The palace of Agrabah at night was a beautiful sight to behold. Lit up at all angles by strategically-placed lights, even the walls themselves gave off an effervescent glow. It was the beacon of center, of hope for the people, but for tonight, it would be a place of celebration. Where the Sultan and the Princess could enjoy a fine meal with fiancé and friends. And where a Genie, a monkey, a bird and an eel could observe an interaction that they knew began one day ago, while the others believed it to be a long time occurrence.
Aladdin and Mozenrath returned to the palace together after transporting back to the Citadel to wash and change. They wore matching outfits in different colors, vests with golden curled insignia, curled shoes, turbans, and a long-sleeved shirt underneath for the wizard but none for the hero, in the colors of blue for Mozenrath and purple for Aladdin. They found their familiars and Carpet waiting for them outside the palace doors, as well as Genie and Iago.
"How was your day, Genie?" asked Aladdin in his normal, friendly air.
"Uh, uneventful," answered Genie, not sure how much he should say and how much he shouldn't.
"You should have seen me, fighting off that Sandworm. It was incredible." Aladdin puffed out his chest, clearly proud of his accomplishment.
Genie's eyes bugged out just a little. "A Sandworm? You took on a Sandworm all by yourself?"
"Moze helped."
"You should have been there, Genie," said Mozenrath as he turned to face the Djinn. Genie narrowed his eyes. "You could have spared my participation in his heroic endeavors." He held up his right hand before Genie and frowned. "My new hand already has blisters," he added with a whine.
"What are you, a baby?" asked Genie under his breath. A single pointed finger and magic turned Mozenrath's clothes into bib, bonnet, diaper and booties with a pacifier in the mouth. He smiled as he surveyed his handiwork.
Aladdin covered his mouth with his right hand, face reddening from a failed effort not to laugh. "Genie!" Choked chuckles escaped and did not stop even when dark eyes glared at him. His eyes began to water. Behind them, Abu, Iago and Xerxes snickered.
Mozenrath spit the pacifier from his mouth, then with a wave of his right hand, changed himself back into his original outfit. His face showed more frustration than anger, but when he looked at Genie, he smiled.
Genie felt a squirm in his gut, for that smile was not as malicious as he thought, but hiding some kind of sick cruelty. He hardened his face and leaned down so their noses touched. "I don't like that look you're giving me."
Mozenrath's smile widened; Genie swallowed. Without warning he leaned forward and kissed Genie on the nose. The Djinn backed away immediately, swiping at where the lips had met his flesh with both hands, and scowled at Mozenrath and Aladdin as they continued down the hallway. Iago flew beside Genie, and when their eyes met, they both unisoned, "Yech!"
Aladdin stared with wide eyes at Mozenrath, unable to stop smiling. "Did you just kiss Genie?"
"His punishment for making me look like a fool in the royal palace," answered the wizard coolly.
The hero laughed. "I thought those punishments were reserved for me?"
"If you don't stop I won't hesitate to transport us into a broom closet."
"That would be fine if I wasn't dead certain we'd get caught."
Mozenrath grimaced. "She does have a very keen sense of smell."
Aladdin chuckled again.
Iago rolled his eyes. "I don't know what's worse, having to watch Aladdin and Jasmine, or having to watch him with Mozenrath."
"Now take my hand," said Mozenrath.
"Aww, do I have to?" whined Aladdin.
"Yes."
They interlocked their hands, the wizard's left to the hero's right, and emerged from the hallway into the dining hall where Jasmine and Ali were awaiting their arrival.
Genie held back to watch, to observe with keen eyes this insane turn of events. He allowed Abu and Xerxes to move past him into the room and remained standing with Iago as Jasmine and Ali walked to the newly arrived guests. Abu stood by Aladdin's side while Xerxes hovered in the air. Genie and Iago exchanged a look that spoke volumes of their mistrust for the situation without saying a word, keeping silent to hear how the four would react to one another.
"Aladdin, Mozenrath, I'm glad you could make it!" said Jasmine as she stood before them, Prince Ali at her side. Both were smiling like they had not a care in the world.
Iago turned to Genie. "It's very creepy how they look so much alike. I'm surprised nobody thinks there's something wrong with that."
Genie put a finger to his lips. "Shh. I wanna hear what they're saying."
"Princess," greeted Mozenrath first, taking her hand with his right and, with a bow, bringing it to his lips for a quick kiss. He then looked at Aladdin and made a grand gesture of offering her hand, which was taken by Aladdin's left and brought to his own lips.
"Princess Jasmine, I am always in awe of your presence," he said, then brought his lips to her hand for a more lingering kiss.
Ali bent over and glared at Aladdin with a half-grin. "Brother," he began as he flicked Aladdin in the forehead, "stop drooling on my fiancé."
Aladdin looked up with the same half-cocked grin. Slowly, he let Jasmine's hand fall from his and locked his eyes with Ali. Ali straightened. Aladdin took a step forward but was stopped by Mozenrath's arm against his chest.
Jasmine giggled behind her kissed hand.
"I'll handle this," the wizard said with a serious tone. Hands now unlocked, he stepped close to Ali and, being taller, stared down the prince. The prince stood as tall as he could and stared right back. Silence dawned like a curtain in the room, and the tension rose. Slowly, both of their mouths curled into smiles.
"Ooh, I feel a fight brewing," said Genie excitedly to Iago. "Maybe this is where Ali takes down Mozenrath and the twins rejoin as one."
Iago looked skeptical. "Somehow, I highly doubt that."
"It was just a thought," Genie glowered.
Just when it looked like there would be no winner to the staring contest, Aladdin elbowed Mozenrath in the side.
"Ow!" Concentration broke, the wizard glared at his boyfriend. "What did you do that for?"
"If I hadn't stepped in who knows how long you would've been going at it? It's been a long day and I'm starving. Besides, as Iago always says, you must always allow royalty to win."
"Kid's got a good memory," remarked Iago, impressed.
"Oh, so being the lord of my own domain means nothing around here?" asked Mozenrath, still glaring.
"Not when we're in the palace in Agrabah, it doesn't," answered Aladdin with a big smile.
"You wound me."
"You like it."
Both gazed at each other with expression filled with love. Made Genie sick to watch them, but he found he could not stop. It was Mozenrath who broke the gaze first when his arm was smacked by Ali.
"Sorry I beat you there, oh Lord of the black sand. But I am a prince, you know."
The wizard raised an eyebrow. "Don't make me zap you, Prince." Aladdin and Jasmine chuckled.
"You boys should collect yourselves now," she chided amicably as she crossed behind Ali and linked his arm with her own. "Father will be here any moment, and there will be no swordplay at the dinner table." She sounded like a mother admonishing her children. "Shall we sit down?"
Aladdin offered his arm to Mozenrath, which was taken, then turned his head to look back. "You coming, Genie?"
"Right behind you, Al." Genie followed the four to the table and took a seat beside Aladdin, who sat across from Jasmine. Abu, Iago and Xerxes went to the table and took places opposite where the Sultan would sit. Genie tried not to be sullen, but found himself queasy watching how happy everyone was with this new situation. They might have thought that it was normal, but Genie knew the truth. But how to get them to see that this just wasn't right? That would take some thinking.
The Sultan of Agrabah arrived, a giant smile on his face. Everyone stood in greeting, then the three men bowed from the waist.
"Daughter. Prince Ali. Lord Mozenrath. Hero Aladdin. Genie, and friends. I welcome you this fine evening." He took his spot at the head of the table.
"We are honored by your request, Sultan," said Ali.
"Well, now that we've dispensed with the pleasantries, I invite you all to sit and enjoy your dinner. The chef has prepared a wonderful feast for this evening." And once the Sultan sat down, the others joined and began gathering plates of delicious food.
Throughout dinner, Genie watched the interaction of the four, noting especially the differences between Aladdin and Ali. Where Aladdin would speak with grand gestures of his arms, Ali was more refined, and spoke more eloquently. Though they were both quick to banter, Ali's insults were more tasteful, probably on account of his upbringing as a prince. Even they way they interacted with their lovers was different: Aladdin would not hesitate to touch Mozenrath at every opportunity, while Ali refrained from everything except the occasional touch to Jasmine's hand. They spoke on many different subjects, ranging from Ali's discussion of his plans for Agrabah to Aladdin's tales of high adventure. Jasmine looked positively drunk on good cheer, and Mozenrath looked bored, though Genie would catch many smirks when he believed the wizard thought he was not being watched. It was odd, to say the least, watching the four of them interact like they were best friends, even more-so to hear Aladdin complimenting Jasmine every chance he got. It made him bristle with frustration to think that Al and Jas were no longer a couple, and every time he saw Aladdin touch Mozenrath, it made the desire to want to fix things even stronger.
Once dinner was finished and the table was cleared, Mozenrath whispered something to the chef who beamed with delight and rushed back to the kitchen.
"What do you have planned?" asked Jasmine.
"You'll see, oh fair and wise princess," answered Aladdin.
"Brother," began Ali, "will you please stop complimenting my fiancé? It gets annoying after a while."
"I can't help it," answered Aladdin with a shrug. "She's the most beautiful girl I know."
Ali turned lovesick eyes on his princess. "Yes. She is the most beautiful person."
"Oh, Ali," said Jasmine as she turned to her prince with the same lovesick look.
"Ah, I didn't say that," responded Aladdin with a grin.
The chef came back from the kitchen wheeling a tray littered with the ingredients for cake. He laid out the ingredients at the center of the table and placed a mixing bowl before Mozenrath. All eyes watched with curiosity, save Aladdin who looked smug in his seat and Mozenrath who still looked bored. Once all the ingredients were on the table, the chef pat the wizard once on the shoulder and quickly left the room.
"Oh my!" exclaimed the Sultan with delight. "What is this?"
Mozenrath stood and grandly widened his arms. His bored expression replaced instantly with a large smile and gleaming eyes. Magic cracked from his fingertips. He looked at his audience, then at the food stuffs as a conductor would his orchestra. "I will now prepare dessert!"
The Sultan clapped. "Delightful."
Jasmine and Ali watched with their own smiles of enjoyment. Dinner and a show was always a treat. Genie felt slighted that Mozenrath would steal his spotlight; usually it was him who was providing the show.
Aladdin touched Mozenrath on the arm. "But Moze, how can you do it? You don't have your gauntlet anymore?"
Mozenrath turned to Aladdin, his smile turning into a scowl. "If I can make you fall in love with me without the gauntlet, I can certainly bake a cake. The gauntlet is not the only source of my power."
"Oh!" Aladdin's good cheer was not lost on his face. In fact, it grew more. "So are you trying to tell me that I'm under some sort of spell?"
"Yes. You are."
"Well what if I don't want to be under your spell?"
Mozenrath smirked. "Too bad. Once done it cannot be undone. You are stuck with me forever."
"And I suppose this is a one-way spell?"
The wizard made a grand sigh. "Alas, no. It seems I miscalculated and the spell was placed on both of us."
"Which means you're stuck with me as well."
"Yes."
"Good. Unrequited love is very painful."
"That it is. Good thing we never have to worry about that."
Aladdin touched Mozenrath's arm. "Good thing." They stared at each other for a silent, still moment.
Jasmine sighed. Ali rolled his eyes but did not stop smiling. Genie wanted to choke himself with his silverware.
The wizard turned his attention back to the table. "And now, dessert!"
Genie found himself impressed by the way Mozenrath used magic to manipulate the ingredients on the table into the mixing bowls, and when the batter was created, used fire to heat the cake batter in pans. It was a trick worthy of a genie, and he found that he was just the slightest bit jealous. Once the cake layers were created, more magic was used to create icing that would be used to decorate. As Genie watched the icing being spread by a floating knife, Aladdin leaned toward him.
"Thanks, Genie."
Not understanding, Genie leaned back. "What for?"
"For teaching Moze that trick. He would have never been able to figure out how to make a cake using magic on his own."
"Oh." Surprise was too simple a word to describe the way that made Genie feel. Why would he teach someone he greatly disliked a cool trick like making cake with magic? But he did not want to arouse any suspicions from Al, so he simply said back, "Your welcome."
The Sultan clapped heartily once the cake was finished. "Well done, Mozenrath. Well done." Even Jasmine and Ali clapped, though not as much.
Mozenrath bowed to the Sultan with an arm across his chest. "Thank you." Magic was used to float a carving knife that cut the cake into slices, then more magic transported cake to plates, complete with fork. The plates slid around the table to appear before Jasmine, Ali, the Sultan, Aladdin, Genie and Mozenrath. The wizard sat down, was told, "Good job," by Aladdin, and they began feasting on sweetness.
Xerxes flew from his seat and took a plate of cake with his fins. He deposited it in front of Abu.
"For me?" asked Abu as he pointed to himself. Xerxes smiled and nodded. "Thank you." Abu picked up his fork and began to eat the deliciousness.
Xerxes flew back and picked up another plate to place in front of Iago. Iago raised an eyebrow at the cake, then said, "I'm not really a cake bird." Xerxes shrugged and brought the cake over to his own place at the table.
"You have cake on your face," said Mozenrath to Aladdin. Before Aladdin could reach up and wipe it off, the wizard leaned over and licked the spot that was just shy of his lips. "There. All better." The hero said nothing back, but his blush was all it took to understand his feelings.
"Will you two please refrain from doing that in front of the Princess. You are going to corrupt her." Ali tried to scowl at them, but he could not stop smiling.
Jasmine grinned seductively at her prince. "And who says I'm not already corrupted?"
Ali gasped. "Hold your tongue. You are royalty." All could tell he was just playing with her.
She closed the distance between them and kissed him on the lips. "I know." There was something in the way she gazed at him that told everyone what she was thinking.
Genie clenched his teeth at the interaction between the two couples. This wasn't the way things were supposed to be! If it took him a lifetime he would figure out a way to fix things. It made him sick to think that Aladdin was happy with another man, even sicker to see that the hero did not seem phased when Jasmine kissed another man. As the couples at the table only seemed to get closer, Genie wracked his brain to find a solution to drive them apart.
It had been a long night. And it was only going to get longer.