I decided to make this a whole little story instead of just following the episode. I wanted to expand it a bit and not truly follow the episode. Most of the same things will happen.
Chapter 1: The Bet
"How does it look, Alaric?" Jasmine asked me, tilting her head. I looked up from my book and glanced from her painting to the model of said painting before smiling.
"It's looks great!"
"Really?" She wondered, looking over her shoulder at me. Al, Genie, and Iago had gone to get some camels for the Sultan while Jaz, Abu, and I stayed at the palace. Jasmine had decided to try her hand at painting so we all went out into the garden to relax.
"Yeah, Jaz. It looks just like Abu." I grinned at the monkey who was poising for the painting. He was wearing a large purple turban and holding a monkey sized sword.
"Abu! You have to hold still. I want to finish before my date with Aladdin."
"I don't think that was Abu." I muttered and suddenly a large, ugly, pinkish worm with what looked like a thousand eyes burst from the ground.
"Abu!" Jasmine and I yelled at the same time and I came out from under the umbrella. The giant worm opened its mouth and Abu fell in with a screech.
"Uh-oh!" I yelped and Jasmine gasped.
"This looks like a job for Super Genie!" A voice called out heroically.
I grinned as I spotted him in full superhero attire, streaking across the sky towards the giant worm. "Eat blast beam vengeance, worm!" Genie shouted and shot a beam of magic at the worm. The worm suddenly sneezed and out came Abu, but Genie's magic beam missed him and went into the palace.
I heard people shrieking and crying out in shock from the magic beam and then suddenly it came back out the same window it had gone through. The worm dodged it and unfortunately the beam hit Iago. The smell of burnt feathers filled the air and a featherless Iago hit the ground.
Genie blushed and rubbed the back of his neck while I looked towards Iago.
"Oops." Genie stated before glaring at his hand. "Bad blast beam! Bad bad bad!"
"Who turned out the lights?" I questioned at the sudden shade that appeared over me.
"Alaric!" Jasmine called and I looked up to see the giant worm hovering above me.
"Ahhhh!" I yelped and took off at a run. The worm chased me and Jaz, who was holding Abu, around the garden. "Genie!" Genie grabbed us and moved us aside just as the worm made a dive for the ground. I sighed with relief as it burrowed underground and out of sight.
"Good riddance!" I called down the hole and Genie laughed. Al swooped down on Carpet and hugged Jaz and Abu.
"You know Al, this thing isn't here on a two-day pass from the worm farm. It's after something..." Genie trailed off, still holding me around the middle as we hovered above the hole.
"Yeah, but what is there here to attract that monstrosity?" I asked and suddenly the answer became all too clear. A foul smell filled the air and everyone's faces scrunched up.
"Eww!" We all said at the same time and Genie tied his nose into a balloon animal.
"There!" He pointed and we looked to see a large cart filled almost overflowing with smelly cheese.
"Another gift from Uncouthma?" I drawled and Al nodded.
"That's the Stenchburger cheese from Odiferus."
"Do you think the worm wants that?"
"Scavenger worms love rotten food." Genie said tilting his head. "The smellier the better."
"But where's the worm?" Jasmine wondered and suddenly the ground began to move.
"I think you called it!" I said to Jasmine and we fell back as the worm burst up from the ground and right beneath the cart of cheese, knocking it over. The worm wrapped itself around one of the palace towers and with a large breath started inhaling the cheese bit by bit.
"This will take a long time if it keeps this up!" I said to Al. "You and Jaz will never get out of here." Iago groaned and landed on my shoulder.
"Hey, here's a wild thought: someone get rid of that cheese!" He snapped and rolled his eyes. "You people…"
"With pleasure!" Genie beamed and saluted to him before turning into a catapult. He scooped up the cheese and flung it out of the city and it flew out of sight. The worm watched the cheese flying off before diving after it, burrowing back into the ground and leaving the palace grounds.
Al sighed. "Whew, I'm glad that's over." Jasmine came over and wrapped her arms around him.
"So, the city's safe?" Jasmine inquired.
"Until Uncouthma becomes generous again." I told them and Al laughed. Jasmine shook her head at me and then smiled at Al lovingly.
"Then let's hit the clouds." She dragged him over to Carpet excitedly. Al glanced at us over his shoulder.
"Are you sure you guys are going to be okay here?"
"Don't worry, Al." Genie grinned. "We can handle things!" Al still looked worried.
"Alaric, stay out of trouble and please keep an eye on Abu and Iago."
"Go on, Al!" I laughed. "We'll be fine!" Jasmine managed to get Al settled down on Carpet and away they went.
"Come on, kids." Genie said to me, Iago, and Abu. "Let's go eat some lunch!"
After we ate, Genie cleared the table while we still sat there. I was drawing or rather doodling and beside me Abu tried to draw too. Genie sat at the head of the table eyeing a griping Iago.
"How can they just abandon me like this?" The parrot cried. "And after I saved the entire city from that overgrown slug!" I rolled my eyes.
"Pardon?" Genie asked, frowning at the parrot. "Who saved the city? Are we forgetting who got rid of the cheese? Moi!" He pointed at himself and Iago scowled.
"Sure, after I told you to." He scoffed and Genie deflated slightly
"And I saved the princess and kiddo!" Genie said, gesturing at me.
"Big deal! The world's full of princesses and kids!"
"Hey!" I shouted and Iago winced.
"No offense…"
Genie growled angrily, his face turning a nasty shade of red. Uh-oh, this is never a good sign. Abu sensed danger and hunkered down next to me on the plush pillow.
"I suppose you could have done better!" He snapped at Iago who rolled his eyes.
"I bet with your powers, even Alaric could do better! And you'd never last one day as a mortal."
"Don't bring me into this!" I pointed at Iago. "You started this whole thing!" He ignored me and so did Genie who was looking calculatingly at the parrot. This wasn't going to end well.
"Ho! You think so?" Genie shouted at Iago who grinned mockingly back.
"I know so!" He cried in a sing-song voice.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah!"
I groaned and buried my face in my hands. Genie and Iago were getting closer and closer to each other across the table. Abu leapt up and tried to separate them.
"Hey hey hey!" He shrieked, but they weren't budging.
"You wanna bet then?!" Genie snapped and without looking he shrank Abu. I cupped my hand under the table and caught the miniscule chattering monkey. "I'm tempted to loan shorty my powers and prove that I can be mortal for a whole day!"
"You can do that?!" Iago and I asked suddenly curious and Genie rolled his eyes at the parrot before winking at me.
"Of course."
"You're on!" Iago beamed, looking like he won the jackpot at a casino. "You give the kid your powers for one day, and you have to be mortal!"
"You've got it! One day! On one condition." Genie warned and changed Abu back to his normal size. "You must teach Alaric to uphold the Code of the Genie! And watch him." He stated as a thick book appeared in his hands.
"For a chance at beating you, I'd teach the kid uphold the Alps. Lay it on him, baby!" Wait…What!?
"Iago!" I yelped and suddenly I was strapped to a table. "Genie!" Iago gulped and looked down at me.
"Of course, surgery requires a second opinion..." He said nervously and I glared at him.
"You think!?" I yelled at the parrot. Genie appeared at my side in a white lab coat and frizzled white hair.
"Do not fear. Zis is science!" He exclaimed and I glared at Iago.
"This is your fault!" Iago only fidgeted slightly. Genie laughed maniacally and I looked over at him to see him throw a switch on the wall that hadn't been there before. Suddenly the table lurched up. "Ahhhhh!" I screamed as the table shot up towards the ceiling and through a hole that magically appeared (thankfully). The table jerked to a stop and I stared at the sky, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart. I blinked as Genie appeared in my line of vision dressed a Greek god and I gulped as he lifted a lightning bolt.
"Oh...no." I stated and that's all I could say as the bolt was flung at me and all went dark.
'Hello? Hello?' Abu's voice called to me and I groaned.
"Kid? Hey, 'Laric!" Iago grabbed me and shook me and I opened my eyes. "You okay?" I sat up and felt a wave of energy go up my spine.
"I feel…awesome!" I looked down and laughed. My legs were gone and in their place was a smoky tail that was about the same color as the sky. "I can float!" Iago rolled his eyes as I darted around the room, flipping around in the air happily. It was freedom! I came back down and noticed Genie looking down at his fingers.
"So, this is what it's like to be mortal..." He muttered and I frowned.
"Um…so now what?" I asked and he looked up at me.
"Well, duh! Whip up a giant treasure for yourself! Or me! Preferably one that is just slightly smaller than the pyramids..."
"Ahem!" Genie cleared his throat and picked up the discarded rule book from earlier. He flipped to a page a bit slower than usual considering he now was powerless. "Remember the Code! The Code clearly states, no big treasures!" He showed Iago and me the page in the book and Iago rolled his eyes.
"Then what is the point?!" He shouted and I smacked my forehead.
"Iago, being a jinni isn't about doing things for yourself."
"That's right." Genie stated giving Iago a frown.
"The point of a genie's life is service to others. And the union is very vigilant!"
"Oh, yeah," Iago challenged. "Like you never materialize yourself a ten pound hot fudge sundae." Genie looked around like someone was listening.
"Shh! You want everyone to know?!
Iago grinned smugly. "I rest my case. So what if the kid indulged himself? What could happen?" I grinned evilly and shot a bit of magic at the parrot. A lightning bolt barely missed him, then flames appeared underneath him. A semi-truck appeared and started chasing him. Genie snickered and then whispered in my ear. I nodded and send another blast at the parrot. Iago was trussed up like a roasting chicken over a fire.
"Okay! Okay! I get the drift! Knock it off!" I waved my hand and everything disappeared. Sheesh, ask a simple question and the kid starts firing..." I tossed the Book of the Code at Iago and it landed on his head. Genie grinned and then looked at me.
"Now that the ground rules are in place, let's see some politically correct magic!"
"Like what?" I asked and Iago landed on my shoulder.
"Give the monkey…Hm…Oh! Give Abu the Infinite Treasure touch!"
"How does that help anyone?" I frowned and Iago rolled his eyes.
"That's not legal!" Genie stated before we could start arguing and I looked at him. Iago.
"Oh, yeah?" Iago smirked. "Check out chapter 82, "Fun with Fingers."" Iago prompted, flipping through the large book. Genie looked over at the book.
"Whoa, why didn't I ever think of doing that?" Genie muttered and Iago grinned evilly.
"'Cause the kid and I have one thing you don't: a brain!" He smirked and then whispered in my ear. I shrugged and decided to go with it. I made my brain pop out of my head like a jack-in-the-box. Surprisingly it didn't hurt and well…it was sort of fun. Genie turned green.
"Did I do things like that when I had genie powers?" He asked, looking like he was going to be sick.
"Constantly." Iago smirked. "Now you see how much we love it."
"Aw, jinkies!" Genie whined. "No wonder I could never get a date on New Year's Eve."
"Knock it off, Iago." I rolled my eyes and then frowned. "What would you do Genie?"
Genie grinned. "Well, why don't you go outside and see if you can find someone to help?" I smiled at the prospect of flying around outside. "But remember, be discreet." I saluted him and grabbed Iago's tail feathers.
"Aye, aye captain!" I concentrated and next thing I knew Iago and I were wearing pirate clothing. Iago looked at me.
"You are going to run this whole thing into the ground aren't you?" I only grinned at him.
Once we got outside, I turned invisible so that I wouldn't cause attention, which only seemed to irk Iago a bit.
"Why can't you just walk?" Iago grumbled.
"Iago, I can fly now! Why would I want to walk!?" I asked cheekily and he glared in my direction.
"Well, aren't you just hilarious? Shut up." I suddenly paused and grabbed Iago from flying away. "Hey, what's the big idea?"
"Um, Iago…"
"What now?"
"If I'm the genie now….where's my lamp?" Almost comically there was the sound of something falling through the air and with a start Iago and I both looked down and panicked. There was something golden flying fast for the ground.
"The lamp!" We both shrieked and dove for the glittering object. Crud, crud, curd! Someone's going to find it! Iago almost had a hold of it when a cooing noise caught my attention and I turned around.
"Pigeons!" I yelped and Iago and I were lost in a blur of feathers as a bazillion feathered demons flew past us.
"What is this rush hour!? Go on, scram!" Iago shouted and once the birds were gone we tried to catch our breaths.
"What….the heck was that about?"
"Who knows? Pigeons are stupid." Iago rolled his eyes and I sighed.
"You didn't get the lamp did you?"
The parrot winced. "Sorry, kid."
"Well, maybe….it'll get rubbed by someone nice." Iago groaned and I looked at him. "What?"
"I wouldn't count on it, kiddo."
"Why not?"
"Because I think your lamp just landed on the bad side of town." I looked down and groaned. He was right. My lamp had landed in somewhere among the thieves' part of the city. I was in big trouble.