Chapter 6: Trouble, Trouble, Trouble

"Carpet, let's go!" Aladdin called out. While Iago flew above the advancing beasts, everyone else, including Abis Mal and Haroud, boarded Carpet as they sped off. Aladdin wasn't happy about the tentative alliance with their enemies, but they didn't really have much time to debate it.

"They're gaining! Fly faster, fly faster, you stupid rug!" Abis Mal cried.

"I don't remember them being this fast!" Jasmine said, her hair blowing behind her.

Aladdin held onto Carpet's edge tight. "I think it's because they've been cooped up in here for so long. Probably gives them a reason to chase after us." He winced. "That and I think Abis Mal's fear is attracting them."

Haroud raised a brow. "How is that possible?"

"They sense fear and attack - they're made of nightmares. Back when they chased and attacked me a year ago, that's how they followed me. If you're not afraid of them, if you fight them, sometimes that's enough to make them disappear."

Haroud considered that. "Seems simple enough, so why are we fleeing them?"

"There are too many to fight off, even for all of us. And in Grenden's lair, they have more power. I don't know how, considering, but..." Aladdin trailed off as he saw Iago struggling to keep up with them.

"Ya think you could fly a little slower so I know where you're going? Don't leave me behind already! I don't wanna be shadow canine food."

Aladdin scowled at him, but at the last second, he caught something from below that surprised him. The shadow beasts were trying to climb each other as they ran to reach Carpet's edge. They weren't all that successful, but one determined beast used his momentum to leap on the backs of two beast, strike the wall, and leap towards Carpet trying to mount Carpet along with the rest of them.

"Duck!" Aladdin cried, and while the beast sailed past them, he crashed straight into Iago, knocking him to the ground below where the beasts advanced.

"Iago!" Jasmine cried, but Aladdin was quick to respond. He leapt from Carpet and straight into mass of beasts to reach where Iago cried out. The beast that struck him had actually clawed his wing, so he couldn't fly well from the injury. He was trying his best to evade the beasts as their jaws and claws barely missed him.

"Hang on, Iago, I'm coming!" Aladdin cried. A few of the beasts tried to throw themselves in Aladdin's path, but he dodged quite a few of them, even leaping from back to back of where they clustered to get to Iago faster.

Aladdin was able to throw himself in a roll, grabbing Iago in one of his arms, and recover fast enough to run ahead of the racing beasts.

"Geez, I'd say you were my hero if you weren't pinching my bad wing," Iago said, flinching.

"Sorry, but in case you didn't notice, we have company," Aladdin said, looking back over his shoulder. Carpet and the others were still behind him, and the beasts were starting to close the distance. He kept running.

"This is one of those times when I wish I was in the palace all by my lonesome enjoying a nice feast. Why can't that be a normal thing in Agrabah for once instead of facing off against whatever or whoever's tryin' to take over the city for the week?"

Aladdin groaned. "When we get out of here, a feast might be something to look forward to."

Iago winced again. "You mean, IF we get out of here. And there's no tellin' that. They're gaining on us!"

Aladdin tried to see if there was any way they could slow down enough for Carpet to swoop down to get them, but they were still too far behind, and the beasts were close enough to Aladdin's heels to make him second guess that plan.

"Come on, Carpet, faster, we have to get to them!" Jasmine cried.

Carpet was trying to maneuver low enough to where they could get to Aladdin and Iago, but the beasts around them kept trying to either leap at where Abis Mal, Haroud and Jasmine were, or swipe at Carpet's underbelly. It was hard for them to clear the mass of beasts.

"Al, dead end, we're comin' to a dead end!" Iago cried. Aladdin realized it too late as he turned a sharp corner of the area. He managed to rip a spare decoration from the wall with one hand and throw it behind him, which slowed the momentum of some of the beasts, even causing some to disappear, but they pounded after Aladdin and Iago, their sharp howls echoing off the walls.

Aladdin realized for certain he'd had lead them to a dead end. A sick feeling filled the pit of his stomach. He whirled around, backing slowly as several beasts cornered them against a wall. Iago was still cradled in one of his arms, wincing with his bad wing.

"I really hope you have a plan, Prince of Agrabah, because this is not lookin' too good," Iago said.

"I haven't thought that far yet." Aladdin spoke between his teeth. He looked around the place they'd run to, but there didn't seem to be anywhere else to run, and he tried looking to see if there was a way he could run over the beasts, but he didn't want to hurt Iago any more than the bird already was. He also wasn't sure if he could keep balance by trying to run over or through them.

Iago, on the other hand, saw an opportunity, when he saw a slight indentation in a rock that looked like a trigger for something.

Iago sighed. "I know my mother always told me not to press random buttons, but I think in this case, there might be a need for an exception."

Aladdin's eyes widened in alarm. "Iago, don't! It might be a..."

Aladdin didn't get to finish his sentence as Iago pressed it with his good wing, sending them flying backward through a rocky trap door, which closed promptly as soon as they disappeared.

Abu pulled the last prong, which made the Genie's magic containment drop upon the desk, roll, then crash to the floor, shattering into sparkles that shimmered to nothing. Genie, finally free, stretched his limbs.

"Man, that really put a cramp in my back. But thanks, Abu."

Abu raced up to Genie's shoulder, screeching excitedly.

Genie nodded. "Right. We've gotta find Al and the others. I'm kinda hoping Grenden took a detour trying to look for you. We need all the help we can get warning the kid. I hope we aren't too late."

Jasmine, Carpet, Abis Mal and Haroud stared in disbelief as they realized that all the shadow beasts had simply vanished into thin air. It happened at the moment Iago and Abu had disappeared through the trap door.

"Can someone tell me what just happened?" Abis Mal said, a goofy puzzled expression twisting his features. His turban shifted on his head, which he had to fiddle a bit to readjust it.

Jasmine shook her head. "I don't know. We're safe for now, but...Aladdin, Iago..." She trailed off, but recovered long enough to run her fingers along Carpet's edge. "Carpet, take us down to where Aladdin and Iago were."

Carpet obliged, landing slowly and allowing Jasmine, Haroud, and Abis Mal to investigate.

Haroud examined the lever that Iago had pressed, even pressing it himself to see if any reaction would happen. But it didn't budge.

"It seems it doesn't work anymore, Princess. I imagine they disappeared to wherever the trap door led to."

"We'll just have to figure out if there's another route, then." She said firmly.

A low, familiar voice came from behind them, making Abis Mal jump, Carpet stiffen, Haroud flinch, and Jasmine gasp. "I think I might be able to arrange a meeting for all of you accordingly. Welcome back to my kingdom, Princess."

Jasmine turned, but didn't have time to react as a dark web of magic enclosed around her.