Night 30- Alibaba's Nature

Magi © Shinobu Ohtaka

Shahra © Me

Alozza © Darkdarling98

Everyone gaped in absolute horror at Cassim…or rather, what he had become: a monstrous being with black skin and gigantic wings, like something out of a nightmare. Its three piercing yellow eyes glowered down at its prey before opening its mouth and letting out a powerful unearthly roar.

"W…what in the world is that thing?!" asked Morgiana in shock.

"A Dark Djinn!" Sinbad answered.

"You mean you've seen that thing before?!" Alozza asked.

Markkio chuckled as he watched Cassim begin to take flight.

"Our Djinn is a success!" he declared. "Djinn are beings created by the rukh. Normally, only a Magi can make them appear, but we have found a new way! A Djinn formation art using black rukh!"

Then, two black balls of dark energy formed in Cassim's clawed hands.

"Are those…balls of Black Binding Fog?!" asked Alozza.

Cassim threw the balls at the soldiers, some of whom tried to escape, but they were soon crushed to death!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" one of them screamed. "SOMEONE HELP US!"

Just when he and another one of his comrades were about to meet the same fate as the others, an orange blur dashed by and grabbed them before another ball could hit. It is soon revealed to be Shahra, who had bandages wrapped around her torso and paw.

"Shahra!" Alozza called. "Atta girl!"

Shahra soon dropped the soldiers gently, but she flinched in pain when she put weight on her paw.

"Alibaba! Shahra's still hurt!" Morgiana cried. "If you don't do something, that monster will everyone!"

"Alibaba!" Alozza shouted. "Snap out of it!"

Alibaba just stood there, gaping at Cassim's monstrous image.

'Is that…really Cassim?!' he thought.

Just then, Cassim snapped his head to his left, glaring at the palace, where Abhmad, Sabhmad, and other soldiers stood.

"Th-that monster's looking at us!" Abhmad stammered, terrified.

Then, Cassim darted towards them, holding up a ball of Black Binding Fog, but just when he was getting ready to crush the Royal Brothers, too, Morgiana leapt up and kicked him in the jaw, sending him crashing to the ground, right in front of Alibaba!

"Alibaba, now's your chance!" Morgiana called. "Hurry and finish him!"

Alibaba just stood there, gasping in horror as Cassim lied dazed at his feet.

"What are you waiting for?!" Alozza questioned. "Hurry before he gets up!"

Just as soon as she said this, Cassim glared up at Alibaba, holding up another Black Binding Fog ball. Alibaba gasped before he raised the Sword of Amon, and as Cassim charged, SLASH! The prince cut his left arm and wing right off!

"Did I get him?!" Alibaba questioned.

"Well, looks like he can't fly now!" Alozza answered.

"But he's still alive!" Morgiana added. "Look!"

Alibaba turned to see Cassim staggering to his feet.

"Try it again, Alibaba!" Alozza said.

Just when Alibaba was about to do so, a swarm of black rukh appeared beyond the palace walls, flying toward Cassim until his left arm and wing completely regenerated!

"What?!" Alibaba questioned in shock. "But how?!"

"The Dark Djinn can regenerate as long as the black rukh supply him!" Markkio explained. "And what fuels the black rukh…is hatred. The hatred of those who bemoan this world and their fate feeds the darkness!"

XXX

Outside in the streets, the city of Balbadd was engulfed in flames. People from the backstreets ambushed noblemen, threatening to kill them with knives, spears, and whatever weapons they had. As they did…more black rukh formed around them, spiraling into the sky.

XXX

Back at the palace, everyone gasped upon seeing Cassim grow bigger and bigger as the black rukh flowed into his body. He roared powerfully as he towered over everyone.

"What in the hell?!" Alibaba questioned while Shahra growled viciously.

'He's absorbing those black birds and growing!' Morgiana thought. 'I better try again!'

Just as Morgiana was about to attack again, Cassim turned to her and clenched his fist, somehow pulling her towards him.

"What the?!" Alozza questioned.

Then, Cassim opened his palm and made a thrusting motion with his arm, sending Morgiana flying over the palace wall!

"MORGIANA!" Alibaba and Alozza cried.

KRASH! Morgiana ended up crashing into the wall of a house, much to the confusion of the people.

"What in the world?!" asked a man. "This girl just came flying outta nowhere!"

"Hey! You okay?!" asked another.

"Ngh…A-Alibaba…!" Morgiana groaned as she tried to get up.

"H-hey! Look up there!" cried a third man as he pointed at the sky. Morgiana looked up and gasped upon seeing Cassim, creating a gigantic sphere of Black Binding Fog.

'Oh, no…!' Morgiana thought. 'Even Alibaba's sword can't defend against THAT!'

XXX

Alibaba gasped in horror upon seeing the giant sphere that Cassim was about to throw.

"Dammit, what are we gonna do?!" Alozza asked.

"I gotta stop thing!" Alibaba cried as he ran off.

"Alibaba, wait!" cried Alozza.

Cassim roared as he aim the sphere right at Abhmad and Sabhmad.

"W-w-why is that thing so focused on us?!" Abhmad questioned with terrified tears in his eyes.

"Run for it!" Balkirk shouted.

"CASSIM!" Alibaba shouted. "STOOOOOOOOOOOOP!"

There was a flash of light, and everyone shielded their eyes, fearing the worst…but there was no screaming of agony or the sound of rubble falling to the ground. When the light cleared, everyone gasped upon seeing Sinbad and Alozza, the latter stabbing her sword into Cassim's third eye, causing him to roar in pain while Sinbad grabbed onto the back of his head.

"Sinbad?! Alozza?!" Alibaba questioned in surprise.

"Keep him steady!" Sinbad shouted as he raised his hand and stabbed it into the back of Cassim's neck, causing the sphere of Black Binding Fog to dissipate.

"Look!" Alozza exclaimed. "It's working!"

'That's what he did with Cassim's fog, too!' Alibaba thought.

"Magoi Manipulation, eh?" asked Markkio. "That's quite irksome, King Sinbad…but how long can one man withstand neutralizing the rukh of countless soul?"

Just then, Sinbad's arms started to turn black, then his blood vessels started bulging from under his skin, and finally, he coughed up a small amount of blood, and some of it even start coming out of his eyes, nose, and ears!

"Sinbad!" Alibaba cried.

"Holy crap!" Alozza cursed. "You okay?!"

"Don't worry about me!" Sinbad shouted. "Alibaba! Alozza and I will keep Cassim restrained! Hurry and finish him off!"

"What?!" Alibaba questioned.

"A will has possessed him!" Sinbad yelled. "The will of revolution! He'll kill anyone involved with monarchy, and that especially includes you!"

"And we can't let him do that!" Alozza added, but then she screamed in pain when Cassim stabbed his claws into hers and Sinbad's backs.

"Guys!" Alibaba cried.

"Urgh…!" Sinbad groaned. "A bloody revolution…creates a world in which a noble cause can only justify violence! If that happens, the cycle repeats itself! That's the path Balbadd was headed down!"

"That's why you tried to start a revolution without spilling blood!" Alozza added, feeling Cassim's claws stab into the scar on her back. "That's why…you're the only one who can save this country! ALIBABA!"

Alibaba gasped silently…before he growled and gripped his sword tightly, remembering how all the people believed in him to change Balbadd for the better.

"FINISH HIM, ALIBABA!" Sinbad shouted.

Alibaba growled, concentrating all his magoi into the Sword of Amon. As he did…small tears formed in the corners of his eyes.

'Cassim…I'm sorry…!'

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGHH!" he roared before he ran at Cassim, who had fallen to his knees by now…and then, SHUNK! He stabbed the Sword of Amon into Cassim's stomach!

"Prince Alibaba did it!" cheered one of the soldiers.

"No! Look again!" cried the General of the Left.

It is soon revealed that somehow, Alibaba did not pierce through Cassim's abdomen.

'Dammit to hell!' Alibaba cursed, mentally. 'I didn't stab him! Those black birds moved out of the way and are forcing the sword back!'

Cassim roared, as if laughing at Alibaba's attempt.

'Amon…please, give me the strength, or it'll be too late!' Alibaba thought. 'Give the me the power…TO BEAT HIM!"

The eight-pointed star on the Sword of Amon flashed, and suddenly, Alibaba's arms were clad in orange armor!

"A burst of magoi!?" Sinbad questioned in surprise.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Alibaba roared as the Sword of Amon pierced through…but as it did, the black rukh moved away, revealing a body within, ensnared by black veins. The body weakly raised its head…revealing himself to be Cassim.

"A…Ali…baba…?" he whispered, hoarsely, causing Alibaba to gasp in horror.

'Cassim!?' he thought.

Just then, WHAM! Alibaba was thrown right into Shahra, causing them both to crash into the wall behind them!

"ALIBABA!" Alozza cried before Cassim grabbed her and Sinbad and threw them both into the wall. Luckily, they were both caught by Morgiana, who raced back just in time.

"Are you two all right?!" Morgiana asked.

"Morgiana!" Alibaba, Alozza, and Sinbad exclaimed.

"Be careful," Morgiana said. "He has a strange power. He can pull us toward him or push him away!"

"That's called Gravity Magic," Sinbad answered. "Repulsion pulls us to him or pushes us back!"

"Repulsion?!" Alibaba repeated.

'Does that mean I can't hit him with the Sword of Amon?!' he thought.

"It's not a lost cause! Look there!" Alozza said, pointing at Cassim, whose stomach was leaking small bits of light.

"He's leaking magoi!" Sinbad said. "If he's having trouble healing, that means my attack worked on him! Alibaba, this is your chance! Put all your strength in one attack, and maybe it'll get through!"

Alibaba seemed hesitant, but then Alozza put his hand on his shoulder.

"I know it's hard," she said, "but you have to finish him."

"But…but he's my-" Alibaba started.

"Look at him, Alibaba," Alozza said as she glanced back at Cassim. "Right now…that thing is not your childhood friend. He's a mindless Dark Djinn, hell-bent on finishing what he started: destroying the Royal Family…and he won't stop until he succeeds and has dragged everyone down with him! Don't you get it?!"

Alibaba gasped at this.

"I'm sorry…but you have to kill him, now," Alozza told him.

A pause…but then Alibaba sighed and held the Sword of Amon tightly in his grasp.

"…All right," he said as he prepared to concentrate his magoi, but then, Cassim clenched his fist, pulling Alibaba towards him. The Dark Djinn opened his mouth, preparing to unleash another ball of Black Binding Fog.

'Oh, no!' Alibaba thought. 'I don't have enough power yet!'

Just when it seemed that Cassim was about to finished Alibaba off for good…suddenly, the latter was dropped to the ground. He gasped upon seeing the soldiers, stabbing Cassim in the belly with their spears.

"W-what in the world?!" Alibaba questioned.

"SOLDIERS!"

Alibaba turned to see Sabhmad, holding the royal scepter.

"Prepare to charge!" he ordered. "Don't let that beast take another step!"

"Platoon 13, straight ahead!" Balkirk commanded. "Platoon 24, flank on the left!"

The soldiers charged at Cassim, surrounding him from all sides before stabbing their spears into him.

"Are they nuts?!" Alozza questioned.

"No! Look!" Sinbad exclaimed. "It's working! His magoi is leaking out faster!"

Alibaba looked to see that Sinbad was correct: more and more magoi was seeping out of Cassim's wound.

'We can't give up our country…to this beast!' thought one of the soldiers. 'We must defend our home!'

"They've got him pinned down!" Alibaba exclaimed. "This is my chance!"

"But it's not enough," Sinbad said. "You need more magoi at the edge!"

"More!?" Alibaba repeated.

"Here," Sinbad said as he touched the Sword of Amon. "I'll help."

FWASH! A burst of light came from his palms, flowing into the blade. Alibaba looked up and watched as everyone banded together to try and fight Cassim off, just a bit longer. Shahra leapt up and clawed at Cassim's face, her fangs sinking into the side of his head. Morgiana and Alozza ran at both sides, the former using her fierce footwork to subdue him while the latter transformed into a harpy, stabbing her sword into Cassim's wound. Meanwhile, the soldiers continued to try and keep Cassim pinned, but some of them were getting thrown back. Still, they kept charging in, despite that.

'Everyone…everyone is working together!' Alibaba thought as he raised the Sword of Amon high and charged. 'This is all I have! I'll finish it…IN ONE ATTACK!'

He leapt up, preparing to deliver the final blow…but then, BWAM! A large ball of light appeared out of nowhere and hit Alibaba in the back, sending him crashing to the ground!

"ALIBABA!" Alozza and Morgiana cried.

"Dammit…what a pain in the balls."

Everyone looked up to see Judar, floating in the air as he glowered down at them.

"Judar?!" Sinbad questioned.

"Oh, not that pompous antichrist again!" Alozza complained. "Worst timing ever!"

"There, I hit him," Judar said to Markkio. "You happy now, banker?"

"Yes," Markkio answered. "Sorry to disturb your convalescence."

"Why in the hell should I kill that worm, anyway?" asked Judar.

"That boy has continued to disrupt our flow," Markkio answered, "and he and his cohorts will continue to do so…we must dispose of him, now."

"But what's happening to me?" Judar asked, the black rukh swarming about him viciously. "I'm practically overflowing with power!"

"This is your fallen state, Magi," said Markkio. "Thee black rukh increase your power."

'Dammit…this isn't good!' Alibaba thought as he looked at his knife, which returned to its original form. 'All the magoi I gathered went completely to waste! I hardly have any left! How in the hell am I supposed to fight back?! Aladdin…if you were here, what would you do?!'

XXX

Back outside, the riot continued to grow out of control. The people were killing the nobles and bureaucrats, stealing their valuables and other things.

"DIE, NOBLE SCUMBAGS!" shouted a burly man as he prepared to kill one of them, but then, he found himself snagged by a red rope with a metal dart at the end.

"That's enough!" Ja'Far shouted, pulling the man to the ground.

"Shouldn't we head to palace?" asked Masrur, holding literally an armful of people.

"We can't allow this mayhem to continue!" Ja'Far answered as he looked over at a little girl, who cried as she hugged her mother, who had been killed in all the confusion. "I saw that Dark Djinn at the palace…and Sin can't keep fighting without Metal Vessels! What should we do?!"

Just then, he spotted something in the sky, literally piercing through the darkness as it soared overheard: a flash of bright light, streaking through the air.

"What is that?" he asked.

In another part of the city, the streets are engulfed in flames. Screams of terror could be heard from all around. In the middle of all the carnage, the SML Nando Bros. walked through, looking absolutely mortified as they stared at a charred corpse with a sword already stabbed into it.

"This place is like a living Hell," S Nando said.

"Mommy!" cried a little boy as he held a fresh wound on his stomach and his left eye bled heavily. "Mommy, where are you?!"

"No! Stop, please!" begged someone as another person raised his sword.

"Dammit!" cursed a man as he held the burnt corpse of his beloved wife. "How could this happen?!"

"Somebody!" cried the mother with her wailing baby. "Somebody, please!"

"HELP US!"

As the carnage continued to spread with the flames…everyone looked and saw the same bright light that Ja'Far had spotted before.

"Look! Up there in the sky!" M Nando exclaimed.

"What's that?" asked a little girl.

"Is that…a bird?" asked the mother.

In the sky, what looked like a giant bird of white light soared overheard…heading towards the palace. A pair of azure eyes glared up at the black rukh, determinedly.

'Hang on…Alibaba!'

XXX

"Judar," Markkio told the Black Magi. "Like you, that Dark Djinn is host to the black rukh. Take him by force and make him your servant!"

"Already on it!" Judar smirked as he slammed his palms into the back of Cassim's head. "Listen up, pal! You're MINE!"

KRRRRRRZZT! He let out bolts of lightning, causing Cassim to roar in pain until there was a huge cloud of smoke, but once it cleared, it showed Judar, standing in the palm of Cassim's hand.

"Well, well," Judar said. "Look what I got."

"Dammit, this isn't good!" Sinbad cursed as he tried to get to his feet. "I gotta do something!"

"Wait!" Alozza cried. "Are you crazy?! You're in no shape to fight!"

"THALG AL-SALOS!"

Sinbad and Alozza looked up to see Judar sending a bunch of ice spears at them!

"LOOK OUT!" Sinbad shouted as he pushed Alozza away, only to be pinned to the wall, the spears of ice stabbing into his shoulders and freezing him on the spot!

"Sinbad!" Alozza and Alibaba cried.

"You just sit tight, Lord Moron," Judar said. "Don't worry, I'm not kill you…but I will make you mine."

"Urk!" Sinbad growled as he tried to break free.

"And now," Judar began as he turned to Alibaba, "I can finally finish you off! THALG AL-SALOS!"

He soon sent a shower of ice spears down at Alibaba, who froze.

"LOOK OUT, ALIBABA!" Morgiana shouted as she and Shahra tackled him to the ground, saving him. However, more ice spears came raining down on them, forcing them to dodge. Morgiana was forced to carry Shahra, since the tigress was still too injured to run on her own.

"I can't dodge these things, forever!" she cried. "I don't have a choice…we have to escape!"

"M…Morgiana…!"

Morgiana gasped and looked at Alibaba.

"I need your help," he told her. "Please…throw me up to Cassim!"

"What?!" Morgiana questioned.

"It's not much…but I still have a bit of magoi left," Alibaba said.

"Are you insane?!" Alozza questioned. "Look at him! That nut-job is here, and his wound has healed, too!"

"Then I'll use more power than before," said Alibaba. "Sinbad told me…I can use the magoi within my body!"

"WHAT?!" Alozza questioned in shock. "DEAR SOLOMON, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! IF YOU USE THE MAGOI THAT'S LEFT IN YOUR BODY, YOU'RE ON A ONE-WAY ROAD TO DEATH!"

"She's right, Alibaba!" Morgiana agreed. "You need to save your strength!"

"If I worry about dying now," Alibaba started, "then everything we worked hard to accomplish would be for nothing!."

Everyone gasped in surprise at this.

"I HAVE TO DO THIS!" Alibaba shouted. "PLEASE, MORGIANA!"

"Alibaba…!" Morgiana whispered.

Up above, Judar looked down at the giant cloud of dust that had formed.

"Hmph!" he scoffed. "I wonder where that kid went? He's always scurrying around like a rat…huh?"

A flash of light burst from the dust cloud, revealing it be Alibaba, who held the Sword of Amon as Morgiana and Alozza stood behind him.

"Get ready," Morgiana said as Alibaba put his foot in her palms.

"On 3!" Alibaba shouted. "1…2…3!"

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Morgiana roared as she threw Alibaba into the air.

"A Djinn Equip, eh?" Judar mused. "Not bad, I'll give you that…but we've combined our magoi and made a Gravity Sword! Think you can handle it, worm?!"

Cassim raised a giant sword made of Black Binding Fog, which soon clashed with the Sword of Amon. Alibaba growled as he tried to push Cassim back…but then, he heard a disturbing cracking noise.

'Oh, no…! Don't tell me-'

SNAP! The Sword of Amon shattered into pieces!

"NO!" Alozza cried.

"The prince's sword!" cried a soldier.

FWUMP! Alibaba fell to the ground, panting.

"Alibaba, are you all right?!" Morgiana asked as she ran to him.

"Haa…haa…!" Alibaba gasped as he staggered to his feet. "M…Morgiana…throw me again!"

"What?!" Morgiana questioned.

"Alibaba, just give up!" Alozza shouted. "He broke your sword!"

"There's a still bit left," Alibaba said, "and I'm still okay. I've…gotta try again!"

"But Alibaba-" Morgiana started.

"SHUT UP AND DO IT!" Alibaba barked.

Morgiana gasped…before she nodded her head.

"…Alibaba…why? Why are you always trying so hard?"

Morgiana threw Alibaba at Judar again, but the Black Magi smirked before he had Cassim throw him back to the ground.

"You always shoulder burdens that no one person can bear…like that with the Desert Hyacinth…and that time when you helped Morg escape from Jamil in the dungeon…and that time when you tried to talk to the king…but why?"

Alibaba groaned in pain as he reached for his broken sword.

"No…I know why…"

The blonde prince staggered to his feet, panting heavily as blood seeped from his eyes.

"It's because…you're Alibaba. It's your nature…and that's why I…"

"THALG AL-SALOS!" Judar roared, throwing more ice spears at Alibaba.

"LOOK OUT!" Alozza screamed.

"ALIBABA, NO!" Morgiana shouted.

Just then…a flash of light appeared in the sky before bursting into a huge column that struck the ground, destroying the ice spears that Judar created. Alibaba shielded his eyes, momentarily blinded…but then he heard a familiar voice speak to him.

"You really are a strange one…but that's why I wanna help you out…and hold my hand out to you, over and over."

Alibaba gasped in surprise…for there, standing before him…is Aladdin, holding his hand out to him.

"Hey, there, Alibaba!" the boy said, smiling at him. "Need some help?"

"A…Aladdin?!" Alibaba questioned.

Until Next Night…

Yay, Aladdin's here!

Review, please!