Chapter 5

"On the road again
I just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again" The cheerful words rang out through out the oasis the group of four found themselves walking through. The twins were having fun playing music and singing with Aladdin joining in when he could, all while Morgiana watched on with a fond smile.

"On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again" They were all excited the closer they got to Balbadd if for all their own reasons. Aladdin couldn't wait to meet up with his friend Alibaba, who he had told the twins about along with their adventure in conquering a dungeon together ending with Alibaba gaining a Djinn. Morgiana was happy to getting closer to her goal of going to her home continent. Clair and Jin were just glad that they were a step closer in figuring out what was going on and on finding a way back to their mother. But for now all that excitement was going to the song to past the time.

"Here we go, on the road again
Like a band of Gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turnin' our way

And our way is on the road again
I just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again, break free
And I can't wait to get on the road again" But just as they finished the song a purple headed man who was bare save for a leaf covering his privates appeared in the middle of the road with his arms stretched out in a seemingly welcoming manner.

"Oh hello, real nice weather today, huh," the man said with a friendly smile.

When it finally sank in just what they were seeing Jin covered his sister's eyes much to Clair protest and shouted, " Have some decency you weirdo."

Aladdin pushed Morgiana behind him and said, " Look out Morg and get back."

Morgiana reply was bring her fists in front of her and state, "Its Ok, just leave everything to me."

The man waved his hands in front of him and asked to be heard out.

Later when they made camp the man explained that he had been robbed and hadn't meant to appear indecent, he shot a look at Jin when he said that. Aladdin lent him some of his clothes and it was a hilarious sight to see a man try to fit in to a boy of the age of ten clothes.

"I appreciate you lending me these clothes Aladdin, thank you. My name is Sin and I'm a merchant from Sindria," the man said. At his words Clair and Jin glanced at each other comfriming that they had heard right and that the man had said, "Sindria" their destination.

While the twins had been conversing silently, Aladdin had been apologizing and explaining himself, "I'm sorry mister as somebody that's crossed the desert, I guess I can get a little paranoid about danger sometimes."

Sin was interested in the fact that Aladdin admitted to crossing the desert and listened in interest when the boy excitedly went into details. The man explained that adventures were great and were every man's true dream with a wistful undertone that the twins only caught because their mother had the same one when telling them bedtime stories.

It was at that point that Morgiana started sniffing the air and stated in surprise, "The scent of the ocean."

"You should be able to see it just beyond that hill," Sin said causing Aladdin and Morgiana to run ahead.

The twins stayed behind to help the man pack up the campsite.

"Mister, um…" started Clair out shyly.

"What's Sindria like?" Jin butted in to rescue his sister.

"Huh, what's Sindria like? Well it's a wonderful place full of peace and prosperity. The people are free and joyful. And lets not forget that the feasts are out of this world, filled with some of the most mouthwatering foods and the best entertainment on the island," Sin rambled on about his country with a proud air about him. The twins couldn't blame him if they came from a country like that they would have pride in it too, but as it was they had no idea where they came from as their mother moved all around the world never staying in the same place long. And that was without going into the whole traveling to a different world thing, which added even more options for the question of where they belonged.

"Sindria sound's amazing," Clair said quietly as they walked to catch up with Aladdin and Morgiana, having finished packing up the camp.

"Yes it is" Sin stated as he mused the wistful expression he had seen on the girl's face, it was the sort of wistfulness that came from wanting a place to belong. Maybe after he finished his business in Balbadd he would persuade the twins to come to Sindria.

"This is the mighty coastal nation made of several hundred other islands both big and small. This port city is it's capital, the kingdom of Balbadd," Sin announced as he and the twins caught up to Aladdin and Morgiana who were taking in the view of the city below to hill.

The group walked through the city and explored the market while Sin explained the history of the country and it's Royal Family, the Saluja. The market was fascinating to the twins as it reminded them of some of the markets their mother took them to in their world. But at one point they noticed that they had entered the slums and how depressing the state of the buildings and people were. It had Clair hands inching to play a song to cheer the mood of the place up but Jin placed his hand on hers and shook his head with a sad look on his face, telling her it wasn't something that they could help with.

Sin had caught the exchanged between the twins and felt sorrow that ones so young could understand and accept the cruel reality of the slums. This action fueled his determination to bring the two of them back to Sindria with him.

Unaware of the scheming of a certain purple-headed man the twins stopped to examine what looked liked a message written on a wall. They couldn't read it to their disappointment but they could recognize some of the letters from the lessons the people of the caravan taught them. "What does it say?" asked Jin who had less of a problem admitting to a weakness than his sister.

"'Over throw the monarchy'. You two can't read?" Sin replied.

"Mama just started teaching us before we…" Clair trailed off not wanting to think about what might of happened to her mother and it was true their mother had started teaching them how to read and write the language of this world, but she had said it was a secret language instead of a real one.

Sin didn't continue the conversation seeing the desperation of the little girl and changed the subject. " Ever since the death of the former king the whole country's been in crisis. But you'll be perfectly safe here," Sin gestured to a magnificent building. "It's where I always stay, the finest luxury hotel in the country, and I'll take care of the bill. So you four can stay here as long as you desire."

"Thank you very much mister Sin," Jin said with a bow leading the others to respond in kind.

The group watched with a look of slight awe as Sin walked up the stairs chuckling only for that awe to turn into bemusement when the guards blocked his way. Clair lost all her composer when she burst into giggles, even Jin had a smirk on his face at the sight.