This story was inspired by two things. One was a story written by Totally-Out-Of-It, I imagine her story based around Beauty and the Beast and that quickly lead me to the idea of Aladdin. So thank you greatly for that =) The Aladdin film being the second inspiration for this story.

Merlin will be based around the role of Aladdin and Arthur will be a Prince, just like Jasmine was the Princess. This contains Slash in later chapters so if you're not into that kind of thing, I think you need to be reading something else. Not everyone sees M/A together.

This is a smallish chapter to get the story going and to see whether people like the idea XD

Please enjoy and R&R if you want. Thanks.

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Guards tore through the streets of Camelot. All in search of one soul. Uther, their King, had no tolerance for thieves and there was only one who always got away. There were rumors that the boy must have magic to do the things he did. He could be seen from windows as he leapt from rooftop to rooftop, the gap between making little difference to his speed and it was often where he lost the guards in a chase. For no ordinary person could do the things he did. It wasn't possible.

Many had said he was but a simple boy. Others claimed he was an older man who had wisdom beyond your wildest dreams. There is sometimes said to be a floating ball of light close to his head that could whisper to him about the surrounding area. People said that that was the reason he got away. Most claimed it was the guards lack of skills and abilities to catch the thief. Not even the greatest of the guards could catch him and that was the Prince himself.

Arthur Pendragon.

He could wield a sword like no other. Kill anyone who dared threaten his Kingdom. Could court any woman who laid eyes upon him. Yet this one thief always escaped and it had made the Prince more determined to catch them. Every night he searched the streets, every morning he returned home with the bad news. Never a full sight of the thief was made.

There was even a reward out for the thief to be found and caught. Dead or alive. Nobody was even sure what this person was stealing, how they had even managed to annoy the King so much he'd offer the amount he did for their capture, yet it didn't matter. The amount he offered, it would help an entire family live comfortable for many years and anyone along the streets of Camelot would happily trade someone's life for that kind of lifestyle. Especially with taxes increasing every year.

As the sun faded from the sky and the moon took its place, everyone shut their windows and locked their doors to those who walked through the night. For it was at this time when the thief made their appearance and the guards would roamed the streets brought out their swords. Any who got caught in their way ended up in the cells with no food or water and if suspected in helping the one they sought after, they would find themselves dead before they could even blink.

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"You'd think, after all this time, they'd learn that they will never catch me." Merlin stated as he lay on the rooftop of one of the many buildings in Camelot. He had been watching the children below play games with each other, their childhood innocent and pure as they found new ways to entertain themselves. He had never had that and often found himself wishing to be young again just so he could go and join in.

"You wish for friendship," the soft luring voice came beside him and Merlin smiled ever so slightly. Maybe it was right. Maybe it wasn't the childhood he craved but the smiles they shared between each other, the laughter that made them so happy to be alive. "I am your friend."

Merlin turned his head to look at his 'friend' that floated beside him. At least one of the rumors spread around was true. He did indeed have a ball of light that followed him wherever he went. What they didn't know was that it had been created by himself. The life he lead had forced him to make his own companion in life. Most people would pity him if they knew that so he let the rumors spread about how it came to appear beside him. Let them think mystical creatures existed to be your friend, not your enemy, at least it would help them sleep at night. Rather that then know that all creatures, whether small or large, weren't any more friendlier to them then they were to him.

"They come," it was his only warning before he spotted the guards file out of the Castle grounds one by one. Each taking a street to search. All with swords drawn to kill any who posed a threat. His hand automatically went to go around his throat, imagining what it would feel like to have such a blade cut his head clean off, it wasn't a nice thought he could tell you that. "He is here."

Merlin didn't need to ask who he meant when he said he. It was the Prince. He couldn't help but notice that an even greater look of determination covered Arthur's face tonight, as if he believed he'd be bringing Merlin back to his father, on this very night it seemed. Why the Prince bothered Merlin didn't know. What he did know that he grew tired of running away from the typical guards and that playing with Arthur was a lot more fun. He got a lot more frustrated and posed a greater challenge to Merlin when running for his freedom.

"Twenty guards. Five in surrounding area that could pose a threat. How would you like to proceed?" The question was asked to him but all Merlin could do was stare at the figure coming towards him. Arthur had yet to spot him and was glaring at any sign of movement on the ground. Had he not learnt that Merlin liked to travel by rooftop? It was a lot easier and it made you feel like you were flying if you went fast enough. "Merlin?"

"I think tonight I would like to mess with his royal highnesses head. He deserves it after chasing me all these nights." Getting to his feet, Merlin picked up a small stone that had somehow managed to get onto the roof and with a quick flick of his wrist, sent it straight at the prowling Prince. The stone managed to get him right on the head and Merlin placed himself in front of the moon so his appearance couldn't be seen against the light.

"It's you," came the bitter voice of Arthur as he glared up at Merlin. His grip tightening on the sword he held in his hand.

"Yes, it's me."

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The little thief had decided to show himself to Arthur tonight. The past few days he had been told by his numerous guards that they'd caught sight of the 'boy' running across the roof above them, yet none had been able to say they had gotten up close and personal. It seemed the thief had granted him a special treat. For they simply stood on top of the building next to the one he stood at. Although he couldn't see their face, he knew they couldn't be that old. For their figure was thin and scrawny, their clothes hung off them like they were two sizes too big. Their hair even stuck up around their head as the light breeze passed of them. This was a person who took little care in their appearance.

"You are under arrest, by order of Uther Pendragon, King of Camelot." Arthur yelled and waited for what he knew would be an amused reply. The thief never took anything he said seriously.

"Don't you get bored of taking his orders?" They asked and strolled along the edge of the building. Their footsteps confident and they didn't even look at where they walked, as if they knew them off by memory. Arthur liked to think it was a man that he was tracking, for his Father would beat him if it were a woman and the thief sounded like a male. Yet from the distance they often spoke from, it could be a woman with a very low voice who had to yell, he could never be a hundred percent sure and dared not make that judgement now.

"Don't make me come get you thief. Lets make this night a short one and quietly hand yourself over. That way no one gets hurt."

"I always thought you enjoyed our midnight chases. I even dressed for the part," they made some kind of gesture of showing off their outfit before their attention was taken by a small light that floated near their head. "Oh very clever my Prince. You have me distracted by your amusing orders whilst your men approach me from behind. Not very fair, is it?"

"Maybe you shouldn't have turned to a life of crime if you didn't want to be surrounded by guards," Arthur stated and noticed a couple of his men reach the top of the building silently. However by the looks of it, the thief knew exactly where they were. Except they didn't even make a move to run. "Are you giving yourself up?" He couldn't help but ask.

"Oh no, just thought I'd help them out a little by waiting. It always takes the fun out of the chase when the guards can't even catch up to me at the start." They took a casual step onto the next roof top and put their hands behind their back, not once looking back at the guards. "What about you Arthur? Not in the mood to chase little old me?"

"Why chase you when I can have people do it for me?"

"Because, my Prince, I would not be out in the open if it weren't for you. It's you who I wish to chase me. Not them." Arthur raised an eyebrow as the thief crouched down and he could have sworn he saw a faint flash of golden come across their eyes, "Do you not wish to chase me anymore? Have you lost interest?" The sound of the guards falling to the ground reached his ear and he frowned, they had been so close to the thief, why had they suddenly messed up? "Pay attention to me otherwise I'll get testy."

"Wouldn't want that now would we?" Arthur teased and sheathed his sword, making his way over to one of the buildings to make his way up. "I shall catch you thief. Even if it's the last thing I ever do."