The young girl took the gift with mystified eyes, gently pulling at the bright red ribbon. “Thank you Lord Aku!” It was clothing (that wasn’t rags or robes!) and a set of colorful books. Curiously, she opened one, gasping at the beautiful pictures inside. Paragraphs of text were arranged alongside the illustrations. Ashi squinted at them, only recognizing a few words.
“Lord Aku…what do these books say?”
She was a bit disappointed that they were returning to the story; now, all she could focus on was dragons (and she didn’t really like the tale that much anyway). But by the end of the story, little Ashi had a look of distress on her face. She had been hoping it would end happily for the queen and her family…not with someone being eaten. Was that what dragons were really like? She shifted a bit uncomfortably in Aku’s lap, her admiration for the winged reptiles fading fast.
“…Are all dragons dangerous? Do they all eat people?”
“Dragons are not known for being kind and cuddly,” Aku explained. “They are creatures known for their ferocity and strength. If given the chance, most would probably devour a person because dragons see no difference between right and wrong. They simply do what they must to survive.”
The demon shrugged, hoping his answer would suffice. “I cannot say I’ve ever met a friendly dragon before, but then again, I have not met them all.”
“And for that I am at least thankful. For now you should reconsider your anger over a faceless being that holds no power over us.”
“Mmhhhh…” The demon grumbled, “I suppose you may be right.”
It was no use letting a fool get the better of him, he knew. But Aku’s knee-jerk reaction to things that caused him pain was always anger or violence. He folded his arms with a huff.
The young girl took the gift with mystified eyes, gently pulling at the bright red ribbon. “Thank you Lord Aku!” It was clothing (that wasn’t rags or robes!) and a set of colorful books. Curiously, she opened one, gasping at the beautiful pictures inside. Paragraphs of text were arranged alongside the illustrations. Ashi squinted at them, only recognizing a few words.
“Lord Aku…what do these books say?”
Ashi watched in awe as part of Aku’s essence broke off and began to form some kind of creature. It looked nothing like anything the little girl had ever seen before. A smile instantly grew on her face as a tiny tongue of flame left its maw. Sprouting wings, it suddenly took off in to the air, eliciting a laugh from the child as it soared in circles. It was definitely better than a slimy worm.
“Dragon?” she asked. She’d never heard of such a creature. But judging by the lindworm, she believed she’d like them. “Are there different kinds?” Her dark eyes widened a bit at the prospect. So many different types of magnificent flying creatures! She wanted to see them all.
Aku was struck by how delighted she looked about the dragon. This was the first time he’d seen such a look of wonder upon her face and the old demon couldn’t help but grin just a bit. Maybe this fathering business wasn’t so bad after all.
“Ah, yes! There are many different types of dragons.” He held out his hand for the creature to land upon. “And one day I shall show you them all.”
That was at least one promise he could keep. As he spoke, the little dragon dove into his palm and once again became a part of Aku.
“But for now, let us return to our tale,” said the yokai as he opened back to the page and continued reading.
“The Queen was terribly frightened when she saw the Lindworm, but he wriggled away out of the room and nobody seemed to have seen him but herself, so that she wondered if it had been a dream. But the baby Prince was so beautiful and so healthy, the Queen was full of joy. And so was the King when he returned home and found his son and heir. Not a word was said by anyone about the Lindworm: only the Queen thought of it now and then.
The days passed and the child grew into a handsome young Prince. Soon it was time that he be married to a Princess. The King sent him away in the Royal coach drawn by six white horses, to look for a Princess grand enough to be his wife. But at the very first cross-roads, the way was blocked by an enormous Lindworm! He lay in the middle of the road with a great gaping maw and roared, ‘A BRIDE FOR ME BEFORE A BRIDE FOR YOU!’
Horrified, the Prince turned the coach away onto another road. But there again lay the Lindworm in his path, ‘GRAAARR! A BRIDE FOR ME BEFORE A BRIDE FOR YOU!
’ So the Prince gave up and returned to the Castle. Hearing of his troubles, the Queen confessed that what the Lindworm said was true. For he was really the Prince’s eldest twin and, as tradition went, he ought to be wed first.
There seemed no other way but to find a bride for the Lindworm, if the Prince were to be married at all. So the King wrote to a distant country and asked for a Princess to marry his son… but he did not say which son. When a Princess arrived, she was not allowed to see her Prince until he stood by her side in the great hall and was married to her. Then it would be too late for her to say she wouldn’t marry him. But next morning the Princess was gone. The Lindworm lay sleeping alone and it was clear that he had eaten her. Because, as you see, dragons are dangerous creatures.”
“Mr.Eye is the biggest and the baddest of the Nethers.He promised he will be my friend once i help him cross into this reality,but he betrayed me and imprisoned me in the Netherverse.I cant go back there because im already adapted to this reality and if i go there i will be weakened or even killed.He gifted me with powers like THIS!”
“Nicer? Pfeh! You must be mistaken.” The demon lord bared his fangs in derision. “I do not disagree that I am unique but nicer I am not.”
These being said,Vendra imprisoned Aku into a giant pink energy bubble with a simple gesture of her hand.
“BWUH—?!”
Aku was shocked to suddenly find himself enveloped in the energy bubble. His eyes shifted here and there at his pink surroundings. Then he banged a fist against the inner wall of the bubble. It was like hitting stone!
The demon narrowed his eyes and banged his fist again on the inside of the bubble, harder this time. Still, it was no use and Aku looked like a giant angry bee trapped inside a small jar. Finally, he blasted the inner wall of the bubble with his eyebeams to see if he could force his way out.
Domestic drapes the scarf around himself, and upon feeling the warmth he exhales in a relieved manner, “I am more than willing to join you for the season, my friend. And perhaps a gift in turn.” A small sized velvet box appeared in the palm of his hand, or at least small to any Aku. When he opened it with a single clawed finger, inside was a brilliant shining orange gem cut to size.
“Finding this was no easy feat, but nonetheless, I felt it was perfect for a gift.”
“Mined from my earth.” Domestic looked around for a few moments, he didn’t really want to stick around his place for much longer, the dust was starting to get on his nerves and he would rather not get worked up about anything right now.
Aku closed his hand around the jewel and spoke, “Come. Gather what you want and we shall go.” He waited a moment then held out his hand to his counterpart, awaiting warp.
The Shogun of Sorrow 