Aladdin's Fairy Tail

by

Magnafeana

Prologue Part II:

It All Begins On A Dark Night...

A cloaked man traveled in the unforgiving desert on a noble black steed, galloping their way through the similar hills of sand. The sun had already left the western skies with the moon replaced its spot, bringing a foreboding blue darkness and twinkling stars that pierced the shadows. The wind was uneasily calm at the time of the cool nightfall, but did not bother the man, his horse, or his silent bird companion. The black-haired mane of the steed became ruffled along with the man's black cloak as they continued dashing through the cool desert. Their destination became quite clear as they saw the silhouette of another man in the distance, crouching near a massive dune.

The man pulled his gallant stallion into a canter, and then intro a steady trot, finally breaking into a silent walk as the other man became closer in the field of vision. The man swung his leg over the saddle and half-leaped, half-fell into the sand neatly on his feet with an air of high authority and experience radiating off himself. Graciously, he walked over to the man, his bird perched on his shoulder and glaring at the other man.

As the man sized up the other man, the cloaked man took in the other man's appearance: he too wore a cloak; however, the bottom of his face from his nose down was obscured in a green mask and a dark blue bandana covered his forehead and hair. His arms and legs were mummified in bandages and black gloves concealed his hands. The man could not even figure out the other man's eyes under his disguise. On the other man's back carried many staffs for purposes the imperial man did not know and did not intend to find out. He only wanted what he came for.

"Mystogan," the man began with quiet authority, "have you brought it?"

Mystogan showed a neatly cut half of a dragon in the palm of his left hand with his eyes betraying nothing. "I have, Laxus," Mystogan acknowledged with indifference.

Eagerly, Laxus grabbed the half golden dragon and held it up for his eyes and the eyes of his observant companion. "Look at this Bixslow," the man murmured excitedly to his feathered friend. "We have it… Finally…"

"Laxus, I do not think you should open this portal," Mystogan warned, bristling. "I feel the magic energy like you do, but I sense the dangerousness it possesses."

Laxus drew back his hood, revealing his blonde hair and his irritated green eyes, a lightning bolt scar crossing over his right eye. He gave Mystogan a knowing smirk. "Always the cautious one, aren't you, Mystogan?" he questioned rhetorically.

Mystogan stayed silent and Laxus saw a flash of an unreadable emotion in the depths of the swirls of dark blue Mystogan's eyes contained. Laxus gave a low chuckle and proceeded to pull out the matching half of the dragon, feeling extremely elated. Yet something dark mixed in with the elation that Mystogan sensed, yet did not acknowledge aloud.

Bixslow ruffled his naturally silver feathers, clearly proud. "We've done it, Laxus! We can finally—!"

Laxus gave the parrot a cold stare. "Silence," he hissed.

Bixslow covered his beak with his wings, looking fearfully at Laxus with solemn green eyes. "Right, shutting up now," he managed to say beneath his wings.

With an air of triumph, Laxus gently combined the two halves of the dragon statue and a glow of golden light appeared. The dragon statue came to life as it spread its wings and flew in a circle among the small party. Immediately, it sailed into a sand dune a little ways away. After it dug itself into the hill of grit, the sands became to morph itself into a shape.

As the dunes struggled to take form, the three stood and watched silently, two in amazement and one with a tension that would not leave. Slowly, the dune took on the form of a dragon's head, its eyes the shade of rubies. It gently exhaled, looking that the three of them with eyes containing vast amounts of wisdom.

"Who dares awaken me from my slumber?" it demanded in a deep growl, giving each an indifferent stare.

Laxus stepped forward and kneeled to the almighty dragon's head. "It is I, Laxus, Royal Adviser of Fairy Tail, O Great and Powerful Dragon."

The dragon's head eyed him thoughtfully. It slightly nodded in approval and declared, "Very well. Enter." It parted its jaw widely, revealing its wide, yet intimidating canines. A golden glow emitted in the depths of its throat and all three could feel a rush a magical energy radiating. Laxus took confident steps towards the dragon's head, ready to claim his reward.

"Wait."

Laxus stopped in his tracks, and looked at the dragon head with quizzical eyes. The sand-shifted dragon looked at him apathetically. "What you seek, you will not get."

Laxus struggled to keep his cool and calm demeanor as he questioned through gritted teeth, "And why not?"

The dragon's head flickered to Mystogan and back to Laxus with Bixslow on his shoulder. "You are not the one chosen to enter the Cave of Wonders."

Irritation sparked Laxus. "Well if I can't, then can he?" Laxus pointed to Mystogan, who stared at the dragon head with grave eyes.

The dragon's head replied calmly, "He is aware that he may not enter."

Laxus was close to losing his patience with the magical dragon's head. "Well then who?" He inquired crossly.

Lightning struck the skies in forewarning. The dragon's head began to slightly recede into the dune it began as. "You seek the fire of the water…" it advised prophetically as its face became disfigured. "Find me the fire in the water…" it repeated with certainty as more lightning struck the sky and the dragon's head disappeared into the sand dune.

Laxus watched in anger as Mystogan, observing the scene silently, did not relent to speak.

Bixslow broke the tensed silence with his irritated and sardonic tone. "Oh great! Just great! Now we gotta find a stinkin' fire in water? I think this dragon's got a few screws loose here, Laxus."

"This is your fault," Laxus hissed at Mystogan, whipping around to face the man with clear resentment on his face. "You said something to it, didn't you? You wanted my plan to fail!"

Mystogan coolly replied, "I spoke nothing to it. I knew from the beginning that your plan would fail if you were the one to enter."

Laxus eyed him suspiciously. "Then who is the one?"

Mystogan stared back at him, unfazed. "That I do not know. But I do know that you must find the fire in the water…"

A steady wind picked up, allowing any loose sand to join it on its airy travelers. Suddenly, a harsher gale picked up, scattering the territorial sand to another location and temporarily blinding Laxus. He shielded his eyes from the sudden blast of sand until it died down. When he unshielded his eyes, the wise man had disappeared without a trace. Laxus sniffed the air tentatively yet there wasn't even a stale scent to indicate the reclusive man's presence.

Bixslow looked at his master, unfazed by the disappearance of Mystogan. "So now what do we do? We got no stinkin' clues to finding some pyro in a heap full of water! Where do we even find water?! We're in a desert for cryin' out loud!" Bixslow plucked at his shedding feathers. "Look at this, Laxus!" He plucked more feathers from his wings. "I'm so ticked off that I'm molting."

"Patience, my friend," Laxus hushed. "Only one may enter… Yes… I must find my fire in the water…"