Madness of Sultan Jafar
"Oh Iago my friend, it always amazes me how much life can be so much better once in power," Jafar told his red parrot as he strutted into the throne room, "No longer playing second fiddle to our pathetic the consultant. Here I am in command, I give the orders, I am the one on top!"
"Ain't it the truth boss boss," Iago zoomed into the air a wicked grin on his face, "Money, power, all of it great."
Jafar sneered, "Still, if only I had gotten that lamp."
"What," Iago froze in the air and glared at his master, "The lamp, Jafar, you don't need a magic lamp, you have the Heartless...Agrabah, the Sultanate, why need a lamp."
"Because Iago, the lamp is power, it's not enough to have halls, and crowns, one must have something to back up one's account. The lamp is something far more than one what even my own powers an gain now. Plus it is a bit of insurance should my current alliances go south….Still, I suppose I should relax a bit."
"Yeah, relax a bit," Iago parroted, "Better than your old idea of marrying of Princess Jasmine then killing everyone at the wedding. Oy...Would that have been the talk of a town".
This once grand hall was the most magnificent spot in the entire Agrabah palace, from it's marble hallways to grand throne room. Now that Jafar had become the sultan things were a tad different, gone first was the gold elephant throne replaced instead with a red snake shaped one. The colors of the marble changed as well to red and gold, far more befitting of him. Also the guards has been outscased or many of them turned into Heartless themselves.
Still it was worrying, so long as the Princess remained outside his reach, she could insight rebellion and strife in his newly acquired kingdom. He would use all the powers of darkness he had obtained at his disposal in order to destroy it once and for all.
"Ain't life grand," Iago snickered as he flew over to a nearby pillow with a bowl of fruit, taking a large bite of Apple. "No more crackers or nothing."
Jafar cackled as he sat on the throne, "And even better, a ruler worthy of this world, not unlike that large sack of lard over there."
His eyes snapped towards the end of the hall to a large hourglass. Inside, a soft pudgy man laid wearing white robes and turban with a large white bushy beard. His wrinkled face curved into a saddened frown as he leaned over, defeated, broken. Jafar snickered as he got up, Snake staff clenched as he walked over to him, his shadow looming over the poor man.
Hard to believe that this was once considered the mighty Sultan of Agrabah, a man people feared and respected. Though the fear came from a projection of power not actual power. The Sultan he knew couldn't forcefully crush a rebellion yet alone behead a filthy street rat. Though Jafar was lucky that the Sultan had chosen him as the Vizer. Him, a poor boy from the provinces who only claim to fame was his small knowledge of the dark powers of the world.
"So, your highness," Jafar said, his voice oozing of venomous glee. "How does it feel to know that you had everything taken under your nose without even a whimper of a fight."
The Sultan looked up at him, his face sad yet still stern. "You haven't taken everything yet...And you know it."
"Well," Jafar sneered, "Once your daughter is in my grasp, I will have."
The Sultan just chuckled, "You'll never find her that's for sure, if she doesn't want to be found, she won't be. She's like her mother in that way, a defiant spirit, I'm starting to appreciate that now more than I should have."
"Oh I think she will," Jafar tightened his grip, "See she's going to play a grand part in something quite big in the future."
"What?" The Sultan started to look worried now, "What sick twisted dreams do you have for my daughter."
Jafar chuckled darkly. "Wouldn't you like to know."
A moment of silence as Jafar headed back to the throne only to be halted by a soft chuckling sound again.
"You think that is a throne Jafar?" The Sultan spoke, trying to be as defiant as possible yet his voice was weak and tired. " A throne is only as worthy as the man who sits in it…. What I see Jafar is nothing more than a large chair."
Jafar tightens the grip on his staff as he felt a wave of anger overcome him, yet he tried to remain calm, not wishing to give the Sultan any satisfaction that he was getting to him. Jafar was after all a man of pride, someone who had worked from the ground, scavenged, stole, fought to get where he was today. Even his studies in magic were difficult, having to go painstaking challenges just to get even a whiff of magical ability, from his snake staff that had hypnotic power to now his ability to control the Heartless.
For too long Jafar had considered himself someone second, always number two. First to Sultan, now to Maleficent. Though today he had managed to knock out at least one of his competes for power. Everything in Jafar's life had been a struggle, and yet he had not only survived but now he was thriving, come so close to gaining everything he had ever desired and more, right now at his fingertips.
So he was not about to get some washed out old man degrade him now that Jafar had taken the position of Sultan.
"And pray tell what makes a man worthy of such things.A fat incompetent man who hardly knew anything about ruling apart from signing things when others...like me...told you."
"The strength of his character, the purity of his heart. That means more than just signing things."
Jafar gripped his staff tighter now as he smirked at the Sultan. "Tell me your majesty, did you have such character and purity of heart? Answer me honestly now. I do so wish to know. After all you let this place fester and left me in charge most of the time as you dilly dallied away in your playroom, rummaging around with you're models. Even your daughter had more authority than you. Face it your majesty whatever character you had died long ago."
The Sultan paused to think before he sat down on the ground in shame.
"Perhaps I did not, in fact I did not, otherwise I would not be here. But I know my daughter does, and she will find a way to stop you! She has never let me down once. Her character is strong, and I'm sure that she will find allies worthy of finally brining and end to your tyranny!"
"I already have my my men and the Heartless searching for her as we speak. Very soon, we will find her and she will serve a great purpose far beyond -"
"Now, now Jafar don't give away everything." A calm yet sinister female voice echoed in his ear.
A cold chills filled the room, as Jafar turned to see Maleficent followed by Lord Hades of the Underworld and Pete.
Quicky Jafar stepped back losing a bit of posture as he gasped at seeing these three in his domain unaccounted. It was bad enough for them to intrude in his affairs, but now that he was Sultan he wanted to have some sense of royal status. Yet alone saw from this witch and death God was nothing more than contempt for him. One day he would have to remedy that when he had the power too.
"Ah, Agrabah." Hades said looking around the place, reminiscing, "Back in the old days, your world and mine were neighbors. Good times...Good times….Still a bit drabby though seriously, it gets hotter than my head, woo!"
"Nice place yuh got here." Pete chuckled. "Wish I had a nice place like this, would use is to get away from the wife and kids."
"What do you two want?" Jafar groaned eyeing Maleficent more before giving them a slick smile. "If I had known you were coming I would have time to prepare for you a fine feast worthy of such greatness."
"Oh that sounds delicious." Pete licked his lips hungirly."
"What can't we come by to see a co-workers new dig I mean come on." Hades arms widened to bask in the throne room. "I mean sure it's not the drab dankness of the Underworld and it could use a few demons and souls every now and then but hey-It's a true bachelors pad man."
Jafar sighed. "I apologize that my pad is not to your liking-security in the city has been something to be desire lately. Agrabah is a sick city, and I intend to make it better. Already I have brought the Sultan to heal, and the people will soon bend to my will. This world will be mine to rule as I see fit, as was promised!"
"Yeesh, no need to get touchy." Hades muttered.
"Yeah Jafar-you're starting to get all paranoid, it ain't healthy for the brains and what not." Pete snickered. "Guess that what happens when you have to run a government, all the bureaucracy and what not, it ain't healthy for ya."
Jafar rolled his eyes and glared at Maleficent again. " Again... I ask what do you want!"
"I am just here on behalf of the needs of the concerned." Maleficent assured him as she approached the throne. "From what I see, you have still yet to recover the Princess or locate the Keyhole. I thought those would be simple tasks even you could follow"
"The Heartless are searching for them now, I'm certain will find it soon enough." Jafar assured, a tinge of annoyance on his face as he glared back at Maleficent.
"Remember that girl is key to our goals. We need all seven of them to open the final door, any fewer is useless."
"Well, from what curly beard tells us, you have a special something for capturing Princesses." Hades said snickering, as he leaned up against the throne's arm shoulder. "
"Yes, why not just let Riku into our overall objectives" Jafar inistited, "He seems to be your new personal favorite, a spy in the Keyblade ranks. Although from what I can tell, his ability to get the boy into our side is failing"
Maleficent sneered, "Riku will serve his part in the end, I sense great things from him unlike the rest of you, there is a darkness in his heart that I plan to tap into. I will make a powerful weapon for all of us, and our end goals. However Jafar I intrusted you and you alone to do what is necessary in this world and that includes finding the princess".
Jafar sighed getting up from the throne to meet Maleficent now face to face both sneering at one another. Both with smug looks on there facing, showing off how cruel yet regal they could both be.
"Well, if the Princess is that important we'll find her." With a fling of his wrist, he summoned six more Heartless, these ones in turban and vests, brandishing sabers as they awaited their commands. "Find Jasmine and bring her to me at once!"
"Oh send in the minions sure if you like a hands off approach." Hades muttered.
"Don't steep yourself in darkness too long, the Heartless consume the careless." Maleficent said as she watched the tiny shadows run off in the distance.
"You're concern is touching but hardly necessary."
"Just do not fail Jafar, the Princess is our key to power." Maleficent responded, "I made you second because I thought you were the most adept...Even over the god of the underworld. Do not make me regret that decisions".
"Yeah, your second, and what am I chopped liver" Hades muttered, "Again I'm the god of the underworld and snake boy here is second, I mean come on, how is that fair"
Second, how he hated that word.
The two of them glared at one another each trying to not show weakness in front of the other. Ever since they met there was always a certain amount of rivalry between the two of them. Both were quite powerful magic users, smart, intelligent and quite devious. Yet there was always an underlying tension. Maleficent was smart enough to see Jafar's potential to make him her unofficial number two in her league of followers, yet Jafar always resented that Maleficent was the one in charge, thinking he was the better leader among this group of villains. Deep in his mind he was constantly thinking of a way to one day betray Maleficent and outdo her.
If that day were to come, he would gladly take it he would not play second place to Maleficent forever.
As they continued to glare with one another Hades looked at the two of them with a grimace.
"Oy you can cut butter with the tension between you two I mean really?"
"Tell me about it." Pete continued.
Finally Jafar had enough and sneered walking off to leave the two alone in the throne room, tired at the sight of them.
"There is more than one power in the universe my deal, one that could one day oudo you."