Mission Imp Possible part 1
"A thousand and six….A thousand and seven…" My eyes popped open at the sound of Al counting yet again.
"Al, shut up…" I muttered angrily and tossed my blanket over my head. "Please!" My voice muffled by the blanket, but I knew he could hear me.
"I'm sorry, Alaric." I heard Al sigh and I peered at him from under the dark blanket. He did look tired and I felt bad for being cross at him, but I was tired too. We had just back from Mozenrath's and had tried to sleep for hours now. Genie stopped tossing sheep as Al sat up.
"I'm just not falling asleep, Genie. Is there anything else we can try?" Genie popped back to normal size and started to flip through a large book.
"Let's see what the jinni's book of home remedies says. Hm, black goats bone boiled twice at midnight."
"Yuck." I grimaced and Al snickered.
"Eye of newt, spleen of sensor…Aha!" Genie exclaimed and I jumped. Al snickered again and I stuck my tongue out at him. "The most exotic of all forbidden sleep potions. The most dark and arcane secret whispered about only among the most powerful sorcerers…Warm milk!"
"Is that all?" I asked and Genie grinned.
"That's it, short man." Genie made a glass of milk appear and he placed it over a small fire. After a moment he stuck his finger in to test the warmness. He turned bright red and yelled out in pain, bouncing around the room as he tried to cool down.
"Triffle hot." He stated and I snickered. Genie cooled off the milk and handed it to Al who drained it quickly.
"Ah, that's better. Thanks Ge-" Al stopped and yawned widely. "nie" Al's head fell backwards as he fell asleep.
"Wow that was fast!" I said, hiding a yawn of my own.
"Sure does, it works better than I thought!" Genie grinned in amusement and then he patted my head. "Time to go to sleep, short man." I nodded and yawned again as Genie tossed my blanket back over me, tucking it in all around me. I felt like I was in a cocoon.
"Night, Genie." I said and he ruffled my hair.
"Goodnight, shorty." He disappeared and I snuggled down into the blanket as his snores came from the lamp.
Sunlight hit my face as I yawned and opened my eyes. I blinked at the bright light and then rolled over onto my back. Sitting up, I stretched and looked around to see who was up. Apparently no one, but my stomach told me to wake someone as it suddenly growled with hunger. I crawled over to Al first and poked his shoulder.
"Al? Psst, Al!" I hissed giving him a shake. He never moved. "Al?" I called louder, but he didn't respond. "I guess the milk knocked you out good." I went over to Genie's lap and called down the spout.
"Genie," I whined as loud as I could. "I'm hungry."
"Me too." Iago groaned, rolling onto his back and I grinned at him. "Hm, some pancakes with lots of syrup sounds good."
'Mm-hm.' Abu grinned. Genie came out of his lamp and grinned at us all.
"Well, good morning to you." He said and then a buffet table of food appeared. Genie backed away as Iago, Abu, and I ran towards the table. After eating, we looked at Al wondering why he was still asleep. Jasmine entered the room and she gave us all a greeting before looking at her sleeping boyfriend.
"What's wrong with Aladdin?" Jasmine asked and Genie frowned.
"I don't know. He hasn't even moved." He floated towards my brother and gave him a shake. "Al! Hey, Al!" He called. No response. Genie changed into a large woman with a pink dress, a white apron with a heart on it, and grey heart-shaped hair.
"C'mon honey, the school bus is here." He called and again, Al didn't move. Genie changed tactics and turned into a general. "Up and at 'em, solider!" He shouted and then blew a horn at him. Then he tried to wake him exploding like dynamite. Jasmine went over to check Al. She lifted his eyelid and frowned.
"He's in some kind of trance." She looked up at us then. "There must be some way to bring him out of it."I looked at Genie. He only looked more upset.
"Yes, but how can we cure him if we don't know what's making him sick?"
"Can't you do something?" I asked and he smiled at me grimly.
"Sorry, shorty. I don't know what to tell you."
"We've got to do something." Jasmine declared unsatisfied with Genie's answer. I wasn't satisfied either, but I was at a loss of what to do.
"Guys! Oh, guys! Check this out!" Iago came hurrying across the room and dropped a thick scroll onto Jaz's lap. She unraveled it and her brow furrowed as she read it.
"What's it say?" I asked and she looked up with worry on her face.
"He who seeks a cure must find the worm of Panacea. It's signed a friend."
"Ooh, of course! The worm of Panacea!" Genie shuddered and I looked at him.
"What's the worm of Panacea?"
"It's silk can cure any illness." Genie informed us but judging by the look on his face, Genie looked even more worried about Al.
"Does it seem weird to anyone else that this scroll just happened to appear outta nowhere?" Iago asked and I frowned.
"And it was signed a 'friend'." I added. Jasmine looked thoughtful.
"It is a little strange, but does anyone know if anything else that will cure him?" Jasmine looked at each of us and none of us could say anything to help at all. She sighed and looked back at Al. "Then I don't know what choice we have."
"All we need is one tiny piece of the worm's golden silk." Genie sated and Iago hopped excitedly on my shoulder.
"Golden?" He asked loudly and with the greediest tone I have ever heard.
"Yes." Genie nodded. "Supposedly the purest gold there is."
"So why is it so hard to get?" I asked already dreading the answer.
"Tiny problem! You see, the worm is the ancient enemy of the imps! They imprisoned it ages ago, which means the only one who would know where it was be an imp. And I hate imps!"
"Me too!" I shouted. If we had to go to Nefir that evil imp would never let Genie forget it! I looked at Genie and the look on his face told me that he thought so too. Iago rolled his eyes.
"Uh, yeah, whatever. When do we leave?" he asked and I frowned at him.
"Shut up, Iago."
"I don't think Genie needs you too-" Jasmine was going to say, need our help but Genie interrupted her.
"Oh, no! I'm not going alone! I can't ask an imp for help all by myself!" Genie wailed.
"I'll go!" Genie ignored me and continued to wail.
"What if I had to…touch him? I can't do it! Ooh! Imps! Filthy lithesome funny smelling imps! Ooh just the thought of them makes me nauseous!"
"I sympathize! I also suffocate!" Iago cried in a dramatic voice and I hopped up and down angrily.
"We'll stay here and watch over Aladdin." Jasmine murmured and I looked up at Genie.
"I'm going."
"No." He stated and I frowned.
"Yes."
"Absolutely not." He wagged a finger in my face and I looked at it crossed-eyed. "Need I remind you of what happened the last time you were around that imp?"
"Genie, if you had listened to me to begin with he wouldn't have caught me." I stated and then frowned. "I'm going with you and Iago!" I shouted and Genie glared down at me.
"I said no!" He snapped and I scowled, turning slightly away from him. My eyes stung a bit and I squinted until the wetness went away. It wasn't fair! I felt Genie's take my chin and he turned me back to face him. His face softened when I met his gaze. "Aww, shorty I'd take you if I was anyone but Nefir."
"Just go then." I stated angrily and pulled from his grip. If he wanted to deal with that sneaky underhanded imp then let him. He sighed and straightened back up, giving me a sideways glance. Iago had remained silent through the whole thing, but he gazed at me in concern before his eyes flickered to Genie. "Go ahead, Iago." I waved at him with my fingers. He frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Obviously he wants you to go." I stated and Iago looked at Genie.
"C'mon, Genie, let the kid go."
"No, no, no. Not this time, Bird-man." Genie stated firmly and he shook his head at me. "Sorry, shorty, but you sit this one out." I could see that he wasn't going to change his mind and went to sit far from him in the corner.
"Good luck, Genie. I'll keep an eye on things here." Jasmine murmured and Genie nodded.
"Aren't you going to tell me bye?" He asked me and I frowned.
"Goodbye." I grumbled and he sighed before he and Iago left the hovel.
"Cheer up, Alaric." Jasmine told me and I turned to her. "They'll be back soon." I only nodded and she turned back to pet Al's head. I watched her and realized that I couldn't just sit here while Al was lying there! I started to think of how I could catch up to them with drawing attention and Carpet flew by to hover over Jasmine.
"Oh, Carpet, you startled me." She giggled. "I didn't hear you." It clicked then and I grinned. Now all had to do was convince Carpet and somehow get away from Jaz.
"Um, Jaz?" I started and she turned to me. "I'm getting kinda hungry." She raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't you just eat?"
"Well…yeah…but I'm still hungry." She sighed and stood.
"All right then, if you're sure." I nodded and she smiled. "I'll be back then with something from the palace." Abu ran up her arm to come with and I grinned.
"Okay." I said. She left and Carpet started tapping his tassel against the floor like a foot, his top tassels folded. "All right, you caught me. Yes, I'm lying." He shook a tassel at me and I sighed. "I had too. I, um, need you to take me somewhere." Carpet paused and then got frantic and I grabbed him before he could fly out to get Jasmine. "No, don't!" I pulled him back and sighed again. "Carpet, I don't trust Nefir and-and I can't sit here while Al is like that….Please? I need you to take me where Genie and Iago are." He looked hesitant but finally agreed. I sat on him and then gave Al one more look.
"Don't worry, Al. I'll make sure that Nefir doesn't trick Genie."
We caught up with Genie and Iago in a large forest and glided down silently to hide among the bushes. Carpet wasn't happy to be back here and he expressed it, by pointing at Genie. I shook my head.
"We can't be seen. Genie might send me back for sure. Besides, I've got to make sure that Nefir won't double-cross Genie." Carpet seemed to sigh and I patted him. "I'm sorry, Carpet. But this is Al we're talking about. He'd do the same thing for any of us." I turned back around and saw to my dismay that they were up the path. "Come on, we have to keep up."
"Whew! I can smell imps already!" I heard Genie say and Carpet and I stopped in some bushes nearby. I could see him and Iago standing near a large tree and Genie had his nose plugged.
"This is where Nefir lives?" Iago asked in awe at the huge tree house and Genie shook his head.
"This is where he keeps his money. He lives over there." Genie pointed at a smaller tree house.
"An imp after my own heart!" Iago cried and I rolled my eyes. They went over to the smaller tree house and Carpet and I crept along until we were hiding near the tree. "Now remember, kiss up to him no matter what happens!" Genie was bothered by that I could tell but he raised a fist to knock on the door.
"Oh, Nefir!" He called and for a moment nothing happened. Then all at once things came swatting, hitting, and mangling Genie and Iago. Carpet hid my eyes and I grinned a bit at his protective behavior."Ahhh!" Genie screamed and I heard Iago scream too.
"Ooh! Ow!" Finally it stopped and Carpet let me see what was left of my friends. They were both worse for wear but nothing permanent.
"Who is it?" Nefir called out and I could hear his odd tone.
"Genie…." Genie groaned out, swaying a bit and suddenly the door to the tree house was flung open.
"Oh, sorry about the security system." Nefir stated in a sickly sweet tone that made me want to hit him. "I thought you were big bad burglars. Come in!"
"He's lying, Carpet." I muttered and he looked nervously back at the tree house. "Something is not right at all." Wanting to hear and see what was going on, I made my way to the house door and made sure not to set off anymore booby traps. Carpet lifted me so I could peer in.
"Hmm, I suppose I might help…" Nefir began and I saw the smirk in his eyes. "…If you begged me shamelessly."
"Don't do it…" I warned under my breath, but Genie was committed to getting Al some help.
"I'll do it!" Genie proclaimed and he made a top hat appear on his head. Nefir turned his back on Genie and I snorted at his show of indifference. "Nefir," Genie began, slipping off the top hat. "Would you please take us to the Worm of Panacea?" He held onto the hat tightly.
"Hmf! You call that begging?" Nefir sneered and Carpet had to jostle me to stop me from breaking down the door.
"Oh, please take us!" Genie wailed now, getting on hands and knees, tears flying out of his eyes. Nefir merely yawned.
"A little more sincere, please. Let's see some tears, baby!" He shouted wickedly and I clenched my fists.
"Jerk!" I hissed at him. Genie, still on the floor, tried again this time with tears spilling out like a water fountain.
"I-I beg you! I'll do anything! Oh, please, please, please!" He wailed.
"Well…okay." Nefir finally said, though I could see how much it really bothered for him to admit it. Iago scowled at Genie, not liking all the begging either and I was glad that he was there to keep an eye on the greedy no good imp. Nefir told Genie that he'd be right back and then they'd leave and Iago flew down to Genie.
"How can you grovel like that? It's disgusting!" He snapped and Genie grinned sheepishly.
"You did say to kiss up to him." He reminded the parrot and Iago scowled deeper.
"Well, not if it makes you look ridiculous! You should have brought the kid!" Genie frowned now and flicked Iago away.
"No, Iago. I don't trust Nefir too much, but if the kid was here…I don't want that imp getting any ideas, okay?"
"Fine." Iago muttered. "I just don't like doing stuff without him." I smiled a bit and sighed.
"Maybe, I shouldn't have followed them." I admitted.
"No, you shouldn't have." Nefir stated and we both jumped. The imp was grinning madly at us.
"Did you really think that I wouldn't know you were out here? After all, I did buy the latest security system."
"You're up to something." I stated and he grinned.
"But there's no evidence to prove that now is there?" I frowned and he tsked. "Naughty, nosy little boys should learn not to be get in the way." He wagged a finger at me and I scowled. "Now what to do with you…" He snapped his fingers and suddenly Carpet and I were yanked into the air. Nefir laughed below us as Carpet and I struggled to get free from the small confining space.
"Now that you are out-of-the-way, boy. I'll have that genie waiting on me hand and foot."
"You, you-"
"Ahh, ahh, ahh. Don't say anything you'll regret." Nefir grinned at me as I attempted to reach out of the net and grab him. "I can only imagine the look on his face when he finds you missing…"
"Nefir, I'm going to slug you one!" I shouted loudly. Nefir only waved at me and something hard hit me on the back of the head.
"Bye, bye." I heard him say before everything went black.
Carpet was shaking me awake when my head stopped throbbing and I sat up slowly.
"Wazzhappenin'?" My words slurred and Carpet got in my face, shaking me again. "C-C-Carpet, w-w-what's wron-g-g-g." my head bounced as he shook me and I finally focused on him. He started to pat me and I smiled. "I'm okay." I told him and then it all came back to me.
"That makes me so mad, Carpet!" I growled loudly and he jumped at my sudden outburst. "How can that imp be so smug about everything?" Carpet shrugged and pointed outside the net. We were in a tree of that I was certain, for leaves were overhead and so were large tree branches.
"He stuck us in a tree?" Carpet nodded and then pointed at the ground and back at the tree. "Nefir's tree house?" He nodded again and I scowled. "Great, now how are we supposed to catch up in time?" Carpet jabbed my side as I shifted and I saw him poking my side.
"What?" He lifted something from my pocket and I grinned sheepishly. "Oops. I forgot that was there." He patted me on the head smartly, his equivalent to an eye roll and I took the dagger from him. Cutting on the ropes, I freed us and Carpet swooped me up and out of the tree. We flew for a bit trying to spot any sign of Genie or that stupid imp and Carpet lurched forward suddenly. I gripped onto him to keep from flying off and we landed in some bushes.
Spitting out leaves, I sat up to see Genie, Iago, and Nefir near a giant lake and in the middle of it it was a huge building on an island. The building looked Japanese.
"Here we are the stronghold of the worm!" Nefir declared and I was glad that we hadn't missed anything yet. Stupid imp. "It's in that tower. But it's protected by magic." Nefir wiggled his fingers to emphasize and Iago rolled his eyes from Genie's shoulder, while Genie looked on nervously. Nefir handed Genie a paper suddenly and Genie took it with a frown.
"'For safe conduct to stronghold of worm, please remit 400 dinar.'" Genie read and then his face reddened with anger. "Why you!" He wanted to strangle the imp, but he dug in his pocket instead and handed that greedy-gus his money.
"Hey, why don't you cross the moat first?" Nefir suggested. "I'm sure it's perfectly safe."
"Yeah, right," I muttered, but Genie and Iago shrugged.
"Hmm, looks quiet enough." Genie stated and leaving Iago behind, he flew off into the air to cross the moat. He got halfway there, when lighting stuck him. Carpet and I both winced. "Yow!" Genie came flying back down and hit the sand at Nefir's feet.
"Hmm, didn't expect that…Why don't you try swimming across?" He suggested and I wanted to give that imp a swift kick in the butt.
"Good thinking." Genie told him, a little reluctantly and I scowled. Genie put on a scuba diving outfit and he dove into the water. Carpet tapped my shoulder and I looked at him. He pointed at Iago and I shook my head.
"No, I can't tell him I'm here either….He might tell Genie or Nefir would hear." Carpet tapped his foot at me and I sighed. "I know, I know. But look how he's doing everything that imp tells him too. He wouldn't believe anything I'd say." Carpet nudged me and I smiled sadly. Sounds of a struggle caught my attention and I peered over the bushes to see Nefir filing his nails, while something splashed in the water and seconds later, Genie appeared on the side of the lake the arm of an octopus wrapped around his torso.
"Did I neglect to mention the giant octopus?" Nefir asked, innocently and Carpet tugged me back from attacking him.
"Yes, you did! You wanna come see his guts?" Genie snarled and grabbed Nefir hauling him head first into the water. I snickered at Nefir's feet which were failing in the air moments before he disappeared. They popped out from the water and Nefir hung onto Genie as they sky-rocketed. However, they were still attached by the octopus. Genie seemed to have a plan and flying up where he had been earlier once again was stuck with lightening.
The electricity went down him, down Nefir, and down the long octopus arm. It shocked the sea creature, making electric currents skim across the water top. The current then went back up from where it came and popped loudly in the sky. With a roar, the octopus sank its arm back into the water and with it Genie and Nefir. The water now steamed and Iago went over to the edge, sniffing the air.
"Mm, octopus soup! Yummy!"
"Yuck." I grumbled and Carpet nodded. Genie burst from the water then, crawling up the bank near Iago and one his head was a fish. Breathing heavily, he leaned over and pulled Nefir from the water.
"I'm glad to see you two are getting along now." Iago teased and Genie muttered under his breath before realizing, at the same time as Nefir, that they were still near one another. They both jumped back and Nefir handed something to Genie.
"One hundred thousand galleons octopus soup, please remit 900 dinar. Grr!" He yelled and looked ready to throttle the imp.
They got ready to go across the water again, this time Genie was a water-ski and Nefir and Iago were riding him over.
"Next stop, creepy fog-shrouded island of doom!" Genie called and I looked at Carpet.
"Come on!" He scooped me up and away we went. We followed them closely, trying to make sure we stayed near them in the dense fog. We both winced as Genie crashed and sent them all flying.
"So, where are we?" Iago asked in a groan and Nefir looked around at the forest around us.
"This is the bog of forgetfulness!" He murmured in panic. "They say this mist can destroy your memory and rot your mind!"
"Whoa kinda like cartoons." Genie retorted, but no one knew what he was talking about.
"You couldn't maybe warn us about this?" Iago stated angrily. I started to feel funny and scratched my head as my thoughts went blank. "We could have gone around or something! But no! Not a word! Now we're stuck here in…uh, where are we?" The bird ended and I struggled to remember his name. I found that I could not and wondered why I wanted to know.
"Uh, this is the, uh…don't tell me…" An odd short creature spoke and he tapped his chin.
"Hey, what are we looking for?" A blue man asked and no one had a clue.
"Who are you guys?" The bird spoke again and I suddenly realized that I was in the air.
"Allow me to introduce myself. Uh…" The short thing trailed off and the blue guy grabbed his hand.
"Always glad to make new friends!" He exclaimed. Getting worried about why I was in the air. I jumped, landing near them. "Hey, look a flying kid!" The blue man stated getting excited.
"Hey, you must be a fairy kid!" The odd creature stated, grinning.
"Catch him! He's got gold!" The bird stated.
"He might know us!" The blue guy said and he caught my arm.
"Let me go. I am on a…mission?" I stated and they arched their eyebrows.
"What mission?" The blue guy asked and I frowned, trying to remember.
"Um…something about a friend of mines…he's…um…lost?"
"Oh, that's so sad!" The strange-looking short thing said and the blue man nodded.
"Are you a flying kiddo?" The bird asked and I shrugged. I don't know.
"Err, I guess. This flying furniture brought me here." The rug seemed like he wanted to tell me something and he waved at me. "Well, hi to you too! My name is….errr….."
"Awesome!" The blue man said. "Another friend!"
"And I'm…I'm…I don't know. The only thing I remember is something about….gold."
"This is great! I don't remember having any friends!" The odd creature stated and I was glad that he had friends now. He took us over to a large log and we sat down. "But I do remember a worm." The blue guy snapped his fingers.
"That's right! I have a friend named Aladdin. That must be you!" He called to the short creature and the creature looked back at him.
"And you must be the worm!"
"Who am I?" I asked and the bird suddenly hopped up and down.
"Err, Flying kid!"
"Oh, then you must be Birdy."
"Yeah!" The bird exclaimed.
"AL!" Blue guy shouted holding his arms out.
"Worm!" Short thing shouted and they hugged. The bird and I looked at one another.
"Bird!"
"Kid!" The bird and I hugged and then he frowned.
"We've gotta get moving, there's definitely gold somewhere." He looked at the blue guy curiously. "You know, you're big, blue, and funny looking you must be a genie. Turn into something to help us out!" The blue guy thought for a moment.
How about an elephant? An elephant never forgets!" To our surprise he turned into something huge.
"Was this what I was supposed to turn into?" He asked and I shrugged.
You weren't always a hippo?" The bird asked and I thought about it. Had he been?
"Well, try something else." The creature stated and the genie shape-shifted into a chicken, a lizard, and a dragon (Which he sneezed fire at the bird).
"Sorry." He said and then as a water hose sprayed Birdy. Then to make him dry he turned into a giant fan and blew all around. We were all scattered by the winds, rolling around on the ground and finally he stopped.
"Al! Al! Are you okay?" He asked the creature and I blinked from my spot on the ground. An imp…he's an imp…Nefir! The thoughts came back to me and I blinked in horror. Oh, man we all lost our minds!
"What happened worm?" He asked Genie and then Genie frowned. Iago meanwhile came back down where it was safe and gaped at me.
"'Laric?"
"Hi." I said weakly. Genie still hadn't noticed me.
"You're not Al?" He growled at Nefir.
"You're not the worm!" Nefir shouted back.
"You're the imp!" Genie yelled and Nefir frowned.
"Now I remember, golden silk!" Iago called and Carpet tugged on me. I started to inch backwards towards the bushes.
"Yes, the worm!" Nefir exclaimed and suddenly both he and Genie turned to me at the same time. Nefir was grinning smugly at me while Iago was looking at me with worry.
"And you are not supposed to be here." Genie stated, turning to look at me. I realized that by not hiding I had blown my cover and behind me Carpet twitched. The fog had made me forget why I had hidden to begin with.
"Oops…Um, I can explain…" I started, but Genie was already shaking his head. He looked like he was just getting started and I winced as he spoke.
"Oh, yeah? Well, you just wait until we get home mister!"
"But Genie, Nefir put me and Carpet in a net back at his house and-"
"How long have you been following us?" Genie interrupted, tapping his foot harshly against the ground. To say he was livid would be wrong. I had no word to describe how he looked but it was bad.
"Since you were at….um, his…house?" I stated finally and he exploded.