Chapter 24: Sands Run Out

Remi went about his morning routine the same way he always did, but with a little more anxiety to carry with it. He planned on staying inside his archive for the entire battle. Genie had announced to everyone in the dinner that morning that the battle would take place around sunset. It wasn't a normal day, but he was trying his hardest to make sure it was business as usual for his routines.

He shouldn't have been surprised at the knock at the door, but it startled him so much that he scrambled to hold onto the mountain of scrolls he held in his arms. He sighed, placed the scrolls as gently as he could on a nearby table, and went to answer the door.

Remi wasn't expecting his visitor at all. "Aladdin? What brings you here? I thought you were helping with the final preparations."

Aladdin nodded. "Just passing through. I wanted to give you something for your archive. Didn't realize Genie had it until this morning, but I think it's something you can use for your records. Better you than anyone else in the village." Aladdin reached inside his tunic pocket, pulling out a beautiful green stone amulet with a fragile silver chain.

Remi's eyes widened with surprise. "This is beautiful. Where did you get it?"

"The lighthouse. It belonged to Saztou. Thought you could use it as a part of the archive."

Remi nodded with enthusiasm. "Of course! I was just looking over several scrolls and books that Saztou created while he was a resident of this village. It's a shame that the Deathseeker took another of one of the most brilliant minds of our home." He shook his head. "Wish I'd known about him more before he died, before you brought up his name."

"Well, I promised before leaving the lighthouse that his name wouldn't be forgotten in the history of Gloloria, nor his sacrifice," Aladdin said, running his fingers through his hair. Remy didn't miss the lingering sadness that carried in Aladdin's tone, but he seemed to snap out of it quickly. "Anyway, that's all I wanted to give you. I should get back to the others."

As Aladdin turned to leave, Remi put a hand on Aladdin's shoulder. "Thank you for everything you and your friends have done, Aladdin. I hope the battle goes well. I won't be there on the front lines like all of you, but I'm still cheering you on."

Aladdin looked over his shoulder, nodding at the archive keeper. "Don't thank us just yet, we still have to pull off the plan. But it makes me happier to know we have people rooting for us."

Ezele wasn't happy about the sudden addition to their larger battle plan. As they stood on the beach of Gloloria alongside the teams of villagers preparing at their various stations, Ezele folded his arms across his chest while looking between Genie and Jasmine. "Even with taking the medicine, involving the two of them in the final battle with the Deathseeker is a significant risk. Even if you tell me that was Aladdin's specific request, I'm not sure I can support that suggestion."

Jasmine spoke before Genie could. "Aladdin has his reasons, Ezele. Yirya and Arzin will be useful to this battle. Besides, what we learned from our visit to the lighthouse and Aladdin's nightmare makes all the difference for how the tides of the battle will turn."

"Is there any reason you can tell me to justify what will happen if they're included? I have to tell the men and women who are already on the front lines the reasons why they will be involved. They will not be pleased, but at least I can give them something to hold to."

Jasmine and Genie shared a look in silence of concern, slightly hesitant. Genie shook his head. "Sorry, Ezele, we're sworn to secrecy. It's important that we keep those details held close, more than you know."

"If anyone questions the decision, they can come straight to me." Ezele, Jasmine and Genie turned to see Aladdin approach them as he spoke. "I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong."

Ezele groaned, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's not that I doubt your word, Aladdin. Yirya and Arzin are both known Vessels, they could turn against us at the Deathseeker's bidding at any time. That puts all of us at risk."

Aladdin shook his head. "Not if they're part of a larger plan we have to defeat the Deathseeker for good. We know of a way to exploit the demon's biggest weakness. I can't say what it is, for obvious reasons, but Yirya and Arzin are a part of that plan. They can't be excluded from this battle."

Ezele's eyes went wide. "How did you...?"

"Don't ask me to say more than that," Aladdin interjected as gently as he could manage. "If that's what you need to tell everyone, use that. But if you trust us - if you trust me - please let this be part of our plan to fight it."

Ezele didn't say anything for a long moment, lost in more thoughts than Aladdin could read on the man's expression. But he broke the silence by nodding slowly, speaking slowly. "Okay. I'll let everyone know. I hope your guidance is the right path."

As Ezele left, Genie let out a long breath he'd held up to that point. "Man, I really thought he was gonna say no there. Good job, Al. You were better than us trying to get him on board."

Jasmine studied Aladdin carefully. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

Aladdin returned her gaze, his brow narrowed. "We have to be. Sunset's close and it's too late to turn back now." Aladdin turned to Genie then. "You have everything set up just like we planned, Genie?"

Genie gave a quick salute. "Yep. Semi-phenomenal powered and ready to go."

"Okay. Let's do this. Just have to wait for Ezele to tell Yirya and Arzin. And wait for the Deathseeker too."

An inhuman, ear-piercing scream echoed through the sea salt breeze, bringing the group to silence. It appeared to catch the attention of everyone on the beach at that moment, prompting them to rush to their catapults, grab their weapons, and be ready for the large, fast moving dark form that came from the distance at the rate of a large moving ship.

Genie winced. "So it decided to come early, huh?"

Aladdin put his fingers to his mouth, whistling loudly in order to summon Carpet. Carpet came on command, allowing both Aladdin and Jasmine to climb aboard him. Abu came very late, screeching until Carpet used his knobs to motion him aboard. "It means we'll have to execute the plan earlier than expected. First we weaken it before it gets to shore, let the villagers give it all they have, and then execute the trap. Just like we discussed. If something goes wrong, we adjust. Jasmine, are the arrows ready?"

Jasmine nodded. "Yeah, and the fire solution too. You have your sword?"

Aladdin smiled. "Ready. Rather not get too close to it while we're in the air and away from shore, but we'll do what we have to." Aladdin turned to Genie. "We'll let you know if we need you, but you'll need to stay at shore in case things go wrong here."

Genie gave a short salute. "I'm on the job and ready to roll." When he transformed into a cinnamon roll decorated with creamy icing, Aladdin and Jasmine had a hard time keeping back their laughter. "Okay, wrong 'roll,' but still very good."

Aladdin, Jasmine, and Abu rode Carpet over the wide expanse of water until they saw the Deathseeker a fair distance away. It was coming through the water very quickly, and it wouldn't be long until they crossed paths. Jasmine readied her flaming arrow and bow.

"Carpet, keep us at a distance so Jasmine can time her aims right. We're not aiming for the body, but the mouths of the limbs as they open. Destroying them from the inside is easier than trying to cut them off with a sword, though I"ll step in if I have to." Aladdin looked over his shoulder to Jasmine. "You ready? Don't worry about running out of arrows or if you get tired. Anything like that happens, we'll turn back."

Jasmine snorted. "You underestimate how much I want to destroy this sea demon and former sky god as much as you do. I'm more than ready."

Aladdin raised a brow, one part of his mouth turning up into an amused smile. "Okay, show me Princess. Abu, you ready to help her?"

Abu gave a thumbs up.

"Okay, I'll focus on steering. Let's go." Aladdin gripped the edge of Carpet, which propelled the magic rug to speed forward.

Jasmine had been training a lot in the art of shooting arrows over the past several days, even while Aladdin was recovering from his injuries. They approached the side of the Deathseeker, just as it gave a very ominous threat.

How fitting that the four of you race to be first in your impending demise. First the lot of you, and then the entire population of Gloloria. I will rebuild a kingdom worthy of new followers that will do my bidding, and not waste my time on infidels, despite how strong of heart they may be. None of you will be able to stop my reign.

"That's what you think," Jasmine said, as she let the first arrow fly into the mouth of the Deathseeker's limb. The flame caught hold in the limb's mouth, making it screech and howl before falling limply into the water. Aladdin wasn't sure how the flaming arrows were so successful being shot in the mouths of the limbs, but he knew from previous experience that it was a weakness the Deathseeker had. He was glad that it was true, even with the sea demon still in the water versus on land.

"Nice shot, Jasmine." Aladdin said.

"I'm not done. There's at least eleven more limbs we need to take out. Move us closer, Carpet."

Carpet gave Jasmine a short salute with his knobs. As each of the Deathseeker's limbs tried to strike, Aladdin was able to use Carpet to swerve and give Jasmine time to aim at the limbs attacking them. Abu kept dipping the arrows in the flaming solution before handing them to her, creating a chain of command that they quickly worked with. Some of the limbs tried to attack all at once, but Jasmine let her flaming arrows fly as quickly as she could manage while maintaining her balance. Some arrows harmlessly bounced off the Deathseeker's wet and tough exterior, but most of them hit their target.

At one point, The Deathseeker's roar bellowed through the air as it launched an attack that nearly knocked Jasmine off Carpet. Abu managed to recover, gripping the edge of Carpet while screeching. Aladdin was able to use one hand to stay on Carpet and the other to grab Jasmine's hand just before she fell. Since her arrow quiver was strapped to her back, it didn't fall off, but her bow fell from her hand to the ocean waters below.

As they flew a safe distance apart from the Deathseeker's body, Aladdin helped to steady Jasmine. "You okay?"

"Yeah, but I lost my bow. Maybe we should head back to shore."

Aladdin took a long breath before he thought of something. "You still have the flame solution and arrows?"

"Yeah, still enough to take more of its limbs down if we have another chance."

Aladdin used his head to motion to his back, where his weapons were strapped. "Take my bow. I don't need it. You're a better aim than me anyway. I'm more comfortable using the sword, if I have to."

Jasmine grinned. "Don't mind if I do. Thanks Aladdin. Let's get the rest of them."

Aladdin nodded. "Come on, Carpet. Jasmine took out seven of those limbs, we only need to take out five more. Last stretch this time."

They circled back to the Deathseeker main body, where it was ready to strike them again. One of the limbs managed to miss striking the group with its teeth, but one of the limbs spines connected with the side of Aladdin's tunic as it rushed past.

"Aladdin!" Jasmine cried.

"I'm fine," he said. Jasmine saw that the spine had torn the fabric of Aladdin's tunic, exposing the skin of his shoulder, but he wasn't wounded. She used her momentum to aim the arrow, striking the attacking limb in the mouth as it tried to attack again.

Jasmine used up all the arrows in her quiver, but in the end, two limbs still remained, and it was obvious the Deathseeker wasn't happy as it's scream echoed across the water. Luckily, Carpet had moved them all a safe distance away from where it could attack them as it recovered. "I did what I could, guys," Jasmine said. "Sorry I wasn't able to get all of them."

"Uh-uh," Abu screeched cheerfully.

"I'm with Abu on this one. You did great, Jasmine. Let's head back."

The Deathseeker raced through the water after them. Aladdin looked over his shoulder at the Deathseeker's advance, but it seemed to be doing something while moving closer to the shoreline of the village.

"Something's wrong. It looks like it's about to something big," he said. It was only then with Aladdin's barely given warning that its voice resounded in Aladdin's mind.

I warned you, boy. You shall meet your end soon enough.

Then it let out a echoing scream that was much different than its regular one. The effect made Aladdin's head register with a sharp pain that traveled through his body. He gritted his teeth, groaning at the sound. Jasmine and Abu had the same reaction, placing their hands over their ears. Carpet was disoriented, to the point where if he continued to fly forward he might crash them into the water.

"Stop a minute, Carpet. Stop." Aladdin managed. Carpet obeyed, having them float in mid-air. It seemed that the magic rug had his bearings more when he was stationary, though it didn't help much for the pain the Deathseeker was putting Aladdin, Jasmine and Abu through. Aladdin had his hands over his ears as he looked to the nearby shoreline of Gloloria. It seemed the Deathseeker's screams were affecting everyone the same way. The only being it didn't seem to effect was Genie, who had quickly used his magic to recover and give noise cancelling head phones to every villager in his line of sight.

"You get a set of headphones, and you get a set of headphones! Everybody gets a set of headphones!" Genie said with all the gusto of a host of a television program. "And those who have theirs might want to start the attack on the Deathseeker - it's coming fast!"

Ezele, who had mobilized some of the villagers, had his headphones in place and started giving orders through the use of hand signals. Arzin was nearby, helping a group of villagers get a series of fire catapults ready.

Yirya stood a distance away as a part of a scouting party, trying to see how long it would be before the Deathseeker would reach the shoreline.

Just as abruptly as the Deathseeker's cry began, it ended, but it hadn't stopped its advance to the shoreline until the villagers shot flaming arrows and fireballs in its direction. Thankfully, Aladdin and the others were now closer to Gloloria's shoreline and not in the line of attack.

Aladdin uncovered his ears slowly, looking between Jasmine and Abu. "Everyone okay?"

"What was that? I think my ears are still ringing," Jasmine said with a wince.

"Me too," Abu agreed.

Aladdin groaned, holding the side of his head as it throbbed. "Ugh, I don't know, but whatever it did - something changed. Can't explain why, but that wasn't just some random call."

Jasmine looked beyond the shoreline, gasping as she looked further inland. "Aladdin...look beyond the battle, further inland." Her voice didn't hide her horror. Aladdin followed her gaze to a cluster of people walking from some of the huts that were further inland. They were approaching the group of villagers that were attacking the Deathseeker. "Aren't those some of the villagers that were like Yirya before - in a long sleep they didn't wake up from? They were all under the influence of the Deathseeker's poison."

"Oh no. No, no, no," Aladdin said, his own voice filling with dread. "I know exactly what the Deathseeker did now. That was a call to arms. He just summoned every Vessel in the village and he's trying to get them to attack the citizens of Gloloria with their lightning magic. It's not a big group, but that's enough to leave several of the other villagers seriously hurt if they strike."

"What can we do?"

Aladdin gripped the edge of Carpet tight with his hands. "I'm gonna drop you guys off on the beach. Do as much as you can to support the villagers already fighting. Genie and I are gonna have to move to the other plan sooner than expected. I thought that Yirya and Arzin would be the only ones we had to deal with, but if these other villagers are going to be the Deathseeker's puppets wielding lightning magic, we may have enough power to destroy it even if it isn't weakened enough. But more than anything, we can't let them use that magic on the people trying to fight the Deathseeker."

After a long moment, Jasmine nodded. "Okay, sounds like everything we decided on. But Aladdin?"

He turned to look fully at her, noting the worried tone of her voice. "Yeah?"

"Be careful. Please. Don't let this be the last time we see you."

Aladdin gave her a tight embrace in response. Abu joined the hug, using his monkey arms to give a half hug to Aladdin and a half hug to Jasmine. Aladdin didn't answer her statement directly but nodded slowly as he pulled away from her. "We can talk after, Princess. Let's get this done."

It looked forward to seeing the humans fight each other, more to the point - destroy each other until there was barely anyone left. It had been a part of the collective plan from the beginning. It allowed Aladdin and his group a momentary victory. It didn't need all of its limbs to destroy the citizens of Gloloria. Just the two remaining would do. It had been painful, but the sweetness of looming victory was just beyond its grasp.

The attacks started in quick succession - some of its Vessels using as much energy as their bodies could tolerate as they struck their friends and family members. It recalled the name of one of the villagers - Tani - rushing out of her hut to usher the grandchild she cared for out of harm's way, only to be struck by lightning by one of its followers. She fell to the ground as the child screamed "Ma-Tani! Ma-Tani!"

Several others in the village were attacked and subsequently fell, but not nearly as much as the former sky god would have liked. It was enough to stop the attacks of those on the front line of the beach, who hesitated long enough to wonder if their efforts should be taken against it or their fellow rogue villagers.

The attacks by its Vessels stopped abruptly when a figure appeared overhead on his magic carpet. Precisely the person it wanted to see.

Aladdin glared face to face with it then, the anger on his face stirring its intrigue. It would enjoy crushing the heart of this boy who so thoroughly rejected and tried to destroy it.

"Leave the villagers of Gloloria alone, Deathseeker. If you want to try to destroy anyone so badly, try getting through me first."

Its sharp teeth glistened in the sunset's light as it grinned. Of course the boy would challenge it and offer himself as a sacrifice. It had expected as much.

I will give a special reward to the one who shocks the heart of this former street rat to the point where it ceases. Leave the other villagers alone and focus on him, it commanded to its Vessels.

One by one, the Vessels compiled with its request. But to its surprise, Aladdin withstood the blasts of lightning magic with moderate difficulty. Aladdin clutched something in his hands as his teeth clenched against the pain. The magic carpet he gripped was similarly uncomfortable. The blasts hurt Aladdin, no doubt about it, but none of them left him in the same state that it had left Aladdin in when it possessed Arzin a few nights before.

What had changed? Did the boy find a magic talisman that he now clutched to his chest to protect himself?

Aladdin took several shaky breaths before speaking. "Surprised, right? Really want to know how I was able to survive your lightning magic? It's part of a three-step plan that I crafted. Or I should say - my better self crafted. The first part of the plan I'd like to call 'The Prince and the Pauper'. You've probably heard the tale before - a prince and an ordinary peasant switch places. I've pulled off this plan several times and so far, none of the enemies I've faced have seen through it. Not even you."

How DARE you insult my intelligence?! It snapped.

"I'm not done. The next part of my plan involves something I like to call 'Lightning in a Bottle.' It explains why all of your Vessels didn't hurt me as badly as they wanted to." Aladdin opened his hand to reveal a palm sized bottle which held a brightly glowing and churning ball of lightning magic within it. "Don't think that this bottle only contains a small amount of magic - the size of the bottle doesn't show how powerful this blast is. Considering how many of your Vessels attacked me, I think this is a pretty hefty amount of power. Enough to use it as your greatest weakness."

It was stunned.

Aladdin continued. "You can thank Saztou for letting us know. As for the third part of my plan..." Aladdin trailed off as his skin suddenly turned blue, and his form transformed into the big blue Genie. It realized all too late that it had been tricked. Aladdin - the real Aladdin - stood below on the beach made himself known and shouted for every single villager to run inland.

"Everyone, help anyone who's injured and get off the beach! Run as far inland as you can! Hurry!" Aladdin shouted. He only had a limited amount of time to warn everyone to get as far away from the Deathseeker reach as they could. Once Genie executed the plan, there would be no turning back from what would happen. The last thing Aladdin wanted was for anyone to be stuck on the beach and endure the same level of shock that the Deathseeker was about to experience.

Genie wasted no time in transforming into a tennis player, armed with a racket and the magic lightning bottle serving as the ball. "And for the last part of this three-part plan, here's what I'd like to call 'Game, Set, Match.' I think you've lost this one, Deathseeker." Genie hit the magic bottle with the racket as hard as he could, slamming the bottle into the skin of the Deahtseeker. It shattered, releasing the magic in a bright burst that exploded all over the Deathseeker's outer shell. It screamed, its limbs screamed in agony. Its screams drowned out the several villagers that were screaming and running for their lives away from the beach. But instead of sinking back into the ocean, the Deathseeker continued to advance. It wasn't going to die by the sea, but rather take anything or anyone with it while it approached the beach and inland.

It's still gonna try to kill everything it can before it dies. No, no, no, this wasn't supposed to be how it went, Aladdin thought.

Before Aladdin could do anything else, the Deathseeker uttered another scream, similar to the one that had summoned its Vessels to act. Aladdin felt his head throb with pain, causing him to drop to his knees. He couldn't move, much less focus on any of the milling voices and fleeing residents around him. But even as he struggled to fight the feeling, a familiar voice called out then.

"Hey, hey kid! You really had us worried back there. What were you thinkin'?!"

"Iago?" Aladdin looked up as the Deathseeker's odd scream faded. His vision cleared where it was once blurred, and he didn't feel like he was about to pass out anymore.

"Whoa, you don't look so good. You okay?" The bird landed on Aladdin's shoulder, at least the one where his tunic wasn't torn from the scuffle earlier.

"Fine now. Sorry I couldn't tell you about the plan, but we had to keep it secret. Otherwise, the Deathseeker wouldn't have fallen for it."

"I mean, I'm not sayin' I would've liked to known that plan. I'm glad I wasn't the scapegoat this time," he said. "But thinkin' that the sea demon was attacking and almost killing you wasn't a good look." Iago quickly realized how that sounded and backtracked. "Not that was I worried you wouldn't pull through it, anyway. You're Wonderkid after all."

Aladdin raised a brow, barely able to hold back a smile. "You really worried about me there." He wasn't asking a question, and Iago winced. But the bird decided it wasn't worth arguing about it.

"Didn't have to, but did. You happy now? Anyway, we need to get outta here. Deathseeker coming up the shore at six o'clock."

Aladdin looked over his shoulder. Sure enough, even with Genie's efforts to block its wildly flailing and electrically charged limbs, the Deathseeker continued its attack. And it was starting to crush various homes and the catapults that lined the front of the beach.

"Good thing we told everyone to evacuate those huts a while back," Iago said with a wince. "Not sure what's worse, gettin' crushed by a ginormous sea demon's limbs while at home or getting shocked to death."

Aladdin groaned. "Don't think I wanna find out the answer to that question either, Iago. Come on, let's head inland."

"Aladdin! Aladdin, wait!" A voice came from beside the two of them, only a few steps beyond where Aladdin stood. He looked around to see Miza running toward them. The little girl was beyond frantic.

"What's wrong Miza? You hurt?"

"Miza's okay, but Miza can't find Papa, Mama, or Uncle Arzin. Ma-Tani...Ma-Tani's really hurt!"

Aladdin's eyes widened at first, but then his expression grew serious as he nodded. "Take me to her."

Miza held Aladdin's hand tight as she led him across the beach towards Tani's cabin. Tani lay on her side, groaning as the three of them approached. Aladdin knelt beside her, turning her body into a position where she could breathe better, though the elderly woman was clearly struggling.

"Oh dear boy, the irony of you helping me with dealing the same ailment I helped you with only a few days ago."

"Ma-Tani, Miza brought Aladdin to help. I don't want you to die," the girl said, tears forming in her eyes.

Tani shook her head. "I'll be fine as long as I have access to the medicine. There should be some in the hut."

Aladdin shook his head. "We don't have that kind of time. The Deathseeker's coming this way. I can help carry you further inland."

Tani sighed. "I don't think I'd be able to make it that far, dear. Not without passing out and being a burden to you."

"You're not a burden," Aladdin argued. "I can help." He started to help her sit up, but a voice interrupted them from a distance away.

"I can take her, Aladdin, I'm headed that way. I already saw Yirya. She's okay, and she's headed inland. Thankfully she wasn't one of the Vessels that the Deathseeker manipulated into using their magic against you. Or should I say the Genie that was imitating you," Ezele said as he reached them. He also turned to his daughter. "We need to get you away from here too, Miza. It's too dangerous to stay."

Aladdin wondered then where Jasmine, Abu, and Carpet were. Carpet had been with Genie, but he'd flown away as soon as he could to help villagers who had trouble fleeing the shoreline to get further inland.

"Miza doesn't know where Uncle Arzin is. We have to find him too."

Ezele looked up at Aladdin to confirm something, which Aladdin picked up right away. "I haven't seen him either, Ezele. But I can go look for him."

"Miza wants to come too."

"Miza..." Ezele started, his voice a low warning, before another cry from the Deathseeker interrupted them. It smashed another several nearby huts with its limbs. It's movements were much slower, but it was still very dangerous.

"Don't tell Miza she can't go," Miza said, her voice determined. "Miza knows Uncle Arzin did horrible things, but she doesn't want him to be hurt or worse. Miza wants to help find him."

Iago groaned. "I'm not exactly happy about goin' to search for the guy who tried to kill me. Possessed by a sea demon or not."

Aladdin groaned, but turned to Ezele. "Miza can come with me. When we find Arzin, I'll send them both back inland to you. You have my word. I'll protect them with my life if that's what it takes. I also need to make sure Jasmine and Abu are okay."

"I just saw Jasmine and Abu run inland with Yirya. Should have mentioned that when I told you." Ezele rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "There's no time to debate this. Very well, I'll leave it in your hands, Aladdin. Please look after my daughter. I'll make sure my mother and Iago get inland safely."

"Thank you! Let's not waste more time chit chatting like there isn't a dying sky god bent on vengeance that we have to worry about!" Iago said, flying over to where Ezele started walking with his mother away from them.

Aladdin held out his hand. "Come on, Miza. Stay close." She quickly grabbed it, holding his tight in her own. It reminded him of how she clung to him in the cave the other night. He couldn't help but feel as the Deathseeker made a slow crawl inland, destroying any kind of obstruction in its path, that their sands of luck were quickly running out.