- PART TWO: THE MAGICAL JOURNEY -
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CHAPTER 6 - PART 2
Early in the morning Aswad entered Azul's room. She was awake already and waiting for him to come.
"You…" Aswad said unable to hide his anger. "You betrayer!" He raised his hand with all the intention to hit Azul but when he was going to hit her the blue glow appeared again in her chest and Aswad screamed stepping back for that blue light had provoked some sort of electric shock in his hand. Azul stepped back in shock. She wasn't sure what had surprised her the most, Aswad trying to beat her or that light in her chest. "What the heck is that?!" Aswad said. Azul took out of her dress her little blue diamond. "It's Ali's diamond…" "It's a part of the Mystic Blue Diamond!" Aswad said in surprise. "Where did you get it?" "Ali…" "Your stupid boyfriend had no idea about the magical properties of that diamond, I'm sure… so that's the source of power, the amulet that has been protecting you all this time, isn't it?" "I-I just…" "Anyway," Aswad said in anger. "You spoiled a spell that I prepared for years… are you listening to me? You've trashed the work of many, many years… do you have any idea how much it took me to get that spell? And to find the magical sands? And you, YOU threw it to the portal of the infinite!" "I won't let you hurt my family and the people I love! Never!" "You have been fooling me all this time, haven't you?" Azul didn't respond but Aswad read all the responses he needed to hear in her blue eyes that were shinning with a determination he had never seen before. "I was very patient with you, Azul… I was really nice to you… but you've betrayed me… you've betrayed Karak!" Aswad was really mad and Azul was really scared. She was afraid he could hurt her but then she remembered he needed her alive so as mad as he was he couldn't hurt her. That gave her strength and determination. It was time to fight. She wouldn't hide it anymore. "I'm going to fight Aswad!" She said determinately. "If you think you can keep me in here as your prisoner you are wrong! You don't know me and you don't know what I'm able to do to you and your plans!" "Oh, well, well, well… look at the scared little girl. All of a sudden she's a brave girl. You think you are strong. We'll see about that. You think you won this battle but my revenge will be painful Azul… you'll wish you hadn't ever been born… when I finish with you, you'll be crawling to my feet, begging for mercy… I wanted to be nice to you but you've made a mistake, the worst mistake of all… from now on Azul this is war… and I want you to know you won't have any chance to win… I won't kill you, I need your blood, that's right but your torment and agony are going to be slow… and painful." Azul said nothing but she sent to him a look that could kill. Aswad looked at Majid. "Take her to her room and keep her under vigilance day and night. She's not allowed to put a foot outside that room… from this moment on she's my prisoner." Majid bowed and a couple of guards grabbed Azul's arms. She didn't resist it, she just looked at Aswad and sent him a small evil smile before she was taken away by the guards. As soon as Azul was alone in her room she sighed in relief and collapsed on her bed. Her heart was still racing after what she saw. "It was crazy." She was thinking. "I don't know what I did… I wasn't thinking." She remembered the moment she saw Aswad was going to open the hourglass and release the demons of sand and wind. Her heart went to Agrabah and Alexandria then, to her family and the people she loved… specially to Ali. And she wasn't thinking. Her heart just ordered her to destroy that hourglass and she did it. She smiled proud of herself and took her diamond, looking at it carefully. "So this little diamond has powers. So this is some sort of amulet that's been protecting me… I had no idea. I wonder if you knew about this, Ali. Even though I doubt you did. You'd have told me if you knew…" She smiled and kissed the diamond. "No more tears, that's right… I have to fight." She looked absently at the window. She was lost in her thoughts. Then she shrugged and sighed. "Well, I cannot do much in here. Without those 3 mystical jewels and that amulet I can't do anything in Karak. But today I was lucky stopping Aswad from performing that ritual and casting that spell. I wonder if I'd have the same luck the next time… I doubt it. I don't want to be in here anymore. If I stay this city will stay. Now my only opportunity is leaving the city. And I know it's not going to be easy but I know as soon as I put a foot outside this city it will vanish. And I have to try it. I am not going to stay in here risking the lives of the people I love anymore. I'm leaving Karak… even if that takes my life." She stopped and thought about it for a couple of minutes. Then she shook her head and pressed her diamond against her heart. "I know it's a crazy idea but today's spell was a close call. It's dangerous for me to stay in here. I'm risking many lives every minute I'm in here… and I know I could die in the desert, I really know that but… but I'd rather give my life to the desert than my blood to Karak…" She went to the window and looked down. It was a long way to the ground. It was impossible for her to escape using the window. She took the map of the palace she had made and kept hidden in her dress and studied it carefully. "I know I can escape… I really know I can do that. I only need to sneak away from Majid and then I can do this. I'll leave the palace and I'll leave Karak… once I'm in the desert the city will vanish… as for me… may Allah help me." She sighed but a determined expression appeared on her face and she nodded at her idea. "I don't know when or how but I'll do this… Ali, my love, I won't let anything bad happen to you… I love you." * * * * * The morning was perfect and he had slept very well the last night. He was in the mood for a walk around the wonderful tropical gardens of the palace of Malahy. He had breakfast with the Queen and he knew she had been flirting again but there was nothing he could do to stop that. The Queen had been asking him about his decision of being the King of Malahy but he was not sure about it. So he decided to go for a walk. The sun felt wonderful and the day couldn't be more perfect with a soft cool breeze coming from the sea.Ali was wondering about the princely clothes he was wearing and remembering the old and worn out outfit he had been wearing when he woke up in Malahy. "Was that the kind of clothes I used to wear? They didn't seem as the clothes of a prince to me. Maybe I was right when I thought that I'm just a merchant or a soldier or whatever." He looked around him. The garden was really pleasant and he was really enjoying his walk. "This all could be mine… Malahy would be mine… this palace would be mine… even Queen Karima would be mine. She'd be my wife and I'd be the king of Malahy. The idea sounds so tempting. I wonder if I'm a fool for not taking it right away. Why do I have to think so much about something that seems so good?" He shook his head. Every time he thought about that it gave him a headache. "I'd be rich and powerful and I'd have a beautiful woman… what is wrong with that? Why do I have so many doubts and so many fears about it?" Suddenly a sound came to him. He stopped, for that sound was familiar to him, and looked around trying to locate the place the sound was coming. He heard it again and he followed the direction the sound was coming from, the backyard of the palace… the stables. "A stable!" He said happily. "Oh, I like horses. I wonder if they have horses in here. I really wish I could learn how to ride horses… I wonder if I knew how to ride horses before…" Ali heard that sound again. It was the desperate neigh of a horse. Ali smiled and entered the stable the noise was coming from. When he saw the horse that was making all that noise in there he just stopped, his mouth open and his eyes wide. It was the most beautiful horse he had ever seen, he thought. A golden horse of the color of the sand. "Wow!" He said. "You are beautiful!" The horse neighed happily and went to Ali. The young man laughed and caressed the huge head of the friendly horse. "Hi boy!" He was giggling. "How are you? Hey, you like me, don't you?" But the horse wasn't playful. He seemed worried, almost scared. He kept neighing softly and snorting and hitting the ground with his hoof and shaking his mane furiously. It was as if he was trying to get Ali's attention. It was as if he wanted to tell Ali something. But Ali just laughed thinking that the horse was trying to be funny. He patted him and caressed his neck. "I wish I could ride you… but I'm not sure I've rode a horse before." Reeh neighed and pushed Ali hitting him softly with his head. He shoved Ali to one corner of the stable, where some saddles were on the ground. The horse hit the ground with his hoof and bit the saddles nervously and then looked at Ali with those big intelligent eyes of his. Ali looked at the saddles and then at the horse and smiled. "Yeah, those are saddles… do you like them?" The horse just shook his mane furiously and hit Ali's back with his head a little too hard then he snorted hitting the ground by the saddles with his hoofs. "Whoa! You are a little hyper, aren't you boy?" Ali patted the horse's head. "I'll try to come back later… I really want to ride you." Ali turned to leave but the horse grabbed the back of his shirt collar with his teeth and pulled him back snorting loudly. "Hey!" Ali said annoyed. "Let go of me! You bad horse!" When Ali turned to the horse he saw the desperation in his eyes and how nervous he was. For a moment Ali wondered if he was trying to tell him something but then he decided it was just a crazy horse. "You stay here." He commanded leaving the stable. "I'll be back later, okay?" The horse tried to go after Ali but it was too late for the young man had already closed the door of the stable. Reeh snorted softly and shook his head. It was almost a frustrated expression. He stayed by the door for several minutes waiting for Ali to come back but then he realized his master and long time friend was not coming back soon. Reeh went to the back of the stable, to the corner where the saddles were. He looked at the bags for a minute, sadness reflected in his big eyes. He leaned his head and carefully removed the top of one of the saddles just to reveal inside a small portrait. Reeh looked up still hoping for Ali to come back. But the prince of Agrabah never entered the stable again. Reeh snorted softly, almost a sigh and laid on the ground, by the saddles. He knew those bags contained everything that was important to Ali, from his credentials to his weapons, sword and dagger included. And most important of all, the picture of that blue eyed girl. The girl of Ali's dreams.
* * * * * When Ali entered the palace he was really depressed. He had spent a lot of time in the garden just walking around and meditating all that was going on within him, but instead of finding solutions he just found new questions and a lot of uncertainties.He went to the balcony from where the city of Malahy could be appreciated in all its glory with the blue sea behind it. Ali would never get tired of that view. He thought it was a wondrous place to live. And just the thought of being the ruler of such a land was temping enough to accept what the Queen was proposing to him. "This all could be yours, that's right." Karima's voice came to him as he felt how the Queen slipped her arms around his waist and rested her chin on his shoulder. "I know what you are thinking and I know the doubts you have in your heart." "I don't know what to do." Ali said absently still staring at the city. "It's all so confusing." "I think you are not thinking clearly, habibi. You think that if you accept this you're betraying someone… but who? You can't remember anything from your past. Who were you in your past, my dear boy? You have no idea. For the clothes you were wearing I could say you were just any man. Is that what you want from your life? To be a common man living a common life? But just think, if you were a prince and you accept my offer, you'd only add more power and more land to your former kingdom. What's wrong with that?" "I just don't know." "You are confused because of whatever it is that happened to you and erased your memory. You aren't thinking habibi. Don't torture yourself anymore. Just accept my proposal. You could be my king tonight. Don't you want that?" Ali didn't respond. He just stared at the city below them with a preoccupied expression. Karima's arguments were so logical and so true. What he could lose? As Ali was meditating Karima's words, the Queen smiled mischievously and kissed the back of Ali's neck playfully. Ali's eyes opened wide at that kiss and he turned to face Karima. The Queen smiled at him and before Ali could say anything she started to kiss him all over the face slowly. "Don't think, habibi." She said softly between kisses. "Just feel… does this feel bad to you? Do you think this is unpleasant?" "No…" Ali barely muttered closing his eyes. "We have a future together, habibi… say yes and your future with me could start today…" She was saying as she was caressing him and kissing his face. Ali was enjoying Karima's touch but at the same time he felt disturbed by it. He felt disturbed by how good it felt… and he could remember that feeling from somewhere but as much as he tried to remember where or when he had felt that feeling before he just couldn't. By then Karima was playing with his hair. She was pleased to see she had Ali under a spell, he was in a trance under her touch. She kissed his chin and softly pushed his hair behind his ear, caressing that sensitive spot. Ali's reaction was automatic. It felt so good. He half opened his eyes and all he could see was that blue eyed girl from his dreams caressing him like that. He smiled and closed his eyes getting a warm feeling inside him. A feeling he hadn't felt in such a long time. Karima noticed he liked to be caressed like that so she continued caressing Ali's hair and the spot behind his ear. Ali tilted his face towards her hand, his eyes closed and a tender smile on his lips. Karima smiled happily and softly she kissed Ali's ear. That kiss sent shivers down Ali's spine. He couldn't help it, it felt so good. He surrendered to that kiss moaning softly… and pronounced a name. "… oh, blue eyes!" Ali sighed softly. Karima stopped her caresses right away and shoved away from Ali. He opened his eyes and blinked at her. He obviously was confused and even a little scared. "Who is 'blue eyes'?" Karima asked angrily knowing that even with her spell, he still had another woman in his head. Ali shook his head. He was really confused. "I… don't know…" "You are here in my palace, I've been taking care of you, being nice to you… and still YOU have another woman in your head, don't you?" "I… I really don't know who 'blue eyes' is." Ali said sincerely, almost to himself. Karima sent him a sharp, dirty look and left the balcony. Ali was frowning and shaking his head. "You are the blue eyed girl from my dreams… but who are you, blue eyes?" He smiled warmly. "Blue eyes… it feels so good to say that… blue eyes." He stared at the sea for a long moment, a small contented smile on his lips. He only had one blurred memory in his head, the memory of that girl with the stars in her bright blue eyes. He sighed. "You could be my wife… or my girlfriend… I don't know. I can't be sure of anything… but one thing I'm sure of is that you are my love." Ali stared at the sea for a long while. He stayed in there until it was dark already thinking about nothing but the blue eyed girl, his 'blue eyes'. He couldn't remember anything about her, only her face and that warm and gorgeous smile of hers but that was enough to put himself in a trance. "Or to wake me up from one." He thought. "As soon as I pronounced those words the mood changed between Karima and me… it almost felt as if I was breaking some sort of spell between us." Ali meditated things for a moment and he bit his lower lip. He was starting to have some ideas. His mind was starting to work better now. "What if I am really under Karima's spell… somehow? Maybe she knows who I really am and somehow she's trying to keep that information away from me. She's never called me by my name, whatever that name is… and she seems to be always worried about me trying to remember my past. She's always telling me how I have nothing but her help and support… what if she's keeping me here as her prisoner for some reason?" Ali shook his head. A lot of things were coming to his head then. He was starting to have a headache. But he didn't want to stop thinking about it. "I need to know… I need to remember… I need to find the clues to my past. I know there must be some clues… and I'm going to find them. I'm going to find out who I really am… and who you are, my beloved blue eyes… because right now you are the only thing I have." * * * * * It was still dark and the dawn was not coming any time soon when a lonely figure was running down the halls of the palace carefully trying not to make any kind of noise and trying to find its way through the maze of halls, rooms and corridors of that huge place."I know I can get out of here… and once I'm out things will be easier. I know I don't know what to do once I've left this palace and this darn city but… but at least I'll be free… I just can't believe I was offered to rule this city… I just have to get out of here. Now that I have the chance…" The hooded figure crossed the main hall of the palace and slowly opened the main doors trying not to make any noise. The doors opened just the necessary amount to let the fugitive out and then they closed slowly. "I made it… I'm in the garden… I'm almost out of the palace…" The dark shadow crossed the garden of the palace and went to the huge walls that surrounded the palace separating it from the city. They were really high but climbing on them and jumping to the other side was the only option to leave the palace, for the gates were under constant vigilance. "I can't believe I'm doing this… I was so scared only yesterday… but then everything became clear to me. I can't stay in this place waiting for things to come to me. I can't stay in here expecting someone to come to rescue me… only Allah knows what Aswad could do in the future having me in here… and I'm not staying… not another minute… I'd rather die in the desert that stay in Karak another day." Azul looked up at the giant walls and made a face, groaning softly. "Oh Allah… this is not going to be easy." She looked at the huge palace and smiled a evil little smile. "I can't believe Majid was sleeping at his post tonight. It was not easy to leave my room having to almost step on him but I did it… thank Allah he's a sound sleeper. Of course they think I'm helpless and scared, which I was but not anymore… I spoiled Aswad's plans and his spell… then I realized I can do anything I want… I just have to believe in myself. I can do this…" She looked up at the wall once again and then at her own dress. She sighed helplessly and made a face. "As if climbing the wall wasn't hard enough all by itself… this dress is not going to help me… cursed dress, how I hate it! Oh well… here I come." Azul went to a tree that was close enough to the wall and she made sure no one was around. Slowly she started to climb on the tree. She was good at it but her dress was a real pain and her feet kept sliding over and over. It was annoying but she wouldn't give up. "I'm just glad I made that map." She smiled while climbing the tree. "I don't think I'd find my way around that maze of a palace without it… it was hard enough to find the way out even with the map…" She giggled softly. "And I'm glad Ali taught me how to pick locks… and to think I told him it was something useless when he taught me that… I have to thank you for that, Ali… and I have to thank Aswad for this annoying hairdo, for the hairpins were really useful." She slipped again and she grabbed one of the branches of the tree. She was hanging from there, her feet trying to find some support on the trunk of the tree.
She finally reached a branch that was high and close enough to the wall. She sat in there and rubbed her hands. They were aching. She looked at the city just the other side of the wall and she thought that even if she had been in Karak for weeks she had never left the palace. Her eyes went to the stars then and she sighed deeply. "I don't know where you are, Ali. But no matter what Aswad says I know you are looking for me. I know Karak is such a mysterious place and I can only imagine how hard it must be for you to figure out all this mess. But I have no doubts about you, my love… you are out there looking for me… I know evil is unleashed in the deserts and I can only imagine all the troubles you are having Ali… but tonight Karak will vanish again from Earth…" She thought about that for a moment and a veil of sadness covered her face. She sighed and spoke quietly. "I know I may not survive the desert… I know I'll be in the middle of nowhere all alone. But Ali, I cannot stay in here giving life to this city… I know all I'm risking in here and I hope you can understand my decision, Ali. Aswad almost killed a lot of innocent people with his spell… thank Allah I spoiled it. But he can do it again and I could never forgive myself if something bad happens to anyone because of me… specially to Agrabah or to you, my love… I know I'm going to do a crazy thing… but I'm willing to pay the price, for Agrabah, for Alexandria, for the people I love… but specially for you and your safety Ali… I love you." She looked at the wall and without even thinking about it she jumped from the branch to the wall. It was not a big leap but her dress made her movements really difficult. She barely made it but at the end she found herself on the top of the walls of the palace. She just sighed in relief and slidded down to the other side of the wall. She felt to the ground making a soft noise. She landed on her knees and made a face for the landing hadn't been soft at all. But she was stepping on Karakian ground. She was out in the city. Azul felt her heart racing in her chest. She had to smile and wanted to scream but instead she just covered herself in the shadow of the wall and then she ran to a dark alley that was right in front of her. Azul noticed how lonely and silent the city was. There were a lot of alleys and streets, a lot of houses. And yet it looked like a ghost city. As if no one had ever lived in there. It was such a dark and creepy place. Azul's heart was still racing in her chest and she was trying to calm herself down but she was nervous. Carefully she went to the main street, the one that led from the palace gates to the city gates. She was covering herself in the shadows. She looked up at the sky. "Dawn is coming any minute now." She muttered. "I have to reach the doors of the city before dawn… only Allah knows what I'd have to face in there. I'm sure they are guarded… but I'll manage. I only have to cross those gates and I'll be free… and Karak will be only a bad dream from my past… it's not time to give up… go!" She grabbed the skirt of her dress and pulled it up a little so she could run, otherwise the dress wouldn't allow her to move fast enough. She started to run trying to keep herself covered by the shadows of the nights. She was running as fast as she could but it was a long way to the main gates of the city. The street before her seemed endless under the starlight. It was all so dark and lonely that Azul was really scared. It was just like a nightmare. The wind made strange noises in the dark alleys and the shadows of the night made weird figures on the ground. Azul tried not to think about any of it. She just kept running and running even if she was breathless and her legs were already protesting. But she kept thinking it was not a good time to give up. "I'm so close… so close… I'm almost there… I can't stop now… c'mon, just a little more…" She stopped to catch her breath and leaned against the wall behind her. She was midway between the palace and the city gates. "Geez, the gates are farther than I thought." She said still trying to catch her breath. "From my window it seemed to be closer." She took a deep breath and started to run again, faster this time. Dawn was starting to show on the horizon and she knew it'd be really hard to fool the guards in the gates of the city under daylight. She had to reach the gates while it still was dark. Azul tried to ignore her fatigue and just concentrated on running… running as fast as her legs could carry her. But she finally made it. She stopped just a few yards away from the main gates and leaned against the wall, searching for support. She was breathless. But what she saw made her smile from ear to ear and gave hope to her heart. No guards were guarding the main gates. There was no one there. "This is too good to be true." She thought. "No guards… or maybe the doors are guarded by some sort of magical energy… oh well, so far so good… I know I can escape Karak. I'm just a few yards away… I'm almost there." She looked back at the palace. The dark and huge building looked impressive from there. She had to admit it was a magnificent and beautiful place. "I'm sorry Aswad," She said. "But I will never help you… my life belongs to Ali and only to Ali… not to Karak." She looked at the gates and smiled happily, her eyes sparking with joy. In her heart she thanked Allah and started to run the last few yards to the gates. "Almost there!" She was saying to herself. "I'm almost there!" But when she was just about to reach those gates she stopped short when she saw shadows coming out from the alleys near the gates. Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized Aswad riding a dark horse and half dozen of his guards, led by Majid closing her way to the gates. She realized she was only a few steps away from the gates when she stopped. "Aswad!" She whispered under her breath. "Yes Azul… it's me." "Oh no." She lowered her eyes. "You came so far… to the gates of Karak indeed… and you thought you had fooled me and my guards. The truth is, Azul, you didn't." She looked up at him and sent him a sharp look. She lifted her head proudly and looked directly in his eye challenging him. "As you can see I reached the gates of Karak." "I wanted you to do that." He shrugged casually. "I asked Majid to allow you to escape. I only wanted to know how resourceful you are and I must admit you impressed me. I thought it'd take you longer to escape the palace… but when I saw you climbing on that tree…" Aswad didn't finish his sentence, he just laughed amused. Azul blushed but she tried to keep her pride and dignity and kept looking at Aswad's face with a very sharp look in her eyes. "Why did you do that?" She asked coldly. "You wanted me to escape?" "Actually I wanted to see what are your methods… now that I've seen them I can keep a better eye on you… and I also had another reason… I wanted you to know that no matter how far you think you're getting, you are not. As far as you could get, I'm always a step ahead of you, my little Azul." "Don't call me that!" Azul said in rage. "You can think you're fooling me or plotting against me… well, you're not. You're only fooling yourself." He said examining his own fingernails. "You worked so hard to get in here… you thought you were about to escape… you had hopes and you thought you were succeeding. Well, you didn't and you can clearly see now who's the master in here. I hope this is a lesson well learned, Azul." "You cannot stop me!" She said. "I'm not afraid of you… and I'll try everything that's necessary… you won't succeed Aswad… you won't." "I trusted you Azul. Silly me. For a moment I thought I was conquering you. But after what you did with my spell the other day I realized you are dangerous. Even with that sweet face you are dangerous and I won't trust you anymore. You're under constant vigilance day and night and this is the proof of it. Just… don't try this again, is that clear? The next time you won't get away this easy… and it's really annoying to leave bed in the middle of the night just to come to the city to play with a girl like you. So learn this, Azul, like it or not you are mine and you are under my total and absolute control. Don't fight it Azul. That'd be easier for everyone." Aswad nodded at Majid and with a fast movement he lifted Azul and placed her on Aswad's horse, right behind him. Azul frowned but decided to keep silent. "Do you really think I'd allow my guards to sleep at their posts?" Aswad laughed. "Silly girl! I thought you were smarter than that… now let's go home. I really need to catch some sleep." "You won't break me, Aswad." Azul was thinking. "Perhaps I was naïve this time but I'll find my way out of Karak… and if I fail I know someone who won't fail… someone who will be here any day… don't be so sure about you and your magic Aswad… you'll see at the end you'll be the one who will be falling down… Karak will be destroyed… it's only matter of time. I'll continue trying and Ali will come soon… until then no matter what you do, you won't break me!" And as Aswad led her back to the palace of Karak she was only looking up at the sky illuminated by the first rays of the morning sun and praying to Allah to send strength to her heart… and to take care of her prince Ali who was out there in the desert trying to find Karak. * * * * * That day Ali woke up really early. He didn't want to leave bed, specially since it was such a comfortable and soft bed but he forced himself to wake up. He had been sleepless most of the night trying to think of a way to recover his memory or at least some clues that could lead him to his past."You are the only thing that is keeping me from being totally lost, blue eyes." He was saying as he was dressing himself. "I have to know who I am and it's obvious that only one can help me… that horse in the stable… those saddles in there… I know the horse recognized me somehow and I kinda… knew he was familiar to me. I have to go there and check out on those saddles." He looked at his image in the mirror and frowned. He looked so princely and so regal wearing those clothes. And that ponytail. Ali groaned softly and undid his ponytail and took off his tunic. He untucked his shirt, undid the upped bottoms of it and left the room. The doors of the stable opened and Reeh looked at them not showing any kind of emotion, for he knew it was the time of the day when a servant brought breakfast for him. Instead he saw Ali entering the place. Reeh's eyes shinned with joy and he almost jumped to Ali's side. Ali looked messy, just as Reeh was used to him to look like. That was the Ali he knew. When Reeh nuzzled against his face Ali laughed softly and hugged the big head of the horse fondly. "I'm happy to see you too, boy…" The horse was making soft happy noises as Ali was giggling. Finally Ali grabbed Reeh's head and looked deep into the big eyes of the horse. "Listen to me, boy… I-I don't know who I am or where I came from or where I'm going… I know nothing about me… but I know you know who I am… you know me, don't you, boy?" Reeh snorted softly and shook his head softly, almost nodding at Ali's words and the young prince realized that the horse was actually his. "You have to help me, boy… please! I need to know who I am…!" Reeh tilted his head and snorted, nodding at the saddles in the back of the stable. Ali looked at them and then at Reeh. "Those saddles are mine, aren't they? That's what you were trying to tell me the other day! You are really smart… and I am a complete fool, am I?" Reeh just shoved Ali to the saddles. The horse was impatient. Ali kneeled and looked at the stuff in there. The saddles, a small satchel and a scabbard protecting a sword. Ali looked up at Reeh. "This stuff is mine, right?" The horse neighed softly and Ali patted his head. "I have to do this quickly." He said. "I usually sleep late but when the Queen notices I'm not around she'd send to look for me so I better be hurry…" He took the scabbard and took the sword out of it examining it carefully. He noticed the inscriptions on the blade. "What is this? 'I will change your destiny'… what a beautiful sword… and wait, there's a small inscription here…. 'Ali'…" He looked up at Reeh and the horse just snorted softly. "Ali? Is that my name?" Reeh moved his head, as if nodding to Ali's question. "Ali…" He repeated. "It sounds familiar to me indeed… and if I have this kind of sword then I must be a warrior… a soldier… I don't know…" He put the sword back in the scabbard and took the satchel, opening it carefully. Inside it he found a beautiful dagger with the figure of a golden hand carved on the handle, which convinced him even more that he was a warrior. He also found inside the satchel a beautiful red jewel with golden edges. And finally he found an old and mysterious book that was almost empty, save for the first few pages that were written. But the rest of it was blank. Ali read a few paragraphs randomly but it told him nothing about his past, for the book only talked about courage and bravery. "Perhaps it's kinda a manual for the warriors or something… I don't know… this stuff makes no sense to me at all… these things tell me nothing about myself…" Reeh hit the ground with his hoof and nuzzled to the saddles impatiently. Ali smiled at him and patted his head. "So you want me to open those, huh? What's in here?" When Ali opened the saddle his heart stopped for a second and he was breathless. The first thing he saw was that portrait. The portrait of the blue eyed girl of his dreams. A huge smile appeared on his face and he looked up at Reeh. "It's she, boy… blue eyes… the girl from my dreams… the girl from my visions… she's… she's real…" Ali took the portrait with shaky hands and a tender and warm smile appeared on his face. He sighed deeply and all of a sudden his eyes recovered his spark and the life that Queen Karima had sucked out of them. "She's beautiful." He said sincerely in such a passionate way that made his heart throb with happiness. Ali traced her with his fingertips slowly. He couldn't take his eyes off that painting. He was feeling a warm and deep feeling inside him. Something he hadn't felt in a long time. "Who is she?" Ali asked Reeh. The horse made a soft noise and with his mouth pushed Ali's hands trying to tell him to look at the other side of the portrait. Ali did as Reeh wanted and he smiled when he found an inscription in there. A few lines written in a fine and elegant calligraphy. "I love you Ali, my prince… you are mine and I am forever yours." Ali stopped and smiled warmly. "And it's signed by… Azul." Ali looked at the portrait once again, the most tender and warm expression in his face. He was smiling sweetly. "Azul." He said softly. "Azul… your name is Azul, blue eyes…" Ali looked up at Reeh and the horse was looking down at him with an expression that made Ali wonder if he was smiling at him. "Her name is Azul." Ali told the horse. "And she's in love with me… and I'm in love with her… Azul… what a beautiful name. It sounds so soft and sweet… there's something in that name… something that… calms me down for some reason… Azul… it sounds almost like a prayer… a magic word… Azul…" Ali closed his eyes and pressed the portrait against his heart pronouncing the name over and over. His heart was throbbing in his chest and he had a content smile on his lips. Finally he looked up at Reeh again. "I'm Ali… and I'm a prince… I'm in love with this blue eyed girl named Azul." Ali dug in the saddles but all he could find was some clothes, money, food and water, a beautiful jewel that Ali thought was for the horse, but nothing really important. He was about to give up when he found a parchment carefully packed in one side of the saddles. He opened it and he realized right away it was an official paper for it had some royal seals on it and it was signed by a Sultan. Ali read it avidly. "It's a diplomatic credential…" Ali told Reeh as he was reading. "It certifies I'm traveling in peace across the desert as part of the diplomatic corps of Agrabah… Agrabah? Is that where I live?" Reeh neighed in agreement and Ali continued reading. "My father is the Sultan of Agrabah?" He smiled. "Sultan Aladdin and Queen Jasmine of Agrabah… they extends this royal credentials to their son Prince Ali ben-Aladdin Al-Ababwa, Heir Prince of Agrabah, Grand Vizier and General of the Royal Army… is that me?" He looked up at Reeh in amazement. The horse snorted and shook his head nodding at Ali's words. Ali read the document again and smiled. "Wow! I never expected this!" Suddenly he heard the voice of two servants outside the stable. He hid himself behind some packs of hay. "The Queen is waiting for him in the dinning room for breakfast… Where can that boy be?" "The Queen is going to be really annoyed if he doesn't show up for breakfast." "He must be somewhere here in the garden. He used to wander around here…" When the voices faded Ali went to the saddles and packed everything back carefully. He looked up at Reeh. "Now I know who I am, who my family is… where I'm from… I have to get out of this place and only you can help me… I can't stay in here knowing that my family must be waiting for me at home…" Ali looked at the portrait of Azul one more time and smiled tenderly. "Knowing that YOU are waiting for me… very soon we'll be together again, Azul… I know I love you…" He kissed the portrait and put it back in the saddle. He closed the bags carefully and stood up caressing Reeh's head. "Be prepared boy… I don't know when or how but we'll leave this cursed place… I have no idea where to go but I'm trusting you… you'll be my memory." Reeh neighed softly and Ali embraced him fondly. "Now I have to go back to the palace… I don't want Karima to suspect about this so I better not make her mad… see you later boy." Ali patted Reeh's head for the last time and left the stable. It repulsed him the idea of going back to Karima but he knew the queen would never allow him to go away and also he knew she wouldn't be happy knowing he was recovering pieces of his past. So he decided he'd act normal around the queen until he found the right moment to escape Malahy and go home… or continue his journey, whatever it was. * * * * * When Ali showed up for breakfast Karima looked at him disapprovingly. He not only was late but also he looked really messy."Where have you been, habibi?" She asked annoyed. "I've been waiting for you for a long time. I don't like when people have me waiting, do you know that?" "I'm sorry." Ali said sitting in front of her. Karima looked at his face and frowned. There was something in there, something different. There was a sparkle of life shinning in his eyes and she didn't like it at all. "What happened to your clothes and to your hair?" "I feel more comfortable this way." Ali responded absently. Karima was getting worried. It was not the kind of absent response Ali would give when he was under her spell. It was more the absent response of someone who was ignoring her. She reached for his hand across the table and held it tightly. Ali looked at her and she smiled flirtingly. "I want us to spend the whole day together, my dear boy… I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time… don't you think?" "I-I just…" Ali felt something like some kind of energy coming from Karima's hand to him. He blinked trying to resist that energy and shook his head softly almost as if he was trying to shove that energy away from him. "Azul." He thought. "Azul… my blue eyes… Azul…" In his mind he repeated that name over and over and tried to keep the image of that blue eyed girl in his mind. He noticed that Karima's magic was not working on him this time. Azul's name was a magic word that kept him from falling into the Queen's spell again. Karima looked at Ali's eyes. She was annoyed for she realized her magic was not working on him this time and she wondered why. "What is going on with you?" She asked trying to hide her annoyance. "I just…" Ali stood up. "I had a very bad night, couldn't sleep at all… I guess I'm just tired and I really should be going to have a rest… if you excuse me, Queen Karima." Ali bowed formally before her and left the room. Karima followed him with her gaze and then frowned in disbelief. "What just happened here?" She asked out loud. "He isn't supposed to act like that… so alive. He's supposed to be under my spell… maybe he's getting stronger against my dose of magic… I definitely have to use more power against him… one thing is for sure, Prince Ali, you won't get away so easy." She looked at the door and sighed. "No man has ever resisted my charm and my magic… no man EVER. You won't be the first one, Ali… you're not even a man yet, you're only a boy… and you'll fall in my web, you have to. You cannot be strong enough to resist my magic… I know I cannot do anything if you resist this… I can't send my army after you or anything… but you just cannot pass this test Ali… I won't allow it. I want you for me and I'm going to have you." * * * * * Ali entered his room and closed the door behind him locking it. He rushed to his night table and moved all the objects in there until he found what he was looking for: a pin and a ring."Here!" He said triumphantly holding them right in front of his eyes. "I knew I'd find them in here… I had this blurred memory of me throwing them in here." The ring was on a chain and Ali thought he used to have it around his neck. He examined the ring carefully and he noticed the inscription inside the ring. "Prince Ali of Agrabah." He read and smiled. "That is me… Ali of Agrabah." He put the chain and the ring around his neck and then he took the pin in his hand and looked at it, outlining the letters on there with his finger softly. "Two entwined A's." He said softly. "Ali and Azul… I really like the sound of that." He kissed the pin and went to the window staring at the beautiful city below him and sighing. "She's offering me so much… all of this. It was a very tempting offer, I admit it. And I wanted to accept… until the moment I realized I had to be someone with a past… with a love… it's really hard to be loyal when all you have is a blurred memory of a blue eyed girl in your dreams… but even that blurred image was stronger than Karima's magic. Azul, I cannot even imagine how strong our real love is then… I mean, if only this vague memory is stronger than the magic of this Queen, I cannot imagine what our full love can do. Now I know that all the magic in the world, all the riches and all the power cannot be compared with our love… I wish I could remember more but I just can't. But I'm going to get out of here and I'm going to get back to Agrabah, to my home… and to you." Ali looked at the sky and frowned when he noticed the gray clouds that were covering the blue sky. A cold wind was hitting Ali's face. "Funny weather Malahy has." Ali thought. "It seems to me we're having a storm today." He stared at the sea for a long while. It didn't look blue anymore but gloomy and almost menacing. He was meditating a lot of things in his head and in his heart. He was trying so hard to remember everything but he just couldn't. "I wish I could remember what my parents look like… or the city of Agrabah… or how I met Azul or where…" He sighed frustrated playing absently with the pin in his hand. "I wish I could remember what her kisses feel like… or the feeling of hugging her… I wish I could remember the sound of her voice… anything. But I just can't… I'm trying hard but I just can't! What happened to me?! Why is this happening to me?" He closed his eyes and tried to remember. He put his whole heart into it but it was useless no memory was coming to his empty mind. He groaned furiously but he stopped suddenly, his eyes wide open. "Oh Allah… what if she's in troubles? What if she needs me? And I'm here losing precious time… what am I doing? I have to get out of here now!" Ali searched the room with his eyes and he noticed his old clothes there in the farthest corner of the room on a chair. He went to them and smiled. "These are my clothes!" He started to change his clothes as fast as he could but just when he was changing his shirt the door of his room opened and Karima entered. Ali was motionless when he saw her appearing in there. He stopped what he was doing and turned to her, a mixture of surprise and annoyance showed in his face. "Habibi." She said sweetly. "What are you doing?" Ali didn't responded. Annoyance was replacing all signs of surprise on his face. He was breathing heavily and his eyes reflected his determination. "I am going home." He said firmly. "Habibi… THIS is home." "This is not home and don't call me that anymore… my name is Ali and I'm from Agrabah." Karima stopped and for a split second rage appeared in her face but she controlled herself and looked at Ali from head to toe. "I must admit it, my beloved, those clothes are very ugly but you look great shirtless." Ali looked at himself and realized that indeed, he was standing there with his shirt in his hand. He put his shirt on as fast as he could, his expression not changing a bit. He was not willing to fall in her hands again. "You have no place to go, my dear boy." The Queen said coming closer to him. "This is your only home… I am your only love." "No!" Ali stepped back. "Azul, she…" "She's a memory from your past." Karima said placing her hands on Ali's chest and feeling his muscles under his shirt. "And I'm your present." Ali's heart was beating really fast. Fear appeared in his face having the queen so close to him. But he felt really uncomfortable having her touching him like that but he couldn't pull away, something was almost paralyzing him in there. It was Karima's magic working on him again and as much as he tried to avoid it he was falling under her spell once again. "She's just any girl." Karima was saying. "A commoner… she has nothing that could be worthy of a prince like you… she cannot give you what I can…" Karima said starting to kiss Ali's neck softly. Ali closed his eyes trying to pull apart but he just couldn't. "I-I love her." He barely muttered. "No, you don't. You like the woman in her, that's all… as much as you like the woman in me… but I'm better than her in every single way… you THINK you love her because you have never had a point of comparison… let me show you what a real woman like me can do…" "No…" Ali was muttering. "That's not true… I love her for what she is… my love for her is deeper than only a physical attraction…" "How could you be saying that?" Karima said kissing Ali's ear. "If you cannot remember her?" "But I do remember her…" Ali said under his breath. "Now I remember her smile… the way she looks at me… the way she hugs me or kisses me… but most of all, the way she's always by my side when I need her the most… the way she always supports me… the way she's made a better man out of me…" "Nonsense." Karima said running her fingers through Ali's hair. "Let me show you what I can do and then you can decide, habibi…" "No…" Ali barely muttered not being able to resist the spell of the Queen and her touch anymore. Karima smiled evilly noticing what her touch was doing to him. She started to kiss all the way from Ali's ear to his chin. Ali was breathing heavily and kept his eyes half opened even though he felt he was falling into a trance. He wanted to avoid it, he was trying to fight it but Karima's magic was really powerful then. The Queen smiled and without any warning she pressed her lips against Ali's. The unexpected movement of the Queen made Ali's eyes open wide but he didn't move. His heart was throbbing in his chest as never before. He was scared. He was in a magical trance. He felt he couldn't move at all as the Queen of Malahy was kissing him. Ali didn't return the kiss but he couldn't break it either. His eyes started to close under the spell he was into. He was starting his surrender to that kiss when he felt something in his hand… the A+A pin he was holding. That pin made him fly back to reality. With more strength that he'd wanted he shoved Karima away from him really fast. The Queen almost lost her balance at Ali's hard push. She looked at him and he looked at her, anger in his face. At the same time a thunderbolt illuminated the place and echoed in the canyon Malahy was in. "But what--?" "Listen to me!" Ali interrupted her. "This is the last movement you made on me… I won't allow this anymore! This just isn't right and I don't know what kind of magic you have or what kind of power you have over me… and I'm going to hate myself for the rest of my life knowing that I allowed this whole thing to happen!" "But habibi I just-" "NO!" Ali said grabbing her wrist. "This is over… OVER! I'm leaving Malahy now!" "Where are you going? You have no place to go!" "I'd rather die in the desert than spend another minute in here with you!" "Just think at what you are giving up, habibi! This prosperous kingdom, all the riches of the land, unlimited power, immortality… I'm offering all of this to you… I'm offering myself to you! What would you have out of here? A common kingdom… and a commoner girl! Is that what you really want?" "I LOVE HER!" Ali screamed. "And nothing in the universe will make me resign my love for her… I'd rather lose my life and my soul than lose her!" Ali put his cape on with a very solemn movement. All of a sudden the land was dark under the storm that was hitting Malahy. The sounds of the rain and the thunder echoed in the room. Karima knew she had lost her battle… she had lost him. She threw himself on Ali's arms hugging him desperately. "You cannot do this to me, habibi! I need you! Malahy needs you!" "Let go of me!" Ali said in a very menacing tone of voice. "You don't get it, do you?" She looked up at him. "You are resigning the best oportunity in your life… for her?" "LET GO OF ME!" Ali repeated firmly. "What is it that she has? How could she have you in such trance? How's her memory strong enough to resist all my magic and all my power? How is that possible?" "It's love, Karima… LOVE!" "No… I won't let you go… no man has ever rejected me… no man has ever resisted my magic and my charm… you will stay with me… you won't go!" Ali put his hands on Karima's arms and he threw her away from him not even worrying about his strength or about the fact he could hurt her. The Queen fell to the floor and she looked up at Ali. The prince of Agrabah had a terrible expression on his face. "Perhaps you never faced a man in love before." He said steadily. "And love is stronger than any magic or any spell… I love that girl… I can't remember my past but she has always been there in my mind… even in my darkest hour… Azul is something that is part of me, like my blood… you can erase my memory, my mind, my past… but you cannot take away from me something that's part of my own self… I have her name carved in my soul… and not you not anyone else could ever take her away from my heart!" Ali pinned his A+A pin on his cape over his heart looking contemptuously down at the Queen who was motionless on the floor. He turned to leave but Karima's voice stopped him: "Ali! You can't!" "I can!" He screamed back. "I love her… and what I feel for you is… pity! Know this Karima, you could NEVER compete against true love… never!" With those last words Ali left his room and practically ran all the way to the stable. The rain was really strong and a lot of thunderbolts illuminated the sky. When he opened the doors of the stable Reeh neighed happy and excited to see Ali in his normal clothes and to see that determined look on his face. Ali held Reeh's head and gave him a quick hug. "I don't know where we're going… but I trust you… I know you will take me in the right way!" Reeh shook his head and snorted as if he was telling Ali "Trust me, I'll take you out of here". Ali took the saddles and in less than a minute he prepared his horse for the travel. He took his sword and his dagger and he put his satchel on. Before he mounted Reeh he opened the bag and took Azul's portrait in his hands. The expression on his face changed as a veil of sadness and pain covered him. "I betrayed you, didn't I, blue eyes? I let the Queen put that spell on me… I'm sorry my angel… I'm so sorry… I love YOU… you are my only love, you are my everything… and I know I could never forgive myself for what I did… Azul." He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to the painting. He stayed for a long while like that, until a tear escaped the corner of his eye and ran down his face. He opened his eyes and looked at the portrait once again. "I'm forever yours… I love you." Ali packed the portrait back in the saddle and mounted Reeh. He brushed his tear away with the cuff of his shirt and let out a shaky sigh. He put his hood on and patted Reeh's neck. "Take me out of here!" The loyal horse neighed loudly and he ran into the storm, outside the stable and out of the palace that had been their prison for a long time. Ali was trying not to cry but he couldn't help it. The guilt he had in his heart was stronger than him. Silent tears of anger, frustration and guilt started to run down his face mixing themselves with the drops of water that were hitting his face as Reeh was running like the wind. The good horse took the way to the south, following the coast, not entering the city of Malahy again but going as far away from it as possible. He ran as he had never done before. Ali looked over his shoulder for the last time and took a last look at the beautiful city of Malahy and its impressive palace. He shook his head and sighed sadly. "I hope someday you can learn what true love is all about, Queen Karima… love is much more than just a physical attraction… love is much more than offering wealth and power… love… love is what remains when everything else is gone." Ali looked at the horizon and spurred Reeh. "Take me out of here… take me to her…" Reeh ran non stop for almost an hour under the storm. Little by little the storm started to calm down until the clouds were all gone. When Reeh finally stopped the sun was shinning bright in the sky and the blue sea looked so peaceful. Ali stopped Reeh and he dismounted. "What have I done?" He said going to the sea. "Oh Allah… what have I done?" Reeh came behind him and hit Ali's back with his head softly. Ali turned to his horse, his big eyes wide open and fear reflected in his face. He stared at the horse for a second and then almost screamed his name. "REEH!" The horse neighed happily realizing Ali had remembered who he was. "Oh Allah!" Ali was saying. "Agrabah… my father… my mother… AZUL!" He turned to Reeh and grabbed his head. "Now I remember… now I remember why I'm here… Reeh, Azul… she was kidnapped and I… I was supposed to be rescuing her, not spending time with that Queen Karima but… how did this happen? Wha--?" He stopped and shook his head, trying to organize his thoughts. "Reeh, how long have we stayed in Malahy? Days? Weeks?" The horse neighed not knowing what to answer. "I've lost precious time!" Ali screamed mad at himself. "Azul I've failed you again… this wasn't supposed to happen… this was not in my plans… and yet I let it happen… I fell in Karima's web… I-I---" Ali stopped when he saw something shining on a rock, a few yards into the sea. He looked at Reeh questioningly and then at the rock again. "What is that?" Ali entered the sea and went to the rock, the water to his knees but it didn't matter to him. When he arrived at the rock his pained and frustrated expression transformed into a big smile. There on the rock it was a beautiful star shaped jewel with four pearls. Ali took it with shaky hands and smiled from ear to ear. "This is… this is… beautiful!" He started to laugh and ran back to Reeh. "We did it, Reeh! It's the white crystal! The Purity Stone! Look at it Reeh! Look at it! Isn't this just beautiful?!" Ali held the crystal in front of his eyes and it shinned gloriously with the sun. Ali laughed excitedly and removed his cape to reveal his satchel that he had been protecting from the rain in there. He opened it and took out of it the red crystal. He put the two of them together on the sand and looked up at Reeh. "Two out of three!" Reeh looked at the crystals and snorted softly. "That means we made it, Reeh… we passed the test of purity… and man, it was not easy at all… it was not easy… but now we are closer, I know that we are…" Ali stopped when he felt a movement in his satchel. He frowned and looked at it and noticed the book shaking softly and a soft blue light coming out of it. He smiled and took the book out. "Azrak's book." He said excitedly. "I forgot about that!" He opened the book and the soft blue light caressed his face. He smiled when he saw the letters appearing on the blank pages. Reeh was looking over Ali's shoulder and moving his ears in disbelief. "I know Reeh." Ali laughed. "It's amazing every time…" When the light vanished and the letters finished appearing in the book Ali sat on a rock and started to read out loud. "You've got the crystal of purity now, Lion of the Desert. Purity balances courage. It's the balance between body and soul. The courage you got with the red crystal gave you the force to go on through the white road. The white crystal of purity holds within the qualities of the human soul. Courage is held within the heart but purity rests in the soul. You've proved you have those noble feelings in your soul now. Feelings such as purity, honor, nobleness. But now it's your duty to keep those feelings growing up inside your soul all the days of your life in order to be a perfect man. Those are the feelings that will make you be true to yourself and accomplish your duty without waiting for a reward. You must keep purity growing in your body and soul all the time. You must love not waiting for something in exchange, knowing that true love lies within and not outside. You've proven yourself a worthy man, Lion of the Desert, resisting all the temptations on this road of the universe. You've resisted the seduction of women, power, wealth, ambition. You overcame them and you succeeded in your mission. You must keep going on the road of purity your whole life. You've been purified now. You let your true self out. You rejected what's not according to your true nature because you know you have a goal in life. You have someone to live for… even to die for. Your path brought you here, across the test of purity. That loyalty you've showed, loyalty to you, to your parents, to your kingdom, to the people you love and care about, to the things you believe in… and mostly, to the woman you love. She trusts you… you could've accepted a life of pleasure, or riches, of power, of comfort. But you remembered the real reason of this journey. You kept her in your heart and mind all the time against all the odds. You proved your love for her is stronger and deeper than any magic in the world. You are living according those rules you have in your heart. Your own rules about love, loyalty, fidelity and honor. You've conquered this path thanks to your noble feelings. You've never done this without your courage but loyalty sparks courage. With your loyalty you've got self confidence. For now you know there's nothing you couldn't do for the ones you love. You've earned faith and honor. You are a trust worthy person and that's real honor. Honor is that force that pushes you because you know you cannot fail the ones that trust you. And glory follows honor. But now you know what real glory is. For glory is in your heart. It's the self satisfaction of a work well done, of a promise fulfilled, of a duty accomplished. Nobleness is greatness of heart. You must keep working forever in generosity, greatness and your own spiritual growing. Your life must be service. Now you've been purified in the storm and water. You've been reborn today. A seed has been planted in your soul. Your mission now is to make that white seed grow and give it fruits. You did it well, Lion of the Desert. The white road was not easy and you might think you failed but you didn't. You must be proud of your work well done and your strong and pure spirit." Ali smiled and looked up at Reeh. The horse looked at him almost as if he were returning the smile. "It was not easy at all… but I've learned my lesson, Reeh. My soul is stronger than any temptation. And I'll make it stronger every day more and more… it's a promise." Ali looked at the horizon. The sun was setting and it was a beautiful and peaceful scene, with the soft breeze caressing his face and the sounds of the sea and the gulls. He looked at the two crystals in the sand and a determined expression appeared on his face. "Where should I go now, Azrak? Where can I find the third crystal?" "You have to go now to travel across the Blue Road of the Universe. The Road of Wisdom. The blue crystal you'll find there will complete your true nature: body, soul and finally wisdom for your heart." "The Blue Crystal of Wisdom." Ali smiled. "After Malahy and Queen Karima I think nothing scares me anymore… show me the way, Azrak… my heart yearns for wisdom." "Go to the icy and windy lands of the North. Wind it's the element of wisdom. May your path be a blessed one. Be wise, Lion of the Desert. Be clever in your behavior towards life." That was the last line in Azrak's book. Ali smiled and closed the book, putting it back in his satchel. He looked down and took the two crystals and putting them in the satchel as well. "The Blue Road… the chilly lands of the north." He shivered. "That's the last crystal Reeh… and I've lost enough time in Malahy… I cannot afford to lose another second. We have to be going now." He looked at the horizon. It was dark already and the first stars of the night were appearing timidly in the sky. Ali sighed deeply and pressed his A+A pin against his heart. "Be brave Azul, my love… every single step of the way takes me closer to you… please, don't think I've abandoned you… I'm trying blue eyes… I'm fighting. Things haven't been easy but I'm determined to go to the end… for you… I love you my precious blue eyes… I love you." Ali closed his eyes and said a prayer for Azul, for his parents and for himself. He prayed to Allah to send them strength to continue the fight, to not give up and mostly, to send them faith to never lose hope regardless of how dark the road may seem. Then he went to Reeh and patted him fondly. "Reeh, my dear friend… thank you." The horse made soft noises and nuzzled against Ali's face. Ali laughed softly and then his face was covered by a surprised smile. He opened Reeh's saddles and took the jewel the inn keeper had sold to him out of them. "The man said this jewel would make you the fastest horse in the land." He said placing the jewel around Reeh's neck. "I hope it's true because we cannot afford losing more time, Reeh… in any case you look really good wearing that." Reeh made a noise not very convinced of him wearing such a jewel. The young prince laughed softly and mounted his horse. "To the north Reeh." He commanded with a steady voice. "Let's travel now across the Blue Road of the Universe… the Road of Wisdom… may Allah be our guide… let's go!" Reeh neighed loudly and he headed to the north. Ali didn't know if it was because of the jewel or not but he felt Reeh was running like the wind. It seemed the jewel was really working for Reeh was almost floating in the wind as he was running. Ali smiled and closed his eyes feeling the wind in his face and enjoying the feeling of peace and freedom that ride gave to him. He didn't know what the blue road might have in store for them but he knew whatever it was he'd face it and he'd succeed in Azul's name. "Half the way is done." He was thinking. "Just hang on my beautiful princess… I won't let you down… I love you." And with those thoughts Ali and Reeh ran into the night, following the northern star to the Blue Road of the Universe. * * * Design by The Meanies |
