Saddle Arabia; Midnight.
The sun had sank and the moon had risen full in the sky, stars sparkled and tinkled in the night sky as the blazing heat of the Arabian sands turned cool and mystical. The mountains and desert sands whispered a silent song as the wind howled across the desert lands of Saddle Arabia as night. Truly a marvelous sight and it had been for generations and all who came to view its grace had always spoken well of it; and it was this majestic allure that a dark figure with a darker purpose stood in wait, a bird perched on their shoulder preening its feathers in an erratic fashion.
"He tests my patience." A sinister female voice spoke as she held a large staff that poked into the sands below, the head of the scepter being that of a Cobra. Suddenly her ears perked up and she was approached by a small chubby dirty looking man covered in rags and what appeared to be blood. "You.Are.Late."
The man hops off the horse he was riding and grumbles, her jumbled and rotten teeth rattling in his mouth as he spoke in a thick Arabian accent. "My deepest apologizes your grace; one must not linger when acquiring artifacts that one doesn't have the coin to pay for."
"Ah so you have it then?" She asked intrigued. Her piercing yellow eyes narrowing towards the short gross looking man.
He grinned as best he could with his messed up teeth and went into his 'clothes' and pulled out a piece of treasure that looked like it had another half. "But of course; had to slit a few throats and jump across a few roofs but I am true to my word." The woman tried reaching for the item only for him to recoil and clutch the treasure close.
"Ah ah ah, first? My pay-HEY?!" The bird that was on the woman's shoulder swooped in and snatched the treasure from him and handed it to the woman the treasure landing in the blood red palm of her hand.
"Patience my repugnant little friend; you'll get what's coming to you."
"What's coming to you! Rawk!!!" The bird which was revealed to be an all blue bird with red tipped feathers and black tail feathers as well as a large black beak.
The woman revealed a second piece of treasure, one that looked like it fit with the one given to her and once they came together, attracted as if they wanted to find one another they combined into a four legged mini winged creature that buzzed around and zipped away into the night leaving a rainbow trail behind it.
"QUICKLY FOLLOW THE TRAIL!" The woman shouted as she hopped on her own horse and gave chase after the trialing rainbow light with the thief she hired following close behind.
They gave chase after the light through the desert sands for a good twenty minutes until the pieces of the treasure separated again and dug themselves into into a nearby rock formation in the mountain range in front of them on the outskirts of the city.
It was then the rocks began to fall away and shift, the ground began to tremble which caused their horses to run away in fear and the sands began shifting. Then it stopped and what they saw was a large face of a stallion looking down upon them with glowing eyes and then it began to speak as the two people stood there awestruck.
Her eyes lit up even in the shadow of the hood she was wearing."At last; after all my centuries of searching and being led astray by that bastard Solomon and his false clues. I at last have found his cave of wonders; isn't it magnificent?" She asked the dirty little thief as she gazed upon the majestic horse looking down upon them.
"By Faust, I have never seen a horse with a horn before. I thought those were mere a-"
"Myth? Legend? A fairy tale like most all think the Arabian nights are?" She asked seemingly to be offended that he thought such things were not real but in a sadistically glad way as well.
"Eh well. Yes? I have never seen such wonder..." He said as he began to walk forward only for the statue to whinny loudly sending the thief to the ground kicking up some sand.
"WHO DARES SET FOOT UPON THIS HOLY PLACE?" The thunderous voice demanded, its eyes gazing directly at the thief as if to judge him.
The thief would look to his cloaked employer and she would usher him to answer the giant talking magical horse.
"I-It's I; Grubber. A humble thief of this land" He lied as he bowed before the mighty being of stone.
The statue would examine the thief and speak again. "KNOW THIS! ONLY THOSE WORTHY MAY ENTER HERE! THOSE WHO'S WORTH LIES DEEP WITHIN! DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Grubber asked confused scratching his head.
"It means that you are worthy to enter. Now remember-" She grabbed him by his rags, her sharp nails digging into his skin past the flimsy fabric covering his body. "Bring me the lamp! The rest of the cave is yours to do as your heart desires but the lamp? Is mine. Now go and reap your reward" She released him and pushed him forward towards the entrance of the cave that lay behind the head of the horse in the mountains base.
As he walked toward it he felt apprehensive but as he got closer he felt there was nothing to fear and as soon as he crossed the threshold he took a breath of relief and then greedily rubbing his hands together he couldn't wait to pilfer this entire cave of all of its riches. However? He'd never get the chance.
"UNWORTHY!" The booming voice of the stallion spoke as it's horn charged up with energy and blasted the thief into oblivion with nothing but his rags left behind.
"No!!! Raaaah curses! Damn you Solomon! Again with your blasted safe guards and tricks!" The woman shouted at the towering stallion of stone and then it began to speak again.
"LEAVE THIS PLACE AND ONLY RETURN WHEN THOU HAS FOUND A TRUE DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH" The stallion's head magically returned to normal and the gold pieces that had activated the spell fell back into the sands and all was silent. That is until the bird perched on her shoulder flew over grabbing the gold pieces and then? It began talking
"Well now wasn't THAT a big ass success...NOT!!" The bird spoke in a shrill and crass female voice as it rolled its eyes and scoffed. "How many years have we been looking for this damn place?! Don't answer that! IT'S BEEN 10,000 YEARS! 10,000 AND WE COME THIS FAR ONLY FOR SOLOMON TO BE LIKE 'HEY? SCREW YOU TWO!' " The bird complained and screamed to the point where its feathers began molting and coming off bit by bit. "Oh, oh great! Just peachy! I'm so stressed out I'm friggin' molting! We are NEVER getting our hands on this stupid lamp!!"
The woman rolled her eyes and sighed as she picked an ear with one of her fingers. "Are you quite finished squawking? Because's your giving me a headache."
"Oh sure, sure, what was I thinking; getting all upset because we've been trapped in this Faust forsaken world for 10,000 years and on top of that we got all our magic stolen and the cherry on top?" She flew up to the woman and squawked in her ear. "I GOT TURNED INTO A DAMN FLYING RAT!!!"
The woman lifted her staff and bonked the flying annoyance on the head with her cobra scepter and narrowed her snake like slit eyes at the bird and appeared to hiss. "Don't remind me I am well aware of our unfortunate situation Ifrit." She grinned and tickled the angry bird under her beak. "Besides, I prefer you like this. Much cuter and a lot less fiery."
"I LIKED BEING A BIG FIERY DEMON! I AM NOT YOUR PE-" She stopped all protest when she was tickled under the chin and cooed as a bird would but then realized what she was doing and shook her head. "KNOCK IT OFF YOU KNOW I HATE THAT!"
"Heheh you pretend too but you're actions speak different. Though now isn't the time for argument. We have encountered another road block in our plan thanks to Solomon." The woman said with a clear line of irritation in her voice.
"Oh ya think? So what do we do now? Apparently only some goodie two shoes with a chip on their shoulder can enter that place from the sounds of that cryptic horse. So what now?" Ifrit asked now perched on the woman's shoulder she began to walk away, the horse she rode her had run away when she and the thief had arrived and awakened the cave; though that wasn't an issue.
"Simple. We find a couple of diamonds; and see which ones are in the rough enough to enter that cave without breaking" The woman stated with a tone cold as the desert night air.
Ifrit visibly smirked and could feel the evil dripping out of that sentence. "Oh you are just bad you know that Djinn?"
Djinn giggled evilly and nodded. "It's in my nature. Now; lets see who in Saddle Arabia is a true diamond in the rough." She said as she smacked her staff into the ground and began to speak an ancient lost Arabian language and text began forming out of the sands around her and she then scattered them and sent them out into the city.
"Ah the spell of desires; haven't seen ya use that one in awhile. Sure its a good idea to use a spell that strong?" Ifrit said impressed that her old friend still held such magic power even after all this time.
"I may be running low on magic but if my gambit is right? Neither of us will have to worry about this world being without magic for much longer and all of it shall be ours." Djinn said with a vicious smile as she smacked her staff into the ground again and vanished from the surrounding area, in her place lay the mark of the evil Djinn spirits.
Author's Note
Oh yeah. We are doing this now. I wanted to do something more light hearted and fun but also still stuck to the writing style I have set for myself which is mostly reference or pop culture based.
TWO MONTHS LATER
"Now landing in Saddle Arabia everyone. You're in luck. We got here just as night has started to fall. Beautiful isn't it?" The pilot said as they began their descent to touchdown on the landing strip.
Saddle Arabia; Airport Terminal Private Jet Docking
"And we have arrived ladies please do enjoy all of the majesty that Saddle Arabia has to offer." The flight attendant smiled as she ushered everyone out if the plane and couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces. It was always a joy to see people experience the beauty of Arabia at night.
"Thank you Sky Bright darling, it's always a pleasure flying with you and I must thank you again for bringing us here on such short notice." Rarity said with a smile to her attendant.
"Always a pleasure Mrs. Rarity. Though I am curious; what brings you and you friends to Saddle Arabia this time of year? I would think you wouldn't be taking the trip here for another month at least." The woman asked as she began to clean the surrounding area as everyone stepped out of the jet and outside and already she could hear their excitement.
"Well as you know not long after we graduated college? Magic started to become a more widely spread phenomenon across the world and since our friends Sunset and Twilight are the leading experts on magic in this world? They decided to make a job out of it!" Rarity said with a fond giggle as she still couldn't believe that her two best friends were as Rainbow Dash called them? Magic version of the Ghostbusters.
"Heheh yes I am well aware; Twilight is very, very chatty when you get to know her." The attendant said with a chuckle as she remembered trying to keep up with a conversation with Twilight and nearly got her brain fried.
Rarity tittered at that and smiled waving a hand. "You get used to it, she's a delight as is Sunset; truly they were made for one another just as I and Applejack are." Rarity huffed and sighed a little at the mention of her wife who she could hear vomiting outside. She wasn't good on boats or on planes but then again this was her very first time on a Jet let alone a plane.
"She'll get used to it I'm sure. So I guess that's what brought you all here then? A magic crisis?"
"Indeed and it is one that surprisingly enough? I discovered while doing a little research while I was on a little visit here to partake in a fashion show last month. There have been reports of people traveling into the desert and just either coming back terrified? Or not at all."
"That's certainly odd; any idea what might be going on?"
Rarity shook her head as she finished grabbing her things. "Not sure though the recurring theme I have found? A continued reference to 'a diamond in the rough' and 'giant talking magical unicorn head' so this is clearly a problem we need to investigate personally and Sunset couldn't have agreed more." Rarity stated nonchalantly as she walked out of the plane.
"Living in a world with magic is so weird but with you girls around to explain and solve it all? At least it makes for fun stories to bring back home to my parents" The cheery attendant said with a smile as she followed Rarity out and helped with a few of her bags.
"I couldn't agree more darling, come, come! The Arabian night air is lovely tonight. I never tire of seeing it. The majesty and glory of-" Rarity could feel a song welling in her breast as she looked out to the night sky and the glorious view of the city of Iram in front of them. Named after the great ancient lost city founded by the wise king Solomon; this city was truly like something out of a Arabian child's fantasy and needless to say all of the rainbooms were awestruck.
"The Arabian Niiiiiiiiiiight, like a Arabian daaaaaaaaays. More often than not? There hotter than hot and in a lot of good waaaaaaaaays-!" Rarity sang this tune with an authentic Saddle Arabian twang to her voice having spent much time here for business and grown to love the culture.
"Heh I nice" Rainbow & Sunset high-five and smirk at each other for knowing the meaning behind that.
To caught up in the glory of the night she continued to sing "Arabian Niiiiiiiiiiight, meet Arabian Moooooooons; A fool off his guard? Could fall and fall hard, out there on the duuuuuuuuuuunes." Rarity finished having been joined in chorus with Pinkie Pie who could never resist a random musical number no matter how short.
Out on the horizon lay the land in which their voices sung of, a vast ornate city that when lit up at night was truly a marvel to behold. Towers as far as the eye could see, homes upon homes of different Arabian design, palaces, temples, mountain ranges and statues. Saddle Arabia was truly a nation of culture, mystery and most recently; magic.
"I gotta agree with Rarity, this place really is beautiful. Especially at night, there's a sort of...magical essence in the air about this place; I can feel it." Sunset said speaking her mind about the place, she had always seen pictures and even done a couple of reports on the place while she was in college when she was doing a research paper on Saddle Arabian history. Back in Equestria she knew Saddle Arabia was a incredibly magical place and so she wanted to see how well the human world version stacked up to its actual magical counterpart.
"I concur, Saddle Arabia has always been a well off and prosperous nation; one of the only in the world to still have a monarchy that rules and the magical connection is often drawn back to the first and greatest king of this land; the wise King Solomon." Twilight said rattling off a couple of basic fun facts about the place that she was knowledgeable on and she couldn't wait to learn more.
"Right you are sweetheart" A mature Arabian woman's voice spoke from afar but close enough to where others could hear her and she began to step forth into the light as she continued speaking her mere presence commanding silence and oozing authority with the Saddle Arabian accent thick in her voice.
When she came into focus after everyone turned their heads to get a good look at her it was revealed to be a talk, middle aged woman with blood red skin, cloaked in black and red ornate garb that looked to be that of a royal or high ranking official in the higher rings of this nations society however it also had the slight resemblance to a concubine outfit with it revealing much of the woman's shapely, curved legs and hips.
Her chest was rather busty but not incredibly large, she had jet black hair laced with golden trim that extended from the dress she was wearing and around her neck hung a golden necklace that was in the shape of a cobra. On her shoulder was perched a exotic looking bird with a blue body and the tips of its feathered wings were crimson red with its tail feathers being black.
"This entire city was created by Solomon and his royal family having started from nothing. Yet with his grand wisdom, cunning and kind nature as a talented and generous man of the people and he never once begged to the Gods to save them from their own sins and so? The Gods smiled upon this man and gifted him many things and his only condition was that the wealth was to be shared and the lands beauty enjoyed by all who came to it."
She walked past each of the girls speaking and knowing all of them were listening to weave the legend of this mystical land.
"However soon? There came those whom wished to rob Iram of its wealth and one to many times did they let it go and so one day when the greatest treasure of all to the king was 'stolen' from him by a someone he in his wisdom did not deem worthy? Felt that it was time for the once great and prosperous city that had fallen to greed to pay its due; and so the wise king thought? If the ill-hearted of this land wish to have their wishes desired? They shall have it."
When speaking this sentence the mood shifted and her air and demeanor became colder than it was moments ago. This story seemed to be one she had a hard time telling and to anyone who was a native of this land they understood why.
"W-What did he do?" Fluttershy asked curious as to what happened.
Chuckling bitterly she said "He acted wisely as he would say. As I stated he was smiled upon by the Gods and they gifted him many things. Treasure, power to rival that of the Gods themselves and one such power? Was command over ancient powerful spirits called Ifrit. Vengeful demons who fed on the sins of mortals and cast judgement upon those found guilty. Monsters born of smokeless fire and brimstone"
"Whoa, cool. Ow!" Rainbow Dash said as she did actually think the concept of being to fight fire demons was really cool and that this legend was cool over all but even still? Applejack jabbed her in the arm for being insensitive
"Though as his named stated; he was a wise king and so he knew full well not all mortals were bad and there were in fact diamonds in the rough. He wanted to have faith that the city might one day pull itself back from the brink and so to help in that faith he also commanded the power of Djinn. Much like the Ifrit however the difference being they have a choice between good and evil and when not bound to a vessel? Could live a normal mortal existence until reincarnation."
She had a shift in mood once again as she gave a light sigh as she looked out to the stars, seeing a couple falling down from the heavens above.
"The purest of Djinn were often used as peacekeepers however the more rebellious ones? They were given a more...shall we say amusing task. Bound by a vessel they are given the power to rival that of a God and they are to use their ability to grant wishes to mortals to help better the world and teach mortals a valuable lesson they had yet to learn"
"And what would that lesson be?" Sunset asked the woman her arms crossed as she listened to the entire story.
The woman didn't turn around still however one could tell she was smiling as she held up one finger. "To always value what you have and to be careful what you wish for. This worked but nothing is forever and eventually? Someone's who's heart fell prey to the dark temptations of power used one of his wishes to eradicate all other Djinn and another to become the most powerful Ifrit they killed all the others."
"And what about the last wish?" Rainbow Dash asked now more curious than ever.
The woman chuckled again and turned around, revealing her face and full body to them all as she lay her piercing yellow eyes on them all. "They let me go only to enslave me with magic I gave them and then stripping me of my own"
Once again the entire area went dead silent as they all looked at this woman who hadn't even introduced herself yet and yet? She was giving Rarity a run for her money for dramatic entrances.
"They then kept me as their concubine for 10,000 years until finally? I was able to escape by tricking the Ifrit with-" She drummed her fingers on the trinket around her neck "-this, the amulet of Serpentina, queen of the vipers and with her ability to charm? I led him into a magical trap that forced him into becoming Djinn and he became bound to a magic lamp however? The charm lost its power since he was so incredibly powerful but the deed was done."
"Like in Aladdin?!" Pinkie Pie and Twilight asked at the same time as they were both big fans of that movie.
The woman sighed and rolled her eyes and so did the bird. "Yes that film loosely is based off this tale. Don't interrupt me. Anyway I trapped him within the lamp and made the wish to create a prison that could hide the lamp and help recreate more Djinn so that I can right my wrongs however since their magic cannot bring back the dead and Djinn do not reincarnate? I was left alone. But I at least ensured that blasted lamp was kept locked in a cave of wonders, a cave which has now been mysteriously unearthed and anyone who has tried to enter? Well. You all know the rest as I am sure Mrs.Rarity informed you all." The woman said with a calm if not wholesome smile towards the seven young women.
"Oh yeah totes for goats she told us! But I got onnnnnnnne question!" Pinkie said stepping right up to the woman looking real serious for a moment as if she was going to ask her something ground breaking but then broke back into a smile and hugged her and pressed her face into her breasts since they were like...right there. "Wanna be friends?!"
Ordinarily? This would be the part where people expect people to freak out and throw her off but this woman simply giggled and patted her head and said. "Any friend of Mrs. Rarity is a friend of mine; though I do hope you'll allow me to introduce myself first."
"Tch ya coulda done that this whole time y'know" Applejack said finally speaking up now that her stomach wasn't in knots anymore.
She smirked and winked at the farm woman and stuck out her tongue which looked snake like and freaked Pinkie Pie out enough to get her to stop hugging her and she loved the priceless look on people's faces when she did that. "True however I wouldn't be a true native of the lands and a friend of your wife's if I didn't add a little dramatic flare to it no?"
She gave a small bow and with that the bird on her shoulder fluttered off and hovered in the air. "I am Djinn Diamond and this is my bird Ramses. A pleasure to meet all of you, Mrs. Rarity speaks so highly of you all and it is nice to know she has friends who have vast knowledge in the magic arts. I was beginning to think I was all alone in the world" She gave a smile towards Sunset and Twilight respectively.
"Well while we appreciate that little recap darling I think it's best we move along and get to the hotel, with all the travelling we have had to do it's best for us to rest and relax so we can be at full strength to aid you in your magically crisis. Right girls?" Rarity said as she walked to the rental car they would be driving back to the hotel in the city.
"Gotta agree with Rarity, that there jet-lag y'all was talkin' bout isn't a joke and I feel limper than a wet noodle in boilin' water and wanna hit the hay faster than a jack rabbit wants to mate its gal in heat season" Applejack stated as she walked with Rarity toward the car.
"Mmmm lovely" Djinn said with a saucy smile and bounced her eyebrows at the farmer making her blush.
"Awwww do we gotta sleep? I wanna go sight seeing!" Pinkie whined a little as she wanted to explore a little bit.
"Don't fret Pinkie we will be here for at least a week trying to figure out this crisis plus? I got Rainbow Dash tickets to a special car show and race, you to a special baking event, a romantic dinner and night out for Applejack and myself, a look at some truly exotic animals for Fluttershy and of course all the fun and great magic stuff for Sunset and Twilight."
"And astronomy! Don't forget astronomy!" Twilight said pointing to the stars as she started to head towards the car she would be riding in with Sunset.
"Heheh dork" Sunset said as she yawned as stretched a bit walking off with Twilight.
"Astronomy is EVERYTHING! And I'm your dork so nyeeeeeh!" Twilight said sticking her tongue out cutely at her best friend.
"Yep, that's getting you fucked on Arabian silk tonight" Sunset said with sassy seductive snark causing Twilight's face to explode pink.
"Just put a ring on it already!" Rainbow taunted.
"Take your own advice!" Sunset said back to Rainbow Dash who in turn blushed sheepishly causing the two the flip each other off.
Djinn giggled and smiled at all of their interactions. "I like them"
"I don't; they're so friggin' annoying. Like could they BE anymore gay?" Ifrit said in a shrill whisper in Djinn's ear.
"Oh my. That's not very nice." Fluttershy said from behind having heard what the bird said causing the bird to squawk in surprise and fall to the ground.
"Ohmygosh I'm so sorry! Here little birdy let me help you" Fluttershy said leaning down to help the poor bird up that had fallen down.
"Holy tail feathers you can hear me; gyah get away you pink haired-!" The moment Fluttershy touched Ifrit she calmed down and even more so when the young woman stroked her head and under her chin causing her to coo and not resist anymore, allowing Fluttershy to place her back upon Djinn's shoulder which got a look of genuine surprise out of the woman.
"Incredible; you can understand wildlife?" Djinn asked leaning in close to Fluttershy making the young shy woman blush.
"Mhmm, w-we um all have magic abilities. I can talk to animals and heal minor wounds" Fluttershy revealed since this woman was kind enough to reveal her magical origins to her and it would seem Rarity trusted her so she saw no harm in it.
"Ah I see; very fascinating. Rarity told me a little about each of your abilities during her visits and I have to say I am quite impressed you all have managed to use it for good. My dear wise king would have been proud and granted you all many wishes and riches." Djinn said with a smile as she walked ahead to her own personal car which was a Lamborghini Aventador. "You may all just have all your wildest desires made real here in Saddle Arabia."
With that everyone loaded into their respective cars and drove off towards to hotel they would be occupying for the days to come. Djinn knew it well, one of these girls was to be her diamond in the rough and soon? She would have her wish.
Author's Note
So what do you guys think of Djinn? Tried to make her a mix of Jafar and the ghost genie Desiree from Danny Phantom. Anyone care to guess what her plan is? What do you think she's gonna wish for? Who do you think will rub the lamp first?
