The man wouldn't move from that spot, holding his wife in his arms. He pushed more and more of his rukh into her, refusing to let hers leave her body. He refused to let her die. A figure came upon them, her blond hair trailing out behind her as she walked.

"I did not expect this. Hello Judal."

"Scheherazade," Judal looked up at her, holding Aladdin closer and the staff at the ready.

"Your rukh is clean… how is this possible…" She looked down at the woman in his arms and shook her head. "I heard there was another magi woman. Rumors have been spreading about you a lot, Judal."

The man glared at her. "You are a healer normally. You do this kind of thing all the time. Save her."

"Are you asking me for help?"

Judal bit his tongue, keeping from telling her to shove her surprise up her ass and get lost. He couldn't tell her that. He could feel Aladdin's body getting colder in his arms.

"She's losing her rukh slowly. There isn't much time left for her." Scheherazade moved forward, holding up her arms in a sign of good intentions before she knelt down beside him. Her arms went to Aladdin, her rukh gathering around her. The blond sighed. "There is not much strength left at all. She used too much magoi."

"Then give her so-"

"It's not that simple," Scheherazade glared at him. "It is your fault she is like this to begin with! Don't tell me to do things we both know I cannot! You don't care anyway. Return to your people like normal a-" Her eyes caught sight of the armlets on both of them finally, her words dying on her lips. She shook her head, "you married…"

"Tell me what to do," Judal demanded- no, ordered of her with the most hostility that he could possibly put into his words.

"I can give her my remaining magoi, I haven't long in this world either, but I'm not filled with much." The female magi stared at Judal. "You will have to give her some of your strength as well Judal. You will be magically weaker."

Weaker; the word rang in his ears. He was not one for such things. He was about gaining strength. He was about acquiring and having that edge over everyone. He chose his king candidates because of their strength. He chose everything for the amount of power and status that they had. Every part of his being and life…

"You don't have much time, Judal," the other warned.

Judal clenched his fists, shutting his eyes. "Tell me what to do."

The woman stared at him in surprise once more, taking his hand into hers. "You have changed, Judal… It will only take a few moments."

"Save her."

The rukh gathered around them, blindingly white as they set to work. The armies coming to find the remains of the palace of Magnostadt, the lifeless body of Scheherazade lying beside Judal as Judal held Aladdin in his arms.

Nour went to bed with Sinbad after a day of demanding to know why everyone seemed so glum. No one was acting right and he could see the lies through their rukh. They were all really mean liars. He slipped out of the king's bed, shoving a pillow on the man's face before he went to his parent's bedroom. Their empty bed made him sigh.

He missed his mommy.

His mother wouldn't have let them lie. She would have been playing with him all day and they would have had his father around to play with too. They were all going to be using magic all the time and having a great time together when they got home.

He didn't know how he felt about calling this place his home though. It was too big.

Crawling into their bed, Nour pulled his parent's pillows over, holding them close as his eyes watered a bit. Why had they both had to go? He wanted to spend time with them, but they were both away. Sinbad and everyone else weren't as interesting to him.

Amama was so much nicer.

Jupapa was so much more fun.

He could feel someone enter the room as he laid there crying. He could feel something brushing against him. He opened his eyes to see a black rukh move past him. He looked over his shoulder, seeing a checker masked man standing up nearby, their eyes were glued to him, staring almost deep into him.

He didn't know this person!

All he could do was grab his father's wand from his robes, attacking without thought. It was like his rukh couldn't decide which ability to use. Fire burst forth from the wand, ice following as the stranger was blasted through the door to the room. Chunk after chunk of ice slammed into the person as people yelled, everyone waking up immediately to see what the noise was.

Nour heard Ja'far get to the room first, seeing the man attacking the person as well. Masrur arrived next, his fists slamming into the man. Sinbad and the others were soon there, Sinbad wrapping his arms around Nour and pulling him into his arms.

"Nour! Why weren't you with me?"

"Idiot king, why was this guy in Amama and Jupapa's room?" Nour looked up at him, clinging to him tight as the others dealt with the man.

"Sin… he actually was physically here." Ja'far walked over, hiding his bloodied blades within his robes. "Ithnan is dead."

"…so the Al Sarmen-"

"They will be one less," Ja'far confirmed, nodding.

The king looked down at Nour before he caught sight of one of the boy's spells that was stuck in the wall. The flame looking chunk of ice had him grinning, seeing his reflection in the piece of ice. "You're amazing, Nour."

"Huh?" Nour looked up at him as Sinbad was laughing now.

"We've reached a breaking point, Ja'far. No more Al Sarmen soon. We'll beat them yet." The king held up Nour, looking up at the confused boy. "We're going to work together to make everyone happy."

"I'm hungry," Nour complained, earning another roaring laugh from Sinbad as the man hugged him close.

"If you're hungry then I declare a second dinner! Let's get some pears and wine!"

"Really!?" Nour looked at him excitedly.

"I'll have the best looking women in this whole palace to serve us!"

"Sin, you're getting drunk?" Ja'far gaped at him a bit as Sinbad carried the boy towards the dining hall. Hinahoho came upon the scene far too late into the conversation, looking around.

"What happened?"

"Nour has iced flames!" Sinbad grinned proudly. "He's stopped an Al Sarmen member from causing trouble for us all."

"Well done, Nour. We should celebrate."

"My thoughts exactly Hinahoho!" Sinbad grinned, leading them onwards. Yamuraiha was busying herself with the ice, in awe of its structure and remaining intact.

"Come on, Yamu," Sharrkan pulled her along. "I'm not going to catch heat for you being stupid."

The first thing Aladdin saw when she opened her eyes was the roof of a boat. The rich red fabrics catching her attention immediately, she stared up at the ceiling. Where was she?

Something moved beside her, making her look over at the person next to her. She could see Judal lying there, his face pressed in her hair. One of his arms was draped over her body, holding her close to him. His body was littered in wounds from it all.

"You're awake."

Aladdin looked up, seeing Spartos and Kouha watching her. Kouha was the one who had spoken, standing up as the other slowly moved a bit from his seat nearby. The prince moved to press the cloth that had been resting on her forehead onto her forehead once more.

"You were sleeping for a while."

"What happened? Is Judal-"

Her frantic start of a question was stopped by Kouha's hand covering her mouth. "Shhh, he's fine. You're both fine. He fell asleep waiting for you to get up."

"The black rukh- What happened in Magnostadt?"

"There's not much left in Magnostadt. Brother En is going to take care of things there." Kouha smiled to her. "You can sleep more if you would like."

All Aladdin could do was shake her head, "I don't want to sleep anymore." She slowly moved, feeling her body argue to movement. It felt like her entire being was aching. Her arms went around Judal's waist, one of her hands moving after a moment to hold the flute around Judal's neck.

Spartos gave a small laugh. "That's a tradition for warriors from where I'm from."

"Hmm?"

The general pulled a red feather from his armor. "Someone important to us gives us something of theirs to hold while we go to war. It's a symbol of having a life worth living for and a promise to return to them after the war is over."

"That looks like one of Pisti's tools."

"She is the general I am closest to. It seemed suitable as such to get something of hers to have to return when I see her again. I am surprised that Judal did the same kind of tradition."

"I don't know," Aladdin cuddled closer to the man, ignoring the two. She pressed her lips to his jaw.

Kouha stood for a moment before he motioned for Spartos to follow him. "I believe we should check with the crew about our bearings and distance from Sindria."

The two left the room, leaving Aladdin to lay with Judal. A silence remained once they were gone, only filled by the sound of the waves hitting the boat, the people outside the room moving about their business and speaking to one another.

But there, in that little room, Aladdin lay with her husband, watching him sleep next to her. She held him in her arms, being held in his. Here in his arms, she felt alright. She was ready to be home with Nour as well, to be able to just not worry about the wars and fighting of others. If she could have that, there would be no need for anything else in the world.

Those red eyes opened, Judal's arms pulling her closer. His lips went to hers, pressing against hers possessively. "Chibi…" He held her tight, moving over her as much as he could. He buried his hands in her hair as he kissed her more.

"Hi there," she murmured, smiling into his touch.

"Stop running away from me," he murmured. "You are not allowed to die or run away from me."

"You were the one who ran, but it's okay. I went to stop you, just like you would for me."

"You almost died, brat."

"I couldn't have you run off to war alone." Aladdin smiled. "I'll go whenever you have to. I don't want to sleep alone or have to take care of Nour alone."

"So you'll let someone else do it while running off with me?"

"We will fight fast and come home to him."

Judal held her closer, shaking his head. "There's no need for that."

"You love war, I won't stop that if it-"

"Stop talking and let me just hold you, Chibi." Judal shut his eyes again, taking in her warmth. He could feel her body rising and falling as she breathed; feel the way her body snuggled against him more. She was alive and in his arms once more. If he hadn't had Scheherazade come, if he hadn't given up some of his own strength…

But she was here and with him, holding him tight. He could feel her curled up and warm. She was his moon, the light in the middle of his darkness. The one thing that would lead him to his own paradise was her.

"I love you, Chibi."

Aladdin looked up at him, surprised by the man's words. The other look so lost, but as he looked down at her, she could see that warm gaze. She could see his expression soften. She laced her fingers with his, enjoying how big his hand compared to hers. She pressed her lips to his once more, smiling still as she kissed him deeply. "I love you too. Let's go home. We've got a son to raise and I want him to grow up to be like you."