Author's Note: Hi all, another newer Aladdin story. This one came to mind as I'd finished up the story "Aladdin and the Slithering Serpents," but I waited a little while until the story formed in my head before picking up the pen (or rather the keyboard) and going at this. The U-serpents are back in this one as the villains.

This story has about the same balance of humor and conflict as the former story, but the premise probably seems much darker considering the point at which it starts, particularly with Genie in mind. I figured it would be interesting to delve into a possible universe where Genie remembers one of his former masters and associates with her company, before getting into a conflict of his own. There was another "what if" that raised in my mind thinking about what would happen if Genie were suddenly reconfined to the lamp life, like the time before the time Aladdin set him free.

Synopsis: When Genie travels to a neighboring city to honor the memory of a former master, he's caught in a trap set for him by the U-serpents, who seek revenge. The snakes come across a rare lamp that allows a genie to be reimprisoned, and effectively bind Genie by the cuffs and condition that formerly bound him before Aladdin set him free. Now the U-serpents command the Genie, four wishes a piece, and wreck all kinds of havoc in the process.

Aladdin worries after Genie's been gone a long time, pursing him after some strange events have occurred and the unlikely visit of a boy, the assistant that used to serve Genie's former master. But as Aladdin and the others travel to save their friend, they realize may be in a fight for their lives.

Switch and Bait

Prologue: All that Ends Does Not End Well

It's a quiet night on the outskirts of Agrabah, where camels ride across the vast sands in caravans, the moon's light illuminating the way for weary travelers just making their way home from a long day's trek. But for a certain party, further along the path to the next establishment, a party sits around a campfire steadily disgruntled, waiting for one of their comrades to surface from the underground.

Garan, the U-serpent whose green eyes were the hue of the finest emeralds, sat tending to the fire, making sure it didn't burn out. It was already dark enough in their makeshift domicile, and while the moon helped illuminate the open desert, it didn't provide nearly enough light for their residence. Ever since they'd been run out of Agrabah, and had lost income from their treks to wreck cities, the U-serpents had not recovered from the loss of their steady fortune.

Faran sat across from Garan, his red eyes flaring with the same intensity as the burning flame. "He's-s late," Faran said, his voice in a low hiss. "Ajan s-should've been back by now."

Garan shook his head. "Give him time, he's-s looking for the treasure that's s-said to be hidden. If it is-s true, then we'll have one of the most valuable possessions in the s-seven deserts. "

"But we don't even know if it's a true treasure." Faran folded his arms across his scaly chest, his massive form imposing even with the cloak he wore. "How long before we consider Ajan's mission failed?"

"Not anytime s-soon - I have found it!" A voice emerged from a underground path just a short distance away from where the two U-serpents tended the fire. Ajan, their missing triplet and one whose yellow eyes stood out in the darkness of the underground path, came out of the area holding up a small bundle in his grasp.

Faran's face fell. "You are joking? It cannot be real."

Ajan shook his head. "This will allow us-s to take Agrabah for ourselves-s, once and for all."

Garan snorted. "What about the one called Aladdin and his friends-s? He's-s more trouble than he's worth."

"The boy is nothing without his-s Genie, Garan," Ajan said. "We use this trinket, we'll have the key to his and the city's undoing. Then we'll be the masters-s."

Faran stood. "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's s-sneak into the city and s-steal his Genie."

Garan shook his head. "No, that's too risky - they'll be expecting us-s to strike if we do that. No, the Genie has to come of his-s own free will. I believe I know something that will get his-s attention, from my own research into that Genie's past." Garan put his arms around his comrades' shoulders, his tongue flicking out with the wide grin creasing his features. "Now listen closely..."

Chapter 1 - Message Marked Urgent

"Incoming mail! Rise and shine you land-lubbers!" Genie strolled into the palace throne room bright and early, dressed in a sailor's uniform as he carried a large stack of scrolls.

"Oh my, what an early wake-up call." The Sultan strolled into the room, fully dressed in his royal attire.

Aladdin followed, still in his sleep clothes. He rubbed his eyes wearily. "Genie, it's not even sunrise yet. You think you can tone it down a little?"

"Oh, Al, don't be silly - if you're gonna be a Sultan someday, you'll have to remember that the job requires early hours too. And lots of press!" Genie dropped the stack of scrolls and started to sort through them.

"Actually, I agree with Al. It's too early to use my brain - I think I'd rather go back to sleep," Iago grumbled as he flew in, perching on Aladdin's shoulder. Not far behind them, Jasmine, Abu, and Carpet strolled into the throne room, also shaking the reminants of sleep from their eyes and limbs.

"So how many messages did we get?" Jasmine yawned, stretching her arms long from her sides.

"A ton!" Genie reported cheerfully. "Though it looks like most of them are addressed to the Sultan."

The Sultan chuckled. "I'll just have to go through them when I have the chance. It might be better to sort through these and find the ones addressed to everyone else."

"All righty, then, sounds like a plan!" Genie said cheerfully, diving into the scroll stack. His head reappeared in the heart of it as he began tossing ones that belonged to the Sultan in a separate pile, while the others he examined for specific names. "Let's see...ooh, this one's addressed to Al, and this one's for Jasmine..."

Aladdin, Jasmine, Carpet, and Abu all started helping Genie wade through the pile. Though they ducked whenever a flying scroll addressed for the Sultan sailed through the air into the separate pile.

Jasmine examined one in her hands, her brows narrowing. "Iago, you have a bill scroll from the Pirate's Den - did you want to tell us what that's about?"

Iago grinned sheepishly. "Eh, I might've racked up a small fee for the food while I was there last, but I told 'em to put it on the Palace's tab."

Aladdin scowled. "Iago, the palace won't cover every expense you rack up just because you're living here. Sooner or later, you'll have to take the responsibility of paying your own way. Otherwise, you're doing nothing else but mooching."

Iago snorted. "Says the guy who used to be Agrabah's most wanted street rat. "

Aladdin flinched, but recovered quickly. "It's not the same thing!"

"It's all right, Aladdin," Sultan reassured, putting a hand on Aladdin's shoulder. "I think I have a fitting task for Iago to repay his debt. One that involves the transfer of my scrolls to my quarters."

Iago beak dropped open, his wings folding across his chest. "Oh no, no way, José! Not happening!"

The Sultan shrugged casually, examining the ring on his hand. "Well then, I suppose the palace dungeon seems fitting to you, common for a criminal who would use our funds for such trivial matters."

Iago flew from Aladdin's shoulder, picking up a few of the scrolls in his claws. "On second thought, I could use the exercise."

As Iago flew out of the room, Aladdin turned to the Sultan, eyebrows raised. "I didn't think you had it in you to be that harsh."

"Well, my boy, Iago has to learn his lessons, and a harsh reminder usually does the trick." The Sultan leaned in close to Aladdin, adding in a whisper, "Though I should say, I would never think of truly sending him down there."

Aladdin smiled a little, shaking his head before turning back to sort through the remaining scrolls.

"Genie, I think this one's addressed to you," Jasmine said, pulling a dusty scroll from among the bound stack.

Genie took the scroll quickly, a wide grin on his face. "Yes! Fan mail! I knew there were people out there that love me."

But the smile on Genie's face instantly disappeared as he read into the scroll's contents. He sighed, his frown firm, voice humorless. "Well, I guess this is news I'll have to sit down for."

He materialized a chair behind him and sat down, head bent down.

"What's wrong?" Aladdin asked.

"It's about one of my former masters. I mean, I've had my share of mentors, cruel and otherwise, but she was actually nice to me, even when I was still bound by the lamp."

"What happened?" Jasmine asked.

"Well...how do I put this delicately? She's sleeping among the sands, in the bright blue sky, gone to meet her maker." Genie transformed into a general, playing "Taps" on a trumpet.

Jamine's voice rang with shock. "She's...dead?"

Abu screeched in sympathy. "Oh no."

"Genie, I'm sorry." Aladdin put a reassuring hand on Genie's shoulder. "What happened to her?"

Genie cradled his chin in his hands, elbows resting on his knees. "Well, it was a really long time ago that I was her master, much longer than you kids have been alive. I knew her when she was a budding sorceress just starting out. She lived out the rest of her days in peace, which makes it a little easier knowing. But what makes it weird - she was last seen only a few kingdoms out from here. They're having a gathering there tonight and I'm invited. Guess I know where I'll be."

"That's perfectly understandable. But I daresay that's quite unfortunate, circumstances being as they may," the Sultan added.

Jasmine nodded in agreement. "You want us to come with you?"

Genie waved a dismissive hand, trying to smile casually, but Aladdin could tell he was more than a little uncomfortable. "You guys don't have to do that. A journey on Carpet means that all of us won't get there until about nightfall if I leave in the next..." Genie looked at several watches on his arms that magically appeared. "Three minutes and 90 seconds. I could probably take half the time getting there and stay for an overnight visit or two. If they only invited me, that must mean it's a pretty small gathering. And remembering her, she didn't like a lot of visitors, usually just kept a small circle of friends."

Genie materialized two suitcases in his hands, then snapped his fingers, which materialized a floating stagecoach complete with white horses. He loaded the suitcases in the back quickly.

"Wait...Genie, are you sure?" Aladdin followed. "I mean, if you want us to come with you, we can. It's not really right that you should be alone for something like this..."

Genie put both hands on Aladdin's shoulders. "Nah, kiddo. I appreciate the thought, though." Then in a more cheerful tone, with a wink, he added, "And re-lax, I won't be too far away."

Genie climbed through the door before shutting it behind him. He gave a brief wave to the group as the horses whined, before galloping out the Palace windows and out of sight, where the first few bands of sunlight streamed over the horizon.

Aladdin leaned his back on one of the palace's pillars, his eyes lingering on the place where Genie's coach had disappeared, melting into the rising sun.

Iago flew in the room at the exact time when everyone was following Aladdin's gaze. "Okay, what's with the stale atmosphere in here? And where's Genie?

"He's...gone. I can't believe he just took off like that." Aladdin ran his fingers through his hair, his voice quiet.

"Can you blame him?" Jasmine folded her arms across her chest as she approached, standing next to Aladdin. "I don't think any of us would've perferred him going so quickly, but we have to respect his wishes."

"Yeah, I know, but...I guess I still can't get used to the fact that Genie had a master before, and that's she's gone now. How many masters do you think Genie had before he came to live with us?"

"Probably more than we know, my boy," Sultan said. "But I would trust Genie's words. He'll be back, especially knowing he has a home to return to."

Aladdin sighed. "I hope you're right."