Chapter 20: Dream Warning

"You couldn't help that happening, Genie. Don't worry about it." Aladdin tried to console his semi-phenomenal friend, even as Genie was trying to rummage through Aladdin's hiding place.

"I can't help it - Grenden caught me off-guard and took the crystals without even saying why. I didn't want to do anything because I knew if he hurt Jasmine and the others..."

"I know. That's why I said you shouldn't blame yourself for it. As long as Grenden has them, we're at his will. I don't like it, but we don't have any choice. Something tells me that he's planning something big - I just don't know what to go on." Aladdin rubbed the back of his neck. He looked over the city skyline from his usual hiding place. Iago had fallen asleep sometime before near Aladdin's makeshift bed. He wondered if Iago had even slept at all in the time that they'd been apart. He could barely keep his own eyes open.

Aladdin frowned as he saw Genie throw a few pots to the side, continuing a thorough search. "Uh, Genie, what exactly are you looking for over there?"

Genie held up the answer in his hands. "Bandages. For you and Iago. I knew I put some in your place for backup, but I couldn't remember where."

"You couldn't have just used your magic to make new ones?"

"Why waste the resource when you can go to the source?" Genie gave him a wink, used magic to wrap the bandage around Aladdin's bare torso where the wound was on his upper back.

Aladdin took in a sharp breath as the magic finished. "Next time...Not so tight. I still have to breathe, you know?"

"I'm kinda hoping there won't be a next time, but point taken."

A voice interrupted them. "Oh, I wouldn't say that there's not the potential to be a next time; especially when there's such dangerous business involved."

Genie dropped the stuff he was holding from his arms, which woke Iago with a start. Aladdin stood to attention as Grenden appeared near the window ledge.

"Haven't you caused enough trouble for one night, Grenden? What do you want from us?" Aladdin demanded.

"Collecting my bounty early - I'll have that other crystal you have in your hands, Aladdin. Pity it has one of your friends still inside, but I can't afford to make exceptions to the rule."

"Why this all of a sudden? You took the two from Genie and you're taking the one from me now? Are you going to let Jasmine and the others go? What are you even using these for?"

Grenden laughed. "Too many questions boy - and not all of them need answering. Remember who's in charge of this bargain, or you'll quickly find that you'll have your back against the wall." Grenden used his magic to slam Aladdin back toward the wall, but Genie caught him before the impact could hurt.

Genie stepped in front of Aladdin protectively. "Okay, this is not the day to use the Prince as a ping pong ball. And you can't play any games with an ace up your sleeve, Grenden."

Grenden snorted. "Hmm, I suppose you both have a point. I did change the terms of the contract without notifying you, so I suppose I should make the exchange equivalent. Three for three. Here you are." Grenden whispered an incantation that caused magic to stir in the room, and three familiar figures appeared.

Abis Mal, Haroud and Carpet. They all seemed disoriented - and it looked like Abis Mal and Haroud were just waking up from a long nap. Abis Mal gasped and pointed at Aladdin. "You! We were just in Grenden's lair and...How the heck did we get here?"

Haroud frowned. "I do believe the sorcerer brought us here, sir."

Abis Mal blinked, saw Grenden, and yelped. "Okay, we're out of here!"

"Hey!" Aladdin called after them, but the two already fled the room. He turned to Grenden, who smiled at him. "What was that all about?"

"I said that I would free three of the captive I held. I never said whom. And those two fools have served my purpose."

"Where's Jasmine and Abu?"

"They're safe, for now. Though I'm sure they're probably surprised at the disappearance of those two and your Carpet. Now, you have something I want - but I see it's going to be difficult for you since you have such an...attachment to the people inside. But I'll make it easier for your separation." Grenden clenched his hand into a fist, and the crystal in Aladdin's hand grew so hot that the prince dropped it. The crystal floated in midair to Grenden.

"No! Warek!" Aladdin started forward, but Genie held him back by the shoulders.

Iago snorted at Grenden. "Geez, you really have a take and take complex, don't ya?"

Grenden stared at him with such a dark expression that Iago flinched. "I take what I want when I want, bird. Not that it's any of your concern. And to answer your question, Aladdin," he turned to the prince, "I do have an aim to use these crystals, but the individuals inside won't come to any harm, I assure you. I'll release them when the time is right. You, on the other hand, need to focus on getting the last three crystals. I'm growing impatient, though you do have another night to finish this task. Get some rest, boy - you look like you could use it."

Grenden disappeared as quickly as he came. Aladdin's shoulders fell, and his head lowered. "I can't believe he just took Warek and the others like that. I couldn't do anything."

Carpet flew close to Aladdin and hugged him at the waist.

Genie sighed. "Well, at least we've got Rug Man, though I'm worried about Jasmine and Abu too. We'll get them back. And as much as I hate to say that Grenden's right about anything - we should get some rest. We can sleep through the day, get back to finding those crystals before sundown."

Iago rolled his eyes. "As if you can tell the difference between night and day up here, but hey what can you do? No monster busting for me. I'm good with shut eye. And here's to hoping I don't have nightmares about sorcerers attacking me in my sleep."

Jasmine almost didn't believe the spell worked until she realized she was standing - in spirit - in Aladdin's hiding place. Aladdin, Genie, Iago, and Carpet were all sleeping. It shocked her when she realized Abis Mal, Haroud and Carpet all vanished while she spoke the incantation for the spell, so much that she had to start again. She realized something must've happened where the sorcerer brought them out of Lamrai.

She could only enter the dreams of one of them, so she chose Aladdin hoping she could reach him. She only had one shot at the spell, so she had to make it count.

"Aladdin? Aladdin, can you hear me?"

"Jasmine? Jasmine, where are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm still in Lamrai with Abu. I've been trying to reach you for the longest time. Grenden's planning something terrible, you can't give him the crystals."

Aladdin's head lowered in the dream world. "Little too late for that, he already took the three that we found. What's his plan? Does it have something to do with them?"

She nodded. "He's planning to use the fear essences of all the people trapped in those crystals as a part of a big spell. He's trying to turn Agrabah into an underground city, and bring Lamrai to the surface!"

His eyes widened. "He's what? But how?"

Jasmine told him about the spell, even held out the spellbook she was holding in her hands.

"I...can't read any of this, Jasmine."

"Sorry, I keep forgetting. Remember the coins we found with Abis Mal and Haroud? I used them to summon a spell that allows me to read the symbols in this book. For Grenden's spell to work he needed the coins, the essence of fear in those crystals and...wait - I didn't realize there was another page to this." She gasped in horror after turning the page, even when Aladdin couldn't read the symbols for what they meant.

"Oh no, Aladdin, please you have to stay far away from Lamrai - the last part of this spell says he needs..."

But she never finished the statement, as the dream connection between them broke.

Aladdin woke with a start, calling out for Jasmine which woke both Genie and Iago.

"Geez! Can a bird get any kind of sleep without something bad happening? Or other people having nightmares that I don't care to know about?" Iago said.

Genie gave him a glare, but then turned to Aladdin. "Al, what is it?"

Aladdin's chest heaved as he recovered from the dream. "Phasir was right - the answers to all of this have been coming to me in my sleep. It was Jasmine. I know what Grenden's planning, thanks to her. She's...We're all in trouble."