Princess of Balbadd (Magi x Reader)

Meet the Monsters

"It's so good to see you again, my love."

~*~

"Ew! Now let's do something about that unsightly appearance of yours!" the real djinn Zagan complains as he leans back into one of the piles of treasure being transported back with you.

The two of you are alone, but you are assured the others are also traveling back and you'll see them again once you've returned to your world. For now, your only company is this djinn and a few of the more innocent dungeon creatures you had requested to bring back with you, including the bale of turtles. There is also a baby iteration of the Zagan plant since it was the only one too naive to be horrified at the thought of going to the human world. Its cherubic form made it cuter too, especially while curled up in a sleeping ball.

"What's wrong with my appearance?!" you snap defensively. It has been a long time since your looks had been brought up and you thought it was something you've come to terms with, but still the djinn's statement hit a nerve.

Zagan takes a long sip of nectar out of a flower then gestures generally towards you. "Hmmm...let's start with...all of it."

You nearly crack the shell of the turtle you are holding. The other turtles heedlessly continue to gnaw at your bare feet, happily feeding off your dead skin while you receive the exfoliating treatment.

"Come now, it's time for the ultimate makeover!" he announces with a clap.

"Makeover? How shallow," you scoff.

"Don't underestimate the power of appearance!"

He hovers over you lasciviously then summons plants that engulf you. You are poked and prodded from all sides, despite your protests until the petals surrounding you bloom to reveal the new you to him.

He leans back and admires his handiwork. "Now you can look like the coolest King out there!"

You twist to try and see the changes, but without a mirror it's hard to see other than the fancy, flowery outfit you now wear. "Don't you mean Queen?"

Zagan shrugs, "Male or female, a King's Candidate is a King."

He explains how this appearance is a passive trait that subtly uses up your magoi while wearing the necklace he resides in. It sounds akin to exercising a muscle. You'll only be able to hold it for a while to start with. But as you use your magoi daily then rest at night, your capacity for magoi will increase and you will be able to hold this form longer. Thankfully you have a fair amount in reserve to start with from your practice with Irene's tools.

~*~

Again, you seem to be the last to arrive as the others are already standing around and waiting for you. The building that looked like a temple is now gone, its absence now a mar in the otherwise lush scenery. Plus more mounds of treasure than the boat could carry alongside intended passengers from the Dark Continent fill the empty space along with your companions.

Ja'far steps towards you, asking with concern in his voice, "Princess, (y/n)? Is that you?"

You refrain from reminding him he can drop the 'princess' as Sinbad is also there and don't want to give him any fuel for the suspicions Zagan planted. The djinn is nowhere to be seen in this world, but at least the dungeon creatures transported over safely.

"Yes, Ja'far, of course it's me. What's wrong?"

"You took so long, we were starting to get worried. And...you look..."

Right, if things were set up properly, you should physically look different while wearing your metal vessel. Did Zagan really change you that much?

"Different?" you prompt, "Is it bad?" You weren't too sure about Zagan's opinion of cool.