Many Years Later-
A much more hardened Rumpelstiltskin stared out over the sweltering sands of Agrabah. "So let me get this straight… you want revenge on the princess for sicking her tiger on you."
Prince Achmed adjusted his turban. "That's correct. Don't fret about payment. My kingdom is very wealthy, and will be indebted to you for you assistance in restoring my royal honor."
"What sort of revenge did you have in mind."
He blinked. "I haven't given it much thought…"
With a swish of his hand, they were looking the princess in the question. She was standing on her balcony, talking with her Sultan father, and some young street rat. For a second, he thought he saw a flash of blue before they moved out of sight.
"What about a little accident? It would be a shame if the ground were to give way beneath her dainty little feet, wouldn't you say?" He gave a little laugh.
Achmed nodded. "Yes, yes, fine. So long as I am avenged."
"This won't have your mark on it."
"I should hope not! I just want revenge! Not to start a war with Agrabah!"
"And in return, you'll answer to me?"
"Whatever you want. Can we get on with this?"
"That depends… doe we have a deal?"
The spoiled brat sighed the contract, and he snapped his fingers, making it vanish.
He touched the side of the palace, and a crack began to form. He used his magic to whisk them away to a location better suited to watch the show.
Ah, he had seen blue. The street rat seemed to be talking to some magical being, and holding…
Was that a lamp?!
The boy said something to the princess, and she step away. He turned to, what was apparently a genie, and started to say something, just as the crack reached the balcony; the ground giving way beneath the princess.
The street rat raced forward in a panic, and the words flew from his mouth. In a flash, the genie appeared under the princess, lifting her back to safety. There was a joyful embrace, and then a look of horror passed over the boys face. He turned to the genie, who was being sucked back inside the lamp.
It vanished in a flash of sparkles, leaving nothing behind.
The princess hugged the boy, saying something to her father, who spouted something that made them both smile again. As they left the balcony, the boy looked back over his shoulder to the spot he'd last seen the genie.
Stupid sentimental fool. The lamp intrigued him, but there wasn't much chance of finding out where it was now.
Prince Achmed groaned. "Can we get on with this?"
He smiled. "Get on with what, Deary?"
He gestured towards the palace. "She survived!"
"That's not my problem, Deary. You neglected to tell me that there was a genie in the works."
"But, we had a deal!"
"And I never go back on a deal. I crumble the balcony out from under her, and you answer to me. I'd ask if you'd like to try again, but you really don't have anything else I'm interested in."
For the first time, the pompous windbag seemed to realize the gravity of the situation. "Wh-what do you want from me?"
"All in good time, Deary. In the future, perhaps you'll be a little more careful in your deal making."
Another, albeit small, step closer to his plan to reunite with Bae. And to think; Melina might have approved of this one.
The prince deserved what he had coming to him, and the princess had probably deserved the slight scare she'd gotten.
No innocent party had been affected in the slightest.