And when Blue Ogre told him the idea, Red Ogre thought it was so good that they decided to try it the very next day.

Early that next morning, they walked to the village together. Red Ogre hid behind a tree and watched while Blue Ogre strode down the main street into the very center, where all the people walked and talked. Then, suddenly, Blue Ogre turned himself into a most terrifying ogre: He began to run in wild paths around the houses as fast as lightning. He ripped through the air with claws sharper than knives. His deep voice rang out through the land louder than a volcano.

Basket weavers dropped their bamboo strips and hid under their baskets. Mothers threw down their panniers, grabbed their children, and ran indoors. Fish sellers threw cold fish at Blue Ogre—until he charged them. Stacks of fish flew into the air as they scrambled to safety.

“Please!” everyone in the village cried out to the heavens. “Please, someone, rescue us from this vicious ogre!”

This was Red Ogre’s cue. He dashed out from behind the big tree into the middle of the street and challenged the vicious ogre. And so they did battle. Of course, when Red Ogre fought with Blue Ogre it was just a pretend battle—but the villagers did not know that.

Red Ogre and Blue Ogre fought for hours while people peeped out from behind baskets and doorways, afraid even to breathe. The ogres ranted and roared and tussled and tumbled with such ferocity that people in far-away villages ran in all directions, shouting, “Earthquake!”

Until … Red Ogre dealt Blue Ogre one final blow, and Blue Ogre ran away broken and defeated.

The people cheered in relief and rushed out into the street. “What courage!” “What skill!” “What strength!” They couldn’t stop praising him. They crowded around Red Ogre to thank him for saving their village.