Earth-1001

We assembled at the cockpit and stared at the approaching world of Earth-1001.

Arriving in the Arwing, I could feel the heat from there even through the windows and the Arwing’s climate control system that regulated the ship’s temperature.

“Hope we’re not here too long,” Glaze muttered.

Once we reached the surface, we were in the middle of a seemingly endless ocean of desert sand, stretching all the way out to the horizon.

I was able to see a long, high wall which seemed to be mark the border of a large, abundant city. Looming over everything was an Arabian palace.

"Welcome to Turpan Khanate," Glaze said.

“Let’s make our way to the city,” I told my friends. I could hear them shuffling along behind her on the sand as I walked quickly.

I had no idea where to begin. Hopefully in the city they’d come across someone who knew who Dawn was, and where she could be. But that still left the matter of Duncan.

Was Duncan working with Hera? Had he lost his mind? If Hera really was the one orchestrating this whole mess with the demons across the worlds, and making everything fall to the Darkness… did Duncan know about it? Was he helping her?

I shivered at the thought of Duncan surrounded by those Dark creatures. At the thought of him going from world to world spreading darkness. He had seemed normal enough when I last saw him. He looked great, even, and acting like his old self again before the end of that conversation. When he’d left all of a sudden without any warning or saying goodbye.

Maybe I could ask him when we catch up with him and figure out what is going on, I figured. That was it. Maybe this all had to be a giant mistake, or a misunderstanding, and later on they’d be able to laugh about it after we find their way home. Duncan could be a bit sullen sometimes, but he was never really a jerk and he certainly wasn’t evil. This whole thing with Hera was just, well, I wasn’t sure what it was, but I was sure it wasn’t the whole story.

Inside the city I was surprised to see everyone was East Asian. All the sand and the buildings made me think we were in Egypt. And they were being killed by demons. We ducked into an empty building.

"Who's there? Hello?"

I looked forward where the delicate voice had come from. A woman slowly stepped out from her hiding place. She had brown hair and her face was hidden behind a veil.

"I'm Badroulbadour," she said with a smile, "My father is the sultan of Turpan Khanate."

That was seriously the princess' name? I can not pronounce this Baroalba... I'm not even gonna try. Her name is Princess.

Tank's eyes went wide in affected surprise, "Uh... So that makes you a princess."

The princess nodded in response, "So they tell me."

"You seem unhappy about this," I said.

"I'm trapped in a gilded cage fated to marry whoever my father deems worthy to rule Turpan Khanate. As a woman, I cannot inherit my father's kingdom," She then drew in a deep breath and cast a regretful glance in the direction of palace, "But we have worse problems to deal with right now. My father has been deposed by Nasira," she went on, with a touch of anger in her voice, "who now controls the city."

Tank tilted her head to one side, "Nasira?" she echoed.

The princess looked at Tank in shock, "You haven't heard of her? She's the who's been leading these demons. She's gained evil powers and seized Turpan Khanate."

"So what about Aladdin?" I asked.

"Aladdin? Where might I find this street rat?"

Everyone turned at the sound of the strange voice, looking up at the high level from which it had come from. There stood a a tall, young looking African woman with long black hair.

The princess narrowed her eyes, "Nasira."

Nasira narrowed her eyes slightly at me, Glaze, and Tank and sneered slightly at the sight of us.

"Badroulbadour," she said to her, "You belong to me, my dear princess," She turned her eyes briefly back to us, "These little rats should remember their place in the dirt, you see."

"Badro... I'm not even gonna try to pronounce that, run!" I said to her.

The princess hesitated for a moment before running out the alley. Nasira narrowed her eyes as she watched her run.

She then slowly turned her gaze towards me.

"Ah... the boy who holds the Chainsaword," she said amused, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Nasira," a legion of demons appeared round us, "The Sultan of Turpan Khanate and the most powerful sorcerer in the world!"

How does she know about the Chainsaword? Or even about me?

My grip around the Chainsaword tightened.

"How do you know about Felix?" Glaze shouted.

"Just who are you?" I yelled at Nasira, taking a step forward, "You're not just some fairy tale villain, are you?!"

Nasira soon disappeared.

I shot a fireball at the demons in front of me.

I then turned round and shot a blast of ice at the demons behind me.

"I'll go find the princess," I said.

"Felix, don't have sex with her," Glaze told me.

"Why not?" I asked.

"She's meant to marry Aladdin. If anything was to--"

I ignored Glaze and ran after the princess.