Night 7- The Promise


Magi © Shinobu Ohtaka

Shahra © Me


Alibaba, Aladdin, Morgiana, and Shahra found themselves sitting on the floating eight-pointed star as they rose high into the sky with their enormous bags of treasure. Alibaba glanced down below at the earth, which got smaller and smaller as they rose higher and higher, and then he glanced over to Morgiana, who lied down, asleep on the platform, and finally at Aladdin, who is putting a golden collar with a red ruby in the middle around Shahra's neck.

"There," Aladdin said. "Now you look even prettier, Shahra."

Shahra nuzzled Aladdin, who hummed in contently as he rubbed her chin. Then, he went over and sat next to Alibaba, who smiled at him.

"…We cleared it, didn't we?" Aladdin asked.

"Yep," Alibaba answered. "Sure did."

"…I guess we're not gonna be in much of a rush, are we?" asked Aladdin.

"Nope," Alibaba said. "Despite everything that's happened, I'm not tired…so how about we talk a bit, Aladdin?"

"Okay," Aladdin answered.

Soon, the two boys stared up at the endless void together, reminiscing on recent events.

"That was some adventure," Alibaba answered. "Sure was dangerous! There were seven times that I thought I was about to die, back there!"

"Yeah, and that big ant chewed on my head!" Aladdin added, giggling.

"Those eggs sure were pretty, though," Alibaba pointed out.

"And those glowing flowers!" Aladdin added.

"We could've grabbed some back there and sold some. I hate to miss you, you know?"

"At least you got all that treasure, Alibaba!"

"Yeah, that's true."

A pause.

"So, Alibaba?" asked Aladdin. "Why did you really wanna go into the dungeon, anyway?"

"Well, like I said, little buddy," said Alibaba, "I just needed some money, that's all. I'll use it to start my own business! That's the best way to work your way up in the world! You see, far to the south, there's a country called Sindria. It's a place of dreams and pleasure that Sinbad created! I'll run a business there and live the Sinbad dream!"

"That sounds like fun!" Aladdin exclaimed.

"…But before that," Alibaba started, "I have some business in a place called Balbadd."

"Oh, I see," Aladdin said.

"What about you, Aladdin?" Alibaba asked. "What are you gonna do, now? Go back home?"

"…Actually…I don't really have a home, anymore," Aladdin answered. "You see, Ugo and I used to live in a town called Utan with my Mother, Sheba. We were very poor, but that didn't seem to bother us. We were always so happy, spending every moment we could together…but…one day, my Mother got very sick and passed away."

"…I see," Alibaba said, sadly. "I'm sorry to hear that, Aladdin."

Aladdin chewed his lip for a bit, but then he shook his head, trying to fight back his tears.

'Every time I talk about my Mother,' he thought, 'it always makes me wanna cry.'

"So…I guess this means our little adventure is over, huh, Alibaba?" Aladdin asked, trying to take his mind off it.

"…Over?" Alibaba repeated as he remembered his and Aladdin's time in the dungeon, from when they got chased by the Slimes and when they found the treasure…as well as when he saw what the young boy could do back when he confronted Jamil. The teen sighed as he looked down at his feet, looking away from Aladdin.

"…Aladdin?" Alibaba asked.

"Yes, Alibaba?" Aladdin answered.

"…Listen…I just wanted to say…thanks for everything…and…I'm sorry about using you."

"Using me?"

"The truth is, when I first saw you summon Ugo, I planned on using you from the beginning…but…after all the times you risked your life for me…I realized I was wrong. You see…before you came along, I just talked a lot and never really took any action. When push comes to shove, I pretty much just freeze up. I guess…in the end…I'm no better than Jamil: I'm just a coward who uses people."

Another pause…but then, Aladdin stood up.

"A coward?" Aladdin repeated. "Well, that's not true! I think you're a very brave man, Alibaba!"

"W-what…?" Alibaba questioned in surprise.

"Remember back at the caravan?" Aladdin asked. "That fat man heaped so much scorn on your dreams, but despite how angry you were, you didn't even so much as raise a finger to him…but when the value of someone's life was scorned, you blew into a full on rage, and you didn't even hesitate to risk your life…and ever since then, I started liking you even more!"

Alibaba gasped quietly in surprise while Shahra lied nearby, snoozing, along with Morgiana.

"No matter what," Aladdin continued, "if you ever lose confidence, don't you worry! You aren't a coward, at all! You're a brave guy, as well as a respected friend of mine!"

Hearing that caused Alibaba's cheeks to flush red.

"You little sweet talker!" he exclaimed as he gave Aladdin a friendly punch in the arm, causing the boy to flinch in slight pain, but then he smiled. "Well, I could share some of the treasure! It's just as much yours as it is mine! Think about it! With this much, you can have enough money to buy all the food and pretty girls you want!"

"Whoo-hoo!" Aladdin cheered. "Food and girls!"

Shahra, who seemed to be sleeping, just quietly opened her eye and growled quietly at Alibaba.

"So who says our adventure is over?!" Alibaba asked as he stood up, proud and tall. "There's tons more dungeons! The world is full of fun and exciting things! It's all out there, waiting for us! Our adventure isn't over by a long shot! So let's go and see it all, okay!? We'll go wherever we want and have as much fun as we go…so let's together, Aladdin! What do you say?!"

Aladdin smiled broadly as he stared up at Alibaba before he nodded his head…while a gigantic, glowing white bird flew around them.

"You got it!" he exclaimed.

"All right, it's settled!" Alibaba shouted.

"Yeah! I can't wait! We'll go together, right, Alibaba? Promise me?"

"Of course! It's a promise!"

'…A promise.'

Alibaba Saluja, the young man who captured a dungeon, and Aladdin, the mysterious little boy called a Magi. Their promise had raised the curtain on a grand journey to challenge one of the world's greatest mysteries, and their departure drew in many who had encountered them.

However…they didn't realize that they might have to postpone that promise for quite some time.

XXX

Morgiana gasped as she awoke from her slumber, and when she sat up on her knees, she saw that she was staring at the wall that surrounded Qishan.

"I'm…outside the city?" she asked.

With Alibaba, he found himself sitting in the crater where dungeon once stood, and everyone had in town had gathered around to find him there, sitting on his bags of loot.

"A-Alibaba?!" questioned his former caravan partner. "What's he doing in there?!"

"I don't believe it!" Budel exclaimed. "That brat actually went and captured it!"

"He's not all talk, after all!" shouted an old man.

Alibaba smiled broadly before he pumped a fist and let out a triumphant cry, and soon after, the citizens of Qishan had broken into cheers.

"Haha!" Alibaba laughed. "Isn't this great, Aladdin?!"

No answer.

"Aladdin?" the blonde-haired teen asked before he looked around…but saw not hide or blue hair of Aladdin, anywhere. In fact, Shahra wasn't there, either. Despite that, he smiled, nonetheless.

'I guess there was a time lag when we got out, too,' he thought, 'so I'll go home and prepare a party! I hope you come back, soon…Aladdin.'

"I'm just your friend, that's all!"

Alibaba smiled as he remembered those words the boy said to him.

'I'll be waiting for you…Aladdin,' he thought.

However…Aladdin never returned to Qishan again.

XXX

3 days and 3 nights later, Alibaba still waiting for Aladdin to return…but the mysterious boy never showed up. A funeral for Jamil was held in town, and soon after, a new lord arrived. 3 more weeks passed, but Aladdin still didn't appear.

In the mansion that once belonged to Jamil…Alibaba is seen sitting by a window with a dismal expression.

"Well, well, my Master!"

Alibaba turned to look at Budel, only now, the fat man was smiling at him while rubbing his hands together.

"You look dashing today, as usual!" Budel complimented. "And no wonder! To think, you'd use your treasure to pay back your debt to me, and with interest, too! You're simply too kind! Hahahaha!"

That's right. Ever since Jamil died, Alibaba had used the treasure he had found in the dungeon to become the new lord of Qishan. However…with Aladdin gone, the feeling was rather bittersweet for him.

"Now then," Budel said, "this way please. I've taken it upon myself to bring you the finest wine and women!"

Alibaba turned to see his former boss pouring some wine into a glass while the girls from the brothel he took Aladdin to the other night are seen dancing…including Elizabeth.

"…Uh, Budel?" Alibaba asked. "Doesn't it embarrass you, sucking up to me like this? I mean, you used to think of me as trash!"

"What are you saying?" Budel asked. "I'm not embarrassed in the least!"

Alibaba rolled his eyes as he sat down on the sofa.

"That's enough," he said. "I wanna be alone for a bit. Everyone out."

"As you wish, milord!" Budel said before he and the women left the room. Alibaba looked at the table full of exquisite cuisine and wine, but then he sighed heavily as he looked to his left…and for a moment, he pictured Aladdin, sitting next to him while happily stuffing his face and being doted on by the dancer girls.

'…Aladdin,' he thought, worriedly. 'Where are you, little buddy? It's been three weeks, and you haven't come back! Without you here…what's the point of having all this delicious food and all these girls?!'

He then swallowed nervously as he clasped his hands together.

'…Dear Solomon, I hope he's not dead,' he thought as he remembered when he saw Aladdin using his special powers to defeat Jamil and Goltas. 'Surely…someone as amazing as that kid couldn't have died!'

"Lord Alibaba."

Alibaba turned to see a servant walk in.

"You have a visitor, milord," he said. "It seems to be a child."

Hearing that caused Alibaba to gasped.

"What?!" he questioned before he sped out of the room and down the stairs. "Why didn't you say something sooner?!"

'I knew it!' he thought. 'I just knew it! I knew you weren't dead, Aladdin!"

As he came to the bottom of the stairs and approached the door, he envisioned Aladdin, standing outside the mansion gate with Shahra at his side.

"I'm back, Alibaba!"

With tears of joy forming in his eyes, Alibaba pushed the doors open.

"WELCOME HOME, ALADDIN!" he shouted…only to realize that it was not Aladdin at all…but Morgiana, wearing a pair of shoes and a black apron. "Oh…Morgiana, it's you."

"I came to talk to you," Morgiana said.

XXX

Alibaba and Morgiana stood near the streets of town, watching the people in the bazaar.

"Why did you use half your treasure," Morgiana began, "to free the slaves?"

"…Because," Alibaba replied, "I thought that was something he'd do."

"You mean Aladdin?" Morgiana asked.

"Mm…" Alibaba nodded. "So, what have you been up to, Morgiana?"

"Well," Morgiana started, "until the freed slaves decided what they will do, I heard you were paying them to work in the mansion. You're truly a good person, Alibaba."

"Thanks," Alibaba said.

"The slaves are grateful to you for freeing them."

"And what about you?"

"Well…I, too, am grateful. I can't remember the last time I had ever roamed freed. When you unlocked my shackles in the dungeon…I had to stop and catch my breath for a moment…so for that, I'm grateful…to you and Aladdin both."

Alibaba chuckled as he looked down at the ground.

"That's good," he said. "Now you can walk around without hiding those pretty legs of yours."

Hearing that Morgiana to blush a bit, and Alibaba chuckled a bit more upon seeing her face.

"So…what are you gonna do now?" he asked.

"Someday," Morgiana began, "I will return to my homeland…that was the last wish Goltas had."

"Oh, yeah," Alibaba said. "Makes sense…I need to make a decision, too. Thanks for talking with me, Morgiana…hearing good news gave me a little push. You take care, now!"

Morgiana blinked at him in confusion before she nodded and walked away. Alibaba then took in a deep breath and exhaled as he looked up at the sky.

'…I guess…it's time I stopped sitting on my ass and did something,' he thought. 'Right, Aladdin?'

XXX

The next morning, Morgiana is seen sweeping the floors of the mansion with a broom. However, she was still confused about Alibaba's words the other day.

'What did he mean by that, yesterday?' the young Fanalis thought. 'I should thank…but…I don't know how I should.'

"Did you hear the latest?"

"Hmm? About what?"

Morgiana turned to look at the two maids working nearby.

"It's about Lord Alibaba," said one. "The one who conquered Amon…he took a carriage and left town, this morning!"

"What?!" asked the other maid. "You're kidding me!"

Hearing that caused Morgiana to gasp quietly.

"Wait!" she exclaimed as she went over to them. "What do you mean he left?!"

"He used most of his wealth to ensure food, clothing, and shelter for the former slaves," said one of the maids. "In return, he asked everyone to deliver a message."

"He said 'If a little boy named Aladdin and a tiger shows up in town, tell him that Alibaba is in Balbadd'," said the other maid.

Morgiana's eyes went before she turned and ran off, heading for the town gate…but when she got there, she saw she was too late.

A carriage, drawn by two horses, was seen leaving the town…and on that carriage is Alibaba, who sat in the front seat. As he did, the blonde teen looked up to the sky, clenching his hands.

'Aladdin,' he thought. 'I know you're out there, somewhere…someone as amazing as you can't be dead! When you told me that I was brave…it made me so happy! No one has ever complimented me like that! I was so unsure of myself, but he pulled me up…I'm sure this is what you would've done. I can't really be as cool as you, but…I'm going. You wouldn't want me to just hang around, sulking. I'll do what I should've done a long time ago. Aladdin…I'll find you…and when we do meet again, we'll have many more adventures together! After all…we did promise, didn't we?! So wait for me, because I'm coming to find you!'

As Alibaba rode on the carriage…the eight-pointed star on the sheath of his knife glowed. He smiled, hopefully, as he pictured Aladdin smiling at him and happily running into his arms, the both of them laughing and having so much fun together.

Thus, Alibaba was parted from Aladdin and traveled alone to the country of Balbadd. He had gained great determination, some wealth, and the mysterious power of the dungeon.

XXX

Meanwhile, in a land far from Qishan, there is a vast, grassy plain where a hawk flies freely through the sky. Some small prairie dogs are out foraging for their food, when suddenly, their tiny ears pick up the sound of heavy hoof-beats. They stood up on their haunches and saw a large herd of horses, being ridden on by a group of men holding switches and swords strapped to their backs.

Suddenly, one of the men, the one up front, riding a horse with a scar over his eye, spotted something in the distance.

"Hold it!" he called, raising his hand, causing the horses and his fellow men to stop.

"What's up, Doruji?" asked one of them. "Is it the enemy?"

"No," the young man, called Doruji, answered, "but…"

As they rode up closer…they saw a young, blue-haired boy with a braided ponytail wearing a pair of baggy pants, a sash around his waist, a light blue vest, a turban on his head, and a ruby in the middle of his forehead. Tied around his neck is a golden flute with an eight-point star in the middle.

"…A kid?" Doruji questioned, confused.

"Where'd he come from?" asked one of the men.

"Dunno," Doruji answered, "but it's not safe for him to be out here. If we leave him, the wolves come out at night and eat him. We better bring him back to the village with us."

XXX

Meanwhile, not too far away in a small village, filled with sheep, horses, and chickens, a little boy is seen trying to churn something in a bucket.

"No, no, no," said an elderly woman with a long braid and wearing a black cloak. "When you make kumis, you have to push more from the top."

"Baba," said the boy, "you're blind, aren't you? How can you see me?"

"Because the rukh tell me," the woman, known as Baba, answered. "The elderly may lose their sight, but we can always see the rukh."

"What are rukh, anyway?" asked the boy.

"These little birds of light that flutter about in the darkness," said Baba.

"Oh, Grandma," said a young woman, pouring tea. "You and your fairy tales."

"Hey, Baba!" exclaimed a little girl. "Doruji and the others are back, and they found something weird!"

"Is that so?" Baba asked as she stood up, holding a staff with a bird-like shape at the top. "Well, let's see then."

She slowly opened her left eye…and she seemed to gasp.

"What's this?" she asked. "The rukh seemed to be excited for some reason."

As she spoke, Doruji entered…holding an unconscious Aladdin over his shoulder.

"What are you going on about, now, Baba?" Doruji asked as he lied Aladdin down on the floor.

Baba's grandaughter approached Aladdin and placed her hand on his forehead, only to gasp as she pulled her hand back.

"He's burning up!" she exclaimed. "Quick! We need to get him into a bed!"

With that, she picked Aladdin up, rushed over to a bed nearby, and tucked him under the covers.

"Don't anyone just stand there!" she cried. "Get some water or something!"

"Y-yes, Toya!" cried some of the people inside the hut before they all rushed out.

"This kid's dressed up all weird," said Doruji. "I wonder who he is, anyway."

"The rukh seem worried," Baba said. "He must be something special if they fly about him like this, so much."

As Aladdin slept…the rukh swarm around him vigorously.

Until Next Night…


Didn't mean for this one to be so short. XD

Review, please!