Judgement Day (Hogwarts Mystery Year 7 Retell)

Chapter 40: Crimson Tide.

"It is not a field of a few acres of ground, but a cause, that we are defending, and whether we defeat the enemy in one battle, or by degrees, the consequences will be the same." -Thomas Paine.

The Drums of the Edo Castle were drumming loudly. Signaling that an attack from the Oni was coming. That was when Akira and the others apparated in.

Akira was immediately met by a Japanese Auror. "Are we glad to see you, Master Shimamoto." 

"What has happened?" Akira asked.

"The Oni are preparing for a major attack against this castle. The castle that we have determined to defend." A Japanese Auror answered.

"Have we alerted the Obake?" Akira asked.

"We have, but it will be some time before they can arrive." The Japanese Auror answered.

"Why would the Oni attack this castle?" Jacob asked. "It doesn't make sense."

"Because this castle was once home to the Samurai and the Shogun of Japan. For many years they fought to protect the people from the Oni." Akira answered. "After our last battle nearly 400 years ago. The Oni vowed revenge. I have a hunch that Trotsky egged them on to get just that."

Ethan sighed. "So these guys can hold a grudge for that long?" He asked.

"Time has not been kind to them." Takumi answered.

A thought was occurring to Lizzie. "So which Oni are we dealing with? The Red Oni, or the Blue Oni?" She asked.

"The Red Oni." Akira answered.

"There are 2 Oni?" Jacob asked.

"Yes. Red and Blue." Takumi answered.

"And I take it that the Red are bad and Blue are good?" Ben asked hopefully.

Akira looked at him. "Alas, no. They are both evil." He explained. "I don't believe you've ever heard the tale of the Red and Blue Oni, have you?"

Ben shook his head.

So Akira began to tell the 4 the tale. The tale he had told his son, many times. 

"A red Oni tries to become friends with humans, even writing friendly messages on his house and making sweets. However, Oni are known for being scary, and sometimes being man-eaters, so everyone stayed away. Eventually, he asks his friend the Blue Oni for help on what he should do to let the humans know he was their friend.

The blue Oni comes up with a plan: he'd pretend to be an evil Oni and attack the human village, and the red Oni could heroically come in and save the humans by chasing off the blue Oni. They enact this plan, and the red Oni befriends the humans like he wanted. However, he soon realizes that his friend the blue Oni hasn't come around, so he goes to the blue Oni's house to see if something happened. He finds a letter from the blue Oni, who writes that he will stay away from the humans so that the red Oni can still be friends with them. And the red Oni cries for having lost his old friend. His one true friend."

"Talk about a wolf in Sheep's clothing." Ethan commented.

"So. This Red Oni tried to become friends with humans. He had his friend try to fake an attack so that he could befriend them. Didn't go over so well. And now the Red Oni are bitter." Ben recapped.

"That's pretty much the main idea of it." Akira replied.

"Yeah. You don't make friend on lies." Lizzie chimed in.