Omnipotent #OnceUponNow #JustWriteIt

Aladdin's Story

"As the story says,I did indeed marry the Emperor's daughter and we had several children. The magic was enough that we could all live in comfort. Alas," Aladdin's voice grew somber, "they are all dead now. The ring kept me alive,but left me to see children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and onward be born, live, and die. For a long time, I tried to keep contact with my descendants, but the longer I stayed alive the more people came after me to try and steal the ring. Some came as assassins in the night, easily fended off, and others came with smiles and eyes filled with awe. Even my descendants began to conspire to get the ring from me, so after fleeing them I uprooted myself and left to explore the world, never staying in one place very long."

"For the next millennia, I advanced myself in every aspect of the magic that I had available to me. I could create whatever I wanted at will. Granted, we didn't have all the complicated gadgetry that this modern world has, but, at the time, the ability was most impressive. Then everything changed. As I was walking down a street in India, suddenly there was a strain of music so large and so loud that I could barely think. The townspeople must have thought me mad as I ran around clutching my head, kind of like you did this last night, Thomas. Without a friend, it took me much longer to get control of the strands of music that filled my head. Later that day, I was visited by a Djinn whose name is unpronounceable in this language, so I'll call him Carro. Wrapped in swirls of air like you see around me, Carro came to me, much as I have with you, and told me his story.

"He told me that several eons ago there was a Djinn who realized the danger that came from having anyone with the power to manipulate the universe. So began his age long study on how to protect the universe from other entities like himself. By means of magic too complicated to explain, he brought all the power granting items to one small planet of the universe, the planet we know of as earth. There, he and his successors found ways to bind the magic so that it was impossible to do significant damage to either the universe or the world. Thus, he became the first Alhur-rah, the Djinn who kept the spells binding the others in place. As time passed, a new Djinn was chosen to rule for a variety of reasons, often due to the betrayal. Many, including Carro himself, had been killed when a man claiming to have found a never before understood part of the magic attacked him, as Mavok did earlier last night to me."

"Carro told me that he had chosen me to be the next Alhur-rah, or main Djinn, because in all the centuries I had lived, I had never killed a person. I had shown myself to be a kind man, helping where I could and avoiding contention any other time. Like you, Thomas."

Aladdin paused. Overwhelmed by the information, Thomas had sat down to listen. He couldn't bring himself to speak his objections, so he concentrated on them instead, hoping Aladdin would hear them.

"I do hear you, Thomas," Aladdin said, "But my point remains the same. In all the time that you had your powers, it didn't cross your mind even once to abuse them. In fact, it scared you that you might someday mess up and accidentally hurt someone. And that's what last week was, Thomas, an accident, born out of inexperience. Yes, you will continue to hate what you've done. Yes, you will continue to fear the ring. But rather than disqualifying you, these are actually the traits I've been looking forever since I myself had grown tired of being Alhur-rah."

Thomas continued to shake his head. It was too much. Too much that he was being asked to do. If he had the power to destroy the world now, what would it mean if he had whatever it was that Aladdin had, which, even now, was keeping his and all the other Djinn on the planet in check?

"I see you are still unsure," Aladdin said, "No matter. I'll talk more on that in a second." He turned to Timothy. "You've shown yourself a true friend, Timothy. In moments of weakness and fear, you helped Thomas. Last week, last night, just a few minutes ago, all examples of your loyalty. I've always wished that I'd had a friend like that. After I've given Thomas what he needs to know, you will have my ring. You will help Thomas in his responsibilities, strengthening and counseling him when you can."

Timothy paled at the words, but nodded slowly, he demeanor that of a person in shock

Aladdin turned back to Thomas. "Before you say no, and I will allow you to say no if you want to, let me give you something." He took a step forward.

Thomas shrank back. "What would you give me?" he asked, trying to sound confident.

"Knowledge," Aladdin replied calmly, "The knowledge of how to control your powers so that never again will you accidentally hurt someone."

Looking up, Thomas felt himself beginning to hope. "You can do that?" He queried.

"Yes," said Aladdin. "Just lean forward and let yourself relax."

As Thomas did so, Aladdin finished his approach and touched his fingers to Thomas's forehead.

"Relax..."

The word faded away as Thomas's focus pulled inward and a stream of information seemed to flow from Aladdin into Thomas. He saw the earth before it was inhabited. He saw Alhur-rah of all sorts come and go, each adding his or her own knowledge to the wealth already gathered. He saw the magic in ways he would never have imagined, as lights, tastes, and things he couldn't describe. He saw it used in ways he would have never thought possible, entire worlds created and destroyed, the minds of billions altered to thinks a certain way, and spells that altered the very fabric of reality, allowing time travel, resurrection, and other things he didn't understand. He saw it all, felt it all, experienced it all.

As Aladdin let go, he felt a peace like he hadn't felt ever since he got the ring. Yes, he had a huge power, but he knew how to contain it.

He was so caught up with the memories that he didn't notice Aladdin falling backward, smiling, nor did he notice Timothy rush over to catch him. He didn't notice the swirl of magic that surrounded him, the rhythms connecting him to things he had never felt before.

He had power beyond all belief. He could change the way the universe worked, create entire realities that existed separate from his, play with time like a kitten played with a ball of yarn. In a word, he was Omnipotent.

And he knew what to do.

~ (Epilogue) ~

Thomas woke to the sound of knocking on his front door. There could only be one who would wake him at this hour. Hopefully, Timothy hadn't accidentally caused another earthquake. He was so brilliant, but sometimes his experiments were a bit... careless.

Lying in his bed, Thomas took a moment to listen to the rhythms that had surrounded him ever since he'd become a Djinn. Then he imagined himself at the door, showered and fully dressed, and changed the rhythms coming from himself so that he appeared there.

As he opened the door, suddenly the room was filled with cries of "Happy Birthday Thomas!" Outside were several of his friends holding a birthday cake, with Timothy grinning from ear to ear in front.

"You're too smart to surprise during the day, being omniscient and all, so we planned this after you went to sleep. Happy birthday, buddy."

Thomas smiled and welcomed in the guests, middle of the night or not.