Chapter 14: The Genie of the Lamp
"Come on, lady, or we'll be late!"
"Late for what?" Xion grumbled as they made their way through the morning crowds of Agrabah's bazaar. Sure it may have been easy for Iago, flying above all the stalls, but she had to weave this way and that around all the people and shops.
A shopkeeper at the stall nearest Xion waved her down. "Pretty lady, buy a pot. No finer pot in brass or silver!"
The one next to him waved around a plate full of small snacks. "Sugar dates, sugar dates and figs! Sugar dates and pistachios!"
"Would the lady like a necklace? A pretty necklace for a pretty lady." A third shopkeeper held up a golden necklace with purple gems, and Xion did stop a moment to look at it.
"These prices are ridiculous, they're just tryin' to steal from you. Keep up with me, alright?" Iago landed on Xion's shoulder and his voice dropped to a whisper. "We'll have to hurry if we want to slip into the palace unseen."
"Unseen?" Surely he hadn't meant breaking in? Xion had just assumed that Iago would have access if he knew the princess personally.
"What? Uh, no, never mind that!" Iago gave an irritated sigh and rubbed his eyes. "Just go a little faster, alright?"
But despite Iago pushing her, there really wasn't a lot that Xion could do to speed up. The crowds in Agrabah were ridiculous, especially so early in the morning. She almost wished she could just run along the rooftops, but judging by all the guards walking around the bazaar that would be a quick way to get them on her tail.
"Oof! Hey, watch where you're going!" A short, chubby man cried when Xion, distracted as she observed the guards, ran right into him. "Did you break it?" He looked at something in his hands, but when Xion leaned over to see what it was the man hastily covered it up with his hat and ran off.
"…Sorry?" Xion mumbled in confusion, looking off in the direction he had run. Already the strange man had vanished into the sea of people. With a shrug and a sigh, she continued following Iago through the bazaar. Eventually, finally, the crowds began to thin and Xion found herself in front of a pair of rather large doors with intricate designs carved into them. Iago looked around warily. "You okay there?" Xion asked.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine! Just uh, you know, keeping an eye out for thieves and urchins and all that!" The doors were slowly opening as Iago spoke and a large man with a beard and missing tooth walked out. Xion heard a soft "Eek!" from Iago, and the parrot vanished.
The man - evidently a guard judging by his uniform - eyed Xion with suspicion and marched right up to her, hand at the scimitar on his belt. "You there! Girl! What business do you have at the palace?"
"Uh, I'm…"
"You're the new court wizard." Iago whispered into Xion's ear. Was he hiding in the hood of her jacket?
"I'm… the new court wizard!" Xion agreed, holding her hand palm-up and forming an orb of light in the air. The guard's narrow eyes widened at the sight, and he gave a hesitant nod.
"Very well, then. Head straight to the audience chamber, nowhere else. We don't need any more street rats stalking about the palace." When he turned and marched down to the bazaar, Xion reached behind her and pulled Iago out of her hood.
"What was that about? Why hide from the guards if you know the princess?"
"Lady, your grip is really strong!" Iago muttered, placing his wings to his throat. "And uh- oh, that was just Razoul! Yeah, me and him, we got this long game of hide and seek going. I've been winning for the last week!"
Xion crossed her arms. She didn't believe that for a moment, but it really wasn't any of her business what issues Iago had with that Razoul guy. She just promised to help him apologize to Aladdin and Jasmine, and that was all.
But when Xion moved to open the large doors, they didn't budge. Iago groaned. "What, do they lock right away now? Razoul just opened these things!"
"Don't worry about it, I've got this." A familiar warm light flashed in her hand, and Xion held up the Keyblade to the doors. Iago let out a short scream when he saw the weapon in Xion's hand, but cut himself off quickly enough. It must have just been surprise at a sword coming out of nowhere.
The Keyblade's beam struck the door dead center, and they swung open into a garden courtyard with a matching door at the other end. But next to that door were two figures: Aladdin, now dressed in blue clothes with gold trim, and a woman in blue. She must have been Jasmine.
"I don't know, Jasmine, I don't think this outfit is me, you know?" Aladdin tugged at the light blue sleeves.
"I know, but your usual clothes just don't fit a vizier. You can wear them all you want once tonight's dinner is over." She smoothed down Aladdin's hair.
"Oh, that reminds me! Jasmine, I ran into Sora and his friends yesterday. Do you think they could join us… huh?" Aladdin trailed off when he finally saw Xion standing in the doorway, but he only looked to her for a second. No, what really caught Aladdin's attention was the parrot laughing nervously on Xion's shoulder. "Iago!"
"They don't sound happy to see you." Xion muttered.
"Aheheh… well, it's like I said, I came here to apologize!" Iago jumped off her shoulder and flew to the two of them. "Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, it sure is nice to see you too again!"
"How did you escape?" He jumped up to grab at Iago, but the parrot was too high.
"Listen, please, if you would just hear me out?" Iago stayed hovering just out of Aladdin's reach. "I swear, I'm a whole new bird! If you just give me a chance to talk…"
"Oh, you'll talk all right." Aladdin let out a sharp whistle. "Carpet, let's go!"
Xion hadn't realized until now that Aladdin had been standing on an expensive looking purple and gold carpet. At the sound of his voice it lifted into the air and pursued Iago around the courtyard.
"Gotcha!" Aladdin grabbed the bird with both hands. "Now talk, Iago! How did you get free? Where's Jafar?"
"Please, can you lay off him?" All three turned to Xion when she spoke, and she felt like Aladdin and Jasmine were really only noticing her for the first time. "I don't know what happened, but Iago at least has the right to be heard, doesn't he?"
"Who are you?" Jasmine asked.
"Her name's Xion." Iago, still held tight in Aladdin's grip, let out a gasp for air. "She's got a key… like that Sora kid!"
"A Keyblade?" Jasmine and Aladdin asked together, looking from Iago to Xion. Jasmine's brow furrowed. "Why would somebody with a Keyblade help Iago?"
"We've… got some stuff in common, that's all. Both of us want to apologize to people we've wronged." Xion looked down at her feet and kicked the sand. "He just worked up the courage before me. Though if I can be honest, seeing this reaction isn't exactly making my concerns any better." She sighed. "Anyway, I'm sure this is personal for you guys. I'll just leave."
"Wait, miss- uh, Xion?" Aladdin loosened his grip on Iago, though didn't let go, as Carpet landed behind the girl. "Did Iago tell you just what it was he did?"
"Not exactly, no."
Aladdin sighed and Jasmine gave him a sad look. "Looks like we're going to have to do some explaining." He tightened his grip again when Iago began slipping out. "Uh-uh, and you're not going anywhere."
x-x-x
"Finally away from all the crowds." Abis Mal leaned against the wall of a back alley far from Agrabah's bazaar. "That pale girl almost found out I had the lamp, that wouldn't have been good. These wishes belong to me!"
"Pale girl?" A deep voice rumbled. Abis Mal looked up above, where a man in a black coat stood on a ledge above.
"Oh, oh it's you!" He called. "Thank you again for the tip and the bag of gold… Hey, why are you here? The lamp is mine now, buddy!"
"I do not care for your toys. This pale girl, what did she look like?" A spear appeared out of nowhere, accompanied by a gust of wind, and pressed itself up against Abis Mal's neck.
"I-I-I- I'm not sure!" He stuttered. "I just ran into her in the bazaar! What, is she a friend of yours?"
"Friends? What do you take me for?" The spear pressed harder. "Now answer the question."
"Uh, wearing white, mostly! Really short hair, had a jacket of some sort on. Don't hurt me, please! I swear, I didn't get a good look at her!"
"So the traitor is in Agrabah? How convenient for me." The man dismissed his spear, and Abis Mal fell into the sand in relief. "Fool of a thief, be sure you do not squander my good will. Go off and free the genie from that lamp, and we will both get what we desire."
"Y-Yeah, right… sure thing." Abis Mal muttered, beginning to rub the sand off the lamp as the man in the black coat vanished. He could feel the black metal heating up when heavy footsteps approached from behind. "Oh, what is it now? I thought you told me to set the genie free?" He spun around, but it wasn't the black hood he was face to face with.
"I believe that lamp holds a friend of mine, pally. Hand it over, I've been lookin' for it for ages." The newcomer was taller and wider than Abis Mal, wearing blue and red clothing and with the face of a cat.
"Ah! M-Monster!" Abis Mal backed up against the wall of the alley, frantically rubbing at the lamp now. "Genie, save me from this thing!"
"Oh no you don't, hand it over!" The cat man dived forward as red smoke escaped from the lamp. In a brilliant flash of light, the two of them went momentarily blinded. As Abis Mal's vision came back to him, the sound of laughter echoed around.
"I am free! Free to exact vengeance on he who has imprisoned me!"
The genie was huge… and red? The genie everyone had seen around Agrabah was blue, though… He hadn't seemed to notice them, making his way up above the buildings of the city even as he still laughed maniacally. It seemed he was about to fly toward the palace when something tugged his arms backwards. The golden rings on his wrists?
"Who dares hold the mighty Jafar back?!" The genie roared, glaring down into the alleyway.
"Uh, Jafar… you're uh, still bound by the lamp." The cat man said softly, and Abis Mal looked to him in surprise. They knew each other?!
"Maleficent's lapdog. Pete, isn't it? Well hurry up, then, fool! Free me from the prison that street rat trapped me in!"
"Well I would but, uh- this guy here is the one with it."
"H-Hi…?" Abis Mal offered, raising a hand in greeting. He could feel his shaking legs turning to jelly as Jafar's piercing golden eyes set on him. The genie's face deepened into a scowl.
"This petty little thief commands me? These are the things I have to put up with." In a swirl of red smoke, Jafar shrunk down and soon enough a tall human dressed in red stood before the two. "Well then, what are you waiting for? Release me!"
Abis Mal was about to do just that when suddenly everything clicked. He had the lamp. "I, I don't think so, buddy. As long as I got this thing, you answer to me: Abis Mal!"
Jafar stepped closer and Abis Mal flinched, but the man didn't do anything; couldn't do anything. "Fine then, Abis Mal. Name your two wishes, but if you don't make the third one my freedom, you will live to regret it."
Abis Mal gulped. "I-I wish to be rich and-"
"Gawrsh!" A new voiced came from the end of the alley. "The Pete working with Maleficent was the Pete we knew after all!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy stood with their weapons at the ready.
Pete laughed. "Well if it ain't the king's errand boys!"
"I knew I saw Jafar in the sky! Who freed you from the lamp?" Donald demanded, pointing his staff forward.
"Jafar! How did you escape?!"
Three more figures appeared at the other end of the alley: Aladdin, Jasmine, and Xion. "Well, if it isn't the street rat." Jafar laughed, but his eyes narrowed at the bird with the three of them. "Iago! You treacherous bird, get back here!"
Xion backed up away from Sora before he could notice her. This day just isn't going my way.
Jafar growled as he studied the six who were trapping him in. "Abis Mal, if you do not want to see the full force of my rage, I suggest you use this wish wisely. Allow me to attack these pests!"
"Y-Yeah, whatever you say!" Abis Mal rubbed the lamp frantically and held it up. "Genie, just… just do what ever you want!"
Jafar laughed as he began to transform back into his genie form, Sora's group and Aladdin bracing themselves for combat as Xion, Jasmine, and Iago backed away from the alley. An explosion tossed the nearby buildings aside, which Xion only barely deflected from her group with a well-timed light spell.
x-x-x
"We need to find a way to stop him!" Iago called out, watching the fight that erupted in the crater Jafar's fire spell had left behind. It was a chaotic brawl with Aladdin, Sora, Donald and Goofy against Pete and Jafar. And that Abis Mal guy caught in the middle, cowering as he held the lamp tightly to his chest.
"I still think you had something to do with this, Iago. But you're right." Jasmine looked up, searching for something in the sky. "Unfortunately, the only one of us who stands any chance against Jafar's magic isn't here."
"What, the genie?" Iago grumbled. "Did he ditch you guys?"
"He went off to explore the world. I have no idea when he'll be back, but I just wish it will be soon."
"A wish, you say? Why princess, your wish is my command!" Sparks flew to their right, and an explosion of smoke left a blue figure standing beside them. "The one, the only… Geeenie of the Lamp!" Fireworks and an electric sign calling for applause accompanied him, but mostly they were just shocked. Genie blinked at Xion and leaned in closer. "Say uh, don't I know you, kid?"
"I… don't think so?"
"Hm, musta been the wrong girl." He split into two. "Identical strangers, happens all the time." They spoke in unison.
"Genie, how in the world did you know we needed you?" Jasmine asked.
"Oh, you know, I have a seventh sense for these kinds of things – the sixth sense is my fashion sense!" Genie produced a set of binoculars from thin air and looked over at the fight. "I was actually in the desert and on my way home anyway. This close I could feel Jafar freed from his lamp. I know things look bad, but don't worry: he's a genie, and genies can't kill anyone!" At this, Goofy went sailing through the air and crashed into Donald. Genie winced. "But you'd be surprised what you can live through. Alright, that's it, time to help my friends! Kid, hold my stuff." A bag full of clothes and souvenirs poofed into existence and he handed it to Xion. "I've got a renegade genie to take care of!"
"Hey, Jafar!"
Cut off in the middle of maniacal laughter, Jafar spun around to question who would dare interrupt him when a bolt of blue crashed right into his chest. Crashing into a nearby building, Jafar looked up to see Genie gloating above him.
"Genie!" Aladdin and Sora called out together.
"Who's laughing now?!" Genie cried. In response, Jafar transformed his hands into dragon heads and sent streams of flame at him.
"Why, I believe it's me!" Jafar laughed, growing larger and grabbing Genie with one hand. Lightning sparked around his other hand as he focused the fight on his counterpart. "I must admit your parlor tricks are amusing. I've bet you've got a bunny under your hat! Now here's your chance to get the best of me, hope your hand is hot. Come on, clown, let's see what you've got!"
Breaking free of Jafar's grip, Genie fired bolts of lightning toward him. Jafar merely shrugged it off. "You try to slam me with your hardest stuff, but your double whammy isn't up to snuff. I'll set the record straight: you're simply out of date." A fist surrounded by fire sent Genie crashing into the dirt.
"You're only second rate!"
"Genie, are you okay?!" Aladdin cried out, running over to his friend.
"Oh, hey Al. Yeah, I'm fine. Surprised at what I can live through?"
Aladdin smiled. "Genie, you're always full of surprises. Now, any bright ideas?"
"Last time we fought, Jafar wished to be an all-powerful genie. I can't outclass him. But…" Genie's gaze went to Sora – more specifically, Sora's Keyblade. "I think I may have an idea!" In a puff of smoke Genie stood next to Sora, investigating the Keyblade with a jeweler's monocle. "Mm-hmm, yep, I see. It's perfect!"
"Uh… what?"
"The Keyblade can lock or unlock anything, and only another Keyblade can open what one has sealed." A scale model of the city appeared in Genie's hand and he covered it up with his other palm. "So I just make a shield over the city, Sora locks it in place, and not even Jafar can break it open!"
"Will that work?"
"Uh… maybe!" Genie examined a calculator. "I'm ninety-three percent sure!"
"We've got nothing else to lose. We'll force Jafar out of the city and deal with him in the desert." Sora held out his Keyblade. "Genie, work your magic!"
Genie tugged on his tail and the tip transformed into a weapon resembling a Keyblade, with the end shaped like his lamp. "Kid, I always love working with you!" Sora and Genie placed their weapons together and they began to glow.
x-x-x
"What is that?" Jasmine pointed up to the sky, where a dome of interconnecting hexagons began to encase Agrabah. Outside the dome, Jafar slammed his fists against it repeatedly in an attempt to break through.
"It looks like a barrier spell…" Xion replied, and then a stalking shadow caught her attention. "Huh? Pete!"
"Well, uh, hey there Key girl!" Pete said, surprised he had been caught while trying to slip by unseen. "Sorry, don't got time to play today. Things have gone real south with Jafar, and I gotta report this to Maleficent. Oh, she ain't gonna like this…" He opened a dark corridor and took a step back.
"Wait, Pete! Get back here!" Xion took a step toward the corridor, but a chunk of black metal slamming into the ground in front of her caught her eye. Was that the lamp?
"W-WAIT! Don't leave me with them!" The man who had freed Jafar from the lamp screamed, running up to Pete. Xion stared; now that she got a better look at him, he was clearly the man she had run into in the bazaar earlier.
"Oh, no you don't, guy! There's only room for one in this portal!" Pete pushed the little man away, but he fought back.
"Let me in and I'll pay you! Abis Mal always repays his debts!" The little man shoved Pete aside and dove into the darkness.
"Why you…!" Pete called after him as he jumped in. The corridor vanished, leaving Jasmine and Xion staring.
"What was that about?" Xion wondered, waiting for Iago to chime in. After a few moments with no response, she looked to her shoulder. "Iago?" But he was nowhere to be found.
Eh... I don't really like this one.
Aladdin's outfit is the one he sometimes wore in the TV show, like in the Hercules crossover. Also, writing Genie is really intimidating.