Friend In Wolf's Clothing by Astral Daamon

Index

Chapter 1: The Proposal
Chapter 2: Past Revealed
Chapter 3: Stratagem and War Planning
Chapter 4: Judgement
Chapter 5: The Arrival
Chapter 6: Ooops!
Chapter 7: Passages to Hades
Chapter 8: A Successful Failure
Chapter 9: The Exchange
Chapter 10: The Truth
Chapter 11: The Offering
Chapter 12: A Possible Future
Chapter 13: Ticket For Three To the Past
Chapter 14: Orbs, Taslismans, And A Bunch of Ghosts

Chapter 1: The Proposal

Disclaimer: Moze and company are not my characters. Bree, the Dragon's eye, Azeroth, Azya, Astral, Hapts/Haptsiepsut, the Soul Crystal and the Avatar's cross belongs to me. But if you care to use them, Just E-mail me at SoulSlayer75@hotmail.com and drop me line about how you intend on using them.

By Soul Slayer

I dreamed
Of an angel
In my sleep she came to me
How I wished
Her gentle wings on my face
To hold her
To have her
Hold me
Her tender kiss
Her gentle touch
Brought me to heaven
~Sean B. Lane ~

A female silhouette emerged from the dark mists of his kingdom. A tall elven-like woman stood before him. Her pale skin reflected in the moonlit sky above, her jade green eyes observing him closely. Her silky black hair flowed in a gentle breeze with each step she takes. "I've been looking for you," she says to him. "It's been a long time my friend."

Her long fingers reached out to him, brushing against his cheek. He pushed her hands away with discuss. "I'm not surprised that you don't remember me. Why should you want to?" She withdrew several steps but was caught in his gentle embrace.

He had no idea whom she is or where she came from; all he knew is that he didn't want her to leave. She smiled at him as she whispered; "The heart never lies."

He woke up suddenly as if pinched, sweat dotting his brow. He's dreamed that dream for the fourth time this week. Frankly that unfamiliar woman was driving him mad. After finding the strength to haul himself out of bed, he found some clean clothing then proceeded to breakfast.

Mozenrath sat upon his dark throne, an old volume in hand. He had been trying to study the ancient spells hidden away from him by his deceased teacher Destane. Unfortunately all proved to be in vain, that re-occurring dream kept creeping back into his mind like an unknown task that must be fore-filled before it's to late. "Remember," he unknowingly said aloud.

"Remember what?" came Xeres' voice.

He glared at his familiar. He didn't want to talk about it. His scowl soon lifted as the an idea came to mind. "Let's go to Agrabah," he stated. It was always worth gathering information before attacking.

She's been watching Agrabah for quite some time now. Her crystal-like eyes carefully scanning every inch of the city from high above. She saw the thieves stealing, merchants haggling, the assassins murdering, and children playing innocently in the city streets. However, she mostly watches the boy she's selected to be hero and worthy enough to marry the princess Jasmine.

Her destination was to visit her family. She's always watching the couple. Doubts begin to fill her mind 'Are they really in love? Will he always be faithful? Will he live long enough to see his own children wed?' Aladdin was the one that worried her the most, he always seemed to jump into danger the moment it came knocking.

She leaned over as if to inspect a small corner of the city. She thought to herself 'Sure he has a genie, and a magic carpet. Nevertheless, what if one day, they were to disappear? What if one day, his best wasn't good enough?'

She saw dark clouds form around the onion domes of the palace. "Not again," she sighed to herself. She had to admit the street rat was like a magnet to trouble, but still it was amusing to see the look on the villains' faces when something totally bizarre came to the hero's aid and win his battle against evil, yet again.

With a snap of her fingers the vision of the city shifts to the source of the dark energy. Yet at the same time hoping she was wrong about the source of energy. It doesn't matter. She'll be there in a matter of days.

The sun was setting over the massive city, giving off a beautiful glow that only lovers could see. Aladdin and Jasmine walk hand in hand behind the under cover sultan, who was scurrying down the city streets to find the correct location that the invitation had set. "Father calm down," the princess said soothingly, "You're acting as if you have a date with this woman."

She had no idea of who this woman was or what her father wanted with her. She didn't understand either why it was of utmost urgency for them to go to her instead of it being vice-versa. "Oh, here it is!" the sultan cried excitedly.

They stood before a large lime stone building. Huge wooden doors stood out making it seem like it was haunted. The sultan pushed the heavy door open then hurried down the long hallway. Jasmine rolled her eyes then followed her father, Aladdin not too far behind.

As they travel down the intimidating corridor they slowly begin to notice the décor. Unlike the bare exterior, the walls were covered in foreign tapestries and paintings of nobles. One of which seems most familiar. A pale young man sitting on a richly furnished chair, with a little girl sitting on his lap. He had dark eyes and dark hair, same as the girl. They could've easily been mistaken for siblings. Aladdin shivered. "What's wrong?" his fiancée asks.

He pointed up to the painting. "Doesn't that remind you of Mozenrath?"

Jasmine examined the painting then nodded. "Yes, it does…" She glanced at Aladdin a moment, then back at the painting. "Do you think that that girl is his sister?"

"Certainly not!" came a woman's shocked voice.

They all turn to the tall woman who stopped before them. She had long dark hair which was held together, by a small golden dragon pin in a bun, in whose center allowed her dark hair to hang in a pony tail, revealing her elven ears. Her startling deep green eyes examines the painting a moment before she nodded, confirming what she had said. From her nose to her chin was covered by a transparent, maroon colored veil. The same materiel was used for her shirt, which hung open and was tied beneath her breast. Beneath that, was a bra-like garb, which was odd for Arab custom. Around her waist, hung a small, golden chain, which would have perhaps served as a belt for her short skirt, had it not been so loose. However, mostly, their attention was drawn to the silver cross that hung on silver chain around her neck.

Her guests gasp at her unusual appearance. The woman bows and responds kindly, "You asked for the best. It is known that my kind are just that."

Jasmine approached the woman and asked cautiously as if the woman were to bite her if she missed used a word. "Do you know the people in the painting?"

"Not personally," she replied. "I had taken the painting as payment for one of my jobs. An old man told me of the two. "

"So you took the painting from him?" Jasmine gasped.

"It was hardly was you make it out to be princess. The old man didn't have enough to pay me, so he offered me the painting instead. How could I refuse such a beautiful piece of work?" The woman glanced at the princess, who seems to understand what she had done.

The elven woman motioned toward another hall, "This way please."

The guests all look back on the painting before going down the hall. The woman stayed behind a moment longer, and glances at the painting once more.

Mozenrath walked out from behind the crimson curtains into the somber hall, after the small group had left. He examined the painting. A sly smile crawls on his face as summoned a plain hooded robe. He then turned to follow the group of guests as he adjusted the newly acquired attire.

The woman looked back down the hall, sensing the unseen man's presence in the building. 'Hello, my love!' she thought to the unseen man. She stopped the group and let them into a well-furnished room. In the center sat a low black marble table, around it were small cushions so her guests could sit. "Please sit," she requested.

Each guest sat down around the table, the woman at its head. "You must be thirsty," she clapped her hands twice, then a scrawny servant boy in robes came forward. "Please get some drinks," she commanded and the boy ran off to fore-fill his mistress's wishes.

No sooner had the boy vanished behind a curtain, a manservant dressed in a plain, hooded robe served the royal family their drinks. The dark woman's eyes never leaving the man. Something about him made her suspicious. It was the object on his hand; that leather gauntlet. The woman smiled in self-satisfaction, catching the man's thoughts. 'Go ahead, drink up fools, and you might as well enjoy it, because it's going to be your last.'

She noticed that he served all but her. She arched a brow, and took the man by the shoulder pulling him down. To anyone it would seem to be a way of catching his attention, when she was truly trying to catch a glimpse of his face. She pushed him away in disappointment as she ordered, "Do remember to bring my drink next time."

He nodded, then casually left the chamber. Her guests raise their cups to their lips but the elven woman stopped them. "Please," came her silky voice, "Leave that drink for your ancestors. It's tradition among my people."

Each of her guests nodded as they place their cups aside. Shortly after, the scrawny boy returns, carefully balancing the cups on the tray so not to spill them. He served each one of her guests before serving his mistress. Once done he bowed then returned to the kitchen. The woman brought the cup to her lips, then noted the reaction of her guests. She immediately placed her cup aside, smiling to her guests. "That's right, didn't get served the first cup," she said more to herself than to the others.

"You had a job for me," the woman purred to the sultan, who sat next to her.

The sultan nodded as he squirmed in his seat. He drew his attention away from the jeweled cups to the young woman next to him. "Yes, yes! There's a young man in a city due west of here," he said straight to the point. "He become quite nuisance around here and threatened the lives of my precious daughter, and her fiancé. Last time he almost succeeded. I fear the worst should he try again."

"So you want me to dispose of this man?" It was more of a statement rather than a question.

"No, simply banish him. If you cannot than…" the sultan nods.

"Father!" came Jasmine's shocked voice; "You're hiring an assassin?" Aladdin rubbed his arms as if a sudden cold draft came into the room. His fiancée put a reassuring hand on arm as she gave him a look of concern.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, Jasmine," he soothingly replied.

The woman nodded to confirm what the sultan was saying, then continued, "Besides death is a last resort." To the sultan she said, "I'll need a description of the man."

The trios' voices all sound at once. "Please one at a time. One at a time."

The sultan started. "He's tall, has dark hair and dark eyes." The sultan shivered at the very thought of the wicked man. "And pale skin. He has a magic gauntlet on his right hand and a eel familiar."

The woman nodded. "Great, now as for payment."

"The Dragon's eye," the sultan said. The woman nods. "Please understand that I will not give you the Eye now. If it falls into the wrong hands it…"

"I understand," the woman cut him off, "Then please understand when I ask for a small something. Perhaps cash value of the Dragons Eye?"

The sultan reluctantly nodded. "How much?"

"How much would you give for such heavenly power?" She sat back in the cushions.

"…I… I'll give you… Half of my treasury." Jasmine and Aladdin gasp. The princess trying to convince her father that what he was doing was foolish, but the sultan ignored her advice and as if spell bound, agrees with the assassin.

"Then have your guards bring it here later tonight. After it's here I'll head off to dispose of the man."

The sultan and assassin shook hands sealing the deal.

Mozenrath watched the trio leaves the chamber, anger filling him to the very core for his plot had again been foiled. He stormed down the dark corridor, and blasted the oncoming guards. He barged into the room that Aladdin and company was once in. The extravagant décor was replaced by dust accumulated walls. There the woman sat on the stone floor, no longer any pillow in the room, or the crimson carpet beneath the now simple wooden table. She was sharpening her daggers paying no heed to the intruder.

He stood at the head of the table, waiting for the woman to look up at him. "Hello Mozenrath," she said pleasantly, not even glancing at him.

He didn't recognize the woman at first. Her searched his carefully trained memory for this elven woman. He smiled as he realized who she was. "Hello Brianna," he said kindly in return.

Bree wasn't like any other elf, she didn't fear humans, nor trust them, nor care for them. In her opinion, humans were nothing more than insects waiting to be crushed. That was one of the many reasons why she became an assassin. Moreover, unlike most of her kind she did enjoy mingling among the human race, mostly to note the little flaws that they had. The worst part of it all was that Bree had been corrupted long before Mozenrath had got a hold of her and had nothing to show for in her behavior patterns. From him how ever she had learned of vengeance, and how to make people do what you wanted them to do without them realizing it until it was too late. To his unfortunate luck, he had taught the last one a little to well.

"Oh don't be mad at me for saving the Royal family," she said mockingly, "After all they were my clients."

"You're treading on dangerous ground," he warned menacingly, his fists at his hips.

"Be that as it may, I can take care of myself. After all, I'm all grown up now, and I really don't need you lecturing me every step of the way."

He hated having no power over her. He knew of the vast amounts of magic that had been collected in her very being. In addition, her magic had grown since they were children, when she had first revealed to him her true power. "You're here because of a job, am I right?" he asks as he casually sits down.

"You don't miss a beat, do you!"

He glared at her. "I have a proposition for you."

She looks up at him. "You normally kill 'them' off yourself. What do you need me for?"

"Lets just say we'll be working side by side just like we use to."

"You must really take me for some sentimental fool?" she says leaning in a little. "Besides we never worked together!"

"Hmm, didn't think so," he pretended to sound disappointed.

"Well, I guess we could give it a shot. But quite frankly I'm not in your line of work."

"I know that. But…"

There was a knocking at the door. "One moment," Bree said. With one wave of her hand the cushions and curtains were back in place. "Come in."

Mozenrath jumped to his feet. Gauntlet flaring in his signature blue and black flame.

Aladdin, the princess, a muscle bound guard walk into the room and a red parrot flying behind them. They quickly react to the sorcerer's presence. "Mozenrath," Aladdin called as he leaps forward.

Razul drew his sword shot himself violently at Mozenrath. The sorcerer ginned as he blasted the street rat, casually sidestepping the guard's assault. Jasmine advanced on Bree, who had her face buried in her hands. "You're in league with him," the princess accused.

Bree pointed at the sorcerer, "He's the one! He's the one you want me to banish!" Shock covered her face.

The princess's eyes narrow. "You had no idea?"

"Sorry princess," Bree's voice went dangerously low. "I can't do that. You'll have to tell your father I refuse the offer." Bree got up watching Aladdin and Mozenrath fight. She let out a heavy sigh, then strode gracefully toward the combat. The guard lunged himself at the elven woman, thinking her the enemy because of the princess's out burst. Panic didn't even cross her mind when his sword cut her arm. "That's not going to do the trick," she hissed at him.

Razul came at her again, this time swinging his sword so to remove her head from her shoulders. With total calmness, she side stepped the attack, placing her fist low, knocking to the wind out of the massive warrior's lungs. In reaction, his sword cuts through her chain, sending her cross flying across the room. She pulled up lifting the man off his feet with her small wrist, then completely flips him over onto his back. He landed on the wooden floor with a thud! In addition, remained like that for several minutes trying to catch his breath. The assassin couldn't help but growl the words "Pathetic," and stared distastefully at the guard.

Aladdin had managed to knock the sorcerer off balance making him trip over the low table and fall on his rear. Mozenrath tried painfully to get up. Pain searing his legs, he remains on the stone floor. Bree walked to the fallen sorcerer and whispered, "Until we meet again, my love."

Mozenrath couldn't help but to glare at her. She only used the words 'My love' to spite him. He got up and grabbed the assassin's wrist, and twists her around so to be face to face with her. He whispered, "You're coming with me." In a brilliant flash of blue and black flames, the two vanish.

The décor vanishes the moment the woman is taken away with the sorcerer. There was no table, no pillows, and no curtains. The only thing left to prove that anyone other than them selves had been there, was a plain wooden box. The princess carefully examined it, then opens it. Wrapped in red silk were blades of all kind, and poisons, and small artifacts that were possibly magical.

The princess's attention is drawn to an object, shining brightly in the last few rays of light. Carefully, she picked up a small silver cross, encrusted with black pearls. "Wow!" Iago squawks, "I haven't seen one of these babies in a dog's age."

Aladdin crouched down near the princess to examine the relic himself. "What do you mean?" he inquired, seeing nothing particularly interesting in the cross. "So what, she's catholic."

"No," the parrot responds almost angrily as he took the metal cross into his wing. "This is an Avatar's cross." Realizing that the street rat, nor the princess understood him, he continued "Yeah, these babies are said belong to one of the balances. You know the balance of good and evil" He glanced uncertainly around the room as if to make sure no one else was listening in on his explanation. "I read somewhere in one of Jafar's books that who ever has this cross controls its keeper."

Jasmine took the cross from the bird and examines it more carefully. "Then I guess it's a good thing Mozenrath didn't find it," Aladdin said as he helped the princess up. "But how do we know if it's real?"

"Give it a command?" the bird squawked sarcastically. "Geeze kid, I don't know. Maybe Jafar has a book about them."

"Do you think that's what Mozenrath wanted with her?" Aladdin asked Jasmine.

"It could be." Jasmine's voice went distant, almost as if she was somehow in contact with the owner of the cross.

In the back of her mind she saw a bright flash and was transported to a bleak domain. There, two people argued fiercely. However, the language they spoke wasn't one she understood, but seemed familiar. There was another flash, and she fell to her knees.

Aladdin rushed to the princess's side. She groaned in pain as she rubbed the side of her head. It felt as if a thousand daggers had pierced her skull all at once. Suddenly the pain was gone.

Aladdin stared at her in concern, but she simply pretended as if the incident didn't occur. "Let's go find out about this cross," she said finally.

Back to index

Chapter 2: Past Revealed

By Soul Slayer

You're moist, warm breath upon my skin
Ignites a pulsing flame within
Words can't describe the burn I feel
My world is false, but you are real
One lasting taste, One fatal kiss
Will leave me in eternal bliss
You know your power over me,
'So why prolong my misery?'
My life is yours. Of that I'm sure.

The dark fabrics of time and space of the gloomy citadel were viciously torn apart as two magical beings suddenly appeared in the once dreadfully quiet throne room. The two beings still argued ferociously even after their brief teleportation. "What in the name of the Goddess do you think you're doing?" The woman yelled at the sorcerer, who held her arms in his vice like grip. He let go of her and grinned before responding. "Saving you the trouble of discovering how much they'll resent you after you done your job," he replied casually.

She cautiously approached him, ignoring the gloomy atmosphere that the room had normally set for any mere mortal. "What do you mean?" she reached out to touch his shoulder but thought better of it.

Bree smiled an understanding smile. He motioned for her to sit. She sighed then looked about the room to find something comfortable enough for her, and preferably something that would irritate Mozenrath. It wasn't long before she found a suitable chair. At the end of the room sat a throne of gold, on it was midnight blue cushions. Snakes and dragons were carved into the gold.

Arrogantly the assassin strode to his throne and sat on it, crossed legged, awaiting the sorcerer's explanation. "Look, if you kill me…" he starts.

Bree wave her hand to silence him. "I know the consequences, Mozenrath, I'm not an idiot." Her voice became cold and full of authority. "Frankly, the Fates and The higher power deem you worthy enough to prove yourself deserving of your life. How, is for me to decide."

He felt a chill run down his back as he listened intently on her words, searching for a mixed meaning. "What's this about the Dragon's Eye?" he asked turning away from Bree.

Nothing but silence. He turned back and glares into thin air. She was gone. He swept the room with his deadly gaze in one motion calling out the assassin's name.

She heard her name echoing through the citadel's dark interior. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself. 'Why did I become an assassin when harassing Mozenrath was just as fun' she thought to herself.

Her footsteps were absorbed into the moisture of the dark mist, which flowed aimlessly across the dark tiled floor, as she ran through the halls. Despite the anonymous directions she chose she was heading to one place in particular, Mozenrath's library. In it, was a vast quantity of knowledge, and knowledge was her life long quest, since the day the sorcerer had taught her how to read.

She quickly turned a corner, looking back to see if Mozenrath had followed her. As she does so, she felt a sharp pain run through her spine, then all was black.

The sorcerer glared at his fallen friend. Mozenrath knelt by the bed and rubbed his thumb on the scar on her arm, which only a few hours ago was bleeding because of Razul. Her cut wasn't deep, yet did heal fast, even for an elf. This was one of the results of one of Destane's various successful experiments that he had preformed on her. He pulled out the small dragon pin from Bree's hair. The pin has a thin blade at the end, suitable for a dagger. "She was sent here to me, but…" he thought out loud. "For reasons, I'm not sure I'm going to like." He continued to theorize mentally, wandering over to clean a blood soaked cloth, keeping the dagger with him.

Bree groaned as she got up. "Take it easy," the necromancer said rather coolly, "I hit you pretty hard."

Bree opened up one eye to see who was speaking to her as she rubbed the back of her head. In response she grunted.

"Your head," he reached to check the back of her head, "Does it hurt at all?"

She pulled away and shook her head. "Not much.What did you hit me with?"

"A crystal's magic," he responded hading her the orb that was no bigger than the palm of his hand.

The artifact glowed brightly various colors when it was exposed to her touch. She inspected the ball closely rubbing her finger over a small fissure in it. "Hey! It's cracked!" she remarked holding the ball up from him to see.

The sorcerer angrily snatched the crystal ball away from her. "I told you your head was too hard," he snapped.

Mozenrath examined the artifact professionally as if he's handled or even created the crystal himself. Bree leaned in a little, a concern look on her face. "I thought you had gotten rid of all of those?"

Mozenrath glanced shortly at his new guest and shrugged. "I'm not the one who found it." Bree arched a brow, then eyed Xerxes who hid under its master cape until now. "Where did you find this?" He asked his familiar, making a gesture with the ball in his gauntleted hand.

"A room full down the hall," it responded, gesturing out the door with a flick of its tail. "I follow mamluck…"

"I think there's a way to tap the magic inside the crystal. Ah, but like all things, it probably has a price." Bree stated, more concerned about the magic within the orb than the possibility of there being more.

Silence filled the room as they ponder on the possibility. Mozenrath was the first to break the silence, "Xerxes could you lead me to where you found this." He raised the ball as if to test its weight. "Who knows what a could happen if it were to fall into the wrong hands."

Both Bree stared at the sorcerer with a 'you really must think I'm idiot' type of look. Mozenrath sighed a curse then suggested, "Or you could show Brianna were it is."

Bree grinned, before summoning rope and began tying Mozenrath up, who didn't believe that of she would actually leave him there,.

"I'm beginning to get the feeling that you don't trust me," he retorted.

"When ever did I make you think I trusted you?" Bree shot back.

He felt a surge of energy run through the thick threads of rope, an 'anti-magic' spell.

He never replied. He simply glared at her as she left the room.

They traveled through various dark corridors before arriving to their destination. They entered a small room, appearing to be used as a storage room. Crates of all sizes were stored in this chamber. Some were small enough to fit but a single crystal, others, large enough to hold a man prisoner. Bree carefully pried open a medium size box. In it were several glowing crystal balls were sitting in a mess. By the looks of it Destane must have tried to spare room in the box to throw in more crystals. Bree arched a brow before proceeding to the next crate, which was somewhat bigger than half her size. Again the box was filled to the rim in crystal balls, only this time they were more orderly and they didn't glow. She carefully removed one from its place and closes the box.

Suddenly Xerxes leapt out from behind the crates and hissed in Bree's face. Surprised, she dropped the crystal and leaps to her feet. She acted quickly, taking the familiar by the tail and slamming him against the edge of a box. She reached for her hidden dagger but couldn't find her pin.

The woman glared at the eel, but aware of what its master would do to her if she did anything to it, she reached for the crystal ball but it was nowhere to be found. Xerxes, aware of what she was looking for hissed at her more violently. Finally she snapped, "Look you little freak of nature!" Her tone of voice startled the familiar. "If you don't shut up soon, not even your master will stop me from killing you."

The eel's eyes watered. He quickly zipped out of the room crying for his master. Satisfied, Bree re-opens the crate and reached in to pull out another crystal. However, when she looked inside, the box was empty, save for the spider webs. Bree reached in searching for a switch mechanism.

Bree had been gone for several minutes. Unfortunately, patience was not one of the young sorcerer's strong points. Luckily for him, Bree hadn't noticed that her pin was missing, not only that, she didn't even search him for any sharp objects. For had she done so she would have discovered her pin held tightly in his grasp. 'Very sloppy Bree' he grinned to himself. 'I thought I taught you better than that.' He started cutting the rope with the blade. As he does so he recalled some past events concerning Bree, Destane, and himself.

He didn't realize it until it was too late, that Bree had been use for experiments. 'An advanced life form' Destane had called her, 'A creation of science and magic; combined.' The old man had been thrilled to have this specimen added to his collection. Though at the time the young Mozenrath did know that he wasn't refering to Bree, but to a being far greater.

Although the young sorcerer was but a mere child at the time, he could feel the girl's energy beckoning him to lab late every night. He fought the urge to see her, but continuously failed. 'She is one of a kind,' he recalled Destane saying, as he wiped the blood off his arm. The wound, as he recalled it, was deep gashes caused by claws, which never did heal.

As a little girl, Bree had managed to manipulate him, convincing him to release her from the laboratory. It wasn't until late one night, several months after her arrival, he first saw her. She bore fangs and had a lizard-like tail, her ears were longer than those of an elf, and she possessed claws on both her hands and her feet. Her appearance frightened him but he adjusted quickly. She realized abruptly that her appearance wasn't normal, and allowed herself to resemble that of the sorcerer's by quickly taking hold of him and manipulating his magic to aid her. Her fangs decreased in size, her ear shortened, her hair of black grew longer curls and her tail vanished.

He had managed to find some of his old clothing and quickly made her wear them. She was a cute child, so it was easy enough to convince some people in a passing caravan to adopt her. He never heard of her since.

Until a few months later, when he over heard Mirage and Destane arguing. To Mirage he was a successor to her dark power. He was a way for her to re-enter Earth permenantly, and wreak havoc on the world.'You lost the child!' Mirage argued, 'A little girl, and you lost her.'

'I believe your boy had something to do with her escape.' He presented a small crystal ball. It glowed black and white all at the same time. 'I found your son's energy patterns in this.'

'Why would he set her free?' Mirage slapped the crystal out of the old man's hands, sending it flying across the room. 'He's the balance of evil, he couldn't have set his own rival free.'

'All children are born innocent, even the evil ones.' The old man bent down painfully to pick up the sphere. 'However, I think I can find her again. It shouldn't take long.' He was only ten at the time, and didn't completely understand their intentions for the girl.

Years had gone by, Mozenrath had just turned sixteen. Like any other birthday, both his teacher and his mother showered him in gifts. One gift in particular interested him the most, a huge crate that sat at the end of the room. He felt the energy waves fluxing powerfully from within the box. He waited impatiently to open the last gift.

When the gift was presented, the sides of the box gave way and fell to the ground, revealing it contents. A barely dressed girl sat on her knees, looking timid and scared in the center of the room. Slowly she looked up and saw the sorcerer. A flash of hope ran through her eyes. The girl ran into his arms holding him in her embrace, whispering, 'You can't let them do what they did to me again. Please not again!'

The sorcerer's arms fell around the girl, as he glared at his 'mother' and Destane. 'I told you it was him,' the old man cheered in self-triumph.

Mirage advanced smugly toward him then pried him away from the girl. 'Considering you like her so much, my dear boy,' his mother hissed, 'You can marry her.'

Finally the rope snapped. He stepped out of the bedchamber and proceeded down the hall in hopes to find Bree. "Master!" a rugged voice called.

His familiar swam toward the young sorcerer. The eel wrapped himself comfortably around his master's shoulders. "Bree meen to me!" the familiar hissed, "Call Mamlucks?"

"No, Xerxes," Mozenrath responded petting the eel like a cat. "I'll handle her. Where is she? Show me."

No sooner was he ordered, the eel zipped down the hall leading his master to Bree's wear abouts.

"I assuming that you're looking for a switch," came a deep voice.

Shocked, Bree falls into the box, then cried out, "Found it!"

The sorcerer peeked over the box to see what she had found. "A gummy worm! You know, from when Destane first brought me here." Bree lifted it up and waves it in front of Xerxes. "I suppose you want it, hmm?"

The eel nodded like an idiot. "Just to prove I'm not completely cold hearted, here." She handed him the worm, then sank back into the box, to continue her search.

After several minutes, Bree stepped out of the box. Mozenrath, expecting a report, simply watched her wipe the dust from her skirt. She turned back facing the crates and shrugged. "Giving up," The sorcerer comments.

Bree gave him a sidelong glance, then pulled Xerxes from his shoulders, and threw him into the crate, quickly slamming the lid over top of him. The familiar cried in vain for his master's help. The elf knocked on the lid and waited for the whaling to stop. Finally silence. "All I want you to do is pull the switch in the corner nearest me," she explained. "Then I'll let you out!"

The necromancer approached Bree, resting a hand on her shoulder. She looked up shortly and waited until she hears a small click! She opened the lid and only find Xerxes alone in the crate. She lets out a heavy sigh then left the room completely discussed with her results.

They search every volume in the long since dead sorcerer's library. They've found everything from 'How to cure the common cold' to 'How to open the gates of Hades without getting yourself sucked through in process.' They've discovered secret passages and forgotten orbs and may other different types of nick-knacks that were hidden away. Aladdin pulled an old book loose from a wooden shelf. To it, is attached a smaller document wrapped in a purple cloth. The pages had turned a dark yellow over the years from not being stored away properly. He flips through the first few pages. The writing was faded and almost illegible, there are fade pictures, and there are small notes which where recently made in fresh ink.

"Jasmine!" Aladdin called, sounding alarmed. "Jasmine I found something that you might want to read."

Jasmine lifted her head groggily as she woke from her sleep. She rose from the table when Aladdin, not yet realizing he had waken her, called her name again, only this time sounding much more urgent. The street rat turned to see what's keeping the princess, who was trying hopelessly to balance herself in the tall room. He went to her and let her sit down where she once was. "I found something your mother wrote," he informed her, placing the document in her hands.

She glanced at it then hands it back to her fiancé. "Please read it to me," she asked, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

At first he was silent when he began to read the faded writing but then read it softly when he managed to read some of the more legible memoirs of the day.

What saddens me however is the not that part of the prophecy, she continued 'You mother will drink a cure to your pain' she said so pointing to my heart, 'but leave the realm a year later. Soon after, Father will send me to a temple.' She knew the reasons but wouldn't say, 'When I return I will turn away from my family and cause them great harm.' It disturbed me to find out that she knew about my illness before I had the chance to tell even my husband. Could her 'dream' and mine be somehow connected?

September 15th,
Jasmine and Brianna concocted some sort of potion that they oblige me to drink. Is this the miracle cure that Brianna's bird claimed that I would drink? If I'm healed of all pain, as she said I would be, I'll be able to spend time with my daughter's before I perish and I would live six months longer than I would have normally without this elixir.

March 30th,
My adopted-daughter's playful mood seems to have vanished with each approaching day of my death. I do wonder if Jasmine can sense it. I can't help but worry for her! I hope that my husband can raise with the gentleness that he has shown me. I hope that he will discipline as well as spoil, I hope that he will laugh as well as punish. I shouldn't worry of such matters…All will be well!

Jasmine took the document in her hands. She saw the notes that where marked in a foreign language and the faded pictures of a handsome elven man with long light hair, with his daughter giving him a hug underneath that was written 'may they be united'. As she fliped through the final pages of the diary a letter fell out. 'Jasmine' was written on the envelope. The princess hesitated a moment before opening it to reveal its contents.

In it is a blank piece of paper. When Jasmine's touch came in contact with the paper, the world around her slowly deteriorated into a dark misted atmosphere. There she was alone. She called out for Aladdin. Silence. She called out for her father. Again, silence.

The princess turned around abruptly, only to come face to face with a demon. She let out a yelp and slowly backed away. Her skin has plastic texture to it; her eyes glow a soothing yellow. Black horns spiraled from her brow, her purple-black hair flowing around it. Her ears were much like those of elves, and her figure looked to be that of a human woman. She had fangs and claws as well as a tail.

"Sister," the demon said her claws covering her face. "Look what father allowed him to do to me."

Jasmine looked away from the demon. "Look at me!" she growled. "He allowed Destane to perform science experiments on me," she let out a sarcastic chuckle, "To revive an extinct species."

Jasmine cautiously neared the demon. "Father did this to you?" The princess could hardly believe the words that came out of her own mouth. "He would never…."

"Look at me Jasmine," the demon cried, "Tell me you don't recognize me not even a little."

The princess brushed away the dark hair from the beast's face behind her ears. "The only one I remember was killed in a raid," Jasmine confessed, "She was placed in a monastery shortly after mother passed away. They said it was the army of the undead." Tears roll down the princess's cheeks. "If I need to see her, all I have to do is go to the Land of the Black Sand."

The demon backed away, hurt by the princess's words. She didn't recognize her. What was she to do? Ah yes the reason why she was summoned here. "You have right to one question." The beast said emotionlessly. "You'll get your answer moments after you wake up."

The demon's cool gaze swept over the princess, leaving her feeling alone and helpless. "What is the Avatar's cross?" Her voice rang out loudly, echoing in vast void of emptiness. The beast nodded solemnly, arms folded across her chest, stance strong. Her unholy voice repeated the question in a different language, than all was normal again.

"Jasmine!" Aladdin said worriedly. "Are you okay? You said something about an old friend being the owner of the Avatar's cross?" His hand brushed against her cheek. "Do you think she could tell us what it is?"

Jasmine's eyes went wide. Her bottom lip shaking at the very thought of her long lost friend. "When did I say that?" she inquired almost fearing her answer.

"You said that your friend lived in a monastery most of her life," the parrot explained, "Makes sense and all, with the power she had. You also said that's where they were the ones that trained the Avatar's." The bird perched himself on her shoulder and continued, "I mean if you put two and two together. It makes sense doesn't it."

The princess let out a tried sigh, then says, "We'll go see her tomorrow." Then left for her room after wishing her companions' goodnight.

The citadel had fallen dreadfully quiet, once the owner fell asleep. Bree however kept herself busy most of the night by studying the citadel's blueprints and keeping herself awake by trying to figure out how that god-forsaken eel managed to keep those crystals from her. She had changed into a black, silk nightdress, proving to the sorcerer and his companion that she did indeed plan on going to bed sometime that night. Of course she lied, after all, Mozenrath knew her well enough not to let her get a hold of the blueprints in his presence, and what better time to read the blueprints than while he's asleep.

She sipped at her tea, ignoring the ghostly essence she felt around her. She was being watched, there was no doubt in her mind of that. Yet some unknown matter continuously interrupted her. Almost like she forgot to do something and had to complete the task before it was too costly for her benefits. She glanced about the room; worry filling her mind. Whispers filled her ears, whispers of warning, other of hatred, of regret, the last that of death.

She jumped to her feet. Her sharp mind piecing together ghostly information. She hurried down several halls, then up numerous flights of stairs, cursing the sorcerer every step of the way. Panting she entered his room.

All was dark and, much like the exterior, bare. In the center of the southern wall was a huge bed, where slept the sorcerer. In front of it a divan, for when he was too tired to take the few steps to a more comfortable location. The window was in face of the bed allowing a few raise of moonlight to enter the domicile. A desk sat in an angle near the huge window. There was a door near the desk, Bree assumes that it leads to the bathroom.

She glanced over the sleeping sorcerer, assuring herself that all was well. She recalled of her missing dagger and began to search his desk. "It has to be here somewhere," Bree whispered.

She glanced back up to the necromancer, making sure he was still sound asleep, then brought herself back to the task at hand, continuously reminding herself to be much more quiet. Then quickly slipped through some of the documents on his desk then rummaged though his desk drawer. She looked back on the sorcerer. She saw a dark mist hovering over Mozenrath. She wiped her eyes. Sure enough the cloud of mist was still there. 'Still walking in the shadow of death, Mozenrath?' she thought to herself.

"This is serious, Bree," she said more gravely, "If you don't do something soon you'll be joining him too."

The haze slowly took on a solid form. She watched the figure with caution, ready to act if it were to try anything. She then realized that hovering over him was the Death himself. She leaped over the desk and rushed over to Mozenrath's side. She waved her hands frantically in the mist, trying to ward off the being. The haze seems somewhat frightened of the woman's presence and quickly faded into nothingness. Satisfied, she headed back to work.

Death's energy still polluted the air around her, making her skin crawl. Worried, she looked back on the sleeping sorcerer. She noticed the cross that hung around his neck reflecting in the moonlight. She leaned over the sorcerer to inspect the artifact. Something hits her on her back, knocking her down next to the necromancer. She quickly rolled over and saw Death take on his final form. His dark, tattered clothes swayed gently about him. His face was that of a grinning skull and next to him floated a scythe.

"I've come for the boy," he stated. His voice seemed to emanate from a pit of an abyss. His jaw didn't move, yet his eyes gleamed an eerie orange light with each word he spoke.

The elf's arms flung themselves around the sorcerer, cradling him close to her. "You can't have him," she whispered harshly.

"I must keep to my list." A long parchment appears in his unseen hand, and he points the weapon at the sorcerer. "He's next."

Bree allowed her curiosity get the best of her. "Where am I on the list?"

The reaper chuckled. "Twenty some odd years down." The parchment piles up to the twenty-year deadline.

Bree takes the list from the reaper, and tore a huge section of names from the bottom of her name, then sticks the new list at the top, and handed it to Death. "If you don't accept your new list," she says threateningly, "You'll have to go through me."

He screamed in rage, raising his weapon to strike them both dead. Suddenly, thunder tore through the sky. Death looked behind him as if receiving a message from God then turned to Bree. He nodded solemnly, then vanished.

Bree released a sigh of relief and buried her head in the necromancer's neck, whispering, "Mozenrath, you lucky bastard, what would you do without me?"

She closed her eyes and shortly fell asleep next to the young man.

When she woke the next morning, she found herself held tightly in the sorcerer's arms. She knew that the slightest movement on her part would wake the sleeping man, so she decided to wait for him to remove his arms from around her so that she might get away clean.

She recalled of the cross that she saw the previous night. Bree's fingers entangled them selves in a golden chain that hung around Mozenrath's neck. Gradually drawing her attention to the golden, black pearled cross that was attached to it. She lifted it up to examine a moment, but the sorcerer's fleshed hand grasped hers. Her green eyes travel to meet his cool gaze. "Not that I'm complaining, but what are you doing in my bed?" he asked, his voice showing more sarcasm than anger.

She smiled innocently. She felt him relax underneath her touch. "How strange! No lecture," she started, placing her hand to his forehead. "Are you feeling okay?"

He took her hand and kissed it as he purred, "I feel fine."

"Give it five minutes," she remarked, "You'll be back to normal."

"I'd give it more time than that," he purred playfully as he brought her closer and kissed her lips.

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Chapter 3: Stratagem and War Planning

By Soul Slayer

From nowhere we come;
Into nowhere we go.

Iago spread the salt in a circle in the middle of the throne room floor, while Abu, Jasmine and Aladdin lit the rows of candles. With Genie's help they were able to find a way to summon the Avatar. When the last of the candle is lit purple smoke rises from them, quickly flooding the room. Bree finds herself surround by Jasmine, Aladdin, and a big blue jinni.

The assassin smiles at the Genie, but doesn't respond. Her surroundings become more visible once the smoke clears. She recognizes Agrabah's palace's throne room. Bree smiles to herself, things were playing as she had planned. "Let me guess you wanted to summon the Avatar of the cross," she starts casually. She had long since changed into a black leather vestment, pants, and boots

The jinni nods and allows his friends to talk to her. Jasmine and Aladdin look at each other before proceeding with what they had intended. The response she had given to her fiancé was that the cross was her long lost friend's and of course they had informed the sultan of last night's events. The sultans sit intently on his throne, watching the young woman with interest. "Brianna?" came the sultan's voice.

Bree turns to face the sultan and kneels before him in a sign of respect. "I suppose they informed you of the little incident with Mozenrath," she says.

The old man nods. "Yes, they did," he responds. "I want to know who your working with, young lady."

She smiles a sly smile. "I work with The higher authority." She gestures upward; ignoring the fatherly title that sultan had given her.

Genie nods idiotically. "I'm not permitted to speak to mortals of my true intentions, please understand," she says as if she were one of God's arc-angels.

"Who are you?" Jasmine asks.

She opens her mouth to speak but is cut off by the jinni. "She's Bree of the house of Damon," the jinni answers. "Avatar of Darkness. Don't let the title fool you though, it just means that they take more extreme measures than the average Avatar."

"Daamon," the sultan repeats, as he travels down the steps of his chair. Bree nods solemnly, "My adoptive father's name," she responds, "He was Magus of Daamon."

He sighs in relief, she did find her father, and his close friend did have the chance to see his daughter before passed on. How the fact that he had survived Destane's attack was what baffled him. "At least you found your father," the sultan says to her.

"My father died ages ago," she spat, still remaining in her knelling position "He ran leaving my mother and me to die. He was a coward not my father."

Aladdin and company gasps at her harsh words. The sultan simply shook his head. "Destane must have done a number on your mind."

"So you knew I was there," she snaps.

He nodded sadly. "I discovered your where abouts after the raid. You must understand, that it was for the best."

"You have no idea what he did to me. What he made me become. Well, I'll tell you. I'm a weapon. Summoned from the demon's grasp to wreak havoc among the mortal world. I should be without emotion. I should be without will. I should be…" she pauses, "I should be dead. I should've been for long time now. However, I'm not! And I'll complete my destiny if it means my soul."

"Without a soul you cannot achieve your Destiny," he lectures, "You need to find one first, before you can go on."

She stares back at the ground all ambition seeming to slip from her will. She got up with cat-like grace. Her voice echo with unholy power. "Thank you father," she says, turning away from him, "I've acquired the information I needed." Then she arrogantly strode trough the throne room, collecting the cross from Jasmine, then travels into the main corridor. Her cloak swaying majestically about her, as she exits the room.

The sultan falls to his knees and began to weep. "She was going to complete the prophecy, and by harming his family and Agrabah she'd be one step closer to her goal." However now he felt as though she had pasted judgement on him, when and how was the question that his heart couldn't answer.

She had gotten what she wanted a long time ago and now had the chance to put the second test into action. By ordering another's death, the Fates granted her the authority to punish the old man. But in her twisted mind his death would teach him nothing. To justify his crimes, everything that he ever held dear to him must vanish. After all there worst things than death.

She teleports herself into her bedchambers. "Test two," she mutters to herself.

With the information she had gather during the past few days, she was sure that she could easily take both Agrabah and the Land of the Black Sand, if its ruler posed any kind threat to her. However, her hometown was her main target, and wasn't about to ruin her own plot because of a nagging conscience. 'Besides' she thinks to herself, 'If he fails it won't matter if his kingdom falls.' Bree faces the mirror, which didn't reveal her reflection. 'I guess Mozenrath doesn't realize that I know I don't have a soul,' she ponders. She shrugs and strides to the reports on her desk. She glances momentarily at her work then gives a tired sigh, "I'll never get done if I let sit there." She slowly strides over to her chair, hoping that someone, liked or not, would interrupt her work.

She glares at the door as if it was its fault that she had avoided her written work for several weeks. She plops herself into the cushioned chair and takes the first paper from the pile to her left. Bree looks up a moment sensing a presence of a magical being. She flips the page over. A moment passes, still nothing. She arches a brow curiously. She was never wrong when it came to sensing unseen people. That was one of the many ways she avoided being assassinated herself. The feeling seemed to hug her, and the more the hug strengthened, the more power the unseen being seems to have. "Mother," Bree breathes, a feeling of relief soothing her.

The air thickens as the being began to take form. Behind it a portal began opening. The dark void filled the room engulfing the young woman. The Avatar's surroundings were bleak and fog floats weightlessly around her. There an elven queen played the flute, her eyes shut. Her short red hair curled around her ears. On her lap sat a flaming bird. Bree kneels down and pets the bird's feathers lovingly. "Hello phoenix," she says to it. All her memory would allow her to know was that it was family pet as well as their guardian and protector and advisor. This creature was her link to the gods will and perhaps if she did what she was told she could win her soul.

The bird flaps its wings excitedly. "Enjoying yourself?" the phoenix says sarcastically.

Bree suddenly stops petting the feathered creature. She begins in an urgent voice as she turns away, "The sultan has failed. I'm afraid I must take his kingdom from him to justify his hatred."

The bird tilts her head as if to search for a hidden meaning her words. "Are you sure you're justifying him properly? Or are you doing this to get revenge on him?"

Bree looks back on the advisor abruptly, she knew better than to hide any information form her. "I plan on using the sultan's fear of my lack of a soul to test Mozenrath for the second time."

The bird flies over to the Avatar's shoulder. "And if he fails?"

"He won't," she responds flatly, "I have faith in him, despite who might have raised him." Bree's voice was distant. "But if worse comes to worse, he will die with the old man."

The phoenix is carefully placed on the floor. "Bree," she says softly, "I sent you down here to judge fairly and…"

Bree cut the bird short, "Fine, if Mozenrath decides to spare Agrabah, then I'll spare the sultan."

"Very well," she says, a tear rolling down her cheek, "Pray he spares Agrabah."

"Have faith," she says rudely before kissing the silent elf's forehead. "Good bye mother." She then opens a gateway to her chambers.

Mozenrath knocked softly on the door before entering. Bree's chamber was empty of all life save for himself and his familiar. He can feel the vast amounts of magical energy in the room. He quickly shakes away the thought of Bree having that much power, it would possibly mean that she is more powerful than he. He notes the piles of paper on and next to her desk. He flips over the page on the desk. It had something to do with sending an army out to Agrabah. He arches a brow as he reads on.

She had the defense plans, blueprints, and history of Agrabah as well as his own. Intrigued he continues through the pile. He finally came across a map of the seven deserts. Pencil marks were all over it. Next to the cities were mostly notes on how to increase the defense of each kingdom. There were arrows pointed from one city to other cities that needed to come across an agreement. Some cities were circled and were drawn over with a valley others were drawn over by a mountain or water.

There was a brief flash of light and Bree was in the room again. The sorcerer grins, arrogantly walking toward her. She pushes past him and pulls out various papers and the blue prints of Agrabah. "You wanted my help," she said coldly to him, "You've got it."

The papers that were collected were piled in her arms. With a motion of her head she orders him to follow her. "Plans simple," she explained as they journey through the hall, "I'll summon up my air force, and a few golems. You get half your army prepared to leave in an hour or two. I'll give you more details after everything's done."

He detests her ordering him around, yet her knew that if he wanted anything done it was best to follow orders, considering she knew what she was doing. He saw a patrolling mamlucks. He commands him to gather the army Bree asked for. The undead guard noded then leaft to for fill its master's command. Mozenrath turned to see Bree heading into his library.

She moved quickly as if there was some urgency behind this attack. He wasn't one to question her actions; he's come to learn that whatever she does she's usually three steps ahead him and that the consequence of her action doesn't seem to affect her. 'I live my life as I please' he recalled her saying, 'Not even the Fates can stop my plans for the future.' She was seventeen at the time, now even three years later she remains unstoppable.

She plops the documents down on the desk before her and faces the sorcerer. "We attack at midnight," she informs him as she proceeds to the one of the other tables that held books, magical artifacts, and various other nick-knacks. Mozenrath scans the display curiously. After all he had no recollection of displaying this himself.

She places her palm upward and concentrates. A small ball of light appears in her hand. The Avatar places it aside and signs the document before her, then hands it to the sprite. "Give it to Azeroth, and tell him, he's only got one hours to get them here." The sprite rapidly takes flight and takes to the sky.

Mozenrath watches with interest. Bree looks up at the intrigue sorcerer and smiles. "And your mother said I wouldn't achieve anything," she says teasingly, then begins explains her plan to him.

An hour slowly crept by, but not without accomplishment. Bree and Mozenrath had corrected the few errors in her plan, aided by his experiences with the street rat. The Avatar had conjured up three massive rock golems and organized the arriving fleet of her air force.

The sorcerer was breath taken by the thousands of winged creatures she had under her command. In fact, he could still see her fleet flying in from a distance. Once the fleet received their orders.

Bree nods in acknowledgement, then climbs onto a dragon's back. "Great, get on."

He stares at her in disbelief. "Don't even think about it Mozenrath," she says in warning. "You shouldn't waste your magic on this, I have other uses for it."

He sighs tiredly, then takes her hand to help him up. She whispers a few words in a foreign language then they were off to their destination.

Back to index

Chapter 4: Judgement

By Soul Slayer

All are doomed to die
Tonight bring the black tomb
For even the most high
Even those in this room
Cannot pretend to fly
And I know
Even you, must die.

The golems tower over the city, arms folded across their chest, prepared to carry out their mistress's commands. An air force of fire breathing dragons, griffins, and gargoyles clouds the night sky, while the army of the undead surrounds the city, prepared to attack at a moment's notice.

The sorcerer approaches his companion. He wanted to ask if she was sure she could go through with this, but restrains himself from doing so. After all this was all he ever desired, why turn away from a good thing. Bree paced patiently behind the awaiting army for a sign; good or bad.

The Avatar shruged then faced the immense city. Her voice echoed though the night air, as she chanted the words to a carefully selected incantation. A beam of light shot into the heavens and quickly vanished behind the palace. Another beam to the East, then South, then finally, to the West. Her chanting stoped abruptly.

Mozenrath observed the scene before him. The four beams of lights ascend into sky again, then immediately plunged into the sand dunes. The sand begins shifting, slow at first then gradually gaining speed. The woman's clenched the necromancer robes and pulls him near, "Don't move, or you're a dead man," she whispered harshly.

The beams, which were circling the city, became airborne. There was a final flash and the magical display vanished, leaving golden dust falling from the sky, proving that the spell was still in tack. The gold dust illuminates the city in a light green, revealing a path for the army to follow. "Now the fun begins." Bree's voice took to a deep and dangerous tone, making the sorcerer's skin crawl.

"Attack," he commanded his undead army, "No one lives past this night."

Bree watched with interest as the ghouls' surge through the city streets, killing all that come into their paths. Following Mozenrath example, the Avatar commanded her minions to take out the guards. The air force didn't hesitate before diving in for the kill.

"I'll go on ahead," Bree informed the sorcerer, "Just to see how good this supposed hero is suppose to be."

He nodded, seeing in the distance, a boy flying through the air on his magic carpet. It wouldn't be too long before Aladdin would taste the Avatar's blade.

"Halt," came Aladdin's voice.

"Well if it isn't the knight in shinning armor," Mozenrath grins. "I'm afraid you're too late street-rat, I've already won."

The boy hovered in front of the sorcerer, halting his progress. "I'm feeling rather generous tonight." He saw the Avatar step out from the darkness and stand patiently behind the hero. Bree pulled her sword from its sheath, and held it professionally in both her hands, ready to strike at the first sign of trouble. It metallic blade gleaming beautifully in eerie green glow. "So I'll give you two choice; one, submit or two, die."

"Nether," Aladdin said boldly.

"That wasn't one of the choices," Bree said as she leaped into the air and struck the boy down, hitting him with the emerald hilt of her sword.

The sorcerer checked the boy's pulse and gives his companion a look of disgus as if to say 'why didn't you kill him?' After Bree had enchained Carpet, she says childishly, "If you're not careful your face is going freeze that way."

She stared distastefully at the street rat. "What does Jasmine see in him?" she asked out loud.

Mozenrath raised a brow. The Avatar made a motion with her hand and levitated the boy in the air, ignoring the necromancer. "He'll be worth more alive," she said simply.

She turned to face the sorcerer, making him walk into her. "Could you change into his form?"

He glanced at the body then at her. Finally, he nodded. "Good, change into him and catch all his pets," she ordered him.

He placed his hands on his hips and glared at her. She arched a brow and stood before him seeming frail and innocent. However, he knew all too well, especially with her, that looks could be deceiving. The Avatar gently kissed his lips then whispered softly, "Please."

He let out a tired sigh and strode toward the fallen man. He placed his gauntleted hand above the hero, high enough to catch his essence. Slowly the sorcerer changed into the street rat. Bree grind, "Almost identical."

He arched a brow. "Don't blow it with your bad attitude," she commanded, towering over him. In his normal form she was just a few inches shorter than he was. It was after all, it the height that was expected for an elven woman. "I'll meet you in the throne room."

Had he been any other man, she might have intimidated him, but the fact was he knew her all too well. "Keep in mind that you still have the princess to deal with," he rudely reminded.

"Don't worry about me," she spat back, "Just keep in character."

He rolled his eyes, leaving the Avatar aside, hoping that she wouldn't betray him again.

Bree pulled the jinni's lamp out from Aladdin's belt, and quickly rubbed the artifact. Genie lazily floated out of the ancient home, but quickly straightened when he saw Bree standing before him, with a look of distress on her face. He looked down at his fallen friend and stared back at the Avatar. "What happen?" he asked urgently.

"Take a wild guess, Genie," she responded rudely. "Mozenrath happened. I was fighting the sorcerer when Aladdin came up from behind me. I didn't see him and…" Tears flooded her eyes as she fell to her knees sobbing.

"It's not your fault," the jinni said comforting the Avatar. "These things happen. I'm sure Al will forgive you."

She stared up hopefully at him. "You think?" she said wiping the tears from her eyes. "Mozenrath is going to kill Jasmine, or that's what I understood. Please take me to her so that I can protect her," she begged.

"Yeah, sure."

With that they all vanished in a puff of blue smoke, leaving the war raging on.

"What do I look like an animal tamer?" Aladdin grumbled to himself, but the screams of the dying innocence brought a smile to his face. For once it looked like he was going to win the war.

He entered a familiar hovel, where sleep peacefully the monkey and the parrot. It was mostly empty save for the few curtains and stained carpet. "Achoo," Aladdin called to monkey, "Achoo wake up." He knew that wasn't its name but couldn't help the temptation.

The monkey sat up groggily, muttering a few untranslatable words. "Shuddap, you stupid monkey," the parrot squawked as he hit him with the pillow.

Iago noticed the green glow about the city. "What's going on, kid?" he asked.

"Bree needs your help," the hero responded simply.

"Is this the whiz-kid's doing? Cause if it is she could whoop him, easy," the bird commented.

Abu gestures his arms outward and sticks out his tongue. "You got it monkey," Iago squawked. "You know kid, no one knows Bree's complete past, so who knows how she got her power. I mean so what four wizards gave their power to her. Come to think of it only one of the four was actually world renown and besides that they only gave her the attributes."

Aladdin arched a brow. "I'm assuming the sultan told you this."

"Yeah, don't you remember kid? You were there too." The parrot hopped onto the hero's shoulder as the monkey took the other one. "Her biological father, was Magus of Daamon. He was the king of a neighboring kingdom or at least until Destane decided to wipe it off the map. Anyway Bree was sent her to live with the royal family since the sultan thought of Magus like a brother anyway. So Bree and Jasmine were raised believing that they were sisters."

They head toward the palace, the animals completely unaware of the oncoming assault. "Hey! Even when Destane gave her his magic," the street rat's back stiffened at the old sorcerer's name. "But he only gave her the attribute of darkness. That magic was optional for her to learn. Same with the Holy magic I guess."

"What else do you know about Bree?" he asked the bird.

The monkey started to chatter wildly. "Monkey boy says that Bree's not who she says she is. I guess she a different person depending on who she up against," the bird continued. "If you remember she didn't attack the Jasmine when she attacked, she threaten her, but didn't attack. She acted as if she were but a lowly servant." Iago exaggerated the last sentence. "But I suppose if she had to make nice with Moze, she probably do something like this to prove she was his friend. I mean why not give the guy you hate what he wants, if it means he'll trust you."

Aladdin clenched his fists shut. She was playing him like a deck of cards and for once he was aware of it. They enter the palace gates without much interference with the missing guards. He continued toward the planned meeting point, as he carefully figures out a way to rid himself of Bree, after she takes Agrabah of course.

Genie and Bree appear on Jasmine's balcony. "Thank you Genie," she said appreciatively. "Tonas heste," she bows.

"Tonas heste," the jinni repeated as if to show respect to the woman, in a language he didn't understand.

In truth, they were the commanding words to bid her golems to come. She chuckled. "I honestly don't think I could've found my sister's chamber's without you, friend," she said truthfully. "Hesat nora!"

With those words, the jinni transforms into a stone figurine. The Avatar carefully picks it up and proceeds into her sister's room. Naturally the room was fit for a princess. Extravagant décor, tons of excess furniture, and various other fripperies that irritated the Avatar. She place the figurine on top of Jasmines dresser, then sits at the foot of her bed.

The princess wakes feeling the extra weight on her mattress. She jumped out of bed when she saw Bree. "What do you want?"

Bree tilted her head, with a look that said, 'why what ever do you mean?' "Come with me," she says simply, her voice taking on a mysterious tone.

Jasmine followed, not fully understanding what possessed her to do so without caution. Through the curtained doorway she came face with a huge golem. It picked up the princess before she was able to realize what was happening, and held her in its grip as she squirmed for her freedom. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, fearing that she might be crushed if she provoked the elf.

"There are three judgements," Bree explained, levitating to be face with her sister. "The first, I believe you stopped, the ethereal, the second is me, and the third," she grined evilly, "No one has ever lived to see the third."

"You monster!" Jasmine screamed.

The Avatar let out an evil laughter. "Don't worry, dear sister. If I played my cards right, everyone should be spared…This time." With that she faded away into the darkness of the princess's chambers.

The sultan rushed out of his chambers and into the throne room. "Jasmine! Jasmine!" he called frantically.

He saw that the throne room is empty of all life. He rushed over to the balcony and witnesses the blood curdling war ragging on. Screams of terror rose to the sky, forcing the old man to his knees, covering his ears. "By Allah," he cried, "If only I had known, she would do this to me…."

Tears rolls down his plump cheeks into his graybeard. He began praying for forgiveness, but the words that continuously play in his mind are the words his wife left him with. 'Don't fear her love, she'll find her soul again when she's ready.'

He heard light footsteps enter the room. "And the blood flowed through the city to the palace gates. Allah will thus send forth a hero. A hero of noble blood to end the war of all wars. 9:4," Bree recited proudly. "I guess your hero's not Aladdin now is it?"

The sultan gaze followed the arrogant motion of his niece's hand, only see his daughter in a stone golem's tight grip, struggling for her freedom. Bree shook her head at the pitiful sight. Though shocked at the dread full spectacle, the sultan kept the fear and pain from his voice. "He will end the war not with weapons, nor with words, but with a single kiss," the sultan finished Bree's recital.

Bree arches a brow. "Hmm… I don't remember that part of the prophecy," she said casually, leaning over the balcony to view the war. "It really doesn't matter," she shrugged, "I will win THE war."

The sultan cautiously approached the woman. "You aren't here for me at all, are you?"

Bree's icy gaze covered the sultan. Before answering she made a sound of discuss. "No, father, I'm not here to kill you. I'm here for bigger fish."

She turned her attention back onto the war. "Now for the moment of truth," she muttered to herself.

He saw Bree lean over the balcony. It took every ounce of strength to retrain himself from hitting her with his magic. Instead he continued his journey to the throne room. The sultan leaped with joy when he saw the boy. "You must stop her evil plot, my boy," he bade, "She'll stop at nothing to get at me."

"Is that so," his voice was icy, making the old man shutter.

"What's he talkin' about?" Iago inquired as her flaps over to Bree.

"Nana tay," she shruged, saying in her native language that the old man was insane.

"I know that, but Jazz is…" slowly the bird realized the situation, but to his unfortunate luck he is quickly stuffed into a small cage with Abu.

The cage had no opening so to be sure that the monkey couldn't pick his way out. "What about the tiger?" Aladdin asked as he ties up the sultan.

"Mysteriously turned to stone as I was passing by," she chuckled.

Mozenrath's form changed back to normal, keeping his cold gaze on the Avatar.

She snaped her fingers and the still unconscious street rat appears. She commands her golem to release the princess as she unsheathed her sword, holding it at the sultan's neck. Silently telling the princess to cooperate or her father dies. She is roughly taken into the sorcerer's grasp. He made it a point not to be gentle. The necromancer gently brushes the princess's hair away from her ear, and whispered a threat. Bree raises a brow and makes a noise of discuss, "Please would you wait to play her."

"If I didn't no better, Bree" Mozenrath grined, "I'd say you were jealous."

"Just green with envy," she replied sarcastically.

He waved his hand toward the prisoners, huge chains appear on them. Bree leaves the room in disappointment. "Enjoy your kingdom Moze," she said, lacking the happiness that should have been in her voice.

He proceeded to the throne and glances outside. Bree's golems were no where to be found, her army of winged creature vanished and her spell no longer in tact. If he didn't know better, he might have thought he has imagined the entire ordeal. Dawn was approaching rapidly. "Does dawn mean anything inpaticular to a balance?" he asked no one inpaticular.

"A new day, the cleansing of evil," the sultan replied. "A new beginning."

He glared at the sultan. He was connected to all this, he just didn't know what the connection was. It struck him, if he took Agrabah, Bree would kill them all, including him. She was playing him like a card, and he hated it.

The Avatar re-entered the throne room sword at hand. She stoped before the sultan and raises her. The sorcerer grasped her wrist, halting the progress of her weapon. "You can't kill him," he hissed at her.

She arched a brow, fury, and understanding raging the back of her mind. However, she wasn't going to kill him. The temptation of striking down the sorcerer down was too strong, yet she some how managed to simply backhand him across the face. "Fool," she yelled, "Have you no idea of how close you are to owning this place. You'll be one step closer to you goal." He rubbed his cheek, cursing her. "It was you who asked me to help you take Agrabah. Well!"

"It's a trap," he said boldly, "I saw what you did to your father. I figure you might judge me along the same lines. After all he did involve me when he tried to get you to assassinate me, did he not?" He continued his explanation, as he wanders over to the street rat. "That's what made you decide to include me in this little war any way, am I right?" he finished, secretly handing the dragon pin to his nemesis.

'He must have something to watch me' Bree pondered, knowing full well what he was doing, but decided to play the typical villain and pretended not to notice. "Yeah," she responded, still in thought, "I was suppose to judge you anyway."

"So you included him in this," came the sultan's voice.

She nodded. "What better way can you think of, old man, than to test a person against their most hated enemy," she says glancing at the sultan, then Mozenrath, "Or most strongest desires."

She turns her back to the prisoners. Her delicate ear catching the snap! Of the rope that bound the prisoners. Aladdin leapt forward, and holds both of the assassin's arms behind her back. She didn't struggle, she simply laughed, then cried out, "Niyetta!"

Both she and the sorcerer vanish, leaving the royal family looking about in wonder. A woman's evil laughter fills the air, "Congratulations, citizens of Agrabah! You win yourselves lives. All that had died during this war may be revived." The laughter rang out again, then faded with the morning mist.

She soared through the sky, keeping an eye on the dark kingdom up ahead. She closed her eyes and allows her Avatar's weak energy waves to guide her. She spotted a young woman lying on her bed, simply staring up at the ceiling. Her dark clothing still on and still tattered with dirt, she knew that her successor had but recently return from battle. On her way to the dark kingdom she saw the damage and felt the strong energy waves of both guardians but was unsure if any had survived. "It appears you were right after all, Brianna," the phoenix says as she glides down and perches herself on the dark windowsill of her daughter's bedchambers.

"I told you not to fret," Bree responds almost coolly. "I knew he wouldn't use me as I was meant to be used."

The bird lowered her head in sorrow before flying to Bree's bed and lying down next to her. "I have a message from your mother," the bird said. The phoenix glows white a moment, then grows in shape and size. Bree feel a hand run a cross her cheek and brush away her black hair from her face. She slapped away the hand.

The woman draws back. "I assume you'll be wanting to stay here a while." She stood up at the foot of Bree bed.

"If Mozenrath will allow it," Bree replied. She sat up and stared at her mother, whose tears ran down her cheeks. She let out a heavy sigh then says softly, "It's not like I can stay here forever."

"It took a lot of strength to pull back when you did," the woman said lovingly, "I'm proud out of you." The woman strode to the window and placed her hands before her. He white clothing flowing softly in the gentle breeze the small window allowed into the room. Her closed her dark eyes to feel only the breeze against her skin. Calmness now restored she pondered on what to say to her daughter, clearly something troubled her deeply. "Perhaps it is only a type of pride that only a parent would have for their child," The woman said, looking back on her daughter.

Bree smiled. The woman sat down next to the Avatar and bushed Bree's hair behind her ear. "One day you'll understand," she told her.

The woman vanished in a flash of light, returning to the bird's form. The phoenix flapped violently and flew out of the window. Bree followed her to the sill and watched her fly away, and smiled a secret smile as she rubs her stomach softly. "Perhaps sooner than you think, mother," she said to herself, "Perhaps sooner than you think."

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Chapter 5: The Arrival

By Soul Slayer

A strange magical disturbance swept through the land, rocking creatures, whom were thought to be mythical, from their nests’. Out of pure curiosity, some began to follow the trail, igniting their way with their natural shield of wild magic. They neatly dashed past shrubs and rocks, hovering over dunes as they observed the scenery in search of the source of power which had lured them to pursue their journey.

In the distance, a traveler walked at a calm pace, seeming oblivious to the storm, which had recently taken force. The creatures gasped. It couldn’t be!

They darted forward with all the speed that they could muster, despite the opposing winds. They nip at the traveler’s heels. Energy fluctuated powerfully inside the traveler, causing a small number of the creatures to catch fire. Thinking this as a warning, they parted from the lone being to report their findings to the Fates.

Deep in the jungle in a place, which was once, bustling with people now laid in ruin. At the end of a winding road, was a massive lime stone temple. The halls of this grand building were mysteriously illuminated. Massive iron doors swung open and three women turn from their work to greet their visitors.

The first woman was in her early twenties. Her golden curls hung loosely over her Greek garb. Her skin was as golden as her hair, and her eyes were of a light crystal blue. Her thin pink lips curve in a warm smile as she greeted them with a "Welcome."

The second woman was middle aged, and was making a fine silk. Her brown hair was held in an extravagant braided bun, held in place by a silver tiara. Her skin was paler than the first, yet maintained a certain dark air about her. Her eyes shone with delight. "Welcome," she said lowering her work.

The third, was an elderly woman. Her silver hair was held underneath a purple shawl. Her eyes were gray with the knowledge that she had acquired over the years of her existence. Her features wrinkled more than usual as a smile touched her lips. "Welcome," she greeted.

The creatures chattered quickly as they poured their finding to the women. They glanced at each other worriedly. They surrounded a fountain of crystal clear water, each tracing a secret glyph into it, and muttering an ancient incantation long since forgotten by the mortal world.

As the ripples calmed, a picture appeared. A figure in a dark robe traveled alone in the desert, a vicious storm raging about her. The creatures' chatter became wild at the sight. "Look," the youngest of the Fates stated.

She pointed at the direction that the traveler was heading. As if they were one mind, the nodded in approval. "She's gusty, indeed," the oldest replied, "Heading to Agrabah in the middle of demon spat."

The second woman leaned in. "She just might be the one to bring our balances together though."

"But one of them are dead," the youngest reminded them.

They stood silent for a brief moment. The oldest Fate waved a fairy forward, "Tell Brianna, that the uni-balance has come, and she will assisted her in the battles to come."

The fairy nodded and fled swiftly toward Agrabah. "She may not agree to this…" the youngest mutter thoughtfully.

The second Fate laughed haughtily, "We are the Fates, love. She has to help Bree now."

"My dear, she's right," the oldest responded, "If she doesn't believe that our work is done fairly…she does have the power to remove us from our post."

"What are you saying? Make her life easy?"

"No, simply do what you must to keep her here until the balances complete a part of thier destiny."

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Chapter 6: Ooops!

By Soul Slayer

Why so I love you?
Why do I care?
I'm not supposed to have feelings.
Not in my cold heart.
But I can't help it.
I cannot seem to stop.
My heart is still there.
And I shall always love you.
For all that it is worth,
You are my one and only.
Even with my black heart,
I will never be able to stop loving you.
~Juliet S.~

Since their defeat, neither sorcerer, nor Avatar spoke a word to each other. When they did cross paths, the tension between the two had strengthened. Bree seemed spacey lately as if she was in a continuous daydream, as if she were in love. When When confronted her on the matter, the Avatar laughed, saying that the possibility of her falling in love was about as high as the chances for Destane rising again. The following four months were the same. Nether one spoke to each other, nor made any act to reconcile.

One day however, they played a pleasant game of chess. Bree sat face to Mozenrath, both keeping a cold gaze on the board, which sat sternly atop the sorcerer's usually book-cluttered desk. The Avatar's dark curls cascaded beautifully over her shoulder as she leaned in to make her move. The sorcerer's eyes darted dangerously around the room, then back to the board. Bree turned slightly to see what the sorcerer was eyeing. His eel familiar, Xerxes, has slithered in intregued, and frightnened at teh same time. Bree leaned in toward Mozenrath, carefully placing her red silk dress, which caressed her body making it seem more to perfection. She whispered, "He thinks we're fighting."

He grinned. "Why would we fight?" he asked almost innocently, making his move in the game.

Xerxes cautiously silthered deeper into the room, finally halting next to the Avatar. "Check mate!" Bree yelled, "I win, finally."

She stretched her arms and sat back in her chair, taking a book from the sorcerer's desk. "Oh yeah," she said casually, flipping through the first few pages of the volume, "Something's up in Agrabah." Mozenrath sat back, arms crossed against his chest, while he listened to the Avatar's response. "All I know is that it's not good for anybody."

Mozenrath arched a brow knowing all too well that she knew more than what she telling. "You mean like Satan rising, or something of that nature," Mozenrath asked sarcastically.

"Hell, if Satan's rising I'm changing planets," the Avatar commented equally as sarcastic. Her voice returned to the informative tone she previously used. "Actually, you're pretty close. A bunch of demons are beginning to strengthen beneath Agrabah."

The necromancer listened intently, for perhaps a new mission she was assigned to and it just so happens to involve him. "This is suppose to worry me?" Mozenrath inquired coldly.

Demons didn't worry him, after all his master is from that plane, and any servant from that place would just as equally serve him. But if Bree had her way, those demons wouldn't have a chance to draw a breath from this world before they were violently sent back. "Well, after they show up they have to kill off the balance of good to be able to summon their master and to remain on this side," Bree explains irritation slowly beginning to seep into her gentle voice. The Avatar got up to place the book back on the shelves nearby.

"Okay, now you have my attention," the sorcerer sneered. "However I don't see how this affects me any."

Bree stares up at the young sorcerer. As she explained the situation to him, she paced the room. "You like your life, right?" She inquired as she glanced back at him. He nodded. "If you want to live to see your child see the day, you really don't want him to show his face around this planet."

He arched a brow at her. Red rushed to Bree's cheek at the realization of her words. She turns away from him, refusing to show any embarrassment. "Children, huh?" he pushed, leaning against his desk.

Bree swallowed hard. Still not facing him, she stuttered, "Well… a… the… you see…umm…A vision," she said simply, hoping that Mozenrath would be satisfied.

"And in this vision," he pressed. He could see the tension building up in the Avatar's shoulders. "Did I have a wife?"

She knew where he was going with this and she knew she wasn't going to like the way he was going to twist the blade. Deciding to beat him to the punch she snapped, "Look, I didn't love you then and I still don't love you …"

Hands placed on her hips, her eyes glowing with anger, it was enough to get her point across. The sorcerer stared up at her, as if he was a child again and his mother was yelling at him for not obeying the rules. By the look in his eyes, Bree thought he was going to cry. That's when she knew she had broken his heart, again. She let out a heavy sigh, then cursed as she stormed off, slamming the door to the library.

When the Avatar left, the necromancer head sunk into his hands.

There was a gentle rap at the door. "Bree?"

"What?" she growled.

She heard him sigh. "Could I come in a minute?"

Telling him 'no' would definitely provoke him in entering. Her eyes came across a lone wooden door before gave the necromancer permission to enter.

He opened the door slowly as if to give Bree time to decide to slam it shut again. The Avatar arrogantly strode to the entryway and swung the door open. Behind the sorcerer stood five mamlucks. Seeing this, Bree couldn't help but back away as they entered.

She searched his mind, searching a purpose. 'Me kill girl. Me raise master' where the sorcerer's scattered thoughts. She shook her head at the obscure thinking patterns, which were on the verge of giving her a headache.

The necromancer turned to Bree, after looking over the room. The Avatar shrugged, "What do you want?"

"You haven't seen Xerxes have you?" he inquired, his eyes darting about the room.

He was scanning the room with his magic. Bree didn't need to be Einstein to figure that one out. The sorcerer clutched her arm, drawing her to close for comfort. "No I haven't," she responded, pulling her arm from his grip. He threw her on the bed as he advanced toward the invisible door. Bree slowly reached between the mattresses of her bed for her sword. But three of the mamlucks managed to restrain her before she could grasp the weapon. Pulling her near the exit of her chamber.

The sorcerer knelt down by her bed and pulled out the sword. He arrogantly strode toward her swing the blade loosely in his gauntleted hand. He was but two feet away from her.

Bree spat in his face. The sorcerer wiped off the spit calmly but it was apparent that his patience was worn out. He backhands her across the face. "You have one more chance Avatar, or you'll suffer true humility?"

"You don't have the guts," she sneered.

Anger and pleasure appeared on his face. She knew that betraying Mozenrath would probably earn her humiliation but ultimately death. However, she knew that this man was not her dear friend and now death wasn't an option. He drew a dragger and pointed it at her stomach. "Tell me and I'll spare you both," he commanded.

"Bite me," she growled. She couldn't help but wonder how he knew of her pregnancy, for it was definitely not apparent.

With the hilt of her sword, he knocked her to the floor. She struggled to remain conscious. With her this weak, she couldn't summone enough magic to cast a spell. The necromancer's eyed the Avatar sinically. "She's not pure," he said after a moment. "The Balance of Drakness will know where to find her." But before leaving, the necromancer pulled Bree up. All she could see was his grinning face, before he hit her again, knocking her out.

They all appeared in what seemed to resemble a volcano's center. At the very end of the domicile sat a huge demon resting its head in one hand, looking extremely bored. It sat on a magma throne, which still bubbled with fresh lava. The sorcerer advanced before the beast and knelt down on one knee. "My Lord," he began, "We have had no luck finding the balance of good."

The mamlucks turned into miniscule goblins and dances forward, tehn curtsying like little ballerinas. The demon raised to its hoof-like feet. Its muscle flexing with each step it took. Its holed wings expanded into the air as it let out en evil laughter. "Soon..." its voice rang out with unholy power. "We will summon our master. With the balance of good gone, evil shall reign!"

He approached teh kidnapped women, who shook with fear. After all it wasn't every day one was brought to see one of Satan's minions. "Lets not fail again, like these!" he shrieked.

The sorcerer got up. "Of course not, m'lord. We've captured every woman in the seven deserts matching your description. They're all exactly as you described my lord, dark hair, and green eyes, tall and slim…" he started. "And none of them tried to attack us, not like that other woman. They're innocent, completely."

"The balance is an elf," he yelled. "An elven woman. The woman with the sorcerer! The woman with the Balance of Darkness!"

The sorcerer lowered his head. "I'll go fetch her my Lord, I assure you, I shall not fail you again."

With that he vanished.

Bree groaned as she got up from her bed. Her surrounding had changed, from her simple room to the sorcerer's bedchamber. The Avatar scanned the room for the necromancer. He was nowhere to be found. "They'll be coming back for you, after they realize their mistake," came the sorcerer's voice.

He came from the bathroom holding a bowl of fresh water. Bree's fell back into the comfortable pillows of his bed. "You knew," she managed to growl weakly.

He nodded. "I was asked to send you to them," he explained, "But I refused."

"I guess I owe you one," she smiled weakly.

He shook his head. "Don't bother. If they succeed you won't have the chance to pay me back." He placed the bowl down on his night table and sat next to Bree.

"I'm going to live through this no matter what you say is going to happen." She jumped out of bed, but fell to her knees.

"You're in no condition to fight," he said, helping her back to bed.

He put a finger to her mouth to stop her from arguing. "Sleep," he commanded.

Suddenly the Avatar fell limb in his arms. She had to be weak if she couldn’t handle a sleep spell, which she was normally be unaffected by it. He placed her in his bed, then proceeded to his desk, waiting for his uninvited guests to arrive.

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Chapter 7: Passages to Hades

By Soul Slayer

In silence
I can still hear you breathe
Bodies pressed together
Holding on for dear life
For the hours not to pass
Lying wide awake
I feel your warmth
Our arms intertwined
And your soft breath
In my hair
I no longer exist
I meld into
Only knowing you
Only wanting you
Only loving you

Hours had passed and still no sign of the demons. During that time, he had placed every type of protection spell on the sleeping Avatar that he could think of. However, he knew that it wouldn't be enough. Suddenly, the air stilled and thickened no longer allowing Mozenrath to breath. He watched himself enter room and checked on the Avatar. The intruder stared down coldly at the sorcerer. "Demon," Mozenrath gasped, "You are forbidden to take my form when in my presence."

The demon shifted forms before him as he arrogantly strode toward him. Now towered over the gasping sorcerer was a tall slender red fleshed demon, whom possessed a crown of dark horns and two small leathery wings. "Then I guess I'll have to rectify that," he growled.

The demon raised it hand to air. A red and black aura surrounded its clawed hand and began to grow. Shortly the light of the magic intensified, blinding the necromancer. "Time to die," came the demon's voice.

Without warning, the light vanished and the demon fell to ground. Bree pulled her sword from its gut, pushing away the body with her naked foot. The sorcerer gasped for air. "Calm down," the Avatar spoke, "The spell's still on you."

She knelt down next to him and forced him to face her. Her lips covered his mouth as she breathed into him. He felt a surge of magic run through him. Finally, she pulled away from him. "Breath," she commanded as she gently rubbed his back.

He realized he had forgotten to do so when she had kissed him. He took a deep breath savoring the air he breathed. "Time to end this," he said after a time.

She nodded, then engulfed them both in a white aura.

Bree and Mozenrath appeared in an empty hovel. She glanced at the boy then at the sorcerer.

"Wait," he whispered out loud.

The Avatar strode next to the sleeping boy, observing him sleep. Mozenrath knew that he could only keep her occupied for so long. Eventually, she would begin turning the boy's hovel upside down. She touched his brow and smiled. Shortly her kind smiled turned evil. The sorcerer pulled her hand away before she could cause any serious damage to the boy's mind.

"I can't stand it here," she whispered harshly. She flicked a maggot from her lap. "At least your kingdom has the decency to keep the maggots away."

He grinned. "Patience. It's really not like you rush things."

She arched a brow, then nodded. Continuing the waiting process. "Why must you humans sleep so long?" she almost whined.

"It's only been five minutes," he snapped.

The hero groaned as he got up. "Oh look, you woke him up," Bree accused.

The sorcerer glared at her as he roughly took the hero by his purple vest and lifted him into the air, his lamp falling to the ground. Bree scurried to pick up the old lamp. "What was that about incentive?" she said.

"Good." The necromancer's voice was dangerously low.

"You know you should hurry up," she explained, swinging the lamp around on her index finger.

"Then why do we need him?"

"Yeah why do you need me?" echoed Aladdin's voice, still half-asleep.

"Because fool," the Avatar said as she advanced toward them. She paused mid-sentence.

"What?" came Mozenrath enraged voice.

"The entrance it's here." Her foot made an X motion on the floor. The sorcerer let his wizards' senses scan the room and beyond. He confirmed what she had said. "And I didn't have to use my magic to find it," she mocked.

Mozenrath released the street rat. Aladdin stood near them confused about the situation. "You guys wanted my help?"

Bree hushed the hero as she crouched and traced a glyph on the dusty floor. The intruders smiled as it illuminated in a florescent green, changing the way the shadows played on their face. The sorcerer glanced at her then glyph. He knew that it would require his magic to activate it. He gently traced the glyph again only this time, webbing his magic in with it.

Bree turned to look outside. 'Dawn'.

Bree had come to see him the early in the day, before the demons arrived. She had told him of the coming events as they were too past. 'An argument between each other, the demon captors, and the street rat bearing the passage to the pure ones.' Bree knew more but refused to speak of it any further. "I know you," she had scrolled, "You'd probably try to change the future."

His response was simple. "Can you blame me?"

"Are we too late?" Mozenrath asked the Avatar, worry seeping into his voice.

"No, but they're going to tare the city apart trying to find me," she responded with an indifferent tone.

"Why?" came Aladdin's voice, "Who are they? What did you do? And what do you want from me?"

"Go to the palace Aladdin," Bree ordered, turning back to the glyph on the floor. "Protect my 'sister', and the city. If anything happens to us, the people are doomed."

Aladdin didn't hesitate when she gave her orders. Something in his gut told him to obey. Yet he was unsure if her intentions were pure. Bree didn't care what the hero thought of her. She knew that if he tried to interfere with her plans she would slay him right-then-and-there, no second thoughts. Relief came over her when she felt his annoying presence fade.

A grin came to her face, realizing that she still had the lamp. She placed it before the sorcerer, who also grinned, but chose to say nothing of the matter and continued to break the seal on the opening. It wasn't long before the floor began to fall away from them, leaving them standing on a thin pillar. Bellow them was nothing but darkness, yet they could feel the heat rising from the pit. The two clung to each other, fear over taking them. Several thoughts raced through their minds. One of the various thought were to leave Adina behind, that they could take the army of demons on land anyway.

They realized that they were holding each other in their arms and quickly pulled away pretending that the event had never occurred. Bree stretched, nearly knocking the sorcerer off balance. He cursed her as he gripped her wrist. "What are you trying to do?" he growled. "Trying to make me find out what's at the bottom the hard way?"

When his gaze came to her face, he realized she now had huge feathered wings on her back. He stood there dumbfound. Her wings were also another one of Destane's experiments. He had called this one though, a failure. Mozenrath didn't see why it was called that, he did after all get part of the results he had want, which was the flight factor.

Bree looked like an angel with her wings revealed, he didn't see why she never posed as angel to get her way with the humans. But she rather fight with them. He assumed that it was an excuse to kill them, or a way to prove to him that humans were difficult creatures to deal with.

He couldn't help but stare. "Shall we?" Bree held out a hand to him intending for him to join her in flight.

He reluctantly took her hand. "You don't intend on carrying me, do you?" he inquired, fearing her answer.

She grinned and shrugged. She crouched down a bit allowing him to climb onto her back. Then without warning, Bree flapped her massive wings, and jumped down into the abyss.

"What! Bree's here!" Jasmine cried. "She said she'd leave us alone."

Aladdin put a comforting arm around his fiancée as he searched his mind for Bree's reasons for another possible attack. "There is no good reason, for another attack. But…" he trailed off.

He didn't tell Jasmine or the sultan that the Avatar was with Mozenrath. When it came to the sorcerer, he didn't need a good reason for wanting to attack Agrabah. The sultan tapped his pen on his desk in his toy room. All about them were red curtains hiding the golden walls. Kites of all kinds hung on the ceiling, and toys were all about the room as if a child has just recently played in the room.

Aladdin stared at the sultan a moment. Jasmine's father knew something, he just didn't say anything. "Sultan, could she be testing us for a third time?" Aladdin inquired.

The sultan was deep in thought and didn't hear the question. The hero waved his hand before the sultan's eyes until he caught the old man's attention and repeated the question. The sultan simply shook his head. "It wouldn't be her department," he answers. "She's up to something, I just… don't know if she's ready."

"Well, she was with Mozenrath," Aladdin responded timidly.

The boy explained what he knew of what the Avatar and the sorcerer were up to. The sultan's color drained from his face. "She's gone to Hades," he uttered.

"That's not good," Iago squawked. "With her power, wow! She could have this world in no time flat. But…" The parrot scratched his head. "She fights against evil why would she go straight to the core of evil himself and…" Suddenly a thought crept into his mind. "Hey! Maybe she's gone to fight with him."

"With Mozenrath!" the group cried simultaneously.

"There is a prophecy," came the sultan's uncertain voice. "It only concerns the balances however." All turned their attention to the old man. "Come the turning of the century, the balances must prove their worth by combating the source of evil. Many have failed over the centuries and now evil is strong in the world. Now would be the time for them to strike if ever," the sultan explains.

"Maybe the sultan's right." The hero turns to the sultan and asked. "What should we do?"

"Stay out of their way," he replied, "Unless they ask our help."

"Are you sure Mozenrath and Bree are the balance?" the princess inquired.

"No one would know who the balances are," the sultan said as he wondered out of the room, still deep in thought. "Except for the One..."

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Chapter 8: A Successful Failure

By Soul Slayer

You entered my life when I least expected you.
I saw in your eyes
The honesty and forthrightness
I have been searching all of my life.
I fell in love with you, and I know
I will always love with all my heart
It wasn't only your eyes that told me how special you are,
It was you hands, so tender when they touch me,
So strong when they hold me,
And it was the sound of your voice
When you said my name for the first time

"Would you please be oh-so-kind as to warn me the next time you decide to do that." Mozenrath brushed off most of the dirt from his robes.

They had managed to skin the surface of the lava and crash land, face first into a nearby cave. "Where did you learn how to fly anyway?" he growled.

Bree's wings twitched, yet she grinned. "First time flyer, Moze." She made a motion with her finger out the cave. "Considering you don't trust my flying, I trust that you'll be finding a way out." She glanced back on him to see if he was paying any attention.

To her surprise he was already climbing the rocky surface to a small opening in the top of the cavern. The Avatar arched a brow, intrigue at the necromancer ability to climb so easily. Bree followed his lead, but found it much more difficult that he made it look. When he arrived at the surface, he stared back down at Bree whom was struggling somewhere near the center of the rocky surface. The sorcerer let out a heavy sigh.

Bree looked up at him, forgetting to pay attention to the position of her hands and feet. She grinned up at him.

Bree abruptly looked to the opening of the cave. She made a sound of discuss, then glanced up at the sorcerer. Lava began to burn away the rocks at her feet, inches at a time. Beads of sweat ran down her face. Mozenrath couldn't tell if it was from the heat of the lava or from panic. She climbed up gracefully when she wasn't paying any attention, the sorcerer noticed. So he managed to argue with his colleague while she did so. It didn't take long for her to reach him. She pulled herself over the edge and glanced down watching some of the lava boil up to the surface.

He pulled Bree away as if this shouldn't be something she shouldn't see. "We should go," the Avatar said after a while.

They came to a brighter room, where they saw a huge demon sit upon a magma throne, which sat at the end of the room. They saw demons playing in a corner, but with what? The wall blocked their view. Bree and Mozenrath pressed themselves against the wall. The Avatar glanced at the sorcerer. "What's wrong?" She nudged him with her elbow.

He glanced at her a moment intent on telling her exactly what he was thinking but shook his head when he heard something fall. Bree glanced back into the room to see the demons agitating wildly. One flew through the air toward the master at a dangerous speed.

It hit the demon Lord in the belly. The massive beast took the creature by the leg and threw him into the fire angrily. He let out a roar then an evil laughter. He motioned to the dark entryway as he welcomed the balances into the room. Both Avatar and sorcerer glanced at one another before they made themselves known among the mini-demons.

The balances couldn't help but grin when they saw the women holding pointed forks firmly in their grasps, hitting the attacking demons into the pit of lava, each chance that presented itself.

The demon Lord waved a hand at his minions and the demons vanished. "I'm not that cruel," he sang, "I just want you, Bree."

The Avatar stared blankly at the demon, knowing all too well what he had planned for her. She stood tall and proud as she presented herself, fully and properly. "I am Brianna of the house of Damon, daughter of Magus and Bethany of Astar, the inhabitor of the Phoenix, Avatar and Balance of light," and as if to twist the blade she said, "And betroth to the balance of darkness." Her gaze became as chilling as her voice. "I sure you know that our chances at alliances is a futile gesture." A sword came to her hands. "And my chances at death are even slimmer."

The demon casually stepped toward her pushing her sword aside. Mozenrath knew what was coming next. He stepped back. Bree swung the sword with all her force aiming solely for the beast's neck. The demon Lord ducked her attack, yet her sword made its way through the first horn, removing it form it brow, and half way through the second. The demon screamed in anger when her saw his fallen appendage.

She heaved the weapon from his brow, drawing back a few steps, watching for possible attacks. The demon cried out in agony then glared at the Avatar who stood prepared. "You shall die," he screeched

The demon kicked the sword from hands with his unseen hoof, making it fall into the bubbling pit of lava. In his next movement he charged at her, driving his remaining horn through her gut. The sorcerer could no longer watch and turned away hopping to God that what he saw was false. "I got her," the beast yells out in triumph, "The balance of light has fallen! Master, we are free."

Mozenrath turned around only to see Bree struggling to hold on to her fading threads of life. Rage filled the sorcerer's heart. He summoned all his will into his magic and hurld a fire ball at the demon Lord, only to have it absorbed into its flesh. Suddenly long silver haired man, charged forward, an equally long blade in hand, charging the demon. With one slash, the demon fell into two pieces. His torso showed the shock of the surprise attack, while the lower half revealed the excitement it felt a moment ago. "No," the warrior hissed hissed, "You're dead."

The beast disintegrated leaving no memoir of the battle. The necromancer dropped rushed to the Avatar's side. He placed his hand gently on her wound, but she pushed it away. "Don't bother," she mutters painfully, "I've already tried."

He lost his breath, he couldn't believe she was giving up. "Look, Mozenrath," she took hold of his clothes, "You have to fight them. Please I can't anymore. The balance has to be restored…When I vanish I want you to take the cross and give it to the person you deem worthy to wear it. The balance must be restored, please do this one last favor for me." Tears rolled down her cheeks with the realization of what she said.

He nodded as he pried her fingers from his robes. He kissed her head, allowing his tears to fall into her hair. He held her tightly wishing that he could heal her. "Good luck my love," she whispered, her hands falling from the embrace that she held the sorcerer in.

He wiped the tears from his eyes and picked up the fallen Avatar. He still felt the Avatar's life force fluctuating, but it weakened with every breath she took. He teleported Bree and himself to the palace not knowing too much where else to go.

Her family was shocked to see Mozenrath return with the Avatar partially dead. Jasmine cried along with Genie, while the parrot and the monkey said the best they could for her. "Geeze, I wish I could bring her back guys, but…" the jinni started, "But…" His nose wrinkled and his eyes began pouring a fountain of tears. "I can't!"

"Get the healers she still alive but barely," the sorcerer commanded.

The servants quickly went about to carry out the necromancer's orders after the sultan's okay.

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Chapter 9: The Exchange

Remember me when I am gone away
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning to stay.
Remember me when no more, day by day,
You tell me of our future that you had planned;
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, not to grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of thought that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than you should remember and be sad.

The healer came out hours ago, and had told Mozenrath that his friend had passed on. They were unable to cure the wound. Mozenrath was torn between venting out his rage on the healers whom have failed him or destroying the city for it having the demons in it. They had sown her shut and as directed, they organized Bree's funeral.

However, the sultan found it best to take on his fatherly concern now and had arrested the young sorcerer for the murder of his adoptive daughter. The necromancer didn't dispute the matter. He felt as guilty as was sentenced. In his eyes, he should be brought to justice for having allowed Bree to dash into such a threat.

No, wait!

It wasn't his fault. He wasn't the one who drove the blade through her. He tried to assist her, but she refused him yet again. It was her fault she died, not his. However, with this piece of thought meddling in the back of his mind, he still felt the weight of her death upon his shoulders. Why?

Because she trusted him, although she mocked that trust that they held sacred. They grew up together, well, they lived most of their lives together. Maybe it was because she considered him a friend. He didn't deserve her friendship, her loyalty.

He waited patiently to be brought to justice in a cold damp cellar, protected in anti-magic barriers of all sorts. It matter, he wasn't going to fight anyway. God forbid, that sultan would allow him to see if it was night or day, so that at least he would know how long he's been sitting it the dungeon.

"I have a propesition for you," came a female voice. Her voice was darker, more seductive, more familiar to young sorcerer.

A being in a dark velvet cloak emerged from the wall. The sorcerer dismissed it as an illusion. She must have hid in the shadows, for that was on thing that this dungeon did not lack.

The being came near the bars. Love, admiration, and various other positive emotions seemed to emanate from the being. Her hand gently glided down the metallic barrier. The moment the woman touched the bars, the room illuminated in holy light. The woman stared down peacefully at the Mozenrath. The being let out a sigh of relief and comfort at once. She stepped through the barrier and held out a hand to the sorcerer, who stared at her in awe. "Your wish shall be granted," she said to him, "However I must warn you death isn't going to be easy…after all you haven't had your chance to repent."

The sorcerer took the woman's hand and stood at his full height towering over her. He understood the message the woman gave him. "Come with me," she said simply, stepping through the bars once again, only this time holding Mozenrath's hand.

Uncertainly he stepped through, the anti magic barrier unaffected by the woman's presence or his. "Go see Bree," she said before she vanished.

The dungeon around him remained the same only this time he stood on the outside looking in. He watched as the guards flooded in. Then he saw that he had collapsed, and now his body remained lifeless on the cell's floor.

"Are you coming?" came Bree's voice. She sounded happy to see him.

'Ironic,' he thought. 'Now that I'm dead.'

She sat in the shadows watching the guards check for a pulse. "It's a pity you gave up," she told him, "But I was told of your sacrifice."

She stood up allowing the torch light to shine on her features. "Death is diferent, here the rules are no longer the same. For your crimes you will be hunted, for the good things you have done you will be loved. However…" she lowered her eyes sadly.

"You're going to take my place," he ordered. "You…"

"I know," she whispered softly, "I know."

She slipped her cross around his neck. "I hope this protects you even here." The without another word she vanished.

He felt the woman's presence behind him. "Xerxes," from the fabrics of life and death the eel tore though.

He wrapped himself around his master's shoulders instantly falling asleep. "Mozenrath, you must shut your eyes. You must no longer remember the battle, you must not recall the pain, you must rest your heart."

The last thing he recalled before falling asleep was the way her crystal blue eyes shone with pride.

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Chapter 10: The Truth

By Soul Slayer

The first selfless wish having been granted, time turns backward, giving the Avatar a second chance at life, though none other than herself and the Fates would ever bee aware of the change.

"Watch out!"

Boulders came crashing down in the lava dome, blocking their way out. Bree slipped off Mozenrath's gauntlet, replacing it with her cross. "We're trapped," one of the captured women gasped.

"No you're not," came a determined voice.

The women turned to the source. They faced the dark traveler. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to look deep into their souls. She waved them closer. "I'll teleport you safety," she told them. None had time to argue as the traveller activated her spell. As they vanished, the dome caved in.

The women appeared in the hero's home. Bree arrogantly brushed off some dust from herself and thanked the traveler as teh others wonderously looked about, before thanking the traveller and then heading home. "By the way," Bree said to her, "What's your name?"

"Haptsiepsut," the traveler responded as she began to seal the cavern.

"An orphan?" Bree inquired, interested in the sealing techniques that the traveler used. In fact hey were the same techniques that Mozenrath used when he decided to seal something away, normally out of Bree's reach. The vivid picture of herself trying to reach some cookies and Mozenrath laughing at her faded, leaving her somehow regretting the fact that the sorcerer had past on.

The traveler shook her head, still deep in her concentration. Bree felt a familiar energy in the young woman. "No," Hapts finally said, "I'm a Daamon."

"The Daamon's were wiped out by the humans," the Avatar responded bitterly.

"But you weren't," Hapts responded.

"Who sent you?" Bree asked, not to sure why she had asked.

"The Fates sent me," the traveler finished, leaving the Avatar behind, to ponder her words.

Bree watched Haptsiepsut leave, intrigue by her. She wasn't as forbidding as herself, nor did she have the dark intention that Mozenrath held on to so strongly. But Hapts had a sense of morals; she could feel it. It would be quite interesting to see her in action.

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Chapter 11: The Offering

By Soul Slayer

I wanted to reach out
And meet your grasp
But I only
Look down and smile
I wanted to reach out
And meet your lips
But I only
Close my eyes and cry

Watching you
From a distance
Watching your face
Loving your smile
Sitting quietly

And I sit
And I stare
And I smile
And I cry inside

The stars glowed brightly in the midnight sky above, accompanied by their new reddened moon. It is the night when true evil triumphs, when the dead rise and if worthy… remain in the world of the living. It is the night that all people dread. Beneath the starry sky, lies a great oasis, still undiscovered by human life. It rippled rhythmically in the still night. The lake expands far beyond the horizon's unseen borders. Suddenly, a man rushed to the surface of the lake, gasping for air as he clawed helplessly for something to keep him above the water.

Panic tore through him like daggers through cloth. Something was pulling him down. He felt pressure on his wrist and suddenly, he was on the beach, safe and sound. He felt more saw a being approach. He violently turned around to face the being in a dark blue, velvet hooded-cloak. Around its neck hung a cross, with colored jewels and intricate designs. Somehow the cross seemed familiar to him. "I owed you one," its warped voice said, feeling as if it needed to explain its kind deed.

"Bree?" Mozenrath slowly reached out to the being, ready to remove the hood when the moment presented itself. It backed away out of his reach, shaking its head. "I'm not Bree," it responded calmly, "Only a part of."

He said nothing. He wasn't sure of what the creature was taking about, yet it all seemed to make sense. The figure waved its gloved hand before itself and an image of a young human warrior appeared between them.

The woman was husky and was sun burnt. She bore red hair and small light blue eyes. The rest of her was covered in heavy masses of plated armor. "This is Aziya," came its echoing voice, "She will come to you and make an offering. Accept it an you gain respect; refuse and you die."

Death wasn't something he feared. In fact, when it came down to fear itself, he didn't fear much at all. He stood tall, arms folded across his chest, a cold look in his eye. His face gave the being a look that said, 'Anything else?'

However, it said nothing else. It simply floated in mid air and for the moment, time seemed to stand still.

"Master! Master!" came a screeching voice. "Wake up! Wake up!"

Mozenrath groaned painfully as he rubbed his eyes. He rose to his feet, not questioning his familiar as he would normally. As he pulled on his dark robes, he glanced at the cross on his desk, which continuously reminded him of Bree. Of the time he wasn't fast enough or protective enough to be able to save her in time. He remembered the similar cross that the being had worn…No, it wasn't the same artifact.

The cross-glowed a soothing white when he came near. He didn't know why it did; all he knew was that the closer he got to it the brighter it would glow. He slipped it around his neck before he proceeded down stairs, closing the door behind him.

Dark eyes followed him as he left the dismal domicile. "He looks so depressed," a warped female voice commented, moving forward in the room. Nothing could be seen. Nothing but footsteps and a muddled language could be heard.

"Much like you when you lost your family," an equally warped male voice responded.

"But he's not related to her," she shot back, "And he still has his mother."

"Sadly yes," he replied as if he had failed to prove his point. "But he did love her, he loved her more than life itself." The dark satin curtains were pushed aside by the invisible being, and footsteps could heard walking to the center of the room.

She chuckled, "Yeah! When will he realize that?"

"That's for you to decide," he answered.

"If you're not careful you're going to turn me into a Fate," she warned teasingly.

"Hardly. Just a wise ruler." Still blurred because of the cloaking spell around them, they slowly became apart of the reality. "You must help him see the truth. Help become a wise ruler, worthy of Bree's hand. How, is up to you."

"But you know it's dangerous to play in the realm of the dead for too long," she told him.

"You wanted in, I brought you in," his kind and soothing voice turned into a growl. "Now complete your task, and if you cherish your life… you'll do it fast."

With that he vanished, lifting the cloaking spell from the woman, leaving her crystal-like glare staring into mid air.

An intruder was detected by his magic sensing devices, and almost immediately was captured. Now he simply stared outside a nearby window, sitting comfortably in his chair, waiting for his new prisoner.

The mamlucks shuffled forward holding a well armored redheaded woman in their grasp, a scene all too familiar to the young sorcerer. "Release me," the warrior woman called. "Or in the name of the balances I'll strike ye down."

Mozenrath sat back mockingly in his cushioned throne, as he replayed the scene in his mind. "You'd strike a balance down in the name of the balances?" The question was meant to confuse her but his goal seemed to have missed the woman.

"Than I'm yours to command," she said as if nothing had happen.

"Release her," he commanded. He stared a moment at the older woman noting her short red hair and her light blue eyes. Much like the woman that the figure had shown him in his dream. "Aziya welcome," he greeted. She stiffened at her name. "I'm not sure that you know who I am--"

"Aye, ye be Lord Mozenrath, ruler of the Land of the Black Sand." He nodded. However, he was irritated that she would interrupt him even knowing whom he was. She continued, "Balance of darkness."

The woman who appeared earlier had managed to find a back exit. She paced, kicking the black sand before her. 'Stupid orders' she thought. Suddenly, she had an idea.

The gateway wasn't far, if she could get him there in one piece; she would have enough time to meddle in his life. She knelt down and picked up a hand full of black sand, grinning to herself. Her quick mind would surely make her master proud. She shot it back on the ground and rose to her feet, raising hands to the dark clouded midnight sky.

With that single action, a humanoid creature rose from the sand and stood still as stone. "Destane," she commanded the figure. It shifted in to a hunched back old man whose toothless grin seemed almost indignant. She shuttered at the sight of the all too familiar man. However, she knew she could control this Destane. "Live," she bade it.

With that, the stone cold eyes became taunting and unpleasant to her. He let out an evil chuckle as he stepped forward to grab her. A shriek escaped her lips as she fell to the ground, forgetting what control she had over him as she tried to scurry away.

"To you my Lord," Aziya purred as she knelt down honorably on one knee, "I give me army. We are yours to--"

There was a shriek. Both Aziya and Mozenrath shot to their feet and dashed toward the balcony. They saw a dark-haired young woman trying to run away from an old man, but she tripped over her cloak and fell. The sorcerer stared at the old man; there was something about him that seemed far too familiar. The old man laughed at the woman's effort, a laughter that sent chills down his spine. Destane!

Without thinking of his guest he vanished from the throne room. He was going to settle the score with the old man once and for all, even if it meant his own demise.

'Control your breathing' the woman thought to herself, 'He's just made of sand, he can't do any harm to me.'

She leaped to her feet. In instinct, she took up a stance to prepare for any attack. "I command you," she yelled.

The old man simply grinned and continued to advance on her. Behind him was a flash of blue-black lightning, then the sand attacker exploded into the tiny grains of the desert that had once created him. The woman knew that she had caught the necromancer's attention the moment she had screamed. She knew he was there.

She let her psychic sense wander over the dark land. He was behind her.

She swiftly turned around to see him, but found that no one was there. An evil laughter filled the air, she knew he was mocking her. "Mozenrath," she called, "I know where to find Bree. I can bring you to her."

He moved somewhere in the shadows next to her. The feeling of his dark essence made her skin crawl. There was silence. For a moment she thought she felt him come closer. Patience wearing thin, she punched the area next to her. To her surprise, she had hit him. She knew he wasn't going to play nice now.

His spell shattered like glass and revealed his hateful glare. "Look," she said calmly, "This is a once in life time chance, even the dead would jump at it." She let out a hand to help him up.

He slapped her gloved hand away and pulled himself to his feet always keeping his glare on her. "Bree's dead and there's nothing you can do about it."

She let out a tired sigh. "Perhaps not, but…" She turned in the direction of the gateway.

"But?" he persisted. Despite what he would've said, he was hoping to find a way to bring her back.

"I know someone who can bring you to her." She had to choose her words carefully. Lying in her line of work meant her death.

"Who?" he inquired darting in front of her.

She tilted her head as if to ponder his inquiry, then sighed. "You'll just have to wait and see."

He gripped her arm and pulled her closer. "Where?" His voice became deadly.

"To an oasis maybe two to three hours east," she responded.

He unconsciously scanned the eastern horizon than back at the woman. "Fine," he muttered.

With a final nod of his approval, she wrapped her magic around him and they vanished from his somber capital.

They appeared at the oasis, and like all other places in his kingdom it possessed the darkness of its ruler's heart. Mozenrath observed the familiar site, then finally turned to the woman next to him. "You said he'd be here," he said rudely.

The woman frowned. She pointed to the lake and ordered him to look into the oasis. He gazed into the dark water, understanding the process of mirror gazing, but doubted that it would actually provided a mirror to the land of the dead. An image of Bree appeared instead of his reflection. She was giving orders to an army, but whatever she was ordering seemed urgent. He put out his hand to touch the watery surface.

"She's fighting the undead, a plaguethat if not stopped now will haunt the future as well. Which is teh reason why you'll be joining her soon."

He abruptly glanced up at her. But before he could act, she already had him by the back of his robes and in the middle of lake. "This is where you get off," she said coldly dropping him into the water. She watched him struggle for several moments. Then water current took him down into the murky depths of the oasis.

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Chapter 12: A Possible Future

By Soul Slayer

You are patient at the water
Waiting for a healing word
To ease the burden.
Numbness kicks in from the hurt and cold
Your thoughts and feelings
Are obliterated
Maybe a world beneath the surface
Maybe your heart beats there, alone.
You are patient at the water
Waiting for someone to take your hand
And to lift you up.
Maybe a stranger you've never seen
To lead you
To help you
Swim to the top.

An all too familiar feeling for the young sorcerer, even when he was out of water he felt as if he were drowning. He felt as if hands were trying to pull him down. He didn't care any more. Let them take him, his life was over anyway. Suddenly a rush of air was poured into his face as someone pulled him from the water. He glanced upward to meet the cold gaze of a woman's dark eyes. "Come," she beckoned him.

She possessed a stared that belonged to the demons, a stare that could frighten any living being. They somehow revealed her cold and cruel nature. She had a dark tan and long dark curls, that reminded him of Bree.

He growled a few curses before standing. He shortly began to realize that he was no longer in his kingdom, the skies there were red and the sun was black. He glanced at the oasis but found only a well. He turned to his savior, cleverly masking his confusion, and prepared to blast her, incase of an attack. "Come," she repeated as she began to walk into the desert.

Reluctantly he followed her. He needed to find out where he was and how to get back. They walked in silence for several hours. Through out that time he amused himself by measuring the woman's magic. After a time, he concluded that she and he had an equal amount of magic, all that matter now was skill.

They came to a huge building, most familiar to the young sorcerer, his citadel. He glanced at the ground to see that his black sand was also red. The woman knocked at the door. "What's going on?" he inquire. "The sand…it's-"

Without turning to him she answered, "This was once the Land of the Black Sand. But even the darkess of lands couldn't have survived the tainting of the blood of which the new ruler has poured on her kingdom." He remained silent, listening to her tale with abundant interest. "Haptsiepsut, Lady of Darkness and Empress of the World. She is the one who completed what you wanted to do, your daughter."

"Did she," he retorted. That woman at the oasis, did she send him here?

The doors creaked open and they journeyed into the citadel in perfect silence. Following the woman's obscure path made him believe that she wanted him to see what has become of his kingdom in his absence. On their way, he past several paintings; one in particular caught his attention. A pale young man sitting on a richly furnished chair, with a little girl sitting on his lap. He had dark eyes and dark hair, same as the girl. It was the same picture Bree had used in her rich décor. He unknowingly stopped before it, admiring the artist's choice in color and context.

His savior stood next to him glancing momentarily at the painting. The woman simply said, "They where the Old King's parents." She continued down the hall. "You probably never knew them."

They continued down several of the dark corridors, whose eerie glow was replaced with horrific stone statues. It was great idea to ward off intruders, Mozenrath thought. They were headed to the throne room. "Right this way!" the woman said as she pushed past the massive iron doors of the throne room.

The savior continued her journey to the immense golden throne, where she sat legs crossed in her typical Arabic queen ensemble. At her left, was a tall woman who stood soldier-like. She wore gold plated armor a huge sword at her hip. 'Bree it has to be her,' he thought to himself, 'But she's dead! Isn't she?' She didn't move a muscle. Things around him seemed to be messed up ever since that mysterios woman showed up at the dungeon. The soldier woman nodded once at him. He looked about the throne room to see statues of people begging and soldiers whom had drawn their swords.

The women stared at him without emotion, simply observing him. "Who are you?" he shouted at the woman on the throne.

The woman leaned back, keeping a face straight as stone. "Why, don't you recognize me?" she mocked.

He glared at her in response. "Should I?" he growled. He was tired of being messed with.

She smiled at him, baring her fangs. "I'm your daughter," she purred. "Your little angel, don't you remember?"

Her eyes were mocking him. He summoned his magic holding under his control waiting for when she least expected it. She knew he had a short temper, she was testing him, he could feel it.

"Is that so," he said. He refused to believe what he saw was real. But most of all he wanted the imposter dead. "LIAR!" he yelled, seeing that his magic was simply slapped away with a wave of her hand.

She made a sharp gesture with her hand, signifying a dismissal for Bree. The elven woman bowed and left, not saying a word to Mozenrath as she passed him by. However, he heard her thoughts as passed. 'We'll send you back to make things right' she told him. The New Ruler's smile quickly turned in turned into a glare, realizing the spell her mother had placed on him. "You have a quick tongue," she commented, "But that will be fixed over time." She grinned. "All of the Eastern hemisphere of the world is ruled by myself. All that's needed is one more attack," she leaned forward, "And the world is mine." She sat back and examined her nails. "Do you know who rules the Western hemisphere?"

He shrugged. "Why should care?" he growled.

Her lips twisted in discuss. "That's so like you," she snapped. "You really wouldn't care if I would have died at birth, now would you have?"

He crossed his arms. "Probably not," he shot back.

She glared at him, and stood up, her bell-like sleeves falling over her hands. She casually stepped in front of him, her dark gaze matching his. "You've don't have the slightest idea what's going on do you?"

He arched a brow. He wasn't about to admit that he was clueless at the moment. "You're twenty years in the future," she spat at him, as she turned back to her throne. "My brother's probably not even born yet, from where ever you're from."

She glanced back at him. "That's right," she started. Her voice became chilling and full of evil intent. He didn't know whether he should run or if he should just shoot what ever she had to say back into her face. "Brother wouldn't be born yet. And from what I hear, it takes two to tangle."

He swallowed heavily. His gut told him to run but his feet refused to move. Mozenrath felt her magic being wrapped around him. Cold as it was, he made a successful effort not to cringe at its touch. She placed a hand on his shoulder, feeling his muscles tense beneath his clothing. She grinned maliciously. She whispered in his ear, "If I kill you now..."

Mozenrath glared at her. "If you kill me, you won't be born," he growled.

"Precisely," she hissed, a sword appearing in her grasp.

Without warning she swung a sword at his head. Moving with his instincts, he had dodged several assaults of the same kind. The air around him got thicker, making it harder to move. He dashed behind a pillar, as her blade made contact with the stone. Whoever she was, she was lousy with a sword.

In the distance he could hear chanting, several voice at once. He couldn't define who was speaking, yet he felt as if he knew all who chanted. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, realizing how close he was to death. He felt his magic reach out for some uncontrollable reason. There was an explosion and all went white. He had no time to dive cover, he felt no need to do so.

The smell of blood covered the room. Mozenrath opened his eyes to see the room before him entirely drenched in crimson blood. In the center of the room, laid only half of what had attacked him earlier.

Helplessly, she pawed the ground for her weapon, but found it futile without her legs. Her face was gashed and several of her remaining limbs were blistered and the more serious blisters were bursting with the impact of the cooler air. Tears steamed down her wounded face. "Just kill me now," she wallowed in self-pity.

Mozenrath picked up her weapon and pointed it at her neck. She closed her eyes waiting for the final blow to be dealt. He would've loved to have run her through, but he could feel the magicks of the earth being absorbed into her body. He was well aware of the content required for immortality. He dropped the sword, making her abruptly open her eyes, and glare at him. Mozenrath knelt down before her, "No you live," he said flatly.

"You have to promise you'll kill me," she yelled, "Promise me!" She squirmed in her puddle of blood.

Mozenrath could still hear the chanting. He was now sure that this wasn't a future written in stone, but could be dealt with in time. He'll deal with his daughter to be when the time comes. "Oh, you'll die," he said as he was leaving the room, "Soon enough."

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Chapter 13: Ticket For Three To the Past

By Soul Slayer

When darkness comes
And rain starts falling
My mind looks back on you.
Traces of tear appear.

I knew it was for the best
But something in my heart
Just can't let you go.

The journey was short. Again he went through the sequence of drowning. Then, he felt himself being dragged up onto the shore. He caught out the water that had managed to make it into his mouth, then glanced a moment at the cloaked woman that he had met earlier, towering over him. "By Allah," he muttered tiredly, "Am I in the right time line?"

"Yes," the woman answered simply, holding a gloved hand out for him to shake. "I'm Hapts." She pulled away her hand before he could grasp it.

"What do you want with me?" he inquired sounding more fed-up with her. The name irritated him, more than her presence there.

"If I told you that now, it would ruin the surprise," she told him. "Come now, we're going to Agrabah."

Reluctantly he stood up, but was unprepared for Hapts' yet unknown ability. He drew back, trying to escape to claws of her spell. In defense, he shot several bolts of his own potent magic at her.

Hapts dodged the assaults rolling to ground. "Don't you want to see Bree?" she inquired innocently.

Without realizing it he glanced up at the red moon above. "I'm not going to die!" He growled, finally hitting her with a fire bolt.

She fell on her backside. She groaned in pain as she stood back up. Mozenrath didn't waist his time. He leaped forward and pushed her down. Her hood fell back…

He drew back in shock. He couldn't believe his eyes. "Hapsiepsut," he uttered, suddenly remembering the woman of the future. She tilted her head as if searching for a reason behind him being shocked. After a moment she nodded. "It can't be you… It's too soon," he muttered

She smiled. "No, I'm not who you think I am. I'm from five hundred years in the future. I'm here, for a history project so-to-speak." She kindly dismissed the fact that he attacked her and simply took it as a diplomatic error on her part. She stood up again and wrapped her magic around the dumbfound wizard before he could react again.

They appeared in Agrabah's palace's garden. Around them were various flowers of every color and trees and vines formed a dome nearby. Inside three silhouettes could be seen. One of them stood up and stood in front of the dome opening. Mozenrath could feel her eyes searching the area.

The woman came into the light revealing the princess Jasmine. She journeyed over to a rose bush nearby, glancing up at the red moon, as she plucked a rose. Bree wasn't far behind her. "How well did you know him?" Jasmine asked the Avatar, without turning around.

Bree sighed. The new arrivers listened with interest. "Well enough, I guess. We grew up together…" She looked as if she couldn't remember if what she had said was true.

"Good friends then," the princess muttered half in thought. "Why did he chose you? If he knew you wouldn't submit," she inquired more to herself.

Bree lowered her head. Remembering her reasons not marry him, as well as his to wed her. "Probably my power or his power over me, or probably all of the above… But quite frankly, I don't know."

The princess faced the Avatar. "Do you miss him?"

Bree arched a brow, not yet facing Jasmine, and grinned herself. "I don't know, really. But since his death, I feel as if…" She turned around abruptly. "The point is I'm alive. I can't go around mourning Mozenrath's death forever. As close as we were, I…"

"You were good at playing him for the fool, Bree," quietly interrupted Jasmine, "But I'm not a fool. I know, despite what you say, that you feel for him. That was why you came back right? To tell him."

"I came to for fill a prophecy," Bree snapped, "To give birth to a uni-balance, to a goddess."

Even in the dim light that the moon offered, all could see Jasmine turn two shades paler. "That's criminal," she gasped. "How could you do that to your own child? To Mozenrath? You're choosing a path that they may not like."

"I'll tell him, eventually," the Avatar shrugged, "But quite frankly, his son will have a free life ahead of him."

Jasmine remained silent. "I've been gifted with the ability of foresight. I know how my son will be raised, and what will become of him. I know that he'll be a demon child."

Bree approached the princess who only uttered. "Stay away from me."

"I know Mozenrath's death has been a blessing on your kingdom, but…" She violently turn around and saw two figures standing in a shadowy corner of the garden. Bree instinctively drew her sword, ready to act if the beings posed any threat to her. "Friend or foe," she called.

"Friend," the two answered simultaneously.

She still tightly gripped the jeweled hilt of her blade. "Than show yourself," the Avatar commanded.

One of them stepped into the moonlit garden, holding out her hand behind her, telling the other to stay. The young woman's face seemed familiar to Bree. Her piercing blue eyes stared at her in awe and admiration yet, was accompanied by a grin. "Your friend too," Bree ordered, her patience wearing thin.

"I believe you already know my friend," the woman said, "After all you do know Mozenrath."

"Impossible," Bree growled. She thrust her sword in the woman's direction. "Mozenrath is dead. I saw him die with my own eyes."

"I thought I taught you better than that," came Mozenrath's dark voice. He emerged from the shadows as if he was a phantom. Bree looked as if she was going to faint, yet remained standing and glared coldly in the sorcerer's direction.

She seethed her sword and glanced into his soul for a moment. After a time she said, "It is you." She stepped closer to him. He took her hands in his.

Bree suddenly violently pushed him away. "You jerk," she yelled at him, "I thought you were dead! And…you couldn't be bothered to contact me, so that I…" her words got caught in her throat.

"Now you did it, Mozey old boy, you've gone and pissed her off," the woman mocked.

Mozenrath could only glared at her before a war alarm went off. All looked toward the ringing bell at the top of the palace. Bree cursed before storming off. Hapts tried to follow her but was jerked backwards and found herself in Mozenrath's vice like grip.

"Why do they think I was dead?" he inquired coldly, squeezing her arms tighter.

She took a moment to think of an answer but found herself without a reasonable explanation, except the truth. She shrugged, despite his painful grip. "You don't know, oracle!" he growled.

"Oracle!"

"Yes, oracle." He pushed her away, watching her fall on her rear. He dangerously strode toward her as she desperately tried to crawl away. "You tried to hide your gift from me. I know of your ability to see in the future. I know you know the truth behind each family on this planet. There's no denying who you are." He really didn't know how he knew, he just did.

Jasmine pulled the sorcerer away from Hapts, "Because," she responded kindly, "You were dead."

Haptsiepsut stood up, but said nothing. She turned away from him and walked in the direction Bree had gone earlier. She stopped before the massive doors of the garden. "You should go fight for your life now, Bree can't do it on her own."

With that, she left them alone in the garden.

Mozenrath glared at the long since gone Haptsiepsut. She knew the answer to his question; he knew it. The only problem would be to get her to tell him. There was a screeching sound in the sky. He glanced in the direction of the sound, only to see a huge red scaled dragon clinging onto one of the palace's onion domed towers.

It screeched again then breathed flames on its attackers The sorcerer recognized the dragon as one of Bree's, the very same dragon who helped her lead the assault on Agrabah for her test. The necromancer glanced back on Jasmine, who stared in awe at the wondrous beast. "Go inside," he ordered her, "Things are going to get messy." He, then, teleported himself to where Bree was fighting.

He knew her too well. She had the palace protected by a dragon, perhaps several for all he knew. She had several of her soldiers and archers scattered about the city taking down air and land assaults, but keeping her men at a safe distance from any magical display. She would be fighting at the front. Taking down as many mamlucks as she could as she worked her way to the main enemy.

Hapts stood in the shadows of the palace throne room. She wasn't to interfere with the battle at hand, yet her appetite for battle called for her several times into disobeying her master's orders. Yet, by some miracle, she still stood by the pillar in the darkness watching the raging battle. "They work well together," came the sultan's kind voice.

Hapts grunted. He dismissed the rude reply and stood by her side. "I knew you'd come."

"And so you should have," she said simply. The balances were winning without a doubt. Yet she wanted to be there when she saw her ancestors deal the final blow to the old sorcerer. No! She wanted to be the one who would deal the final blow to end all wars.

"Could I ask you something?" he asked watching the horizon.

"Shoot."

"Why are you really here?"

Hapts lowered her head. "I was sent to set things straight." She chuckled to herself. "Mozenrath believes me to be an oracle. You'd think he'd pay attention when I told him I was from the future."

The sultan joined in the chuckling. "He only hears what he wants to hear." There was a sense of belonging when he was with Hapts. The unexplainable thing about Hapts was that she felt as if he'd known her since she was an infant.

"I've noticed."

In the distance they saw a tidal wave of sand come toward the city. Haptsiepsut was speechless. She somehow managed to utter the words, "Get back!"

She and the sultan backed away as the tidal wave hit the palace walls; and were threatening to climb. Hapts raised her hands to the sky and called out, "To the wind spirits I call, send forth your power and force the vile wall to fall."

The sand still climbed. "It didn't work!" the sultan cried.

"It did," Hapts answered. "All it needs is time."

"We don't have any to spare!" he shrieked.

As if on cue, a sudden gust of wind drove through the throne room. The sand then drew back as if it were a beast fleeing from fire. It was over in a matter of moments. The city was now free of the evil sand and all was quiet. Too quiet.

Hapts leaned over the balcony, surveying the area. "They've turned to stone!" Hapts exclaimed.

No sooner had she said this, she turned to leave, rubbing her hands together evilly. The sultan rushed in front of her, halting her progress. "What are you going to do?" she inquired.

Haptsiepsut let out an irritated sigh. The truth was once again an option, but would the sultan allow her to do it. She shook her head. "I'm going to get the people who can reverse the spell," she responded.

She pushed past the sultan and continued her journey to the balcony free of carrying any extra travelers, then disintegrated as if she was a heap of sand blown away by the wind.

Hapts appeared at front line of the battle. She turned back to the frozen war, observing all that she had missed out on. Her eyes finally came to the people whom she was searching for. She strolled over to the statues of Bree and Mozenrath, then gripped their arms, vanishing in a void of light.

Observing the scene were two beady black eyes. The moment the woman had vanished with the statues, they had zipped off into the desert.

There was a splash before Hapts appeared above a now familiar oasis. She placed her hands on hips and waited for the ripples to end as she hovered over the water surface. She could see the bottom of the lake clearly, and saw a fish swim rapidly to the surface. "What is the meaning of this," he choked.

The creature wasn't a fish, but half of one; a merman. "My sincere apologies," she said to him. "But I need you to care for these statues, until I return."

The merman bowed in respect. He could feel her power over the land. "As you wish Astral," he said respectfully.
She arched a brow but dismissed the event. "To do so," she began, "You must cast a sleep spell over the lake, so that all who enter never awake."

The merman bowed again, nodding at her request. She nodded in approval, leaving the site.

Haptsiepsut paced several moments in the throne room. The sultan came in, his daughter at his side. Hapts regained her cold look and stood confident. The sultan stood before her, trying to place her in his memory, yet found the task futile, yet again.

Hapts bowed respectfully.

There was a strange feeling in his gut, a feeling of submission. The sultan nodded. "Go on."

She stood face with the Royal family never once turning her back to them. "You do know that Destane has risen?"

The sultan nodded. "I request use of my own weapon to use against him…"

"Well I don't see a problem with…" he started.

Hapts raised her hand to silence him. "I'm not finished." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I have selected two people, whom with their power and use of a very sacred area, Destane will surely fall."

Slowly the sultan nodded. "This area would be…"

"The tower located at the very heart of Agrabah," she responded.

"That is indeed a sacred area," he commented, deep in thought. "Who's power do you wish to magnify?" the sultan inquired.

Suddenly the throne room doors flew open. Behind the massive doors, stood Bree and Mozenrath; looking very wet. Hapts made a slight gesture toward the balances. "The Soul Slayer and the Avatar."

-2005-

Two researchers walked aimlessly in the desert, disturbing what peace the barren land once held for the past three years. The male researcher was tall and fairly tan. He covered his dark hair with a white turban that his daughter had picked out for him at the mutant's market place. His dark gaze never left the horizon. He and he alone knew where they were going.

"What's the point of this?" the woman whined. The woman looked to be decades years younger than he. She was young for a qualified scientist, but the hand full of humans needed her skill and wasn't about to throw away her talents because of her age. She, like her father, had shoulder length black hair.

"I want to test your skills," the man replied simply.

The woman pulled out a small handgun and pointed it at the blacken sun. "I'm ready, let me at 'em," she said enthusiastically.

The older man took her weapon and threw it far behind them. The woman simply shrugged as her mentor continued the journey. "I want to test your combat skills," he said after a while.

"That's all well and good but couldn't you just zap us there?" It was more of a statement. She glanced at the man next to her and frowned. "This isn't one of your sick jokes to get some color into my skin is it?" The man chuckled, and shook his head.

An hour or so had passed before they arrived at an oasis. The lake itself spread far beyond the horizon. The man grasped his daughter's arm. "We're here." He glanced at her. "Can you feel the energy waves?"

She nodded and knelt down near the water's edge. The power she felt was beyond words, it seemed to beckon her soothingly asking her to come into the water. She felt the negative and positive energy in the area. She touched the water surface and drew back slightly at its cold touch. Determined now, that this oasis held a treasure trove of powerful magic, she sent her psychic power into to the depth of the lake. Without warning, she pulled off her coat and her boots; and dove into the lake.

Beneath the wall of air and water was a whole New World; a world unlike which she had ever seen before. Various fish and plant life swayed in the currant. She swam close to the fish, but they didn't swim away. In fact, they was unaware of her presence there. They were in a permanent sleep.

With the realization of the enchantment that the oasis was under she quickly swam for the surface. Her father hovered over the boundary, hands on his hips. He wasn't cross with her, but waiting for something. He stared in the opposite direction. His daughter knew that an old rival had found them. She dove back under wrapping herself in an air bubble.

She directed the bubble deeper. Eventually, she came to a mountain covered in caverns. She cursed under her breath, before letting her power scan the area for her new power. There was a bright light coming from one of the caves. It had to be the power responding to her call.

She directed her bubble to the correct cave, following the path of light. She swam on for what seemed like hours, before finding her treasure. In the center of a bubble-like room was a marble pillar. Atop were two statues that emanated a bright light. She swam closer to examine the statues, ignoring any scientific calling that told her that it was impossible for two statues to fall into an water source and suddenly land on a pillar, without any entrance other than the one she had taken.

The statues were that of a man and a woman who looked to be ready for battle. The sword that was held in the woman's grip was made of diamond; the hilt was in gold and decorated with jewels. The man and woman seemed strangely life-like to her. She brushed her hand against the man's cheek. He looked like her father.

"See I told you," came a voice from behind her, "There is a human who has gotten past our sleep spell."

She turned around to see a half-human half-fish swim up to her. "Welcome mistress," it said kindly.

Her gaze left the mer-child and went to the dragon, who stared up at her with its huge black eyes. This was the first time she saw a dragon. The feelings that ran through were mixed. Its long neck circled around the bubble to allow itself to get a closer look at her. It simply blew bubbles in her face, and smiled when she simply pet its scaly nose.

"You'll need help with the statues," the mer-child said. "Andramadis will help you carry them."

The dragon nodded, then placed its back level with the platform supporting the statues. The mer-child whistled. Several mer-folk swam into the room with seaweed in their grasp. It took but a few minutes for them to secure the statues to Andramadis' back. "Get on." The mer-child pushed her toward the dragon. "Lose the bubble, or else he'll loose you in the currants.

Without a much needed explanation, she held her breath and uncast her spell and held on to the dragon's scales. With a few flaps of its massive wings it was swimming with unimaginable speed. The cave seemed to grow larger, fitting the dragons width as it past through without much problems.

Before she new it, they were out of the caves and back on the surface with her father. She quickly realized that he was fighting with an undead army. "Quick, get on," she called to him.

He looked back on her, seeing that she had found her prize. He sat behind his daughter also gripping some scales. "Andramadis, let's go," he yelled.

The dragon took to the skies in a matter of seconds leaving the undead clueless on how to get them down. It circled the oasis a few times before diving for the zombies, releasing blue flame from its nose and the same time screamed in a way that made the older zombies shatter into decaying pieces.

Most of the army was on fire before they left the site, heading for home.

"Careful," came a familiar voice, "Don't open your eyes just yet, let me turn down the lights. There! Okay you can open them."

Mozenrath and Bree carefully opened their eyes. Their surroundings had changed completely. The room was made with white metallic material, and there were several screens with strange writing on it. The room was empty, except for the two people that stood before them. The room gradually lightens. "Where are we?" Bree inquired.

"Welcome to the twenty first century," a dark voice responded.

"Twenty first…" the Avatar looked confused; but Mozenrath wasn't. He came at them, "Impossible! How did we get here? Where's Hapts?"

The two people glanced at each other before answering. "Hapts… I don't know who she or he is. How you got here was something I was hoping that you could answer," the woman said.

The lights were completely on, revealing an older man, who was cover head to foot in a strange plastic costume, and his scientist daughter, who familiarity was remarkable to Haptsiepsut. A doorway appeared in the wall behind them. "I don't know where you're going to put that beast Love"

The new woman stared at the new guests and forgot what she was going to say. Mozenrath arched a brow. He had recognized the new woman, but the possibility that Bree would live this long AND retain such youthful beauty was out of the question. "Okay, here's one for you," Bree said ignoring the third person. "How do we get back? And I know you both know."

"She'll be the one bringing you back," the man said pointing to his daughter. "Soon. In the mean time, you'll be staying with us while she perfecting the spell," he continued. He turned and placed his hand to the wall. No sooner did he do this action, an opening appeared and allowed passage to all of them.

They journeyed down a long corridor. Mozenrath examined a glass, assuming that it was a window, he rubbed off some fog. Both brows where raised when he saw the human in the wall. "Um, that's a curing process I've been working on," the scientist said, "It's to cure those whom have been bitten by a zombie. Normally, this hall is closed off but…"

The light suddenly changed red. Both Hapts and her father tensed. "Report!" Hapts called.

"Surrounded by the enemy!" came an unidentifiable voice. "Approach is rapid!"

"Go to the training grounds and use the time spell," her father ordered. "But first get the gauntlet. The code is 355697. Now go!"

Without hesitation Hapts hurried down the hall. Her teacher faced the confused balances. "Go with her, you're still needed in the past." He pointed past them down the hall. "She'll take you there!"

They nodded before following Haptsiepsut.

She arrived at the only room forbidden to her. She placed her hand on the door and told it the password. Nothing happened. Mozenrath and Bree came down the hall. "Mozenrath," Hapts called.

He towered over her waiting to hear what she had to say. She took his hand. "Place your-" she noticed the gauntlet and let go of his hand. She glared at the door.

In a few moments, her shape changed; identical to Mozenrath's, yet it lacked eyes, hair, clothing, and various other parts. It placed its hand on the wall and repeated the pass-code. The door opened just as Hapts shape changed back to normal.

They entered a dark room. Midnight blue curtains trimmed in gold hung around the room. A crimson carpet led the way to the artifact at the very end of the room. Lights glowed beneath each of the various artifacts in the room, giving them a holy glow.

They stopped before the gauntlet. Hapts look down at her hand, which was stripped of its flesh and revealed only her muscles, then to the gauntlet. She took the gauntlet and pulled it on. "Let's go!"

They ran through several corridors to a room, which resembled a meadow in the center of a forest. They continued to the center of the meadow where Haptsiepsut began to concentrate her energy. Without warning a ring of flame surrounded them. Hapts continued to concentrate. The grass beneath them faded and turned into a view of the galaxy. Shortly, their green surroundings faded into nothingness, continuing the view of the cosmos. In a matter of moments the Earth came into sight, rotating backwards. The sun set and rose backward as did many other things. The balances than faded away, returning to their time. Still Hapts continued to concentrate.

The balances appear where they were found, over the oasis. But not suspecting that the laws of gravity would take affect right away. They fell into the water.

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Chapter 14: Orbs, Taslismans, And A Bunch of Ghosts

By Soul Slayer

Does it help for me
To say I'm sorry.
To say that I was hurting too,
That I still hurt?

After a long discussion with the sultan and company, Hapts had managed to gain control of his army and allowed both Mozenrath and Bree to wander freely around Agrabah for whatever they needed for the fight against Destane. However, there was one condition, if Bree or Mozenrath were to turn against the Royal family during the war, all three of them would be executed on the spot. This argument took most of the day to come to an agreement.

Hapts was uneasy about her new situation, yet managed to keep her cold indifferent look in tact. She commanded a meeting of the several generals in Agrabah; however, she made it a point not to allow Avatar nor Soul Slayer to be present.

The balances waited patiently outside for the meeting to come to an end. It wasn't until the sun began setting before their meeting began. For the first time, they feared of what Hapts might say. Yet, they never allowed their emotion to show. Two guards stood at the door ready for any assassins. Why would there be assassins after Haptsiepsut? The guards didn't question the sultan's orders at the time, but still stood unmoving in front of the doors.

One guard entered the room announcing Bree and Mozenrath's arrival.

Hapts stood tall and confident. She was now dressed in a dark blue velvet coat that descended in a V shape behind her. Beneath that, was a tight black ensemble and her boots were knee high.

The balances had so many questions to ask but had so little time. "How long have you been here?" Mozenrath inquired, after the guard left with his newly assigned task. The question had bothering him since he arrived from the future.

She let out a heavy sigh, then sat down a table covered in various Agrabanian maps. "Two maybe three years," she replied, motioning for them to sit. "Like I told the sultan, it took me a while to find Agrabah."

"The humans are ready for a temporary assault. Not even the street rat could take all that Destane could throw at us, one of the reasons why I kept him in an emergency team." She saw Mozenrath's face twist in discuss. Bree chuckled at her colleague's reaction. "But I have some thing else in mind for you guys."

Mozenrath listened, but didn't show much interest in the subject. Bree however, sat across from Hapts and acted as if Hapts had offered her a new assignment, a new assassination. "We'll need Aziya's army."

"Aziya doesn't have an army," Bree shot at her. "Well, at least not any more." Mozenrath arched a brow, and stared at Bree a moment. The question played clearly in his dark eyes. "She was Azeroth's daughter." She lowered her head in respect for the dead. "She died a few years back."

"Well," the sorcerer began, "She couldn't be dead, because she personally gave me her army."

Bree grinned mockingly. Hapts leaned forward interest and theory working together in the back of her mind. "It makes sense," she said out loud. "Aziya being dead and all, would be, well… pardon the redundancy, on the other side. Just maybe in the way she died, she could have been caught between realms. Like an unfinished task."

"Well, she was found dead at an opera house," Bree stated, "I believe she was hit with a sand bag, if my memory serves me right."

"That would do the trick," the sorcerer chuckled. Mozenrath nodded in acknowledgement, understanding where Hapts was going with her theory. "That's all well and good but that doesn't explain how she got to the citadel to give me her army."

Hapts was clearly irritated with his continuous denial of his death, which was made perfectly clear by now. "Look," Hapts began. She wasn't supposed to interfere but would anyway, by explaining his death. "When you fought with the demon-"

"You got killed instead of me," Bree interrupted, saving Hapts skin. "You pushed me out of the way, and the demon Lord got you with his horn. You died instantly."

Mozenrath arrogantly strode to the table and dropped Bree's cross onto the table, suggesting an explanation. Bree glanced up at him, taking her cross in her hands. "I placed it around your neck to postpone your judgement, so that we would have the chance to come get you."

"We?" He glanced at Hapts, who simply nodded at his assumption. "So you sent her into the realm of the dead to retrieve me." He pointed at Haptsiepsut.

"Not exactly," Bree chuckled, "A warrior friend of hers, Seth, I believe, held the keys to that realm."

Moze arched a brow and grinned.

"Anyway, we ended up loosing track of you. Hapts said something about seeing fate," Bree continued. "So we returned to Agrabah to continue the fight against Destane. But, Hapts stayed behind, waiting. I knew that there was slim chance that you would make it back, but I couldn't risk loosing the last kingdom against Destane."

He glanced at Hapts a moment, then back at Bree. "Than you told me to contact Aziya," he said to Haptsiepsut.

"I'm a true historian," she said proudly, "Wouldn't change a thing if I could."

"How do we contact Aziya again?" he inquired, changing the subject.

The room fell over a sheet of silence as they pondered a way to reach the world of the dead once more. "There are many gateways, here in Agrabah," Bree said suddenly. "Since Seth left some time ago, you'd probably have to do it the old fashion way and use the chalk and the wall trick."

Hapts stood up and prepared to leave the room. "So be it, chalk and a wall," she said, confirming the Avatar's suggestion. All got up to leave the domicile. Bree suddenly went two shades paler, and began loosing her balance. "I…I can't go!"

Hapts had managed to catch the Avatar by the arm and had helped her to the door. She told the guard waiting outside to call the doctors and then pulled Mozenrath away from the Avatar, ordering her to go to a nearby room. Haptsiepsut shoved the worried sorcerer most of the way down the hall, occasionally shocking him with a spell. Catching sight of the red moon, they halted. Hapts stopped and stared up at it. "By God, I hope I can pull this off," she muttered to herself.

Hapts turned and faced the marble wall behind them and summoned the recquired tools; a peice of chalk. She drew a door on the wall and then knocked three times. In moments, the door faded away revealing a dark void. They all glanced at each other before proceeding into the darkness. The walked for several moments in the thick sheet of black, until they suddenly appeared in a dimly lit room of an opera house. Before them was a red carpet leading them through hundreds of rows of seats and to the stage, where several actors and actresses were performing. There were detailed balconies above them. They tried to focus on what they were saying, but the words would either all come at once or only a portion of the words would touch their ears.

Mozenrath growled a curse, then proceeded angrily down the center row. Hapts simply shrugged at the necromancer's obscure behavior, and followed him. The closer they got to the stage, they realized that the people were blurs. The sorcerer managed a safe route to the only person who watched the opera. He sat down next to her observing the scene before him, as if he tried to recall the opera. Hapts leaned on the stage, also listening the musical play take place.

"Ye here because of me army," the woman stated.

Mozenrath nodded, noting that Hapts wasn't near him.

"I've already given ye me army necromancer. All I have left is me soul," she said to him as she got up to leave.

Mozenrath darted in front of her, halting her at the exit. "Then teach me how to use them, Aziya," he asked. The actors on stage vanished with the necromancer's loud voice echoing through the opera house.

Aziya let out a mocking laughter. "There be the first. A necromancer who doesn't know how to summon spirits of the dead!"

He glared at her. "He does," came Hapts commanding voice. "He was simply unsure on how he should summon them."

She glance behind him a moment then proceeded next to Mozenrath. The ghost woman stared at Hapts and nodded. "Very well then, Astral." Her gaze shifted back to Mozenrath. "Use your Soul Crystal."

"Soul crystal?" he inquired.

"All Soul Slayers have one," Aziya laughed, "Don't you?"

"Well…"

"Of course he does," Hapts said boldly, then focused on Aziya. "The crystal, how does one acquire it?"

Aziya stare at her, dumbfound.

"Okay, she said 'to seek a prophet of royal blood.'" Hapts shrugged, then pulled out a small white crystal from her pocket. "But we really don't have the time to find one right now, so you'll have to use mine." She tossed the crystal at Mozenrath. "But we have to also free her from her hell."

He nodded in acknowledgement. "Where's Bree?" he inquired, after putting the crystal away.

She remained silent as if she hadn't heard him at all and was simply waiting for something to talk about. "Seize him! And that retched witch!" The sultan ordered.

They all turned around to see the sultan and several guards coming toward them, their swords drawn. "Witch!" the woman cried at once, then glanced at each other.

"Halt!" Hapts ordered.

All the attackers stopped slightly confused at the tone of authority that resonated from her. "How dare you disobey a dirrect order! Would you dare risk the safety of your peole now over a minor insignaficant..." she trailed off, she didn't know why they were being arrested. "Deal with us later, when your city is safe."

She led them through several rooms, to one in particular. She locked the door behind them. It was bright compared to the dim room of Mozenrath's citadel, but even he had to admit this room definitely suited Bree. The Avatar laid down in a bed in the back of the room cradling a pile of blankets. Mozenrath towered over Bree arms folded across his chest. He clearly didn't see what Bree held so close to her. Hapts peered into the blankets, seeing a pair of well formed beady black eyes look back at her. She glanced up at Mozenrath, forgetting what she was going to say.

"What is it," Mozenrath growled, now irritated.

"Congratulations Moze," Hapts said proudly, "You're a DAD!!!"

The word 'dad' nearly made him faint. Instead, he took the pile of blankets from Bree to see for himself. When they stated to squirm he realized that what Hapts had said was true. "Well Bree," the necromancer growled, as he cradled the infant in his arms. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"You have a son," Bree replied indifferently as she snapped her fingers. Her ensemble changed from the loose nightshirt to her regular black gear.

He glanced at her moment, arching a brow. "I'm not going to let you guys have all the fun!" Bree answered to his unasked question.

Mozenrath handed the child to Hapts. "I think he likes you," Bree said kindly.

Hapts let out an evil chuckle. "Yeah, he didn't puke on you yet!"

Mozenrath had managed to talk Jasmine into watching his son while he and Bree fought with Destane. Hapts had told her not to worry, because they be done soon. She neglected to mention that if they failed all would die in a split second anyway and she wouldn't realize that she was dead.

Hapts had her plans all set up; it was a matter of getting them organized in time. She led the balances to Mozenrath's kingdom, into a room filled with crates. The very room Bree had claimed to have seen very familiar, magic draining devices.

She pushed several crates aside with perfect ease. Finally she came to a box half her size. She let out a sarcastic laughter before she prided open the crate, muttering, "It's always the last crate you push." She glanced inside only to find cobwebs accompanied by their owners. Bree leaned on the crate; not bothering to look on the inside for she already knew what was there.

Hapts paid no attention to her and reached into the box, rubbing the interior of it with her fingers in search of the switch, which only carefully trained people could find. She felt the switch handle and pulled it in the opposite direction. They heard a thump. Her way was open; all she had to do was find it.

Hapts made her way pass the crates, to Mozenrath. She stared up at him a moment then left the room. Bree approached him cautiously. "What did you tell her?" Yet unsure why she asked such a question, she knew he had told her something.

He glanced at her a moment but said nothing, then left the room in pursuit of Haptsiepsut.

"Xerxes, Xerxes," Hapts tisked, "What a clever little snake you were."

Mozenrath glanced at Bree, who simply shrugged. "Blueprints," she said suddenly.

Hapts halted before a hanging tapestry and glanced at Bree, who shrugged. "Do you know anyone else, who is alive and knows this place inside and out."

"A mind reader," she gasped at her realization.

"I didn't willingly give you that information," the necromancer snapped at Hapts, hardly second-guessing the Avatar's suggestion.

"Look at your mind as a safe; it holds really valuable stuff inside. And on a safe there is usually a lock, which could always be broken. But you see I didn't break your lock." She pushed past the tapestry. "No, I knew the combination."

The room was dim but they saw what they came for. Several crystal orbs were on the floor pilled in the corners. It appeared that Xerxes had tried to store them away incase his master had found his stash. Hapts summoned a medium size bag and filled it with orbs. "Bree go and find the phoenix medallion; and Mozenrath, go summon your army," she ordered as she continued to fill her bag.

Mozenrath glared at the crystal in his hand. He's tried for the forth time to summon the army of spirit, but it simply wasn't working. He threw the crystal at the nearest wall with all of his strength. "My toy not working?" came Hapts worried voice.

He glared at her, as she ran to the crystal's side. "Sorry grand-dad, I made a mistake."

"You damn right!" the crystal snapped back at her, "That lunatic's trying to kill me!"

"Now, now grand-dad," she said soothingly, picking it up. "You're not even scratched."

"Why if I had my old body back, he'd be a dead…Hmphmm" She shoved the crystal into her pocket as she pulled out another artifact. "This time it will work."

He grasped her arm pulling her in front of him. "That's your grand-father," he said flatly.

"Long story," she responded. "Oh, and ignore the fact that he had called you a lunatic, old people you know, think they own the damn world," she said to him, then proceeded to find Bree.

He had all the time in the world. All he wanted to do now was destroy Mozenrath. He could feel Bree's presence too, after all her power wasn't something that any sorcerer could just dismiss.

It was shame that he had lost most of his army to her. But he had gotten the upper hand on them when he had used that tidal wave of sand on them. Yet, to his disappointment, he found his prizes gone when had tried to collect them. The word 'astral' came to mind, and a sudden anger rose inside. This 'astral' would pay for interfering with his plans.

As if on cue, there was a faint figure crossing his path. "I have a message for you," it told him. "Go to the heart of Agrabah. The ones you seek are there." With that it vanished.

He could feel the presence of the dead increase suddenly and slowly begin to fall. What was going on?

He didn't care. His chance for revenge had finally come. Yet he knew that they were up to something. He knew that they were prepared to fight him. At least they'd be a challenge.

They placed several crystals behind shields and tapestry, assuring themselves that the weapon could not be seen. "As long as the battle doesn't move to the balcony, every thing should be fine," Hapts told the balances.

"Fine," Mozenrath snapped. He hated being told everything step-by-step. His army was already taking out the thousands of mamlucks outside. He couldn't help but wonder if he would be able to keep his new army. He glanced at Hapts, then at Bree, and doubted it strongly.

"Well, we don't have time to fight now Moze," Bree said peering over the balcony, as if she read his mind. "Destane got our invitation."

A dark version of Xerxes swam rapidly into the room. The power surrounding the eel familiar was immense. Slowly, the eel's fins grew into arms, his tail shaped into bony legs, his face into a wrinkled old man's evil grin, and skin fell into a dark tattered robe. Destane grinned indignantly at Bree and Mozenrath. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this," he growled. He saw the woman behind them determined to stay out of the picture, was this astral?

Destane released a potent spell, or it would have been had it not been sucked up by the crystals hidden about the room. He cried out in pain. Mozenrath didn't hesitate. He leaped forward tightly grasping the halberd in his hands. The old sorcerer looked up at him, eyes revealing no emotion as the blade cut through his neck.

The old sorcerer's head rolled away from its body, leaving a trail of blood wherever it rolled. Bree ran to Mozenrath hugging him without regret. Hapts stepped forward ready to congratulate him on his dreadfully easy to attain victory. Flames began to spark from Destane's blood and surrounded the three. They couldn't help but breathe: "I knew it."

Aladdin accompanied by his love, Jasmine who held the necromancers son tightly to her chest to protect it, atop of carpet flew in. "The mamlucks," the hero cried, "They've taken over the palace."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Hapts muttered to herself. She dug into her pockets and pulled out a small orb. After a quick examination of the artifact, she threw the transparent orb at the necromancer. He examined it quickly than realized what it was when a black pupil blink at him. It was the Dragon's Eyes. He felt the power of the artifact surge through him. The knowledge of the past users of this particular object was now his to use.

Bree quickly understood what Haptsiepsut was planing and moved behind Destane, pulling out the Phoenix medallion. Hapts knew that Bree would catch on so didn't worry about her, and proceeded with her plan and hurried to another corner of the dismal room.

As if on cue, the three tapped into their given artifact simultaneously. Suddenly, the building began to shake, and blue clouds circled the invisible sorcerer. Lightning bolts struck several pillars in the domicile, deafening the casters. The mist began spinning, gradually gaining speed. The faster the enchantment went; the more destruction it caused to the room.

The casters were loosing their footing, slowing being dragged into the maelstrom. Suddenly, three pillars tore through the ceiling engulfing the casters in a protective shield. A loud boom could be heard out side. With out warning a ray of light soaked through the darkness, forcing any nocturnal creature fleeing for their lives. Destane screamed with pain, shattering the glass dome above and glass objects in the room.

Suddenly, the scream stopped as Haptsiepsut fell to the ground unconscious. Bree and Mozenrath fell to their knees confused and feeling powerless. Mozenrath scanned the room searching for Destane's remains, yet they could not be found. Bree crawled over to Hapts and tried to wake her, but she would not respond.

She put a hand gently over the fallen woman's mouth checking if she was still breathing. She released a sigh of relief, then told Mozenrath "She's alive, just exhausted."

The war was finally over. But Hapts had other plans, and Mozenrath knew it. Only time would tell what Haptsiepsut's twisted mind would come up with. Mozenrath lifted her in his arms as Bree took her son from Jasmine as she quietly thanked her, then teleported his companions and himself to his Citadel. Who was this young woman that he felt strangely attached to?

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