Mikokatt: Thank you so much, Miko! I really tried to put a lot of effort into this story, but at times feel I didn't make it realistic enough. I really hope you enjoy this chapter! The end is right around the corner. Wonder if you can catch where the plot to a new story is in this one? -eyebrow wiggle-
Luv-bear: Thank you, Luv! I figured that the flashbacks would be a great thing to include and really help to fill out this version of Judar. I wonder how you're gonna take this ending, and what you're gonna think of the little sneak I put in this one. :D
To those that are reading and rereading, thank you. Seeing that number go up makes me happy! I know not everyone likes to leave words of encouragement, though they are great for when I'm in a slump, knowing you are reading this makes me wish to continue and strive to make you wanna talk about it. I really hope that you all enjoy! :D
^.^;
"NOW!" The force of his bellow reinforced by Sound magic as his magoi encompassed himself and Alibaba before shoving the floating group away from them. Gulping Yamraiha took over the magic laid over herself and the others, fleeing from the enraged teenage creator of life.
Trepidation sinking his stomach as Aladdin took off toward the battle, the Rukh chirping loudly and visible to all, running to keep up with the smaller teen Alibaba called out, "What's happened, Aladdin?"
Pursing his lips together as a deep frown turned down his mouth and creased heavily between his brows, taking away all the jovial innocence that was usually expressed, "Prepare yourself, Alibaba." The way he neglected to answer the question not going unnoticed by the flaming blonde as he gulped in response; an effort to fight down and off his nerves.
Various screams reaching their ears just as the door they left from moments ago came back into view, the twin red hoops in his ear glowing and heating up as glittering birds of life separated from the masses to take the space before both boys. Kassim's muted, ethereal, form halting their progress his hands dragging through the air between himself and Aladdin; the bluenette huffing as he spoke under his breath and pointed his staff at the solidifying tanned teen.
"Thanks, twerp." Kassim remarked at Aladdin, an unusual sense of familiarity conveyed in that off-handed sentence, before directing his attention to the surprised golden eyes boring into him. "My Rukh is yours' to use at will. DON'T," tanned fingers wrapping around and tugging at Amon's necklace that hung down Alibaba's chest, "die on me." Wrapping the red rope around his hands to bring the blonde closer as his narrowed eyes relaxed into a soft look, breathing, "I love you," against the soft lips of his living-love. Pressing a soft kiss to those familiar lips, internally amazed that he could actually feel the sensation, the heat, moisture, as though he really was back alive.
The tiny whine from the blonde firecracker and clang of steel hitting the ground his only warning as Alibaba's darkened fingers gripped his dreads, the young adult gasping as the familiar texture greeted him instead of passing through like he feared, the tentative kiss instantly turned harder. Biting the other's lips in an aggressive display of want and desperation from the loss they both felt. A well-timed cough from their side just as they detached for breath catching their attentions, and breaking their bubble.
Aladdin's cocky grin not fully reaching his eyes as he reminded the men before him, "Time's up, 'Sim, sorry. I'll explain later, but we have to go. Now." With that Kassim nodded, a longing look given to both the Magi and King's Candidate in front of him as he dissolved into familiar chirping birds and flew into Alibaba's chest. A golden light encompassing him, nearly brighter than his flames, then vanishing from sight as a warmth brushed against his heart leaving the twenty-two year old to gape at his Magi.
An understanding look passing over the confused blonde before the bluenette began toward the battlefield, reiterating his promise once again, "I'll explain later, we need to help."
Barging back in the arena both males tensed taking in the calamity; the walls buckling with their support beams displaced, the floor upheaved in large chunks, broken clay dolls and various remnants of magick littering the space. What horrified the onlookers the most was the massive gouge in the flooring and the motionless bodies acting as leading lines back to the maniacally cackling monster as she basked in her afterglow of destruction. Gyokuen stood, her body morphed, as a near-humanoid though still very much a Black Djinn. Her back bent unnaturally far back, her arms bent with hands upraised, in an effort to enhance her elation at her success in taking down three of her opposers. Siphoning the Black Rukh from the bi-colored stream rushing into the room as it desperately sought out the Dark Magi, Gyokuen's magoi bearing down on everyone in the room.
Panicked blue and golden eyes locating their allies in the room dread taking hold of their hearts as the bellows from the pair before them, particularly the unconscious partner's wails, threatened to burst their eardrums. Ja'far defensively crouched low in front of Sinbad, both bleeding from various lacerations, the usually aloof King cradling and calling out to the screaming Magi. Bi-colored Rukh swarming to and fluctuating with each desperate wail that left the raven's spasming body, Sin's arms wrapped tightly around the paler male the only thing keeping him from hurting himself. Following the lines of destruction to where they ended both boys tensed before rushing in as tears raced down their cheeks. Two bodies heavily coated in blood and sprawled together nearly indiscernible to tell where they separated until they came down to land beside them. Hakuryuu laying on top of his elder brother with his body having obviously taken the brunt of the attack, so broken and bloodied as Rukh seeped from him. Kouen's body still having sustained a great deal of damage, his face and arms bleeding heavily as a pink glow pulsed from the insignia on the ornament attached to Kouen's fallen sword.
"Ala-" Alibaba began, as a sob overtook his ability to talk, not noticing anything other than the loss of both his friend and now comrade. Completely forgetting about the eldest Ren's third Djinn until a flash of light forced him to open his eyes to watch his young counterpart in awe.
Reaching out, the glowing mark on his forehead appearing, Aladdin released the beckoning Djinn as a pink smoke filled the space reforming itself into a bright phenox. Bowing her head to the Magi, then fluttering her wings against both the men at Death's door, as her powerful aura spread out and blanketed both her King and his beloved brother.
Breathing a sigh of relief Alibaba and Aladdin turned their backs to the duo being brought back to life in order to face the now growling monster as Judar's screaming comes to an abrupt stop, a tense and eerie sensation refilling their bodies in reaction, yet Sinbad's incessant calls increase in urgency.
Bolting into the air to zip over to his fellow Magi, fear for the worst strangling his heart, as the amount of Dark Rukh the flowed around Judar began to trickle with the majority of it embellishing the wicked monster of a woman. Alibaba remaining by the injured duo to guard their unconscious forms and allowing Aladdin to focus only on himself as he dodged the massive claws as they attempted to swipe him from the air. Landing on the opposite side of Judar to be face to face with Sinbad, the young Magi's heart breaking at the rivers of tears drenching the older's tanned cheeks, but not stalling in his actions as Solomon's Wisdom shone bright and encased both himself and the teetering Magi.
T.T
Shock washing over the younger's previous feeling as he took in the sight of what was laid out before him in Judar's mind, his soul. There in the middle of a sea of memories was a curled and catatonic version of the once prideful Magi, broken and drowning in his regrets from the life he lived. Carmine eyes just as dull and listless as their owner's body with the eyeliner and eye shadow surrounding them smudged as though to exclaim that he had at one point been rubbing them fiercely. Glancing at some of the flitting memories Aladdin shook his head in either amusement or embarrassment depending on what scrolled by, but the honest love and faith that he held in his heart for the older Magi didn't fluctuate. He knew that Judar was now so different without the oppression of loneliness chaining him to darkness and that the brash Judar of the past was not who was curled into a ball at his feet.
Leaning forward as he crouched Aladdin gingerly draped his torso over Judar's shoulders and head, his lithe arms moving to cradle the dark-haired head to his chest, in an effort to stop Judar from seeing his brutal transgressions.
"Hey there, Judar."
"..." A small hiccup reaching his ears after a moment of silence was enough of a cue to continue for Aladdin as he calmly carded through the soft black locks that threatened to tickle his nose otherwise.
"You've changed a lot. You may be older than me, but you've grown up just as much maybe even more in the years we've known each other." Judar's slightly more toned arms wrapped around the bluenette's waist as he continued. "I'm actually in awe at how much you've changed in just the past few months. But the change wasn't just for yourself, huh. You did it to be a better role model for Hakuryuu. You did it unconsciously for Sinbad, too, you love him so much, don't you. That's why you're drowning yourself in here; you think you failed them both. You think that you don't have the chance to make better memories after that attack because you know just what it can do."
The ever-insightful younger Magi hit each nail in the head without even intending his statements as questions, instead just telling the thick-skulled Oracle clinging to him what the raven already knew. Smothering the regret and fears that had risen with the remembrance of his unsavory behavior with each strong observation.
"How…" Judar couldn't finish his sentence as tears clogged his throat.
Lifting himself up with one arm as the other hand stilled at the back of Judar's head, a makeshift cushion between the raven's head and the "ground" under them, so that brilliant sapphires could peer openly into clouded rubies. "I'm young, not stupid. Besides I'm also a Magi, the Rukh around you are still singing what you try to deny. No one holds your past against you, Judar. We ALL have come to love you and accept you. You will always be loved by both Rukh, something none of us other Magi's have, so you are so much stronger than you believe yourself to be."
Realization slowly clearing the storms that were tearing the other apart from the inside, the memory fragments of the worst moments fully unfurling to finally bring the good to light before fading, and as they vanished the darkness began to brighten. The songs of the Rukh slowly increasing in volume, the sound like wind through the trees, ocean waves rocking a ship, laughter of joy, and ringing hope filling the space they resided in. Detaching from each other both males stood up face to face with matching grins of elation before clasping their right hands together just as the Rukh filled the room entirely and shatter the remainder of the mental trap.
Coming back to Judar was immediately drowning again, this time in a sea of purple and gold, and he couldn't have been happier to feel so overwhelmed. "Sinbad," the only thing to escape him before his mouth was stolen by salty lips the familiar rumble of his name being groaned against his lips.
His older lover pulling back, just far enough to leave them brushing, to speak, "I was so scared, you fell from the air, your body was covered with Rukh, then they began to dwindle, you were screaming then you stopped completely! I was…" Tears welled over and dripped from Sinbad to mingle with Judar's, "I was terrified that you might…"
Pale thumbs swiped across tanned cheeks before his own in an attempt to stop the waterworks, "Die? I'm never gonna die, not before you at least, Sinbad. I can't leave you alone… I…" Judar cupped the familiar square jaw of his King, the man that drove him beyond crazy, before continuing as he grounded his resolve. "I… I love you, Sinbad. My King of the Seven Seas." The look of shock and love that froze Sinbad almost rising a bout of hysterics from the blushing Magi, but he fought them off in favor of crashing a meaningful kiss to the lips against his.
"Save what you have to say for now, we have a war with Death to win." Winking at the purple-haired man still gaping at him before linking their hands and lifting them up from the ground. Glancing toward the still glowing pink forms of his comrades with a wince pinching his expression then turning his head down toward Aladdin, "Can you teleport them from here; I'm about to do something foolish."
"Like that's any fucking news -OW-" A harsh smack preceding the verbal exclamation from the mouthy assassin, his head bent forward following the blow to his cranium.
"Now I remember why I don't care for your second personality. Focus on her." Sinbad chided with a raised brow at his second in command as he lowered his right hand.
"Whatever."
Both Magis' rolling their eyes at the comedy in front of them before closing their eyes and drawing their respective Rukh to aid their spells.
Aladdin focused the White Rukh over Kouen and Hakuryuu, ensuring every part of their body was covered, before searching in his mind for Yamraiha's magoi. She appeared as a faintly blue-tinged golden mass before solidifying into the stunning (yet out of breath) woman she was, with her located and stationary, the young Magi was able to imagine the encased bodies at her feet with certainty that they'll be okay. The look of shock that took hold of her expression the last thing he saw before everything wavered slightly into darkness, the bluenette's knees buckled from under him. Just as he was about to fall to the ground a familiar set of flaming arms scooped him up against an equally warm chest, the scent of fire overlaying the usual cinnamon and warm sand bringing his conscious back into focus. Concerned marigold silently conveying his questions as the darkened sapphire of Aladdin's eyes lightened with the influx of Rukh coming back to him. "I'm good. Get ready."
Separating from each other both boys turned to watch Judar as the pressure in the room began to increase and bear down on all the occupants, the older Magi being encompassed in a massive sphere of Black Rukh as the White Rukh spun in rings over it. Sinbad pursed his lips as a singular black bird chirped before him, the tips of its wings tinged golden-white, before djinn-equipping into Focalor. The bi-colored Rukh settling between his horns and just above the eye hidden under the mahogany bangs that wavered slightly with the Wind magic casually hanging around him.
The Golden and Purple dial appearing before Sinbad's chest as the king lowered his head with his hands curled into a claw-form on either side of the magical sphere. The White Rukh forming a sphere around him much like Judar's and just as the white rings raced around the Dark Magi black rings encircled Sinbad.
In their awe at what was happening with the two enigmas no one noticed the attack the witch launched at them until they were struck to the ground, pulling their bodies from the wooden planks, with groan of pain. Taking to the air Alibaba and Aladdin shot toward the monstrosity that was once the Empress both charging their fire attacks. Engulfing her in the flame as Ja'far's bladed ropes wrapped around her neck, electricity arcing off her body with the blaze. Gyokuen roared in anger at the pain that breached her black armor, swiping a clawed hand directly in front of her and toward the side, capturing the blue tinged red ropes in her massive hand, tugging the leading lines with Ja'far still attached.
"Fucking sh-!" Gyokuen swung his lithe form toward the right, straight into the stage base, laughing giddily as blood spewed from his mouth upon impact. Aladdin's sand-made Ugo hand smashing the Empress into the ground before her Borg could activate. Colossal hand crumbling as Black Rukh surged upward from under it, her demented body standing in the middle of the pooled sand, a deadly glare boring straight into Aladdin's widened blue eyes.
The slight forward arch the only warning before Gyokuen launched herself at him, a snarl tainting her words as she shot toward the smallest male, "I should've killed you back in Alma Toran!" Shock at her words delaying his actions and before Aladdin could summon his Borg, or evade the massive taloned hands encircling him, he was captured between two frigid claws. The force of her grip seizing his rib cage, effectively pinning his hands to his sides, rendering him defenseless and what air he had in his lungs quickly depleting. "Try to use your Father's Magick now, brat." Gyokuen cackled, spraying spittle in her exuberance, as she brought the young blunette closer to her face.
"ALADDIN!" Alibaba screamed in a panic, his flames fanning out as a visual representation to his emotional state, raising his sword ready to charge at the monster of a woman crushing his Magi when the Magoi around his heart fluttered downward. A look of hesitance and confusion clouding over his heated expression momentarily, the sensation growing stronger and more insistent the more seconds he took contemplating the sensation. Surprise flooding his veins as the Ethereal form Kassim shot down leg, grabbing one of his slightly bent knees, and throwing them both toward the ground just as a shot of black energy ripped through the air where he just was. That blast displacing enough air to send both men crashing to the ground, Kassim's golden figure spreading itself to coat the Prince of Balbadd. "Ow."
A strangled cry that sounded suspiciously like his name drew Alibaba's back to his tiny counterpart as Kassim wrapped back around his heart, the King-to-be taking back to the air with a bellow as his flames concentrated in front of him and his raised sword.
Ja'far struggled to raise his head when he heard Gyokuen mention killing Aladdin, blinking the blood from his steel grey eyes, and finally fighting himself to get on his knees just in time to see Alibaba plummeting toward the ground wrapped in a golden light. Rubbing a heel of one of his palms over his eyes in disbelief as the light fades over the young blonde's heart shaking his head before snapping it toward the feeble cry that Aladdin makes, then whipping his head back to the young King as his body soars like a blazing comet at the Vile woman snarling at his approach.
Gyokuen removed on hand from the boy in her grasp to combat the incoming defender, giving Aladdin a small reprieve and chance to suck in some much needed oxygen, charging the Dark Rukh at the center of her palm until the blonde was too close the evade the blast. Surprising her and Ja'far though Alibaba rotated his body and spun around the blast leaving his flames in a spiral behind him as he continued at her without faltering. The glowing spot on his chest brightening the closer he became to Aladdin, and just as his sword of Almon seared through the wrist of the hand that still had his Magi, it shot from him capture and cradle the bluenette in its' arms.
Ja'far's eyes widening in shock as he recognized the deceased visage of Kassim, Alibaba's childhood friend that Judar killed when he had used him in of his vicious games by giving the boy a Dark Metal Vessel thus turning his human body into a Dark fall into depravity and the fact that Kassim shoved the Vessel into his heart to transform, corrupting his soul, and sealing his fate to die and never return to the Rukh, but Aladdin had made it possible for Alibaba to reach into the tanned boy's soul and bring him back to the White Rukh. Ja'far just hadn't ever thought that the Rukh of someone could retain their individuality after dying, but before his eyes the ex-assassin was seeing just that. A smile just starting to curl his lips as the young trio touched the ground when suddenly himself and them were floating, wrapped in a bi-colored bubble of purple and gold, their bubbles converging and moving up and away from a shrieking Gyokuen.
"What's this?!" Alibaba spoke the General's thoughts as the glowing form deposited the young Magi into the Prince's arms then faded into his heart.
Aladdin sighed weakly before pointing down and to their left, the sight forcing both men's jaws to drop with audible pops, as a mixture of awe and trepidation set in. "Is that Sinbad? What did they do?" Ja'far whispered under his breath, not expecting his companions to know or answer him, but Aladdin heard him.
Rasping his words, and speaking with care, "Judar unlocked Sinbad's Magoi completely, calling forth all his Djinn, and mass infusing himself with Rukh." The three of them took in the sight of their comrades ingraining the image forever in their minds. Sinbad's metal vessels were all glowing, all his Djinn standing tall behind him, the power he exuded wavering around him. His torso bared from a robe was marked with a variety of all his Djinns, the only other indicator that they were activated. His purple locks remaining his own and wavering with the collection of Magoi that hovered around him, ready to be unleashed as his usually jovial expression practically spelled death while locked in on Gyokuen.
Judar's lithe frame radiating purple and golden pulses of light as the Rukh that converged to him thrummed to be utilized. His raven braid no more, the force of power that he stored having snapped the bands, a sea of black rippling behind his body and ghosting Sinbad's as it fanned out. The eye on his forehead scarlet as his own eyes glowed a modicum less, a maniacal grin splitting across his face as he looked down loathingly to the woman that had ruined his life and very nearly killed his family. Looking down his arm, down his twisted staff, and to the monstrosity of a woman they could see what she was finally shrieking about. Golden rods impaled through her, pinning her to the floor, and converting the Rukh she had corrupted back to the Great Sea of Rukh that flooded the room.
Gold, blue, and grey eyes all staring wide with fascination as they watched what took place below them. Sinbad's mouth moved, a command they couldn't hear, as his arms that were crossed over his marked chest spread out to his sides. The Djinn behind him bowing their heads as a magick circle began to form over the supine woman, her struggling increasing as the magick circle grew larger before dividing into seven, each one connecting to the other. Terror was evident on her face and in her screams, Gyokuen begged for Judar to not do this, how she loved him, before shrieking profanities at Sinbad for 'tainting' her Magi.
Both men glanced at each other then behind them to the grinning Djinns before floating up to the circles, the seven Djinn taking stance in their own circles, as the King and Magi took point in the middle of all the circles. The magick circle that formed under them purple and gold as it grew large enough to completely cover the woman under them all. The Djinn body that she had had no longer, as the last of the black Rukh was converted back to white and left her.
"You can't do this to me!" Gyokuen cried in outrage while feebly trying to stand up and summon magick, staring in horror at her hands when none came to her command.
"We can. We will remove you from this world, your Rukh will never be a part of any life again." With that Judar, with his back to Sinbad's chest, brought his staff up his hands spaced with enough room apart to accommodate Sin's own. The King's powerful frame supporting his Magi's as they both poured Magoi into the black staff, the circles all glowing brightly with a tinge of purple, before slamming the rod down. Beams of white light spiraled with black raced down to converge over the fallen Empress. A void appearing under her as the two-colored light shoved her in, as Aladdin watched closely he could see her Rukh being ripped from her body and torn apart.
The hole sealed itself as the light and circles dissipated as the Djinn nodded to their King, returning to their vessels, Sin's marks disappearing as Judar's staff returned to the small garnet topped silver rod. The trio in the weird Borg began to drift down at the same time as the exhausted duo. Once on the ground Sinbad and Judar dropped like rocks, and Ja'far ran toward them in concern.
0.0''
Hope you enjoyed. The end is close. I would love to read your opinions.
Thank you all for reading, have a great day.