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*** Note I – Hello~! \(*0*)/ This story will span over both Adventures of Sinbad and the main Magi series timelines, as well as many incorporations of my own stuff. Additionally, if you are someone who's never followed my other stories and is new to my writing, I will mention this now: In regards to the romance, my preferred style is a slow-burn, develops-a-good-friendship-first type as I personally find it to be the most enjoyable, emotional, exciting and rewarding type of romance to write . . . Soooo, expect that here. ***
*** Note II – Disclaimer: All canonical work is under the ownership of their respective creators. All fanworks posted are intended for personal, entertainment and non-commercial use. No copyright infringement is intended. *** I only own the following: My OCs, non-canon places; ideas, events, storylines and plots that are my own and not in the original canon; and, my imagination~ :3 ***
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~ 000 – Ugo's Brief Hospitality ~
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"Never that which is shall die."
~ Euripides
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"Hello, little one."
A city of books was what this gargantuan, foreign place looked like to her. As far as the eye could see, various books, tomes and scrolls were littered throughout the vicinity; she was surprised at the sizes of some of these pieces of literature, as many of them owned a height taller than that of a six-foot human, and a width fatter than a king-sized bed.
Where is this . . . ?
Every sandy light brown surface, every wall, every staircase, every passageway and every column radiated a bright yet tender golden yellow-orange glow from the tranquil light wherein came from above. Small and medium-sized white blobs were also scattered throughout the area. Initially, they looked like mounds of snow . . . Until they proceeded to move about, and many played frivolously with each other. She found them to be a bit creepy; yet after a couple of minutes, she inwardly conceded that they did look somewhat cute – especially the ones that kind of resembled bunnies and cats.
I am utterly bewildered . . . What am I doing here? This place looks a bit familiar, but I've never been here before!
She; or rather, her spirit, was a translucent white and she was speechlessly uneasy when she looked down at herself to realize it.
A gentle, calm voice chuckled. "I see that the Sacred Palace captivates you, quiet one."
Turning around for what felt like the hundredth time, she looked up at a light blue-skinned muscular giant with dark blue chin-length hair, accompanied with somewhat of a long fringe in which covered his third eye that was situated upon the centre of his forehead. Though an attractive giant, she thought that his vaguely big, dark blue-grey doe eyes made him look like an adorable and precious cinnamon roll.
No . . . I think I know where this is!
Sitting cross-legged before her and wearing nothing but a white loincloth, the aforementioned giant – nay, Djinn and Guardian of the Sacred Palace – gazed down at her with a curious expression and a small, warm-hearted smile that instantly dissipated from his face as soon as his new charge awkwardly blurted out his name.
"Uraltugo Noi Nueph."
As she then gasped in shock, a slightly uneasy, albeit curious smile graced the blue being's features. "Ah, I wonder how you know my name. My full name. And please, you may call me 'Ugo,' instead." Fascination swirled within his irises; and a swarm of white Rukh emanating a soft golden glow suddenly fluttered between them, chirping their unique sounds that was unlike any other bird in existence. "What is your name?"
No, no, no, no, no! This has to be some sort of dream . . . I can't be in the world of Magi! I died, this– wait. Maybe I did not die? I'm unable to recall . . . I was hurt badly . . . Hmm. I was hurt quite badly and my corporeal body is probably in the hospital, teetering between life and death – which is why I am having this peculiar dream.
Seriously; people have weird dreams about the fictional worlds and characters that they have read or watched, so this should be normal . . . Yet it all seems so real.
This has to be a dream? If only I can remember what had occurred prior coming here!
Akin to buzzing flies drawn to a carcass, a plethora of thoughts continued to uncontrollably swarm within her mind. "I am . . . Emilia W-Walker. But, you may call me 'Emilia.'" She procured for him a nervous half-smile.
"Welcome, Emilia, to the Sacred Palace!" Ugo looked to be undeniably mirthful as he stared down at her, and he loosely crossed his large, muscular arms over his abdomen.
Avoiding his expectant gaze for a couple of moments, Emilia rose her translucent head up once again. She then spoke in a more collected tone; after all, this had to be a dream, so why should she assume the worst? "I am from a different world."
Ugo procured an entertained laugh. "Yes, I had assumed as such! It would be rather hypocritical of me to not believe you considering that I, myself, also came from a different world than the one I am currently looking after."
"Alma Torran," Emilia commented with a rather blank facial expression.
"Ah . . ." The Guardian rose a thin, dark brow. "You are not from this current universe and you are most definitely not from Alma Torran, yet you know that place and you know my full name?" he pondered; eager to know.
The newcomer nodded. "There are some similarities in my world, but it's mostly different. I know about you and Alma Torran because –" A bit of anxiety began to fill her. "– I've read a series of books about this universe!" she finished rapidly.
Emilia could not gauge Ugo's thoughts as he merely regarded her silently.
I am sorry Ugo; but at the moment, I don't really feel like explaining what manga and anime are, so I am going with "books."
The woman thoroughly liked and enjoyed the Magi series . . . Yet she did not love it completely – her reason being was in regards to all of that incessant talk about Destiny and Fate; it was taken so seriously by many of the characters, and some of them acted as though they had no choice but to follow said fates.
She mentally smirked. And then you have Sinbad . . . For fuck's sake, that man eventually married destiny almost the same way that A Song of Ice and Fire's Rhaegar Targaryen eventually married prophecy.
Finally – and with an intriguing smile – Ugo decided to speak: "My world is a fictional story in your world . . . That is fascinating, yet also unsettling."
A vague frown marred Emilia's features. "I am sorry that you feel that way, Ugo."
Almost in a nonchalant fashion, Ugo waved her apology away. "There's no reason for you to apologize – I think I now may know why you were brought here."
Emilia almost scoffed. 'Why I was brought here?' This is just a dream! Fine, because it's a dream, I'll just play along. There is no harm in that.
"I know about the events that had transpired in Alma Torran; I know about Al-Thamen; I've read about the major events that will happen in the future of this current world, and I even know that you have the fetus that is Aladdin hidden somewhere here and protected . . . Unless he has already grown and you've let him out into the world?"
Startled, Ugo's eyes widened. "I am the only one who knows about Aladdin. And no, he is still developing here." After a few seconds, he seemed to be in deep thought.
Oh, so this is prior the canon events of the main Magi story? The more Emilia talked with Ugo, the more she developed this dismay for the possibility that she really had crossed over to this universe, that the accident that she had in her world was a fatal one.
No, why deny me the chance to pass on in peace? I don't want to be reborn or brought over; I refuse to be a pawn to alter future events! Oh, he's frowning now – what is he thinking?
The ghost of a frown in which was present on Ugo's face now morphed into a small smile and his dark blue-grey eyes held a mix of interest and pity. "I do not entirely know what the future holds; but to bring someone such as you who knows what it shall entail to this world . . . Clearly fate seems to hold a desire to alter certain events."
Emilia wanted to bang her head against one of those light sandy brown pillars. "Sorry, Ugo, but I don't acknowledge the existence of this destiny-fate bullshit." And then she realized that her translucent self was beginning to turn transparent.
"As I can clearly see within your eyes." Now sitting straight with perfect posture, the Guardian of the Secret Palace gazed upwards and stretched out both of his massive arms. Emilia felt herself rising from the shiny, polished floor. "It's time for you to leave. A shame, really, as I would have liked to talk to you some more. Open Sesame!"
On a wall behind her and many, many feet above, a giant door with an eight-pointed star and a myriad of fanciful, ornate designs opened.
"No, Ugo, I don't want to go; please let me stay here!" Emilia panicked with pleading eyes welling with tears. She continued to rise towards the opened passageway.
"Unfortunately, this is not entirely in my control. My condolences, Emilia."
Now twenty feet away from the door, she desperately extended her arms, her hands reaching out towards the gradually shrinking Djinn. "UGO, PLEASE –!" She stopped screaming, for she suddenly felt an odd calm and feeling of safety as the white-golden Rukh fluttered about her, twittering their weird, piercing bird-like sounds. Her right hand warmed as two of the ethereal birds landed upon it.
Ugo now smiled brightly at her and his eyes were filled with a certain tenderness. "Do not be afraid. The Rukh seem to like you and that is a splendid sign. Farewell, Emilia."
Damn it, Ugo!
The doors slammed shut; Emilia's sight blackened, and that was when she came to a realization that this was, indeed, a new reality and that she really had died in her own world: At twenty-five years of age, she had decided to play the hero and save her close friend from said friend's stalker ex-boyfriend. Granted, she could have done it differently, but the situation was so unexpectedly sudden and her reward for that was her throat being slashed open with a knife.
The next time that Emilia Walker regained consciousness, she had already been laid upon a bed and she was in a physical body. Her cheeks were tear-stained; her eyes were blurry and after furiously wiping away a fresh set of tears, she came face-to-face with the surprised expression of the eccentric yet mysterious Magi of the Great Rift: Yunan.
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*** After Note I – Feel free to drop a review and let me know what you think~! :D Future chapters will definitely be longer, as this is only a prologue and an experimental chapter. :3 And before anyone assumes anything, I will just write this now: I do not plan to make Emilia a surprise secret fifth Magi. I have other plans for her~ ***
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