a bluesy melody. Surprisingly, all three were surprised as Brock started to play a harmonica solo, bringing the entire audience to its feet! Then, he began to sing as the band took over:
Your mind is made up, you won't even try....
You didn't even cry this time!
You say that we could never see eye to eye,
And one of us just must be blind.
We have our differences,
We're still the same...
See what we want to see...
But you take a second look
And maybe things wouldn't seem the same
If you could see what you mean to me...
Put yourself in my shoes...
Walk a mile for me.
I'll put myself in your shoes,
Maybe then we'd see...
That if you put yourself in my shoes...
You'd have some sympathy.
And if I could only put myself in your shoes,
I'd walk right back to me....
"Wow! He's pretty good!" Maya commented as Brock continued to wail away. She drummed her fingers on the table as Brock started the second verse:
You're gonna keep walkin' and you're gonna pass me by,
You say you don't even care!
But I could always recognize a real good-bye,
And I know your heart's not there...
We've had our differences,
We're still the same...
Hear what we want to hear...
Now I'm head over heels in the lost and found
It's a cryin' shame...
I thought we made the perfect pair! Some girls screamed at this.
Put yourself in my shoes...
Walk a while--walk that mile for me.
I'll put myself in your shoes.
Maybe then we'd see...
That if you put yourself in my shoes,
You'd have some sympathy...
And if I could only put myself in your shoes,
I'd walk right back to me....
I'd walk right back to me...
I'd walk..... Brock held this note for a while, causing the entire audience to cheer. right ba-a-a-ack.... Even more cheers erupted from the girls in the audience. to me.... He took his harmonica and wailed one last time to end the song.
"YEAAAHHHHH!!!!" Every person in the room stood up and applauded, including the others.
"I didn't know Brock could get into it like that!" Ash was impressed. He whistled in encouragement as Brock took a bow for the audience.
"Thank you for that rousing song!" a girl called from the piano. "In fact, why don't you come play with me?
"Sure!" Brock strolled over to a nearby chair and got comfortable.
"What's going on?" Ash wondered.
"Tina, the pianist, is going to give Brock a random instrument that he has to play along with her." Maya explained. "Part of the fun is watching the person try to play an instrument he or she may not have played before."
Misty suddenly started to giggle, then laugh, and before long was laughing so hard she could barely contain herself. "What's so funny?" Ash asked.
"Look on the stage...what Brock has to try to play....hee hee..." Misty gasped before laughing some more.
"Huh?" Ash looked over at the stage and noticed Brock staring at a tuba with a 'Do-I-really-have-to-do-this?' look. "Oh...THIS I have to see..." he laughed. "Who wants to bet he tips over before he even gets started?"
Maya heard Brock try a few notes with the gargantuan instrument. "Well, at least a few notes is a good sign..."
Tina started a rapidfire piano melody as an intro. Brock followed along, trying to convince the audience that although the song itself was good, they were still listening to a tuba.
The two instruments traded off with the song....at least until Tina decided to let Brock show off a little.
Brock immediately started to descend down the musical scale, getting lower...and lower...
"How low can he go?" Misty joked as Brock got into the REALLY low notes, making some people laugh. Tina quickly decided that was enough, and the two ended the song together. The room exploded with applause as Brock took a bow and left the stage.
"Well! I'm impressed!" Misty replied.
"Not bad for anyone who's never had a lesson!" the bartender agreed.
"You know, Brock, I think you do better with the harmonica." Ash smiled, taking a bite of a hamburger he had ordered.
"Thanks..." Brock replied, sipping his drink.
---------
After several hours, the group relaxed as they listened to the band play. "You know Maya, I want to thank you for tonight." Brock replied. "Even if they made me play the tuba!" Everyone laughed at this.
"Anytime!" Maya replied. "But I have a question: how did you learn to play the harmonica?"
"Easy..." Brock replied. "I found one lying in a drawer one day, so I set about teaching myself to play it. Before long, I got pretty good at it, good enough to be playing for parties, picnics, schools and even weddings! After I had mastered my current one, I got a low harmonica...you know, the kind that plays REALLY low notes?"
"You mean a bass harmonica?" Misty asked.
"Something like that...well I rounded up three of my friends and we formed a little harmonica band..." Brock sighed as he thought on the old memories...
"Hey, I can play the harmonica too!" Ash dug his own instrument from his pocket and showed Brock a few riffs he knew, including a train whistle sound effect. Brock smiled, impressed.
"Wow! Will you teach me?" Maya asked.
"Me too?" Misty begged.
"Okay!" Brock dug out two spare harmonicas and gave them to the girls. "Here's how you play: You blow on certain holes to get certain notes, and you inhale-or draw-to get others...." Misty and Maya tried their best to follow along....
----------
"Are you sure you want us all to play?" Misty stammered as Brock led the group into the wings. "I'm still a little shakey..."
"Relax..." Brock assured Misty as he fished his low harmonica from his pocket. "I'm playing bass, Maya will do the rhythm, you do the harmony, and Ash gets the melody."
"Everyone ready?" Ash asked.
"As I'll ever be..." Misty stammered. as she followed Ash onstage and took her place at a microphone. Brock snapped a few times, then Ash led everyone into "Camptown Races". Misty just followed Ash's melody as best as she could, then slowed down as Ash transitioned into a slower song, playing a little countermelody to Ash's melody.
Ash then transitioned into a short section of "Swanee River". On this, Misty opted to follow Maya more, while all the while trying not to giggle as she watched Brock puff away with the bass part.
Finally, Ash and Brock began the final song in the set: "Oh Susanna". "This one's easy...just single notes...." she thought as she followed along with the melody. Suddenly, Brock changed keys, and soon, the foursome was playing in four part harmony. When the song concluded, the entire Dome burst into applause!
----------
"Here you are..." Maya flicked on the lights as the group entered a large bedroom. "I saved this guest room for you to sleep in while you're here competing."
"Thanks Maya!" Ash called as he walked over to one of the beds. "I'll sleep in the one by the window..."
"Okay if I sleep next to you?" Misty asked as she got comfortable on the second bed.
"Sure!" Ash replied as he climbed in his bed and turned on the TV. "Just don't snore, okay?"
"I think Brock's the one that snores...." Misty giggled.
"I do not!" Brock retorted as he stretched out on the bed closest to the nearby bathroom.
"Oh yeah? Then what was that 'sknnnnxxx' noise I heard last night?" Misty asked.
"Sknnnnnxxx!" Togepi agreed.
"Okay, okay, I confess: I was snoring last night...just not very loud." Brock sighed. "I only do it if I get really involved in a dream or something..."
"Guys, can you pipe down a little bit?" Ash asked. "Maya and I are trying to watch this show!"
"Sorry!" Misty stammered. With that, she got out some formula and began to feed Togepi.
Ash turned to Maya and smiled. "So? Did you like performing with us?"
"Oh yes, performing that act was fun!" Maya smiled and turned to leave. "Maybe we should do it again sometime!"
"I'm glad you had fun." Brock agreed. "Keep practicing, though."
"I will!" Maya assured Brock. "Good night, you guys!"
"'Night, Maya..." the group called back as they got ready for bed.
Ash turned to face Misty's bed. "Speaking of practicing...looks like Misty's still going strong!" he laughed as he listened to Misty practice on her harmonica, as Pikachu and Togepi listened intently.
"Togi togi, toiiii!" Togepi chirped excitedly.
"Chu, Chu, pikachupi!" Pikachu agreed.
"Again? You guys must like my version of 'Greensleeves...'" and Misty began the song again.
"She's getting pretty good with that song..." Brock noted. "Maybe we should go out tomorrow and explore Titian City!"
"Sounds like fun!" Ash replied. "We'll ask Maya in the morning, okay?" With that, he yawned and dozed off.
What else does Titian City have to offer? Stay tuned!