They often goofed off together, sometimes getting into trouble! They had also often teamed up to protect the city against Aladdin's enemies.
The relationship between them was what it was suppose to be. The bond between them was the deep bond of a father and son that knew each other almost perfectly.
Aladdin admired his father. Cassim was a tall, broad, strong, handsome man. He was wise, cunning, swift, agile, an amzing fighter, courageous,
loyal, and noble. Despite his older age, Cassim was still a young man at heart. That was something Aladdin admired the most about him.
Cassim didn't let his age limit him as many others would. Instead, his built himself up. Aladdin hoped that his children would look to and admire Cassim as he did.
He held a great respect and love for his father.
Cassim had allowed his love for Aladdin to soften his hardened heart and overcome his dark past. He had also recommitted his life to the Lord through the faithful words of his son. His love for his son had helped pull him out of the pit of despair, anger, heatred, fear, bitterness, and sorrow he had been trapped in for twenty years.
Aladdin had opened his heart to all the good things in life, for that, he was grateful.
But, Cassim still had a couple secrets locked away from the world, from Aladdin! He knew he had to tell him sooner or later. He decided to tell when he got the chance.
Here was his chance.
"Aladdin."
"Yeah, Dad?"
"I haven't been entirely truthful with you."
"What do you mean?"
Cassim paused, searching for the right words to say. He sighed and stopped walking. Aladdin stopped, too.
"You are the commoner chosen to become royalty."
"Huh?"
"When I was a child, after my mother died, an old friend of hers took me in. He was kind of like Fashir, only not immortal. He predicted that a commoner would become royalty, and a Lion of the Desert would ensure the fate of the Seven Deserts."
"Okay. And?"
Cassim sighed and held up his right hand.
Suddenly, a lion with a sword behind it appeared on the back of his hand!
"Dad, what is that?!"
"The crest of the Lion of the Desert."
"You're the Lion of the Desert?"
Cassim nodded.
"Whoa."
"In a bad way."
"Huh?"
"'Ensure the fate', actually means 'ensure the destruction'!"
"Oh boy. Can't you do something?"
"My fate has been chosen. There's only one way to stop it."
"How?"
"Once I start to give in to evil power that rests within me, only a hero of a pure a heart can stop me."
Cassim looked at Aladdin.
"Me?"
Cassim nodded.
"What would I have to do?"
"Like all other men who have carried this crest before me, though they were never troubled by the evil power, there is only one way to stop me."
"How, Dad?"
"If your intentions are pure, your weapon, whatever it may be, will have to power to stop the Lion of the Desert."
"Dad, what will it do?"
Cassim hesitated, sighed, and reached down his sash. He pulled out his Hand of Midas dagger.
"Aladdin, when I do start to give in to evil power, you must take my dagger or sword and drive it through my chest, piercing my heart."
Aladdin drew back in horror.
"What?!"
"It's the only way."
"No. Dad, I can't kill you!"
"You're the only one who can!"