User blog:Gnomehunter/Meanie Genie

'''Nailah was a Genie. Tied to her lamp, stuck in a cave almost entirely hidden by stone rubble, in the middle of the desert. She could not escape, so she spent the days pacing inside the space in her lamp, peering out into the dark cavern that she lived in, and wondering if someone would ever find her. Until one day, they did. She awoke one day to the sound of voices. Of tools striking at rock. She sat up and tried to look out of the lamp, overjoyed at the process of being found. Across the stone lined vault, she saw a shaft of sunlight, which grew bigger as more stone was broken away, Finally the light streamed in as a space big enough for a human to fit through was revealed. '''

'''Alexander Garbowski liked to believe he was a modest man, with modest goals. Amassing a minor fortune and building a small kingdom seemed like perfectly reasonable aspirations. And now he was going to take his first steps towards those goals. Find a Genie, a monster capable of granting unlimited wishes. He had heard stories of the various other desert monsters, the pharaohs and the apohises, ruling over great kingdoms of people and riches. Easier to locate, too. “I’m not going to be some monster’s subordinate! I want to be the ruler of my domain, not simply live in it!” He snapped at whoever had the nerve to make such a suggestion. No, hiring a crew of guides and excavators seemed like a far better plan. Traveling for several days under the sweltering sun, they had already found several desert ruins. Most of theme empty. One holding an entire group of Khepri. Lost one of the workers. One less person to pay. And as they located the next of several underground ruins, Alexander felt as though these ruins would be different. '''

'''“Sir! We’ve cleared a path big enough for someone to enter!” Alexander clapped his hands together. '''

'''“Excellent! Now we need someone to check inside. Wouldn't want any surprises!” He looked over the workers, none of them interested in sticking their nose in another potential nest of monsters. “Boy! You go on ahead!” He pointed to the youngest worker, a teenage boy who had been recruited from one of the local villages, The rest of the workers seized him, glad not to be a scapegoat. He seemed to accept his fate. '''

'''“Now, this harness will be secured around your waist. You go in there, see what you find. 2 tugs for more slack, 1 tug to be pulled back. If you see passages that need more exploration, we’ll make a bigger entrance so more of the men can get in there”. One of the workers gave him the instructions. Casually leaving out that if a monster got him, they would not attempt to retrieve him. He crawled down into the entrance, finding it a short drop to the ground. Walking forward, he could see just a few feet ahead of him from the sunlight shining in. There was nothing but even rock walls and sandy floor, preserved remarkably well for ruins. As he stepped forward, he saw a stone pedestal, and on top of it, was a golden lamp. He gaped at the sight. That had to be what Mr. Garbowski was looking for. Suddenly, a voice emanated from the lamp.'''

'''“Hello? Is anyone there?”'''

'''“Hello? Yes, I’m Kontar. I’m with a crew looking for some sort of magical artifact”.'''

'''“Oh? Well my lamp is the most magical thing you’ll find in this entire desert! Why don’t you give it a little rub and I can show you-” suddenly the boy she had seen standing in front of her was dragged back, and out of sight. “Hey! Where’d you go!” The crew had pulled Kontar back out into the desert sun, leaving her alone. '''

'''The voices of the other workers filled his ears as Kontar covered his eyes from the bright sunlight. '''

'''“We heard another voice down there! We pulled you out as fast as we could.”'''

'''“Was it another bug? Or some snake? Or worse, a ghoul?”'''

'''“I saw ah, a golden lamp on a stone stand. There was some girl inside it. Didn’t see her though.”'''

'''“Well done my boy!” Alexander clapped him on the back. “I can tell you for sure that is exactly what I’m searching for. Which means of course, I have to thank all the people who got me here!” He turned to the crew, many of them glad to be done with the job so quickly. “Gentlemen! The food, water, and tents are all yours. Your clothes intact, and no more than a few days travel from the nearest point of civilization! How fortunate for you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date. He turned to the entrance of the cavern, having made sure after the boy left that it was big enough for him. '''

'''“But sir! What about our pay?” The boy spoke up, and some of the workers joined in, furious as having been cheated. Alexander pulled out a gun. '''

'''“I’ll give you some pay! See this here? Solid silver bullets, leave you dead and dried up before the sun sets! You’re all lucky I’m leaving you enough supplies to escape! I’m going to meet a lady who is going to make me very powerful and I don’t have time to bother with any greedy followers. In fact, make sure you’re all out of sight by tomorrow morning or I’ll make you wish you’d never met me.” He crawled into the cavern, leaving the crew speechless. The men began to pack, no one willing to see what Alexander might do. The boy was crestfallen. But, swallowing his anger, he managed to assist the crew, and they left for the village. '''

'''Nailah heard shouting outside. Was there some sort of argument? Suddenly, the sound of someone entering her home. She tried to see who was approaching. They ran up to the stand. She could feel them picking up the lamp. And then '''

'''“Oh yes!” They were rubbing the lamp fiercely. “Yipeeeeeeeeee!” She cried out, finally free of her confines, she zoomed up and out into the main room, to see the nice boy who had first'''

'''Nailah halted in midair. That was NOT the boy she had first spoken to. She did her best to hide her surprise. This was the man who would become her husband. He had pale skin, and seemed otherwise of fine form, but his face had a look that made her nervous. Was it excitement? No, something was not right.'''

“So you are the Genie who will grant all my wishes?”

'''“I sure am! My name is Nailah, what’s yours, honey?”'''

'''“My name is Alexander Garbowski, but you will refer to me exclusively as ‘Master’. Now grant me my first wish. I wish for a palace of servants and a kingdom to rule”. Nailah shrank a little. '''

“Master, I’m afraid it won’t be as simple as making a wish”.

'''“What? Why not?”'''

'''“Well, I am a monster. To grant wishes, I need mana. And do you know where I get mana from?” She smiled seductively. '''

'''“Ha! Of course. I guess I’ll have to provide it for you.” Alexander stepped forward, dropping his pants, eliciting a satisfying squeal from the woman as he grabbed her hips.'''

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'''“How long must I work for you to grant just 1 wish!” Alexander was fuming. The first few days had been the best he’d ever spent in a barren underground ruin, but now it was starting to feel like a chore. '''

'''“I’m sorry Master! You wanted food and other things for this ruin, so I had to use that mana for your other wishes. But we’re close to that kingdom, really!”'''

'''“How close?” Alexander glared at the genie. Naya was it?'''

'''“Juuuuuust, um. Another 3 days?” She was almost whispering the words.'''

'''“3 days? What are you even good for if you grant wishes so slowly!” He fumed, lying down on the bed he had wished for. '''

'''“I’m sorry I can’t make it go any quicker, Master. Can I make you feel better?” '''

'''“Leave me be!” Alexander was starting to wonder if he shouldn’t change his wishes. Ask for something smaller so he could work up to the kingdom? But no, why should he settle for less? It wasn’t even unpleasant work! How could any man complain if this was all he had to do to make his wildest dreams come true?'''

'''“He has to go! Not listening to me, yelling at me for not working fast enough, selfish, brutish, and a big stupid cheapskate!” Nailah was pacing in her lamp, livid at the thought of being tied to a man who wasn’t even going to make her feel loved. “I don’t care if I never meet someone again! It’ll be better than serving that jerk!” Though there was perhaps a grain of reason in Alexander’s anger. Nailah had already gathered enough mana in the first week, even after the other furnishings of the  ruin. But she hadn’t felt like granting his wish when he was being so rude.'''

'''On the day that Nailah had said she would have enough mana, Alexander prepared himself for the wish. '''

'''“Woman! You have gathered enough mana, I presume?” She bowed.'''

'''“Yes Master. I can grant that particular wish. Bit before you do, I have one more suggestion that will benefit me in granting your wishes.”'''

“And?”

'''“Right now I am bound to my lamp. I can’t go very far without it. And you know,” She flew around the room. “There are so many RULES I have to obey when granting your wishes. It would be a lot easier if I was free of this lamp.” Alexander stared at the genie. She seemed to adopt a more playful tone. '''

'''“Hmph. Then I wish for you to be free of the lamp’s binding. Will that suffice?”'''

'''“Ohhhh, thank you Master. Now I can grant you whatever your heart desires!” '''

'''“Well, I think I’m going to change the wish just a bit. I wish to be out of this cursed tomb. Bring us somewhere nicer.”'''

'''“Oh you’ll be free of this tomb, you asshole”. The genie’s face had changed to scorn, and Alexander took a step back at the audacity his servant had just displayed. '''

'''“Just what do you think you’re doing insulting me?” He roared. The genie stuck out her tongue in mockery and waved her hand. He looked around and the room had vanished. Nothing but open sand! “No! Wait, don’t leave me!” Feeling a little afraid of being left out in the desert. Her voice echoed in his head. '''

'''“Don’t worry, you won’t be alone. There’s someone who will make a much better partner for you”. Alexander looked around again, trying to see if anything was near. DA cloud appeared on the horizon. It grew closer. He felt as though he didn’t want to be caught in the cloud. So he turned and tried to run, but it caught up with him. The dust settled, and there was a whole group of scorpion women! Their faces covered by veils, insectoid legs and large stingers protruding from their rears. They were very beautiful, but a far cry from the genie he had just been with. He cowered at the thought of what they would do with the stingers.And noticed they were all carrying the crew who’d taken him into the desert in the first place! '''

'''“Well if it isn’t our benefactor, Mr. Garbowski!” One of them called out. The others took notice, turning as best as they could in the grip of their new wives. As they all realized why they’d stopped, they burst into a fit of laughter. Cackling, guffawing, the best thing that could have possibly happened. '''

'''“Here I was feeling sorry for myself! But now it doesn’t look so bad!”'''

'''“What’s the matter Alexander? That genie not good enough for you?” Finally, the girtablilu managed to get an understanding of exactly what had happened.'''

“Ruby, you should take him!”

'''“Are you sure you don’t want to try and find a better man?” One of them stepped forward. '''

'''“We all know that men are hard to find in the desert. I will take this one, and make sure to mold him into a better person than you found him”. She poked Alexander lightly with her tail, and bowed to the rest of the workers. “I apologize for my husband’s unfairness to you all, and I will make him understand the error of his ways.” Alexander tried to protest but she silenced him, and picked him up, as they women began to depart. One of them split away from the group, walking back in the direction they came from. She traveled a short distance, and returned to Kontar, who’d been left by the rest of the group when they’d been ambushed. He looked relieved.'''

“Thought you were going to leave me!” 

'''“I apologize, dear. I have received instructions to bring you to someone. Get on my back and hold onto my tail, and we should be there by night. But do be careful where you put your hands. I will sting you if you get too familiar.”'''

'''“Yes Ma’am!” He climbed carefully onto the woman’s back, then she took off. She ran quickly and smoothly over the dunes, and it was easy to see how they had surprised the crew. As the sun began to set, it got colder, and Kontar could see something in the distance. Was that the ruin they had left? The scorpion woman slowed and came to a stop. '''

“Here we are.” 

'''“Oh! Thanks for bringing him! You should both stay here tonight, it’ll be pretty cold if you try to travel.” Kontar heard a familiar voice from inside the ruin. '''

'''“Thank you. I appreciate your offer.” The trio found themselves standing inside the ruin, now with a table of food, and 2 beds laid out on opposite sides of the room. And there was a beautiful woman hovering in the middle of the room!” Kontar stepped forward. '''

“Are you-?”

'''“Hi there! You must be the nice young man who first found me?” She floated closer to him, until she was close enough to touch her face to his. '''

'''“I-am. I’m Kontar. And you are?”'''

'''“Kontar! What a nice name. I’m Nailah!” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. He was just as nice as she thought, and much more interested in her. “Lapis? Thank you so much for bringing Kontar back to me. I couldn’t stand that other guy”. Lapis nodded.'''

'''“And I must thank you for bringing our tribe so many men. And especially my Lateef”. She gave him a hug. '''

'''“My pleasure! Oh, and feel free to get to know him tonight”. Nailah winked at both of them. The four then proceeded to feast, talk, and finally, Lapis lay down with Lateef on one of the beds, while Nailah led Kontar to the lamp. “We should give those 2 some privacy. Luckily, I know where we can go.” She took Kontar’s hand, and leapt into the lamp. They rematerialized inside, the lamp now furnished like a comfortable bedroom. Kontar blushed at the thought of what was about to occur. '''

'''“Nailah? Do you think we could wait a little? I want to get to know you before we…” '''

'''“Oh you’re so cute when you’re embarrassed!” I think I can wait”. Nailah grinned. “But you’ve got to kiss me first. Kontar looked down, and she led him to sit on the bed. She pulled him close so they were staring right into each other's eyes. Kontar hesitated, then brought his lips to hers. Mmm. They were soft and firm, and it was the best thing he’d ever felt. He lay on top of her, squishing against her chest, as they continued. But he broke it off before it went further. '''

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'''“Well Kontar, good luck! And thanks to your wife for, well, everything. Letting us stay here the night, and finding...This beautiful woman”. He looked up at Lapis, smiling. Lapis looked away. “Thank you again for your hospitality”. Kontar shook Lateef’s hand, and they parted, the 2 parting as she ran off for the home of the scorpion tribe. '''

'''“Alright, honey. I think it’s time we got a bit more familiar with each other.” Nailah took him back inside, and was now holding him close as they sat on the bed. '''

'''“Hey, do you have any wishes? As a genie, I can grant whatever your heart desires. But you need to give me enough mana to grant them. You know what that means, right?” She smirked. '''

'''“I know. And...I just want to go back to my family. I want to see everyone I left behind. And I want to find a way to give them all enough to live. Mr. Garbowski promised to pay us for the work and I was going to use that to help everyone”.'''

'''“Mmm. That’s easy enough”. Nailah gave him a kiss. “And I know just what to do”. '''

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'''Not a day later, and Kontar was back with his family, surrounded by the people he’d left behind, and now with a beautiful woman. '''

'''“Mother! Father! I’m home!” His parents hugged him.'''

“We didn’t know if we’d ever see you again.” His mother said.

'''“Welcome back, son. I see you met someone on your trip?” '''

'''“It’s so nice to meet my husband’s parents. I’m Nailah, and I promise I'll be great for your son”. Kontar’s parents were astonished. “And furthermore, I have a way to make sure everyone in the village is cared for. I’ll move this village into the domain of a pharaoh. That way you won’t have to worry about surviving. '''

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'''As the rest of the people met with their new ruler, learning about the benefits of living in the domain of a monster ruler, the younger ones finding more fulfilling roles, while the elders found adequate care, the village’s saviors disappeared. Nailah hugged Kontar. “That was such a good first wish!”'''

'''“Well, it solves our problems. Though I’m not sure this is what I had in mind”. '''

“Hmm, wait until I show you what I’m really capable of”.

“Honestly, I’m not sure what else I could want”.

'''“I’m sure you can think of something”. '''