I sat on the step in front of the weapondry house next to Aladdin. The sun was just setting, as we finished up the training, and we decided to spend our last few moments in the school peacefully.

"You know...I've only been here a few days, but I'm gonna miss this place". I said, looking around the school. "Despite you working me to death, I do feel really good now. Cracked some stiff bones..."

"Stiff bones? At your age"? Aladdin laughed. "Yeah, this is a pretty cool place. It changes you. That's just part of the magic in it. I'm a very different person from when I first trained here".

"Really? You trained here"? I asked, surprised.

"Oh, yeah. Me, Robin, Red, and a load of other really powerful people studied here as children. It was one of the most famous schools in the world".

I pulled my knees up to my chest, and rested my head on them. "Could you tell me a story about when you guys were younger here"? I asked, quietly.

"You sound so childish".

"Hey, I've always been into stories, OK? Besides, nobody's ever too old for them. I still write loads all the time". I remembered my Angelica Hughes novel. Now, it didn't seem like my life's priority anymore. 

I was now in the kind of world I fantasised about almost every day. And although, of course, it was pretty cool, with the magic and weapons, and awesome people like Phoebe and Robin and Aladdin...it wasn't where I truelly belonged. 

It was almost like...this was my story. My life story. And fate was just writing it all out for me.

"I guess you're right, Jessika. I actually write a bit, as well ". 

My eyes widened. "No way. You write? You've never told me that".

"Yeah, well, where do you think all those books came from back at my house"? Aladdin grinned.

I gasped. "There's no way you wrote all those things".

"You're right, I didn't. Just messing with you. But I do write. Maybe one day you can read some of my work". 

"That would be so cool. But don't mess with me again. Can you tell me a story now"?

He looked up at the sky. "Fine. Let's see...I remember the first day we all started school here, as if it was yesterday. That was a day that changed my life forever..."

The children all gathered on the compound. There were loads of them. Aladdin looked around, frightened. He didn't know any of these people. He wanted to go home. Why did Grandmother leave him here?

"It's time you learn to control your powers, Al. This is the best place to do it". She had said, before dropping him off. "I'll come for you at the end of the day".

Aladdin had stayed in the corner of the compound for awhile, before joining the other children as they gathered for assembly.

A man stood on a tall wooden stool, dressed in the traditional Morgiana gown, and had his brown hair tied up in a long ponytail. His moustache covered his mouth, and Aladdin thought he looked funny as he watched the man run his hands over it.

"Future warriors of Morgiana and beyond, welcome to the academy of warrior art. Here we teach various subjects to enhance your powers. Whether you're a genie, a royal, a rogue, a witch or wizard, we have everything you need for your different types of training. Now, you need to divide yourself into five groups, each of the different types of warriors. Royals, you can come here on the left, genies..."

The children immediately started bustling around and making noise. Aladdin looked around frantically, not sure which way to go. He didn't hear where the man said the genies should go. He wondered around aimlessly, until he reached a group. He wasn't sure if he was in the right one, but he was too scared to ask anyone.

He looked around him as he tried to squeeze in with the other children, not wanting to be on the outskirts of the group. In doing so, he tripped, pushing someone over, and landing on top of them on the ground.

The little red haired girl burst into tears under him. He quickly climbed off of her.

"I...I'm sorry...I'm sorry, honestly! Are you OK"? He took her hand, and lifted her up. She was around his age, seven, and held her elbow, which was now bloody after scraping it on the floor. 

She sniffed and looked at her elbow. "It...it hurts..." She said.

Suddenly, people were shoved aside as a boy passed through who looked the same age as the little girl, and also identical to her, if it wasn't for his blazing amber eyes which were very different from her blue ones. But they both had the same rose coloured hair which fell to their arms, and warm ivory skin and facial features.

The boy dropped to his knees and snatched the girl from Aladdin's arms. "What did you do? You idiot"! He yelled, examining her arm. "Come on, Red. we'll go to the teacher so he can put something on it". He glared up at Aladdin. "What were you thinking? You seriously hurt my sister".

Aladdin felt his eyes stinging with tears. "I...I didn't see her..." He whispered. 

"What? I can't hear what you're saying". The boy said. He rolled his eyes, and took his sister's hand before walking away.

"I...I can help". Aladdin said a bit louder. 

"No you can't. You're just a kid. Leave us alone". The boy said, not looking back.

Aladdin heard someone in the background saying,"man, he's got it bad with Robin now. I feel sorry for him".

Aladdin ran after them. He took the small  gold lamp the size of  his palm from his pocket, and took Red's arm. His eyes widened, as he poured the water from the lamp onto her elbow.

Robin shoved him away. "What  the heck do you think you're doing? Don't you dare touch her again".

"Chill, Robin". One boy said from the crowd. Aladdin felt the tears streaming down his face.

"I just wanted to help..."He looked at the water on Red's elbow, then turned back to Robin. "D...Do you want her arm to heal..."?

"What kind of  question is that?  Look, I just want to tell you to watch yourself. You don't want to mess with my sister while I'm around. So..."

"Please say that you want her to heal, else the magic won't work..." Aladdin said, trying his best to swallow his fear. Robin's eyes widened.

"What"?

"Say it, Robin. Maybe it would work". The boy from before said to him.

Robin huffed. "Of course I want her arm to heal. that's why I'm taking her to..."

"Robin! Look"! Red said from behind him. Robin spun around, to see the water on his sister's arm gathering by itself on the wound, and making it gradually disappear. In a moment, it was gone.

The children all gathered around Red. "Woah! That's so cool! he really cured her with that water"! 

Robin turned back to Aladdin. "Was that a magic lamp"? He said. Aladdin nodded gingerly. 

Robin's expression softened. "Oh. So you're a genie"? 

Aladdin looked at the ground. "Yes. I'm...sorry for hurting your sister".

"Oh. It's...OK now. I guess. I just get very serious when it comes to Red. Everyone at home said I should take care of her, so...Yeah." Robin looked at the ground. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. It was just an accident". He looked at him. "I didn't mean to make you cry".

Aladdin smiled. "It's OK. By the way...My name's...Aladdin".

"I'm Robin". Robin grinned. He pointed to a group opposite where they were standing. "That's the group you have to go to. This group's for the rogues".

"Oh. Thanks". Aladdin turned to leave, but Robin grabbed his arm. "Wait. Before you go, can we be friends"?

Aladdin's smile grew bigger. "Sure! Bye".

"Bye".

"Awww, that's a really sweet story". I cooed, after Aladdin ended. "And since that day, you guys were besties huh"?

"Yeah. We were in separate classes, but we were inseparable. Nothing could come between us. Robin, Red and some other of my friends came to stay with me and Hara a lot. After the Hood parents passed away, those two moved in with me for awhile. They left after awhile when they had to battle. My training here at the school, and also befriending Robin helped me to develop a confidence I could never have gained if I didn't come here. That's what I meant by it changed me". Aladdin replied.

"So, that thing that you did for Red. I thought you said the lamp is at the tower of Morgiana".

"There is a lamp at the tower. But not mine". Aladdin said. "There's more than one lamp in this world. Every genie is meant to have one, else they can't grant wishes. I don't have mine anymore".

"What? Why"? I asked.

I caught a glimpse of sadness in Aladdin's eyes. "It's a long story. One for another time".

"Ok. Then could you tell me about Princess Jasmine"?

"She went to this school, as well. But then something happened and she had to leave".

"Story for another time, I suppose"?

"Yup".

I noticed Robin coming towards us from the door. "You guys ready to go"?

We stood up. "Yeah". I said. "Let's get moving".

So I thought it would be nice to go a little bit into the past with Aladdin and Robin. A bit of a calm chapter, before things start to get crazy and they continue on their journey.

I hope you all enjoyed this, and if you do want to see more of the backgrounds of the characters, then you're in luck because I will be doing these throughout the story.

Fairy Question: Would you rather be an archer or a swordsman/woman?

As I write this, I do feel like I'm creating a close relationship with archery. But then again, handling a sword would be SO COOL. I mean, if I was in an anime, I would definetly choose swords, because they have some crazy swords in anime! But if I was stuck in a world like the fairy tale world, I guess I'm alongside Robin with the archery.