Night 25- A Prince's Duty

Magi © Shinobu Ohtaka

Shahra © Me

Alozza © Darkdarling98

The following day, Markkio kneeled before Abhmad, who sat upon his throne, holding his royal scepter.

"So tell me, banker," said Abhmad. "Will I see the Kou Princess soon?"

"Yes, of course, King Abhmad," Markkio answered. "She is beautiful and bold, and this engagement will be sure to strengthen Balbadd! The signing ceremony shall take place in four days."

"Hmm…" Abhmad hummed, a bit nervous.

"Rest assured," Markkio told him, "the Kou Empire's people are no barbaric invaders. The empire shall flourish, and Balbadd with it!"

Abhmad grinned and nodded his head.

"Good!" he exclaimed.

XXX

Back at the Fog Troop's hideout, Sinbad is speaking with Alibaba, Morgiana, and Alozza. Shahra was also there, although she was still worried about Aladdin, who was still too depressed to come out of his room.

"The Kou Empire has been expanding its influence," Sinbad spoke. "Its military has conquered the Central Plains."

Aladdin, Morgiana, and Alozza all nodded.

"Before, the Kou Empire was actually a small nation, far to the east," Sinbad continued, "but it quickly conquered the Central Plains. Its momentum was…astounding, to say the least…and yesterday, I learned the reason why."

"And what is that reason?" Alozza inquired.

"…The Kou Empire's Magi: Judar," Sinbad answered.

"Judar…" Alibaba, Morgiana, and Alozza murmured while Shahra growled viciously. To her, it was because of him that Aladdin is in this current slump.

"Pardon my asking," Morgiana began, "but…what exactly is a Magi?"

"That's something I'd like to know, too," Alibaba added.

"Magi are known as the Sorcerers of Creation," Sinbad explained. "Through magic, they use the world's rukh to create phenomena. However, what most concerns us is that they have the power to make dungeons appear and lead people into them."

Alibaba and Morgiana gasped while Alozza crossed her arms.

"Many powerful things lie hidden within the dungeons," Sinbad went on. "Secret arts, Magic Tools, and of course, the Djinn Metal Vessels. The Magi can bestow these powers upon ordinary human beings, and this causes the recipients and those around them to prosper greatly."

"Is that how it worked for you?" Alibaba asked. "Did you have a Magi to help you?"

"Well…yes and no," Sinbad answered.

"Huh?" Alozza muttered. "What do you mean, 'yes and no'?"

"I'll admit, the first dungeon I captured, Dungeon No. 1, Baal," Sinbad started, "I actually got help from a Magi that day…but the rest, I captured on my own, some of which Judar made appear, but he meant for them to be captured by someone else. Because of this, we actually did clash a few times."

"I see," Alibaba said. "That's how you knew him."

"Like me, there are some exceptions," the King of Sindria said, "but the Kou Empire has definitely flourished due to the power of Magi. Judar uses his powers for the Kou Empire, and he sends many people in the dungeons he caused to appear. He has turned the Kou Empire into a massive political power the likes of which the world has rarely seen in recent years."

"Damn…that's almost scary," Alozza murmured.

"It is," Sinbad concurred, "and the momentum of their invasion shows no sign of stopping."

Alibaba, Shahra, Morgiana, and Alozza all gasped.

"Sinbad…don't tell me they're…!" Alibaba whispered.

"I'm afraid so," Sinbad replied, grimly. "The next country on their list to strike next…is the Kingdom of Balbadd."

"…Oh, good Solomon…!" Morgiana whispered in horror.

"The Kou Empire first used its military might to put trade pressure on Balbadd," Sinbad surmised. "Then, it used Kou Bills to interfere in the weakened economy. They have many methods at their disposal…and they have already ensnared Abhmad Saluja."

"Damn!" Alibaba cursed, clenching his fist.

"As their pawn," Sinbad continued, "he impoverished his own nation, and he lost land and rights. Now, to make up for the debts he raised, he plans to sell his own countrymen. That is Balbadd's biggest problem, and now, we're going to stop it."

"So our enemies are the Kou Empire and Abhmad Saluja?" Morgiana implied.

"You could say that," Sinbad answered.

"I understand," Morgiana said before she bowed her head. "Thank you."

"Yeah, thanks a lot, Sinbad," Alozza added.

With that, the girls walked out, followed by Shahra.

"I guess I'll be going, too," Alibaba said as he prepared to leave. "Besides, I need to see if Aladdin's doing any better."

"Hold it, Alibaba!" Sinbad called. "I'm not done with you, yet. I have more to discuss with you…so sit down."

Alibaba stared at Sinbad in confusion…before he nodded his head.

Soon, he and Sinbad sat down together, the latter putting on a friendly smile.

"I don't think we ever got the chance to talk like this, have we?" Sinbad asked. "Your old man told me about you, Alibaba."

"M-my Dad did?" Alibaba asked in surprise. "Really?"

"Of course!" Sinbad answered. "He said he had another son, and he bragged a whole lot about you. It must the work of the rukh that his son just happened to become a Dungeon-Capturer, wouldn't you say?"

"…Please stop," Alibaba said, looking away. "I'm not like that, at all."

"What do you mean?" Sinbad asked.

"I…I didn't capture Dungeon No. 7 on my own," Alibaba admitted. "I mostly relied on Aladdin's power, that's all…and when I tried to fight you, Amon's power didn't work…so don't pretend we're the same."

"Who said I'm pretending?" Sinbad asked. "Look, Alibaba, I know the failed negotiations with Abhmad shook your confidence greatly, but you can't stay in this slump forever."

Alibaba looked at Sinbad, who gave him a serious expression.

"This land must reborn," the King of Sindria started, "as something completely different from what it is under its current ruler. You realize what I'm saying, don't you?"

At first, Alibaba seemed confused…but then, his eyes slowly went wide in realization.

"…You mean…?!" he whispered.

"That's right," Sinbad answered. "Alibaba…you must become the new King of Balbadd."

Alibaba gasped in surprise.

"M…me?!" he asked. "But…but I-"

"Don't worry," said Sinbad. "You may not feel very confident, now, but I will give you all the support I can. Skill and confidence will come to you, in time. Also, I can teach you how to properly use your Djinn and-"

"STOP!" Alibaba cried. "Th…this…this is all just some big joke, right?! 'Let's all make fun of Alibaba', right?! I mean…me?! King of Balbadd! That's crazy talk!"

"But you did lead the Fog Troop, didn't you?" Sinbad asked. "And didn't you also intend to lead this country, one day?"

"What makes you think I wanna do that?" Alibaba asked. "I didn't became the leader of the Fog Troop because I wanted to! I just joined up because I happened to have royal blood in me! Cassim…he thought that would make the Fog Troop more than just a band of thieves…so that's why I joined!"

"…Alibaba," Sinbad spoke, "some people receive certain duties since the moment they're born. It was mere chance that you happened to have royal blood in your veins, but the same goes for all the kings in the world. Look at me. I came from humble beginnings, and yet I became a king…but not because I wanted to. Rather…I see it as my duty."

"Duty?" Alibaba repeated.

"Everyone fulfills their duty in life," Sinbad told him. "Chance and necessity don't matter."

"…" Alibaba sighed before he looked down to the floor, feeling very uncertain.

"You know…yesterday, Alozza and Morgiana came in here."

Alibaba looked at Sinbad in surprise upon hearing that.

"They did?" he asked.

"Yes," Sinbad answered. "They told me that you were the one who'd be able to save this country. Everyone else feels the same way: Sabhmad, the Fog Troop, and of course, the people of Balbadd. They all have high hopes in you, Alibaba. They've all sensed…a prince's duty. Your duty."

Alibaba gasped silently in shock.

XXX

Outside, the Fog Troop are busy patrolling the hideout, when suddenly, one of them spotted Alibaba, walking away into the backstreets.

"Hey! There's Boss Alibaba!" he said.

"Where's he goin'?" asked another.

Alibaba sighed as he kept walking through the trash-littered backstreets. He knew that Sinbad was only trying to help, but the way he spoke about duty and responsibility…it only put more pressure on Alibaba than before, and that did not help lift his confidence.

'…No matter what Sinbad says…' he thought. 'No matter what anyone says…I can't become king…how could I ever do something like that? I just…don't know.'

As Alibaba kept walking, dismally…he didn't noticed that he was being watched by Cassim, Hassan, and Zaynab, as well as other members of the Fog Troop.

"…Having a problem, Alibaba?" Cassim asked before an almost wicked grin appeared on his face. "Well…maybe I can help with that."

XXX

Later that day, Alibaba is still walking through the backstreets, thinking back to Sinbad's words. Still…he continued to doubt himself.

How could he ever become the king of this falling country…when he barely had the confidence to do so?

Just then, the blonde-haired prince stopped upon hearing the crying of a child. He turned, and saw a skinny woman in ragged clothing, trying to feed her sobbing little girl, just as skinny as she is. She tried to eat, but her throat hurt because she was actually very sick, and it made it hard for her to swallow. Her brother, who leaned beside their mother, did his best to eat the small grains of rice that the woman had collected on a dried up leaf.

Seeing that made Alibaba smile, somewhat.

'That reminds me of how I used to live with my Mom,' he thought.

Just then…he gasped as realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

'Sabhmad said…that Abhmad planned to sell the citizens,' he thought. 'If that's the case…then does that mean he plans on selling the people of the backstreets as slaves, too?!'

Just then, the starving little girl spotted Alibaba and gasped.

"Mama, look!" she said. "Isn't that Prince Alibaba?!"

The woman gasped before she turned to Alibaba, who stared in surprise.

"It is!" she exclaimed. "Prince Alibaba!"

Soon, more people began to gather around Alibaba, who was suddenly taken aback by the crowd.

"Prince Alibaba!"

"Prince Alibaba, help us!"

"How did the negotiations with the king go?!"

"Do something about this!"

Alibaba stammered, trying to think of what to say, when suddenly, someone grabbed him by the back of his shirt.

"Quick! This way!" a voice said before dragging him away.

XXX

Later, Alibaba is sitting in a corner, next to a gnarled old tree, panting heavily.

"The people's patience is wearing thin," a familiar voice spoke. "It's dangerous for you to walk around, Alibaba."

Alibaba looked up and gasped upon seeing Cassim, as well as Hassan, Zaynab, and several others, plus a mysterious man with long, black hair, wearing a veil around his mouth and robes similar to Markkio's.

"C…Cassim?!" Alibaba questioned. "Where the hell have you been?! We've been having a hard time without you!"

"I heard that monsters from the Kou Empire attacked the hideout," said Cassim. "Some of the guys told me."

"If you knew, why didn't you come to help us?!" Alibaba asked. "Dammit, we needed you!"

"And be Sinbad's flunky?" asked Cassim. "Fat chance!"

"Cassim, you've got Sinbad all wrong!" Alibaba argued. "He's not-"

"Don't you say another word!" Cassim barked. "He belongs to the royalty of a foreign country! He insulted the Fog Troop, and for that, I'll never forgive him!"

"But Cassim, we need his strength!" Alibaba retorted. "We can't do this ourselves!"

"Alibaba, lots of people wanna change things," Cassim said. "I'm talking about the people of Balbadd."

"What?" asked Alibaba.

"As you've seen, the people have reached their limit," Cassim spoke, "but the monarchy is pursuing this awful citizen enslavement policy! If we told the people about this and gave them weapons…what do you think will happen?"

Alibaba gasped in horror, realizing what Cassim meant.

"You don't mean…?!" he asked.

"That's right," Cassim answered. "We have to ignite the flames within the people and raise a massive army to overthrow the monarchy! A civil war!"

"W…WHAT?!" Alibaba questioned. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!"

"Don't sound so surprised," Cassim said. "Some have offered to help."

Soon, the mysterious man approached.

"Who's this guy?" Alibaba asked.

"This is my arms dealer," Cassim replied. "He's the one who gave the Fog Troop its weapons, and our Magic Tools came from him, too. He'll lend the Fog Troop and the people vast amounts of weaponry!"

Alibaba stared at his old friend in horror.

'Cassim,' he thought. 'Why in the world would you ever trust such a suspicious-looking man?!'

"Cassim, don't do this!" he pleaded. "Abhmad is tied to the Kou Empire. If you cross them, many people will die! Why can't you see that?!"

"Tch!" Cassim scoffed. "I say bring it on! We'll overwhelm them with sheer numbers! Sometimes, for the greater good, sacrifice is necessary! No matter how many people die…we will win in the end!"

'…Cassim…!' Alibaba thought. 'What in Solomon's name happened to you?! When Mariam died…you were practically in tears! But now…with your own hands…you wanna try and drown innocent people like her in a sea of blood! Have you gone crazy?!'

"We take action in two nights," Cassim spoke. "You'll join me, won't you, Alibaba?"

"…Hell to the freaking no," Alibaba answered, although Cassim didn't seem very surprised. "You never said anything about starting a war!"

"Oh, come on," Cassim said, holding his hand out to Alibaba. "Don't gimme that look. I know you never liked fighting or stealing, so that's why I tried the Fog Troop first…but that didn't work. No matter what we did…no matter what royalty like you did…Abhmad just couldn't be persuaded. Don't you see, Alibaba? War is the only option we have left…don't you think?"

"No!" Alibaba barked, slapping Cassim's hand away. "I don't!"

"A…Alibaba-" Cassim started.

"You're wrong, Cassim," Alibaba interjected. "War is never an option! There are methods!"

"Oh, really?" Cassim asked, sarcastically. "Well then, please enlighten me! Tell me what other methods there are!"

"I…I don't know," Alibaba replied.

"See?!" Cassim asked. "I knew it!"

"I don't know yet!" Alibaba rebuked. "But I'm gonna find out…I'm gonna find a way to save this country…so nobody has to die!"

A pause…but then, Cassim approached Alibaba, and then WHAM! He slugged him across the face!

"AGH!" Alibaba cried as he stumbled back, but then he growled as he ran at Cassim and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU PUNCH ME FOR?!"

"…Alibaba," Cassim spoke, "you…make me wanna puke."

"Huh?!"

"You know for yourself that you're powerless, inexperienced, and unprepared! You're useless, even as royalty! I don't need you anymore, Alibaba…so get the hell outta my sight!"

Alibaba gasped at this. He remembered something like this happening before…on the day he left to live in the palace with his father.

"If you try and stop me, next time we meet," Cassim hissed as he pulled away, "then we'll be enemies! And believe me…I know you don't have the guts to fight me!"

"…Oh, yeah?!" Alibaba questioned before he punched Cassim in the stomach, causing him to stumble back. However, Cassim caught himself and punched Alibaba in the jaw, again. The two began to exchange blows, back-and-forth, some landing, some missing. However, the Fog Troop just stood and watched with amused smiles.

"I bet 50 dinars that Alibaba bites it," Hassan said.

"I'll take a piece of that action," said one of the Fog Troop.

WHAK! Cassim kneed Alibaba in the side, but Alibaba held his ground and socked Cassim right in the mouth, knocking out a tooth. The dreadlocked teen growled as he punched Alibaba in the jaw, again, but this time, he missed when Alibaba ducked down. Then, he grabbed Cassim by the shoulders before slamming his forehead against his. Then, he slammed his kneecap into Cassim's stomach, causing him to cough.

Then…FWUMP! Cassim collapsed in a heap, gasping. Alibaba stood over, panting heavily with blood dripping out of his lip and bruises on his face. Then, as the adrenaline rush subsided, he gasped upon seeing Cassim's condition. He then glanced at the Fog Troop, who gaped at him in shock and…slight fear.

Without warning, Alibaba turned and bolted. As he did, Cassim began to pick himself up off the ground, watching him flee. He gasped slightly before he seethed in anger.

"Yeah!" he shouted after his old friend. "That's right! Run away! Run away like you always do, you freaking pansy! You think you can really make a difference in this country!? YOU'RE NOTHING, ALIBABA! YOU HEAR ME?! YOU'RE A WORTHLESS PILE OF DOG SHIT!"

Alibaba just kept running…with tears forming in his eyes.

The last thing he wanted was to make an enemy out of an old friend…but it seemed that Cassim thought very differently.

Now, not only did he have to find someway to stop Abhmad and the Kou Empire…he had to find a way to stop Cassim and the Fog Troop, too, before it was too late…but how?

XXX

The following day, back at the Fog Troop's hideout, Sinbad is checking up the wounded members along with Ja'Far. Right now, they are standing in the crater that Ugo made when he tried to kill Judar.

"Sin," Ja'Far whispered. "What of establishing Prince Alibaba as king?"

"He's lost confidence," Sinbad whispered. "I didn't really get a positive answer from him, but…"

"SINBAD!"

Sinbad gasped before he turned to see Alibaba, panting heavily and covered in bruises from his fight with Cassim.

"Alibaba?" Sinbad asked. "Where were you? Where'd you get all those bruises from?!"

"Never mind that!" Alibaba barked. "Teach me!"

"Huh?" Sinbad muttered.

"Please," Alibaba said. "I need the strength…to save my country! Teach me how to properly use a Djinn's power!"

A pause…but then Sinbad grinned.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Until Next Night…

I decided to make a little fight with Alibaba and Cassim, just like they did when they were little.

Review, please!