Hi All, this is the next chapter for Alibaba the fallen. There's a fight scene and I hope you like it. It was quite hard to write so I hope I didn't made too much mistake ^_^. Don't forget to read and review :D.
Review Corner:
Fier66 - Thanks for the review, and well you'll just have to see how Alibaba will become hehe ^_^. Yep, I just couldn't pick between Mor and Kougyoku so I said what the heck, why not the two of them :D.
NoImagination - Yep, only Ohtaka could tell if Judar will actually stay loyal to Al-Thamen but I'll probably go a different route depending on how it would impact this story. Yeah, Alibaba told Sinbad that he would tell Kougyoku but it was never showed but I believe that it is quite very important for their relationship so I made it myself XD. The scene with Koubun-ka, Ifelt I needed to place that since he was probably one of Kougyoku's most trusted people. About Gyokuen, she just loves to mess with people :P. Thanks for the review ^_^
SakuraWindChime - Thanks, I was a little worried since the flashback was a little long but I couldn't cut it anywhere since I thought that it tied some lose ends. Thanks for the review ^_^.
Guest - Hmm, I've also mulled about that for a while, if I should let Sinbad release the spell or not. It would be a great angle on the story but then it will also pose some problems for me in the future :D. So I had to take it out and let her leave Kou nyahah. But in the future chapters, well... we'll just have to see hehe sorry I can't reveal much ^_^. Thanks for the review :D.
Ilostmybelt - Thank goodness I didn't bore anyone with this chapter :D. It was quite a long flash back hehe but thanks for reading through it and thank you for the review ^_^.
updated: 9/28/2014 edited some grammatical errors.
Disclaimer: I don't own magi or its characters
Chpater 5: Chaos
The room was dead silent after Judar's announcement that Alibaba had fallen. Everyone's mind just suddenly went blank as soon as they heard what he said. No one wanted to believe what they heard until Hakuryuu voiced what was in his mind.
"Judar, you and I have fallen but Alibaba did not... He can't fall, not with his personality."
"You think I'd jest something like this? I love chaos and deception but do you think I will gain anything telling you that Alibaba has fallen?" Judar answered seriously.
"It can't be..." Kougyoku said disbelieving Judar's words.
"Then tell me, how did I got in this mess? You think I'm happy to tell you I got beaten by that Balbadd brat? Accept it you morons, HE HAS FALLEN! Arghhhhhhhh..." Judar said shouting the last words and hurting his side in the process.
"That damn brat, he did more damage than I thought... Once I recovered my rukh I'll hunt him and get even..." Judar said in grimace as he held his side.
"But how... did he give any clue why?" Morgiana asked.
Judar looked at them mulling if he should tell them or just let them find out for themselves. But he suddenly smirked and thought.
'Ah yeah, I'll tell them why. This way I could spur chaos on their minds, afterall it seems his friends got something to do about his fell. May not know what he was saying but they might.'
Everyone in them room got a little guarded when they saw Judar smirked but nonetheless waited for him to speak. He laid comfortably on his back and spoke.
"I don't know much on how he fell but I do know one thing, he was a lot different from the other fallen humans. Others fall and change their personalities a bit because of their hatred but nonetheless they almost stay the same like Hakuryuu here. But Alibaba, his personality flipped. I have encountered him a couple of times and I'm telling you this, that person I saw was not the Alibaba everyone knew. He showed only one emotion in our whole fight, and that was sadism. And frankly, it got me a little scared." Judar took a deep breath to compose himself. He may not show it, but for the first time in his life he felt fear. Something he wasn't accustom to and to actually confess it, he might be out of his mind.
"That's not Alibaba... He'll never be like that!" Morgiana exclaimed to everyone's surprise.
Normally, Morgiana was a girl who would never shout unless on a fight but she would not stand idly and let someone talk bad about Alibaba. Her fist were now clenched as she again felt that ache in her chest whenever she knew that Alibaba was in trouble.
"Gahahahah, then why don't you find him and see for yourself?" Judar laughed.
"Morgiana, let Judar finish. We can't fix everything using our strength, sometimes we need to think and gather information first." Kougyoku said seriously as she placed a hand at Morgiana's arm to calm her although inside she too wanted to just bolt out and find him but that won't be the best course of action.
"Ha! It seems you have matured since the last time I have met you, Kougyoku." Judar praised.
"It doesn't concern you. Now tell us what you know, we don't have the luxury of time." Kougyoku countered to which he just chuckled and said.
"That Alibaba, he's got another side in him. Something he probably hid well inside his heart or probably just refused to show everyone just like creating a mask to show everyone a false facade. I saw it emerged from him. It was angry, it was lonely, it was frustrated and most of all it hates the world for what it had done to him. It hated everything, from his childhood to his current state. That means it hates all of you too." Judar paused to let it sink.
"That's not Alibaba, he has never showed any kind of hatred to anyone... Anger and sadness yes but never hatred..." Morgiana said in disbelief.
"Just because someone was laughing and smiling doesn't mean that they were happy. It just shows how much they treasure everyone's happiness around them that they did not want to spoil it by showing negative emotions..." Kougyoku almost whispered but Morgiana heard it.
"Did you see it?" Morgiana asked.
"A little... Alibaba and I were the same, we were considered the lowest of the royalty for being the child of a harlot. Everybody looked at us with disgust, I've learned for years that I need to be strong and not show anyone my weakness. Instead, I wanted to show them that I am strong, to please them... to be accepted. When Alibaba became my friend and we started to talk about ourselves, I sometimes saw some cracks from his mask. To the others it may not be easily seen, but to someone who had put up a mask herself, it was clearly visible. But I was quite lucky, my siblings accepted me or atleast acknowledged my strength or status as their sister but Alibaba, he was never accepted by his brothers until recently. He had it way worst than I am but he never showed any of his true emotions. That is why I wanted to do something for him. To show him that he didn't need to be always strong, that he could let down his guard because he has friends that would be there for him. He had been fighting alone for far too long that he had forgotten the true meaning of friendship just like how he tried to free Balbadd all by himself a year ago and how he had tried to deal with my brother's proposition all on his own. I felt that one day, he would just snap because of it and if Judar's words were true, then my worst fear has happened..." Kougyoku answered as she looked in the ground trying to suppress her anger at herself for not acting early and left Morgiana speechless not knowing how to react to what she said.
"So that is why his other side said those things." Judar said as he started to piece things together.
"What do you mean?" Hakuryuu asked.
"When I followed him, I saw him talking to himself while looking at the pool of water. His dark personality said that he was the part of Alibaba that actually hate the world" Judar started as he told what what he heard and as he told them, they were horrified at the revelations.
Alibaba, the man whom many relied upon, the man who had a smile that could infect others, the person who would just laugh off his bad luck and misery and the person who gave hope to many, was actually slowly being eaten by his own darkness. The darkness that he never showed anyone, the one that he had kept inside to keep others happy. But that doesn't answer the question, he has kept that darkness at bay for so long, why did it show now? Something must have happened and they were all thinking of what might have caused him to go over the edge, that was until Judar revealed what he last heard before Alibaba surrendered to the darkness.
"His last words before he fell was: I am the Alibaba who was betrayed by the very girl he loved and his friend. Didn't she said that she needed time to discover what love is? Didn't she said that she wanted you to teach it to her? Didn't she said that she like you too? Well, guess what, she also said that she likes Hakuryuu to and lo and behold she had let him kiss her while you got nothing, not even a kiss on the cheek. She could have pushed him off if she was against it, she was a Fanalis afterall. But she didn't, she chose him and just like before, you are left alone." Judar finished with a satisfying smirk as he saw everyone's utmost horror especially Morgiana.
"No... he saw it..." was all Morgiana could say as she took a few steps back and stumbled. She didn't bother to stood again as she just slumped down sit-ted while looking at the floor while mumbling the same words.
Judar loved her expression the most. Oh he just love causing chaos, now how will this chaos he sowed affect their friendship, he just could not wait but his musing were disturbed as Hakuryuu started to held him by the shoulder and started shaking him.
"Impossible, I didn't felt him there and Morgiana rejected me with a slap afterwards. He should have known that I was rejected!" Hakuryuu shouted not believing that he cause Alibaba to fall.
"You think he would stay there and watch you two kiss till the end? If he really was in love with that Fanalis girl, the moment the two of you kiss and she didn't outright push you away, he would turn around and leave. But I applaud you Hakuryuu, you really are starting to act like a fallen should. Causing chaos and mischief. Gahahahah" Judar taunted.
In all this chaos, Kougyoku just stayed silent. Her face showed horror but inside she was battling too many emotions. Anger, anger at Morgiana for letting Hakuryuu to kiss her in the first place. Anger at Hakuryuu for forcefully kissing a girl so she would accept him. Judar for taunting them to cause chaos and to herself because somewhere inside her, she felt relief that Alibaba might actually fall out of love from Morgiana. She shook her head, she can't think of those kind of things right now. Hakuryuu and Morgiana had clearly fell for Judar's taunts and doesn't need to fall for his tricks to. So instead, she just turned her back and reached for the door but she was stopped by Judar's words.
"Oi Kougyoku, where are you going? Are you just going to leave them here? Atleast take them with you."
"They are none of my concern. They are old enough to take care of themselves." Kougyoku answered a little harshly.
"Wait Kougyoku..." Hakuryuu said trying to explain.
"It's better that you don't talk to me right now, Hakuryuu. I am very angry at both of you and I do not wish to say hurtful words so it's better that both of you stay away from me for a while." Kougyoku warned as she exited the room and slammed the door shut.
At the other side of the desert, inside the cave a man stared at the bonfire he has made. He had left everything when he left Balbadd including his friends and frankly, right now he didn't want to see them. Everytime he thought of them, his heart ached and he started to feel anger. The voice in his head had actually stopped saying anything ever since it said that he should find a place to recover but right now he wished for it to bother him, so that he could stop thinking about his life in the past for right now it gives him nothing but loneliness and anger. And what scared him the most was that this feelings, he does not totally rebuke it, no he was actually starting to like it. His mind was racing and fueled by hatred and anger, he was starting to plot things... Things he never wanted to do.
"So this is how people who have fallen, felt. No wonder most of them just want to see the world burn and fall into chaos. This feeling, the feeling of wanting everyone to suffer just like how you suffered. The feeling of wanting to make everyone feel the same pain that you feel. How you wanted for them to feel the same anger and hatred... How frustrating it is to see others were happy while you are not... How you always have the short end of the stick... How this world is so unfair... How you feel that chaos is the only state were everyone is on fair ground... And how you love to see others fall to..." He whispered as sleep started to take him but as he slept, he uttered some last words.
"And it's scary that I am starting to love it..."
Morning came and he woke up from his slumber. He felt hunger as he remembered he had not eaten since he left Balbadd.
"I need to find something to eat." he said as he left the cave.
He walked for a while and he started to enter an area full of trees. He looked around trying to find a plant that grows edible fruits when he heard something rapidly approaching him from behind. He looked back and saw a carriage loaded with goods. He didn't have time to think as he jumped to the side to avoid being run over. The carriage didn't even bother to stop as if they didn't care if they had hurt someone. His eyes narrowed, he wasn't in a good mood and they will pay the price. He followed them, he was still getting used to his new found speed and strength and this would be a good test on how fast he could go. After a while, he saw the carriage was stopped. He jumped up into a tree and watched what had happened. Below, he saw men guarding the carriage while being surrounded by ten armed men.
'Thieves' he thought.
He saw a man in expensive garment peeked out of the carriage and ordered.
"I have paid you a large sum of money, you better kill this thieves."
"But sir these are the thieves that were famous for not only stealing goods but also brutally murdering anyone who stand in their way. Not even woman or children were spared."
"I paid you a large sum of money, you better kill these thieves even if it cost you your lives!"
"But I have a family, I just wanted to provide for them. Please let's just give them the cargo!" one of the men guarding him pleaded.
"Ha! You think we'll just let you go? You've seen our face, we shall eliminate all of you."
'Scums...' Alibaba thought.
"This is our karma... our punishment for not even stopping to see if that guy we run over was hurt." the other man said as he slumped down in fear.
"Well, kill them boys." The leader of the thieves said as they advanced towards the men guarding the carriage.
The guards readied themselves to protect their client but the thieves stopped as they saw someone jumped down between them and the guards.
"And who are you suppose to be brat?" one of the thieves said.
"Just passing by, I have a score to settle with the pig inside this carriage. So would you be kind enough to let this guards go and let me have that pig of a man? Of course all the loot will be yours." was Alibaba's no-nonsense answer.
"And why would we do that? They saw our faces, they shall die and so shall you." the leader spat back.
"Very well, you wish to die today. I shall grant it to you. May I borrow this one?" He said as he picked up the sword dropped by one of the guards. The man could only nod as Alibaba also gave a nod as thanks.
"Now who shall die first?" Alibaba asked as he stood in the royal swordsmanship stance.
"Don't be cheeky you brat." a thief said as he and his companion attacked Alibaba. They smirked as they saw him not moving.
'The brat probably is stunned in fear.' He thought as he and his companion proceeded to strike down on Alibaba.
"Both of you are full of opening." were the only words they heard as they saw Alibaba disappeared from their sight and a moment later both of them fell down on the floor, lifeless.
"Hey did you see what happened?" one of the guards asked wide eyed.
"I don't know... one moment he was about to be struck down and the next moment he was standing behind them and they fell down with stab wounds on their heart." the other answered.
Alibaba flicked his wrist to rinse the blood from the sword.
"Hmm, it seems the royal swordsmanship is not suited for this new type of speed and strength. I better find a new way to fight... Shall we continue?" He asked monotonously as he struck the sword to the ground and decided to fight using hand to hand.
"Why you! Nobody kills my men and live to tell the tale. Attack!" the leader ordered as his men attacked.
One of them took a swipe at Alibaba's legs to cut it off but Alibaba jumped just in time to avoid and then as he fall towards his enemy, he delivered an elbow thrust to the man's left temple. The impact was so strong that it broke the man's neck and killed him in that instant. Then Alibaba used that man as a spring board and jumped towards the next bandit. The bandit thrust his sword forward to impale him but Alibaba flipped in the air and delivered and axe-kick right into the back of his head. The kick was strong enough that as soon as the head collided with the desert sand, blood splattered around the head.
Alibaba looked at them disinterested and said.
"This is boring, four of your men are already dead and I have yet to warm up."
Frustrated, the thieves charged at him and slashed at his furiously.
"Fighting me without thinking? Wrong decision." He said as he ducked to avoid a swipe of the sword and as he turned he delivered a punch towards the man's ribs. Everyone could hear several bones break and probably together with the organs inside it. The man spat out blood from his mouth as he fell forward, dead.
Alibaba used this moment of distraction to deliver a swift kick right into the one of the thieves' knee. The thief started to fell forward as his knee got destroyed but Alibaba didn't let him fall. He headlock the man in his left arm and then he jumped and flipped in the air twisting the man's neck. As he flipped in the air, he took the man's sword with his right hand and then he let the man's head go as it was now twisted so it was facing his back and used the man as a spring board to jump higher. As Alibaba was descending, he positioned the sword down and stabbed the other thief from the head till the hilt of sword was situated on his skull. Both men fell forward as Alibaba stood just behind them.
"Well?" Alibaba taunted as he gestured for the last three to attack.
They didn't move so Alibaba moved instead. He charged towards them as they readied themselves but at the last moment, Alibaba disappeared and then two of thieves felt someone grabbed their arms holding the sword and thrust at each other. Since they were at arm's length, each sword embedded to the other man's chest. Alibaba let go of their arms and looked at the leader.
"It seems that you're the only one left." he simply said.
"Who are you?" The leader asked clearly terrified.
He was suddenly face to face with Alibaba as he felt his sword leave his hand.
"Your executioner." were the last words he heard as his head was separated from his body via his own sword.
The guards looked in both awe and terror. Awe from seeing someone took down every single one of them without a problem but also terror because right now that same person not remorseful of what he deed, no elated was more of the better word. From the looks of it, he had enjoyed what he did even though his face continue to show no emotions. They took a step back as he started to walk towards them.
"I have nothing against you but I have a bone to pick with your client as he instructed you to just run me over a little while ago. Now why don't we strike a deal. I let you go, you can even have all the goods and cargo, but leave the pig here. Do we have a deal?" Alibaba asked as he yanked their client from them by the collar. The client was currently cowering in fear as Alibaba spoke.
"But if we did that, we did that we would be punished by our benefactor."
"Would you rather I kill you here instead then?" he asked.
They gulped and knew if he wanted he could but what would they tell their boss.
"Alright, when someone asked you, tell them that this pig here had people who wanted his head. And you were ambushed in while on your way back. Tell them that the men who ambushed you only wanted him and put you all to sleep using magic and when you woke up he was gone." Alibaba offered an explanation for them.
"Like they'll believe that..."
"They will if you go directly to your boss after you arrived at the city. As long as nothing is missing from the cargo, they won't suspect you. Now choose, die here protecting this pig who does not care for your life, or go leave him here and take the chance to see your family again. I am quite impatient so pick quickly." Alibaba spoke seriously.
The men did not think twice as they checked the cargo and confirmed that it was complete and they rode away from them, never looking back.
"Well, now that they're gone. What shall I do to you?" Alibaba asked in a monotone.
"Please, I'm sorry about what happened. I was just in a hurry because I knew that thieves were lurking in here. I know I can pay you anything you want. Money? Goods? House? Land? Women? Anything just say it and I will give it to you." the man pleaded but instead of striking a deal Alibaba just gave a eery laugh and said.
"You greedy people of high social status, you think that everything can be solved with money and bribe? Your money, I have no need for it. Tell me, are you truly an honest person?"
"Of course I am. I am a merchant, honesty in my work is my pride and joy." He answered.
"Do you value the life of others?" Alibaba asked darkly.
"Of course, I pay them a large amount of money and help those in need." The man answered with a grin.
Alibaba's eye narrowed. Clearly the man was lying through his teeth. He saw how little does the man view the life of others. Afterall, this man just had run him over without second thought and he told his guard to defend him even if it cost them their lives, Alibaba smirked.
"Then shall we test your honor." he said as black flame started to form at his right hand.
"This flame here is made with black rukh. It uses dark thoughts and negative emotions as its fuel. So if you are lying and I struck you with this, it will continually grow stronger and just like a fire, it won't stop until the fuel is extinguished. Do you know what that means? It will not stop until you are reduced into ashes. Now, if by any chance you are actually a good person and that you honestly just made mistakes and some not so heavy sins against the others, the flame will die out and you are free to go. Shall we try it then?" Alibaba asked with a sadistic smirk.
The merchant couldn't respond as he knew that if what the man said was true, he would be reduced to ashes. He had stepped on people, he had deceived many, destroyed many families just for his own good.
"It seems that you have realized your mistakes... Too bad, it is too late now." Alibaba said as his flaming hand touched the man's head. Immediately, the man burst into black flames and you could here his last shout of agony as he was turned into ashes.
"Now to find food, I'm really hungry." Alibaba said as he left.
A.N. So that's it for the chapter 5. This is more like an aftermath while the last chapter was the flashback hahah quite the irony. Please let me know if I have grammatical errors so I could fix it and please read and review ^_^.