Night 10- War

Magi © Shinobu Ohtaka

Shahra © Me

"Hey, Doruji," said one of the Kouga men. "What's taking Baba so long?"

"Don't know," Doruji said. "It doesn't usually take her this long to take a leak."

Aladdin sat in front of the fire, sitting in between Toya and Shahra, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy.

'…Where are you, Baba?' he thought. 'Everyone's getting worried.'

Just then, he spotted something out of the corner of his eye: a tiny flock of rukh, fluttering off in the distance. For some reason, their flight seemed a bit…erratic, almost like they were panicking before they flew off…right in the direction where Baba left.

'…Something's wrong,' Aladdin thought before he and Shahra got up and walked away.

"We'll be right back!" the boy called as they left. As they got a good distance away from the village, the wind blew softly, and as it did, Shahra tensed up as her nose twitched.

"What is it, Shahra?" Aladdin asked.

Yes…she could smell something: the scent of freshly spilled blood.

Without warning, the large cat ran off, prompting Aladdin to follow.

"Wait, Shahra!" the young Magi called as he ran after his feline friend. Before long, Shahra stopped running, and when Aladdin caught up to her, he gasped in horror, for there, lying on the ground in a pool of blood…was Baba, an arrow pierced in her back.

"Baba…?!" Aladdin whispered in shock. "Oh, no! Baba!"

He ran over to Baba and began to shake her.

"Baba!" he called. "Baba, can you hear me?! Are you all right?! Answer me! Baba!"

"N…ngh…!"

Aladdin gasped upon hearing that groan.

"She's still alive!" he cried. "Quick, Shahra, we need to get her to the village, right now!"

Shahra nodded before Aladdin gently picked up the elderly woman and placed her on the tigress's back, then climbed up onto her shoulders. He tapped his ankles against her sides, causing Shahra to run back to the Kouga Village.

"Hey!" Aladdin shouted. "Everyone! Come quick! Baba's hurt!"

Upon hearing his cries, Doruji and the rest immediately ran to Aladdin's side…only to gasp in shock upon seeing their village matriarch, barely breathing as her blood dripped onto the grass.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Toya screamed. "GRANDMA!"

"Great Lord Solomon!" cried one of the Kouga Clan. "Who would do this?!"

At that moment, Doruji noticed the arrow plunged in Baba's back. He gasped, for he had instantly recognize the shape and size of it.

"This…this is a Kou arrow!" he cried.

Not long after he said, the Kouga Clan flew into an uproar.

"The Kou Empire! Those lying bastards did this!"

"Where are they?! They might still be here!"

"I don't see them! They must've ran away!"

"We don't have time to look for them, now! Baba needs medical treatment! Get her back to her hut, immediately!"

"Shahra and I will take her! Let's go, Shahra, but be careful! We don't wanna drop her!"

Shahra roared in agreement before she rushed to Baba's hut with Aladdin and Baba herself in tow. Aladdin looked back at Baba, who coughed up blood and breathed heavily.

'…Please, don't die, Baba,' Aladdin thought. 'I've already lost my Mother…I don't wanna lose you, too!'

XXX

Meanwhile, at the Kou Empire's camp, the captain has returned, seemingly injured.

"What happened to you, captain?!" asked Hakuei.

"It…it was the Kouga Clan, General Hakuei!" the captain cried. "They attacked us on our patrol! We barely escaped with our lives!"

"What?!" Hakuei questioned. "That can't be…but why!?"

"I told you, Princess!" Ryosai shouted. "They're nothing but a bunch of savages! They can't be reasoned with! Enough of this diplomatic garbage! We have to exterminate every last one of those Kouga vermin at once!"

"No, Ryosai!" Hakuei demanded. "I think we're not getting the full story…we should talk to them. I'll go. Come, Seishun!"

"At once, Your Highness," said Seishun.

"Hold it, General Hakuei," said Ryosai. "You may be a princess, but you are the daughter of the previous emperor, Ren Hakutoku, who died long ago. You are only general of this army by grace of the current emperor. His Majesty asked me to watch over you. I will not overlook further abuse of your position."

"…I understand," said Hakuei. "In that case…I won't go as general, but on my own!"

"General Hakuei!" Ryosai cried.

"My father, the previous emperor, was assassinated by soldiers in a country he conquered," said Hakuei. "Rather, they got revenge. Achieving rule through forces only invites further death and violence. What truly wins the hearts of the people is not might…but high ideals and aspirations!"

Ryosai just sneered at the princess for a moment…but then he sighed.

"Very well," he said. "I cannot stop you…but who will lead the army in your absence? Should I assume control?"

"Do as you wish," said Hakuei as she and Seishun left. "You have command of the army until I return, Ryosai."

"As you wish, Princess," Ryosai said, bowing as Hakuei left…but then gave a wicked grin.

The Kou Princess had made a fatal error.

XXX

The following morning, in the Kouga Village, everyone is discussing what happened to Baba the night before.

"Those Kou bastards! Talking a lot about peace, and then they pull off this kind of shit! Screw joining them! I say we fight!"

Soon, the rest of the Kouga Clan roared in agreement.

"W-what?" Doruji asked in shocked. "Wait a minute! W-we can't! Remember what Baba said?! The war we really need to fight is the one in our hearts! It's the only we can truly survive!"

"Open your eyes, Doruji!" shouted an older Kouga warrior. "First, they kidnap the women, including Toya, to turn them into slaves, and then they attack Baba in the dead of night! There's nothing good about their intentions!"

Doruji gasped silently while Toya clung to his arm.

"We have no choice," said one of Doruji's friends. "We have to fight!"

With that, the Kouga Warriors roared in fury as they raised their swords. Nearby, Shahra sat outside Baba's hut, watching worriedly before she looked inside, where she saw Aladdin, sitting beside Baba, who let out short, labored pants.

"…Baba," Aladdin said, sadly, "the village you love so much is in trouble…and I don't know what to do! I wish you could tell me."

"For the honor of the Kouga Clan, we will fight!"

"To war!"

"Come on, Doruji! Grab your sword!"

Doruji gasped as one of his fellow clan members shoved his sword into his hands, causing him to stumble back.

"…Doruji?"

Doruji turned to see Aladdin, looking at Doruji worriedly.

"You're…you're not gonna fight the Kou Empire…are you?" the boy asked.

"W-well-" Doruji began, but one of the Kouga men grabbed him and dragged him away.

"For the Kouga Clan!"

"Revenge for Baba!"

Aladdin just watched in shock as the Kouga warriors marched off. Shahra came up beside him, letting out a worried moan.

"I know, Shahra," Aladdin said as he put his hand to her neck. "I'm worried, too."

XXX

Back at the Kou Empire camp…

"Well, Ryosai," said the captain, "looks like General Hakuei finally left. Now the whole army is under your command, Lord Ryosai!"

Ryosai snickered as he cleaned the blade of his sword.

"But there's one problem," said the captain. "What if she does managed to speak to the Kouga Clan? She'll find out that we're the ones who kidnapped their women and attacked their village matriarch! There'll be hell to pay when she comes back."

"You mean if she comes back," Ryosai corrected.

"What are you saying?"

Ryosai sighed as he put his head to the hilt of the sword, stabbing the blade into the ground.

"I'm dreadfully worried," he said. "What if those furious savages, in their anger over our actions…were to bring harm to Princess Hakuei?"

Hearing that caused the soldiers to gasp in shock.

"L-Lord Ryosai! You can't be serious!"

"Is that what all of this was about?!"

"Why would you do such a thing?!"

"Why?" Ryosai asked as he stood up. "Simple…because it pleases me…when fools claim to hate fighting bare their fangs in anger…and kill each other in war! HAHAHAHAHA!"

XXX

Meanwhile, Hakuei and Seishun are riding on their horses, heading to the Kouga Village.

"I don't think the Kouga Clan would want to instigate war," said Hakuei.

"And why is that, Your Highness?" asked Seishun.

"Because," Hakuei began, "I spoke to a mysterious little boy last night…a boy with a dungeon item."

As she spoke, the image of Aladdin, sitting on his Magic Turban, appeared in her head.

"I didn't know about that," Seishun said. "Is he a dungeon-capturer?"

"I don't think so," Hakuei answered, "and yet…I feel like I can trust him."

"I see," Seishun smiled. "Then I shall trust him, as well. If he did capture a dungeon, then perhaps you two share a connection…as fellow dungeon-capturers."

Hakuei chuckled a bit at this.

"How funny," she said. "However, this isn't the time for talk. We must talk to the Kouga Clan!"

Soon, they arrived in the Kouga Village…but there wasn't a soul to be seen.

"…It's quiet," Hakuei said. "Too quiet."

"Where is everyone?" asked Seishun. "It's like a ghost town out here."

"Hello?" Hakuei asked. "Is there anyone here?"

A pause…but then, several shadowy figures appeared on top of the huts, armed with bows and arrows. Suddenly, Hakuei and Seishun let out surprised cries as arrows flew from above and pierced the ground around their feet. Not long after, they heard footsteps coming from behind, up front…all directions. They turned…and found themselves surrounded by the Kouga Clan!

"W-what is going on here?!" Hakuei questioned.

"You…you lying bitch!" shouted one of the Kouga men. "You kidnapped our women and hurt our village elder! Your petty words won't fool us again!"

"What are you talking about?!" Hakuei asked in shock while Seishun drew his swords.

Not too far away, Aladdin watched as he sat upon Shahra's shoulders, holding Baba's staff in his hands.

"…Baba, forgive me," the boy said. "I have to borrow your cane for a while."

As he spoke…the rukh began to gather around the tip of the staff.

The Kouga Clan roared as they raised their weapons.

"Fight! FIGHT!"

"We have no choice!"

"Die, you wretched liars!"

"You'll pay for what you've done!"

As the Kouga warriors shouted at Hakuei…Doruji watched with unease and hesitation.

"…Shahra, we can't let them fight," Aladdin said as he held Baba's cane. "You and the rukh will help me, won't you?"

Shahra gave a growl in reply, but just as they were about to charge in…

"Aladdin…give me my staff, please."

Aladdin and Shahra turned…and gasped in shock.

"Please, calm yourselves!" shouted Seishun. "We're not here to fight! We just want to talk-"

"SHUT UP!" shouted one of the Kouga men. "WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR LIES! That was what you told us, yesterday, and yet you kidnap our women and attack Baba!"

'What are they talking about!?' Seishun thought as he looked around, only to see more and more angry faces. 'We didn't do anything of the sort, last night, but they're all too angry to listen!'

"DIE!" cried another Kouga warrior as he raised his sword and slashed Hakuei down her left shoulder and even cut off some of her hair…and yet, she didn't move at all, much to the Kouga Clan and Seishun's surprise.

"P…Princess…?!" Seishun questioned in shock.

"W-why?" asked the Kouga warrior. "Why didn't you dodge?!"

"I told you," Hakuei said, "we do not wish to fight. I want to know what happened, last night…so please…tell me."

The Kouga Clan gasped before they glanced at each other.

"Don't listen to her! It's another trick!"

"Just kill her, already!"

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone turned to see Baba, who glared down at everyone while gripping her staff in her hand.

"B-Baba?!"

"You're all right!"

"Wait…should you even be out of bed?! What about your injury?!"

"SILENCE!" Baba barked. "Enough of this disgraceful behavior! You call yourselves Kouga warriors?!"

As she spoke…Aladdin gasped upon seeing blood dripping down her back.

"Baba…!" he whispered. "Your wound!"

"Don't worry about me, Aladdin," Baba said as she walked toward Hakuei. "Now then, my Kouga Clan…do not fail to see what you should truly protect…and how you should fight to achieve that end."

She then stopped in front of Hakuei…and dropped down on one knee.

"We bow to your empire, Princess Hakuei," she said, causing the Kouga Clan to gasp.

"B-Baba, are you serious?!"

"We can't join them! They'll kill us all!"

"As you can see," Baba began, "our family has suffered in body and spirit from invasion and slave-hunting. I cannot allow anyone else to hurt my family…so I did consider fighting you, but a certain boy told me that a general like you would not destroy our clan."

Hakuei before she looked up and saw Aladdin, who stared at her.

"Thus, we shall obey you," said Baba…as more blood pooled around her.

"Baba!" Doruji cried. "Your wound!"

"Lady Shaman," said Hakuei, "that wound of yours is clearly from one of our arrows."

"Princess…it doesn't matter," Baba said as she glared up at Hakuei with a serious expression. "Which is more important? The village elder, or the whole village? Do you understand?"

Hakuei's eyes went wide…before she sighed.

"I understand," she said. "Thus, I accept what you say. Henceforth, I, Ren Hakuei, and the Kou Empire will guarantee the safety of the Kouga Clan!"

Hearing that caused some of the Kouga Clan to drop to their knees in defeat.

"This can't be happening…!"

"How could we abandon our pride and submit to the empire?!"

"What good is pride if you're dead?!"

Everyone turned to look at Doruji, who put down his sword.

"It's true…we may be abandoning the honor of our clan," he started, "but we can still stay honorable in our hearts, like Baba! Don't you understand that, yet?!"

"…Doruji…!" Toya said with tears in her eyes, and not long after, expressions of realization appeared on the rest of the clan's faces.

"What say you, Kouga Clan?!" asked Bbaa. "Let me hear your decision!"

Before long, the entire Kouga Clan roared in agreement. Aladdin smiled as he and Shahra watched, then he looked down at his flute.

"Look at that, Ugo," he said. "They had the courage to make a choice for the future, and we didn't have to do anything! Amazing, isn't it?"

The star on the flute glowed in reply.

XXX

Later on, Baba is lying on her bed again, and this time, she was surrounded by Doruji, Toya, and other members of the clan, all of them murmuring and praying around her.

"Baba!" Doruji cried. "Hang in there, Baba! Please!"

"Grandma, please don't die!" Toya begged. "Please!"

Baba wheezed as she reached her hand up, causing Toya to hold it.

"…The…village," she said in barely a whisper. "I leave it…in your hands, now…I leave…no regrets…"

Then…she fell limp.

"…Grandma?" Toya asked as her tears fell. "Grandma?!"

"No…it's too late…!" the village doctor whispered. "She used the last of her strength to dissuade us!"

"Baba…no…!" Doruji cried.

"GRANDMAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Toya screamed before she broke down in sobs.

In the back of the room…Aladdin sat nearby, showing seemingly no emotion whatsoever, but then, he gasped quietly when he saw the rukh, flying outside of Baba's body.

"Rukh truly are the home of souls."

Aladdin gasped before he turned and saw Baba, only…her body seemed to be glowing.

"What's wrong, Aladdin?" she asked. "Why are you back here all alone?"

Aladdin glanced back at the Baba in bed, then back at the other Baba sitting before him…and that's when realization finally struck as his expression fell into one of sadness.

"Baba…you died, didn't you?" Aladdin asked. "Everyone is crying…they really did love you."

"Hohoho!" Baba chortled. "Just them? And what about you, child?"

Aladdin smiled as he gripped his hand.

"…I really do love you!" he said. "Honest and truly! It's just…I guess…I can't really cry for you because I don't have as many memories with you."

He then looked up at the ceiling…as he remembered the night Sheba passed away.

"Unlike with my Mother," he continued. "When she died, I cried for her all night long…and I even kept crying for her the days after because I missed her so much. I'm sorry, Baba."

"Don't apologize, Aladdin," Baba said. "What you say just isn't true…we really do have many memories together, my boy."

"…I guess," Aladdin said, still smiling…and yet, his bottom lip trembled.

"…Aladdin," Baba said, "do you think that even though you have Shahra and Ugo with you…you're still alone because your mother is gone?"

"Maybe," Aladdin answered, frowning. "I dunno…"

"Well, I can certainly tell you that you're not alone, my dear," Baba told him. "Now that I'm like this, I can understand you a bit more, now. Look there."

Aladdin turned…and gasped quietly upon seeing Doruji, Toya, and the Kouga Clan members, all sobbing as they mourned Baba's death. As they did…a golden light shined around them.

"W…what is…?!" Aladdin whispered in shock.

"Living beings are individuals," Baba told him, "but they come from the same source. The rukh are the blood the world. They connect the souls of all living things. They love you and lend you their power…so who are you, you ask?"

As she spoke, what looked like beings of light reached out and lifted Aladdin up.

"You are a Magi, Aladdin," Baba continued. "Living together in countless lives, leading people to create the world!"

Aladdin gasped silently as Baba's spirit began to rise into the air. As she did, she reached out and gently pet him.

"You are never alone, Aladdin," she told him before she began to fade away.

"B…Baba!" Aladdin cried. "Wait! DON'T GO!"

"Beloved child of Solomon…I will always be on your side…!"

As Baba's spirit dispersed into tiny rukh…Aladdin watched…as tears cascaded from his eyes.

"…Goodbye, Baba," he whispered as his tears fell. "I'll always love you."

XXX

Meanwhile, in the valley, Hakuei and Seishun are on their way back to their camp, but as they did, they saw Ryosai, as well as the rest of the Kou Army standing behind.

"What in the world?" Hakuei questioned, surprised by their appearance. "Ryosai! What is the meaning of this?!"

"Why…I'm going to war, Princess," Ryosai smirked, causing Hakuei and Seishun to gasp while Ryosai chuckled in a sinister manner.

Until Next Night…

Yeah...I'm getting into a habit of uploading this at least once a week, too. Don't worry, One Piece Unlimited World Red is coming this Saturday. Look forward to it!

Review, please!