A/N: Wow; 20 views in just the first day!? Cool! Anyways, no reviews yet…but that means no negative feedback too, lol! Anyhow, here's chapter two, hope you like! Plz leave a review and let me know your thoughts…they do matter to me!
Aladdin & the Heirs of Magic Ch. 2: the Onyx Gate
"It is my greatest work yet, Xerxes."
Mozenrath, Lord of the Black Sand, stood in a cavernous chamber, one of his many labs, before an immense relic. Hovering in the air near his shoulder, a greyish creature, resembling an eel, stared at it in gleeful wonder, his tail swishing back and forth in excitement.
"What greatest work do, master?"
Mozenrath snickered, flexing his one hand, covered in a copper colored gauntlet, the source of much of his power. "This, Xerxes, is the Onyx Gate…a portal to other dimensions."
Xerxes stilled at that, and swallowed. He took in the massive arch-shaped stone that reared up against one of the chamber's longer walls. Nearby, a lit fireplace splashed citrine light throughout the high-ceilinged room…the only sound for a few moments was the crackling of wood.
"Well, Xerxes, what do you think of my find?" his voice was curious…but Xerxes caught the hint of potential anger lurking beneath.
"What need portal for, master?" Xerxes hedged instead.
Mozenrath chuckled at that. He moved towards an oval-shaped, full length mirror which was perched between the Gate and a tall window which showed a glimmer of light on the distant horizon. The light never reached their kingdom though, not fully; the Land of the Black Sand had been plunged in nearly perpetual darkness since its previous ruler, Lord Desdane, had cursed the sky with eternal blackness.
Xerxes' master touched the mirror with his ungloved hand; his alabaster skin made an apricot color by the fire. "As you know, Xerxes, reality is fluidic in nature; the various dimensions revolve and rotate around each other, always in motion…but there are times when two realities will draw very close to each other," his dark eyes flashed with purpose, "sometimes, very distant universes will come close enough to ours to make a bridge possible—if one has the magic potency to create such a bridge."
Xerxes nodded; yes, he knew all that. "But…what world you open gate to, master?" he couldn't conceal the hesitance from his scratchy voice.
Mozenrath looked at him and smiled, his lean face showing he knew all too well the reason for his servant's lack of enthusiasm. "Never fear, Xerxes, I seek allies, not victims."
Xerxes' body relaxed at that. "Xerxes know that, master." And, he did…he still wanted to hear the magician say it though.
Mozenrath turned, his blue cape, trimmed with black and gold, swished at the movement. "This gate, Xerxes, will open a doorway to a world that has not drawn near to ours in several millennia…the Kingdom of Alvetira."
Xerxes gaped. "Kingdom of…wraiths?"
Mozenrath saw his amazed expression, and it only lit his face more. The ruby in his turban glinted against the fire as he gestured dramatically. "Think of it, Xerxes: an entire world of wraith-warriors at my command; an army that cannot be harmed by mortal weapons…and therefore cannot be destroyed. What kingdom in this world could oppose such power?"
Xerxes didn't blink. "Aladdin-kingdom."
He blinked after; he hadn't intended to say it aloud…and waited for his master to rage. Aladdin was a touchy subject.
But…Mozenrath only grinned, revealing his perfect teeth. "Exactly, Xerxes."
The magical 'eel' looked confused.
The sorcerer moved closer to the mirror, which now reflected his lean face, and stray curls of jet black hair that his ornate head covering did not conceal. His grin had melted into a much darker expression.
"Aladdin and his pathetic band of 'heroes' will no doubt race to the fore to stop me," Mozenrath declared, his elegant voice low and filled with knowing, "but…when they do, even their pet genie won't be able to stop me. This time, Xerxes…the Seven Deserts will be ours."
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Aladdin thought again of the endless array of foes he and his friends and fought over the years; before and after meeting his incredible bride-to-be…and wondered then how this could terrify him so?
He stood beside the sultan, a shorter man with white hair and beard who seemed to know nothing else except how to be cheerful and smiling. Aladdin at times envied his future father-in-law that; the sultan bore the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders, yet seemed to enjoy life more than any other person Aladdin had ever known.
Well, other than Genie anyways, Aladdin amended, grinning to himself.
But he felt the pit return to his stomach when he lifted his brown eyes again to take in the seemingly endless line of dignitaries, royals, nobles, ambassadors, and so forth lined up before him. The entourage began at the palace's main doors…and stretched, vanishing somewhere in the city below.
Aladdin gulped; his cream-colored silk robes, turban and cape suddenly even more scratchy and uncomfortable.
He had practiced long and hard; the correct type of greeting for a sultana versus an ambassador; how to bow, the proper tone of voice, proper body language and poise…and yet he still felt like a dirty street rat that was dressed as a prince.
Another royal family passed by them after he and sultan had finished the required diplomatic dance. Aladdin repressed a sigh; another group of guests he'd not embarrassed himself, or Jasmine and her father in front of. Phew.
"Now, my boy," sultan whispered, leaning closer to him, "calm yourself. These people don't bite; most of them are old friends."
Aladdin looked into the sultan's infinitely kind eyes; they were very aware, too aware, of how Aladdin was feeling.
"Were you ever nervous?" Aladdin couldn't help but ask.
"Of course!" sultan murmured incredulously, his eyes widening as though saying that should be obvious, "but it gets easier over time; practice my boy, that's the key. Pretty soon you'll be able to do this in your sleep."
Somehow that last part wasn't very comforting. They turned to greet the next arrivals.
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The Onyx Gate glistened, and strange whispers echoed from it as Mozenrath completed his incantations. Xerxes couldn't ignore the creeping feeling of dread though, as he watched. His eyes, one rose, one black, narrowed suspiciously. Most of his magic was long gone; but enough lingered inside of him that something felt…off.
The enormous arch, made of a single onyx stone, hence its name, seemed alive in a way as Mozenrath invoked his magic over it. Ribbons of silvery light moved over and within the rock, Xerxes couldn't help but think of two dancers, moving in perfect sync: his master, and the powerful relic.
Finally, as the very distant horizon shone a bright gold, signaling dawn had finally arrived—somewhere in another kingdom, though never in this realm—Mozenrath lowered his hands; and sighed in gratification.
"It's ready, Xerxes…now me must only wait."
"Something wrong, master." Xerxes couldn't stop himself from saying it.
Mozenrath turned, slowly; the threat obvious in his dark eyes. "Oh?"
Xerxes twitched his tail with uncertainty. "Something not feel right."
Mozenrath straightened. His anger was still reigned in, but his servant could see it bubbling up. "And where does this 'not feeling right' stem from, do you think?"
Xerxes knew better than to say the Gate; so he hedged again. "Not sure. We use mirror to check?"
He watched in concealed relief as his master's shoulders lowered; good, his anger was abated then. Xerxes had seen—and experienced—his master's fury enough times to not want to do so again…ever.
"Very well, Xerxes," Mozenrath avowed, with noblesse oblige, "we should check on our heroes anyways." He moved gracefully back to the large gilt mirror. "Knowing Aladdin, he'll probably be dangling over the mouth of some monstrous beast as we speak!" He snickered as he commanded the mirror to show them Agrabah.
Xerxes chuckled too; happy his master was still in good temper, and repeated "Monstrous beast, monstrous beast." He flew slowly over to his master, and rested on his shoulder.
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Over the sultan and his daughter's future husband, two figures watched the proceedings below: a crimson colored parrot and tan colored monkey wearing a vest and hat. The carved window they stood in offered a perfect view to the enormous body of guests coming in…and the treasure caravans that followed them: gifts for the bride and groom.
"I'm telling you, monkey, Aladdin's gonna need a lot of help to 'manage' all that wealth."
Abu humped at that, and retorted in his just barely discernible language, "No need from you."
Iago fluffed indignantly at that. "Let me tell you, flea bag, I've—"
The sound of shouts and things crashing erupted below them. Their gazes riveted downwards.
Aladdin had stepped forward to shake hands with a noble, tripped on his long cape…and went tumbling down the stairs. They watched as two noblemen helped him up.
Iago sighed and rolled his eyes. Abu covered his face in dismay.
"As I was saying, flea boy, Aladdin needs all the help he can get."
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Mozenrath sighed and lifted his gaze to the vaulted ceiling. "That's our hero, Xerxes," he said dryly.
Xerxes snickered, rocking his body side to side in the air. "Hero looks nervous."
"Yes, he does, doesn't he?" Mozenrath's voice was silken with amusement. "Well,…" he drawled off as they watched two guards race up to the sultan and Aladdin, panting heavily.
"Ugh," Mozenrath groaned angrily, "this had better not be what I think it is."
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"What!? What is it, Razoul?" sultan demanded, his face worried.
"My sultan," Razoul, a very large and muscular guard managed between gasps for breath, "we just received word, a ship that was scheduled to dock at the river two hours ago has been captured. The guests aboard are being held hostage."
Sultan started. "What!? By whom?!"
Razoul shook his turbaned head. "We don't know. Our spies cannot uncover this."
Aladdin felt his body go rigid. "A ship? Was it taken before reaching a dock? Anywhere?"
Razoul nodded.
"It's still over what then." Aladdin knew who could, and would do this.
"Aladdin?" sultan asked.
"Where is the ship now?" Aladdin asked with urgency. Razoul gave him the approximate location.
Aladdin looked up to the sky and whistled. Instantly, an ornate carpet flew out of the window Iago and Abu had been watching from, both of them aboard. It stopped beside Aladdin; most of the guests gasped in wonder, and started talking among themselves.
"Don't worry sultan, we'll take care of this," Aladdin said, his voice thick with determination.
"Not without us," Jasmine's voice said from behind them. The four men turned to see the princess walking towards them, a tall, blue man with a jovial face and single gold earring beside her.
"Genie, we're gonna need you," Aladdin said, and Jasmine frowned at what he wasn't saying.
"And me," she retorted, "I'm the bride and these are my guests too."
Aladdin looked to sultan; it wasn't that he doubted Jasmine, far from it…but putting them both in danger like this. He knew who they were facing—and she hated Jasmine, desperately.
"It's Saleen, Jasmine."
"Well of course it is," Jasmine came back, her hands now on her hips, "which is why I'm going. I can't get married tomorrow if my groom gets captured today, now can I?"
None of the men had anything to say to that.
"Oh, don't worry, Al," Genie said, "it's only Saleen, it's not like anyone else will be showing up."
As they all got aboard Carpet, and sultan warned them to be careful, that pit returned again to Aladdin's stomach.
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"Heroes are so inconsiderate, Xerxes," Mozenrath said flatly, his arms folded.
"Inconsiderate," Xerxes murmured, shaking his head.
Mozenrath spun from the mirror, and waved his arms in frustration, "You work hard, make elaborate plans, give up nights of sleep, strive to craft the perfect plan to destroy your enemies…and do they show proper gratitude? No." his arms dropped, annoyed. "They instead rush off to be destroyed by someone else."
"Inconsiderate," Xerxes repeated.
Mozenrath let out a short, angry breath and straightened to his full, tall stature. "Well," he said his voice suddenly calm, "I guess we'll just have to rescue the heroes…if we want to destroy them ourselves."
Xerxes sniggered at the irony. "Save heroes, heroes be amazed."
Mozenrath chuckled. "That'll make it all the better, Xerxes." He waved an arm, and they vanished in a flash of blue light and cloud of sapphire flame.
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The large ship was caught between two rocks jutting from the ocean depths. The captain had just said they were only two hours from port…and then the water below them had suddenly…given way…and the rocks had appeared.
They were aground. And helpless.
While a huge octopus menaced the guests with his massive tentacles, a lone spout of water nearby simply shot towards the sky, about eight feet tall; atop it, a mermaid sat, not at all ruffled by the cries for help and screams of panic that ceaselessly came from the vessel.
Saleen filed her nails quite calm and content with a tiny sea cucumber; her lavish red-orange hair perfectly quaffed, her tangerine tail swaying lazily back and forth. She hummed to herself and glanced at her servant, Armond, who seemed quite content to entertain himself with the guests.
She yawned, patting a hand against her full lips. She knew her makeup was flawless, she had already checked it. After all, she was expecting company; she wanted to look her best.
Not that she could ever look anything else, mind you.
"Now," she said to no one in particular, if I know Aladdin, he should be making his dramatic entrance, in 3…2…1-"
"Saleen!"
"Ah!" she exclaimed with a clap of her hands, "I do love a man who's punctual."
She turned on her makeshift 'seat' just as Aladdin and his "team" came plunging at her on their flying rug. Casually, she flicked her hand, and a monolithic tsunami came from nowhere…and engulfed them.
She laughed merrily, clutching her very slender waist. "Oh, but you make it too easy, Aladdin."
But, suddenly, a huge blue-colored whale with a black mustache and beard rose from the depths and opened his mouth. Out came the heroes again, and Aladdin leapt from the carpet, tackling Saleen.
"Oomph!"
Jasmine meanwhile dropped onto the ship and pulled out her whip. A couple snaps of it later and Armond got the idea. Iago perched on the rail, calling out encouragement to Aladdin as he wrestled Saleen on the nearby beach.
Aladdin pinned her against a dune. "It's over Saleen," he shouted, "let the hostages go."
Saleen chuckled. "I think not, my sweet; you're not leaving…and neither are they." She flicked her wrist.
Water spears flew from the depths around the ship, hovering thickly around the guests. Aladdin froze.
Seven surrounded Jasmine. She dropped her whip, frozen.
Saleen didn't break free from Aladdin; in fact, she seemed to be enjoying the closeness. "Now then, my dear Aladdin; you can either surrender and agree to stay here with me,…or…." She let the sentence hang.
Aladdin looked desperately to Genie.
"One move from your Genie and your guests get it," Saleen declared harshly, seeing where his gaze was, "even he won't be able to save all of them."
Genie gestured helplessly; saying she was right.
Aladdin turned back to the mermaid, who had grown legs once they hit the sand; he released his grip on her arms. "All right, Saleen, what do you want to let them go?"
Saleen smoothed her hair and preened. She pulled a little bottle from a sleeve that had been part of the gold and tangerine garb that had appeared with her legs.
Aladdin heard his friends on the ship call out for him to not listen. He kept his eyes, now hard, on the mermaid.
"This, my pet, is a potion that will change you back into a sea creature," she cooed in a sickeningly sweet voice, "if you agree to drink it and agree to stay with me forever, I'll let your pathetic little ship go…and everyone aboard it."
Aladdin looked at the glass bottle, glinting in the full sun; he repressed a shudder, recalling what it was like to be at Saleen's mercy—she didn't have any.
Seeing his hesitation, she added with mock indifference, "Or, I could impale them all now and let you go back to Agrabah and tell the sultan and all his guests that his daughter was mutilated because you wouldn't save her."
"Don't Aladdin!" Jasmine screamed, "Don't listen to her!"
Aladdin took the bottle. His friends called out louder, desperate for him not to do it. Even Iago, Aladdin realized with the tiniest of smirks, was begging him to not drink the potion.
He had no choice though; he raised the bottle to his lips-
And it dissolved in his hand.
"What!" Saleen screamed.
Around the ship, the spears all evaporated. The guests cheered and leapt for joy.
Saleen let out an enraged snarl and spun towards Genie—who was looking around in bafflement. "Who was it Al?" he called to the boy.
Aladdin opened his mouth to say he didn't know when a snide voice cut in: "Why me of course."
A vortex of inky blue fire erupted near and over Saleen and Aladdin; vanishing-
-and leaving Mozenrath and Xerxes hovering in air in its stead.
"Mozenrath!" Aladdin shouted in shock.
Mozenrath found he couldn't help himself. "Guilty," he replied with a snicker, and Aladdin remembered the last time he had said that…when he was stuck in Mozenrath's black-ink-prison.
"I see you're in another 'sticky' situation Aladdin," Mozenrath drawled, as if reading the other's mind, "you have to be the most ungrateful hero I've ever met."
Aladdin started, lost to his meaning, but before he could say anything, Mozenrath lazily lifted his bare hand, and shot a pillar of blue fire at Saleen. She went flying with a yell.
Instantly, Armond was there, hurling himself at the boy wizard; Mozenrath didn't even look at him, but flicked his other hand over his shoulder. Another pillar of fire…but this one engulfed the octopus.
"Armond!" Saleen wailed, sprawled on the sand.
The fire melted away…and instead of an octopus, a tiny round sea cucumber with eyes that were distinctly Armond's peered at her helplessly, as it lay on the sand.
Saleen launched to her feet. "You won't interfere…whoever you are," she snarled, shaking a fist at him; she gestured to the water, and the waves rose.
Mozenrath only laughed at her; but Aladdin was amazed to realize it wasn't his 'evil' laugh, but the other that he only had heard once before…it was his laugh of genuine humor. Aladdin hadn't heard it since when the wizard had trapped them all in the Otherworld of the Black Sand.
"Princess Jasmine of course made for such a delightful victim. When she was swallowed by the sand, she let out the most…blood curdling scream…."
And he'd laughed after that, Aladdin hadn't realized it's lack of malice until after they had won and Mozenrath was trapped in his own Otherworld.
"In case you haven't noticed," Mozenrath said in a low, threatening voice that brought Aladdin back to himself, "I already have."
"Already have! Already have!" Xerxes put in.
Saleen growled at that, clenching her fists. "I am Saleen, Siren of the Seven Seas-" she declared furiously-
"Oh, is that why you're so shriveled?" Mozenrath snarked, cutting her off, "from the water?" he glanced carelessly at Xerxes, "and here I thought it was just age."
Aladdin and company froze in shock at that. Saleen's vanity was legendary…and mocking it—
With a howl of rage, Saleen sent tidal wave after tidal wave at Mozenrath. He merely laughed again and evaporated them just as they came within a hair's breadth of deluging him.
It was hard to decide who was howling louder: Saleen or the behemoth waves. They rose so high they blotted out the sun; they were terrifying…and beautiful, glimmering like walls of glass or crystal. Aladdin was at a loss of what to do till Genie poofed in beside him.
"Aladdin, we need to get these people to safety."
Aladdin snapped back to it; shaking himself. "I know…can you teleport the ship to Agrabah?"
Genie caught the question. "Me? What are you gonna do?"
"I don't know," Aladdin managed as he watched the two magic-workers fight. No…he realized…it wasn't a fight. Mozenrath clearly wasn't trying…he was toying with Saleen.
"I don't know if Mozenrath realizes how dangerous Saleen can be," Aladdin answered at length, "what if she gets the upper hand. If looks could kill…" he gestured at the mermaid, her eyes aflame and her beautiful face twisted in a mask of un-tempered fury.
Mozenrath resolved the issue though; apparently he'd gotten bored with this game, one loose gesture later, the water turned on its ruler, and encapsulated all but her head in a block of enchanted ice.
"You think this will hold me, wizard?"
Mozenrath sniggered, "I think, hag, it's the only thing that would want to."
In the distance, Iago's sputter of laughter was heard, followed by a smack and "Ow! Oh come on! He's right about that."
"I'll get you for this!" Saleen swore, struggling against the glossy prison. "There's no place you'll be able to escape from me!"
Mozenrath gave her a thoroughly bored stare. "What a dreadful thought," he said in a deadpan voice, "you mean to say I might have to actually look at you again someday!"
"Blah!" Xerxes put in, his tongue hanging out in distaste.
Mozenrath patted the top of his head. "I think Xerxes said it plainly enough." He pulled out a clump of something black from a pocket. "But, for every problem…there is a solution." He eyed Saleen, his gaze now chilling. She glared back, whispering and Aladdin realized she was trying to get her Elemental powers to overwhelm Mozenrath's enchantment.
He knew it wouldn't work; Elemental or not, Mozenrath was a powerful sorcerer. Mozenrath snickered at her efforts.
"Your pathetic water powers are no match for me," he coldly said, "and you…are a problem." He straightened, "and I'm the solution." He opened his hand. Aladdin's eyes widened.
Black Sand. He had seen that in action before. He'd felt it in action before.
Without preamble, Mozenrath blew on the sand, and it eagerly flew at Saleen. With a hissing sound, it wrapped around her and swallowed her whole into a pit it formed beneath her feet. She screamed as she vanished into it.
Mozenrath turned nonchalantly to the Armond-cumber and waved his hand. A ball of blue light formed around him. Mozenrath flung him into the pit as well. After it took Armond; Mozenrath waved his hand again; the pit vanished.
Aladdin and Genie traded bewildered glances. "Why did Wiz-kid save us?" Genie asked under his breath, leaning towards Aladdin.
Mozenrath gave a lazy stretch, as though he had just finished a brisk jog, not a battle.
"Well, someone had to," the boy wizard dryly replied, turning to them.
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A/N: I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter as much as I did writing it! Mozenrath is always a TON of fun to write! Anyways, the villain saves the heroes; love plot twists. My shift starts soon though, so I gotta end it here! Boo, I know, right? Anyways: read, enjoy, REVIEW! I'd love to hear your thoughts; but no flames please. We'll leave flames to Mozenrath!
