Chapter 25: Mother
The pirates look up to where the ship supposed to be heading and see four people coming down from the sky under the sun as this surprise them. Then the four land lands on the water where the roots are in it causing the water to spray on the pirates and a rainbow is made as the four is under it all wet.
"All right… what do you say we go on a rampage?" Alibaba questions.
At the dining room
One of the pirates' rushes into the room.
"Madaura! Four people in the cove! And two of the are girls!"
Ryuko perks up its head and Aladdin smiles at the news.
"It's Alibaba and the others!" Aladdin thought.
"You guys! Let's go!" A man says and rushes out of the room.
"Okay. We've got to protect Madaura!"
The other children follow the man and Aladdin about to get up.
"Hey… Wait up!" He says but before he could follow them, two children push him and pin him to the ground.
"No need for you to go, little boy." Aladdin turns his head to see Madaura standing behind him. "Come here…" She says causing Aladdin to widen his eyes. At the doorway, Ryuko who manages to escape and wait for Aladdin to catch up but it watches this before it flies away to return to Vulpi.
Meanwhile
At the cove
The group stand in front of the pirates with Alibaba and Vulpi have their weapons in hand and Alibaba points his dagger at the pirates.
"Give us back our friend and those kids! We're taking them back by force if we have to!" Alibaba demands.
"Not gonna happen! Those kids are gonna be our brothers soon. They're gonna be Aum Madaura's sons!" Orba says making the group get ready. "Aaron! Bjorn! Bjork! Jump!"
Nine men jump off the cave and Orba quickly turns around as he fires water bubbles at them having three groups of three. Then a man points a cannon at the group.
"Those weapons won't work on us!" Alibaba says.
"You sure about that?" Orba questions.
The man fires the cannon as a large water bullet fires towards the group but they jump out of the way causing the bullet to hit the water making a makeshift rain. Once they turn around, the pirates disappeared.
"They're way more powerful than they were before…" Hakuryuu says.
Then they hear a laugh making the group to look up.
"Magic Amplifying Insect… Buy connecting our Magic Tools, we're increasing their power."
"You didn't even know that?"
"You guys from the east are so behind the times!"
Another pirate fires the same bullet at the group causing more water to lift.
Meanwhile
Where Aladdin and Madaura are
"Sounds like they're putting up quite a fight!" Madaura says as she rubs the two children by her side.
"Why are you all…? This can't be what you call happiness…" Aladdin says and Madaura turns to him.
"Never mind the complicated issues. I'll make you one of my good children." She says as she lifts her right hand at her face and spreads her finger causing the crystal on her glove to glow.
At the cove
The pirates continue to fire the bullets at the group as they run away from the bullets. Then Alibaba leaps up onto the rock and once more at the pirates in front of him to slice the bubble, but Orba lifts his hook up causing the bubble to fly upward as Alibaba falls to the ground.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Dammit! Would you stay still for a second?" Alibaba questions as he looks at the pirates.
Just then, Morgiana appears in front of the pirates but Orba quickly swings his hook to the side, subsequently, the bubble dodges Morgiana's kick. Then the bubble goes into the cave with the pirates as Morgiana lands behind the group.
"Those guys… they went into that hole." Hakuryuu says.
"Come over here!"
The group looks around the caves carefully since there is no telling that the pirates would come out of.
"Where's you go? Did you run off?" Alibaba questions when one group is spotted at a cave, pointing at Alibaba. Morgiana sees this and immediately pushes Alibaba out of the way as the water bullet shoots. Hakuryuu also sees this and points his wooden arm as it quickly grows at the group, however the pirates go back at the wood hits the cavern entrance. Just after the wood hits the entrance, Hakuryuu spots another group shooting another water bullet at him from the corner of his eyes as the bullet hits him.
"Over here!" The pirate says as the bubble retreats into the cave and Alibaba, Morgiana, and Vulpi look at the entrance when another group comes out from a different cavern.
"You're looking in the wrong place!" Another pirate shouts and fires the bullet at the three but they jump away from the bullet.
"Dammit!" Alibaba says looking around at the caves. "Where are you coming from?"
Morgiana then runs up to the cave near them and leaps into it. Soon after, Alibaba, Vulpi, and Hakuryuu hear the pirates' voices scream out throughout the caves.
"I can hear screaming from inside the walls…" Hakuryuu says as he, Alibaba, and Vulpi looks at the caves.
"I have a feeling it's like pure hell in there…" Alibaba says and Vulpi sweatdrops.
Just then, the cavern walls begin to crumble causing the three to cover their heads from the debris. Once the smoke disperses, they could see several pirates are sprawling on the ground with either foot or fist mark on their face as Morgiana stands on the higher ground holding one of the pirates' shirt.
"I've defeated them all." Morgiana states.
"Good one, Morgiana! You're awesome!" Alibaba shouts as Morgiana jumps back down to where the three are. When Morgiana lands, she turns her head to see three children causing them to step back in fear before they run to where Madaura is.
"Let's go after them." Hakuryuu says.
"Right." Alibaba agrees as he moves his hand to where Aladdin's staff is and looks at it.
"Wait for us, Aladdin…"
Vulpi then perks her ears up causing her to look around as Morgiana sees this.
"What is the matter, Vulpi-san?" Morgiana asks.
"There's something coming this way…" Vulpi says.
"Is it another pirate?" Alibaba asks.
"No…" She says and sees a familiar dragon coming out of one of the caves and it flies towards them.
"Ryuko!" Vulpi calls out as Ryuko reaches to her and Vulpi hugs her partner dragon. "Thank goodness you're okay." Ryuko looks up and chirps.
"Let's go." Morgiana says and Vulpi nods before the four of them enter the cavern as Ryuko follows them by flying.
Where Aladdin and Madaura are
Aladdin continues to stare at the light as the sound of doors are opened making Madaura to look up.
"Madaura! They've breached the cove!" Orba reports.
"And they destroyed our ship!" A pirate adds causing Madaura to grit her teeth in anger but soon changed into a smile.
"It's all right. After all, those children were still just little boys, weren't they?" Madaura asks.
"Y-Yes. From what I could see!" Madaura then giggles at Orba's answer.
"That means more new members of our family…" She says.
Where the group are
Small children charges at the group with daggers in hand but they easily deflect them as the group runs down the hallways.
"Brats! Brats! Brats! Nothing but brats! What's going on here anyway?" Alibaba questions.
Just then a small young girl charges at them causing the group to stop as Alibaba jumps away as they are surprised this.
"E-Even kids this young…" Alibaba trails off and more small children come out of hiding with daggers in their hands.
"We've got to protect Madaura!"
"We've got to protect Madaura!"
The group looks around to see many small children have surrounded them with the daggers.
"You guys… what making you do this?" Alibaba questions.
Where Aladdin and Madaura are
"Just like my children, you have them too, little boy - don't you? Memories of being lonely. Memories of someone being kind to you…" Madaura says and the crystal emits smoke towards Aladdin causing Aladdin's eyes to grow dull.
Then he remembers when Elder Baba was still alive and tells both Aladdin and Vulpi that they are part of the family.
"I… I felt so unbelievably happy…" Aladdin says.
"Increasingly… I'm going to give you what you want. You can relax now…" Madaura tells him as Aladdin stares into space.
Meanwhile
The children charge at the group when Alibaba grabs the one of the children's blade as blood come out of his hand.
"Stop it…" Alibaba tells them as Morgiana dodges the children strikes.
"Ryuko!" Vulpi calls and Ryuko shoots many bubble from its mouth at the children and when it pops, the children become confused before they collapse.
The last two children charge at Hakuryuu dodges one of the children and uses the butt of his spear to knock away the children.
"Let's just ignore them and keep moving." Hakuryuu says and walks away.
"Right." Alibaba says and he and Morgiana begins to walk.
"Wait!" Alibaba and Morgiana stop and looks at the children who are getting up. "Don't kill Madaura!"
"Right! Don't kill her!"
"Don't kill her!"
The children then grab the group's clothing as the other children approaches them.
"We were abandoned in the slums… and she took us in and raised us!"
"She always treated us so kindly, like a real mother!"
"Don't kill Madaura!"
Then the children begin to cry as the group widens their eyes at the children's pleas as Hakuryuu looks away from them. Later, the group manages to escape the children and run up the stairs.
"So these kids are fighting for their mother… for their savior then?" Alibaba questions.
"So what if they are? Even if that's true, they're still pirates." Hakuryuu points out when they come across a forked path in front of them and they stop their tracks.
"I know, but still… But what if they were brought up to fight, ever since they were little brats who didn't know any better?"
"That still doesn't give them the right to steal and plunder." Hakuryuu says.
"But they're still kids…" Vulpi says.
"…I also… Under my foster parents' orders, I also wounded countless people." Morgiana admits as this shocks Hakuryuu and Alibaba turns around to them.
"Hey, when I was a kid, I did whatever my mom told me too. I'm sure it must've been the same for you…" Alibaba asks Hakuryuu.
"I don't know… Since in my case, my elder sister was like a mother to me." Hakuryuu says and Morgiana looks at him. "Let's keep moving." He begins running up on the right side after he grips his spear and Alibaba, Morgiana, and Vulpi run up the same stairs as Ryuko follows them.
Where Aladdin and Madaura are
"Now then… who is that you want to see the most, little boy?" Madaura asks.
In Aladdin's mind
Aladdin is walking on the street as people walks past him and when he looks at the side, he sees familiar people lining up.
"Ugo-kun. Everyone's here too…" Aladdin thought and then Rukh fly past him causing Aladdin to look ahead to see a woman standing there with open arms.
"I know. In that other world, you're my mother, aren't you?" Aladdin asks the woman but the woman was replaced by Madaura and Aladdin's legs buckles down.
"You want to see your mother, didn't you? Well, your mother is right here. You'll never be lonely now, even if you're alone." Madaura says but after hearing that, Aladdin snaps his eyes back to normal as he looks at Madaura and grits his teeth.
"I'm not alone…" Aladdin trails off when the doors are open, revealing Alibaba, Morgiana, Vulpi, and Hakuryuu.
"Aladdin! We've come to rescue you!" Alibaba shouts and Aladdin turns to them.
"Aladdin!" Vulpi calls out.
"Alibaba-kun! Vulpi-nee!" Aladdin calls as the smoke dissipates and Aladdin stands back up when the group run up to him and getting ready to fight. Then Alibaba takes out Aladdin's staff and flute and passes to him.
"Aladdin!" Alibaba calls and Aladdin takes both items.
The sound of swords taking out is heard as the group looks at to see Orba and the pirates with Madaura on top of the stairs.
"So are you Madaura?" Hakuryuu questions.
"You did well to come this far, brave little lads!" Madaura says.
"Be careful, you guys!" Aladdin warns.
"I'll make you my good little children too, little boys!" Madaura says and spreads her fingers apart causing the glove on her hand to shine. "Magic Tool, Holy Mother Halo Fan!"
The light breaks apart as a fan-like figure opens and the group covers their eyes from the brightness as they see the pictures on each panels of a mother. Then the fan disappears as the group put their arms down.
"What the… Hey, that didn't do anything!" Alibaba says and looks up to Madaura when his chest pulses. "What's going on? My chest…"
Morgiana collapses as she put her arms down.
"Mother…" Morgiana calls and Alibaba turns to her.
"What are you saying?" He questions.
"What… what am I saying? I… But… But that's… my… mother…"
"What kind of crazy talk is that? Can't you see it's the enemy trying to trick us?" Alibaba says as tears begins to gather on his eyes. "Don't get duped by a weird spell like…" Alibaba stops when he notices tears falling and touches them. "Wh-What the hell is this?"
"No one can flee it… The yearning for one's mother, swirling inside him. The nostalgic for home… those bonds can't be escaped." Madaura says.
"Stop messing with us!" Alibaba shouts as he struggles to stand and not letting go his sword.
In Alibaba's eyes, he sees his deceased mother in front of him.
"Listen… come over here. You've suffered greatly until now, haven't you? Come here. Mother will hold you close…" She says as Alibaba slowly put his arms down.
"Dammit! Even though I know it's a trick… I'm screwed… Now she's starting to look like my real mom, dammit!" Alibaba thought and he finally drops his sword and collapses.
"Mother… mother…" Morgiana calls.
"That's right, what a good girl! Though I have no idea what kind of convenient dream you're having…" Madaura says and she laughs. "Now then… I wonder what kind of dream this good little boy is having." She says as Madaura looks at Hakuryuu and later he collapses. "This is mere child's play! I shall use this Halo Fan to control every future leaders all over the world while they're still in their childhood! By doing so, I can ensure that every human in the world will belong to me one day." Madaura declares and laughs. "No child can live on his own. Children just can't handle conflict and agony by themselves! Now then… I'm sure you have something going on too, don't you?" Madaura asks Alibaba.
"Alibaba-kun! Don't…" Aladdin calls.
"Alibaba, if someone's bothering you, tell me about it." Alibaba's mother says.
"Mom…" Alibaba calls and looks down. "I…"
"The Kou Empire will indeed place Balbadd under their authority, but they say that they'll allow it to self-govern as a republic. As King of the Seven Seas, I did everything I could. That I can guarantee you." Sinbad says.
"Thank you very much." Alibaba says to Sinbad.
"Am I making the right decision? In my eyes, Balbadd should… Somehow, it should be more…" Alibaba thought and realizes what he is thinking. "Idiot! Are you doubting Sinbad-san?" Alibaba then grabs his head trying to block out the thought. "Why is this bugging me so much?"
"Alibaba…" His mother called and Alibaba turns around. "You don't have to think anymore. After all, you have me, your mother…"
"Mom…" Alibaba then closes his eyes and smiles. "She's right. I'll just… let it all slide…"
"Are you sure you're okay with that, Alibaba-kun?" A familiar voice asks.
"Who's that?" Alibaba thought and opens his eyes to see Aladdin blocking the smoke to protect Alibaba.
"Aladdin…" Alibaba calls.
"Alibaba-kun… that lady's not your real mother." Aladdin tells him.
"I know that. I know that, but…"
"Even if she were your real mother, are you okay with just mindlessly obeying someone else? We need to like our lives by thinking for ourselves now!"
"And you're fine with that?" Alibaba questions and Aladdin slightly moves his arms down and smiles.
"Sure, I'm fine." He replies and grabs the flute as he looks at it and his staff. "Because… inside me… there's Ugo-kun, and obaa-chan. Everyone in Sindria. And Vulpi-nee, Mor-san, and you, Alibaba-kun. Because everyone I've ever met, they've filled me up inside with their way of living, their way of thinking… And you're saying that there's nothing inside you? Isn't there anything left of all the people who entrusted their feelings to you?"
Alibaba then remembers the positive way from the Balbadd citizens and his deceased friend before he grabs his sword. Aladdin smiles at this and turns to Morgiana.
"You too, Mor-san… Try to remember something important that you were given by someone!"
Morgiana jerks as she remembers the last words that Goltas told her.
"Morgiana. You always kept your pride."
Morgiana then opens her eyes and tries to get up as Madaura sees this and begins to panic.
"No!" Madaura shouts and shows the gem before it glows, revealing red chains surrounded Alibaba and Morgiana to stop them, but both of them manage to stand up. "Impossible… to think that you're defying your mother's orders!"
The two breaks the chains causing the smoke to disappear.
"My bad. You saw me at my most uncool just now…" Alibaba says and Aladdin smiles.
"I'm so mad at myself. I won't be swayed again!" Morgiana says.
"But what about Vulpi?" Alibaba asks.
"Don't worry about me." Alibaba and Morgiana turn their heads to see Vulpi walking up to them unscathed with Ryuko on her shoulder. "That woman's Magic Tool doesn't have an effect on me."
"What do you mean?" Morgiana asks.
"The Vulpe clansmen are protected by Spirits from the moment when their born and die. And because of that, we are able to summon Spirits." Vulpi explains.
"That's cool!" Alibaba says and Vulpi giggles.
"They actually rejected the Halo Fan? But it should be foolproof on children! So these four… though physically, they're still children, in reality they're already adults?" Madaura thought as she looks at the Aladdin, Alibaba, Morgiana, and Vulpi.
"You guy! Protect Madaura with your lives!" Orba shouts as the pirates gather in front of them as they point their swords at the four.
"You guys have been deceived too! Open your eyes for crying out loud!" Alibaba tells them but the pirates continue to glare at them.
"No one seeks a mother's love more than a child who has lost it at a young age. That's why I can make such good use of orphans from the slums. You never be able to reverse the brainwashing I've subjected them to!" Madaura declares and turns around.
Alibaba grits his teeth at her before turning towards Hakuryuu who is still sitting on the floor.
"Hakuryuu, stop her with that move of yours!" Alibaba tells him but Hakuryuu doesn't move. "Hakuryuu!"
Hakuryuu stands back up, but instead of pointing his arm at Madaura, his arms turn into dragons as they shoot at the group. They dodge the first one as the second one flies towards them as Aladdin has his borg up, but the second dragon breaks it, subsequently, attacking them to the ground behind them. The dragons retreat to Hakuryuu side as his head is still down and the group sit up looking at him.
"Hakuryuu!" Alibaba calls out.
Hakuryuu then opens his eyes and points his spear at them.
"Mother… I have to go… and save you… from harm…" Hakuryuu says shocking to the group.
"What the heck are you talking about?" Alibaba questions and the eight-point star begins to glow on the blade of his spear. "Hakuryuu!"
Dwell within me, Zagan!" Hakuryuu says and the eight-point star glows brighter as half of his body begins to turn into Djinn.