Night 29- Cassim's Answer

Magi © Shinobu Ohtaka

Shahra © Me

Alozza © Darkdarling98

The citizens stood outside the palace gate, rejoicing. Thanks to the efforts of Alibaba, they could put the times of their oppression behind them and start anew as the Balbadd Republic. Now, they didn't have to worry about poverty or their families dying out from starvation. Now, they all had a say in their government.

"Balbadd Republic! Balbadd Republic! Balbadd Republic!" they all cheered.

"Come on!" exclaimed a young man in the crowd. "Let's go spread the word!"

"You're right!" agreed an old man. "Let's go!"

But as they turned around, they gasped upon seeing Cassim and the Fog Troop, walking towards the palace, all with vicious glares in their eyes and armed with their Fog-Swords.

"Oh, no…the Fog Troop," whispered the young man as he stepped towards the army of rebels. "H-hey! Hold up a minute! If you're gonna raid the palace, there's no need!"

"Oh, yeah?" Cassim asked. "And why's that?"

"Because," the young man, "Balbadd has been reborn! There's no king anymore! Prince Alibaba abolished the monarchy, and now, the country belongs to the people!"

Cassim gasped, his eyes widening in surprise.

"…So the monarchy is abolished," said his arms dealer. "Do you still have reason to storm the palace, Cassim? What will you do?"

A pause…but then Cassim slowly raised his head, his line of sight aimed at Alibaba, but his eyes were shadowed by his dreadlocks.

"…So that's his plan," he whispered as he watched the cheering crowd with the people chanting "Balbadd Republic" over and over.

Alibaba smiled as he watched the people, his joy swelling up inside his heart.

"I never dreamed…it would be like this…!" Sabhmad whimpered with tears of joy in his eyes.

'The people…' Alibaba thought. 'They're so different now from when I first came back. It's like life came back to them…! I'm so glad…and I can't forget what I see here, today. I must keep this vision in min…so it lasts forever!'

"All hail Alibaba!" Alozza shouted to the crowd outside, and soon everyone broke out in a sea of cheers again, chanting Alibaba's name and pumping their fists in the air. However, their cheering was short-lived, for they soon noticed Cassim and the Fog Troop approach. Alibaba also took notice as a look of worry soon appeared on his face.

'Oh, no,' he thought. 'It's Cassim!'

Soon, the crowd started murmuring, nervously.

"It's Cassim from the Fog Troop."

"What do we do?"

"I don't know…I'm still wondering what he's planning on doing!"

Cassim looked at the crowd before glancing up at Alibaba.

'…Alibaba,' he thought. 'You did all this? Hmph…you really are…a remarkable man. You talked a big talk…and yet, somehow, by the grace of Solomon, you managed to pull it off. You always did insist on doing on what you believed was right…that's why I always stuck with you. It was for Balbadd…and to stop me…that you answered this way.'

He then heaved a sigh.

'However…'

"Now what do we do?" asked a man in the crowd. "They used to be in the Fog Troop together."

Cassim took in a deep breath.

"So," he started, "I hear Balbadd's become a republic! You say you will return the country to its people and distribute equally among us!"

Alibaba gasped silently, but then he smiled hopefully.

"…But doesn't that all sound like a big scam?!" Cassim questioned, much to everyone's surprise.

"W…what…?!" Alibaba whispered in shock. "Cassim, what are you doing?!"

"Return the country to the people?" Cassim asked. "The people built this very country with own blood, sweat, and tears! It has always belonged to us! And whose incompetent government was it that crushed us and stuck us with the bill, huh!? Surely, you people remember the taxes that stripped everything away! The hunger…and your families, dying of sickness and starvation! A republic, you say?! That won't bring the back the lives that were lost!"

Everyone gasped before looking down at the ground, almost in anguish. Even Alozza seemed a bit downtrodden.

'…It's true that a republic won't bring back the dead,' she thought. 'Even so…Alibaba worked so hard to make this a reality! So…why is this guy try to ruin that?!'

"Will a republic erase the sins of the monarchy?!" Cassim questioned, pointing at Alibaba. "The Royal Family…is the real enemy, and we should eradicate them!"

"HUH?!" Alibaba questioned in shock.

Soon, everyone in the crowd began murmuring…as a red fog drifted around them.

"…He's right…a republic won't bring back my daughter."

"Or my little sister…!"

"Or my parents…!"

"And yet, he says we're supposed to be equal?!"

Soon, the citizens' eyes started to flash red.

"That's not right…"

"It's not right at all…!"

"This is their fault! Their fault!"

"The royalty, nobility, bureaucracy, and the military!" Cassim shouted. "Those who have run this country and its people right into the ground…SHALL FACE DEATH!"

Soon, everyone began roaring furiously in agreement, much to Alibaba's horror.

"No…! No!" he cried. "This is all wrong! What is Cassim thinking?!"

In the back of the crowd, Zaynab was using her Red Illusion Fog Sword, but then, the arms dealer held his hand out in front of her.

"That's enough, Zaynab," he told her. "Even without the use of the Red Fog…the flow of fate has been reversed."

The people began yelling and shouting, angrily, their eyes full of hatred and malice.

"What's going on?!" Sabhmad questioned, confused and frightened. "Now they want to kill us?!"

"Morgiana, this isn't good!" Alozza cried.

"I know!" Morgiana added.

Shahra growled in agreement.

Alibaba just stared in absolute shock and horror, his gaze fixated on Cassim. He had worked so hard to unite the people and set this country back on the right track…and yet, Cassim, his best friend turned everything backwards!

'Cassim…why?!' Alibaba thought. 'Why would you do this, after I worked so hard?! WHY, DAMMIT ALL?!'

'…I'm sorry, Alibaba,' Cassim thought, 'but this is MY answer!'

Before long, large streams of dark light rose out of the people, completely engulfing the bright sky…as they came together and took the form of a giant black bird!

XXX

"Aladdin! Aladdin!"

Ja'Far had tried everything…but Aladdin would not awaken. Everyone that gathered in the room stared in shock and fear at the little boy that had just been swarmed upon by the rukh, earlier, and now lied motionless on his bed.

"Is he…dead?" asked the woman from before. Ja'Far gasped in horror as he looked at the young Magi.

"No…!" he whispered as he fell to his knees, his hands grasping Aladdin's own. "Oh, no…please, dear Solomon, tis not this child's time, yet!"

Nearby…Aladdin's flute was flashing a golden light.

XXX

It was dark…a seemingly empty void…but then, he could hear the faint sound of someone, calling out to him.

"Aladdin!"

"Aladdin…"

Aladdin gasped silently as he opened his eyes, finding himself in the same stone room he dreamt about the night he spent in Maulla.

A tiny rukh suddenly glided by, headed towards a long flight of stairs, and Aladdin promptly followed it, walking up the steps towards the upper level. As he kept walking, he noticed, he noticed strange, white amorphous blob-like creatures, waddling and floating around, reading books and smoking pipes that just blew out bubbles. Soon, the boy reached the top of the stairs.

"Hey!"

Aladdin gasped as he looked up, seeing his beloved mother, Sheba, sitting before him with one leg crossed over the other…and behind her was a gigantic blue head with darker blue hair, blue eyes, and a third eye in the middle of its forehead, smiling at the boy.

"Welcome back, Aladdin," Sheba and the head greeted the child.

"Uhh…Mother? Ugo?" Aladdin asked.

"Yes, that's right," Ugo said as he looked down at his little friends that were holding up his head. "Could you straighten head up a bit? Thanks."

Soon, the blobs rolled Ugo's lopsided head upright.

"Do you like them, Aladdin?" Sheba asked as she pet one blob that had taken the form of a snail, sitting next to her. "Ugo made these creatures."

"When I came back, it was too quiet," Ugo added. "Your mother has been keeping me company since she returned, though."

"…I see that I died," Aladdin said.

"Died?" Ugo repeated.

"Well…look at how weird my body is, now!" Aladdin said…his body suddenly becoming wavy and amorphous, like the blobs. "See?!"

Sheba and Ugo could only chuckle.

"Relax, Aladdin!" Sheba told her son. "You're not dead."

"She's right," Ugo added. "I simply asked the rukh to bring your spirit here, that's all. Your physical body is alive on earth."

"Oh," Aladdin realized, his body returning to normal.

"Even so," Sheba began, "you were in grave danger. That Magi, Judar, nearly killed you."

"Speaking of which, we tried to bring him here, too," Ugo said, grimly. "However…it looks like that's not going to happen."

"What do you mean?" Aladdin asked, confused.

XXX

At the villa where Judar is resting, the white rukh are swarming around him…but it seemed that they were clashing with the black rukh, which pushed them back.

Outside, Markkio and the arms dealer watched the sky as they black rukh swelled, more and more.

"Resistance against the Sacred Palace was successful," the arms dealer said.

"But our work has only just begun," said Markkio.

As the two approached either…they seemed to fuse together, transforming into another man with a veil over his face!

"We will spread darkness and chaos throughout the world!" he exclaimed as he looked down, watching Cassim and Fog Troop lead the riot against the palace, black rukh continuing to flow out of them, viciously.

XXX

"What's going on?" Aladdin asked, worriedly.

"Come here, Aladdin," Sheba told him. "There's something Ugo and I have to show you."

Aladdin approached Sheba, who picked him up and set him on her lap, looking up at the ceiling.

"Do you remember?" Sheba asked. "When I sent you on your journey?"

There was a flash of light, and suddenly, Aladdin saw himself, riding on his Magic Turban away from Utan, waving goodbye to Leila and Sahsa, who stood before Sheba's grave. He then saw memories of Alibaba and Amon, as well as Hakuei and Paimon, and finally Sinbad.

"As I asked you, you went in search of Djinn Metal Vessels," Sheba said, "and you met the Djinn and their masters, just as you were led by the rukh. I didn't teach you anything about yourself beforehand…because I felt your journey had to be natural. Otherwise, it would disrupt the Great Flow."

"The Great Flow?" Aladdin repeated.

"When a life begins," Ugo began, "it enters the Great Flow, and by accepting that, that life progresses ever forward. That is the rukh guide the people. In other words, that is called the Great Flow of Fate."

"Wow…!" Aladdin whispered in awe.

"However," Sheba spoke, "there are some people out there who seek to reverse progress, bending nature's will, and revert everything to darkness. That is what is known as falling into depravity."

"Falling…into depravity," Aladdin repeated.

"When that happens, the rukh turn black, and so do the hearts of Magi," Ugo added. "Your mother and I were surprised when Judar passed by you, that day. The reverse flow of fate that they have created should have killed, but I fought against that at the expense of all the magoi my previous master left me. You tried to give me some of your magoi, but I'm not your Djinn, so while you are like my master, your power was not enough…the being said, I can no longer protect you."

"Huh?!" Aladdin muttered in surprise.

"Together, Ugo and I used the last remaining dredges of powers in the flute to bring you here," Sheba said. "There's something important we have to give you."

Then, the light from the ceiling shined brightly, showing Alibaba, struggling against the angry mob.

"Alibaba!" Aladdin cried.

"Behold," Ugo said. "Your King's Candidate is on the edge of ruin…but this is not the proper flow. It should not exist in this world."

"This is the reverse flow that the darkness is trying to force upon him," Sheba added.

"W-what do I do?!" Aladdin asked. "Alibaba's in danger!"

"When the world grows darker than humans could ever achieve on their own," Sheba began, "the strength to pierce that darkness will be necessary. In other words…a miracle. That is the duty of a Magi!"

"For that reason," Ugo added, "there is somewhere you must go."

Just then, white tendrils curled around Aladdin and touched his forehead, causing him to fall unconscious and curl up into a ball as an orb of light surrounded him, gently carrying him upwards.

"You must come to know the world and its fate," Sheba added, "as well as yourself. When this over, you will have gained something that no other Magi has."

"That's right," Ugo said. "A great wisdom…Solomon's Wisdom!"

Soon, the ball of light began to carry Aladdin up to a gigantic door with the eight-pointed star in the middle.

'Goodbye, Aladdin,' Ugo thought. 'I will never see you again.'

A brief image of Aladdin, back when he was 7 years old, appeared before him, holding his hand out to him.

"I wish for you to be my friend!"

Ugo gasped before frowning, worriedly.

"…Are you really certain about this, Lady Sheba?" he asked. "It might be too soon to leave Aladdin to his own devices."

"…Too soon, you say?" Sheba asked before smiling. "On the night I passed away, that's what I believed, too…but when I look back, I realize that's not true, anymore. Aladdin has made many friends and allies on his journey…so I know, he'll be just fine without us."

"I suppose you're right," Ugo chuckled before they both crossed their arms.

"Open…SESAME!" they both exclaimed, and with that, the door open, revealing a huge black void, filled with stars!

"O Sacred Palace," Sheba chanted. "O great King Solomon…grant this boy passage to the earth and grant your knowledge and miracles upon him!"

Soon, Aladdin was sent flying through the door, into the void, surrounded by stars and galaxies.

"Huh?" Aladdin muttered as he opened his eyes and looked around. "W-what is this place? Where am I?"

"This is the entrance to a great vortex of knowledge," a voice spoke in the blackness. "Behold! Each one of these stars you see is a piece of the truth of the world!"

Aladdin gasped as he saw many things: people building structures, reading books, and other things.

"From this point on, you will traverse them all and be reborn."

"Wait!" Aladdin called. "Who are you?!"

"You will know when this journey is over."

With that, Aladdin continued to fly through the endless space.

XXX

Back at the hideout, Aladdin's physical body remained in body, but now, he is breathing again.

"It seems he's going to be all right now," Ja'Far said, tucking him under the blankets. "I think Aladdin just needs a bit more rest, that's all. I will leave him in your care in the meantime. I have to go."

The woman and other members of the Fog Troop nodded their heads.

"Sin and the others are at the palace," Ja'Far spoke, "but I hear a disturbance, and I cannot ignore it! Come, Masrur! To the palace!"

"Understood," Masrur answered before they left.

XXX

"KILL THEM ALL!" Cassim roared. "THE ROYALTY, BUREAUCRATS, AND SOLDIERS IN TH PALCE! ALL THE NOBLES AND THE RICH!"

Soon, the Fog Troop charged, attacking and killing any soldiers in their path with their weapons. Alozza, Morgiana, and Shahra gasped before they hurried inside the palace, where Sinbad, Sabhmad, Balkirk and others are seen, tending to the injured.

"Hey! Things aren't looking good!" cried Alozza.

"The violence is spreading outside the palace!" Morgiana added.

"Dammit!" Sinbad cursed. "What the hell is going on?!"

"Viceroy!" cried one of the soldiers. "Order an all-out assault!"

"What?!" Sabhmad questioned. "Are you mad?! Those people are citizens!"

"Maybe so," cried another soldier, "but this has now become a civil war! Many will be wounded or killed!"

"Rebels have entered the palace!" added the General of the Left. "Only decisive action will stop the destruction! Give us your orders!"

"Err…" Sabhmad muttered, unsure of what to do. "Alibaba! What should we do?!"

Everyone glanced at Alibaba, whose eyes were concealed by shadow.

"Alibaba?!" Alozza asked. "We're waiting, here!"

"…Take half the troops to stop the rebels at the front gate," Alibaba ordered. "Use the rest to subdue any in the palace. Sabhmad, you and the injured will retreat to the main hall."

"But what are you going to do?" Morgiana asked.

"…I'm going to the enemy's leader," Alibaba said. "I have to stop Cassim!"

"Are you sure about this?" Alozza asked, concerned. "He's your best friend!"

"…Not anymore," Alibaba answered as he walked out.

XXX

In the courtyard, the Fog Troop had gotten through the guards and are marching towards the palace with Cassim still leading them on the warpath.

"RAARGH!" a guard roared as he charged, but then, SLASH! Cassim slashed his sword across his neck, killing him instantly.

"Hmph!" Zaynab scoffed as she let a male member of the Fog Troop use her cigar to light his own (earning a rather jealous-looking sneer from Hassan). "The military is nothing. The others can handle it."

"We'll just advance to the main hall," Hassan added.

Suddenly, Cassim stopped, prompting the others to stop, also.

"…He's here," he hissed, and soon after, a wall of flames surrounded them, preventing their escape. Soon after, a familiar figure stepped forward, holding a bejeweled knife.

It is none other than Alibaba, who glared at Cassim as he pointed his knife at him. The two stared at each before the latter smirked.

"Hey, there, Alibaba," Cassim greeted, mockingly. "What's with the long face? You look like something the cat dragged in!"

"…Cassim…what are you doing?" Alibaba asked. "I worked so hard to bring everyone together! The monarchy is finished. There's no need for more bloodshed…and yet here you are, ruining everything…so why?! Why are you doing this?!"

Cassim just looked away, nonchalantly.

"ANSWER ME, DAMN YOU!" Alibaba barked.

A pause…but then Cassim chuckled darkly.

"What am I doing?" Cassim asked as held up his Black Binding Fog Sword. "I think that's the question I should be asking you, Alibaba."

"Huh?" Alibaba muttered, confused.

"Equality? No king?" Cassim asked as black fog seeped out of his blade. "When in the hell did I ever say I wanted those things?!"

He then sent a jet of black fog at Alibaba, who jumped out of the way. However, two more Fog Troop members held up Fog Swords of their own, and black fog soon swirled out of them!

'More Black Binding Fog Swords?!' Alibaba thought. 'More Magic Tools! Still…Amon's flame can dispel any damn fog!'

With that, Alibaba swung his knife, causing the flames to burn higher and brighter, blocking the black fog!

"Red Illusion Fog Sword!" Zaynab shouted as she released a burst of red fog that his Alibaba dead on!

"AGH!" Alibaba cried as he rubbed his bloodshot eyes and looked around. "Red fog…I can't see…!"

He could make Cassim's form, walking toward him as he stumbled about.

"Listen, Alibaba," Cassim said, putting a cigar in his mouth. "Do you think that royal brats should live like royalty…while brats born in the backstreets should spend their lives, rotting there?!"

Before long, Alibaba found himself trapped, his limbs bounded by the black fog created by the other members of the Fog Troop.

"Well, I don't," Cassim continued. "I believe we're all human…"

SWIP! SWOOOO! He raised his Fog Sword, and soon, a giant ball of Black Binding Fog formed at the edge of the blade!

"…So that's why…anyone has the right to be king!"

Alibaba gasped in horror as Cassim sent the ball of fog at him, but just when it was about to crush him, SLASH! Alibaba cut through the ball with the Sword of Amon!

"What the…?!" Cassim questioned in surprise.

"…Cassim," Alibaba hissed. "Are you saying that all this time, you wanted to be king?! Well, I won't let you! I won't let you destroy anything or anyone else, just for your personal ambition!"

"What in the hell is with that sword?!" Cassim asked.

"Who cares?!" Hassan questioned. "My Yellow Erosive Fog Sword will melt it! GRAAAAAAAHH!"

SNAP! The Sword of Amon easily cut Hassan's weapon in two!

"W-what the hell?!" Hassan questioned.

Alibaba dashed at the other Fog Troop members with lightning speed, slicing their Fog Swords into pieces!

"No!" Zaynab cried. "Our Fog Swords! They're useless!"

'The Sword of Amon can cut through anything with its heat!' Alibaba thought before he saw Cassim charge at him. 'And so…you can't defend against it!'

SLASH! With a single swipe, Alibaba cut through Cassim's Fog Sword, rendering it useless!

"Gah!" Cassim cried before Alibaba held the Sword of Amon beside his neck.

"Cassim, withdraw your rebels," Alibaba ordered, "or else I'll make you!"

As thee flames subsided, Alibaba saw that the soldiers had subdued the rest of the Fog Troop.

"Prince Alibaba!" exclaimed one of them. "We have subdued the rebels in the palace!"

From the balcony, Sinbad saw everything and gasped in surprise.

'Alibaba finally did a Weapon Equip!' he thought. 'Amazing!'

Alibaba glared at Cassim, who is now on his knees as the Sword of Amon was poised against his head.

'To stop this uprising, he has to call off his men,' Alibaba thought. 'He has to!'

"…Alibaba," Cassim hissed, "if you think I'm gonna call them off, then screw you!"

Alibaba gasped as Cassim stood up.

"Instead of tucking my tail and running away like a dog," the latter said, "I'd rather die!"

"What?!" Alibaba questioned in shock.

"Don't play dumb!" Cassim barked. "You knew that the moment you came here for this fight! So go on…do it! Kill me!"

Alibaba just stared at Cassim in horror as the latter pressed his neck against the Sword of Amon, the blade slightly burning his skin.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!" Cassim questioned. "KILL ME ALREADY, DAMMIT!"

"C…Cassim…!" Alibaba whispered.

"He won't withdraw," said a soldier.

"There's no choice," said the General of the Left. "Killing him will at least weaken the rebels' morale."

Alozza, Morgiana, and Shahra all stared in anticipation.

"Alibaba…" Morgiana whispered.

"You're not…really gonna kill him…are you?" Alozza asked. "You're way too pure for that!"

A pause, but then Alibaba seethed as he raised his weapon. He roared as he prepared to deliver the final blow…but then, he saw brief images of him and Cassim as children, the latter smiling at him, sadly.

Then, out of nowhere…the Sword of Amon disappeared, reverting back to its original form. Alibaba fell behind Cassim, who looked down at him in surprise.

"Dammit!" Alibaba cursed as he screwed his eyes shut, trying to keep his tears from escaping. "I can't do it! Cassim, please…just call of your rebels! Do it now to stop this needless violence! Please…if you do that…then maybe…maybe…!"

He sniffled as he wiped his eyes and looked up at him.

"PLEAS, CASSIM!" he cried. "I BEG OF YOU!"

A pause came…but then Cassim smirked at him.

"You are so damn soft, you know that?" he asked as he walked passed him. "But the world isn't so kind, you know, so I'm not budging…see ya, Alibaba."

Alibaba gasped in horror as Cassim walked passed him, only to be surrounded by soldiers.

"He's the ringleader behind all this!" shouted the General of the Left. "Seize him!"

"Obey, or we'll end this with your corpse!" shouted another soldier.

"Boss!" cried Zaynab, a spear held to her throat.

"Boss, get outta here!" Hassan shouted. "Don't worry about us! Just run!"

Morgiana, Shahra, and Alozza gasped while Sinbad sneered. However, Cassim just looked at the guards with a grin, much to their confusion.

'Looks like I've got no choice,' Cassim thought as he looked at his broken Fog Sword.

Flashback

Cassim is speaking with his arms dealer as he was given the Black Binding Fog Sword for the first time.

"As a last resort," the suspicious man told him, "you can use the true power within your weapon."

"True power?" Cassim repeated as he looked at it.

"However, if you aren't a suitable vessel," the arms dealer began, "it will kill you."

Flashback end

Cassim sighed as he lifted his Fog Sword…before he pointed at his chest.

"What's he about to do?" Morgiana asked.

"Wait…is he gonna kill himself with that?!" asked Alozza.

"Cassim, no!" Alibaba cried. "DON'T!"

SHUNK! Cassim stabbed his broken blade right into his heart, causing him to cough up a large amount of blood! However…he just grinned as he snickered darkly.

"Watch this…you rats from the backstreets…!" he said, blood dripping from his lips as he pulled his weapon out of his chest. "Soldiers, nobles, royals…all of you…I'll show you the way to true power!"

Everyone gasped in shock and horror.

"Now…GATHER TO ME!" Cassim shouted, and soon, the broken Fog Swords began to float toward him.

Nearby, Markkio continued to watch from atop the palace roof.

"Ahh…" he sighed. "If one such as he command with his blood, with that as sustenance, the household gathers into one.. He is a master of the Dark Metal Vessel!"

Just then, the shattered remains of the Fog Swords suddenly stabbed into Cassim's flesh, sinking into him until his body began to bulge and grow, his skin becoming as black as coal. He screamed in agony as his voice became deep and almost unearthly until it didn't even sound human. The black rukh swirled around, swallowing him in the darkness, creating a giant whirlwind that almost sent everyone flying, except for Alibaba, Sinbad, Alozza, Morgiana, Shahra, and several soldiers.

Soon, the black rukh fled…revealing a gigantic humanoid being with black skin, long, claw-like nails on its fingertips, gigantic bat-like wings, sharp fangs, and three yellow eyes, one right in the middle of its forehead!

"W-w-what is that thing?!" asked one of the soldiers in fright.

"It's a…Dark Djinn?!" Zaynab questioned in shock.

"Holy Mother of Solomon!" cried Alozza in horror.

"C…Cassim…!" Alibaba whispered in shock.

"Is that…a Djinn Equip?!" Sinbad asked. "No…it's an actual Djinn!"

"Not just any Djinn," Markkio said, holding his staff. "Our black rukh give it spark! It forms around a dark king who will bring chaos and disorder to this wretched world! It is our Holy Warrior!"

Just then, the beast flew up into the air…and unleashed a piercing demonic roar!

Until Next Night…

May have rushed this just a bit.

Review, please!