Second Life
Author's note: Nothing much to say, except for, welcome back, and enjoy the next chapter. I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy.
CH12: Some things don't change.
"My boy Aladdin must have been born under a lucky star to find such a treasure." Cassim says to Princess Jasmine, who is flattered by her future-husband's father. The older man had taken judgement of the Princess, and, seeing how beautiful, smart and fun natured she is, it's no wonder Aladdin had fallen in love, and so, he was proud of his son. In his oppinion, there was no other woman in the world who could be this perfect like Jasmine.
"You are must definately Aladdin's father." Jasmine smiled, liking this man already, though she and her own father are unaware that Cassim is actually the King of Thieves, and to Lea, Aladdin, Roxas, Genie, Isa, Xion and Namine, they wanted it to remain this way.
The Sultan approached Aladdin's father, and says with pity, "It must've been terrible! Trapped by the Forty Thieves!"
"Uh-oh..." Lea and Genie both whispered worriedly. Isa felt uncomfortable, Aladdin and Roxas both gritted their teeth nervously, and Xion and Namine tried to avoid in glancing at each other.
Thankfully, Cassim played along, and says, in a very convincing gesture and everything, "I try to block out the memories."
The Sultan fell for it and believed the man's words. "Say no more." he says, "Not another word on the subject."
Cassim agreed with this, saying, "Yes. Let's turn to happier thoughts; the blessed union of our children!" happily hugging the Sultan who, surprised, agreed, "Indeed!" so it seemed that the two men would get along well after well, much to Lea and the others' relief.
"It worked. They love him!" Roxas said happily to the others who all smiled, though Isa felt something in his gut that it seemed too good to be true. But he decided that he was just being paranoid.
"It was the hat." Genie replied, "Nothing does the trick like a smart chapeau."
Aladdin smiled, stating, "All he needed was a second chance."
Hearing this, Lea smiled, and nudged Isa playfully on the chest, saying, "See? Even you can get a second chance."
"I think I'll just avoid in remembering my dark intentions." Isa shrugged, rubbing his chest, but smiled all the same. If Lea, who, as Axel and once an assassin, was given a second chance and is forgiven, then maybe there is hope for the blue-haired man after all. It still won't be easy to atone for his past, Isa will do it, and he will not let his darker self(AKA: Saix) get in the way.
Or, so he would like to believe.
"You'll pay for this! You sold us out!" shouted one thief as he and thirty other thieves were locked up inside a dungeon, shouting at Sa'luk who stood on the other side of the door. In sheer annoyance, Sa'luk slammed the minidoor on the small peephole shut so hard, that another theif from within whined, "Ow! He got my nose!"
To say that Sa'luk was angry would win the biggest understatement award. He was WAAAAAY beyond furious and peeved. He came here to see his prize, only to find that the man he wanted was absent, missing and well, not around. Razoul and his men returned with one most wanted man absent, and seven others having escaped, which means that the Forty Thieves organization, if that's what you wanna call it, is finished. The legendary infamous group had finally crumbled.
But that wasn't good news to Sa'luk, and Braig had to avoid in coming, because, thanks to Roxas and his friends, the one-eyed man was on top of the most wanted list, which made things a lot more compliated. Sa'luk now knew, he had to find a way to get rid of the five friends of the Keyblade wielder who, as many people of Agrabah call him, their Savior who helped Aladdin to save them from the evil Jafar-twice.
"He's not in there!" Sa'luk grunted, before storming into Razoul's office and inquired angrily, "You didn't capture the King of Thieves!?"
Razoul, who was just as peeved that he didn't capture the man he wanted to catch either, argued, "Because he was not at the hideout."
"He had to be there!" Sa'luk snapped, "Where else could he be!?"
But before the two men could get into a heated argument, that heat was crumbled, when a lower ranked guard came in, looking nervous and innocent, announcing, "Uh, apologizes, captian Razoul."
"What!?" Razoul and Sa'luk both snapped and turned to the guard at the exact same time, neither in the mood for unwanted company.
The rookie guard explained, "The Sultan says, he can't sentence the prisoners until tomorrow."
This made Razoul even more frustrated, as he exclaimed, "What's more important than sentencing my prisoners!?"
"Why, the wedding." was the guard's answer. "Princess Jasmine and Aladdin are finally getting married."
This got Sa'luk's attention, as he grabbed the guard by the collar, demanding, "Aladdin!? You didn't capture Aladdin with the others?" before letting the guard go.
Razoul, who always hated Aladdin even for existing and not caring with the 'Street-Rat' saved the Kingdom or not, asked curiously, "Why would he be with the Forty Thieves?"
Seeing that Razoul didn't get the connection yet, Sa'luk growled, "Because his father is the King of Thieves!"
Eyes widening, Razoul then smiled, while Hakim and Fazal looked at each other. Razoul now had an advantage in finally getting rid of Aladdin, or at least, get him kicked out of the Palace, forcing Jasmine to return to the original rule of being forced to marry a real Prince instead, and Razoul would finally get reputation. He also knew, that, despite Sora being friends with the Princess, the Keyblade wielder was also friends with Aladdin, and thus, was also on Razoul's bad side, which means that Sora's five friends are also on his hatred list since meeting them a few days back.
Now he can finally get rid of all of them and hailed as Agrabah's true hero!
Meanwhile, later that day, everyone got ready for the wedding, for the second time in a row, and Lea, Isa and Roxas were dressed in arabian versions of tuxedos, even though Lea tugged at his collor uncomfortably, Xion and Namine were wearing outfits that resembled to Jasmine's every-day clothes; harem-style outfits.
The only problem is, Cassim was missing.
"Do you think something happened to him?" Xion asked, worriedly.
The gut feeling Isa felt earlier got even worse, and he turned to Lea who now held a supicious and skeptical look, the red-haired man asking, "Come to think of it, where's that annoying talking bird?" referring to Iago.
Roxas, seeing and hearing this, looked at Genie and asked, "Genie, can you find them?"
"I'll sniff him out." Genie replied, before he magically turned into a blue version of Pluto, much to Lea and his friends' surprise. Seeing this, Isa automatically remembered when Xion asked if she could keep the real Pluto, to which, as a child, fond of dogs, didn't see any problem with that.
Flash-Back; During the events of 358/2 Days.
Seeing the happy face of the dog Xion and Axel brought back from Twilight Town, Saix, stone faced as usual, noted that the dog is very well behaved and didn't seem to have any problems with strangers, and the fact that Xion had quickly grown to love it, reminded him of his early years when he was once a human.
Finally, he replied, "I suppose there's no harm in it."
"Really!?" Xion asked happily, while Axel stared at him, dumbfounded, muttering, "Eh?"
Relieved and happy, Xion turned to Pluto and says, "Isn't that great, Puppy!?" before she lead the dog down the stairs, adding, "C'mon, I want you to meet Roxas!" as Pluto, comfortable in making a new friend, barked happily and followed his new(temporarely) owner, leaving the two older male Nobodies behind who watched them go.
Skeptical and exasperated, Axel turned to his former friend and muttered in a hint of sarcasm, "Well, well. Will the wonders never cease." as he had expected Saix to say no.
Saix looked away, and, his expression becoming a bit soft, replied, "I was fond of dogs once."
Axel's expression turned into a blank surprise and confusion, before he realised what the blue-haired man just said, and, smiling, he laughed, "Ha-ha! So you do still have a few memories of the good old days!" as he also remembered, as a child and a human, that Lea would laugh everytime Isa was near a dog.
End of Flash-Back
Isa was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Genie gasp, and when he turned, not only the Genie turned back to normal, but to his, and everyone else's shock and horror, Cassim was in handcuffs, held by the back of the clothes by a smirking and victorious Razoul, with another guard with him.
"Razoul! What is the meaning of this?" The Sultan demanded.
"Your Majesty," Razoul began, "Meet, the King of Thieves." pushing the imprisoned Cassim forward, despite Aladdin trying to get to him, but the young man was held back by other two guards, while the captain of the guards explained, "We seized him in the Treasury. He was after this-Again." to prove his word, he held up the Oracle's staff.
Aladdin's eyes widened in disbelief and betrayal. Lea and his group were beyond shocked at this. Cassim returned, just to get to the Oracle!
"And this, is his accomplince." Razoul added, as the other guard held up a chained Iago, captured in a single cuff around his wings.
"Oh great." Lea grumbled, "The Bird had to go and ruin everything." realising that Iago must've convinced Cassim to return by mention about the Oracle.
"Now I know why you came back." Aladdin states to his father who, feeling guilty for his actions, lowered his head in shame for betraying his son, and crushing his future.
The Sultan, in beyond disbelief at this, asked to Aladdin, "Your father...is the leader of the Forty Thieves!?" before palming himself on his forehead. He knew that Aladdin was a brave, kind and caring young man, but to be the son of the King of Thieves, this was just unbelievable.
"Aladdin, did you know?" Jasmine asked softly, stunned herself. The reply she got was, "I thought I could change him, I had to try!" as Aladdin now felt guilt at everything was ruined, in favor for Razoul's promotion or whatever.
Isa lowered his head, also feeling the pain of guilt, fearing that he might make the similiar mistake. Lea glanced at his childhood friend, and his heart felt heavy. Some people didn't change, but for the two young men like them, it seemed that seeing this made them both doubt that they really can redeem themselves. Roxas shook his head in disbelief.
"You can change my clothes, Aladdin, you can't change who I am." Cassim states.
Razoul, enjoying his enemies' grief and couldn't wait for the right moment to gain his victory, adds, "And the law, is crystal clear on we must now do."
Despite Jasmine's protests, the Sultan knew that there was no other choice. In a firm but shamed tone, he orders the guards, "Take the Prisoners to the Dungeon."
"Dungeon!?" Iago asked, horrified.
"For life." the Sultan concluded, lowering his head.
"LIFE!?" Iago cried out, before his beak was shut closed by another cuff by the guard who was holding him, before he and Cassim were led away to spend the rest of their lives in the dungeon.
Roxas, fury in his eyes, turned away in disgust, angered at Cassim's betrayal. Unwanted memories of similiar betrayals filled his mind, and, as much as he knew that Axel didn't want to betray him and that the redhead, even before returning as Lea a year ago, loved him; Axel loved Roxas like a big brother would, he still kept so many secrets from him.
As if sensing the same thing, Lea sighed shakily, while Isa sadly muttered, "Perhaps I should remain in a dungeon myself when we get back home." much to Lea's shock as he turned back to his friend.
"Some things just can't change." Isa continued.
Lea shook his head, muttering, "No...I can't afford to lose you again." adding as he looked at Roxas, Xion and Namine, "None of you. I can't bear with that." feeling and looking hopeless.
Genie, also in guilt and sorrow, places a hand onto Aladdin's shoulder, muttering in shame, "There are some wishes that even I can't make come true."
Later that night, all unable to bear in being within the Palace, knowing that some of them may no longer have a place there, and Aladdin's and Jasmine's future together may be crumbling faster than they knew, all were in Aladdin's former home, thinking about the situation.
"The Oracle was right." Aladdin sighed, "My dad was trapped in the world of the Forty Thieves. Trapped by his own greed." turning to face the Palace again, he added, "I was so stupid to think I could change him."
"Trying to change your father isn't stupid, Aladdin." Roxas pointed out, even though he had no idea what having parents is like. The closest thing to a family he knew are Lea, Xion and Namine, and Isa was added to the group after getting his heart back, and was no longer the cold Nobody that was Saix.
"Leaving him alone with that parrot," Isa began.
"That was stupid." Lea concluded for his friend. This earned him and Isa a glare from Roxas and the girls, and Lea and his friend both shrugged.
Aladdin, however, ignored those comments, and continued, "Everything was perfect before he came to my life!" then sighed, "I just want things the way they were."
Then a risky idea came to him, and he states, "Genie, I need my father's clothes." much to everyone's shock.
"Whoa!" Lea shook his head, standing up and looked at Aladdin, almost angerily, "You can't go in there! You bust your old man out, they catch you and that's the end of you!"
"He's right. You're risking your future." Isa agreed.
Even Genie, who summoned up Cassim's old clothes, said in annoyance, "Might I suggest something that doesn't say, (turning into a prisoner) ARREST ME!?"
But Aladdin wasn't listening, as he was now wearing his father's clothes, muttering to himself, "It fits. Good." and when turned around, the group could've sworn that Aladdin was the spitting image of his father, lacking the beard and all that.
"You're making a mistake!" Xion protested. "What if they find you out?"
Again, he ignored the warning. "I'm breaking my father out of the dungeon." Aladdin explained, "The guards'll never know I was there." as he walked towards the exit, he concluded, "Tonight, the King of Thieves will make his most miraculous escape ever... out of my life." leaving the group to watch him go.
Genie, worried, pointed as he asked, "That's the cape talking, isn't it?"
"How should I know?" Lea shrugged.
"Shouldn't we stop him?" Namine asked worriedly.
Roxas, sighing and recalling what King Mickey had said a year ago to Sora, muttered, "He's doing what his heart is telling him to do. We can't do anything."
Unfortunately, he's right. So, all they could do was wait.
Outside the lair and waiting at the beach, Braig was leaning against a rock near the shore, arms crossed and waiting for his accomplince to arrive. He heard from Sa'luk that Cassim is captured, and, if Aladdin is stupid enough, will break his father out of the dungeon, while the man would again steal the Oracle and then return here. It was all part of Sa'luk's plan. It was waiting for the next phase that was the killer.
"Was I taking too long?" came a familiar voice, to which Braig turned to look and Sa'luk came, jumping off his horse and letting it go free.
"Any issues along the way?" asked Braig.
"Not at all." Sa'luk grinned.
Now it was time to get the remaining seven Thieves on their side, and victory was theirs, and as for Braig, his mission will have another success.
The jailbreak was sucessful, but Aladdin was found out, though, despite Cassim's protests, the younger man refused to leave and will accept his punishment. Iago, who was with, was encouraged by his friend to leave as well, and, well the Parrot had to admit that he was worried for Aladdin, agreed to leave the Palace for a new life with Cassim, even though they were having a discusstion about their future. Before they left the Palace, the once again snuck into the treasure room and stole the Oracle.
"I know the treasure's limitless. But I'm not crazy about a forty way split." Iago was saying, perching on Cassim's shoulder the entire time. "If it was just uh, you and me..."
Cassim disagreed, pointing out, "I would never cut my men out of the deal. They're my family, my only family. I can always count on them."
The duo entered the lair, and, with an unchanged attidute, Cassim called out, "I'm home!"
Unfortuntely, they arrived too late as, having been convinced by Sa'luk and Braig, the remaining thieves came out of their hiding places, weapons in hand, and look furious at Cassim who, shocked by this, backed up until he and a freaked out Iago were trapped in a corner.
"Why don't they look happy to see you?" Iago asked worriedly.
That's when the dead came back, as Sa'luk and Braig emerged from the crowd, smirks on their faces.
"We are." Braig chuckled.
"We're thrilled!" Sa'luk added, flashing his claws at Cassim.
Cassim could not believe this was happening. Obvious this happened while he was still in Agrabah, and he knew, it was his own fault that came to this situation.
Brandishing his weapons, Braig pointed one at Cassim's throat, making Iago shriek in fear, and he told the man in a cold and sinister tone, "Move it."
In the ocean on a boat, Cassim and Iago were strapped onto the mast of a ship Sa'luk and the remaining thieves stole, and were sailing to locate the Vanishing Isle. Unknown to the villians, Iago was struggling to get himself free so that he could go and get help.
"Hurry, little friend!" Cassim whispered.
Iago muttered and grunted in annoyance, "I'm wiggling, I'm wiggling!" and it was getting pretty close too.
"I'm growing impaitent, Cassim!" Sa'luk growled, "Ask the question!" while another thief, holding the Oracle staff, holds it close to Cassim's face who muttered, "We must be uh..."
Behind him, Iago managed to get his wings free and was now pulling the rest of himself out, muttering, "Just a little further..."
"Further out to sea!" Cassim quickly said.
Braig rolled his single eye and grumbled, "Stop making excuses and just ask the stupid question now already!"
"Now's good." Iago muttered as he took a deep breath and squeezed himself the rest of the way out, sucking in his gut.
In defeat, Cassim asked to the Oracle, "Where can we find the Hand of Midas?" and in an instant, the great light shot up into the night sky, blinding almost everyone, except for Cassim who stared in awe, and Iago, who, un-noticed, got himself free and he quickly flew away to get help.
The Oracle appeared before the villians, saying, "The Vanishing Isle will appear at Dawn. I will show you the way!" before it transformed into a beaming light and shot out towards the exact location of the Vanishing Isle, before it appeared again, shooting up in the sky where the Isle would no doubt appear.
"There's your setting, captain!" Cassim hissed mockingly.
'And soon, Xehanort will have a field day.' Braig secretly thought to himself.
Back at the Palace, to say that the Sultan was annoyed would've been a lie. Aladdin was now on the Balcony along with the Sultan, Jasmine, Lea, Roxas, Isa, Xion and Namine, and Abu and Carpet and Genie. Lea's group were nervous, as they, while having decided to try again in their search for Braig, were instead captured by the guards by mistake, and, despite their protests, Razoul had stated that Sora is not to be trusted, and thus, they are enemies, despite having good hearts, which made them angry.
Now the five travellers and Aladdin were in custody.
"Frankly, all six of you, your actions are most disappointing!" Sultan says in anger.
Razoul, mentally pleased that he has won, says, "It is tragic, your highness. But the Street-Rat has obviously followed in his father's footsteps, and the so called Savior of Agrabah and his friends cannot be trusted after all. Aladdin and Sora, are criminals."
This made Lea furious, but he tried so hard to hold in his anger. How dare this jerk insult Sora!? He had nothing to do with this situation and he wasn't even here! Razoul must've planned this from the very beginning, to capture Sora if the boy would return for a visit or on another mission, only to be thrown out, and in the end, without Sora's help, or any other Keyblade wielder's help, and if Jasmine was to be kidnapped again, Agrabah would no doubt fall into darkness, and yet Razoul was too blind to see that.
Genie, dressed as a lawyer, then appeared, saying, "I object, your honor!" changing Razoul into a bailiff, and the Sultan on the court chair as the judge. Genie then continued, "I object to that outrageous statement. And I object to a tertiary character having any lines during my big courtroom scene." he then handed an annoyed Razoul a briefcase, much to the guard's now confusion.
"Take this to a higher court, chow!" Genie said, blasting Razoul into the sky and out of the scene, causing the man to blast off like a rocket with a hot trail left behind. Genie then appeared next to Aladdin and the others, saying to the Sultan, "Your honor, if I may enter a plea of insanity, because I'm crazy about these kids!" bringing Aladdin, Lea, Roxas, Isa, Xion and Namine into a tight group hug, causing the six of them to gag for air.
The six of them got themselves free, and Roxas said to Genie, "Genie! We have to do this ourselves." as Aladdin walked over to the Sultan.
"Sultan, I convinced my father to come here. It was my fault." Sighing, Aladdin concluded, "I would've been better off if I'd never known him."
Jasmine approached Aladdin and she said to him, as she understood why he did what he did. "Aladdin, you found your father. A father who risked his freedom to see your wedding. And you risked everything to save him. Just as I would for my father."
"And Sora knows better than to do something wrong." Roxas added to the Sultan, "He saved all of us when we thought we were all doomed to disappear."
"He showed me what friendship really is like." Namine added.
Xion added, "Sora is the main reason why I have my friends right now."
"The kid, Roxas and Xion made me remember what it was like to feel emotions all over again, emotions that I lost ten years earlier, reminded me what it was like to have friends and family all over again." Lea added.
Finally, Isa added, "It's thanks to Sora that I got Lea back, and it was thanks to him that he helped Lea to help me. Sora is a true friend, and he may be the only one to save almost those who are lost."
Sultan, hearing all of this, and having deep thoughts about this, finally said to the group, "Aladdin, I could not overlook your father's crimes, but what you have done,(in the background, Genie, clinging onto a struggling Carpet and bitting his nails scaredly), well, you did it out of love. And you came back to take responsibility for your actions. And to all of you, Sora is a brave young man who cares so much for his friends, and made all of you follow in his path. The Kingdom owes Sora this much. Let us put all this behind us."
Genie sighed in relief, before realising that he accidently squeezed poor Carpet into a stick and grinned sheepishly. Lea, Roxas, Isa, Xion and Namine all glanced at each other, all relieved that they were pardoned and Aladdin was forgiven, while the Sultan continued, "I believe we have postponed the wedding long enough."
Lea laughed, "Good call."
Genie agreed with the pyro, adding happily, "Okay! Let's give a big hand for the wise and generous Sultan!" while the tubby King was lead away by two giant hands.
Everyone was smiling, all relieved that things were looking right...until a familiar scream filled their ears. They all looked up just in time to Iago fall from the sky, exhausted and battered, and quickly, just before he could crash land onto the ground, Carpet flew underneath him and caught him just in time for a soft landing.
Xion immediately went over and scooped Iago gently into her arms, while he was in pain, as if he was attacked and had nearly gotten killed.
"Al's...Dad! Ugh!" Iago managed to wheeze.
Xion cradled the bird and whispered, "Shh, take a deep breath, Iago. What happened to Aladdin's father?"
The Bird exclaimed, "It's Sa'luk!"
"Who's Sa'luk?" Lea asked, puzzled.
Iago, rolling his eyes, continued, "The guy Al beat! He's not beat! He's back. And he's got Cassim!"
Despite hearing this, Aladdin, still angered by his father's betrayal, turned around, saying, "That's his problem! He chose to go back to his life!"
The others looked at him, and Isa pointed out, "Aladdin, just because your father made bad choices, doesn't mean you have to."
"He's your father." Namine reminded, "How can you do anything else?"
"Are you going to leave him?" Roxas asked, watching Aladdin walk over to the railing of the balcony.
The young man stared out, saying, "I'm being as stubborn as he was..." and, a moment of silence, turns with a determination and excitement, and says to Iago, "Show me the way!"
Everyone smiled, and Iago, in relief, sighed. He knew he could count on Aladdin.
Lea, sensing an adventure coming, turned to his group and asked, "So, who's up in beating up the bad guys?"
"I'm not gonna argue there." Isa smirked.
"Count me in!" Roxas declared.
"Us too!" Xion and Namine both said together.
It was decided, as all eleven on the balcony were ready to rescue Cassim and stop Sa'luk once and for all, and for Lea and his friends, to save this world from being devoured into darkness. It was up to them to save Agrabah now, as Sora would want to help too if he was around, and he would no doubt agree with the group helping his friends as well.
A/N: And the rescue party is about to commence!...No, no bagpipes here, thankfully. I hate that instument. The final battle against the Forty Thieves and more unexpected shall be revealed in the next chapter. In the meantime, Please continue your great reviews!