Shortly after stepping onto the ground the magic carpet disappeared with a pop and Steve was left alone. He sighed as he looked up at the balcony he'd just been on; hoping to catch a glimpse of Danny, or his shadow, but the man was already back in his room and hidden from view.

For the first time, in a long time, he felt happy. He felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders and everything had been set in motion the minute he spotted Danny in the marketplace, like it was meant to be. Like his life had led to that moment, that fate had been grooming him for the day he met Danny and finally got his happy ending. It was romantic drivel, and he couldn't believe he was thinking it.

He shook his head as he sat down on a short wall. He no longer had the worries from just a few days before. His father's bills had been paid, his sister was supported, his boring guard job was finished with and that feeling like his life had been halted to take care of other things rather than himself, that was gone too.

He loved being a soldier. He liked being useful, he liked leading his men, protecting the kingdom he was from and defending the people who inhabited it. It felt like his calling to do so. To give part of himself for his kingdom. It was personal now, though. He'd happily go to war again if it meant saving the people he loved and now that included his future king in ways it hadn't before.

Of course, there were still some things that weren't finished with. Namely Hesse and whoever else he'd been working with. Was that weasel still in the kingdom, trying to find someone else to fetch him a lamp no longer in the cave it lived in? And who was the man he'd been working with? Now that Steve knew the power of the lamp, he could only guess the dangers that could await if those men got their hands on it and began wishing. It was now his job to protect the lamp and the ring. No. To protect Chin and Kono, because they were people, not objects and he would not see them abused.

And he still had two wishes left. Well, one. Since he'd use the third to free them.

There was a rustle behind him, and as he turned hard eyes to the darkness nearby to search it out, it was too late. Lost in thought, men had snuck up on him and in a moment, his head was covered in a black bag and his arms grabbed and brought behind him while feet kicked out at his knees and brought him down. He tried to fight back but they were professional and knew how to subdue him.

He wanted to cry out in warning or possibly for help. His entourage was nearby, as was his sister, but he didn't want them put in danger, so he kept his struggles quiet. Chin was safely in his lamp and Kono in her ring and neither would come out unless Steve could reach the objects.

A dark voice spoke. "I think you've outlived your welcome, Prince Steven." Then it spoke to the men holding Steve. "Make sure he's never found."

"How does getting rid of this buffoon hurt Prince Daniel?" Steve could recognize that voice, he knew it clearly. He'd spent months having to put up with it. Delano.

"Because Prince Daniel must not be allowed to choose a suitor. And do not question my orders or you'll suffer more than just the demotion the prince handed you," the darker, smoother voice warned.

Steve's heartbeat quickened. Someone wanted to get to Danny, someone had a vendetta against him and though the voice was familiar, Steve couldn't place it. And Delano… unhappy with his demotion was clearly on side against Danny as well. If it had been just about Steve, if they'd worked out who he was and were punishing him, he could likely live with that. But it was bigger. He felt like he'd stumbled into some kind of coup against the royal family. He had to get away to warn Danny, to help him, to save him.

But in the next moment, pain exploded at the back of his head, and then he was unconscious.

"It's been hours now and I see Prince Steven is still on the palace grounds. And that's after I heard a rumor that you asked him to leave," Rachel asked coyly as she took a drink of her wine.

"You should never believe rumors," Danny said, not meeting her eyes.

"What changed?"

"I was… hasty."

"First impressions…" Rachel waved her glass around, and Danny caught the sly smile, as if she knew something. But then, she could always read him so well.

"He was nervous, that was all."

"So what's going on then?"

Danny looked up properly, his eyes on Grace's open face and then Rachel's happy one. He put down his fork and sighed. "He's staying."

"Staying as in….?" She hedged, a hopeful look on her face.

"As in there's… potential."

Grace looked between them. "I haven't met him yet."

"I know, Monkey, I know. And you get final veto, I promise," Danny ran a hand over her head and she looked up at him, pleased.

"So you accepted him as your suitor?" Rachel asked.

Danny narrowed his eyes at her. Not only could she read him, but he'd learned to spot her tells over the years. They may not love each other anymore, and they may drive each other crazy, but getting out of their relationship had done them the world of good. The fact that they could talk like this was a miracle these days. And, of course, what they had learned about each other still stood, and could be played to advantage. "What do you want?"

"Stanley and I need to begin preparations. Your deadline approaches, I know you have no choice but to choose, and I'm glad you found someone you can actually stand to be in a room with for more than 10 minutes, but I can't hold out much longer on my arrangement with Stanley and his kingdom."

"Which means what?"

"I need to go home and sort things out. I'm supposed to be getting married in less than two weeks."

"Okay. I'm not stopping you. I'm trapped in the palace - not you."

"I need to take Grace with me," her eyes crinkled and it was her turn not to look Danny's way.

"Come again?" He asked, straining his neck forward as if he misheard.

"I need my daughter at my wedding, Daniel. She'll be back in a fortnight to stay with you while I'm on honeymoon and then you and she can sort out your wedding to Steven."

"I don't even know if I'm going to marry Steven," he said.

"Of course you are," she snorted into her glass. "I've seen that look on you before. It's been a long time, but I recognize it." She pointed over at him. "And don't complain about Grace being away. You've known for months about this."

He brought his napkin from his lap and placed it over the last of his food. Appetite gone now he thought about being away from Grace for two whole weeks. It would be the longest she had been away from her home in the palace, and a part of him just wasn't ready for it. But Rachel was right. This had been agreed upon by representatives for both of them. And Rachel would be in his position in a few weeks when Grace came home to be with him.

"Fine, fine. When do you leave?"

"First thing. We'll need to travel all day to get there before sundown."

"Okay," he pushed his chair back and beckoned Grace closer, pulling her onto his lap. "You come wake me before you leave, you hear? I need to make sure I stock up on monkey cuddles to last me while you're gone."

"Okay, daddy," she wrapped her arms around him and he held tightly, breathing in the feel and the comfort of having her like this. She was still so small and yet growing up so fast.

When Steve woke up, the only thing he knew was that he was wet and Chin was frantically touching him and trying to make sure he was okay. He choked as he spat up some foul tasting water, and he could hear waves lapping at something below them.

He turned around to get his bearings and found they were at the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea.

"What happened?" he asked groggily.

"I'm not entirely sure," Chin answered. "But you were down there at the bottom of the sea and the lamp got loose enough that I guess you managed to rub for me. I'm sorry, Steve, but I had to use one of your wishes to save your life. Kind of assumed it's what you would have wanted."

Steve struggled into a better sitting position. "Yeah, thanks Chin. At any rate, I'm okay and alive. Now I need to get back to Danny. He's in trouble." He made to stand, stretching out muscles.

"The people who did this to you, they want to get to him?"

"I overheard them when they caught me. Delano and someone else. They don't want Danny to get married. Why not though? What does that even accomplish?" He turned curious eyes to Chin.

The genie shrugged. "The law says he has to get married. Perhaps there's a penalty if he doesn't."

"A penalty… the laws… of course!" Steve crowed. "The voice I heard, it must have been Judge Wo Fat. I knew I didn't like him. It makes sense now… he must have been the figure I saw trying to get the lamp, too. He's power crazy and if he can't get the kingdom with the lamp, then he'll do it the old fashioned way and oust the ruling monarchy. We need to get back there. Quickly."

"Good job we have Kono then, isn't it," Chin said, pointing at where the ring was tucked into Steve's clothing.

"If the Prince has not chosen a suitor by the appointed time, then the council shall choose for him," Wo Fat said to the assembled circle of men. "It's written quite clearly, right here," he pointed at the large book open on the table in front of him.

"But the Prince hated all the suitors. All except Prince Steven and all signs point to the Prince choosing him. So why have you brought us here, Judge?" Duke Lukella spoke up on behalf of the council members.

"Because Prince Steven has disappeared. His entourage will be leaving the grounds later, he's gone on ahead," Wo Fat waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "He must have decided he no longer wants to marry our Prince. Which leaves us in a predicament."

"How so?" Duke asked.

"It's obvious," Wo Far answered. "Prince Daniel struggled the first time as it was to find a suitable royal to marry. Now he'll be heartbroken for the second time after being rejected by Steven. He will not be in the right frame of mind to choose for himself. It is up to us, my friends."

"There is no 'us' in this, Judge. You are not a member of this council," Member Grover spoke up to a murmur of approval.

"Of course," Wo Fat smiled, ducking his head in apology. "I am merely here to make a suggestion."

"And what would that be?" Grover asked.

"That since you are reluctant to choose a royal from Prince Daniel's current rejections, then you must now look further afield. I put forth my own name for consideration."

There were murmurs and snickers and surprised gasps from the assembled council, then the noise began as everyone started talking to each other, some seriously, some finding the suggestion ludicrous, some asking what the Queen would think when she returned to find Wo Fat engaged to her son.

He had hoped the room might still vote in his favor on the merit of the idea but apparently not, and Wo Fat didn't have the time to wait any longer. He lifted his staff and the snake head's eyes began to glow, letting off a strange luminescence that seemed to float through the air and into the eyes of all the assembled council members.

"You will choose me as a suitor for your Prince. Our marriage is destined to be happy and prosperous for the kingdom," Wo Fat said in an even, low voice full of suggestion.

As the room began to change in his favor, Victor Hesse appeared from the shadows. "Well done, boss. It seems we'll soon be calling you King."