First Draft - Demon Momotaro
Oni Momotaro by Ozaki Kōyō is a devilish twist on the classic Japanese folktale, Momotaro, the Peach Boy.
Long, long ago, an old man went into the mountains to gather firewood. His wife went to the river to wash clothes. Momotaro, Peach Boy, was born from a peach she picked up. In time, Momotaro led a monkey, a pheasant, and a dog on an attack to conquer Demon Island. They triumphed and stole the treasures of many generations. Up to this generation, the return of the treasures has been the unending disgrace of Demon Island.
The king of Demon Island issued a proclamation that hoped for the appearance of a demon possessing superior bravery to lend his strength and swiftly avenge this long-held grudge. Also, whoever conquers Japan and returns the treasures stolen by that young upstart leader, Momotaro, will be made king of this island. The young hot-headed demons wriggled the horns on their foreheads and entertained thoughts of a glorious achievement. However, Momotaro's skills had taught each one of them hard lessons. Not one young demon stepped up to the challenge.
A married demon couple were forced to live in desolation and cut off from the world on the banks of the Ashura River. Originally, they had been guards at the castle gate on Demon Island. Unfortunately, Momotaro attacked. Due to their negligence, the enemy army demolished the iron gate door and invaded the castle. The couple provoked the wrath of the king who stripped them of their duties and banished them. Although they worked as fishermen and will die doing so, one day, they set out to atone for their sins, fully devoted to returning to the world. They never forgot for even the short space between the horns of a demon child.
The proclamation delighted them. When the demon Ibaraki Doji looked at his severed arm, his heart knew the time had come and got excited. When the demon drew swords with Momotaro at the breach of the castle gate. Momotaro wielded a 400-pound iron bar and crushed and broke the demon's right horn. The wound at the horn's base pained him constantly. The demon contracted a chronic illness and never thought about combat. At times like that, he cursed his demon wife, "If only we had a child...."
His wife once told him that Japan's Momotaro was born from a peach floating down the river and was a child with exceptional courage and bravery.
A demon child born from an ordinary demon's womb had little hope of becoming Momotaro's rival, so they dedicated their lives to the fierce demon goddess Yasha. They prayed for a child with twice the bravery of Momotaro and stayed at a shrine for demons on the banks of the Ashura River.
On the night of the thirty-seventh day, they were granted a first divine dream. They went out to the water's edge. A single bitter peach grew bigger as it floated toward them, bobbing on the waves.
The wife happily took it in her arms and brought it back. Her husband, anxious to fight again, was overjoyed. She cut open the peach to see if it was ripe. Suddenly, the peach seemed to fly onto his seat and, in an instant, changed into a fifteen-foot-tall blue demon. It opened a mouth resembling a red-lacquered plate, exhaled blazing flames, and stood tall. The demon's aura, even his eyes, were terrifying. Since it was born from inside this ghastly-looking, bitter peach, he was named Bitter Momotaro, Bitter Peach Boy.
The husband and wife told him of their good intentions and brought great joy to Bitter Momotaro.
"I'll easily cross over to Japan in one stride and use three fingers to pluck off Momotaro's head. If I go to battle with courage, I will seize and return the treasures of this country."
However, the couple told him that to selfishly set out without notifying the demon king was wrong. He may or may not be successful. Instead, he may be blamed; those things are hard to predict. As a condemned couple, they would not be granted an audience. Thus, Bitter Momotaro went alone to the king's castle and declared that his duty was to defeat Momotaro. Not only did the demon king exhale flames, he bestowed an iron club studded with two-hundred, eighty-eight silver stars shaved down into octogonal spikes on Bitter Momotaro.
"With this, you will shatter the hip bones of Momotaro."
Bitter Momotaro laughed coldly.
"Taking on a dozen or so brats like Momotaro will be easier than picking off lice. I could easily get my hands on weapons, but this unexpected gift makes me question my bravery in battle. Forgive my rudeness. Everyone, please watch this."
Bitter Momotaro made the iron post beside him rock with his little finger. Everybody paled. As they trembled, they could see his ploy and shouted, "Stop! Stop!"
The demon king beckoned Bitter Momotaro to approach.
"Because you are a courageous fellow. I have no doubt that you will destroy Momotaro. Here is something else you should take."
The demon king removed his hakama trousers made from the hide of a white tiger he skinned himself and flung them at Bitter Momotaro. To take them would signal Bitter Momotaro's acceptance. However, the trousers snagged on his horns. His hand movements and tapping feet were funny. He danced a heretical dance and then happily left filled with joy and courage.
The next day, a messenger from the castle delivered a wire sack filled with ten charred human skulls. Just as Momotaro used millet dumplings to recruit his vassals, Bitter Momotaro would use these charred skulls.
"These military provisions have been granted to you."
Bitter Momotaro continued on to the border of Demon Island. A hellish wind suddenly raged. Torrential rains poured down like a waterfall. Heaven and Earth trembled. He imagined the southern axis would snap. This scene pleased his heart. For a short time, he stood still and peered around sharply in all directions.
When he reached the peak of Demon King Mountain, the golden Venom Dragon appeared in a flash of lightning. The dragon flew toward him as if it had been aimed and shot like an arrow. It was a sight to behold.
Oh, the clever serpent flaunted its supernatural power to give him a spectacular show. As he stomped his feet so hard the ground rumbled, he had to brace himself, Venom Dragon gracefully descended. The dragon coiled itself thirteen times in front of Bitter Momotaro. With its tongue jutting out, the dragon lowered its head and spoke.
"I am the Dragon King. I've lived for many years in the lake at the summit of Demon King Mountain. Serpents are my vassals in the land of Japan. Although I don't know the number, each year, many of them are eaten by the pheasant vassal of Momotaro. I've brooded a long time over this long-lasting resentment. By myself, I don't have the strength, so I suppressed my resentment and spit out angry flames.
"Then, I heard of the shogun's campaign to conquer Momotaro. I earnestly hope to follow you and exhaust my slight power together with your powers to sweep away the grudges amassed by my clan.
"I am honored to welcome you. With your permission, I will join your campaign. My honor would not allow me to miss this opportunity."
Bitter Momotaro was overjoyed and handed over a skull at his waist to seal the contract between the chief retainer and his new vassal.
Venom Dragon said, "Following the example from days-gone-by, Momotaro led a trio of retainers, a pheasant, a monkey, and a dog, and achieved a great victory. The shogun has certainly pondered calling fine vassals into service.
"I have uniquely close bonds with two valiant warriors. If you consent, I recommend them and will summon them at once."
Bitter Momotaro said, "The saying that the hides of one thousand sheep are not worth the armpit of a fox is flawed. Although your companions may be a burden, if you believe in them, and they're competent commanders, please summon them immediately."
"With all due respect, as they say, birds of a feather flock together.
"Although unworthy, I will become the dragon king of Demon King Mountain. Would I befriend an ordinary weasel or a fox? First, I will summon them for an audience."
Several swings of the dragon's tail resonated like a golden bell. With this signal, suddenly from the north, a massive red-faced baboon with white fur flew in. From the west, a wolf so huge it could be mistaken for an ox sprang forth. Bitter Momotaro bowed his head to them, sat on the edge of a rock, and waved his fan of pheasant feathers.
Bitter Momotaro said, "Endowed with a truly strong and capable physique, the baboon will be the leader of the monkeys. The wolf is a formidable enemy of dogs. Moreover, we have Venom Dragon. The defeat of Momotaro in one battle will resemble clay pots being smashed by an iron hammer.
"We will fetch our reward. I give these two skulls to you. Onward to battle!"
Thus, the campaign began.
Venom Dragon offered another strategy.
"I possess the ability to fly anywhere. I can reach Japan in no time," he said, exhaling into the sky.
Instantly, a mysterious, yellow cloud billowed and gathered before their eyes. The chief retainer and his vassals climbed on. They soared through the sky like a picture from Journey to the West. In one day and one night, they came to a vast ocean as far as the eye could see.
Bitter Momotaro became suspicious.
"We flew by supernatural powers. There's no reason why we still have not landed on the land of Japan.
"Venom Dragon, this place is a long, long way from Demon Island."
"I flew approximately 30,124,258,516 miles. Oops, I went too far."
"Go back! Go back!"
Venom Dragon invoked the Fly in Reverse Cloud spell. He reversed steadily but went back too far, 240,988,059,450 miles. This is no good, he thought, and tried again. When he went, he went too far. When he returned, he returned too far. He went and returned, returned and went, leaped to the left, and ran to the right. He darted around in every direction. Of course, the magical powers of Venom Dragon gradually weakened.
The cloud thinned and melted away. Now like worn cotton, the cloud tore apart here and there. The baboon and the wolf carelessly stepped into space and helplessly plunged into the turbulent sea and became food for the crocodiles.
This sight stirred a fierce rage in Bitter Momotaro.
"Venom Dragon, you are a fool. It's your fault I've lost trusted vassals. This is a bad omen at the start of a campaign."
He angrily pumped his clenched first at the dragon. He pummeled Venom Dragon's forehead until it shattered.
Violent by nature, Venom Dragon's eyes turned blood red. His golden scales stood on end like autumn leaves blown by the wind.
"You vile punk! You think you're a shogun. Now, behold the true power of the Dragon King."
He whipped his ten-foot-long tail like a wind mill, wrapping it seven times around Bitter Momotaro to crush his bones to dust.
Shocked, Bitter Momotaro gathered all the strength in his body. In a flash, the fearsome Venom Dragon was ripped into four pieces that dropped to the sea. Blown away like a cloud, the dragon's demon power vanished. Bitter Momotaro should somehow survive. But, he lost his footing far up in the void of the sky, plummeted straight down like a pebble, and splashed with a thud into the boundless sea.