A/N: I don't own Magi!
First of all, I apologize for taking this long to publish a new chapter. It certainly wasn't my intention. I actually had a portion of this chapter written shortly after publishing the previous one, but then a lot of things happened. Mainly there just were tons of school work – the tiring sort. That involved lots of research and writing and I just didn't have energy to continue this. Also, I've rewritten this chapter a few times – but I'm still not completely satisfied with it. I think it's clearly visible in some parts, but I don't want to delay it any longer. So, I hope you still enjoy?
(On a different note – this is now officially a fix-it fict. If it wasn't obvious enough. Because what the hell happened in the manga?)
Warnings: Unbeta's (There may be and very likely are grammar errors!)
And lastly, I edited last chapter, just the conversation between Sinbad and Solomon. It is now a little better, I hope.
'Well, that was fun.' – Solomon talking in his head
"I guess it was." – Magi universe Solomon
"If you say so." - Hikaru
That figurative "dragon" who disrupted our peaceful (?) visit of Sindria was the same princes of Kou empire we'd met earlier in Balbadd. And her brother (I guess?) – but I'll get to that troublesome prince later, because I think that it's better to start with the funny stuff.
Okay, I'll be frank – it was hilarious. She just stormed in and accused Sinbad of… well, technically of rape even if she didn't phrase it like that. I know, this is serious and horrible, but the reaction of Sinbad's generals killed all the seriousness. Totally. Because…you'd expect them to defend their king, right?
That didn't happen. At all.
Nope.
(I almost pitied Sinbad. Almost. Hikaru was openly laughing and I'm positive I've heard the other Solomon snicker, even though he denies it.)
Everything was solved by Yamraiha, who performed some kind of memory spell, I think, that just showed everyone what really happened. And, behold, Sinbad was innocent (this time).
Not that the "happy ending" to that escapade mattered, because the Kou prince… Egh, the prince… We'll get to him later. Unfortunately.
(I'd prefer not to get to him at all. Just… ugh, toss him into the ocean or something… What? No Hikaru, I'm sure that doesn't count as murder. Yes, I'm 100% positive.)
Since Aladdin and Alibaba were both training with their teachers I had some time for myself. Technically speaking, anyways, because with the other Solomon and Hikaru, it was never just me. And what did I do with all that time, you ask? Why, train, of course!
Because my current abilities and skills were… terrible at best. Yup, I sucked. That was the cruel truth, no matter how much admitting that wounded my manly pride.
(You may point out that I dealt with the cocky magi and demonic djinn in Balbadd just fine and you'd be right. I had no problems fighting inexperienced kid and berserk djinn that didn't think. You can't actually believe that's any way of measuring my fighting prowess. I'm not Berseker from Fate/Stay night, I don't have multiple lives! It'll be useful, though.)
It wasn't like I was out of shape. No, my problem laid elsewhere.
As I've probably already mentioned, I'm a martial artist. Or at least, I was back on Earth. Yeah, I knew "magic", but only a few simple things involving mainly just enhancing my own abilities. I could also tap a little into Hikaru's power which was something I didn't do very often, because of the wild and unpredictable nature of said power. Not that it's important – I won't be able to do something like that in here, anyways. And Hikaru isn't the core of my problem either.
Nope, my non-existing skills and horrible self-control were result of this world's Solomon getting thrown into the mix.
He was a proficient swordsman and powerful mage. The magic part wouldn't be too problematic – weird, probably, and confusing, yes, but I could cope with that. The other Solomon skills with sword – no so much.
Because what you had when you mixed martial arts together with swordsmanship? A friggin' chaos, that's what. When I wanted to do a certain move, my body obliged – but at the same time another part of my mind tried to convince me that the move should be done in a different way, which usually resulted in me falling flat on my face.
So yeah, I trained my ass off. I was very well aware that I can't rely solely on my luck (Because honestly, luck? What luck? My luck was like E rank or something. Yes, that bad.) and the sooner I do something about the mess that were my current skills, the better.
There was also my ability to see auras. We still weren't sure how it was possible for me to see them and the only theory we had was highly hypothetic. The other Solomon was always able to see more than others, even in Alma Torran, which was one of the reasons why he was an outstanding mage. So this ability of mine may be somehow connected to this, but we had no proof. Not that it mattered – I decided to make some use of this, since I couldn't just turn it off.
Just to clarify – the ability to see auras doesn't involve reading minds. It was more along the lines of feeling – being able to see the mood and dominant feeling, thus concluding the intentions of the person whose aura I was seeing. For example, Sinbad's aura was kind of like the ocean, wild and untamed, but alluring at the same time. There was something in him that just made you unconsciously want to be close to him. He cared for his subordinates and that care was also shown in his aura. It also held a hint of curiosity directed towards me and interest aimed at Aladdin.
Well, I hoped that it was just a genuine curiosity and not that kind of interest. That would suggest Sinbad is into young boys… Ugh, that image is way too disturbing… I need a brain-bleach. Now.
(No, Hikaru, you're not helping!)
That calm before the storm didn't last long, though the storm came slowly. And sneakily. You know, it's the kind of situation where you know something is wrong, but couldn't quite figure out what, so you dismiss it and then suddenly it's too late.
Yeah, it was like that, only I didn't dismiss that uneasy feeling (because I am, according to Hikaru, paranoid). It probably made Aladding pretty worried about my mental state as I was constantly on edge. My ability to see auras wasn't really helping me either – I was seeing dark, purplish streaks creeping just on the corner of my vision whenever I was with Sinbad or Alibaba. One blink and they would disappear (and Sinbad would look at me weirdly, Alibaba just worriedly) and I could've just brushed them off as a part of my way too active imagination, but I knew better. Dark colours in one's aura (even if they are just small splotches) always, always mean trouble.
Always.
So, I set on to closely watch Alibaba, which probably made him feel a (lot more than) little uncomfortable. And also probably saved his life in the long run – I'm going to get to that soon. But first, uuughh, the Kou prince…
Don't get me wrong – it's not like I hate the kid. I have nothing against him, personally, and Aladdin seemed to befriend him easily enough (then again, this is Aladdin, he would probably befriend even an evil dragon trying to destroy the world), but his behaviour really sets me off. His name's Ren Hakuryuu, if I'm not mistaken (though I could be, I wasn't paying much attention when he introduced himself, I was busy laughing at Sinbad's misery). And he's this overly pleasant and polite type of person.
Yes, quiet, nice, well-mannared and pleasant to the point where it starts to be suspicious. So he's either secretly plotting world-domination, or he's the only sane person in the sea of insanity and politics that is Kou empire. Considering my personal experience, the latter seemed unlikely. (Please, don't ask. Just… Don't. OK?)
It wasn't even his fault, really, he was just a wrong person in a wrong place at a very wrong time. Doesn't mean I have to get on well with him. Or talk to him nicely.
Anyways, this is how it all went down.
I don't know every detail, because I arrived at the scene a bit later, but Aladdin, Alibaba and Morgiana were just hanging out. Suddenly, Kogyouku and Hakuryuu came, introduced themselves and just started talking. Alibaba got nervous, but nobody seemed do notice and Hakuryuu continued with his talk. Which would had been okay, if he hadn't started apologizing. This may sound really stupid because what harm can an apology possibly do? Weeeell…
The scene I arrived at was that of a complete shock. Alibaba was on the ground and obviously in pain. The purplish something I'd been seeing in his aura was slowly creeping down his arm, bleeding through his clothes. Morgiana was still as a statue, and the Kou royalties were shocked as well. Aladdin… Aladdin was panicking and trying to help. Anyhow.
"Don't touch him, Aladdin!" I yelled, maybe too harshly, but now was not time to be subtle.
"Solomon-nii!" Aladdin sounded relieved to see me, but the worry didn't vanish from his eyes just yet.
Kogyouku and Hakuryuu looked startled. "Who are you!?"
Ah, I'd forgotten that we weren't officially introduced yet. Somehow, our paths never really crossed after Balbadd, and I doubt Kogyouku remembered me (after all, she was focused solely on Sinbad, if you know what I mean…).
"Solomon," Morgiana's voice was quiet, but steady. Not one to panic, this girl. Very good.
"Can you help him?"
"I can't tell you just yet, because I don't know what exactly is wrong with him… However, it's nothing good and it would be better if none of you touched him."
"Solomon-nii…" Oh damn, those were tears in Aladdin's eyes.
"Just help he get him into bed and go tell Sinbad what happened here…"
"This is bad."
'No shit Sherlock!'
"I- what - ?"
"Calm down, both of you! You're giving me a headache…"
'You can't have a headache, you have no head of your own! And I'm sorry.'
I bit my lip, trying to concentrate.
"I apologize as well. There is no point in stating the obvious. What I meant to say is that this right there… This is black rukh."
'WHAT!?'
"That's not the worst part of it. This black rukh… it's not his. Is someone else's."
'… And you used to know what someone, right? Way back, when you were still on Alma Torran?'
"… Yes. Yes, I did know him. Very well, in fact. He was once a comrade…"
"Oh my…"
I looked at Alibaba again. The black rukh was still spreading, but the process seemed to slow down. And I noticed small flames dancing all over Alibaba (at least they were in his aura). I smiled. Amon was trying to fight the black rukh invading his king's body and soul. Because I was not so naïve as to think that this was purely physical problem. This … "poison", for lack of a better word, run way deeper.
'So… How do we get this stuff out?'
Sinbad arrived quickly and Aladdin with his friends followed close by. Alibaba was trying to sit, so I helped him up, supporting his back with my hand.
"What happened?" Demanded the King of Sindria, looking more furious than worried.
"I'm not exactly sure," I shook my head a little, "but it's not good. I strongly advise against touching him or coming near him for a time being."
Sinbad frowned.
"How do you feel, Alibaba?"
"Um… I'm not sure? I mean, it doesn't hurt anymore… but I think I hear a voice… and it keeps telling me to do… things?"
He sounded uncertain. I frowned as well.
"What kind of things?" asked Sinbad, seeming unfazed by the claim of hearing voices.
"Um… the bad kind? Like… it told me to hate you. And kill you. I'm sorry?"
He looked very confused and apologetic, and I deadpanned inwardly.
'There is a strange voice telling you to kill us all and you just apologize for the inconvenience? You kid, are something else.'
"That's-" started Sinbad, but he was abruptly interrupted by another voice, distorted and… a little frustrated?
"Even after all this, you won't attack? What a weak-hearted child you are."
"What-" yelped Aladdin as Alibaba cried in pain. A blackish-purplish smoke rose from his arm and formed a shade with glowing eyes that morphed into a man afterwards. A man I knew. Or, to be more precise, the other Solomon did. Ithan.
"Oh well, at least I was able to penetrate the barrier protecting this isle."
That son of a- Erm. He didn't seem to notice me, probably because I was standing behind him. Alibaba was still sitting on the bed, shocked. Ithan was floating above him, not paying him any attention. Aladdin, Morgiana, Sinbad and the Kou royalties were standing in front of the bed Alibaba was sitting on, glaring harshly at Ithan (at least Sinbad and Morgiana were). Sinbad's hand was clutching the handle of his cutlass, but he had yet to strike. He must have remembered my warning against touching or coming anywhere near Alibaba. Good. God knows what could have happened.
Since I was out of Ithan's field of vision I focused back on Alibaba, on his arm to be more precise. The black rukh was still swirling but it stayed firmly in one place. A smile ghosted my lips - Alibaba's own body was trying to fight against this poison and with Amon's help managed to stop it from spreading further. (Amon wasn't very happy that someone was trying to poison his king, of that there was no doubt).
And since it was essentially a poison, I treated is as such. First of all – get it out of the patient's body. Amon was trying but he needed just a little more power to push this poisonous dark rukh out. So I gave him a helping hand. After all, I've got tons of power to spare.
Ithan was still focused on Sinbad - he was just gloating about how Sinbad won't be able to save neither Alibaba nor himself. How Al-Thamen will destroy his little kingdom. And kill everybody he cares about. And so on. I decided that now was the best time to deliver one hell of a surprise for Solomon's former comrade.
"There is nothing that could save you now, Sinbad. Nor will you be able to help this poor, little prince…"
"Are you sure about that?" I asked and immediately brought attention of all occupants of the room on myself.
"That voice… It can't be…"
Just as Ithan started to turn around, I put my arm back on Alibaba's spine and pushed.
Then there was blinding white light.
