I apologize for the delay, I've been deeply engrossed in an original fiction story. I believe the delay was worth it as my original story is seven chapters long and is currently in chapter eight. I figured I take a break to update and finish this story's posting.

Chapter Four- The Shadow's Evil

Aladdin leaped from the shadowy portal and into his home. That had been a close one. He would be in the dungeon by now if he hadn't opened that portal. Wait. Since when could he do that? Did he somehow obtain magic powers when he became a master thief? Possibly. But, he didn't have time to dwell on it. The guards would be after him and they would come to his home after they determined that he's not in the palace.

I'll have to move to a new home. I'll pack everything up and move out tonight. I have no doubt the guards will come here in the morning to arrest me.

Decision made, he grabbed up a couple of empty sacks he had salvaged and began putting his belongings in them. He saved his curtain for last and when he pulled it down his friends, minus Jasmine, were behind it.

"Al! What were you thinking robbing the Treasure Room like that?" Genie exclaimed.

Aladdin stuffed his curtain into a sack and tied both of them closed. "I was thinking it would be easy."

"Al, what's wrong with you? You said you've given up stealing."

Aladdin whirled around to face his blue friend, stabbing a finger at him. "That's what's wrong. I shouldn't have stopped. I now have wealth as well as power."

"Stop it! Look, just come back to the palace and plead insanity. I'm sure they'll show mercy on that…"

"Mercy?" Aladdin spat. "I don't need or want mercy. All I want is power and to be the greatest thief in the world."

"Bu, Al-,"

"Leave me alone! I don't need any of you." Aladdin reached into his vest, pulled out Genie's lamp, and threw it to its owner. Hefting his sacks, he opened another shadowy portal and vanished through it.

"Perfect," Mirage purred. "Aladdin has expressed a desire for power. That should speed the transformation up a bit. I think I'll be visiting him sometime tomorrow."

Aladdin yawned as he woke up in his new home. He had found a deserted home on the outskirts of the city. It was a lucky break. He wasted no time in decorating his room with his hoarded wealth.

As he arched his back, he tilted his head back, and saw a forked, dark green tail arcing above him. What? he thought. Standing up straight, he craned his neck, and saw that the tail was connected to him!

How can I have a tail? Although, I can think of a few uses for it. As he stretched out his arms, he got another shock. He only had three fingers and a thumb on each hand and they sported long, sharp claws. His forearms were also bigger than the upper arms.

"What the-," he started to say when he felt something brush against his lips. Aladdin fumbled for a mirror. He brought it up and stared at his reflection. His eyes had gone yellow with black slits for pupils and he had fangs protruding from his lower lip.

"What is happening to me?" he exclaimed in horror.

A flash of green light distracted him from his looks. He turned to see a female humanoid cat dressed in Egyptian-style clothes. "Mirage," he hissed.

The cat woman ignored his greeting. Instead she floated around him closely inspecting his changes. Finally, she commented, "Nice, very nice. A fine specimen of El Katib."

El Katib! So, that's what was happening. He was becoming a shadow walker and the one responsible was right in front of him. Wait. How can he be changing? Mirage had said he was too pure of heart to be El Katib.

"How are you doing this, Mirage?" he demanded, pointing at his altered features.

"Me? I'm not entirely responsible. You're just as guilty."

"But, how?"

"It's simple. I awakened your dormant seed of evil and let you decide your path. You could have resisted the desire to steal and do evil. I'm pleased that you didn't."

"And because I didn't, I'm changing."

'Exactly. Now, I can help you complete the transformation."

"Who said I want to finish changing?"

"So…you're saying you didn't enjoy stealing and being an accomplished thief?"

Aladdin didn't answer. Actually, he did enjoy robbing people and polishing his skills. He was on his way to becoming the greatest thief in the world. The only problem was eventually he would die and someone else would claim the title. The thought of dying scared him. He didn't want to die and he wanted to hold on to his title forever.

"I don't want to die," he murmured more to himself than to Mirage. "I want to be the world's greatest thief forever."

"Is that so?" Mirage asked. "If you fully become an El Katib, you'll have your immortality."

"I would, wouldn't I?"

"Yes, of course."

"But, I would be serving you."

"Is that really such a bad thing considering you would have power and immortality?"

Aladdin answered without hesitation. "Not really."

"Then, enter the Shadow Realm, Aladdin, and let your transformation be complete." Mirage waved a hand to conjure a portal larger than the ones Aladdin made.

Aladdin licked his lips. He knew that if he went in, he would be there for seven years. But, what was seven years compared to eternity? It was nothing. Nothing, but loneliness.

"Why the hesitation? You want to live forever."

"I just realized that I'll be lonely."

"Actually, you won't."

"No?"

"It's too soon to recruit kids here, but in another city, now is the time to look for fresh blood."

"So, you would want me to lure them to the Shadow Realm?"

"Yes. But only for two nights."

"I remember." Smiling, Aladdin stepped forward and into the portal. All around him was darkness. A darkness that felt like it was seeping into his body and his heart, causing the evil within him to grow stronger.

As he welcomed this oddly warm feeling, his skin turned dark green and leathery. His legs bent slightly while his feet grew bigger and longer with sharp claws on three toes and on the heels. His vest ripped apart as he grew bigger, revealing a ridged spine that caused him to hunch over and use his knuckles to keep from falling over. His hair vanished as his ears fanned out and his nose and mouth fused together into a snout with two pairs of fangs protruding from them. Aladdin snarled and growled in a deeper voice. He was officially an El Katib.

Epilogue

"I'll make something of myself someday. Then, I'll show them all," a boy grumbled angrily.

"Why wait?" a deep, sly voice called to the orphan boy.

"W-w-who's there?" The boy looked around with large, scared eyes.

"Don't be afraid. I'm someone who can offer you power and immortality. Just step through the portal and these gifts are yours."

A black, shadowy portal opened up a few feet in front of the boy. He stared at it as a dark green arm came through and beckoned him with a long, sharp claw before vanishing into the blackness.

"Power and immortality? Sounds good to me." Grinning, the boy leaped into the portal, which closed behind him, leaving no trace that something evil and sinister had even taken place.

The End

Originally, this would have been the end of my Aladdin fanfics, but a small bit piece had expanded and grew into a full story that I have hinted at for some time. I now say that the Aladdin story I have titled "Conquests" is complete and will be posted at a future date. I do have other stories that are waiting to be posted and thus they will go up first. So, please be patient.