Chapter 13: Return to the Surface

Those that are loyal to me will be helped by my power. Will you embrace your anger, Arzin? Gain your revenge? These newcomers don't know your struggle, they are only obstacles to your goal. Remove them, no matter the cost.

Arzin heard the hazy, yet powerful voice in his mind, but didn't register from where it came. It faded just as quickly as he opened his eyes to the cloudless sky, the sun shining in full review over the beach. He blinked several times to remove the haze from his vision. He didn't remember passing out, only the argument with Miza.

She was mistaken about everything, he believed. Something stirred in him, though. Thoughts about her blame - over his brother's death, over Aladdin's death - wrestled in the back of his mind. All of this had to do with the Deathseeker, and he wanted to end the creature with his own hands. No one would stop him from this task. Not even...

"Princess...Princess, please - you have to wake up!" Arzin heard Miza's voice shake with fear, only a distance from where he lay. Arzin sat up, partially enraged that she hadn't been concerned about his own health, but then he realized that Princess Jasmine lay motionless on the sands, her expression pained. The magic carpet was on the princess's other side, using its knobs to fan her face. Arzin realized that she was in far more grave shape than himself. Perhaps Miza had tended to him while he'd been unconscious and moved to her after. He wasn't sure.

What happened to her?

He had a vague memory, one of lightning striking through Princess Jasmine before she collapsed to the sands. Had the Deathseeker done this? How?

A strong bubbling from the edge of the water interrupted his thoughts. Arzin stood, ready to prepare himself for a battle against the Deathseeker. He'd protect his niece at all costs, even if it meant ignoring the newcomers who had brought nothing but trouble. Aladdin included.

He didn't realize how unprepared he'd be for what he would encounter next.

Miza and Carpet followed Arzin's line of sight as the surface of the ocean water bubbled and foamed a fair distance away. Miza thought it was the Deathseeker's main body at first; she crouched towards Jasmine protectively, though she wasn't sure how she'd be any threat to the sea demon. Her eyes widened as a large, weirdly shaped ship shot out of the water, becoming airborne for a moment before heavily crashing down and sliding through the sands to a screeching and whirring halt.

The odd contraption was large, silver, and gleamed in the light from the sun. Miza had to shield her eyes with one hand just to gaze upon it. Her Uncle Arzin, fully awake, had the same reaction, using his arm to cover over his face from the glare of the full sun bearing down.

A door to the odd ship swung open, leaving Miza, Arzin and Carpet stunned at the figure who stumbled out. Genie emerged with several birds flying around his head. He used his palm to swat the birds away as if they were flies. "I think we might've overestimated a teensy bit how fast we were shooting out of the water with my mechanical underwater rocket. That was a doozy of a landing!"

"Friend, I think you're the only one who overestimated our speed. But if it kept us from the clutches of the Deathseeker, I owe you my life. I just hope Aladdin's holding his own against the limbs for now." The man who spoke after Genie hadn't emerged from the ship yet, but Miza thought his voice sounded very familiar - someone she hadn't heard from in a long time. She couldn't place it because it was a muffled voice, but the mention of Aladdin being alive made her heart skip a beat. Carpet didn't miss the mention either - he shook his knobs in mid air with joy.

"Genie! You're okay!" Miza said, waving to him. "We need your help. Princess Jasmine..."

Genie appeared happy to see Miza and Carpet at first, but his smile faded at the sight of Jasmine lying on the sands. "Jas! Miza, what happened?"

"It was..." she trailed off, looking between Arzin and Genie.

"I'm not sure what happened," Arzin said, his brow furrowed. "But I have little doubt it was the work of the sea demon."

"Uncle Arzin, you don't remember?" Miza said, her expression full of fear and something else that even Genie couldn't interpret.

Genie and Carpet helped Jasmine sit upright, but she didn't stir. "She's breathing at least, but no question - she's struggling," Genie said, his voice quiet and brows narrowed with concern.

The man who had been inside the strange ship spoke from behind all of them, his voice no longer muffled. "I think I know what happened to her. The demon god has the ability to use people as conduits...vessels for its power. What did it use, lightning? I can only guess that it gave her quite the shock."

Arzin turned to the figure, but his eyes widened in disbelief at the man who walked past him. He didn't move, with the exception of his hands at his sides that trembled.

Miza continued, not noticing Arzin's reaction. "Yes! She fell to the ground after the lightning struck. I didn't touch her but I kept calling out to her and she's been asleep ever since. Can you help her, sir?"

The healer smiled warmly, his attention turning to Jasmine as he rummaged through the small bag he carried at his side. "Indeed I can, little one. I have a medicine that I made below the surface while trapped by the Deathseeker. Hopefully she should quickly be on the mend once she takes it."

The man used a small container full of a bright purple fluid, holding it to Jasmine's lips for her to drink.

No sooner had Jasmine swallowed the last few drops of the potion that she gasped for air, her eyes opening wide as she lurched forward. Genie placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her. "You okay, Princess?"

She blinked in surprise. "Genie! You're alive! What happened to you? Where's Aladdin? And the Deathseeker?"

Genie transformed into a writer sitting midair, steadily typing with two fingers on a typewriter. He peered at her over small glasses that rested on the bridge of his nose. "I don't believe I caught all of those questions, your highness. You'll have to give them to me one at a time, I can only type so fast."

"Genie, seriously! This isn't the time to joke around; you had us all worried!"

Genie transformed back to his normal form, his frown creasing his features. "You had us worried too. But to answer your questions in order: 1. We got bogged down by the Deathseeker behind a portal that wasn't able to let us out without some trickery. 2. Al's alive, a little worn thin, but as long as I get back to him in time, he should be fine. 3. Kinda related to the second point, Al's keeping the Deathseeker distracted."

"You mean you left him down there?!"

Genie winced. "It's not what you think..."

The healer held up a hand, interrupting the two of them. "I think we can take the time to catch up on details later. Right now we have to prepare the village if we want any of Aladdin's plan to work. For now, he's safe, Princess. But he won't be if we take too much time."

Jasmine studied the healer for the first time. "Who...are you?"

"Ezele. It can't be." Arzin's strained voice caught all of their attention. The name also caused Miza's eyes to widen, and stare at the healer with newfound attention.

Ezele now saw Arzin for who he was, his mouth opening as if to say something, but he didn't find words. His expression then turned to a small, yet sad smile. "I should have recognized you, but my attention was to the Princess. My apologies, brother."

"H-how did you...?" Arzin began, but his voice trailed off.

"I had help. Unfortunately the men who helped me are no longer here." Ezele's features creased with sadness. He couldn't finish his thoughts, his eyes closing at the recall of several painful memories.

"Papa?" Miza's voice was small, her eyes widening as she saw the profile of the man who spoke her father's name. She hadn't recognized him at first, given the man's disheveled clothes, long beard and hair. But seeing a profile of him in the sunlight took her back to a time - five years before - watching her father stand a distance from the shoreline. A firm but determined expression had crossed his face as he stood with his men, ready to face off against the Deathseeker. It would be the last time she saw him alive, until that moment.

Ezele's own expression was one of shocked recognition as he opened his eyes to look at Miza in full for the first time. "Well, I never..." He suddenly laughed, a hearty one that bellowed from the back of his throat, but with a hint of an emotional sob beneath. "You're so grown now, my darling."

"Papa!" She launched herself into his arms, and he welcomed her with a firm embrace.

Genie took that moment to start bawling, large tears falling from his eyes and becoming pools of water on the sands at his feet. He grabbed Carpet suddenly, using the magic rug as a tissue to blow his nose. Carpet squirmed in protest, though the sight made Jasmine smile a little.

"I'm really glad that you're alive and well, Ezele," Jasmine said, her expression turning more serious. "I have so many questions to ask of you."

Ezele released his daughter, one of his hands lightly resting on Miza's head as he turned to the princess. "I'm sure all of you do, but we only have so little time. I can explain more on the way to the village. We need to prepare for the Deathseeker's attack and finish this."

Arzin's expression darkened. "An impossible task, even for you, Ezele. What could you possibly do to stop it from destroying the village again?"

Ezele turned to Arzin. "I've spent a long five years in a different dimension than you, brother. I've learned a few things about the demon's weaknesses, thanks to the words of a young man whom I only just met that put the pieces together. And he's still fighting down there as we speak."

"Aladdin!" Jasmine cried in recognition. She saw Genie suddenly grab Carpet and head over to the bulky ship. "Wait, Genie! Let me go with you."

"Jas...I don't think it's such a good idea. We're going head-to-head with the Deathseeker. We might be a while."

"All the more reason for me to go down there with you. Don't leave me behind!"

A flash in Genie's memory recalled a moment where Aladdin had uttered the exact same words. The semi-phenomenal being winced, realizing how scary it was that Aladdin and Jasmine were so alike in their determination.

"I would listen to the Princess if I were you, Genie. She doesn't seem like the person whom you would win an argument against," Ezele said, though his voice masked a laugh within his warning.

Genie sighed. "Yeah, I have two stubborn royals on my hands. Okay, princess, you win this one. Let's go."

Jasmine nodded, her thoughts spinning in one determined direction. Hold on, Aladdin, we're coming.

I'm running out of arrows and I don't have much time before it comes back. Aladdin's thoughts spun as he hid behind a boulder not far from the portal. He'd managed to drive the Deathseeker's limbs back, but his previous encounter with them had been too close for comfort for the prince. They had rushed through the portal, about as fast as three overgrown cobras striking at once. Aladdin had to fire his arrows in succession through the mouths of the limbs - it was the only way that he could directly hurt them, since the wet outer shells of the limbs were covered in spikes and too immune from being immersed in water for a while.

Suddenly, the portal started to glow, and Aladdin realized that he only had two arrows to work with. "Guess I'll have to improvise," he muttered. His body tensed, not ready for the sudden encounter but determined to survive. He held up his bow and flaming arrows, ready to fire, but he quickly realized that the large, familiar contraption that came hurling through the portal was indeed not the Deathseeker. He lowered his arrows.

When the door to the ship opened, however, he was surprised - and relieved - at the figure that came rushing toward him. Genie wasn't too far behind, but Jasmine had more than eagerly exited the ship without a second to spare.

"Aladdin, you're okay! I thought...I thought you were..."

"Ezele and Genie were a lot of help, kind of a long story. I'm guessing you guys met at the surface?" Aladdin said as he returned Jasmine's embrace.

"Yeah, it's like you said...kind of a long story." Jasmine looked around the area. "What on earth is this place?"

"Ezele was trapped in this other dimension for the past five years," Aladdin said. "He used to be among other survivors of the Deathseeker's attacks. The others, unfortunately, didn't make it." Aladdin explained in full the situation to Jasmine, who looked more horrified as Aladdin's retelling of Ezele's experience went on. When he finished, Jasmine shook her head.

"That must have been awful for him to endure for so long down here. It takes a lot of talent and strength for someone to be as resourceful as he was to survive."

Aladdin winced. "I tried telling him that, but he kept saying he felt like a coward for not coming anywhere near that portal following the deaths of the men that saved him."

Genie wiggled his eyebrows. "Yet Al here decided to mess with the portal and figured out how it worked and how to get out within a matter of a day. Talk about hero material."

Aladdin glared at him. "That's not a fair comparison, Genie. Ezele was being cautious. I wouldn't blame him for not wanting to confront the Deathseeker directly - he was the only one here! A sea demon, former sky god, whatever you would call it - that's not something you want to tangle with, not without a little help." Aladdin looked between Jasmine and Genie. "That's, among other reasons, why I'm glad I have you guys."

"Awww, come here ya big lug! Wanna show you some loooove too!" Genie transformed into a big, overly large teddy bear, giving Aladdin a big hug in response. Aladdin's lip turned up in a half smile, but the prince visibly winced.

"Genie, don't forget my arm. Not in the best shape." Aladdin managed. Despite Ezele's medicine and bandages, Aladdin's arm was still heavily wounded from the bite one of the Deathseeker's limbs gave him. He could move it when he needed, but if too much pressure was applied, it hurt him greatly. Aladdin tried to smile through the pain, but his expression gave way to a visible cringe.

Genie immediately set Aladdin down. "Sorry kid, forgot about that a quick moment. I'm just happy we weren't too late and found you in even worse condition than before."

Aladdin caught a glimpse of Jasmine's sudden panicked expression out the corner of his eye. The portal was starting to activate again; it wouldn't be long before the Deathseeker's limbs would try to attack them. "You might've not been too late, Genie, but if we don't get out of here soon, it's gonna corner us here."

Genie gave a brief salute. "Hang on kids, we're going back to the wide, wide world of the sea!" Genie grabbed them, rushed inside the large sea ship, and gave it enough momentum to race through the portal just as the Deathseeker's limbs rushed in.

"GENIE!" Aladdin and Jasmine cried as they disappeared through the portal.

Aladdin was the first to wake up after the tumultuous ride through the portal into the open sea. From his view in the tiny undersea ship, it was quiet and dark in an otherwise wide and mostly empty ocean floor. If Aladdin wasn't on edge, he'd be more likely to take in the view of the tiny sea fish and waving displays of green plant livid. He looked around his immediate surroundings within the ship, saw Jasmine begin to stir from where she lay on the ship's floor.

"Jasmine, you okay?" he asked, helping her sit up.

"Yeah, that was a rough ride. Genie, next time you decide to do something like that, give us a little more warning first."

Genie stirred not far away, knocking water out of his ears and shaking his head. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting it to go that fast. But hey, at least we're far away from immediate danger."

"Exactly how far away did we go?" Aladdin asked as he looked out one of the tiny windows to the view of the sea bottom. "And how long is it gonna take for us to get back to the surface?"

Genie shrugged. "Don't know. I'll look at the ship stats and let you know. After all, I'm the captain of this baby, and we have a whale of a sea demon in our presence."

Jasmine hugged the sides of her arms. "I just hope we can get to the surface before the Deathseeker notices we're still down here."

"And in time to help Ezele and the others," Aladdin said. "We had a good plan, but it's gonna take convincing all the village to chip in. I would've gone, but I think if they saw Ezele was alive, the village would be more likely to act. Especially Arzin."

Jasmine winced. "Unfortunately, Arzin still wasn't convinced about anything. There's something wrong with him, but I can't remember..."

Aladdin did a double take. "Wait, you guys saw Arzin on the surface?"

Jasmine was about to answer him when a rocking of the ship nearly knocked them off their feet. "What was that?"

Genie reappeared, seemingly apologetic. "So, I've got bad news and more bad news. First bit of bad news, looks like we're stuck in a sand dune and the ship is only on low power, it'll take me a bit to fix it up as good as new, even with magic."

Aladdin nodded. "Guess it couldn't be helped considering our escape. Anything we can do to help?"

Genie shook his head. "As much as I would like to ask, Al, it would involve going outside the ship. That leads me to the 'more bad news.'"

Jasmine rolled her eyes. "Just say it, Genie."

Before he could, another rumble hit the side of the ship, this time knocking both Aladdin and Jasmine both to the floor. Genie wobbled and looked outside of the windows with an expression no less fearful than any of them felt. "Deathseeker's found us - it's right outside and not being happy is an understatement."