Author's Note: Hi all, another Aladdin story up, and this is a direct sequel to "Switch and Bait", featuring the U-serpents once again as the villains, alongside a familiar villain who makes a very welcome entrance in this story (might as well spoil you because he's in the prologue: it's Mozenrath - I've had a few stories plotted with him as a villain in them for some time, but I hadn't had the chance to sit down and write them until now). Daleel and Safir are also back as the main secondary characters. Kind of goes without saying that Aladdin, Jasmine, and the rest of the cast have their hands full in this adventure.
Summary: When Daleel ends up crossing the U-serpents befriending an unlikely ally during a chance encounter near his home, it just the beginning of his troubles. One of the U-serpents bites the boy, causing Daleel to succumb to a consuming fever and blindness. It's a race against time as Safir recruits Aladdin and his friends to find the cure. Daleel fights for his life, but realizes that as he loses one sense, he gains another, and it may be the only thing that'll keep Aladdin and his friends alive in the evolving plan the U-serpents and said enemy are planning. Can Daleel hold on long enough to warn Aladdin and the others of the upcoming dangers in time?
All characters and locales from Aladdin are copyrighted to their original creators/copyright holders. Daleel, Safir, and the U-serpents (as well as this overarching story) are mine though - I just wanted to tell a fun tale. As always, I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did writing it.
Blind Bitten
Prologue: An Odd Alliance
It was a blustering night in the Land of the Black Sand. Quiet streets, deserted buildings, only the sound of old drapes flapping in the breeze along the abandoned city that stood not far from Mozenrath's domain. And yet, the sorcerer wasn't exactly quiet himself, as his fist slammed against the roundtable in his quarters.
"I am starting to lose my patience, Xerxes," he said, his voice in a measured tone that made his companion shiver in midair. "Now have you, or have you not found these so-called wanderers who have been said to give Aladdin and his companions trouble over the past few moons? I'm very interested in seeing what power these...creatures...have that I have not."
"H-have found them. Not much power at all, Master. You have more power!" Xerxes stammered.
"That's not what I asked you," Mozenrath said calmly before aiming a magic blast with his glove toward the creature. Xerxes yelped, and ducked behind a nearby column before the blast took out a chunk of it. "Would you care to try again?"
"Giant snake creatures, move like humans on land, call themselves U-serpents," Xerxes said quickly, peeking from behind the column. "Bites have power."
"Hmm," Mozenrath seemed to give this information thought. "Snake beings with the ability to exert influence in their bites. Not entirely original. Still, I'm more interested in seeing what that could result than whatever other petty tricks they may have up their sleeves. Very well then, it would seem I have to pay a visit to these snakes and figure out for myself how they managed to nearly conquer my single greatest annoyance."
"Master isn't thinking of...joining them?" Xerxes said, hissing.
"I work alone, you know that," Mozenrath said, his tone sharp as he cut his eyes toward his companion. "But I know an opportunity when I see it. It may be just the bend that we need to break Aladdin's backbone - once and for all."
Garan, Faran, and Ajan sat around a slowly burning fire in the middle of the desert - where they were, yet again, driven away as a part of their last entanglements with Aladdin, Jasmine, and the rest of the citizens of Agrabah.
Their Genie had especially burned them in the U-serpents's last attempt - among many - to conquer Agrabah. They'd had the idea of trying to convert several citizens into potential recruits for the U-serpents, but Aladdin and the Genie had caught on somehow and yet again drove them out of the city. They'd also tried to kidnap Princess Jasmine and tried to completely erase her memory of ruling over Agrabah by banishing her into another dimension through a magic mirror. Yet Aladdin had found a way into the dimension, helped her recall her memories, and brought her back through trickery, even when they'd crafted a ransom note for the Sultan.
Suffice to say, their ability to come up with successful plans against the kingdom were running thin.
"Perhaps-s we should consider Agrabah a lost cause," Garan, the green eyed U-serpent, said with annoyance. "We've tried everything to bring them down and are repeatedly foiled for our attempts-s."
"Nonsense!" Ajan, the yellow eyed U-serpent, snapped. "There are s-still faculties we haven't tapped into to use against them. We know the primary annoyances lie with the Prince and his s-stubborn Genie. Nuisances-s they are, but we've come close to beating them before. I am certain we can find other ways of subduing them and taking Agrabah for ourselves-s."
Neither of the U-serpents expected the voice that emerged from the shadows at that point. "Perhaps I can be of some assistance? We share a common enemy - it would make more sense to strike them when they least expect."
Ajan, Faran, and Garan stood abruptly. "Who dares to speak to us from the shadows-s, if even to eavesdrop on our affairs-s?" Faran, the red-eyed serpent, demanded. "For that, fool, you should have your tongue cut from your throat!"
"Now is that any way to treat a potential comrade?" A figure emerged from a mass of swirling black sand to stand before the U-serpents, the glow of the fire revealing his form. "You three and I both find Aladdin and his companions annoying, though I wouldn't mind seeing them completely destroyed and Agrabah to fall to more capable hands."
Garan started to speak, but Ajan put a hand in front of his comrade to silence him. "Wait, Garan. I think I know who this-s sorcerer is. Are you the commander of the Black Sand - the one they call Mozenrath?"
Mozenrath feigned a modest expression. "You flatter me, serpent. And I've heard about you three from talks around the seven deserts. You've managed to come close to bringing the kingdom to its knees. Close, but yet so far."
"Hmph. What does-s a sorcerer want with a kingdom like Agrabah?" Ajan pressed.
"I have my own kingdom, I have no interest in taking Agrabah for my own. But I don't like them meddling in my affairs." Mozenrath's expression went dark.
"So you want us-s to help you rid of Aladdin and his-s companions?" Faran said, raising a brow.
"Nothing would make me happier. Of course, it would mean we'd have to establish some ground rules."
"No one s-said we would work with you, s-sorcerer," Ajan said. "And even if we were, we have measures-s we would like you to observe as well."
Mozenrath had to struggle to keep his expression neutral. Apparently the U-serpents weren't stupid and easily manipulated as he'd assumed. That could work for and against his overarching plans. "Very well, I'll hear your demands first."
Ajan, Garan, and Faran looked upon each other, then conferred in a series of whispers before regaining their ground and turning to face the sorcerer.
Garan was made to be the speaker of the terms. "Very well, one called Mozenrath. We have three terms-s. We would like to be the ones-s in charge of executing the plan. We would like to claim Agrabah for ourselves-s. And you will leave the fate of the one called Aladdin to us-s."
Mozenrath felt his insides turn as quick as his thoughts. But I was supposed to be the one to destroy Aladdin! Ugh. I suppose in the bigger picture having him destroyed is the better option than being the one who does it. And it leaves less work for me.
"Very well, those are all terms I can agree to. The main player I want among them is Aladdin's Genie, and maybe even the fair Princess Jasmine to have someone rule beside me in my kingdom. The rest you can do what you want with them, only I would like to see how you decide to rid of Aladdin."
Ajan grinned, his sharp teeth reflecting in the light of the fire's flames. "That can be arranged."
And the two parties seemed to come to an agreement - though they weren't aware of the horror struck presence that had witnessed their union.
Chapter 1: Once Bitten, Twice Ill
Daleel hadn't meant to eavesdrop on the U-Serpents. He was just on his way to the city after gather up some supplies for Safir. Sure, the merchant turned mystic had warned Daleel against traveling at night, and Daleel had assured him it wouldn't take THAT long, but he hadn't expected the union as he was on his way back.
He found a nearby dune to hide behind, and overheard a good part of the U-Serpents' conversation with the odd sorcerer. Daleel didn't know who Mozenrath was - let alone had never set foot in the land of the Black Sand, but it sounded dangerous. The fact they were all conspiring against Aladdin and the others, as well as Agrabah, told the boy that they were up to no good.
I've got to warn Aladdin. If they're planning to join forces to move against Agrabah, Aladdin needs to know. They might be able to stop whatever the U-serpents and Mozenrath are planning.
Daleel started to retreat, but Ajan chose that very moment to look in the boy's direction, and hissed loudly when their eyes met.
"Spy! Get the boy!"
Daleel started to run toward the city, but was surprised when the sands beneath his feet clamped down on his bare ankles, preventing him from moving. He cried out, trying to yank free, but it rooted him until Ajan caught up and yanked him from the sands, pinning and squeezing him tight in his grasp.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Daleel cried.
"And there you have one example of how my powers can be useful to you," Mozenrath said with a smirk on his features.
"You chose the wrong place to be, boy," Garan hissed as the U-serpents gathered around him. Garan turned to Mozenrath. "The brat is one of Aladdin's allies. We've encountered him before in our travels-s."
Mozenrath's brow raised a little. "Is that so? Well, I've shown you a portion of my power. Why don't you show me what your abilities can do in this situation."
"We can give him the treatment," Garan said, grinning. "Turning him into one of us would be certainly s-something Mozenrath would be interested in seeing."
Ajan shook his head. "No, we've already done that. I've a better plan. Let my bite s-speak for itself. I think it will be more s-suited to our overarching plan, and it will effectively rid us of this brat for good, if it goes well." Ajan peered down at the boy, his fangs bared.
Daleel struggled against Ajan's grasp, but to no avail as the U-serpent sank his fangs into the boy's shoulder. Daleel's scream pierced the night, just audible over the resounding laughs of the snakemen - and Mozenrath - sounded across the group.
Safir was starting to worry. It'd been a little after sunset when Daleel had headed out, assuring Safir that he wouldn't be gone long. Safir figured when Daleel returned, he would give the boy a good talking to. It was what every responsible guardian would do. The boy had no parents of his own, and Safir had taken Daleel under his wing since the sorceress Edelina had passed on. Safir had inherited her entire domicile, spells, and the like in her will, being her prime student and friend. It was a fitting home for them both - slightly bigger than the two of them needed, but he wasn't complaining.
Safir mentally kicked himself for even allowing the boy to convince him to travel by night. He sighed, finishing off the spell he conjured, and rose to go look for the boy. No sooner had he crossed the room than he heard the front door of their quarters close.
"Daleel, you are late! You have much explaining to..." Safir's voice cut short when he saw the boy leaning against the door, breathing hard, shutting his eyes while clutching a blood-stained shoulder.
"S-Safir..." Daleel began, blinking back tears. "T-they...You have to warn them..."
"Oh my word." Safir rushed over to the boy's side, just before Daleel collapsed at the foot of the door. Even as he gathered the boy in his arms, Safir couldn't help but realize how hot to the touch Daleel's skin was.
"What happened to you?" Safir asked, his anger melting into fear and concern for the boy.
"T-the U-serpents...one of them bit me. I-I ran away as fast as I could, but then I had a hard time seeing, and..." He paused, swallowing hard. "I feel really sick."
Dread filled Safir's heart, but he tried to maintain himself in front of the boy, so as not to send Daleel into further panic. "Do not worry, we will get you well. Come, let's get you off your feet."
But even as the words of comfort left Safir's mouth, he wasn't sure at all if there's anything they could do. He tried to search his mind for solutions as he put Daleel to bed, and treated his wounds. Even so, Daleel had a fever that wasn't breaking easily, and from the glazed look in the boy's eyes, Safir wondered if the effects of the U-serpents toxin weren't doing more than just bringing on the boy's fever.
He realized he would need more help than he himself would take on.
Later that evening, after Safir had managed to put Daleel to bed, he crafted a letter to send to Agrabah, and used a special magic to make a mystic bird as a carrier. It would be faster than trying to send a message the more traditional route.
The sooner that Aladdin and the others knew of this latest development, the better.