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- xXxDreamscapexXx

I do not own Magi or it's plot!

EDIT: this chapter has been edited. Nothing major just spelling/grammar mistakes and minor plot holes

Magi: The Work of Fate

Chapter 1

Rina Becomes A Thief

Rina had been having a bad day long before she had found herself surrounded by a group of thugs who held a knife to her throat, demanding money.

That particular situation, however, was by far the worst part of her already awful day.

As for how she had ended up like this, well it was quite a simple story. She had been minding her own business, wandering through the bustling markets of Balbadd when she had felt a rough tug on her arm. Given no chance to react, she was dragged into a dark alleyway by a group of frail men who had then proceeded to press a knife to her throat and demand she hand over her money, leading to the current situation.

Well this is certainly less than ideal… Rina thought with a sigh, staring blankly at the men, a slight hint of annoyance in her mismatched eyes.

Shifting her gaze down to the knife at her throat, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. It was obvious to that they were from the slums: their frail bodies and the rags they wore being a dead giveaway. While she didn't particularly enjoy having a knife to her throat, she supposed she couldn't really blame them for being so desperate to get money, food, anything to help them survive, really.

After all, she was no stranger to the pain, hunger and desperation that those very slums of Balbadd could make one feel.

"Come on!" One of the men shouted, the clear desperation in his voice snapping Rina out of her thoughts of the past. "Just hand us your money and anything of value and you'll be off on your merry way. We won't hurt you."

"Tempting." Rina replied as she tilted her head to the side, in a mock show of consideration before shaking her head. "But I'm going to have to say no."

"Are you mocking us?" The one with the knife pressed to her throat growled out. "We will kill you! So hand whatever you have over!"

Well that escalated quickly. Rina snorted, shifting uncomfortably as the knife drew closer to her neck. One second they're not going to hurt me and the next they're going to kill me.

Before Rina was given the chance to verbalise her observations on the situation, a strong and commanding voice cut through the tense air. The men around her froze up, in what she assumed was fear. She supposed that whoever has appeared was some sort of authority to them.

"What do you lot think you're doing?" The voice had growled out as the sound of footsteps echoed down the dark alleyway. "We don't steal from the innocent! We only steal from those bastards."

"Ca-Cassim!" The one Rina had dubbed the de facto leader of the group stuttered out, a look of fear now evident on his hollow, malnourished face. "W-we were just trying to get enough to f-feed everyone!"

As the name left the thugs lips, Rina felt her blood run cold, her eyes widening ever so slightly on her blank face. There's no way it's him. Of all the places to run into him... Looking down to the floor, her black hair fell, shielding her face from the man they had called Cassim. It was a weak attempt really but she had always been of the belief that a weak attempt was better than no attempt at all, especially if this was the Cassim she knew.

"Let the girl go." Cassim demanded and almost instantly, Rina felt the pressure one her neck lessen, the man obviously giving in to the orders. Once the knife had been lowered completely, he spoke again. "Now get out of my sight."

And with that, the thugs ran off and out of the alleyway, looks of fear and regret on their faces as they soon became lost in the sea of people.

"Thank you." Was all Rina said as she shook her head slightly, causing more of her dark hair to shield her face as she turned to leave in the same direction as the thugs, not turning to look at her saviour. The sooner I get out of here the better… I can't risk it.

"Wait." A warm hand took a hold of her shoulder, stopping her from leaving. "Please don't hold it against them. Life in the slums... It's hard. Please don't blame them to much."

Well I guess I can't deny it. The girl silently mused as her lips twitched up into the slightest of smiles. The familiar warmth of his hand bringing a sense of comfort through her body. It really is him, huh?

"Believe me, I know." She said as she, the small smile still present on her lips. Shrugging off not only his hand, but the brief moment of familiarity, Rina made her way out of the alleyway and away from her childhood friend, Cassim.

Well that had been what she had intended to do before she walked straight into someone, her nose banging painfully against their chest.

Today really just isn't my day. Rina groaned quietly, bringing her hand to her nose, a pout gracing her lips as she rubbed the rather sore appendage.

In doing so, she failed to notice her hair slipping back and revealing her face and the widening of two pairs of golden eyes as they stared in shock at the familiar mismatched red and blue eyes that had come into view. Rina looked up in confusion, trying to figure out both what she had walked into and what had brought on the sudden silence. She certainly hadn't been expecting to come face to face with a person, especially not her other childhood friend of all people.

"R-Rina?!" The familiar blonde all but shrieked as he jumped away from the girl in shock, his eyes still wide, a look of disbelief on his face. "Is-is that y-you?"

Well so much for getting out of here… Rina thought to herself, sending a sheepish smile to Alibaba and Cassim.

"Rina! What are you doing here?" Cassim said as he moved to stand beside his friend, a look of disbelief on his face as well, matching his friends face perfectly.

"Alibaba, Cassim! Hi! Fancy seeing you two here!" She replied as she let out another sheepish laugh, sending a quick wave to the two. As the friends from her childhood continued to stare at her, faces still full of disbelief and shock, the girl let out a sigh, running her hands through her loose hair as she averted her eyes from the pair. "I guess you guys have some questions, huh?"

Rina sat on top of the wall, a sad look on her face as her eyes scanned the now empty place that she had once called her home. While she had heard that the King had burned down the slums that she had grown up in, she had made sure to avoid this place during her trip to Balbadd. But now, sitting there with her Cassim and Alibaba, the reality of it all was truly hitting her. So many memories, both good and bad, came rushing back to her as she stared at what had once been her home. Glancing at her old friends with fond eyes, she couldn't stop a small smile from slipping onto her face. While she had planned to avoid them, even she couldn't deny that seeing them again, talking to them again, just being with them again, was something that she had missed. It helped to fill a small section of the loneliness that she had felt for so long.

"Are you going to tell us where you disappeared to?" Cassim finally asked, breaking the silence that had filled the air. He glanced up at her, a frown on his face as he leant back against the wall. "You just disappeared, gone without a trace."

"We all spent a long time looking for you." Alibaba said as he stared at the girl, watching her black hair blow in the wind, a frown on his face. "We missed you."

"I missed you guys as well." Rina said with a sad smile as she wrung the black material of her loose arabian styled pants between her hands, remembering the days she had spent with them and the other children of the slums. "I just had some things that I needed to do."

"So you're not going to tell us?" Cassim said, frustration evident in his voice as he stood in front of the girl. "You can't just suddenly disappear and come back without an explanation! We thought that had died as well!"

She winced at that particular comment, guilt overtaking her system.

"Cassim." Alibaba said with a pained look on his face as he placed a hand on his friends shoulder. "She'll tell us when she's ready. She had her reasons."

"Whatever." The boy replied, clearly not happy but deciding to leave it, for now. With a sigh he spoke again, this time in a softer more concerned voice. "Are you okay?"

"Of course I'm fine." Rina replied with a blank, confused look on her face, happy for change of subject. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You were being mugged!" Alibaba said as a look of disbelief once again came across his features. "They had a knife to your throat!"

"Oh, that!" Rina said as she let out a breezy laugh, tipping her backwards as the wind blew. "That was nothing! It's happened so many times that it doesn't faze me anymore."

The two boys could only stare at the girl with a blank look on their faces as the same thought ran through their heads: How many times had she been mugged in a dark alleyway?!

Rina furrowed her eyebrows, a frown making its way onto her face as she let out a silent sigh while following behind Alibaba and Cassim, listening to them as they told her about the Fog Troupe, the group who stole from the rich to give to the poor. The group that they just so happened to be in charge of. Since she had arrived in Balbadd two days ago, she had heard whispers of of the group and while she couldn't say she was surprised to see Cassim be involved, well, Alibaba was a different story. But despite her concern she couldn't deny that hearing them both talk so passionately about wanting to help the people did relax her slightly. Despite the reckless nature of the group, her two friends seemed to being doing well. They were still good people.

However despite how much she enjoyed seeing her friends again, she knew that if she were to stay that she would regret it. If she stuck around and got involved it would definitely cause trouble. It would be easier for her to just turn and leave, to not get herself involved. She knew all of this and yet she continued to follow them, going against what she knew would be best. She kept trying to bring herself to just turn and leave but she couldn't. Maybe it was because of the feeling of happiness she felt while around the two boys, maybe it was the effects of nostalgic, or maybe it was the hope that coursed through the air when the citizens of the slums saw the two.

Just from one glance at the rukh, Rina knew that she wouldn't be leaving like she should have. The way that the rukh in the air seemed to brighten, increase and spread at the very sight of the two boys made her realise that maybe if she stayed, she's be able to make sure that the fate of this kingdom, of these people, went in the right direction. She'd be able to make sure that they remained good people.

After I know that this place is fine, I'll leave. Rina made a silent promise to herself before tuning back into Alibaba and Cassim as they lead her into the base of the Fog Troupe.

"So what do you say Rina?" Alibaba said, his eyes lighting up with hope, the rukh fluttering around him.

"Will you join the Fog Troupe?" Cassim asked, a look of determination in his eyes. "Will you help us protect the people?"

Well I didn't really count on becoming a member of the notorious gang of thieves while in Balbadd. She thought as she studied the boys before her, amusement lighting up her eyes, the fluttering of the rukh causing her previous worries to melt away.

"Why not?" She said with a small laugh. "I haven't got anything better to do."

Little did she know, helping the people would turn into something much, much bigger.

And the first chapter is finished! So tell me, what did you guys think? I know not much action happened but don't worry, that will be coming!

Alibaba and Cassim may be a bit out of character but I'm working on how I want them to interact with Rina and just how to generally write their characters.

What do you guys think of Rina so far? And what do you think of her being able to see the rukh? I only talked about that briefly this chapter but as time passes we will be hearing more about that certain ability!

This is my first full-length story in quite some time so I would really appreciate any feedback that you might have! Whether it's on how I've written the characters or how I've described certain things, it would all be really appreciated!

Thank you all so much for reading it! I hope that you enjoyed it and continue reading!

- xXxDreamscapexXx