Hi everyone, this is the next chapter for Alibaba the fallen. I know this came in late like 2 weeks late and I apologize *bows head*. Got a little distracted with my life and I had to rethink my concept for future chapters when I read the latest chapters. Umm just to make it clear, my story have diverged from when Alibaba had discovered Sinbad was controlling Kougyoku. So, that would be a few days before the meeting discussing Alma Torran. So in my version, Aladdin did not propose the alliance but as my story progress, he will and Judar didn't kill Gyokuen or appeared in the meeting. But Judar will eventually get that power up. Anyway, let me know what you also think about the latest chapters because I think Gyokuen dying was a little shocking and I don't think she actually died. Also, please read and review :D.
Review Corner:
Fier66 - Well there is no AliKou or AliMor moment in this chapter but there is KouMor wahahha. Hope you like it :D. Don't worry you'll know much better the new Alibaba in this chapter and nope I don't intend him to become some rude jerk ( I don't like those kind of protagonist too, I just don't like pushovers heheh ). He still have his ideals but he won't be a push over or a background character anymore ^_^. I hope you like this chapter and let me know what you think.
NoImagination - Yep Alibaba is releasing years of frustration haha. And yep, I thought Judar would really do that if given the chance. To mess with everybody even if he is in bad condition. I hope you like this chapter and let me know what you think ^_^.
SakurWindChime - :D I hope I don't make him OP though. You'll see part of Aladdin's reaction here and the rest next chapter haha. I hope you like this chapter and let me know what you think ^_^.
SockMyRock - Haha I thought chapter four was quite long too but I just don't know where to cut it so I just let it all out :D. Thanks, I really want the interactions to be quite interesting as to not bore my readers. I know my chapters are heavy with conversations. Fight scenes are really hard and I really have great respect to those writers who wrote chapters after chapters of fight scenes and still make it look fresh everytime. I hope you like this chapter and let me know what you think ^_^.
Midnight - Thanks for the review at chapter 4 :D. Yes, having friends is good and makes life much more worthwhile. From Chapter 5, it seems Alibaba is slowly falling haha but do not count Alibaba just out yet :D. Kougyoku, I believe is the nearest person who could understand Alibaba and it irked me a little that their relationship in the manga doesn't progress much... Though I don't think the author would let a harem ending for Alibaba haha. Well that's why I'm here ^_^. Yes, I don't intend to make Hakuryuu a jerk (he's just a lost sheep hehe)or something and just like how Dunya was accepted, I believe Hakuryuu will also be accepted. Yup, that's a typo error, I'm editing it now. Thanks for the heads up :). I also hope you do well with your exams. I hope you like this chapter and let me know what you think ^_^.
updated: 9/28/2014
Disclaimer: I don't own Magi or its characters
Chapter 6: Special
Cold night wind blew around Balbadd as a lone girl walked around town. The cold wind never bothered her even when her dress gave little protection from the blowing wind, she had slept on colder floor of dungeons before. A little sting of coldness such as this was nothing, for right now, her mind was elsewhere. She exit Balbadd and walked south towards a small oasis. She sit next to the pool of water and looked at her reflection.
"This was the water that reflected Alibaba's face, before he fell..." she whispered.
For a brief moment she thought she saw the face of Alibaba in the water, his face didn't have his usual smile and his eyes looked tired. A wind blew and she shivered. She could not fathom what made her shiver, was it the cold wind or the cold face of Alibaba. Unconsciously, she tried to warm herself by rubbing her palms on her shoulders but it provided little warmth. Suddenly, she felt someone place a blanket around her. The blanket protected her from the cold of the wind but she was still shivering inside. At that moment, she realized that her shivers were caused by a different source. She looked at the person who gave her the blanket for thanks and saw that it was Kougyoku.
"Thank you..." Morgiana said as she looked back at the water. She couldn't look at Kougyoku in the eyes as she felt ashamed causing Alibaba to fall.
Kougyoku sat beside her and said.
"I admit I'm still angry at you for not pushing Hakuryuu away immediately when he kissed you..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know how to react..."
"I guess it can't be helped. You are still getting used to living not as a slave. I guess I'll have to teach you how a girl should react normally. So, what's on your mind?" Kougyoku asked to which Morgiana looked at her confused.
"You were staring at the water that for a moment I thought you would jump. You are important to Alibaba, I'd rather not risk that you fall too. He wouldn't like that. Plus, I have never had a female friend, Alibaba trusts you with his life, I think you'd be great to be a friend too." Kougyoku said looking away with a little blush embarrassed.
"Thank you, I would like for you to be my friend too." Morgiana answered as she bowed in thanks.
"So, want to share why it looked like you were about to jump earlier?" Kougyoku asked.
"I was not going to jump... I was just trying to understand this strange feeling... I've slept on dungeons colder than this wind but this is the first time I shivered like this... I'd rather sleep to the dungeons again or feel the sting of whips on my skin than endure this lack of warmth... I am accustomed to that kind of pain but this cold and ache in my chest, I don't know how to deal with it... When I was a slave I own nothing and I expect nothing. I was just living day by day, I didn't care what happens to me. But now, even though I have this blanket around me, I feel cold. I felt empty and afraid. I don't understand and I'm scared because of it." Morgiana said as she held the blanket closer to herself.
"You miss his warmth, his assuring smile and his presence. You miss Alibaba and your heart aches because of his absence. I feel the same." Kougyoku said with a smile.
"But we have separated ways a couple of times yet I only felt it now..."
"Those times, you knew you would see him once again and that sooner or later you would be together again. Your heart and mind kept reassuring you and that is why even without his physical presence you felt as if he was there. But now, it was telling otherwise, that you might have lost him forever..." Kougyoku explained as she shivered and held her own blanket around her and Morgiana knew she didn't shiver because of the cold wind.
"You feel the same..." Morgiana said innocently.
Kougyoku giggled at her innocence and said.
"You are so innocent and pure, it's no wonder he fell in love with you..." Kougyoku said with a sad smile that made Morgiana speechless.
Kougyoku looked at the sky and saw the beautiful stars on the clear night sky.
"Look at how beautiful the night sky tonight is... I wonder if Alibaba is seeing the same beautiful sky... It's scary to think that the Alibaba we once knew was gone..." Kougyoku said as tears started to pour from her eyes.
"Kougyoku-san, are you in love with Alibaba?" Morgiana asked curiously to which Kougyoku looked at her surprised.
"I'm sorry, I am still not use to interpreting people's expressions..." Morgiana apologized thinking that she thought wrong.
Kougyoku wiped her tears and smiled.
"Probably... I'm not sure yet, I have just my heart broken by Sinbad and I don't want to make it look like that I'm going for Alibaba just to feel that void... But you know, Alibaba is an easy man to love and I am willing to bet that if I had known him earlier than he had known you or if I hadn't met Sinbad, I would have made him mine. So be careful, if you don't hurry and sort out your feelings, I will take him away from you." Kougyoku teased with a giggle.
"I won't let you." Morgiana said possessively.
Both of them were wide eyed at her sudden outburst. Kougyoku smirked.
"Ho! Is that a possessive tone I hear? Have you suddenly sort out your feelings because a threat has come and now you want to establish your position as the legal wife? You should know that your little outburst might be interpreted as a declaration of war." she said with a glint in her eye.
"I... uhh... It was... It was spur of the moment!" Morgiana exclaimed as a blush crept on her face. She hid her cheeks with her palms to hide her blush but it was too late Kougyoku was already giggling at her.
"Enough about this talk..." Morgiana said as she tried to divert the conversation.
"Alright, alright, sorry you were just too easy to tease." Kougyoku answered as she stopped giggling.
"You really changed Kougyoku-san... That behavior does not befit a princess."
"That's because I'm no longer one. I'm just a commoner just like you." Kougyoku answered simply.
"What happened?" Morgiana asked.
"Well you see..." Kougyoku started as she told Morgiana what she did.
"Please forgive me, because of what happened your sacrifice was all for nothing... If only I had pushed Hakuryuu earlier or if only I had took care of Alibaba better..." Morgiana apologized as she bowed her head.
"No need to apologize. I doubt Alibaba really fell just because of that. It might have a big impact but it was just one of the reasons... And its not like I did this just for Alibaba..." Kougyoku said as she looked at the clear sky.
"I don't understand..."
"I also did it for me... Don't get me wrong, Alibaba is a great guy and in any given circumstances any woman would be thrilled to marry him... well atleast that's what I believe. But he loved somebody else and I don't want to punish him by making him marry someone he didn't love. My conscience won't let me sleep."
"How does that work for you?"
"In the surface, it might be me saving Alibaba... But you know, I also did it to escape my fate... When I was at Sindria, I felt something that I have not felt for a long time... freedom..." Kougyoku paused as she closed her eyes.
"Since I could remember, all I ever did was how to become a proper princess, how I could be accepted by my family... how I could fit in... I had always focused on what must be done and not what I actually wanted to do. I thought that in the end, when I am accepted, I would be happy... It never did... Every moment was duty, duty to your family, duty to the empire, duty to your people. It was tiring and in the end, I was not even free to marry the person I would fall in love with... in the end, I was just a tool for the empire. A fattened lamb dressed in gold and precious stones to be offered to any men they wish to ally with. I saw it with my sisters, I saw how they suffer and frankly, secretly I despised it." Kougyoku paused as she bit her lips to stop herself from cursing.
"I did everything for them... I acted as a proper princess, I've helped their people, I became an ambassador, I became a soldier and fought with my life on the line... and what did I get? A small recognition... All I ever wanted was too be accepted by my family, marry the man I love and have my own family. My mother died wishing for the same thing but she never got it and she told me never to be like her. That my life should have a fairy tale ending. But why does the princess from the fairy tale married a prince she loved while I am to be married to someone I didn't even know? Where was my happy ever after ending? I started to hate those same stupid fairy tales and submitted to my fate as a tool for the empire... That was until I met Alibaba and you people.." Kougyoku poured her frustration with clenched fist. She took a deep breath to compose herself.
"When I first met him, I thought that he was just a prince trying to dethrone his brother and grab power... Actually, I was quite relieved when he beat his brother because I thought atleast I'd be married to a handsome and brave prince but when he declared that he would not take the throne and instead give Balbadd a new government and abolish monarchy... I was thrown into a loop. How could he just throw away what he worked hard and risked his life to achieve? Why give up the chance to gain the power and authority that was rightfully yours. It just doesn't make sense..." Kougyoku said as she shook her head.
"But then I slowly got to know him, even without power, even without his family's recognition or even the authority of his birth land, he was happy... He was content... I knew he was hiding his pain but whenever I saw him with you and his friends, whenever he would tell stories about your adventures, I could see that he was genuinely happy... because he was free... He exchanged wealth and power for freedom not only for himself but for his people too. Well atleast, that's what he planned until the Kou empire came and took Balbadd but it was not his fault. Then there was Sindria were the people were free to do as they please as long as it doesn't endanger the others around them. I was envious..." Kougyoku admitted.
"How come these people were able to do as they please? They have no money or power and yet, they are free to choose how to live, who to love and what to do, while I am not? I wanted the same freedom just like Alibaba, that was why when they said that Alibaba is to be married to me, I knew I might have a way to free both of us... I may not be a genius just like my brothers but I certainly knew how our law works. I have studied it for years. The only question was, am I really ready to give up everything just for my freedom? Through my journey to the capital I kept on thinking about it." Kougyoku paused in deep thought.
"And you chose to give up everything? I have not own anything that if of too much value nor have power but I always thought that it was harder to give things up for people who have them in abundance..." Morgiana asked.
"I have come to a conclusion a long time ago that power and wealth, I can give it up. Afterall, I never had much power in the empire to begin with, I was just a decoration. What I had to think thoroughly was if I am ready to leave my siblings behind. I'm not so naive to not know that my brother and the empress were not really on good terms. I knew that if I lose my place, my brother's faction will go weaker. It was a battle between giving up my life or giving up my family. Then, I have remembered, my father? He never loved me, to him I was just a responsibility and an asset. My sisters? I was never close to them... And my brothers? They had no qualm on using me as a bargaining chip to any potential allies. The illusion of having a great family crumbled, if they have no qualms about doing that, they I can do the same to them. The decision was made easy for me..." Kougyoku answered.
They stayed in silence for a while, none uttered a word as they watched the stars glittered in the sky. That was until Kougyoku spoke.
"I will find him... I will find him and tell him that no matter what happened, even if he's not the same anymore, even if the world hates him, I will be there for him. He didn't need to be alone anymore. This time I will tell it to him directly... What about you?"
"You don't need to ask. I have made my decision a long time ago." Morgiana said as she stood up.
"I should have known. I'll leave tomorrow after I have prepared. What about you?" Kougyoku said as she stood up.
"I have to wait for Aladdin, someone needs to tell him what happened. He deserves to know." Morgiana said hesitantly. Kougyoku could see that she too wanted to search for Alibaba immediately.
"Then wait for that brat then. As for me, I'm not really on good term with him so I'll go on separate ways."
"Alone? Will you be alright?" Morgiana asked in worry.
"Don't underestimate me, I may have lost my metal vessel but inside Kou, I am the best female soldier on par with Hakuei. Hakuryuu, Kouha, Koumei and my sisters have never beat me on a non-metal vessel fight before. Afterall unlike them, I had to fight tooth and nail to secure my place as a princess. I had to give everything I had in everything I was told to do... Well if we meet on the road, don't hesitate to approach me." Kougyoku finished as she started to walk back to Balbadd. Morgiana soon joined her.
At another part of Balbadd, a sound of steel repeatedly hitting a stone could be heard. Hakuryuu swung his polearm furiously at a big boulder. He could feel his hands started to go numb from the repeated rebound caused by the polearm hitting the boulder but he never stopped. He continued until his grip from the polearm weakened and on his last hit, he lost grip on the polearm and it flew a few yards away from him. Instead of taking his polearm back, he slumped down next to the boulder with his hands gripping his head in frustration.
"I'm so sorry, Alibaba... I'm so sorry..." was all he said until he fell asleep.
Kougyoku looked at the morning sky as she prepared to leave Balbadd in search for Alibaba. She walked around Balbadd one last time to get necessary equipments and goods. In all her years of studying the other countries, she were also able to know what goods were scarce on other city while abundant in the others.
"I may not have much but if I could sell these goods to the next city, I'll make a good profit." she said as she checked her goods before placing it inside her satchel.
She roamed Balbadd a little more and at noon, she arrived at Balbadd's exit. Before she could step foot outside of Balbadd though, she was stopped by the guards.
"Halt, we can't let you pass."
"And on what grounds?" Kougyoku asked with narrowed eyes.
"It is I who told them to stop you when you arrive at the gate." Koumei said as he came out on one of Dantalion's portal.
"What is the meaning of this?" Kougyoku asked.
"No need to be apprehensive, I just wish to talk to you before you go. If you feel unsecured here, then we could talk outside of Balbadd." Koumei answered as he held up his hand as he left his metal vessel to his guards.
Kougyoku nodded as they exit Balbadd. When they were at a distance, Kougyoku turned around and asked.
"What do you need to talk to me, Koumei?"
"I have talked to Kouen about what happened. He wasn't pleased but he knew none could be done to reverse it. He said that you have made your decision and that he would respect it. He also said that I should give this to you, as a reward for your years of service to Kou empire." Koumei said as he handed Kougyoku a small bag with a handful of gold.
"Are you insulting me? I did what I did for Kou because I believed that was what a princess should do..." Kougyoku was stopped as Koumei raised his hand to explain.
"Kougyoku he may have said it that way, but we both know Kouen. He just told that in surface but he wanted you to have this as a parting gift. So please, accept it." Koumei explained as he bowed.
"What are you not telling me?" Kougyoku asked in suspicion.
Koumei released a deep breath, of all the times that Kougyoku could be discerning, it just had to be today.
"I believe he wanted to apologize... We wanted to apologize... For trying to use you as a tool for the empire and for having a hand in causing Alibaba to fall..."
"I should have known... With Dantalion, nothing escapes your eyes and ears even outside of the city walls. Were you eavesdropping on us last night?"
"Every single day... I even saw how Alibaba fell and how he fought Judar..." Koumei confessed.
Kougyoku wasn't able to stop herself as she lunged at Koumei and held his collar and exclaimed.
"You saw him slowly falling and you never did anything to help? You just watched him fall!"
"We can't do anything... It's not like he would accept help from us, he didn't see us as allies... We thought that his friends could help him somehow... I'm sorry, I miscalculated." Koumei answered in his defense. Kougyoku released his collar and turned her back on him.
"I don't need your pity or your peace offering. I let the empire control my life because I thought it was for the best, I did it on my own accord. Take that gift back to Kouen and tell him, I don't need your apology, for I am not the right person you should be apologizing to. Goodbye, Koumei." Kougyoku said as she left Koumei looking at the ground in shame.
Inside Balbadd, Morgiana saw Kougyoku left with Koumei. Whatever they had to talk about, she had no right to eavesdrop so she just wished a silent good luck to Kougyoku.
"Aladdin, please arrive soon. I don't know how much more I can wait patiently before I too leave Balbadd and searched for Alibaba." Morgiana whispered as she held her chest that for some reason ache everytime she thought of Alibaba.
'Maybe Kougyoku was right... Am I really in love with Alibaba?' Morgiana thought.
A week have passed since Alibaba fell and now he could be seen walking around a city way north where he knew no one would recognize him.
'I have lived in the last few days using the spoils I got from killing those thieves. I can't trust my luck to always encounter thieves and steal from them.' Alibaba thought.
"Then why not just steal from the people around you? It's not like they could fight back anyway." the voice in his head suggested.
'Oh so now you chose to grace me with your voice.' Alibaba countered sarcastically.
"Yeah whatever, I was asleep and helping you recover your rukh. So what do you say with my suggestion?" the voice answered dismissively.
'No.' was Alibaba's simple answer.
"Why not? They don't know you, they don't care for you, look at them living happily as if with no care into the world with their loved ones while you, you suffered and left alone. Why not make them feel the same pain? Kill their loved ones, steal their money and send them to utmost despair!" the voice reasoned to him with frustration.
'Just because I fell doesn't mean I would throw this world into chaos, don't lump me with that Judar.'
"What's so bad about chaos? Chaos is the only state where all are the same. Where there is no caste system, no slaves, no kings, no one is above anyone. It is the state where these filthy creatures would understand that they are not above everything and that is the only time they would try and remember that they actually had a God who once protected them. These stupid state of peace had them over confident, they forgot their roots and they established systems that made some able to step on others. Don't you hate it?" the voice said indignantly.
'Why do you hate it so and who are you? I knew that people who fell didn't have this kind of voice in their heads. Dunya never mentioned any of it and I don't believe that you are just created by my hatred... You are something else...' Alibaba asked a little confused with the voice's obvious hate for this world.
"I'll tell you someday but know this, I am you and you are I. I am not a curse or a malevolent spirit that took over you, I was created the very day you were born but I was asleep and whenever you feel any negative emotion, it goes directly to me. In a way, I became like a container and just like any container, someday it would be full and leak out. That was when I woke up." the voice explained.
'That doesn't answer my question though, why are you here? What makes me different from the others? I doubt it's something as simple as split personality. If you can't tell me now, atleast give me a hint so I don't get surprised later.'
'We are special, you could say that we shouldn't have belonged here. I'll give you a hint, that child magi friend you have, I believe he is the incarnation of Solomon. The Al-Thamen here is also the incarnation of the Al-Thamen from Alma Torran. That's all the hint you get, figure the rest yourself." the voice finished.
'So I'm the incarnation of someone else huh? Well that makes things a lot interesting.' Alibaba thought as he stood up and walked around town.
'Can I ask another thing?' Alibaba asked.
"As if I have a choice." the voice answered bluntly.
'I've already fallen, what's the point of still trying to alienate me from everyone else? Why do I still see people look at me as if they don't want me to be here? Why do they still look at me as if I am nothing? Why still cast that illusion on me?'
"You still accuse me of doing that? I admit I did change the words of that brat magi and showed you your past while taunting you but I've never cast to you any other illusion."
'Are you telling me that you didn't have a hand on my conversations with Morgiana, Toto and Olba?' Alibaba thought with a raised eyebrow.
"No."
'Then why did I hear and say those things?'
Alibaba could hear the voice released a sigh as it said.
"When I woke up, some of your sleeping powers also woke up. You know that right?"
'Yes.'
"Do you know the saying, people hear what they want to hear and see what they want to see?"
'I've heard of it, but I doubt it is as simple as that.'
"Well, one of your powers or maybe your curse was seeing an alternate reality. Do you remember when I ask you if what would you be if not for that magi brat? The moment I told you that, you unconsciously activated that ability and created an illusion world around you where you never met him. Add to that, you are able to see through their normal facade and look into what they really feel about you. When you talked to your household, you saw how nice people they are and even offered you help even if you were just acquaintances lodging on the same place. You knew their name because you are very smart, one time you hear it and you remembered it but of course they're not the same as you. You heard the last part of what they really said because that was how they would also react to anyone who is in need."
'But you were in glee when I was tortured with their words.' Alibaba said suspicious.
"But of course, my goal was to make you fall. To make you release all that negative emotion bottled up inside you. To make you be yourself. To show the world who you really are. That they couldn't just mess with you. I hate how you always settled as a background character or a second fiddle to everyone. We are special, we are not second to anyone." the voice exclaimed as it paused for a moment and then said.
"And if you kept bottling those emotions inside, one day it would burst and make you someone far worst than you are now. You could only take so much, eventually you will burst and may eventually cost you your life. I don't know about you but I don't want to die yet..."
'Sorry... I never realized that I was killing myself slowly inside.' Alibaba apologized as for right now, he had understood a little his alter-ego's actions.
"No need, just make sure nobody messes with us anymore and stop being stupid. I'd still try to gawd you into throwing this world into chaos though."
'And I'd shut down the idea everytime.' Alibaba answered.
"Suit yourself."
'So now, how do I earn money hmm.' Alibaba thought.
"I have a suggestion."
'No, I'm not going to steal from innocent people.'
"I was going to suggest dungeon hunting."
'Ohh... right.'
"Idiot..."
'Hmm, will we be able to go to the treasure room without a magi?'
"I believe that Sinbad was able to conquer seven dungeons without a Magi and some of his friends from the seven seas alliance to. So there shouldn't be a problem, afterall we have the strength and magoi reserve equal to a magi."
'Guess you're right. I believe there is a dungeon just west from here. The 56th dungeon Gremory, a dungeon summoned by Yunan.' Alibaba thought as he prepared necessary equipments and journey west towards a city named Agrabah.
In Balbadd, Morgiana was getting impatient as a week had passed since Alibaba left.
"Aladdin, Toto, Olba, where are you? Alibaba needs us and every single day he is out there alone... I'm worried and this ache on my chest grows each day..." Morgiana whispered as she stared out at the balcony of the manor.
"Alibaba! Alibaba are you here! It's me!"
Morgiana heard a familiar voice. Her eyes widened and she run and almost tripped a couple of times but she didn't care as she wanted to see the owner's voice. She followed the voice as she run across the hallway towards Alibaba's quarters. She stopped as she saw three people in front of Alibaba's door.
"Aladdin!" she almost shouted as she run towards him.
"Mor! Toto and Olba told me what happened so we hurried here using my magic turban. Where's Alibaba, I've been calling him but no one responded. Is he out?" Aladdin asked.
Morgiana slowly walked towards Aladdin as tears started to fall from her eyes. A sob escaped her as she racked her brain on how to explain what happened. The ache in her chest worsened until she couldn't stop herself and cried as she slumped down in front of Aladdin.
"I'm sorry Aladdin, Toto, Olba... I'm so sorry..."
Her friends got worried and hurried by her side as they tried to calm her down.
"What do you mean, Mor? Why are you crying? Did something happen? Where's Alibaba?" Aladdin asked in worry.
"Alibaba... I wasn't able to help him... he... he has fallen..." Morgiana said in between sobs.
Time seemed to stop as Aladdin heard what Morgiana said. His eyes wide open and his mouth open as the words he wanted to say were left unsaid. Olba and Toto were also on the same state. Time only seemed to comeback as they heard a voice say.
"Kouen wishes to talk to you about Alibaba." Koumei said as he appeared via one of his portals.
"Have you found him?" Toto asked.
"Unfortunately, no but I believe Kouen is interested in helping you find him if he likes the answers he gets. We could also show you what has been happening to Alibaba in the last few days he was here. If you want to know why, go with me. This is an invitation not a demand." Koumei explained.
"You knew he was slowly falling and you didn't do anything to help?" Aladdin asked in disappointment.
"You're not the first one to ask. And I'll answer you the same, yes we didn't. He wouldn't accept our help anyway, you people are his friends aren't you? Were you able to help? Now do you accept or not?" Koumei answered a little tired of answering the same question.
" Alright." Aladdin answered.
"But Aladdin, this could be a trap." Toto warned.
"We have no choice, they got the information we need. But I have a request, let us communicate with Sindria so they could also see what happened. Uncle Sinbad and master Yamraiha might know how to help him." Aladdin finished seriously.
"We figured you would request that. Right now our magicians are establishing a communication link to Sindria. Now we need you to tell them our intention since they might reject it." Koumei said looking at Aladdin's communication link with Yamraiha.
Aladdin nodded as he opened his link and immediately Yamraiha's image came out and said.
"Aladdin, what is happening in there! Why is Kou trying to communicate with us!"
"Please allow them master, it is very important... Atleast to me..." Aladdin said as he bowed.
"No need to bow, I'll allow the link." Yamraiha said as she cut off their link to tell Sinbad to allow Kou's link.
"Let's go... We need to understand what happened to our friend." Aladdin said seriously as he helped Morgiana stand up.
They entered Koumei's portal which led them to a meeting hall where Kouen awaits. At the same time, the magicians were able to successfully connect to Sindria. The big mirror at the left side of the hall showed Sinbad together with his generals.
"Greetings to you, Kouen. I never imagined that you would contact me." Sinbad greeted.
"I did not contact you to be friendly with you. Contacting you were only a part of the deal so I could get the answers to my question. Who actually is Alibaba? Or more specifically, what is he?" Kouen asked.
"The third prince of Balbadd, a dungeon capturer and our friend who you blackmailed to join you. That sums it all up." Sinbad answered seriously.
"And a fallen, if that news has not reached you yet." Kouen answered with the same seriousness.
"That's an obvious lie!" Sharrkan exclaimed.
"Why don't you ask Aladdin and Morgiana for confirmation." Koumei answered.
"Aladdin, Morgiana, is this true?" Sinbad asked in a restrained voice.
"Yes... Alibaba has fallen and he took down Judar when Judar found him..." Morgiana answered while looking at the floor.
Yamraiha gasped in disbelief while Sharrkan punched a nearby post in frustration.
"How can that happen? He was fine the last time we saw him!" Jafar exclaimed.
"What did you and your cronies do, Kouen?" Sinbad asked, gone was his happy go lucky nature and now anger was leaking in his every word.
"Do not pin this solely on us, you are partly to blame for what you did to Kougyoku. You should know I have eyes around our territory, I knew of your conversations to Alibaba while using Kougyoku's body." Koumei answered
"Are you implying that we caused him to fall?" Sharrkan asked dangerously.
Koumei was about to answer but Kouen beat him to it.
"Enough of this useless banter. Who cause him to fall is off no concern of mine. Blame it on me for all you want, it doesn't matter. I called for this meeting to understand what I saw. What you wish to do after that does not concern me." Kouen interjected.
"Why you! Are you saying you don't care what happens to him!" Olba shouted as he was being restrained by Toto.
"Precisely." was the simple answer he got.
"Let me go Toto... This guy blackmailed Master Alibaba to do as he wished and now he was saying he didn't care what happens to him!" Olba exclaimed as he tried to get out of Toto's restraint.
"Then please do so, attack me if you want and I will cut you down. I am getting impatient with this mindless banter. I am situated to rule a kingdom, I will dirty my hands, use anyone and throw them away if it is for the best of our interest. Isn't that right, Sinbad?" Kouen finished as he looked at Sinbad who just gave him a dark look.
"Stop Olba-san, we would be wasting precious time bantering instead of looking for Alibaba. But I am quite disappointed about you uncle Kouen, I never knew you would stoop that low." Aladdin said sadly.
"Your opinion is irrelevant to me. I have lost all my interest in you after you told the story of Alma Torran. That was what all I needed from you. And you will be very surprise to know that I am not the only person like that. Some are way worse than I am, they just disguised themselves like a sheep." Kouen answered while emphasizing the last sentence and looking directly at Sinbad.
"Koumei use Dantalion and show them what you saw." Kouen finished.
"Wait, I thought Dantalion could only create portal to transport anything." Sharrkan asked.
"That is only one of the abilities. I do not wish to tell our enemy any more of my abilities but it could also record and trap those recorded images and sounds inside its warp space. That way I could inspect it again." Koumei answered as he opened a portal that started to show it's recorded image and sound.
In Agrabah, Alibaba stood in front of the 56th dungeon Gremory.
'I got everything ready, it's time to go dungeon hunting.' Alibaba thought.
"Is this were I should say, Full speed ahead?" the voice asked.
'Whatever, let's just go.' Alibaba thought as they entered the dungeon.
At the entrance of Agrabah, Kougyoku had just entered the city. She had been hopping from city to city, trading goods while gathering information about Alibaba. So far she was having a great time in trading as she not only was able to create an information network through her trades but also take great profit from it. She had no luck on finding any good information about Alibaba until she had visited the last town. A town-folk told her that they saw a person that matched her description going west, most probably Agrabah. Once she heard that, she immediately bought new goods to sell to the next town and the next morning she was out of town.
"Wait for me, I won't let you be alone, Alibaba-chan" she whispered.
AN: And that's it. I hope you liked this chapter. And as I have said earlier, this story has diverged from when Alibaba has discovered that Kougyoku was being controlled by Sinbad. I hope I am able to release the next chapter a lot quicker than this one. Also, tell me what you think about the latest chapters of Magi. Again, please read and review, good or bad it will be appreciated. And please alert me for any errors that I might have missed. Thanks and see you next chapter ^_^.