Four: Heart's Desire

A wisp, like a cloud only more dense, entered the room, not so much appearing as seeping through the cracks in the wall. The cloud-like substance coiled and gathered to form the shape of a human, though tendrils sill fanned out from the shape in every direction. The room bathed in a faint, bluish glow, the now opaque figure glided across the floor toward its right.

"Hmm," began the form in a decidedly feminine voice, soft and deep and rather alluring if she were a human. "You have come for your heart's desire. Let us see who you are."

A shot of cloud-like smoke that would have been her hand shot out and thrust into a bare chest. "Ah. Aladdin of Agrabah. Yours is a kind heart, caring and gentle, but with a fierce sense of adventure and a deep sense of loyalty. What is it you wish for? Fame? Fortune? Hmm. How interesting." She chuckled. "Your only wish is to be a hero. To save the city that you love time and time again. And, to save the world. Well, Aladdin of Agrabah, that can be arranged."

The tendrils of smoke pulled from his chest, then she moved across the room to where the other man was sleeping against the wall. "And who might you be?" The same smoky length went into his chest.

"Oh. Oh, my. Yours is a sad heart, Mozenrath, Lord of the Black Sand. You have been through much in your life, yet it has made you stronger. You are charming, witty, intelligent, ruthless and cunning, yet you bear terrible pain to be allowed the use of magic. What is it you wish for? Power? Revenge?" She paused. "What? What is this? How very interesting. All you desire for is to be loved, unconditionally, for who you are. Hmm. That, dear Mozenrath, can be arranged."

The tendrils of smoke began to pull out, but stopped mid-way. "What is this? It seems you have great magic within you, magic that had been sealed long ago so that you would need to find a different means of obtaining magic. How very cruel. Well, even though it is not your desire, I shall grant you back your magic. There. The seal is removed."

As the smoke tendrils seeped from his body, Mozenrath began to glow a bright blue. The gauntlet that covered his right hand fell to the ground and burst into flames, disintegrating instantly. The skeletal arm hung limply, but within mere seconds covered with a coat of flesh and skin. The cloud chuckled in her deep voice, then returned to Aladdin's side once again, entering his heart.

"You have great love within you, Aladdin, a love like no other, an ability to love somebody with your very soul. Let us change the direction of that love, replace your sweet Princess with that of Mozenrath. Allow he, who has never been loved, to be given your undying affection. You will both be happy in this, I promise you. And both of your heart's desires will now be fulfilled."

Slowly the cloudy form disappeared, leaving the room dark and bare, save the two who were, second by second, regaining consciousness.