Save me a Story – An Ogre and an Oni Join In

This is the continuing story of my adventures in the tale: Save me a Story. If you wish to read the introduction to understand what is happening, click this link: 

https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=3431 

Otherwise, I’ve tried to summarize what happened at the beginning of most of the sections of this story.  

An Ogre and an Oni Join In

The search for missing characters from fairytales, folktales, and stories led my friend Ronald to link up with all the wrong characters one would want to help in a situation like this. Finding only these characters might have resulted from his not paying for information when he first came to this land, or it might have just been Ronald’s luck. He hoped to find me and somehow let me deal with the problem, which was his usual solution at times like this. 

Having met up with Captain Hook, and Cinderella’s stepmother, Ronald incorporated a few more in his travels on their hunt to find characters from stories (a couple of witches, a giant, and Coyote, the trickster). They all wanted to find the characters associated with their own story that they could torment, rule over, or eat. 

With so many characters seeking power and control, no one in this group was really in charge. All they knew was they had to go and find an island in the northern part of Selat to complete their search. That was only thanks to Ronald, for those were the only two pieces of information he had remembered from the Caretaker of Selat’s instructions before abruptly leaving the caretaker without paying for answers and going in the wrong direction. 

The group came to a forest and, without any discussion, walked right into it. At this point, what direction they were going in became a problem. None of them were very good at finding a way to go.

After walking for quite a while, they passed several trees and boulders that they were pretty sure they had passed before. They all looked at Ronald.

“Since it was your idea for us to go in this direction,” Captain Hook called out as he pulled out his sword and pointed it at Ronald, “I say it is you that needs to get us out of here.”

“Maybe I can turn him into a raven, let him fly over the trees, and find the way out,” offered the witch Circe, known for her ability to transform people into animals. 

“That won’t work,” Cinderella’s stepmother said, “Look at him. He’s so frightened; he’ll just fly away and save himself.”

Before anyone else could suggest another idea or threaten Ronald further, a loud crunching noise was heard behind them heading in their direction, making them all turn to look.

Two beings were heading their way—two very tall beings, both larger than the giant. One was about ten feet tall, with thick, rough skin. He had a large head, a broad face, and very sharp teeth. He was carrying a large club. He was quickly recognized as an ogre. The other was equally as large, with horns on its head, wild hair, and claws for hands. It, too, was recognized as an “oni,” a legendary Japanese demon.

The group, concerned about this turn of events, had no problem pushing Ronald to the forefront to face them. 

The two behemoths stopped in front of Ronald and looked down at him. 

“Looks like we got ourselves a little supper,” said the ogre, turning his head toward the oni.

“It sure does,” answered the oni. “The question is, which one should we eat first?”

Ronald, feeling the point of Hook’s sword on his back, was urged to say something. 

“Before you eat us, maybe we can come to some sort of agreement?” Ronald uttered rather shakily. 

“What kind of ‘greement?” roared the ogre. 

“Well,” Ronald continued, “We’re all looking for lost characters from Selat. They’ve been missing for a while. Maybe if you help us find them, you will have much more to eat?”

The oni looked at the ogre and just said one word, “Momotaro?”

The ogre responded with, “Puss with boots on?”

Unfortunately, Ronald had no idea what they were referring to, not being well-versed in Folktales. What he recognized was a possible way out. 

“Momotaro and a cat with boots on, are those things you are looking for?” he asked. 

“YES!” they both said in unison. 

“You know where they are?” the oni asked. 

“YES,” came a voice from behind Ronald. It was Cinderella’s stepmother. “And if you get us out of this forest, we can help you find them, and then you can leave us alone.”

At the thought of finding the ones that had caused them harm, the ogre and the oni agreed. 

Coyote called up to them, “We need to go north,” leaving out the island part, hoping that once out of the woods, Ronald’s group could ditch the two of them.

“Then, follow us,” said the ogre as they both moved in what was assumed to be a northerly direction. Nothing stood in their way; trees, bushes, and boulders were tossed aside as they made their way to the edge of the woods. 

Ronald and his group had no choice but to follow.

Continued in…Peter and the Piper