This is an AU of my story on Fanfiction entitled: Genies and Jinxes as well as being a mixture of the original movies and the television series.

Chapter 1

"Easy does it now." Aladdin murmured out of the corner of his mouth. "Don't spook them." he eyed the small traveling company that was going at a slow and steady pace. There weren't that many of them and just by looking at them, the young man could tell that the group could easily be taken over.

"Any caravans?" A gruff voice asked and Aladdin turned his head to the grey skinned man beside him.

"Yes, but it's not big enough to carry a lot." He answered and a short man of Asian descent came along his other side.

"Odd. How'd they survive so long without a larger one?"

"Doesn't matter." The grey skinned man growled. "If they've got loot, we're taking it." Aladdin nodded and then gestured to the thieves on the other side of the valley. There was movement and then cries came from the small party as they were surrounded. Aladdin stood as the others around did as well.

"They better have something good."

"Don't worry, Sa'luk. I'm sure you'll get something." Aladdin chuckled before he gave a whistle. "Let's see what my father makes of them." Aladdin's father was the king of their group named: The Forty. It wasn't all that clever of a name, but served its purpose.

The group met up with their other group members and Aladdin eyed the travelers. There were two men, one older with white hair and one younger with black hair. There was a small boy on a horse, but they paid him no mind. Cassim came out of his tent to survey the group.

"What brings you to our lands?" He questioned, using his air of authority. The older merchant stepped forward.

"We're terribly sorry." He stated. "We were only trying to get to Agrabah. Our city was recently attacked by the Queen and her army."

"The Morbian Queen?" Husam asked and the merchant nodded.

"Indeed. She took our lands."

"So?" Sa'luk snorted. "What business it is of ours?"

"We did not know these were your lands." The younger merchant spoke up. "My father and I have been caring for this boy. He is very sick."

"I see." Cassim began and then folded his arms across his chest. "I will allow it this one time, but only if you can compensate for my service."

"We do not own much. Perhaps you could take a look in our wagon?" The older merchant suggested. "You may have anything that is to your liking." Cassim smiled widely and gestured for a group to check out the loot. While they were busy, the older merchant shifted uneasily. "And if it...is not to much trouble perhaps you will take the boy?" Aladdin glanced over at the youth who was lying limply against the horse. He looked pale and sickly indeed, and had evidence of being in the sun for too long. The most bizarre however was the boy's messy light brown hair.

"What is wrong with him?" He asked the merchants and the younger one spoke up.

"I do not know, sir. We found him, alone. He has no one."

"We could see to him, couldn't we?" Aladdin looked at his father.

"We have no use for a boy." Sa'luk spat, his grey skinned face turning a bit of an angry red. "He'd only get in the way."

"Then what do you suggest?" Aladdin shot back. "Let him die unattended when there is a chance to help him?" He turned to his father. Cassim sighed.

"Aladdin…"

"I'll take care of him, Dad." His son pleaded. "There's plenty of food here."

"What do you mean we have plenty? We get little as is."

"Our food is rationed." Cassim snapped. "You know this, Husam." He turned his dark eyes to his son. "Aladdin you know that we can't afford to bring in more."

"He's just a boy. How much trouble can he be?"

"As much trouble as you were as a lad I'd wager." A voice said and Aladdin turned to see the blind prophet, Phasir, walking over to them, his cane hitting the ground around him. "I remember you were quite a troublemaker yourself." He smiled in their direction. "Take me to the boy." Aladdin took the man's arm and led him over to where the little boy was slumped over on the horse. Phasir placed a hand on the boy's head.

"What do you see?"

"The boy is special. He'll change your fate." He turned to Aladdin. "This boy is in your future."

"Poppycock!" Sa'luk snapped. "Send the boy and the others away."

"But good sir," One of the merchants begged. "We cannot possibly continue on with him. He is too sickly."

"What do we do?" Someone asked and Cassim groaned.

"Fine, the boy will stay." He spoke and looked to the triplets in his troupe. "Take the boy into my tent." They nodded and gathered the boy off the horse, carting him into the dark tent behind their leader. "He will be under the care of my son. That means that he is to be treated as one of us, is that understood?" The thieves grumbled, but not one protested. Sa'luk and Husam were the only ones that weren't the least bit happy.

"He's gone soft." Sa'luk hissed and Husam nodded.

"The brat will be the death of us. You watch and see. He looks like a little jinx." His companion nodded in agreement.

"Go now and remember not to pass this way again unless you are seeking trouble." Cassim said to the merchants. Aladdin turned from them and headed for his father's tent, going in past the billowing tent flaps.

He glanced at his charge with curiosity. The boy looked to be about eight or so, maybe younger given his dirty appearance. Aladdin got closer and sat near the boy, taking a bucket of water and a cloth. Gently, he scrubbed the boy's skin both cleaning him and cooling him off from the heat.

A small whimper escaped the boy and Aladdin paused. There was a bruise on his face. Frowning, Aladdin cleaned the rest of his face, discovering more bruises. "Dad?" He called over his shoulder. "I think you should see this." Aladdin went back to washing the boy clean the best he could, avoiding the bruises and Cassim came to stand behind him.

"Look at him. He's been beaten." Aladdin stated. "Where did those merchants say they found him?"

"Out in the desert." Cassim replied, crouching down to examine the boy as well. "He's under nourished as well. There's no telling what the boy has been through." Cassim moved and took hold of the boy's ankle. "He must have been a slave." He remarked quietly. Aladdin looked up and saw the metal circle around the thin ankle. "They said his name was Alaric. That was all the boy could say before he blacked out."

"Alaric." Aladdin repeated. "It's different."

"Yes, but it suits him." Cassim murmured. "He's looks just as different."

"I know you don't think my choice was right." Aladdin began quietly. "But there was something about him…I had to take him in."

"I felt it too, son. Just be careful that you don't let him out of sight. I trust my men, but not enough to leave them alone with the boy." Aladdin nodded and returned to easing the boy's temperature. Cassim lifted the boy's arm and held it out. He grunted.

"The boy looks too skinny."

"He'll get healthier." Aladdin reasoned. "He just needs time." Cassim smiled and got up from the ground.

"Well, I'll leave you to it then. Make sure when he wakes that he knows the rules."

"Don't worry, Dad." Aladdin chuckled with confidence. "I've got this." Cassim rolled his eyes at his son's cocky attitude and left the tent.

Abu crept into the tent. Aladdin was sleeping in the corner, having fallen asleep from waiting for the boy to wake up. The monkey glanced at the newcomer and got closer, wanting to see the boy that everyone had been talking about. Abu moved inch by inch until he was close enough to touch the boy and he suddenly jumped. The little boy was moving, waking up, and the monkey ran over to get his best friend.

'Aladdin.' The monkey chattered and Aladdin blinked slowly. He heard a small sound and looked over to see the boy moving on the mat.

"Hey, there." The fifteen-year-old boy greeted and sat up. He watched the boy's head swivel to look at him and missed the fear that appeared in his eyes. "My name's Aladdin." He stood up and walked over to the boy. Instantly, the boy was on his feet, scuttling to the far corner as far as he could get from Aladdin, his blue eyes wide with terror. Aladdin had never seen such blue eyes before. They were as blue as the ocean.

"Whoa! Easy." Aladdin stated stopping and holding his hands up. "Easy. I'm not going to hurt you." He said soothingly and took a step. A warning hiss made him stop and Abu scampered up his arm. The boy looked like cornered animal, terrified and fierce at the same time. The boy bared his teeth and Aladdin rubbed the back of his neck. How did he handle this?

"Hey, Abu?" He murmured and the monkey looked at him. "Go get, Ali. I'm going to need some help."