Ash and the Beanstalk - Chapter 2

Narrator: To the market, Ash and Pikachu ventured forth. The only hope on his mind was finding the right price to sell their Miltank, just as his mother instructed.

Along the way, Ash passed a rather mysterious short man with a thin mustache and short brown hair. The two did not get very far when he spoke to them.

Man: (Hispanic accent) Hey! Hey you, boy! Over here!

Ash and Pikachu turned toward the man who beckoned their call.

Ash: You talking to me?

Man: Oh yes… you look like someone in need of money to keep your family fed.

Ash: That’s oddly specific… but yes.

Man: Well, com'ere for a minute. Have I got something special for you to look at, sonny.

Ash and Pikachu approached the man, who beckoned them to look upon what was sitting in the palm of his hand. Gazing curiously and closely, the objects appeared to be… three beans?

Ash: Beans? What's so special about these?

Man: Why, they're magic beans, mi amigo.

Pikachu: (cocks an eyebrow) Pi?

Ash: What do I do with 'em? Eat 'em?

Man: (chuckles) Oh no, no, no, no, no… not at all! (looks around) Just between you and me, these beans are a gold mine!

Ash: A gold mine?

Man: Right. Legends say if you plant these beans under the light of a full moon, they’ll bring you riches beyond your wildest dreams. Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if you got one thousand pieces of gold, even billions!

Ash: Billions?! (pause) Wait a minute… if they’re that special, why don’t you plant them?

Man: Oh, I had no need to do so. I’ve seen it all for myself when I was about your age. But these beans are ‘very’ rare, you can hardly find these anywhere else. And besides, if I were to suddenly plant these beans and get all the gold for myself, which I could, lots of folks in these parts would start asking questions.

Ash: And it’s okay if I plant the beans… (raises a brow) What’s the catch?

Man: No catch! Well, I’d normally charge a hundred dollars, man’s got to eat. But for you… I’ll trade these magic beans for… the ole’ Miltank there. How 'bout it?

Ash: Hmm... I’ll only give you the Miltank… if you promise to take good care of her. She’s been in our family for years—

Man: Yes, yes, of course. I swear on my abuelito’s grave… your Miltank is in good hands.

Ash: Okay! I’ll take ‘em!

And thus, a trade was made between man and boy. The man proceeded to tuck the three beans into a special box he kept in his trouser pocket, whilst Ash handed the reins holding the Miltank to the man. Ash gave a light pat across the Miltank’s back knowing full well this would be the last time he’d see her.

Man: (chuckles) I can tell you're going to be a very rich boy. A very rich boy!

And before Ash could say another word, the man took off as fast as lightning carrying the Miltank in tow. The man ran so fast, a huge dust storm spread in his track leaving Ash and Pikachu wide-eyed and stunned. But with no further business to make, Ash and Pikachu proceeded down the road for home as Ash kept the box with the three beans close to his grip.

Narrator: Meanwhile, back at the cottage, things began to look much brighter, for the thought of prosperity brought new hope to the famished farmers. Even Alvin quickly recovered, for he and his brothers were excited in the hopes that their long empty plates would overflow with food.

Alvin: Hey look! (singing) Turkey, lobster,
Sweet potato pie

Simon: (singing) Pancakes piled up
'Til they reach the sky

Theodore: (singing) La-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la

Alvin: (singing) OOOOOOOOOOH! I wanna eat 'n eat 'n eat 'n eat 'n eat until I die

Chipmunks: (singing) Turkey, lobster,
Sweet potato pie
Pancakes piled up
'Til they reach the sky

As the Chipmunks sung their jubilee, Ash and Pikachu slowly entered the house. The box with the beans held hidden behind Ash’s back.

Alvin: (singing) Lots of starches
Lots of greens
Fancy chocolate-covered...

Ash: Beans!

Chipmunks: 'Beans?'

Everyone turned around, and they just acknowledged the return of both Ash and Pikachu. Ash by now had presented a box before them, which none of them knew what it meant. The mother, Delia, entered from the kitchen clearly confused.

Delia: Ash, what did you mean by "beans"?

Ash: I mean what I said, Mom! I sold Miltank for some magic beans.

Alvin: (shocked/angered) BEANS?!?!! B-b-b-GAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

All at once, shock turned into anger in a matter of seconds. Alvin’s little outburst sent him leaping toward the ceiling lamp. Before everyone else, he started pulling off chunks of his fur like a raging mad man.

Ash: But Alvin... These are not ordinary beans, they're magic beans. See, we ran into this guy on our way to town and he practically gave ‘em to me. He said if we plant these beans in the light of a full moon, something great'll happen!

Alvin: Sure, we get more beans! GAAAAAAHHHH!!!

Alvin leapt down from the ceiling lamp and grabbed the box straight from Ash’s hands. He quickly threw the box which broke open which sent the beans tumbling along the floorboards. Ash stared at the beans, then slowly turned toward Alvin who huffed in his face and hopped toward the floor.

Alvin: Magic Beans?! HAH!!! (walks away)

Everyone else looked on as Alvin scurried his way toward the bedroom they shared and cringed as he slammed the door behind him. Eventually, all eyes turned toward Ash though it was plain to see the group were just as unhappy with the boy… but in their own way.

Simon: I hate to say it, Ash, but it seems to me like you were swindled. (paused) "Tricked", if you will.

A heavy sigh escaped Ash’s lungs; the realization struck him like a ton of bricks. He turned to address his mother, only she wasn’t so much angry with him. Instead… she was merely sad… disappointed even.

Ash: Mom... You believe me... Don't you?

Delia: (sighs) Oh, Ash.... When are you going to learn to listen? What would your father say?

Ash: (sighs) I'm sorry, mom. Guess I really let you down this time.

But Delia of course merely smiled as she ruffled his hair.

Delia: Oh honey... You just made a mistake. We all do.

Ash: Really?

Delia: (nods) Yes. The only thing we can really do now… Is to believe there’s any hope left in this uncertain world. And that God will help us.

Ash: So you do believe?

Delia: Hmmmm... I might. (kisses him on the forehead)

Ash: (smiled) Thanks, Mom.

Walking past Delia, she leaned toward the floor and carefully picked up the beans Alvin tossed before placing them gently upon Ash’s hands.

Delia: At least take them to our garden. Plant these beans and ‘maybe’ there’ll be just enough magic to at least grow us some food… I’ll just check and make sure we have enough left in the cupboards.

With a nod of his head, Ash made for the garden. From there, he and Pikachu gathered by the bed of soil and proceeded to dig up a tiny hole just deep enough to plant the beans. One by one, Ash placed the bean down the hole like a seed before he proceeded to cover the hole with both hands. Still, Ash could not help but feel bad about himself and dwelling over what could possibly be the biggest mistake of his entire life.

Ash: (sighs) Well... I really let Mom and my friends down this time, Pikachu. (pause) Still… suppose what that guy said was true… if there ‘is’ a little magic in those beans. Well, least if it grows something we can eat other than beans… that’s good enough for me… (smiles) I guess we’ll just have to start believing they are magic beans... Right, Pikachu?

Pikachu: Pika!

Ash: (singing) A tiny bit of faith and a large amount of hope
Or vice-a-versa
Can swiftly disperse a most
Calamitous situation

A large amount of hope and tiny bit of faith
Or vice-a-versa
Can swiftly reverse a most
Unfortunate complication

To a doubting Thomas
Life's without promise
Now don'cha think that's bad?

Theodore: (comes up singing) But these ole' beans are still just beans

Ash: (singing) How sad
Until you add

Theodore: (singing) A tiny bit of faith and a large amount of hope

Both: (singing) Or versa-vice-a
Know it's strange what a lovely change
it makes

Theodore: Honest?

Ash: (smirks) Cross my heart!

Both: (singing) Cause faith and hope are all it ever really takes
Or vice-versa!

Theodore: Well Ash, I don’t care what my big brothers think. I believe you.

To which Charizard and Greninja nodded in agreement.

Ash: Thanks, guys. (looks at the sky) Well, the sun’s comin' down. We better get back inside.

And without hesitation, Ash led them back inside the house ready to turn in after a long day.

Later that evening, Ash and Pikachu slept together in a little bed just for them. The chipmunks – Alvin, Simon, and Theodore – slept in makeshift beds made from the drawers, while Charizard slept outside the cottage, puffs of fire snorting from his nostrils.

Narrator: That night, as they all slept, something miraculous happened. As the light of the full moon shone down where the beans had been planted, the beans sprung up into a beanstalk that soared into the sky and pierced through clouds.

The beanstalk grew so big that it soared straight toward the sky, piercing through the many clouds. It kept growing… and growing… and growing, so high that not a soul alive could tell where it was going.

Narrator: When Ash woke up early the next morning, he happened to look out his window, where he saw something that hadn't been there before.

Yawning, he made his way down to the kitchen passing the open window. Just as he reached for the door, he skids to a halt and slowly stepped backward until his face looked out the window.

Ash: Huh? What the—

Later…

Ash, his mother, his friends, and the Pokemon stood outside from the cottage. There they stood, at the bottom of the beanstalk, gazing toward the sky with awe.

Ash: (gasps) Whoa...

Pikachu: (nods) Pika...

Greninja: (scratches his head) Ninja...

Charizard: (growls in utter amazement)

Delia: (gasps) Oh, my goodness...

Mimey: (eyes widened) Mr. Mime...

Alvin: (jaw drops) Great day in the morning!

Simon: Huh… guess those beans were magic after all.

Theodore: Looks like it goes all the way to the sky! (points upward)

Alvin: Let’s check it out! Then we can see how far it goes!

Ash: (smiles) Y'know, That’s not a bad idea, Alvin! We’ll make an adventure out of it!

Pikachu: (excited) Pikachu!

Delia: I’m not so sure, Ash. It looks dangerous; we don’t know what’s even up there.

Ash: Aww, don't worry, Mom. I'll have Pikachu and Greninja to look after us.

Alvin: What about Charizard?

Simon: Uh… maybe he should stay here and guard the house.

Ash: Good idea, Simon! We’ll have Charizard taking care of Mom and Mr. Mime while we’re gone. If we’re not back before the end of the day, he’ll come flying up and lookin’ for us. Okay, Charizard?

Charizard wasn't sure, but he knew that Ash's Mom meant a lot to him, just as Ash meant so much to his mother. So he nodded in response.

Ash: Thanks, buddy. (gives a thumbs up)

Ash was just about ready to start climbing until…

Delia: Ash!

The boy turned toward his mother, who raced after him, not bothering to even put her shoes on. Before he knew it, he found himself embraced in a tight hug as his mother leaned her face upon his shoulder.

Delia: (whispers) Please, be careful… If I lose you too—

Ash: (quietly) You won’t, Mom. We'll be back… I promise.

Mother and son embraced each other so lovingly, as if this could be the last time they ever did so. When they finally released, Ash began the climb with his five best friends with him. To lighten their spirits, and to make the trip go faster, they began to hum a little tune to themselves.

Chipmunks: (singing) We're gonna climb up the beanstalk
We're gonna climb up the beanstalk
We're gonna climb up the beanstalk
To see what we can see

Ash: (singing) To see what we can see
To see what we can see

All four: (singing) We're gonna climb up the beanstalk
We're gonna climb up the beanstalk
We're gonna climb up the beanstalk
To see what we can see

Narrator: And onward they climbed, ascending higher and higher toward the sky. As our heroes climbed ever branch upon that beanstalk, their little cottage seemed to be but a tiny speck on an otherwise endless stretch of land. But from this point on, Ash knew there would be no going back. A grand adventure waited for them at the very top of that beanstalk, and no matter how long it was going to take, they wouldn’t rest until they discover what waited for them up upon the unknown.

Back on Earth, the short little Hispanic man nestled himself in a makeshift tent near a dead oak tree. The Miltank’s reins were tied along the bark of the tree and the creature merely nestled itself into a nap. Just then, the little man stirred and opened one eye toward the horizon. There before him the giant beanstalk stood in the distance, ascending through the clouds toward the sky. He stared blankly at the sight for a moment, then nestled himself back to sleep.

Man: Huh… guess those beans were magic after all… (yawns)

It was then… his eyes went wide with shock.

Man: THE BEANS WERE MAGIC?!?!?!