“A bargain, you say?” A devilish grin spread across the demon’s face as he considered her words.
There had been many mortal kings in the past who had tried to bargain their way out of facing Aku’s wrath. They had sent him gold and precious gems by the boatloads, ancient magical items blessed by the gods, virgin sacrifices and the like. The great Shogun of Sorrow had accepted these gifts with the promise of sparing their kingdoms… only to smite the entire kingdom just days later.
His gaze was upon her, playful and full of darkness beneath his fiery brows.
“I am known for destroying beautiful things, Yueliang, in my quest to eradicate hope and beauty from this world,” he spoke slowly, wickedly. “However. I do, on occasion, make exceptions.”
Indeed, on occasion Aku liked to keep beautiful things for himself rather than destroy them, often out of spite for those who loved and revered them. He could tell this performer was coveted by all who heard and saw her, and if Aku could not receive such love for himself, he would take away from others what they cherished most.
“It is a deal. For as long as you perform for me, your home shall be spared the wrath of Aku. This means I will be keeping you for my own.”
“Your benevolence is unparalleled, your highness.” Yueliang gave him a bow, letting her hair accessories tinkle softly.
She stood up and walked towards him, stopping only at an arm’s length before kneeling down and dipping her fair head into another bow.
“What would you like me to do today? I can only accomplish things that are within my limits. As long as I can do it, I am at your beck and call.”
She paused for a moment and just right before he can utter another word, her lilting voice came in again.
“However, a nightingale needs her own cage to rest. In order to provide entertainment at its finest, I would need someplace to lay my head down. In this impeccable castle that you have, does a simple place like that exist?”
“It does now,” the demon grinned. With a snap of his clawed fingers, a rock wall of his lair was suddenly transformed. There was now a long staircase leading up to the front porch and face of a house that appeared to be built directly into the stone. Inside, it strongly resembled a traditional Japanese home constructed of dark polished wood and equipped with all the things a human would need plus a sizable bedroom and bathtub. There was even a courtyard surrounding a bottomless shaft where water flowed in an endless downward fall.
Of course, the thought of placing her in an actual cage had been the first to cross his mind, but even Aku was aware that cruelty would not lead to the results he desired. To continue delivering her best performances, her spirit would need ample freedom even if she could not leave this place again, otherwise she would fall into uselessness.
“Welcome to your new home,” he spoke with a sweeping arm gesture to the new arrangement. “My personal chambers lie directly across from you and I will call upon you as I see fit regardless of the hour.”
Across the throne room, the entrance to his personal bed chambers looked like the doorway of a massive Japanese temple built within the stone and adorned with lit torches. Obviously, Aku liked to live in a certain style…
“Now then, you are free to rest as you need.” The demon returned to his throne, allowing Yueliang some time to get herself accustomed, rest, have a bath or replenish herself. He would likely call upon her that night.
What had begun as just another day of brooding darkly upon his throne and observing his mortal subjects with great disinterest through his spy portal turned quickly unusual when Aku spotted a curious group of creatures drilling an immense quarry into the ground. The Shogun sat forward as he eyed the machinery that had been erected there seemingly over night. Aku had opened the ports of Earth to space-traveling extraterrestrial lifeforms centuries ago and the advanced technologies they brought with them were nothing new to him. However, he was certain he hadn’t seen this particular group of creatures before and they had not sought his approval to seek refuge on his planet or set up operations. Intrigued and predictably annoyed, Aku stood and teleported himself to their location whereupon he seized their gem commander with his tentacles and demanded the whereabouts of her leader.
To make a long story (that was probably filled with torture and inter-dimensional warp-pad shenanigans) short, the demon lord eventually found himself at the place known as Homeworld, his tall figure a striking pillar of black against the pale world around him. His presence quickly disrupted business as usual and he was quickly descended upon like the giant parasite that he was. Shape-shifting into a winged bat creature, Aku took to the skies both to get away from them and to get a better look at the landscape. The planet seemed dead and broken, unfit for mortal life. Someone had done an impressive job at making it this way. Most notable of all, however, was the massive bust of gleaming white crystal that rose above all around it much like Aku’s very own citadel on Earth. Clearly, this was where the planet’s ruler resided.
While en route to the structure, a beam from a laser cannon struck his wing and Aku snarled angrily as he tumbled through the air. He should have expected they would increase their attacks the closer he came to the towering mountain of space crystal. The pain, fortunately for him, was brief and Aku shifted his form again, this time morphing into a sleek serpentine shape that was harder to strike as he wove through the air between hot energy beams. Several times he struck back at them in retaliation with his own destructive laser beams shot directly from his eyes. He was causing quite a commotion by this point as he circled round the rising peaks of the crystal fortress’s head. Perhaps it would be enough to lure the gem leader out into the open but if not, Aku would eventually teleport his way inside.
Yueliang seemed to float and swirl above the floor like evening mist over a pond as she danced. It was a mesmerizing sight to behold and Aku regarded her contently, his eyes watchful and curious like a cat observing a bird. When the dance and music ended, the lute was lowered back into her arms.
In an arc of black fire, Aku moved down from his throne to stand before her. No longer was he the height of a building, though at roughly 8 feet tall, he still towered over her. Delighted by her performance, his curved fangs were bared in a smile and he gave her a round of applause.
“Your tribute has been accepted!” he spoke thunderously, then clasped his claws behind his back. “Indeed, you have pleased the almighty Shogun of Sorrow like none other. By what name shall I call you, o’ fare one?”
He was massive and huge in every sense. She briefly closed her eyes to compose herself before smiling up at him. The dark aura that moved around him felt overwhelming.
“My name is Yueliang, your highness. I am glad that you are satisfied with my performance. I was sent here not only as a tribute but a bargain. For as long as you wish me to be in your presence, that you refrain from your ‘visits’ to our place. I know that this is too much to ask but I pray you find it in your magnanimous being to grant this wish.“
She either dies at his hands or at the hands of the emperor. The only reason she was sent here is because of his wives’ jealousy. Unfortunately, the emperor didn’t have a backbone to protect her as his friend. So she was sentenced to be offered to this Aku being. And the only positive thing that Yueliang sees from this is she gets to live a bit longer.
“Don’t you think it’s a fair trade to have a nightingale to entertain you to relieve you of your boredom?“
“A bargain, you say?” A devilish grin spread across the demon’s face as he considered her words.
There had been many mortal kings in the past who had tried to bargain their way out of facing Aku’s wrath. They had sent him gold and precious gems by the boatloads, ancient magical items blessed by the gods, virgin sacrifices and the like. The great Shogun of Sorrow had accepted these gifts with the promise of sparing their kingdoms… only to smite the entire kingdom just days later.
His gaze was upon her, playful and full of darkness beneath his fiery brows.
“I am known for destroying beautiful things, Yueliang, in my quest to eradicate hope and beauty from this world,” he spoke slowly, wickedly. “However. I do, on occasion, make exceptions.”
Indeed, on occasion Aku liked to keep beautiful things for himself rather than destroy them, often out of spite for those who loved and revered them. He could tell this performer was coveted by all who heard and saw her, and if Aku could not receive such love for himself, he would take away from others what they cherished most.
“It is a deal. For as long as you perform for me, your home shall be spared the wrath of Aku. This means I will be keeping you for my own.”
Aku in the guise of a reindeer… I know something too early
I was watching this video about whale noises and how loud they are and got to thinking about what it would be like to be in Aku’s presence when he’s making that ominous evil droning sound.
Imagine if this whole time Aku could have just defeated Jack by vibrating him into submission. I know he blasted sound at him once and Jack protected himself with the sword somehow but just what are the sword’s limits? (Probably none but it’s hard to be sure.) Sometimes I think Aku relies too heavily on shape-shifting.
The Shogun of Sorrow 