Dusk was falling over the streets of Agrabah. Two boys ran along the streets, laughing and throwing sand at each other, engaged in an innocent game. They reached an alley, and the younger of the two tackled the older boy, laughing loudly. "I win again!"

"Of course you win," replied the older boy, sitting up and holding the younger in his lap. "You know heroes always win, 'Laddin. That's why I always lose, 'cause I'm always the bad guy."

"So why don't you be the hero?" suggested the youngest, Aladdin. "I can be Aladdinrath! Mwahahaha!"

"Well," said the older boy, looking quite bemused. "For one thing, my evil laugh is much better than yours."

Aladdin pouted childishly. "My evil laugh isn't that bad."

"It is, actually," replied the older boy. "Besides, you're too good to be the bad guy."

Aladdin stuck out his tongue. "You're too nice to be the bad guy!"

"But I am the bad guy," the other boy said cheekily. Aladdin just laughed at him, before they both fell into a comfortable silence.

"Mozen?" asked Aladdin after a moment, looking a bit annoyed with the silence. "When's Mummy coming home? It's been forever since I've seen her!"

The older boy, Mozen, turned sad. "Aladdin, we're not going to see Mummy for a long time."

"Did she not want us?" asked Aladdin innocently, as only a child can.. "Why can't we see her now?"

Mozen sighed, hugging his little brother tight. "Oh, 'Laddin. She did want us. She loved us very much. She had to go, and it's somewhere we can't follow. Not now."

"But soon?" Aladdin asked, still not understanding, face sweet and hopeful.

Mozen didn't respond for a moment. "How 'bout dinner, Aladdin?"

Aladdin perked up instantly, successfully distracted. "We have dinner tonight!?"

Grinning slyly, Mozen slid a loaf of bread from his sleeve and split it in half, handing one half to Aladdin, who climbed to the ground and immediately took a large bite. "Careful, save some for tomorrow."

"Oh!" said Aladdin. "Then we can have dinner tomorrow night too!"

"Exactly," said Mozen. They began eating quietly, enjoying their rare meal. The sky was getting dark, though the two boys paid this no notice, instead enjoying their meal. Mozen marvelled at the fact that his brother took so much joy in a thing such as food. It seemed so recent that their mother had died, leaving them on the streets since their father had left years before. Still, he didn't understand why no one bothered to help them. No one ever seemed to notice them.

"Good evening, boys."

Startled, Mozen's head snapped up, and he pulled his brother close as a strange man walked into the alley. So much for no one ever noticing them. Mozen narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

"Ah, true, I haven't introduced myself," said the man calmly. "My name is Destane."

"What do you want?" Mozen asked. He didn't know why, but this Destane gave him the creeps.

"I've come," said Destane. "To make you my apprentice, boy."

"Me?" Mozen gaped. "Well... only if my brother can come."

"Hmm, no," said Destane. "Leave him."

Mozen frowned deeply. Did this man really expect him to just leave his brother? Aladdin was only five years old, there was no way he'd survive without Mozen.

"I'll pass, then," Mozen said coldly. "We're kind of a package deal."

Destane smiled chillingly, and Mozen held Aladdin tightly. "Well, then I suppose I'll have to fix that, won't I?"

"Fix it?" Mozen asked in alarm. He had no time to continue, as Destane flicked his hand towards them. Aladdin started floating out of Mozen's grasp, surrounded by dark magic- Mozen was sure that was what it is. Mozen desperately grappled for his brother, too late, and Aladdin was in floating high in the air, squirming wildly.

"Mozen!" cried Aladdin.

"Hang on, Aladdin!" Mozen called back, hopping to his feet. He turned furiously to Destane. "Let him go!"

"Be my apprentice!" yelled Destane. "And I'll let your brother go."

Mozen faltered. "I can't leave him. He'll die on his own, he needs me. Please, find another person! Leave Aladdin alone!"

"You leave me no choice, boy!" said Destane. Another flick of his hand, and Aladdin was screaming, writhing in midair. Mozen's voice joined his brother's.

"Stop it!" Mozen shouted desperately. "Let him go!"

After what seemed like forever, Destane stopped, and Aladdin plummeted to the ground. Mozen shot forward to catch his little brother in his arms, cradling the boy to his chest.

"Aladdin, are you okay, 'Laddin?" asked Mozen softly, shaking slightly.

"H-hurts," said Aladdin, and Mozen bit his lip to keep from crying. "Mozen, I'm scared."

"I know, 'Laddin, me too," Mozen told him. "But everything's going to be okay."

"I'm tired," said Aladdin weakly. Mozen felt panic welling in his chest; no, Aladdin couldn't sleep now, he was hurt! When their mother was sick and went to sleep, she never woke up. Aladdin was all Mozen had; he couldn't lose him too!

"You can't sleep now, 'Laddin," Mozen urged. "Stay awake and we can try to get some fruit tomorrow morning, how does that sound? Fun?"

But Aladdin wasn't listening; his eyes were slowly drifting shut, from exhaustion or pain, Mozen didn't know. "Night, Mozen."

"Wake up, Aladdin, wake up!" Mozen said urgently. "You can't sleep now, wake up!"

"Too late, boy," said Destane. Mozen turned his head to see the dark man standing above them. "Your brother is gone."

"No," said Mozen. "No, he can't be!"

Destane ignore him, instead striding forward and roughly grabbing Mozen's shoulder, jerking him backwards.

"Now," he said, a cold smile on his face. "We go."

A/N: Hey guys! For my old readers, hello, good to see you! To my new ones, welcome, great to meet you! This idea has been stewing in my brain for a while now, and I couldn't help but right it down. Please forgive the horrid summary. It might stay as this sucky oneshot (although that's really unlikely), it could possibly extend. I suppose that's up to you, my readers, but I've got ideas. Readers of Fixing the Future, I'm working on the next chapter right now, no worries! Tell me what you think!

I don't own Aladdin.