This has been something I've meant to work on for ages, and posting the first chapter should motivate me to do the rest. Remember, this poor fanfiction author owns naught but her books and DVDs, so don't sue.

The Desert Rose

"I can't wait to get back to Agrabah," Jasmine sighed, her arms loosely entangled with the reigns of her camel, "Diplomacy may be important, but peace-keeping missions can get so very boring."

Her lower lip jutted out in a pout as she gazed at the horizon. A faint shimmer of gold illuminated the landscape, the just-dawning sun playing off the distant domes of her home. The tinge of red in the skies combined to make it look like the most alluring of mirages.

A stirring on her shoulder broke her eyes from the vision.

"Why aren't we there yet?" Iago squawked, ruffling his crimson feathers, "I told you we should have taken Carpet, but noooo, you said that it would be better to leave him with Aladdin."

"No one forced you to go," the princess said pointedly, "As I recall, you volunteered."

The parrot shrugged.

"Eh, it was that or spend the week with Monkey Boy. And he cheats at cards."

Jasmine placed a finger against her cheek, pretending to think.

"You know, Iago, I do think I know how we could get this camel to go faster."

"Do tell."

"Lose the extra weight!"

Jasmine giggled as she pushed him off her shoulder, jerking the reigns sharply, leaving Iago gaping indignantly in midair. Leaning in closely to the neck of the camel, she could feel the dry desert air whipping against them, heard the pound of hooves on sand, as well as wings flapping hard to keep up. She let the camel run hard for several minutes, and then gently tapped it with her heels, allowing it to go into a cool down stride before stopping for a rest under a cluster of palm trees. Iago caught up a minute later, gasping and complaining.

"That was cold, Princess," he said between gulps of air, "Certainly not very diplomatic of you."

"I told you, I've had enough of that for awhile," she smiled, taking out her water skin and offering some to the parrot, who eagerly accepted, "I want something different – maybe a search for treasure."

"Now you're talking my language," said Iago, now more alert, "It's all about the gold, baby!"

Jasmine smiled, about to give a light lecture about what was really important, but stopped as her eyes were once again drawn to the horizon. The sky was lighter now, but something was off.

"Iago," she hesitated, "Look. Does something seem wrong to you?"

"Yeah, the fact that we aren't back yet—wait," the bird paused, "Now that you mention it, the sky looks really red."

A horrible twisting forced itself into Jasmine's belly, an omen she could not easily dismiss.

"It's – it's probably nothing," she said, but her demeanor said otherwise, "But we should be getting home anyway."

Iago flew back to her shoulder, his feathers tousled.

"About time," he said, and they were off.

This time, however, there was no sense of levity in their travel, no marveling at the scenery. With every step, every jolt, the twisting in Jasmine's belly intensified, hardening into a tight knot of fear. It was not the first time the skies of Agrabah were a strange color, but that was no comfort, considering what often came with the change. Evil storms or evil people, each their own unique terror. Jasmine's breathing grew faster just thinking of it, and faster still as she thought of those in the city. Her people, her father, Rajah, Genie, Abu, Carpet, Aladdin … Her breathing slowed slightly. Aladdin was there. He wouldn't let anything bad happen. He always came through.

Still, the girl did not slow the camel until they were in sight of the city walls. From a distance, they looked knotted, tangled; like a rope that had been twisted once too many times. However, when Jasmine came within a few feet of them, she saw that the reality was far worse. It was not the walls she had seen – it was stacks of bodies piled against the walls.

"What happened?" Iago asked shrilly, voicing what Jasmine's throat was too dry to ask. Forcing herself to go closer, she could see that most of the bodies were of the soldiers and guards of Agrabah, a fact that was hardly comforting. Many of the men Jasmine had known her entire life, and now they were nothing but a bloody mass. A lump welled up in her throat, but she couldn't cry.

"Princess," rasped a voice, and she looked around, startled. It was Razoul, but she could not see him at first, as other bodies were atop his. He limply waved his hand, the only part of him visible, and Jasmine rushed into the revolting task of digging him out. By the time he was freed, the girl was tired and covered with blood, her nostrils filled with the scent of death.

"Razoul, what happened? Who did this? Is my fa-" she stopped when she saw the extent of the guard's injuries. Whatever had happened, he had not gone down easily. Puncture marks decorated his torso, and one of his legs was hanging at an unnatural angle. He may not have yet been dead, but with his injuries, it was only a matter of time.

Razoul saw her stares and grunted.

"It was my duty, so save your pity. You need to get away, Princess, and hurry."

Jasmine fixed him with her most regal look.

"I can't just leave my people, at least, not without explanation."

"You always were a stubborn one," the guard coughed, "Alright. I'm not sure how it's possible, but – it was Jafar."

"Jafar!" Iago yelled, "But he's dead!"

"Shh!" Razoul said, looking nervous, "I don't know how it happened, but he's back, and for revenge. This is only the beginning. He wants you, Princess, and that flying rat over there. He won't stop until everyone who ruined him has suffered."

The guard coughed, blood burbling up from him lips. Jasmine used a trickle of water to rinse it away, and let another trickle go through his lips to soothe him.

"What of my father, and of Aladdin, and of Genie? Has he," she could barely force the words out, "Has he killed them?"

"The street rat lives," Razoul coughed again, his voice weakening, "As does his friends. Captured. The sultan…"

The pain in his eyes was not from his wounds, and Jasmine involuntarily took a step back.

"He's-"

"Dead," Razoul confirmed, "I tried to save him, Princess, but the serpent was too much-"

With that, the guard coughed, which turned into a gurgle. His eyes rolled back into his head and he was still.

"No," Jasmine said, "No. This can't be happening!"

Her eyes turned to the gate, and she nearly fainted. Hanging above it, like a sick trophy, was her father's turban. Her father's head was still in it.

"We've got to go," Iago said, his claws sharp against her shoulder, "You heard him. We're dead if we stay here."

"We can't leave him there," Jasmine said, trancelike.

"We've got to go!"

"Not without father."

The bird's look was one of pity.

"Fine – I'll fly up and get him," he said, his voice lacking its normal bite, "Get the camel ready, 'cause once I do, we're out of here!"

Jasmine nodded mutely, watching Iago fly up and grab the head by the turban. Immediately, a deep ringing blared, nearly causing the parrot to drop the bundle.

"It's a trap!" he screamed, tossing the head into one of the saddlebags and landing on Jasmine's shoulder, "RUN!"

It was only when the sound of bells was far in the distance that Jasmine wept.