Nigh 12- Morgiana of the Fanalis

Magi © Shinobu Ohtaka

Shahra © Me

Another dry, hot day in the Central Desert of the Tenzan Plateau. A caravan had stopped near a lush oasis to take a rest, and who should happen to be with this caravan then the young Magi, Aladdin, and his companion, Shahra? Right now, Aladdin, whose face, hands, and clothes were covered in small scratches and smudged with dirt, is trying to take off his shoes so he could dip his aching feet in the water while Shahra had herself a refreshing drink.

"Stupid shoes," Aladdin said as he pulled them off and threw them aside. "Who needs 'em? They just make your feet sweaty and stinky."

He then sighed as he dipped them in the cool oasis pool. He then looked down at the ground, where his new staff laid beside him, causing him to smile fondly before he picked it up and held it.

It has been 6 months now since Aladdin left the Kouga Village with the caravan. However, upon arriving at Qishan, the boy learned that Alibaba was no longer there, but was now waiting for him in Balbadd. Granted, Aladdin was disappointed at first, but at the same time, he was excited, knowing fully well that meeting Alibaba again would be worth it, so he asked the caravan to take him to Balbadd, instead, although for some reason, they seemed a bit hesitant to agree.

During his travels with the caravan, Aladdin and Shahra found that just because they were in a caravan didn't mean they could relax during the trip. There were times when carts would get stuck, so the boy and his tiger would get out and push them up long steep hills. There were also times when they would encounter desert monsters, like a Desert Hyacinth or a Horned Gila Lizard that was as big as a mountain, and Aladdin almost got swallowed up by the latter had Shahra and other members of the caravan not been there to save him.

He was smelling like lizard slobber for a week after that.

Despite all that had happened, Aladdin had greatly matured in such a short time. He was no longer a boy who would cry for his mother whenever he missed. Thanks to Baba, he realized there was no point in being sad over Sheba's passing, knowing fully well that her spirit has become a part of something much bigger in the world, which in truth was all connected by the rukh. That much he knew, and with that knowledge, he knew that he would eventually meet up with Alibaba.

Also, he remembered that there was one other person who managed to escape the dungeon with him, Alibaba, and Shahra.

"…Whatever happened to Miss Morgiana?" Aladdin wondered aloud as he looked up at the sky with Shahra. "I hope she's all right."

XXX

Meanwhile, in an oasis town in the southwest…

"Fresh fruit! Get your fresh fruit, right here! Can't grow these around here! Come on down, folks!"

In the town bazaar, it is revealed to be none other than Leila and Sahsa, who is selling their merchandise. Leila had actually cut her hair, so now, she no longer sported that ponytail.

"Hey, you there, with the kebab!" Leila called to a random passerby. "How about something refreshing? We got some delicious apples and oranges!"

As Leila continued to sell the various fruits, she then turned to Sahsa, who held a basket full of lemons.

"Hey," Leila whispered. "We're running low on produce. Where's our stock?"

"It's coming, don't worry," Sahsa said before she turned to someone holding two bags full of apples. "See? Here she is, now!"

"Perfect timing!" Leila said. "I'm so glad you decided to join our caravan! Right, Morgiana?"

"…Yes," replied Morgiana, who stared at her with her usual blank expression.

XXX

Later that night, in an inn that the caravan had stayed in, Leila and Sahsa lie asleep on their mats with Morgiana in between. However, as they slept…Morgiana tossed and turned as she gripped her sheets…and she heard a voice calling out to her in her dreams, hauntingly.

"Morgiana…Morgiana…!"

"No…no…!" Morgiana whispered as she broke out into a cold sweat.

~Dream Sequence~

"AAH!" a younger Morgiana screamed. "LET GO!"

A ten-year-old Jamil smirked as he pulled Morgiana by her pigtail, his sword raised.

"Do what I say, Morgiana," the young lord hissed, "or else you'll regret it. You're my slave, you know. You can't run from me!"

He then proceeded to stab the poor child in the gums with his blade.

"As long as you still have those chains on your ankles…you can't go anywhere!"

"Help me…!" Morgiana whispered. "Somebody, help me!"

~Dream Pause~

Morgiana panted as she continued to toss and turn in her sleep. As she did…the rukh suddenly fluttered around her, causing her to calm down.

~Dream Sequence~

Morgiana looked up to see a one-eyed humanoid figure, made of a bright, sparkling light.

"Don't be afraid, Morgiana," it spoke in a familiar voice. "Jamil is gone, now…there's no need for you to be afraid, anymore."

"G…Goltas…?" Morgiana whispered.

"But if your heart is still bound by fear and torment," the being said before he pointed forward, "then go there."

Morgiana followed his gaze to see a giant, white glowing bird, soaring towards an open plain, filled with trees and large animals…and two shadowy figures, smiling at her and offering their hands out.

"Morgiana!"

"Morgiana…"

"Mother…? Father…?!" Morgiana whispered as tears formed in her eyes.

"Go home, Morgiana," said the figure of light. "Return to your shining homeland…and only then will you know true freedom!"

Morgiana gasped as her tears fell…and the light shined brighter, engulfing her.

~Dream End~

Morgiana gasped as she sat up, panting heavily…with tears falling from her eyes. She then looked down at her ankles…which were bruises and calloused. She frowned as she reached down and rubbed them, and then sniffled as she wiped her eyes.

No matter how much time had passed…it was clear that Morgiana's time as a slave had greatly traumatized her and still haunts her to this day.

'I wonder…if I ever will be free…!' she thought.

XXX

The following morning, in the oasis town of Derinma, Morgiana is carrying more fruit for Leila and Sahsa, who followed her.

"You're working really hard, huh, Morgiana?" asked Leila. "I'm really glad you decided to join us!"

"It's been about half a year since you've been with us, hasn't it?" Sahsa asked. "Ever since that day we met you in Qishan!"

"Yes," Morgiana answered. "I'm sorry for stopping your cart like that."

A brief flashback revealed Morgiana, standing before the cart that held Leila and Sahsa.

"When I heard you were going to Balbadd," Morgiana began, "I couldn't help myself. I was a stranger, and yet you brought me all this way."

She then got down on her hands and knees, bowing her head.

"I am truly grateful for your kindness," the teenage Fanalis said.

"N-no!" Leila cried. "It's fine, really! You don't have to grovel!"

"You're a very hard worker, Morgiana!" Sahsa added. "In fact, we like you so much, we want you to stay, right, Leila?"

"Right!" Leila agreed. "You said you'd leave us once we got to Balbadd, but how about you stay with us instead?"

"…I'm sorry, but no," Morgiana answered. "I'm going home…I promised a good friend of mine that I would. Still, thank you."

Leila and Sahsa both frowned, but then smiled at her.

"You remind us of a kid we met, 6 months ago," Leila said. "You almost sound like him, too."

"Yeah," Sahsa agreed. "When he left us, he said he had made a promise to someone, as well."

XXX

Later, at the bazaar, it looked surprisingly empty, save for the few shady-looking men wandering about in the streets.

"Jeez, where is everyone?" Leila asked.

"Something's off," Sahsa added. "Look at all these creepy men, wandering about. I wonder what happened."

"Well, there's this rumor going around that Balbadd's suffering from internal strife," Leila answered. "Ever since, some low-lives who used to be bandits have been entering the surrounding towns…not that I'm scared or anything!"

Sahsa smiled sheepishly, knowing that her best friend was once a bandit.

"Of course, Leila," she said.

"Anyway, let's go and sell our merchandise!" Leila exclaimed. "Morgiana, you said you were headed for Balbadd Harbor, am I right?"

"Mm," Morgiana nodded.

"I sure hope there's a ship that can take you-" Leila started, but then she bumped into someone, causing her to drop her belongings on the ground.

"Hey!" the blonde-headed girl shouted. "Why the hell don't you watch where you're going, you punk!?"

The stranger turned to her with a grin.

"My, my," he said in almost feminine voice. "What a vulgar girl you are."

He then turned and walked away, but as he did…the girls gasped upon seeing people, wearing iron shackles around their necks, wrists, and ankles while being dragged by a chain.

"…Slave traders," Leila hissed with great disdain. "They're worse than bandits."

"They make money by selling innocent people," Sahsa said. "Even small children! Why does something like slavery even exist."

Morgiana chewed her lip before she looked down at her feet.

XXX

That night, the caravan had gathered indoors, eating dinner.

"We couldn't sell much," Leila said as she ate a strawberry. "It couldn't be helped."

"We also saw something horrible," said Sahsa.

"Yes," agreed her father. "Our county doesn't have slaves."

"Hey, where's Morgiana?" Leila asked. "I thought she was right behind us."

"She said she wanted to be alone," Sahsa replied.

XXX

Morgiana sat on the roof outside, staring up at the full moon and starry sky. She then sighed as she looked down as she hugged her knees.

'I haven't told them I was a slave, yet,' she thought. 'Why do slaves even exist…?'

She then rubbed at her bruised ankles.

'I hate these bruises,' she thought. 'I wish they would just fad away. Why was I a slave? Why do slaves even exist in this world? Who came up with the notion of putting chains on people, anyway? It's odd…I've never thought of such things, before.'

She then thought back to Aladdin and Alibaba.

'It's like that boy said,' she thought. 'My heart was bound by fear…and it still is to this day.'

She then looked up at the sky.

'I wonder how he's doing,' she thought, 'as well as…that young man who saved me, back in the dungeon.'

An image of Alibaba, holding his hand out to her and smiling, appeared in her mind.

XXX

Later, Morgiana came inside.

"Oh! There you are, Morgiana!" Sahsa said.

"The leader wishes to see you," said one of the caravan members. "Said it's important."

"Hmm?" Morgiana hummed inquisitively.

XXX

"Morgiana…we are no longer going to Balbadd."

"What?! But why?!"

Sahsa's father laid down a map in front of her and pointed to it.

"A band of thieves infests the route to Balbadd," he told her. "We had intended to return through there, but we now must use a different route. You were headed there, were you not?"

"Y-yes," Morgiana answered. "The only ships home leave from there."

"Where exactly is your homeland?" asked Sahsa's father.

Morgiana paused before she looked away.

'I can't tell him I'm from the Dark Continent,' she thought. 'Then everyone would know that I was a slave.'

"These bandits are brutal, Morgiana," said Sahsa's father. "They attacked my friend's caravan. They were hardy merchants who crossed the desert from the northeast, but many were lost. I'm sorry, but the route to Balbadd is now off limits."

"…I see," Morgiana said, "but…what if…?"

"Yes?" Sahsa inquired. "What if what, Morgiana?"

"What if someone were to take care of those bandits?" asked Morgiana. "Then would the path be open?"

"Yes, if someone defeated those bandits," said Sahsa's father, "but I've never heard of anyone who could do that."

He then turned to see Morgiana walking away.

"Where are you going, Morgiana?" he asked.

"…Out," Morgiana answered.

XXX

Out in the desert, along the Balbadd borderline…there is a fortress made of stone walls. It is actually the bandits' hideout. This giant cylindrical fort was once a mine, and its robust construction attracted a band of thieves. It became a stronghold that not even an army could penetrate.

However…that's just what one girl was doing.

As the guards patrolled the outer wall of the fort, they didn't notice a shadowy figure, leaping over the walls with the nimbleness of a sugar glider and the swiftness and silence of a cat.

Morgiana stood over the walls of the fortress, glaring down at the horde of bandits, laughing and drinking. Then, with a single leap, she jumped down and landed before them, startling them.

"What the hell?!" one questioned. "A girl?!"

"…We need to talk," Morgiana said.

XXX

Meanwhile, inside the fortress, two men are seen having a drink of wine together.

One is a short, portly man with short, curly hair and a long mustache. He wears a black eye patch over his left eye, revealing his beady right eye and small, black eyebrows. He wears a beige jacket over a white shirt, and a gray sash around his waist. His name is S Nando.

The other is a taller man with long, silvery hair and red lipstick on his lips, a white shirt, and a long fur drab over his shoulder. His name is Fatima, and he is actually the slave trader that Leila, Sahsa, and Morgiana had run into in town, earlier.

"You were absolutely right, Fatima!" said S Nando.

"It's a good fort, no?" asked Fatima. "I'm making money from it, too."

"Bandits and slave-traders go hand-in-hand, I say!" S Nando laughed. "This fort's so strong that my guards are bored! No one's dumb enough to sneak in here!"

However, he didn't realize how wrong he was.

XXX

"You want us to what, now?" asked one of the bandits.

"Leave this place," said Morgiana. "You're blocking the route to Balbadd…now, please leave quietly, or I'll have to use force."

A pause…but then, they bandits burst into laughter.

"This chick's funny!"

"Use force, she says! HAHAHAHA!"

Then, a tall, fat man with a mustache and beard approached her, scratching his hair chest.

"Why don't you try and back that up, little girl?" he asked as he pet Morgiana on the head, "but I'm not budging!"

Just then, WHAM! Morgiana her knee into the man's fat gut, causing him to fall to the ground, coughing up blood.

"H-hey! Come on, get up!" cried one of the bandits. "There's no way she could knock you down with one kick!"

As he said this, he attempted to grab Morgiana, who simply side-stepped out of his way.

'I realized something, recently,' she thought as she began to bend backwards…and then she leapt high into the air. 'My body is different than most people. I can jump higher and move faster.'

She jumped and flipped over more bandits, who tried to hit her with their various weapons, but nothing worked against her.

'How? I don't know…but whenever I fight…incredible strength wells up inside me!'

She then jumped high up into the air, doing a somersault, to the bandits' shock.

"What the hell is she?!"

"Is she flying?!"

XXX

Back inside, S Nando started to hear all the commotion going outside.

"What the hell is all that racket?" he asked as Fatima sipped his wine.

Just then, one of the bandits came rushing in in a panic.

"Boss!" he cried. "There's an intruder! A girl!"

"A girl?" Fatima asked. "You're making all this fuss about a little girl?"

"No! You don't understand!"

XXX

Outside, Morgiana roared as she charged at the bandits, kicking them with her powerful feet.

"She has red hair, like one of those foreign people, and she's fast, with devastating footwork! We can't touch her!"

XXX

Back inside, Fatima's eyes went wide in surprise.

"Red hair…devastating footwork…?" he murmured before he stood up. "Could it be?"

XXX

Back outside, Morgiana is still fighting with the bandits, and so far, she was mowing them down like they were nothing.

"Outta my way!" shouted a voice. "I'll take care of her!"

Morgiana turned to see a huge, fat man with a braided ponytail and wielding an axe.

"Die, you damn brat!" he shouted as he attempted to cut her down, only for Morgiana to kick him multiple times in the face. Nearby, Fatima happened to be watching with a smile on his face.

"That wild footwork…and that feral fighting style…!" he whispered. "That red hair and those eyes…I knew it! She's from the Fanalis Warrior Clan!"

He then grinned wickedly.

"Hey, S Nando," he said. "Can I have the girl?"

"Huh?!" S Nando questioned, frightened by Morgiana's fighting skills. "Uh…y-yeah, sure! If you can stop her!"

"Thanks," Fatima said. "Don't worry…I have my ways."

Before long, all the bandits were lying on the ground, defeated, save for one.

"P-p-please!" he begged. "Don't kill me!"

"Where's your leader?" Morgiana asked.

FWEET! A small whistle went off, and soon, Morgiana heard the distant flapping of wings. She quickly dodged as a black blur flew passed her, only slightly grazing her arm. It is revealed to be a black crow with large talons, and it soon landed on Fatima's arm.

"Not surprising you dodged that," said Fatima, "little Fanalis."

Morgiana glared at Fatima…for she soon recognized him as the man she saw in town, earlier.

"The Fanalis are warriors of the Dark Continent," Fatima continued, "with red hair, eyes, and powerful kicks that can fell lions. It's a pleasure to see one."

"Are you the bandit leader?" asked Morgiana.

"Oh, no!" Fatima laughed. "Don't lump me in with the likes of them! I'm a slave trader, girl."

"Where's the leader?!" Morgiana questioned. "Tell me or else!"

"Or else what?" Fatima asked.

"Or else I'll…I'll…" Morgiana started, but suddenly, she found herself stumbling and her vision starting to blur. "W…wha…what's going…?"

"Finally, it's starting to kick in," said Fatima. "One graze from the poisonous talons of a Desert Crow can knock out a full-grown cow! Nighty-night, little Fanalis!"

With that, Morgiana soon fell to the ground, unconscious.

XXX

Later on, Morgiana, whose arm was bandaged, was placed in a dark cell with some sort of metal block around her ankles.

"I can't believe we caught a Fanalis!" said one of Fatima's cronies as he closed the cell and locked it.

"Are they really that valuable, boss?" asked the other.

"Oh, of course!" Fatima answered. "The Fanalis are like living, breathing weapons, sought by armies and organizations all over the world! I once caught and sold an adult male Fanalis and made a fortune off him! However, even chains wrapped around him, dozens of times could not bind him!"

"EH?!" S Nando questioned. "But Fatima, if that's true, what if the girl breaks free?!"

"Oh, calm down," assured Fatima. "I put a special lock on her feet. They're made of a type of metal that even an adult Fanalis cannot break, and she's only an adolescent. Now…where to auction her off is the question."

XXX

Inside the cell, Morgiana was seen breathing heavily again, tossing and turning in her sleep.

She was having another nightmare…and this one seemed worse than the last.

~Dream Sequence~

WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! Jamil laughed as he continuously lashed a whip against little Morgiana's skin.

"Does it hurt, Morgiana?" he asked. "You shouldn't have tried to run from me!"

"Please…leave me alone!" Morgiana cried. "I want my Mommy and Daddy!"

"Well, you'll never see them again!" Jamil barked. "And do you know why?! Because you're a slave! As long as you have those chains on your ankles, you'll never run anywhere! You're mine, and you'll always be mine! HAHAHAHAHAAHAA!"

~Dream End~

Morgiana sobbed in her sleep as her tears fell…but then, a tiny reached out and wiped her tears away, causing her to awaken. She looked up to see…a little girl with blond hair and tattered clothing…as well as shackles around her ankles.

"Are…are you okay now, miss?" asked the girl.

"Y…yes," Morgiana answered as she sat up. "Where am I?"

A few minutes, the little girl what happened.

"I see," the Fanalis girl said.

'So I'm trapped, again,' she thought. 'How could this happen to me?'

"So…your name is Miss Morgiana, right?" asked the little girl. "My name is Naja. I used to live in Balbadd with my Mommy and Daddy, but we ran away because of all the things that's been going on…then we got caught along the road, and we were separated."

"I see," Morgiana said before she looked down at her shackles and pulled at them.

'Such strong shackles,' she thought. 'I can't break them…but if I stay here…'

"Um…Miss Morgiana?" asked Naja. "What's going to happen to us?"

"…We'll become slaves," Morgiana answered, bluntly.

"W…what?" Naja asked in shock.

"The man who captured is a slave trader…he'll make us both us into slaves. First, he'll strip you of your clothes and show you in front of a crowd of people at a market…and then someone buys you and makes you wear dirty rags…and then they start stabbing you with swords and hitting you with whips and-"

"STOP!"

Morgiana gasped as she looked at Naja, who is sobbing as tears fell from her eyes.

"N-no more…" she said. "I…I don't wanna be a slave! I wanna be with Mommy and Daddy!"

Morgiana's eyes went wide…because for a moment, she could've sworn that she herself in Naja's place, sobbing her eyes out and crying for her parents.

"I don't wanna be a slave…I wanna go home!" cried Naja.

A pause…but then, Morgiana gently pulled the crying little girl into her arms.

"…Don't worry," she whispered. "You're not going to be a slave."

"H-how do you know?" asked Naja.

"Because…we're going to escape," Morgiana answered, suddenly welling up with confidence. "And when we do, I'll help you find your parents and we'll escape, together, along with every one else this man has captured! We'll be free!"

"R…really?" Naja asked a smile appeared on her face. "You promise?"

"I promise," Morgiana said, smiling back. "Just trust me…I won't let them make you a slave."

Naja sniffled before she nuzzled her face into Morgiana's chest.

"Thank you…thank you…!" she whispered.

Morgiana smiled as she set Naja on her lap and cradled her.

'That's right,' she thought. 'I will never be someone's slave again…I'll find a way to escape this place with her and her family.'

As time passed, Morgiana and Naja found themselves bonding inside the cell. They'd tell stories to each other and share their food with another until they both fell asleep. Morgiana smiled as she held the little girl in her arms as they slumbered…and for the first time ever…she no longer had nightmares about her past.

~Five days later~

Morgiana yawned as she woke up in the cell.

"Good morning, Naja," she said…but when she looked over to her cellmate, she gasped upon seeing Naja, letting out small, raspy breaths and her face flushed red.

"Naja?" Morgiana asked in concern as she placed her hand on her forehead. "Oh, no…you have a terrible fever!"

"Haa…haa…!" Naja panted.

"Hey!" Morgiana called out. "Someone, come quick! Please, help!"

XXX

Moments later, Fatima came in with his men and forced Naja's mouth open so he could see her throat.

"Oh, dear," he said. "Her tongue's swollen to the base…this one's hopeless."

"What should we do with her, boss?" asked one of his cronies.

"Well, I think the timing couldn't be better!" he exclaimed. "I just ran out of food for my little pets, you see."

Morgiana's eyes went wide and sweat formed on her brow.

"I don't think I like the sound of that," she said, causing Fatima to smirk at her.

XXX

Naja gasped as she found herself dangling over a cage by a rope. Inside that cage are a pack of gray-furred canines with multiple eyes and long snouts. They barked as they jumped and snapped their jaws at her feet.

"What are you doing?!" Morgiana questioned as she sat outside the cage, her ankles and wrists chained up.

"I don't bother healing low-grade slaves like this girl," Fatima replied. "So what do I do with a cheap slave that's not worth the medical expenses? This!"

He then took out a knife…and cut the rope holding Naja, causing her to drop inside the cage!

"AAH!" Naja cried as she fell to the ground, and as soon as she did, the animals began to surround her.

"Slaves who aren't worth the trouble of keeping get fed to my Desert Hyenas, you see," said Fatima.

"No! Stop it!" Morgiana cried.

"Why are you so surprised?" asked Fatima. "After all, this is normal for slaves. "You look so ignorant. As a Fanalis, you're worth more, but you can learn from this experience."

"Help me, Miss Morgiana!" cried Naja as she tried to get away from the Desert Hyenas.

'No! I can't let her die like this!' Morgiana thought as she tried to break free of her shackles. 'Damn these shackles! I've got to break free…and save her! I promised her!'

THUD! Morgiana cried as she felt Fatima stomp his foot into her shoulder.

"You can't get free," he told her. "Just lay there and let the girl die."

Morgiana growled as she began to slam the shackles against the ground, trying to get them to break off, but it wasn't working.

'Dammit…dammit!' she thought. 'No matter what I do…these damned shackles won't break! But if I don't do anything, those hyenas will eat Naja, and I promised her I'd save her!'

As Morgiana struggled to get free and Naja struggled to get away from the Desert Hyenas, Morgiana started to hear Jamil's voice, again.

"Trying to remove your chains again, eh, Morgiana? Don't make me laugh…no matter where you go, you'll where those chains forever! YOU'LL NEVER GET THEM OFF!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Naja screamed as a Desert Hyena bit down on her pigtail. "HELP ME!"

'…It's no use…!' Morgiana thought as she began to lie on the ground, motionless. 'I'll never be able to break these shackles!'

"Are you sure, Morgiana?"

Morgiana gasped upon hearing that voice again.

'Goltas' voice,' she thought, 'but…where is it coming from!?'

"Is that all the strength you can muster? You can't even break your shackles?"

Morgiana turned…to see Goltas, standing behind her, bathed in a bright light as the rukh fluttered around him.

"I thought you no longer had your chains, Morgiana…remember? That young man freed you!"

'You don't understand,' Morgiana thought as tears fell from her eyes. 'These chains…they're different! I can't break these ones! It's just like when I was Jamil's slave…I want to save Naja…but I can't help her!'

"It is not those shackles that bind you, Morgiana…rather…it is your fear of the past…but this is different, Morgiana. You've grown, now. Jamil is dead. You were freed the moment Alibaba unlocked your shackles for you…no…the moment you set foot in the dungeon with me and Jamil! The things that bound you before no longer exist! CHAINS AND SHACKLES…EVEN FEAR CANNOT BIND YOU!"

Morgiana gasped…before she put on a determined expression.

"Finally gave up, did you, Fan-" Fatima started…only to gasp in shock when he saw Morgiana somersaulting over him and the bandits!

'That's right,' she thought as she landed in the cage in front of Naja and broke the shackles on her wrists. 'There is nothing that can bind me!'

"How did she do that?!" asked S Nando.

"Tch!" Fatima sucked his teeth before he grabbed a whip. "There are other ways to immobilize her!"

KRAK! He cracked the whip at the Desert Hyenas, prompting them to charge at Morgiana with their teeth bared. However, the girl drew in a deep breath…and then let out a high-pitch scream that caused them to run away! Then, she hopped over to the bars of the cage and slammed the shackles on her feet against them…until finally, the lock broke, and the shackles fell off!

'Impossible!' Fatima thought in shock. 'How did she break them!?'

"Are you all right, Naja?" asked Morgiana as she picked her up.

"Y-yeah," Naja answered as she held onto her. Morgiana smiled as she carried her out of the cage, putting a hand on her forehead as she did.

'Good…her fever's gone down a bit,' she thought.

"Come on," Morgiana said. "Let's go find your parents."

"Not so fast!"

The girls turned to see Fatima, glowering at her.

"You two aren't going anywhere," he said. "RELEASE THE BEASTS! ALL OF THEM!"

Not long after he said, to giant metal gates opened, releasing giant white tigers with enlarged fangs and huge condors.

"Maurenian Sabertooth Tigers and Namidian Condors, found only in the Dark Continent," Fatima said. "Watch yourself now. One graze from their fangs or claws means instant death."

"Holy crap!" cried one of the bandits.

"Screw this! I'm outta here!" shouted another before they all turned and ran.

"M…Miss Morgiana!" Naja cried, but then Morgiana gently pet her on the head and smiled in a reassuring manner.

"Don't worry," she said. "Everything will be fine."

She then turned to the animals before she charged at them with lightning speed.

'I…am a Fanalis,' she thought as she lunged at them. 'My legs and body are unlike any other human being's.'

WHAM! KRAK! Morgiana then kicked one of the tigers in the neck, breaking it instantly, and then kicked one of the condors in the back of its head!

'They're faster…sharper…and stronger!'

THWAK! Morgiana jabbed her shoulder through the skull of another tiger, killing it instantly. Before long…all of the animals were defeated!

'The Fanalis…are a strong warrior clan…and Masters of the Dark Continent!'

She then turned and glared at Fatima, who gasped as he fell on his posterior as she drew closer to him. A pause came…but then Fatima sighed as he looked away.

"Fine," he said. "You win…I give up. I failed to tame a slave…so go ahead and kill me."

Morgiana narrowed her eyes at Fatima, who grinned at her.

"Go on," he said. "If I were you, I'd hate me that much. I've sold droves of penniless foreign brats…pitiful wretches like you have filled my pockets with money."

A pause…but then, Morgiana held out her hands

"…Give me the keys."

"What?!" Fatima questioned.

"The keys to the cells," Morgiana said. "I'm going to free the other prisoners."

"…Showing mercy to someone like me?" Fatima snarled. "How dare you! A slave like you…showing me mercy?!"

"…I'm not a slave," Morgiana hissed. "Not anymore."

With that, she took the keys and Naja and walked away, leaving Fatima quaking in anger.

"…I'd rather die than be shown mercy by someone like you!" he cursed before he covered his face…and started to cry.

A long time ago, Fatima was actually a slave, himself. He hated his master with such a passion, that he killed him and hid his own identity to become a slave trader himself…but Morgiana could not have known.

XXX

Down in the cells, Morgiana was trying to unlock the door.

"It won't work," said Naja.

"It seems that way," Morgiana concurred.

"What should we do, now?"

"Hang on…stand back."

Naja nodded before she backed away…and then Morgiana raised her leg up and smashed through the door!

"There," she said. "Now we can go in."

As they entered…they saw many people inside, looking sickly and ragged. They shielded their eyes from the light before they looked up to see Morgiana and Naja.

"Who are you?" asked a man.

"I am Morgiana," Morgiana replied. "Do you know where this girl's parents are?"

"Naja?"

Naja gasped before she turned to see a man and a woman.

"Mommy! Daddy!" she cried as she ran to them.

"Naja! You're all right!" cried her mother.

"Thank Solomon!" exclaimed her father.

Morgiana smiled at them, but then she heard a voice somewhere nearby.

"Hey, you…haven't I seen you, before?"

Morgiana turned to see…Aladdin, his hands bound in chains!

"A…Aladdin?!" she questioned.

"I knew it," Aladdin said before he smiled. "It really is you, Miss Morgiana!"

"Aladdin, you know this girl?" asked one of the men in the cell.

"Yeah, I do!" Aladdin answered. "She's the super-strong slave lady I told you about!"

"So this is her," said a man with a scar going down his face. "The girl who runs barefoot up walls."

"What are you doing here, anyway?" asked another man.

Morgiana opened her mouth to speak, but then she heard clamoring outside.

"We need to get out of here before the bandits notice," said Morgiana.

"But how?" asked one of Aladdin's caravan friends. "They've got us locked up in shackles!"

Morgiana smirked before she held up a bag.

"Don't worry," she said. "I already thought ahead. I brought the keys to your chains in this bag."

She then dropped the bag, revealing many keys inside.

"Hey! She's right!"

"Quick! Grab them and let's get outta here!"

Morgiana then went to unlock Aladdin's shackles.

"I can't believe you found me here!" the boy said.

"Yes," Morgiana agreed. "You're looking well. When I didn't see you and Shahra come out of the dungeon, I got worried."

"Yeah, well…some stuff happened," Aladdin answered.

"Forgive me for asking," said Morgiana, "but how did you get captured in the first place? I didn't think they could apprehend someone as powerful as you."

"Well, you see," Aladdin began, "they dropped huge boulders on our caravan as we passed! In all the commotion, I guess I just blanked out, and when I woke up, I was like this with everyone else, and I couldn't find Shahra anywhere. With my hands bound like this, I couldn't use everyone's power!"

"Everyone?" Morgiana repeated.

"Down here, Boss!"

"Hurry!"

"The bandits are coming!" shouted one of the prisoners.

XXX

S Nando and L Nando are seen running to the cells with a taller, slender man with short hair and closed eyes: their brother, M Nando.

"I can't believe that Fanalis bitch stole the keys!" he shouted. "Don't let them get away!"

"Right!" said M Nando as he and L Nando threw down bundles of herbs.

"This is their only way out!" said S Nando. "And burn these herbs to knock 'em out! We'll gather them up afterward, but kill that Fanalis girl!"

XXX

Down below, the prisoners coughed as they covered their mouths from the smoke.

"Dammit! They're trying to smoke us out with herbs!"

'I can't help anyone if I pass out!' Morgiana thought.

"Hey, Aladdin!" shouted one of the caravan members as he reached into the bag of keys. "Isn't this yours?!"

He then held up…Aladdin's flute.

"Oh!" Aladdin gasped. "Ugo!"

XXX

Meanwhile, not too far away from the fortress, Sahsa's father, followed by many men wielding sabers, were riding towards the place on camels and horses. Riding alongside him is the leader of the caravan Aladdin was with, as well as Shahra, who led the charge ahead of them.

"Thanks for hiring mercenaries to rescue my comrades!" he said.

"Of course!" said Sahsa's father. "I could never abandon a friend's caravan! However, I cannot promise!" He then looked back. "Hey, you! Leila! Sahsa! I told you to wait at our lodgings!"

"Yeah, right!" Leila shouted, riding on a camel with Sahsa hanging onto her. "As if that was gonna happen! How can we just sit by, knowing Morgiana might be one of the prisoners?!"

As they drew closer to the fortress, they heard panicked screaming.

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!"

"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

"IT'S A GIANT!"

The caravan stopped right in their tracks as they heard a loud booming sound, and not long after, Ugo appeared over the walls, holding two bandits in his large fist while Aladdin sat on his shoulders.

"Leila, look!" Sahsa said. "Isn't that…?!"

"Aladdin!" Leila exclaimed. "And Ugo, too!"

XXX

Later on, the prisoners that had been freed were seen walking away…including Naja and her family.

"Thank you, Miss Morgiana!" Naja called. "Bye!"

"Be careful!" Morgiana called before she turned to look at Aladdin…who is nuzzling his face into Sahsa's chest while Shahra watched with a disapproving expression.

"Long time, no see, Sahsa!" the boy exclaimed, blushing happily.

"Good to see you, too, Aladdin," said Sahsa, petting his head.

"You look a little more mature since we last saw you," Leila said.

"Thanks!" Aladdin answered. "That's because I've been crossing the desert!"

"By the way, Aladdin," said Sahsa. "Before we left Utan, we stopped by your mother's grave and paid our respects."

"Oh, you did?" Aladdin asked. "Thanks. I appreciate that."

"So you know them, Aladdin?" asked Morgiana.

"That's right!" Aladdin answered. "We met in Utan, where I lived with my Mother before I met Alibaba!" He then proceeded to grope Sahsa's breasts, again. "This feels so nostalgic~!"

"Okay, that's enough!" Leila shouted as she grabbed and pulled Aladdin's braid. "Stop it!"

"OW!" Aladdin cried. "LET GO!"

"Still, to think you know him, too, Morgiana," Sahsa began, "what an amazing coincidence!"

"Not so."

Everyone turned to look at Sahsa's father and his friend.

"Reunions with old friends are not uncommon on a journey," he said.

"That's right!" said his friend. "You learn that after ten or twenty years on the road! The world is full of fateful events!"

"…You're right," Aladdin agreed as he held Baba's staff. "Someone once told me…that the world is all connected, and strong bonds lead us to each other! Even when a loved one is far, their spirit may be nearby!"

It is then that Morgiana remembered seeing images of Goltas, speaking to her in her mind.

'That's right,' she thought. 'That time…I felt like I could hear Goltas' voice in my heart.'

XXX

Later that night, back in town, the caravan had stopped to rest for the night.

"Now that those bandits have been taken care of," said Sahsa's father, "you can continue on your journey to Balbadd, Morgiana. We will continue along the border road. Unfortunately, we can't enter the city due to its turmoil, but we will leave you close to it. Be careful."

Aladdin gasped as he and Shahra looked over to Morgiana.

"You're going to Balbadd, too?" he asked.

"Mm," Morgiana nodded.

"This is great!" Aladdin said. "Shahra and I are going there, as well! Let's go together!"

"His friend in Qishan isn't there anymore," said the other caravan leader, "so he decided to head to Balbadd, instead."

"You mean, Alibaba?" Morgiana asked.

"So, what do you say, Miss Morgiana?" asked Aladdin as he held out his hand.

"…I have no objections," Morgiana answered with a smile as she shook Aladdin's hand.

"Great!" Aladdin exclaimed. "It's settled!"

"So you're really gonna leave, Morgiana?" Leila asked. "It's gonna be like Aladdin leaving Utan all over again!"

"We'll really miss you," Sahsa added.

"Then let us have a grand feast and pray for everyone's safety!" exclaimed Sahsa's father, and everyone cheered in agreement.

Soon, everyone broke out in a joyous celebration, having drinks and eating their fill on delicious fruit and meat. Aladdin groped Sahsa's breasts on more than one occasion, forcing Leila and Shahra to pull him away. Some people asked Morgiana to display her physical prowess by running up a wall, which she did. Of course, it did exhaust her a bit, but she smiled knowing that others were having fun, and so was she.

Five more days later, the caravan dropped off Aladdin, Shahra, and Morgiana near the Balbadd road, giving them food and water to sustain themselves during the trip.

"All right, then," said Sahsa's father. "Balbadd's not too far from here. It should take you about three more days to get there."

"Bye, Aladdin, Shahra, Morgiana!" Leila called.

"See you later!" Sahsa added as she waved.

"Bye!" Aladdin called as he waved to them. "Take care!"

As the caravan disappeared out of sight, Aladdin and Morgiana sat on Shahra's back, watching them leave.

"So, shall we go then?" Aladdin asked.

"Yes," Morgiana answered.

"Let's go Shahra!" Aladdin said, and Shahra turned and walked away, carrying the two children with her.

"The desert is vast and full of danger," Aladdin began, "so let's look out for each other, Miss Morgiana."

"All right," Morgiana said.

"You know…Miss Morgiana is kinda long. Can I call you something else?"

"Call me whatever you wish."

"Okay! Morg, then!"

"…"

"…You don't like it, do you?"

"It's fine…"

Until Next Night…

Morgiana: one of the most badass fighters in Magi.

Review, please!