Chapter 25: Blade Runner

All was quiet in Agrabah, and back to some sense of normal after the panicked night. Most who were under the spell of the Masters didn't remember their frantic searches for the Sultan and Princess Jasmine, but it provided good breakfast and lunch conversation among those who did remember and witness the night's events in full.

Razoul still hadn't shaken his part in Jasmine's injuries. He bowed to her in the Throne Room that afternoon as the sun broke through the once darkened clouds to illuminate the newly polished floors and repaired ornaments.

"Princess, again, I apologize. If I had been in my right mind..."

Jasmine held up a hand. "Razoul, again for the last time, that wasn't your fault!" She sighed. "You were under a spell, and the injury I had wasn't as bad as it looked. And Father has pardoned you officially, as well as the other guards who were under that spell. I would like it if it weren't spoken of again."

"Princess..."

"Razoul. Don't test me." She folded her arms across her chest. "I do know one thing you can tell me: where are Aladdin and Genie?"

Razoul scowled, but seemed to be glad for the change in subject. "Out meeting the ruffian that caused this mess in the courtyard. Good riddance he's actually leaving soon. I still can't believe the Prince actually trusts that blade assassin after everything he did."

Jasmine shook her head. "Zeta had his reasons, for what it's worth. I think I'll go down to see him off as well."

Razoul's brows raised in alarm. "P-princess! You of all people should know...!"

Jasmine gave him a side-eye glance. "Razoul, if you try to stop me on this matter, I'll have you clean the cobwebs out of the dungeons for a solid week - instead of being on your normal duties as head guard. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be put on bench duty, right?"

Razoul gulped. "Y-yes, your highness."

Zeta packed the last of his supplies within the sack that had been given to him by Genie. Aladdin stroked the mane of Zeta's horse, keeping it steady as they stood in the Palace courtyard by the fountain.

"So, what happens now, Zeta?" Aladdin asked. "I know we couldn't bring back your friend, but... at least he's finally free from the Masters' control."

Zeta nodded. "Yes, that at least gives me some comfort. I doubt I'll be making such dealings again, not without vetting them first. Your Genie's given me quite the handy set of references for mystic spells not to enact. As for me, I'll probably just go back to what I was doing before all this occurred - making blades for a living."

Aladdin raised a brow. "Nothing to hurt anyone, I hope."

At that moment, Zeta swung a blade towards Aladdin, similar to a move Aladdin remembered back when they were in his lair. Aladdin moved to dodge it, but realized that the blade Zeta had swung toward him was sheathed, so he was in no danger of being injured by it as it stopped right by his neck.

Zeta chuckled at Aladdin's irritation. "Come on, at this point, you still don't trust me? I'm giving you a souvenir. I'm not one to make tokens, but I suppose it's something. To thank you, I mean."

Zeta seemed uncomfortable at the admission, but Aladdin took the blade and nodded to him in thanks. Aladdin unsheathed the blade to realize it was the rose hilt blade that Zeta had lent to him, the one that night they surfed the sand dunes towards his lair.

Zeta shrugged, as Aladdin met his gaze with surprise. "I figured I'd give you that blade because you liked it and it's not one to harm - just a simple traveler's blade. Use it when your Carpet isn't available. You should be able to see in the mirror of the blade what place you wish to go, and it will take you there as long as you have a desert to surf."

"Thanks, Zeta. Hope I can use it to see you again sometime soon."

"Count me in on that too." Jasmine approached the two men, looping an arm in Aladdin's as she stood beside the surprised, yet relieved Prince. "You're always welcome to return to Agrabah, granted you don't have any evil spirits following you, Zeta."

Zeta laughed. "I'll take that as a high compliment, Princess. I'll keep that in mind, and also not to pick up any odd curses along the way." He paused, his expression becoming more grim. "I suppose if there's anything about this journey I've taken - the two of you have been right all along. I believe I spent too much time relying on prophecies and having my actions take course due to the mystic signals in those runes. I ought to remember that I craft my destiny just as careful as I craft these blades. I thank you both for that."

Aladdin and Jasmine seemed surprised, but nodded at Zeta's words. Silence passed between them before Aladdin broke it. "Speaking of, what happened to Barty, Theodore and the other snakes that were in the underground of the Masters' castle? That place completely collapsed, so I don't think they can go back there."

Zeta motioned over his shoulder. "Ask them yourself." A rumble from the ground shook the area, and beneath a mound that appeared near the fountain, Genie emerged riding on the back of a familiar large snake.

Aladdin grinned. "Hey Genie! Hey Barty!"

"Hallo, hallo, hallo young Prince! Good to see you looking in better shape!" Barty said with a large, sharp toothed grin. The gesture made Jasmine flinch a little, but she realized the snake was just in good humor and didn't mean them any harm.

Genie nodded to the three of them as he slid down Barty's long, coiled back. "Yep, I was just helping Barty and his family find another desert to settle in. Looks like his brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, family twice removed...all of them are settled in now!" Genie had started naming the divisions of Barty's family on one hand, but his hands morphed into several as he spoke, making all of them laugh.

Barty turned to Zeta briefly. "You're sure you don't want to take a ride on my back to wherever you need to go? After all, it was you and Aladdin who helped us out of that place and out of the Masters' grasp."

Zeta shook his head. "No, I think I'll be taking the scenic route home."

Barty shrugged. "Suit yourself. Later loves! I'm going home to a feast!" He seemed to wink at Aladdin before descending back into the burrowed tunnel from which he came.

Jasmine looked with confusion toward Aladdin. "Do you know what he meant by that?"

Aladdin feigned innocence, considering he wasn't about to tell the story on how the snakes fed on his blood in the caves. "Not a clue. But at least he's happy. One other question, whatever happened to Mirage?"

Genie grinned. "I think she might still be trapped in that blade that Zeta added to his collection. Probably still steaming from us capturing her. Better be careful Zeta, she has a temper when she doesn't get her catnip."

Zeta laughed. "I suppose on that note, I'll take my leave," He mounted his horse. "Take care, all of you. And Aladdin?"

Aladdin looked confused. "Yeah?"

"In all the work that I do in crafting mystic blades across the seven deserts, I think I'll never craft a blade that's as strong as your heart. Take care of it, and be sure the ones you love do as well."

Genie gave a salute in response, turning into the shape of a heart. "There's plenty of looooooove to go around in this kingdom."

Jasmine put a hand on Aladdin's chest. "Yeah, Genie's right, Zeta. I don't think you think you have to worry about that." She leaned into Aladdin, kissing the Prince as Zeta took his ride out of the city and beyond.

The End