The Sindrian royal vessel had arrived carrying the royal family and the eight generals. After being advised by soldiers at the port that traffic at the main street was at a standstill and the smaller streets were definitely unpassable at the moment, the queen had her magic carpet rolled out. Even though they could all fit in the magic tool, her four-year-old son Badr had requested that he wanted to pass through the town because it seemed more fun than flying over it. His father, King Sinbad, immediately agreed with his son and promised to look after him and take all his male generals with him. Pisti and Yamuraiha were more than happy to join their queen. Who knows what the men would be up to at the town. Sinbad and the men must have been excited at the prospect of free-flowing alcohol anyway.

After the heavily pregnant queen promised grave bodily harm to Sinbad if he were to ever lose their cute son at the bustling town, Jafar stepped in and assured her that he would watch over their little prince and their idiot king and make sure they actually make it to the palace before sundown. Though it did not help reassure the queen when in the middle of their conversation, little Badr, Sinbad, and Sharrkan had taken off running.

It took the combined efforts of the remaining seven generals to stop their queen from Djinn equipping.

So once calmed down and reminded to take it easy since she was in the eighth month of her pregnancy, the queen rode on the flying carpet with her loyal retainer, Seisyun Ri and Yamuraiha and her two-year-old daughter Dunya.

"Wow, they sure went all out." Seishyun Ri observed as he looked over the edge of the medium sized flying carpet.

"Yes, I heard it was expected to last for three months." Hakuei rubbed her swollen belly lovingly. An explosion from the ground ruffled the edges of her flying carpet but the queen wasn't fazed when it was then followed by the raucous laughter of who could only be her son and her husband. A vein popped in her forehead, an irritated smile on her face, "I swear all those two ever do is cause me trouble."

"Daddy, look at me!"

"Whoa, son, nice jump!"

"Sin, your son just jumped from a five story building!"

Seisyun Ri gulped in fear as a thick murderous aura enveloped his mistress. He prayed that they land soon so he could get as far away from the oncoming onslaught that was sure to befall the father and son duo. He was sure the king was still on probation with his wife when he encouraged his son to jump into his arms so they could 'get in time to the dining hall and finish eating before your mother finishes cooking'. His son had been in a tower and the king was on the courtyard ten stories below. Needless to say, the queen was not amused. And that incident happened just three days ago. The king just never learns.

He almost kissed the ground when they touched down on the courtyard of the royal palace. After helping the two ladies get off the carpet, he immediately diminished his presence lest he be recruited to murder the king of Sindria once and for all. However, the queen's dark aura instantly dissipated when Princess Kougyoku came running down the front steps to meet the new arrivals.

"Onee-sama, I hope you had a pleasant trip." Kougyoku said as she bowed to the older queen.

Hakuei patted her head, "Kougyoku-chan, congratulations on your wedding with Alibaba-kun. May you be blessed with happiness all through your marriage." Hakuei also gave a bow. Once she straightened up, she clapped her hand and with a gracious smile, asked that Alibaba be brought before her.

Alibaba froze in his spot behind Kougyoku. He had been forewarned about the little bits of 'encouragement' Kougyoku's family might impart from the bottom of their blessed hearts. But as always, no amount of preparation can make him ready for this. So he slowly walked towards the queen as if walking towards the executioner's block. If this is what he feels from the queen, what more from Kougyoku's three brothers, which included an emperor? Well, actually, he had it already done and over with the three brothers six months earlier when he personally asked Emperor Ren Kouen for his sister's hand in marriage. There were a lot of embarrassing and humiliating moments he would rather not discuss in case he gets a relapse of the nightmares he suffered for three months after that certain ordeal.

Kougyoku is so much worth it, anyway, he told himself, if she'd still have you even when you wet your pants in front of her once, he put his bravest game face on, then she'd still have you even if you wet your pants again, provided, of course, that you beg her hard enough, and looked towards the queen only to be totally floored when he found her smiling beatifically down at him, add that to the fact that she was glowing from her pregnancy, Alibaba thought she was a goddess in the flesh. The young king felt a warm feeling spread through his heart and soothe his nerves.

He did not even notice Seisyun Ri frantically signaling him to run away, run away as far and as fast as he can.

"This is what I'd do to you if you ever hurt my dear Kougyoku-chan, only a thousand times more painful,"

Whatever pummeled him, whether it be an elephant or Hakuei's bare hand, Alibaba was no longer conscious enough to find out. The only thing he remembered was regretting not swinging by Sindria to personally inform Queen Hakuei about his intentions with Kougyoku months before the wedding. But who could blame him? It took him three months to recover from the maiming he got from Kougyoku's brothers. And right now, he's not even sure he'd recover enough to attend his own wedding. He was sure Kougyoku's family would kill him for real if they thought he was ditching Kougyoku on their wedding. He'd crawl to the altar if that's what it has to take, then.

Seisyun Ri prayed for the repose of King Alibaba's soul. Only King Sinbad had been strong and stupid enough to repeatedly fall for that trick and survive. Like he said before, the Sindrian king never learns.

Aladdin nonchalantly stepped over the bloodied corpse of his best friend to give the queen a little bow. "Onee-san, it's nice to see you again," he smiled widely at one of his oldest friends. He liked Hakuei especially since Hakuei had known and liked Ugo, too.

The queen gently patted the young Magi's head, "Have you been doing well, Aladdin-kun?"

The blue-haired Magi nodded enthusiastically, "I'm getting better and better at teaching, even my students and fellow professors said so!" he shared.

Hakuei let out a little laugh at her young friend's enthusiasm, "I'm happy if you're happy. Just visit us sometimes, alright? Badr likes you a lot," she placed her hands on her belly, "so will this one and as I do, too." She smiled in an unmistakably motherly way. Aladdin could not help but be drawn as he put his arms around the queen in a gentle embrace. Hakuei patted his head lovingly again, a gesture she bestowed only to him and Badr. It might not have been gradual but along the way, she had become like a mother, warm, gentle, strong and always loving.

Aladdin broke the embrace when he felt a little tug at his black robes and found little Dunya peering at him with glittering gold eyes. The two year old was an exact copy of her mother, except that she inherited her father's hair color and striking gold eyes. Like Badr, she was named after a person their parents didn't want to forget. Sinbad had loved his father a great deal and had always planned to name a son of his after the great man, while Yamraiha had wanted to honor her former regent's memory and hope that her daughter can carry the name and live a happy life for her namesake.

"Dunya-chan!" Aladdin exclaimed as he hoisted the bubbly little girl into his arms, "Have you been a good girl, Dunya-chan?"

The little girl nodded enthusiastically, "Yes~, Magi-chama!" and then she crossed her arms, puffed her cheeks and pouted, "Badr won't pway with Dunya anymow!" she confessed to the Magi, "Badr not like me anymow?" her lower lip trembled and her eyes started to water.

Aladdin was at a loss of what to do and Yamraiha was just smiling as if her daughter wasn't about to cry, "She's been telling everyone that," the mother told him, "Badr had started martial arts training so he doesn't have as much time to play," The young prince was very excited at the prospect of learning from his uncles, the Eight Generals. He did always like getting to destroy things, anyway.

The blue haired Magi nodded understandingly. He smiled gently at the little girl and wiped her tears, "Don't worry, Dunya-chan. Nii-chan will play with you." The little girl instantly brightened up at the prospect, "And I'm sure Badr-kun could play with us, too."

Aladdin carried the little girl into the palace when Kougyoku told the new arrivals to wait in the banquet hall for the others. Dunya was excitedly babbling about all the things she had seen on her first voyage outside Sindria. Apparently, she was also excited about going to see her 'granpapa'. When Aladdin looked inquisitively at her mother, Yamraiha told him that she and Sharrkan were planning to travel to Magnostadt and visit the deceased chancellor's grave. "I think he would have loved to meet his granddaughter."

Kougyoku was fussing over Hakuei's tummy as they sat down on a table in the banquet hall. Again, the hall was richly decorated with brightly colored flowers of all shapes and sizes. Drapes hang over the side entrances that led into the gardens. There were three rows of long tables, with flower centerpieces and laden with heaping plates of freshly cooked treats. The main courses would arrive once the banquet starts. The head table was at the front, for the soon-to-be-wedded couple and visiting royalty to preside over all their constituents and retinues.

"By the way, Kougyoku-sama, I haven't seen Mor-chan yet," Yamraiha asked once she had situated herself at a cushion seat at the table.

"She insisted on finishing her work before the wedding holiday starts. She might run a little late but I'm sure she'll be here soon," Kougyoku answered, a bit worried for her Fanalis friend again.

"Mor-san sure is a hard-worker," Aladdin piped as he shoved treats into his mouth and the little girl sitting on his lap a cupcake he swiped from the table.

Kougyoku suddenly remembered something she was itching to tell Hakuei before she arrived, "Nee-sama, I have some news for you that I'm sure you'd love," she clasped the queen's hands in hers, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Hakuei tilted her head slightly, a questioning look on her face, "What is it, Kougyoku-chan?"

"Hakuryuu and Judar-chan are coming to the wedding!"