Chapter 4: Up:
Jack's POV:
I was feeding my mouse when there was a knock on the door. I then answered it, and it was Isabelle. She was my friend since childhood and I kinda have romantic feelings towards her.
"Hi Jack," she said.
"Oh, hello Isabelle," I said.
"I heard you were having problems, so I got you some bread," says Isabelle.
"I appreciate it," I said. We looked at my mouse. "Don't worry, you'll get some crumbs."
"I've been meaning to ask, what's your mouse's name?"
"Oh, Mickey," I said.
"That's an odd name for a mouse," says Isabelle.
"Well, my uncle suggested Mortimer, but I thought that would be sillier," I said.
Zhang Guolao's POV:
I was searching until I found the first young man.
"You there," I said.
"Who, me?"
"Well, I certainly don't mean the cow," I said, "do you realize you traded those beans for a cow?"
"I figured the beans would be no help for me," he says.
"Those beans could grow a beanstalk that could take one to the one who took the girl," I said.
"What," he says, "I am a terrible trader!"
"We must find the boy with the beans," I said.
"We didn't exactly discuss where he lives," he said, "who are you, anyway?"
"I am Zhang Guolao of the Eight Immortals!"
"I am Momotarō... the Peach Boy."
"I'm sure there's an interesting story behind that," I said, "but right now, we have something important to deal with. Let's go!"
Jack's POV:
After Isabelle left, it was just me and my mouse.
"Do you think I can tell her how I really feel, Mickey," I asked.
He just squeaks.
"I think he's telling you to be more confident," says Uncle Anton, "and he's right. He's a smart mouse."
"I suppose, but I just... there's something unnatural behind me, isn't there?"
We looked out the window and saw it.
Momotarō's POV:
The Immortal and I saw it with our own eyes.
"That's where we go," says Zhang Guolao.
Jack's POV:
Everyone gathered around to see it...a giant beanstalk... in my uncle's garden.
"Good thing you didn't want us to eat those beans," I said.
"I'm just sorry that I didn't believe that they were magic," says my uncle.
Even my mouse looked in awe. Then the man I traded the cow to came, with another man.
"Those beans really were magic," I said.
"Yes, and up that beanstalk is great evil," says the other man, "my name is Zhang Guolo and I have sworn to banish the Mountain Demon back to the Demon Netherworld."
"And I am Momotarō. The Mountain Demon took the woman I love."
"We must climb the beanstalk to defeat the demon and save her," says Zhang.
"By the way, what does she look like," asks Momotarō.
"She's big enough to eat this entire village," says Zhang.
"Even the oni weren't that big," says Momotarō.
Anything that big... imagine the food. It could feed me and my uncle... we could eat until we die. "Let me go with you," I said.
"That's out of the question," says Uncle Anton.
"It is far too dangerous," says Zhang.
"My uncle and I have nothing," I said, "the village has nothing, but if that demon is that big, well, she has to have big food."
"The village could eat for years," says Isabelle.
"What's your name," asks Zhang.
"Jack."
"Well, Jack, I guess you're coming," says Zhang.
"Anyone else have a reason to come with us," asks Momotarō. No one says anything. "Then it's just the three of us."
"So, what's the name of the woman you love, anyway?" I asks.
"Her name is Urikohime... the Melon Princess." says Momotarō.
We then started climbing.
Singer/Chorus: There goes Jack the reckless fool
Scootin' up the beanstalk, and with another fool
Maybe tonight the two, will be bottled in alcohool
There goes Jack, the village loon
And almost up the beanstalk, scamperin' to the moon
Doesn't know what he's doin'
He's hurrying to his ruin
No giant finds it bothersome
To grapple with a midget
He'll pinion Jack beneath his thumb
And spank him with a digit
Spank him with a digit
Jack and the Beanstalk
We'll long remember when
He shinnied up the stalk
To beard a giant in his den
Once up the beanstalk
If Jack is set upon
Then Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Or Jack you're good as gone
Up, up, up, up, there he goes
Up to where nobody knows
Long is the beanstalk
And short is little Jack
The long and short of it is
Is he ever coming back?
Jack and the beanstalk, there goes Jac.
But is Jack ever coming back?
Jack: I'll be back and when I've reappeared
With the Giant by the beard
You will tell the kids the legend of
The famous Giant Killer, Jack!
Singer/Chorus: Jack and the beanstalk!
. . .
We then arrived in the Mountain Demon's lair.
"Incredible," says Zhang, "she's hiding somewhere between Heaven and Earth. If the Angels learn about this..."
"They'd probably send her to Earth like a comet," says Momotarō.
"Come my friends," says Zhang, "we must find the demon, but I warn you, if she sees us, she might eat us!"
To Be Continued
Jack and Isabelle are the Biological Ancestors of Lil Upreti-Baker and Phil Uniyal-DeVille. In the next chapter, Jack sees the Demon.