Ninetales and Psyduck

Once upon a time, in a land no humans ever saw, there was a gorgeous lake in the mountains where peace had reigned for hundreds of years. There were wars in the lands around them, kingdoms that sought to conquer and tribes that despised one another. But those wars had not touched the lake, so high in the mountains that it was nearly in the sky. Rare flowers and trees grew there, with fruits or honey that could cure many ills. Even the water, many of the Pokemon who lived there said, even the water had mysterious powers to keep those who drank it healthy.

Despite these wonderful powers, none of the Pokemon who lived near or in the lake tried to rule over it. There was a sign of the mythical beast Suicune on one of the walls, so they felt the lake was hers and no mortal Pokemon had the right to claim otherwise. Since there was little danger there, they felt no need to battle like the Pokemon who lived elsewhere. They assisted those who came up to the lake in hopes of healing, but insisted that no fighting should take place in this area of peace.

There came a day when this all changed. Off the mountain, one kingdom had grown immensely, surpassing all others. It overtook all the lands around the mountain and sought to conquer the mountain itself. The kingdom's leader came up to the peaceful lake himself to take control of it and the peak. Wearing a long red silk scarf around his neck, the Ninetales was an impressive sight. His body was elegant and lithe, covered in luxurious fur that glittered like gold. His nine tails were long and lush, fanning out above him, then curling daintily at the tips. Seeing him caused such awe that the lake's Pokemon began to gather as he approached the shoreline.

Finding a rock standing above the water's surface, the Ninetales hopped up there to address the growing crowd. "Greetings, my citizens. I am King Edward the Wise of Daventry. We have expanded our borders to include this mountain and its lake, so I am now your ruler. You will follow the laws and pay the taxes of Daventry from now on. We will be lenient in the first few days, given that you have lived without the watchful eye of authority over you of centuries. But do not fret, as this will enhance and enrich your lives much more than before."

Once they had gotten over the initial awe, the lake Pokemon were angered. "You can't claim this lake," a Barboach said. "The goddess Suicune has claimed this lake for her own, as her sign over there shows. And we've chosen to remain out of the kingdoms below because we don't want any part in your wars."

"Can you prove that Suicune put that mark there?" Edward argued. "Anyone could have made that mark; it is just a painting on the rocks, made from materials found around this mountain. And the Kingdom of Daventry is strong. None have withstood our forces, so you need not fear battles coming up to this place. Unless of course you resist our rule foolishly; then we shall send forces in to subdue troublemakers."

"We're certain that Suicune, or some other immortal spirit, has claimed this lake as sacred," a Geodude countered. "This lake heals many ills and wounds, it and the plants around it. So it doesn't need authority, especially not from some Fire Pokemon."

"You need my authority and wisdom," Edward said, flicking his tails. "I know how to properly manage resources so that everyone has a good life, instead of only a few doing so with the rest suffering. Why is such a lake way up here, out of reach of many of the sick folks it may heal? It is a selfish joke of the immortals if it is there doing. On the other hand, I am not called 'the Wise' for nothing. I could cultivate the healing waters and plants where the Pokemon who need them could come. And I could bring the good of the rest of the world to you, the trades, the items, the shelters, everything that makes life better for us, you could have too. But you must respect my laws and obey my kingdom."

"We don't know that you're wise," a Gyrados snorted. "We just know what you've been boasting. No one owns this lake, so beat it!" He then sent a blast of water at Edward.

However, Edward made one of his tails glow. A wall of water came up around him, absorbing the blast and not letting one drop hit the Fire-type. "You won't be able to drive me away through brute force," he said in a warning tone. "Each one of my tails has the power of a wizard among Pokemon, and I control them all. I am seven hundred years old, therefore smarter and wiser than any of you. None of you stand a chance against me. However, knowing this, I came here to subject myself to a test of my ability to govern. I can answer any riddle posed to me and can identify bits of nonsense posing as riddles. I am confident enough in this ability to give you this challenge: if any of you can come up with a riddle that stumps me, then I will keep this lake out of my kingdom. If I answer them all, you will know that I am a capable ruler and will join Daventry. I will give you a week to consider this."

Then he left.

The Pokemon of the lake immediately tried to think of things to stump the Ninetales. Some complained that he was forcing this challenge on them. Then they heard that his boasting was not empty; the Ninetails could call up on many strange powers not expected of his kind, including that of the Grass type which frightened those of the lake who were not weak to Fire. Several kingdoms had fallen when attacked by the Daventry King alone. In truth, they were lucky that he was offering this chance at all.

When he came back, the lake Pokemon had many riddles. Some were old while some were new. A few even tried bits of nonsense that sounded riddling, but the Ninetales knew those and would punish those who asked with appropriate attacks. As the day wore on, it seemed Edward would be triumphant. But then a lone Psyduck came before the king.

He was an absent-minded Pokemon, as evidenced by some yellow feathers that stuck out of place on his head. He usually kept to himself in a nearby cave, only bothering others when he had a headache and attacked anyone who made too much noise. However, he was normally good-natured and never seemed to remember those incidents. He looked around at his neighbors blankly while the Gyrados introduced him. "Bill the Psyduck… hey Bill!"

"Huh?" the Psyduck asked, tilting his head at the sight of the royal Ninetales.

"You said you had a riddle for me," Edward stated. "That is, if you can remember it."

Ignoring some snickers in the crowd, Bill nodded. "Oh right, that. Well I didn't see you the first time around; I had a mild headache, see. But then I heard about the riddle challenge and tried to think of stuff. I went over to the mark of Suicune and stared at it for a while, but then… I don't know…"

Examining a paw, Edward did not appear concerned. "You Psyducks have powers that are similar to that of Psychic Pokemon. However, you are incapable of controlling such powers, which is why you are not recognized as Psychic and why you receive such debilitating headaches. Also, your brainwaves are capable of submerging themselves to the level of a sleeping Pokemon, which is why you never remember things."

Bill brightened to that. "Right! You know that. But that wasn't my riddle."

"Then what is your riddle?"

He pulled out a piece of paper from under his wing. "While I was there by the mark of Suicune, I blanked out as usual. But I wrote this in that time. It does have an answer." He handed it to a Machop who was next to him.

"All right, I guess I'll read it," the Machop said, looking at the paper.

'It is a gentle little flower,

Yet it despises the earth

In hope, it takes to the sky,

Blossoming with warmth.

'Sky is brother to earth,

And sends the flower away

If lucky, it returns as autumn fluff.

If unlucky, it never finds its way.'

"An identity riddle," King Edward said. "And it does have an answer. That answer…" he paused, thinking.

Bill the Psyduck smiled. "Yes, Suicune knows the answer. I know that, for she told me the riddle. I remember that as a vision of loveliness even greater than this lake."

Moving his tails like a wave of water, Edward's ears twitched as he thought. "I know Shaymin is a flower among the goddesses and she can take to the sky. But she does not despise earth. Indeed, she makes the earth beautiful in the spring… nothing to do with autumn fluff. It must be… well no, but then…" he shifted paws, now looking nervous.

"I thought about it for a long time too," Bill said. "But it gave me another headache after a while, which is why I've refused to look at it again. Riddles mess with my head."

"Do you even know the answer?" the Gyrados taunted Bill, only thinking a moment later that it might ruin this chance at stumping the Ninetales.

Bill didn't even think of that. "I told you, Suicune knows the answer. I don't, but I know there is an answer."

"Right, there must be an answer," Edward said, lowering his ears and twitching his tails in agitation. "But I didn't think there was a riddle out there that could still stump me… I should be able to figure this out, it doesn't seem that tough. But what flower despises earth and returns as autumn fluff? And besides that, how do you know that Suicune gave you this riddle, and knows this answer? Psyduck, your powers are unknown to you…"

Without warning, rain broke out over the mountain lake. The clouds began to build then, arriving late, but joining the shower nevertheless. Edward made one of his tails glow to deflect the water again. This time, it didn't work. Soon, his golden fur was drenched, taking away his royal look for one of raggedness.

The Ninetale lowered his ears in shame. "So it is her lake… and I failed to answer a riddle. Very well then, the lake shall remain free." Edward ran back down the mountain, out of the rain.

For many years after, he kept searching for the answer to the riddle Bill had given him. But the Psyduck never figured out the answer either.

...

Psyduck Emerald entry: When its headache intensifies, it starts using strange powers. However, it has no recollections of its powers, so it always looks befuddled and bewildered.

Emerald entry: It has long been said that each of its nine tails embody an enchanted power. A long-lived Ninetales will have fur that shines like gold.

The riddle does have an answer.