The Bazaar

(A/N: Third, and last, that I'm posting today. This is a really long chapter so hopefully it's good. I do use a bit of Persian and Arabic dialect here without having any idea what I'm doing or really even if the forms-or words even-I'm using are right, but bear with me.)

They appeared outside the main gates of the city. There was silence as Mozenrath and Aladdin struggled to catch their breath and Mirage slowly recovered. Aladdin sighed and sank again a wall, saying, "We're right back where we started."

"At least this time the temple is only a teleport away," Mirage assured, putting a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her, surprised, and saw the uncertainty in her eyes. She was grateful to them and wouldn't say it… He smiled weakly, amused.

"A thank you would be nice," Mozenrath hinted.

She frowned then walked passed him, ruffling his hair as she went. "Come on. Let's see what we can do from here."

"How do you propose to do that? Aladdin can't be seen," Mozenrath replied.

"You're right," she answered, but there was a glint in her eyes neither of the brothers liked.

"What's your game, Mirage?" Aladdin demanded quickly, shooting up.

"Let's play house," Mirage replied, waving her hand and laughing. The two cried out in alarm as they felt themselves changing.

"What's happening?" Mozenrath demanded.

"I'll be the mommy, you two be the children," Mirage sang out. Just like that everything stopped moving.

1001 Arabian Nights

Aladdin and Mozenrath opened their eyes and spotted each other. Both gasped in horror. "You're a little kid!" they both exclaimed at once, pointing at each other.

"I told you," Mirage sang. They looked up with gasps. There Mirage was in the form of a normal woman!

"You turned us into babies!" little Mozenrath accused, stamping his foot and pointing a finger at her.

"Now Mozenrath, darling, that's no way to behave," she said.

"What's your excuse for why I'm named Aladdin?" little Aladdin demanded.

"Right now you're going by Ali," she said, taking both their hands. "Now come along my children, Agrabah awaits us. This is where you say yes mommy."

"Yes mommy," they both chorused through gritted teeth. Mirage wickedly laughed. Oh she was having too much fun with this.

1001 Arabian Nights

They walked through the marketplace, Mirage firmly holding their hands so as not to lose them. Vendors called out to her to sample their wares, showering her with praises and compliments. She was quite enjoying this little charade, actually. She always did like to be paid attention to. She shook her head when she wasn't interested in something. Once in a while she paused by a perfume rack. Little Aladdin and Mozenrath were looking around in awe.

"Everything looks so big when you're a kid," Aladdin remarked. "I forgot what it was like."

"I don't like being small," Mozenrath pouted, frowning.

"Boys, go play with the other children. Mommy has shopping to do," Mirage sang to them.

The two looked up curiously at her only to see her in front of a mirror. "Okay," Aladdin agreed with a sigh. Apparently they weren't getting to the palace fast while Mirage was distracted. "Come on Mozenrath!"

"Yeah! Wait, why am I starting to act like a child?" he asked. Aladdin paused and looked back in alarm, suddenly realizing the same thing.

"Oh, did I forget to mention the spell will put you back to the developmental levels you were at as children?" Mirage sang.

"What?!" they both exclaimed.

"Oh don't worry, it's reversible. Go on you two," Mirage replied. They were about to lose it when the ball rolled between them. It was enough to distract them. Aladdin picked it up and threw it back. Mozenrath ran towards the group, Aladdin following.

1001 Arabian Night

Mirage looked back at the children, lips pursed. They were so vulnerable, so weak. Aladdin was a sitting duck if she wanted to get rid of him. It would be so easy now… She turned to watch them, hand itching to light up. No! She forced herself to back down. It would do no good for any of them. She needed help stopping Aziz to keep Morbia as hers; and the boys had their own scores to settle. Right now helping each other was mutually beneficial. Though rest assured when it stopped being so, things wouldn't be so calm between them. Certainly not between her and Aladdin. Just then Mozenrath looked up and caught her eyes. Almost as if he knew what she'd been planning. He frowned and lit his gauntlet menacingly. Mirage realized something, then, very suddenly. She wouldn't ever be the one to finish Aladdin. The street rat had been claimed. Mozenrath made that very clear. No one but him would kill off Aladdin. Well, at least for now. Fine, let the ruler of the Land of the Black Sand have his claim. She preferred Aladdin alive anyway, really, regardless of all the times she'd tried to kill him. He was her main source of amusement, as she had already established.

"Mozenrath, Ali, come along my babies, we must keep going," Mirage called out to them.

They looked at her curiously. "Yes mama," they replied. Quickly they hurried to her.

She grinned at them and led them swiftly off, holding their hands. "Where's our house?" Mozenrath asked curiously, looking up at her.

"Just a little farther," she replied.

"There are two more streets and then we'll find it," Aladdin explained proudly.

"I didn't ask you," Mozenrath nipped.

"Boys, that's enough. I'm not dealing with a battle now. Come on," Mirage sharply said, cutting the fight off at the roots. They harrumphed and sulked, but stayed quiet. She turned a corner and paused outside of a house. "There it is. Home sweet home," she declared, smiling at it.

"Really maman?" Mozenrath incredulously asked.

"Maman? It's ommah or ommy," Aladdin corrected.

"Mozenrath is speaking the Persian language, Ali," Mirage said. "You're speaking the Arabic."

"Oh," Aladdin said. "Why is he speaking differently?"

"Never mind that now," Mirage testily warned. It was a story for later.

"This place is pathetic," Mozenrath said.

"Sure it's not a citadel, but we were poor, Mozenrath," Aladdin stated defensively. Mozenrath rolled his eyes. The two let go of Mirage's hands and ran towards the house, darting inside. She smirked and followed, shaking her head.

1001 Arabian Nights

Mirage hummed a tune, preparing food while the children played upstairs. Under cover of night, or early in the morning, they would head for the palace. Right now they all needed a rest. She smiled to herself. It was quite the experience, she had to admit. Soon she removed the food from the flames and called, "Aladdin, Mozenrath, supper!" She heard the two racing down the steps. In seconds they were at the table eagerly waiting and licking their lips. She placed the food in front of them then sat herself. Let's see, there were people from around here she needed to be watchful of. Aladdin's father was first and foremost in that pile. Aladdin was his son. Even in child form, Cassim could probably recognize him; Mozenrath as well. She hoped he'd assume lookalikes, but she wouldn't place bets on it. Cassim was smarter than that.

She waved her hand casually, conjuring an image. The children curiously watched. Cassim appeared in it. Mirage zoomed out to get a better sense of where he was. What she saw made her almost choke on her food. He was heading right towards the house! She gasped and shot up. "Ommah, what's wrong?" Aladdin fearfully asked, noticing his 'mother's' reaction.

"Children, get upstairs! Cassim is heading here!" she exclaimed in alarm.

Mozenrath gasped and asked, "But why?" She grabbed them both and ran for the stairs.

"Because he wants to see his old home," Aladdin realized. "He misses it!"

"You wouldn't have guessed it the way pedar kept leaving," Mozenrath wryly remarked.

"To the roof," she ordered. Quickly they clambered up to it and peeked over down at the front door.

1001 Arabian Nights

Cassim paused in front of it and gently stroked the doorpost. "I'm dealing with this," Mirage declared. Immediately she poofed down, leaving the boys on the roof. Reaching the front door she covered her face then opened it, saying, "Can I help you?"

Cassim looked up, startled, and for a moment she saw pain there. Unbearable pain. For a second she felt herself softening before quickly getting control "My family…" he muttered quietly. "This was my home. It sheltered them for so long…"

"It was empty when I moved in," Mirage said simply, hoping he'd leave.

"This is where my wife and I watched our children play," he remarked.

Mirage was silent. After a moment she asked, "Children?"

"Two… there were… there were two…" he said.

"Two…" Aladdin repeated in shock. Quickly he looked to a pale Mozenrath. "I knew it," he said.

"Yes… Aladdin and… and Mozenrath," Cassim said. Mozenrath caught his breath.

Mirage was quiet. "What happened?" she finally asked.

"Mozenrath was kidnapped long ago, as a child, by an evil sorcerer. I couldn't… I couldn't save him… I couldn't find him…" he answered.

"And Aladdin?" she asked.

"Is dead to me. If ever I see him again I will kill him," Cassim declared. Aladdin let the silent tears fall and buried his face on the ledge. Mozenrath glanced at him before looking down again.

"How dare you reject your son?" Mirage vehemently hissed, growling lowly. "What did he ever do?"

"I don't know!" Cassim shot angrily. Mirage pulled back in surprise. "I-I don't know…" he said again. "But this hatred… It burns inside of me, and I can't fight it as much as I want to. Do I want to anymore?" She shivered at the emotion she heard in his tone.

"I have two children," she finally remarked.

"I pray you are able to protect them better than I was able to protect mine," Cassim replied.

"Thank you," she replied, for one of the rare times feeling pity pulling at her. She quickly ignored, though. She couldn't care less… right? He bowed to her then turned his back, walking away. Mirage shut the door with a relieved sigh. Mozenrath teleported himself and Aladdin down to her. They leapt into her arms. She blinked blankly as she caught them. Shrugging, she let it go and cuddled them close. Oh it would be so easy to... No! Not right now. Right now only benefit could come from this partnership. She had to bide her time a little longer. Then she would strike, and neither would know what hit them.

1001 Arabian Nights

"Where are we going?" Aladdin asked.

"The palace," Mirage answered.

"Why are we going there again?" Mozenrath questioned.

"Because, my children, there is where we will find Jafar's chambers," Mirage replied.

"You knew Jafar?" Aladdin questioned.

Mirage smirked and chuckled coldly, saying, "You don't know how well. I knew Nasira too, and Khartoum; but Jafar… Him I knew intimately." Aladdin looked appalled, Mozenrath shocked. She laughed at their expressions, turning down an alley.

All at once she was attacked from the side, shoved violently into a wall and ripped from her 'children's' grasps. "Mother!" they both screamed in alarm.

Mirage gasped, looking at the person who dared attack her. "Such a pretty one, yes, so pretty," the attacker cooed. Mirage's eyes widened. Oh, this wasn't good.

"What have you found this time, friend?" another voice questioned.

"Take a look," the first said. She tried to struggle, but he held her still. The other came over and his eyes lit lustfully up. She rolled her eyes and made a disgusted sound.

"Mmm, the most beautiful creature I have seen for a long time," the second remarked.

"Leave her alone!" Mozenrath shrieked furiously. The two looked back at the children.

"Poor, sweet, babies. Run along, children. We want to 'talk' to your mother," the first cooed.

"Get away from our ommy!" Aladdin furiously yelled, picking up a rock and throwing it at the two.

Mirage pondered her options. The reason she hadn't blasted these two out of existence was because to do so would draw attention to the three of them. They couldn't risk attention. It was the same reason Mozenrath was doing all in his power now to restrain himself from striking the attackers dead. But if she couldn't use her powers, what could she do? Her claws were sharp, but she was in human form and couldn't risk changing back. She was strong, but strong enough to overpower… more than two men! More were appearing around them! One grabbed the boys from the ground. They shrieked.

"Let them go!" she ordered. She screamed as she was thrown to the ground. Well, they weren't wasting time! One of them straddled her and grabbed at her top, tearing it open as she snarled, screamed, hissed, and spat viciously.

"No, mommy!" the children were screaming. How dare these mortal fools attack her! How dare they?! They had silenced her, gagging her, and lifted her skirt. Alarm was in her eyes, panic. She would not endure this! She would betray their identity first! No amount of vengeance on Phasir or Aziz was worth the humiliation this would bring! She would give it five more seconds before she stopped playing damsel in distress and became their worst nightmare. Maybe she'd become their worst nightmare in less than that. She relished in the idea.

1001 Arabian Nights

She shook the gag and screamed as loudly as she could, hoping someone would hear. No one was coming! They were preparing to advance, and she readied her hand to blast them. Enough of this. Five seconds was up and she had a point to make. They would die here. All at once, however, a voice said casually, uncaringly, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Mirage, Aladdin, and Mozenrath gasped, looking quickly over. In the shadow of the building stood a man shrouded in a cloak, his very being concealed say for the eyes, which Mirage realized with a chill looked eerily cat-like. Scowling the men rose, drawing their scimitars. Viciously they lunged at him, fully intending to cut down the one who dared interfere with their fun. With a wave of a hand, however, the scimitar's were sent flying, and their wielder's as well. They paled, gazing in horror. The figure removed the covering he wore, revealing the form of a man with catlike eyes!

The person raised them into the air as Mirage grabbed Mozenrath and Aladdin, staring in disbelief and shock at their savior. In front of their eyes he became half man half cat, and the men shrieked in terror. He thrust them far away out of sight. He turned to Mirage and her two wards, summing them up. She heard him purring a deep and loud purr. She paled. She knew who this was. "L-Lord Chaos!" she exclaimed in shock.

"What?!" Aladdin and Mozenrath exclaimed.

All at once the man transformed into none other than the flying blue cat himself! Chaos! "Careful, Kitten. You're going to get yourself hurt," he said to Mirage, still purring. He began to lick his paw. "So, care to fill me in, Pussy Cat?" he asked. She was silent. He paused and floated up to her, perching on her shoulders and appearing like any normal cat would. "Mirage, you know I don't like secrets."

"O-of course not, Chaos," she replied quickly, holding the boys closer.

"Then explain on our way to Jafar's old chambers. I'm eager to hear," Chaos said. She nearly scoffed. If he knew they were heading to Jafar's room, he knew exactly what was going on. He was just trolling her. Nonetheless she obeyed her master's orders, put the children down, morphed back into her cat form, and as they walked told him everything.

1001Arabian Nights

"You continue to amuse me, Aladdin. I can certainly see why Mirage so loves to watch your antics. And interfere in your life," Chaos remarked. "But I must say, Kitten, I'm impressed with you. You going all motherly, siding with one of your most hated enemies and his arch enemy slash brother who may or may not be more powerful than even you. It's beautiful chaos."

Mirage sighed deeply, snapping her fingers and transforming Aladdin and Mozenrath back into their true forms. The mismatched group shut the door to Jafar's old chambers silently, none the wiser. "Thank you, Chaos," she replied.

"In fact, I'm so impressed I've decided to help you three out," he remarked.

"Or I have a better idea. Leave Aladdin to fix his own mess," Mozenrath said as he adjusted to the feeling of his normal body again.

"You've stuck with your brother this long and now want to abandon him? Not very sportsmanlike," Chaos remarked.

"I am here for one reason and one alone. I want the Destiny Stone. My brother can rot for all I care," Mozenrath retorted.

"See, this is what I have to put up with," Aladdin complained. "Fighting hydras I can do, breaking curses, fighting mamluks and monsters of all kinds, beating gangs of thieves, and saving cursed riders, no problem. But I swear, if I have to put up with you for one more day, Mozenrath… Ugh, never mind."

"Weak," Mozenrath said, crossing his arms in annoyance.

1001 Arabian Nights

"Ever heard of childhood development, Mirage? Could have used it during your stint as their mother," Chaos remarked, raising a slightly annoyed yet intrigued eyebrow at the duo.

"No amount of help would fix them," she replied.

"Oh look who's talking," Mozenrath said.

"Look Lord Chaos, Mirage, don't get us wrong, it's been interesting having you along, but I'm pretty sure Mozenrath and I can handle this on our own," Aladdin said.

"Hah, you couldn't handle a…" Mirage began. However, suddenly Chaos was purring in her ear, whispering. "Ooh, oh yes. Yes. Brilliant," she said, listening to his words and grinning.

Chaos smirked and pulled from her ear, saying to the boys, "Oh very well, end our fun. But what is your plan exactly?"

"Sneak in, find the stone, break the curse, get out," Aladdin replied with all the recklessness of a typical young man, which he was; albeit a hero on all levels.

"And your enemies?" Mirage asked. "Phasir, Aziz, Fatima, Minos, the Guardian…"

"They will rue the day they interfered in my life," Mozenrath stated, clenching his gauntlet wearing hand and lighting it up.

"Right, right. Well, you know where to find us," Chaos replied, obviously not convinced. Aladdin and Mozenrath blinked at him in disbelief. What? It was a good plan.

1001 Arabian Nights

Mirage and Chaos observed through a mirror of Jafar's that watched over whoever the watcher chose to be spying on. The two young men were making their way at a fast clip over the desert, heading towards the temple after teleporting not too close but not too far. "They'll come back," Chaos said.

"Says the cat who declared Mozenrath more powerful than me?" she retorted, slightly insulted still.

"Mirage, Kitten, lighten up," he replied casually. "They won't even meet Aziz and Phasir before they return. Aziz will have something planned for them. Goblins, orks, All-Muddy, the works. He's too predictable. He knows now that he's no match for the sorcerer and Aladdin both. None of them are. Quite the team they make. Luckily for me they hate each other, which makes it all the more interesting."

"I don't like it," she replied.

"Ooh, kitten, are you getting protective over the boys?" he asked.

"Hah! Listen to yourself. That wouldn't be me then, would it; to be so unpredictable? After all, I'm just so easy to read," she retorted, referencing the When Chaos Comes Calling incident.

"Kitten, you're still sore about that?" he asked innocently.

"Leave me be," she replied.

He was silent a long moment, floating behind her. Finally he alighted on her shoulders, saying, "You were never predictable, Mirage. You got in a rut that lasted a little longer than usual, you tried to trick the master of tricks himself, aka me; you paid the price once upon a time in Agrabah."

She shrugged him off and asked, changing the subject, "What brought you to my rescue?"

"Well I couldn't have you ruin my fun by betraying you and the boys' positions now, could I?" he asked.

"Oh really," she replied sarcastically. She walked away to the table Jafar had once bent so often over, looking down at old books that had never been moved from their spot since the day he'd been driven out. "You want something, Lord Chaos. What is it?" she asked.

"To talk, Kitten, just to talk," Chaos replied. "Like for instance, why did you feel pity for Cassim? That's not like you at all. Or better yet, how well did you know Jafar?"

"You know," she answered. "You know all. You're a god, the father of all that lives. You birthed Uranus, Gaia, and their siblings from nothing, just brought them forth. After all, the Greek myths tell that part of your story. First there was Chaos. And from Chaos sprung Earth, Gaia, and Sky, Uranus, and Darkness, Nyx, and Light, Erebus, or something like that." She probably had some of it wrong, but she hardly cared.

"Mirage, humor me," he said. "Tell me about Jafar and I won't ask about Cassim. Or Phasir for that matter."

"Lust, not love, Chaos. Just lust," she replied. "The first time anything happened… It was to secure safety for… someone. He told me that in exchange for his holding up his end of the bargain, I had to do something for him… You'd think I would have wept and done nothing, just waited for it to end… I thought that was how it would happen; but no… No… Oh I switched from fearful to longing in a heartbeat. Even he was taken aback… and after that it kept happening, no set times, whenever we felt the urge to be with one another, to feel bodies entwining. No love, lust. Until… Well, leave that story for a later time." Chaos nodded casually. "What if they don't come back even after the obstacles?" Mirage asked.

Chaos thought a moment. "Then they've doomed themselves," he finally answered. Mirage tensed but said nothing. A plan was forming, a blind man could see as much. Chaos watched ponderously. This promised to get very, very interesting.