Night 28- Alibaba's Answer

Magi © Shinobu Ohtaka

Shahra © Me

Alozza © Darkdarling98

During all the commotion at the palace, the SML Nando Bros. are seen, walking through the backstreets, making their way to the outskirts of the country. In their arms are all the Djinn Metal Vessels that they had stolen from Sinbad. It seemed that now that things were getting hectic, the brothers were planning on making their escape.

"The palace sure is in an uproar, isn't it?" asked M Nando, who could hear the shouting crowd at the palace even from where he was standing.

"Who cares?" asked S Nando. "This country's about to bite the dust! We dug up all our loot, so let's scream!"

"But Bro," L Nando piped up, "is that really okay? I mean…these things belong to King Sinbad. If they're Djinn Metal Vessel, doesn't he need them?"

S Nando froze at this, but just when he was about to argue, M Nando spotted something out of the corner of his closes eyes.

"Brother, look!" M Nando exclaimed. "Over there!"

S Nando and L Nando looked up seeing two columns of bright light, one shining on the Fog Troop's hideout, and the other at the palace villa.

XXX

In Aladdin's room, the young Magi is still sound asleep…unaware that the rukh are completely swarming around him.

"Aladdin!" Ja'Far cried as he shielded his eyes with Masrur standing behind him. "What's going on?! The rukh…they've accumulated so much that we can actually see them! What can it mean!?"

Aladdin just remained sleeping as the rukh continued swirling around him.

"Aladdin!" Ja'Far cried. "Wake up, Aladdin! WAKE UP!"

XXX

At the villa, it appeared the same thing was happening to Judar, who was out cold due to his injuries from Ugo.

"Something's happening to the lord priest!" shouted a Kou doctor. "Summon Princess Kougyoku or the banker!"

"We can't!" cried a soldier. "They're not here!"

XXX

In the throne room, Markkio's eyes started looking in different directions…but one eye was looking off to the right and the other was looking to the left.

"Oh, my!" Markkio exclaimed. "So much is afoot, here! Yet another page of history unfolds."

Kougyoku stood before Alibaba, who glared at her. However, she still retained her cold expression.

"I came because I heard a commotion going about," Kougyoku said. "I am Ren Kougyoku, 8th Imperial Princess of the Kou Empire and King Abhmad's betrothed."

Everyone started murmuring at this statement.

"I apologize," Kougyoku said. "I still do not know my future husband's face. Which one of you is the king here?"

"I-it's me!" Abhmad exclaimed. "I am!"

Kougyoku made a small squeak of surprise, but quickly regained composure.

"…I see," she muttered, looking away.

"About that, my dear princess," said Markkio. "At the moment, it seems that no one here is king, at the moment."

Everyone gasped at this.

"What do you mean, 'no king'?" asked Kougyoku.

"That boy, Alibaba, and the viceroy have just staged a rebellion, you see," said Markkio explained. "They are attempting to depose Abhmad as king, and therefore, they have not determined who the next king will be."

"B-Banker!" Abhmad cried. "You traitor!"

'Depose?' Kougyoku thought. 'In that case, that means I won't have to marry him…no. I must calm down. I must fulfill my duty as princess!'

"In that case," she said, "I shall marry whoever is king. By my country's command, I am betrothed to the King of Balbadd and must conclude the treaty that is to take place tomorrow. Whoever becomes king, that will not change. So, I suggest you determine the new king, and soon."

The guards all glared at her, but at the same time, they were nervous.

"…She's right," Balkirk sighed. "We must decide, at once."

"What?!" Abhmad questioned. "No! I am the king! ME!"

Just then, two guards came and pulled Abhmad away, the fat man struggling and arguing as he did.

"…Viceroy," Balkirk said as he looked at Sabhmad, "by law, you are next in line of succession of the throne."

"…I cannot be king," Sabhmad insisted. "Until today, I did nothing to stop this depraved rule, so I share Abhmad's guilt. However…there is one who has tried many times to save Balbadd."

Everyone gasped before they turned to look at Alibaba.

'Am I wrong, Alibaba?' Sabhmad thought. 'You've tried, may time…and because of that , you are truly an incredible young man! My brother and I aren't fit for the throne, and you know…but you…you could do it!'

Kougyoku then approached Alibaba, who glanced at her.

"So?" Kougyoku asked. "Are you going to be the new king, boy?"

A pause…but then Alibaba took in a deep inhale.

"…No," he answered. "I will not."

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHH?!" everyone in the room cried in surprise.

"W-what are you saying, Alibaba?!" Sabhmad asked;.

"Sabhmad…I'm not fit for the throne, either," Alibaba answered, solemnly. "The one who caused our Father to die…it was me. I precipitated his death and fled the country out of fear…so I'm not fit to rule."

"If not you, then who?" Kougyoku asked, impatiently. "You must decide by tomorrow's ceremony."

"That's another thing I wanted to bring up, actually," Alibaba said.

"And just who are you?" asked Kougyoku.

"I am Alibaba Saluja," Alibaba answered. "Third Prince of Balbadd."

"I see," Kougyoku said. "So? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Tomorrow, you were going to conclude the citizens' human rights transfer treaty," Alibaba said, "but since you are a representative of the Kou Empire…I ask that you abandon it."

"Huh?" Kougyoku muttered in surprise.

"That was the former king's foolish decision," Alibaba continued. "No one else here wants that treaty!"

"So it would seem," Kougyoku surmised. "Unfortunately, I cannot abandon the treaty. It was an agreement between our two countries, regardless of who becomes king, and tomorrow, I shall marry that king."

"No, you won't," Alibaba argued.

"And we will sign the treaty!" Kougyoku said.

"No, you won't!" Alibaba repeated.

"Why not?!" Kougyoku questioned, beginning to get quite irked by his words.

"Because," Alibaba answered, "no one will be king of Balbadd."

"W…what?!" Kougyoku asked, confused.

"As of today," Alibaba started, "we are abolishing the monarchy of Balbadd itself!"

3…2…1…

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHH?!"

XXX

Outside, the crowd is still waiting outside the palace gates, only now it, was at least 5 times as big as it was earlier this morning.

"What happened to Prince Alibaba?"

"He said he was going to change this country, but…what does that mean for us?"

"I don't know…but I just want my family to survive."

The woman that Sinbad helped, several nights ago looked at her wailing infant daughter, who was hungry and needed food.

XXX

"The people want to live happily," Alibaba spoke, "and they can do that without a king. I saw lands like that in the Central Desert. The people cooperated with each other and elected representatives. They determined their own government. They formed groups of city-states and lived in peace and harmony. That's what I think Balbadd should be like!"

"Quiet!" Abhmad barked. "You fool…you want to destroy a royal line of 23 generations?!"

"If we don't, the country itself will fall to ruin!" Alibaba retorted. "The people will become slaves, and no king can stop that now! That's how corrupt Balbadd's monarchy is! When a king cares so less about his peoples' lives, even goes as far as to call them 'maggots'…then who needs him? The privileges of royalty and nobility are finished! Balbadd's lands, rights, and resources will return to the people! The citizens themselves will elect a representative, form a government, and convene an assembly! Everyone, and I mean everyone will have a say in Balbadd's affairs!"

Everyone, save for Kougyoku, Ka Koubun, and Abhmad, stared at Alibaba in awe.

"And if I may," Alibaba added, "I, too, will lend my strength to Balbadd…for as long as I still draw breath!"

"Alibaba…!" Sabhmad whispered in amazement.

"Therefore," Alibaba declared, "I will turn the Kingdom of Balbadd into the Balbadd Republic, with no inequality! That is my proposal to you!"

Soon, everyone began talking all at once.

"No monarchy?!"

"Is it even possible?!"

"I…I never even considered such a thing," Balkirk whispered, "but…it is possible! Many lands in the west are like that!"

'Alibaba,' Sabhmad thought in awe. 'So this was what you had in mind?!'

Kougyoku remained surprisingly stoic…but inside, she was really shocked beyond belief. So much so, she couldn't even find words to say.

'No monarchy?' the Kou Princess thought. 'But what of tomorrow's wedding and the signing ceremony? What is this boy prattling on about?!'

"I see," a familiar voice spoke up. "So that's your answer, is it Alibaba?"

Everyone turned to see Sinbad, as well as three people: a woman with long blond hair, pink robes, and a pink feather tattoo on her cheek, a tanned-skin young man with silvery hair, green eyes, and a small cobra coiled around his wrist, and a tall man, wearing thick, dark-colored robes, dark blue hair, and a headdress, decorated with white fur and coral.

Upon seeing Sinbad, Kougyoku gasped as her face flushed pink and her heart skipped a beat.

'L…Lord Sinbad…?!' she thought before she shook her head. 'No…remain calm…don't let your feelings overwhelm you.'

She then put on her stoic expression again.

'…Still,' she thought, 'what is going on here? This boy wishes to abolish the monarchy…and that would prevent my marriage to King Abhmad…but then Lord Sinbad appears, and he brought friends with him!'

"Pardon my interruption in the midst of this crisis," Sinbad said. "Am I too late? It seems to me that you never needed my help, Alibaba."

Everyone soon started murmuring, once again.

"Is that…King Sinbad?" asked a guard. "Who's that with him?"

"Oh, these three?" asked Sinbad, gesturing to his party. "These are the foreign secretaries of three nations in the alliance I lead…I only had time for three, I'm afraid."

"Alliance?" repeated another guard. "What alliance?"

"The Seven Seas Alliance," Balkirk spoke.

"The what?!" the guards questioned in surprise.

"The Seven Seas Alliance!" Balkirk repeated. "An alliance of seven nations that King Sinbad had created! Each are fairly small, but they all have great power! The country of Heliohapt, Artemyura, and Imuchakk! But what are they doing here?!"

"We nominate Prince Alibaba Saluja for King of Balbadd!" the 3 representatives spoke.

"I brought them here because I believed you could save this country," Sinbad said, "however…you came with a different answer, entirely."

"Sinbad," Alibaba said, guiltily, "forgive me for not telling you. You see…I thought about your suggestion for me to become king, but given the state of things, I figured a king would only make things worse. For Balbadd to be reborn…it has to lose its kind. That is my answer!"

Sinbad stared at Alibaba…before he chuckled and grinned at him.

"Hold it," Kougyoku spoke up, suddenly. "You talk about rebirth and republicanism as if you may freely reshape this nation…but haven't you forgotten something? Balbadd's trade rights, maritime rights, air rights, and land rights…nearly all of its rights have been transferred to the Kou Empire as debt collateral!"

Everyone gasped upon remembering that.

"In other words," Kougyoku said with a triumphant grin, "we own everything Balbadd needs. A problem, wouldn't you concur?"

'Solomon help us, she's right!' Balkirk thought. 'And changing the system won't solve that!'

"…I am well aware of those things," Alibaba admitted.

Kougyoku smirked, thinking she had won.

"It's true that Balbadd has transferred its rights your country," Alibaba said, "but…I would like for you to nullify those terms."

Kougyoku's smirk fell.

"HUH?!" she questioned while everyone in the room except for Sinbad and his party gasped. "W…w…what are you saying?!"

"Think about it," Alibaba said. "The monarchy that made those promises is gone, now. The Kingdom of Balbadd no longer exists! From no, Balbadd will be a different nation! So why would it ever fulfill those agreements?!"

Kougyoku seethed as she tried her hardest to argue, but once again, Alibaba's words had taken her aback. Ka Koubun, however, remained surprisingly calm.

'…That's some twisted reasoning,' he thought. 'The government may change, but Balbadd is still Balbadd, no matter which way you put it. Agreements between two nations are always final.'

'This is some twisted reasoning,' Alibaba thought. 'My forced negotiations are obvious. I know that…but still, I have to try!'

"In any case," he continued, "you don't have anyone to marry now! Please, place the issue of negating the treaties to the emperor."

Kougyoku glance at Abhmad, who still held his bruised cheek before she heaved a sigh.

"This is ridiculous…" she muttered.

'Yes, it is,' Ka Koubun agreed, mentally. 'We must refuse it, at once.'

"However, when I present this matter to my Father, he is sure to refuse."

'Yes, when she…' Ka Koubun before he suddenly caught onto Kougyoku's statement. 'Wait…what? W-what is she saying?!'

'So my suspicions were correct,' Alibaba thought. 'She retreated earlier the night she attacked us, so it seems she isn't very forceful. She probably doesn't have much authority, nor does she want this political marriage. That's the weak spot in this big wall she's trying to force upon us…this is my chance!'

"You'll never get the marriage you want," he spoke, "so please leave!"

"What the empire wants," Kougyoku argued, "is take over the country without spilling any blood! If I don't marry the king, my Father may take military action!"

"Well tell him not to!"

"You sure have a lot of nerve! Why should I?!"

"Because…I have something to offer in return!"

Kougyoku paused, and yet she had an intrigued look.

"…Go on," she said.

"The profits you'll gain through trade with Balbadd will better than what you might gain through spilling blood!" Alibaba proclaimed. "Balbadd is a hub of maritime commerce in the southeast. Raze it in the flames of water…or nurture it for profit. Which do you choose?"

"Hmm…" Kougyoku hummed.

"Your father used both political skill and military might to bring prosperity to the empire," Alibaba said. "Which would he choose."

Kougyoku just gave Alibaba her usual cold glare.

"Your Highness!" Ka Koubun cried.

'This won't work!' he thought. 'You must refuse!'

"…This twisted reasoning will never work," Kougyoku said with a sneer.

Ka Koubun smiled in both triumph in relief, but Alibaba continued to remain calm.

"I doubt your father would take any military action," Sinbad spoke up, out of the blue. "The Balbadd Republic will join the Seven Seas Alliance. We neither engage in nor permit invasions. Besides, the emperor respects us."

"But your great alliance will accept this country?" asked Kougyoku. "Really?"

"Yes!" Alibaba replied. "It's an old promise! Balbadd and Sindria's ties goes back generations! Didn't you know that?"

"…Ka Koubun," Kougyoku called. "Is this true?"

"Gah!" Ka Koubun gasped. "Err…y-yes, Your Highness, but…that was before!"

A slight pause came, but then Kougyoku sighed.

"Very well," she said. "I shall let my Father decide."

"HUH?!" Ka Koubun questioned in shock.

"But under one condition," Kougyoku said as she pointed to Sinbad. "If Balbadd does join the Seven Seas Alliance, prove it before my Father's eyes, Lord Sinbad!"

"…I promise to pay your country a visit," Sinbad answered.

Kougyoku nodded before she turned and left.

"Come, Ka Koubun," she ordered. "We're leaving!"

"B-but wait!" Ka Koubun cried as he followed. "Your Highness!"

As Kougyoku and her party left, the princess heaved a quiet sigh of relief.

'Thank the stars,' she thought. 'That decision was way beyond my capacity…and besides…'

She glanced back at Abhmad with a small sneer behind her sleeves.

'I'd sooner die than marry that pig.'

Soon, she was gone, and everyone released a huge sigh of relief, themselves.

"So…she's gone now."

"Does this mean we're in the clear?"

"Who knows? She said she had to talk her father when she got home."

'Alibaba,' Sinbad thought as he looked at the blonde-haired teen in surprise. 'When I heard you came here alone, I was almost certain you'd fail…but you really do hold the art of negotiation, and you handled this situation better than anyone here ever could. In the face of the Kou Empire…you swallowed whatever fear you might have had it and continued to put your best foot forward! You might become…a great man, after all.'

As everyone surrounded and congratulated Alibaba for working things out so well, Markkio stood in a corner of them…tiny black rukh fluttering out of his scepter.

XXX

Outside, Kougyoku, Ka Koubun, and the soldiers that had accompanied them all boarded their flying carpet.

"Your Highness," Ka Koubun said, "what about Judar? Shouldn't we take him, too?"

"The banker said he'd take care of him," Kougyoku said with a smile. "It's time for us to head home. I must inform my Father of the changes in Balbadd and of Lord Sinbad's promise."

As she spoke of Sinbad…her face flushed a bright red as she put her hands to her cheeks, her eyes bright and wide like a little school girl.

'I can't wait…!' she thought.

Ka Koubun sighed…and yet he smiled a bit.

'Well…I suppose I should be happy for the princess,' he thought. 'She just might be able to get what she most desires after all.'

"Ahem!" a Kou soldier cleared his throat. "Lord Ka Koubun! Princess Kougyoku! There are people gathering below."

"In front of the palace, you mean?" Kougyoku asked.

"No," the soldier answered. "It's a different group…and they're heading towards the palace."

Down below, a large group of shadowy figures are marching from the backstreets, straight towards the palace.

XXX

"Sorry for calling you for nothing."

"Oh, it's quite all right, Lord Sinbad. It was still very good to see you! Do me a small favor and give Pisti and your sister my regards, won't you?"

"Of course. I'm sure they'd both be glad to hear from you."

The Secretary of Artemyura smiled before she got on the back of a giant white bird, following after the Secretary of Imuchakk and the Secretary of Heliohapt, both of them also riding on giant avian creatures.

"Sinbad's secretaries," Balkirk spoke. "They left before we could even give them our gratitude."

"…" Alibaba remained quiet.

"That was a bit of reckless of you, don't you think?" Sinbad asked, his hands on his hips and in a disapproving look on his face.

"Oh! Sinbad!" Alibaba cried.

"You really had me worried, you know!" Sinbad scolded. "What were you thinking, rushing in to the palace grounds by yourself?!"

"I-I'm sorry," Alibaba apologized, bowing his head. "I won't do that again! I realize I can't do everything alone, now!"

"…Still," Sinbad sighed, "I guess you still had your reason. Prepare yourself! The real hard work lies ahead!"

"Right!" Alibaba agreed, grinning.

"Err…Alibaba?" Sabhmad asked. "What should we do, now?"

"We must transition to a republic," Balkirk said, "but that doesn't mean the country isn't out of the woods, just yet. It could still falter in the meantime!"

"You're right, Balkirk," Alibaba concurred. "First, we must establish an interim government. The people will choose representatives from amongst themselves to form an assembly. We'll need an organ to manage the election. Gather honest officials from the palace, and do it fast! Sabhmad and Balkirk, you two will provide recommendations!"

He then glanced over at Abhmad, who is sitting on the floor, wallowing in defeat and anger.

"As for Abhmad, we will confine him to an isolated island in Balbadd's territorial waters," Alibaba continued. "The people may call for his execution, but I won't kill my brother, no matter how horrible he's treated me. No one will give anyone the death penalty! Together, we will draft a new penal code! Little by little, we will create a new system. Republics can take many forms, but I wants us to follow the successful and prosperous example of the city-state, Kashugan in the Central Dessert! I want a full democracy in which anyone, regardless of ethnicity, background, or wealth can participate equally! What do you all think?"

Everyone soon started murmuring in agreement while Sinbad smiled, proudly.

"He's really serious about this," he said.

"Okay!" shouted one of the guards.

"Let's do this!" exclaimed another.

"Yeah! We'll make a new republic! For Balbadd!" cried one more, and soon, they all burst into cheers.

"Are you really sure it will all go so smoothly?"

Everyone gasped in surprise as they turned to face Markkio.

"Oh, yeah," Alibaba hissed. "You're still here. What do you want?!"

"Do you honestly believe a republic will be so easy to establish?" asked Markkio. "I've many traveled to many lands and republics touting equality always end up under one person's control and fall apart. Hope for equality all you wish, but someone will seek to become ruler or perhaps the people will eventually demand one! Mark my words!"

The guards soon started getting nervous again, but Alibaba remained stoic.

"…Nonetheless," he spoke, "we will try and erase inequality, no matter what."

"Hey! Alibaba!"

Alibaba gasped before he ran to the window and saw Alozza, as well as Shahra and Morgiana, down in the courtyard.

"What's going on up there?!" Alozza questioned. "Whatever you're doing, hurry it up, will ya?! There's a huge crowd outside the palace gates, and I think they're getting really restless!"

"I'll be there in a minute!" Alibaba called as he turned to the others. "Okay, everybody, this is it! There's no time to lose! Prepare to issue a proclamation!"

With that, everyone began to head out to the balcony to address the people. Markkio remained behind…black rukh beginning to swarm out of staff.

"This, too, is the flow of history," Markkio said. "It is unavoidable."

Outside in the city…the shadowy figures continued to march towards the palace, swarms of black rukh swirling around them, viciously.

"If we act," Markkio said, "they are sure to resist."

XXX

Back at the Fog Troop's hideout, everyone watched in shock as a huge swarm of white rukh swelled around Aladdin, who seemed to have woken up and is now greeting his teeth and furrowing his brow, as if he were almost in pain.

"Aladdin!" Ja'Far cried. "What's happening?!"

Just then, what looked a gigantic bird made of a pure white light burst from Aladdin, hovering over him momentarily before it flew off towards the sun!

"D…did you see that?!" asked the woman who check on Aladdin earlier.

"It flew away…!" Ja'Far whispered in surprise before he gasped and looked at Aladdin…who is completely motionless. "Aladdin! Are you all right?!"

XXX

Back at the palace, the huge crowd had gathered outside the gate. Nearly every citizen had gathered there, that day, to witness the rebirth of their country. Alibaba and Sabhmad came out on the balcony and told them of Abhmad's abdication, the abolition of the monarchy, and Balbadd's transitioning into a republic, and they even explained the new form of government.

Alozza smirked as she crossed her arms, listening to what Alibaba had just declared.

"A republic, eh~?" she asked. "That doesn't sound too bad."

The citizens outside, however, were both surprised and confused.

"Did he say…a republic?" asked a young man in the crowd.

"A land without a king?" asked another man with a scar on the bridge of his nose.

Everyone began chattering and murmuring about this, all at once.

'Will it all go so smoothly?' Balkirk thought, uneasily. 'The people themselves may demand a ruler.'

"I know he new is startling," Alibaba spoke. "A republic means you will have to rule yourselves…but I think…you've all done that already!"

The people all gasped in surprise.

"In this lopsided country, as you fought heavy taxes, poverty, and oppression, you all ruled the small space of your families! You did that on your own!"

Everyone glanced at each in realization as Alibaba continued his speech.

"The royalty, nobility, and bureaucracy who instigated this suffering are now gone. This place is part of the wider world. War, confusion, and abnormalities…there's no guarantee they won't befall you. Think about what you will do when that happens…even when the answers are difficult, you must find a way as families to live happily! Be brave! Plant your feet as one, and live in this country, together! That…will be the new Balbadd!"

Everyone smiled and glanced at each other.

"The Balbadd Republic!" said a young a woman in the crowd.

"Yeah! The Balbadd Republic!" an older man agreed.

"It's perfect!" shouted another man. "Who needs a king?!"

Soon, everyone began to burst into cheers.

"Balbadd Republic!" Alozza shouted, pumping her fist in the air.

"Balbadd Republic! Balbadd Republic! Balbadd Republic!" the crowd chanted along with her.

"You did it, Alibaba," Sinbad praised, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Nice job."

Alibaba smiled, feeling a great sense of pride and triumph swell in his chest…and yet, he also felt a pang of guilt in his stomach.

'Aladdin…I'm sorry,' he thought, 'but it looks like I can't leave here, again. I guess this means…we'll have to postpone our promise.'

A brief flashback showed him and Aladdin as they were leaving Dungeon No. 7, declaring their promise to go on more adventures together. He chewed his lip, reaching a hand up to wipe his tears away before smiling.

'So, please, Aladdin…wait a bit longer for me! I'll handle this and see it through to the end, just like the brave man you believe I am!'

XXX

Back with Aladdin…the boy still remained motionless.

"Aladdin?" Ja'Far asked as he shook him gently. "Aladdin! Aladdin, can you hear me?!"

No response.

"…What's wrong with him?" Ja'Far asked in concern.

"You don't think…that he…?" asked the woman next to him.

XXX

Markkio raised his staff as black continued swarming around him viciously.

"The time has come!" he exclaimed. "Now, fate flows in reverse!"

As the shadows cleared…Cassim looked up, followed by Hassan, Zaynab, and other members of the Fog Troop, all of them with deadly glares in their eyes.

Until Next Night…

Review, please!