A quick note to one FairyNotes: Ugh! You gotta get an account so I can answer you properly! Your comments are so fun! Oh, but Mozenrath is grumbling about your nickname for him. I've only been able to keep him appeased by tossing about a dozen new magic books his way. :-) Hoping you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Nineteen: A Magical Night

Khaleel knocked on the doors. He forced himself to stop fidgeting as the doors opened to reveal Dalia on the other side. "Good evening," he said.

"How did you get past the guards?" she asked, stoic. Well, that hadn't been what he expected.

"Oh, uh, I snuck past," he answered.

"All forty-eight of them? Even the ones who eat fire? Impressive," she said.

Was that serious or meant to be a joke? At least she looked a little impressed. "Well, uh, that's what people say about me," he said. He inwardly cringed. Oh why did he say that? That didn't make any sense at all. And worse, Dalia looked less than impressed. Less than interested actually. Which wasn't good for him or Aladdin. "That didn't come out right," he said, trying to figure out how to salvage this. "No one says that, I don't know why I said that." Oh! Right! Flowers! He pulled the bouquet out from behind his back.

"Oh, they're beautiful," Dalia said. Yes! On track! "She will hate them." Wait. What? "Tell Prince Ali the way to her heart is through her mind."

Ah, misunderstanding as to giver and receiver, easily remedied. "Actually, these are from me to you," Khaleel said.

She stood there, silently. No reaction whatsoever. "Please excuse me one moment," she said. Then she closed the doors, leaving Khaleel wondering what he did wrong even as he stood rooted in a mad hope that she'd be back.

Jasmine held back a mad laugh as Dalia shut the doors. Never had any gentleman shown an interest in her friend. And here was a prince's valet that was apparently as interested in Dalia as Dalia was interested in him.

As soon as the doors clicked shut, Dalia opened her mouth in a silent scream of jubilation, pumping her arms in victory.

Jasmine added her own silent scream of joy on behalf of her friend. Wasn't it just barely a half-hour ago Dalia had been quietly bemoaning the fact that she hadn't had a proper opportunity to speak to Khaleel at the festival? Now she might get the chance at a real talk.

With silent, excited laughter, they both managed to compose themselves as Dalia turned to open the doors again.

Khaleel was quietly mocking himself when the doors opened again.

Dalia had a faint smile on her face now though otherwise unchanged. "My favorites," she said, claiming the flowers. "I accept. Please continue."

Okay, so he did still have a chance. "I was noticing how pleasant the evening is," he said. "At the party, I noticed that you were noticing how pleasant I am." Ouch. How conceited does that sound? But she was looking more intrigued rather than offended. "Uh, how is this going?" he asked.

"It's clumsy," she answered. "But in a charming sort of a way."

"A stroll," Khaleel said. When she didn't answer, he almost facepalmed. More words, Khaleel. Use your words! "Would you like to take an evening stroll?"

"Just the two of us?" she asked, almost as if she barely dared hope. "On purpose?"

"Yes, as people," Khaleel answered.

"Just one more second," she said. She closed the doors a final time.

"Why did I say 'as people'?" Khaleel muttered in frustration. "That kid is contagious!"

Jasmine smiled as Dalia tossed over her new bouquet of red and yellow flowers to her. She caught them.

Dalia rushed to where she'd left her headdress earlier and put it on once again. She went to the door and hesitated, fiddling with her fingers. She glanced over to Jasmine.

"Go," Jasmine said, gesturing toward the door.

Dalia nodded, composing herself, then opened the doors. "I've never done this before," she said. "How does it work?" But of course even as she stepped out, Khaleel didn't get a chance to speak as Dalia started the conversation.

Jasmine smiled. At least one of them would get their dream evening. Had she really misjudged Prince Ali so badly? Or was it just her hurt pride that was leaving her frustrated with him?

She placed her friend's flowers in water before returning to her books and maps. She intended to discover the mystery behind Ababwa. It had to exist somewhere, or Prince Anders wouldn't have known of it nor share an alliance.

She heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she called absently.

"Actually I'm already in," a familiar voice said from behind her.

She whirled to find Prince Ali standing just inside her balcony.

Aladdin stood where he had stepped out into the open. Okay, start with why he was here–

"Don't move," she ordered.

A low, threatening growl made him freeze. Yeah, he had maybe forgotten about her giant tiger.

"I just came back because you left so–"

"How did you get there?" she asked, confused.

Aladdin figured honesty was the best choice. "Magic carpet."

And she didn't buy it. "Actually, I'm glad you're here," she said, turning back to the desk she was standing at.

"You are," Aladdin said.

"I have been trying to find Ababwa but it doesn't seem to be on any of my maps," Jasmine said.

Aladdin's heart sank. If she couldn't find Ababwa . . . . But maybe it was a matter of age and who made them.

"Care to show me?" she asked.

"I'd love to," he answered, starting to step forward. He paused as the tiger growled again.

"Rajah," Jasmine chided, "let's not eat the prince today. He needs his legs for dancing."

Ow. That stung a little. "Actually, that was part of why I wanted to talk to you," Aladdin said. "We apparently ran into some cultural differences."

Jasmine raised her eyebrows but listened.

"In Ababwa when a man is interested in a woman, he'll perform what we call the Peacock Strut," Aladdin explained. "The strut can be anything, displays of strength, agility, poetry, recitation, just whatever he believes his strengths to be. And the more extravagant and showy, the more serious he is in gaining the woman's attention and affections."

Jasmine considered him. "And you consider your strength to be dancing and thus showed off appropriately."

"All meant to catch your eye and show how serious I am in courting you," Aladdin confirmed. "The crowd may have enjoyed it, but I was only performing for an audience of one."

A smile twitched at her lips. "And on a scale of fling to long-term commitment, how would your display have been interpreted by a lady of Ababwa."

"According to Khaleel, I all but proposed to you," Aladdin said. He offered a nervous smile. "If I were to mingle with my entourage about now, they're probably whispering about how I'm making a lovesick idiot of myself."

A full smile reached her lips now. "Maybe I should inquire about Ababwan proposal traditions before there is a cultural fumble in that regard."

"Well, some are a simple, plan a special setting, offer a ring or jewel, and ask 'will you marry me?' I like the idea of another tradition, where the couple echoes one of their first conversations as their way of proposing. Some say that the farther back they can recall, tells just how precious they believe every moment they've spent together is."

"And how does one echo a first conversation?"

"Well, it would be a role reversal of a sort. For example: 'Tea?' 'Thank you, and thank you for getting me out of there.' But instead of me saying 'tea?' You would, and I would answer back what you said."

"You would have two options with that opening," Jasmine pointed out, teasing.

"Admittedly, yes," Aladdin said. "But neither really lend to the easy flow of proposing. Any traditions in Agrabah?"

"Recreating the setting of the first meeting," she answered. "The Royal House has the misfortune of being rather dull in that area, meeting in the entry hall as most do. But Mother and Baba managed to change it a little. In Shehrabad the couple are surrounded by the lady's favorite flowers, or color if she doesn't have a favorite flower. Baba created a room of red roses for her."

"That sounds beautiful," Aladdin said.

Jasmine nodded. "Now, Ababwa?"

"Right, of course," Aladdin said, joining her at the desk. "So, how old are some of these maps and what countries made them?"

"That matters?" she asked.

"Yes. Ababwa received a special protection spell three years ago. No one who wishes to destroy Ababwa can see it once they reach the kingdom, nor can they find it on maps or in books," Aladdin explained.

Jasmine looked over her maps again. "I usually don't get a lot of new maps unless some of my older ones are falling to pieces. This one was made two years ago, and the country that made it is in the corner there."

Aladdin nodded as he saw the kingdom's name. "That was the kingdom that would have struck Ababwa two days after Mother died."

"That's awful," Jasmine said. "But, how exactly did your kingdom escape that?"

"I used my second wish to save my people," Aladdin said. "Ababwa had a family genie for generations. Each sultan had three wishes to use as they so chose."

"'Had'? Did you manage to lose this genie?" Jasmine asked.

"In a way, in other ways, no," he said with a shrug, looking through the other maps, trying to find an older one of the region. "I freed him, and he's continued to be my closest friend and confidant."

"Khaleel? He's a genie?"

"Used to be a genie. His wish was not only to be free, but to be human. And so long as things work out with Dalia, he may be sticking around."

"Dhandi?"

Aladdin chuckled at that. "Dhandi, no. Her guardian, Eden, yes. And they're not the only ones. I have a hobby of finding genies and freeing them after the first two wishes."

Jasmine shook her head in disbelief. "You are unbelievable."

"I believe that you said that before," Aladdin said, his lips twitching up.

"You potentially risk life and limb to collect genies?"

"In my defense, I don't usually seek them out intentionally," Aladdin said. He shrugged. "It just made sense to me. Mother always told me that we shouldn't be happier than our least happy subject. But I could never understand why she didn't then free Khaleel. He deserved to be as happy as we could make him, but he wasn't. So my third and final wish was to set Khaleel free and have a chance at the happiness he craved."

Finally he found a good map. "Ah, here it is," he said. "About five years old, and there's Ababwa." He held his breath.

Jasmine touched the city. "I can't believe I missed that," she said. "Wait, some of my more recent books said that Ababwa fell into ruin, and that was why I never got any proper tutoring on it."

"Ababwa still thrives," Aladdin said. "And that probably proves how you should take a break from maps and books. There is no practical purpose to maps when you're not traveling on to the next adventure."

"Maps and books are how I see the world," Jasmine said.

"I thought a fiery princess such as yourself could go anywhere," Aladdin said.

She slightly shook her head. "Not this princess."

"Well," Aladdin said, stepping back toward the balcony, "would you like to–" He jumped as he ran into a pedestal holding a dish of apples. "Sorry, sorry," he apologized even as she lightly laughed. At least she was amused by his uncharacteristic clumsiness. He knelt to pick the fallen fruit up.

"Rajah!"

Aladdin looked up to see the tiger inches from his face. He held as still as possible. "Hey," he breathed.

Rajah's fierceness melted away into a calm friendliness. Then he planted a long, scratchy lick up his face.

Aladdin winced. "Thanks for that," he said, reaching up and scratching behind Rajah's ears. He stood back up, quietly clearing his throat. "As I was saying, you should see these places. I mean there is a whole world outside of books and maps." He now stood on the moonlit balcony, Jasmine standing just inside her rooms. "Do you want to?" he offered.

"How? Every door's guarded," she said, saddened but accepting of her fate.

Aladdin smiled. Oh, she was going to be in for a surprise. "Who said anything about a door?" he asked, turning to climb over the balcony railing.

"What are you doing?" she asked, rushing after him, fearful for him.

"Sometimes, Princess," he answered, balancing himself on the outer ledge. He subtly checked beneath him. Yep, Carpet was in place.

Jasmine stared at Ali as he just stood on the opposite side of the railing, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Sometimes, you just have to take a risk," he said. Then he jumped – backwards.

"No!" she cried. She froze. All air gone from her lungs. "What just happened?" she whispered. She couldn't bear to think of what she would find if she dared look over the railing.

Then there he was again, floating straight up . . . and standing on a floating carpet.

She could hardly believe it. She had only ever read . . . . "Is this–?" She daren't say it for fear of dispersing the dream.

"A Magic Carpet," Ali finished with a smile. He stepped forward, bracing himself against her railing, extending a hand to her. "Do you trust me?"

Her heart skipped a beat. The inflections were just as before in the market. Yet a part of her still hardly dared to hope. "What did you say?"

"Do you trust me?" There he still stood, as though standing on a Magic Carpet was the most natural thing in the world. As though her entire world wasn't turning on its head as she received yet more confirmation that the street rat that she'd met in the marketplace was in fact the prince and royal heir of a neighboring kingdom.

"Yes," she answered, slipping her hand into his.

His smile broadened as he helped her up onto the Carpet. It was the oddest sensation, so much that she was somewhat relieved once Aladdin helped her to settle down to a kneeling position on the near extinct being.

She only looked back once as they started off, seeing Rajah watching their flight.

"So, where would you like to go?" Aladdin asked.

"What do you mean?" Jasmine asked.

"Well, I have yet to actually test it," he said, "but according to legend, a Magic Carpet can take you anywhere you wish in a matter of seconds. We could tour the world within the hour if you wanted. Or we could just leisurely view Agrabah and the surrounding deserts. Whatever you desire."

Jasmine's mind emptied. To go from no freedom to the whole world free for the exploring . . . She was unsure what to do with it.

Aladdin gently squeezed her hand, a soft smile on his face. "Let your heart decide," he coaxed.

"Where would you wish to show me?" she asked.

A touch of pride entered his features. "I would show you my kingdom. Carpet? Willing to let us test the legends?"

The Carpet quivered before extending its forward tassels to Aladdin.

Aladdin nodded as though understanding a mystery. "Hold on. I have no idea how this will work."

She caught his arm, bracing for anything. Surprisingly, there was no whirling of winds, nor some jolt of magic. It was just one moment they were sailing above the city of Agrabah and then the next they were soaring above craggy rocks almost black under the night sky.

"I always loved exploring here as a boy," Aladdin said, lightly directing Carpet where to go. "When he was able to, Khaleel would take me into the caves, or just simply help me climb to the top of the larger rocks."

"It's magnificent," Jasmine breathed as they soared under a natural stone arch.

"There, up ahead," Aladdin said, pointing out to their forward left. A hundred golden lights twinkled just above the horizon amidst a shadowed backdrop.

"That's the city isn't it?" Jasmine asked.

"Yes, either preparing for our own Harvest Festival or already celebrating it," Aladdin answered.

"Can we peek at the celebrations?" Jasmine asked.

"Of course," Aladdin answered. A half-hour later, they glided over the city, hidden by the darkness above the torches and paper lanterns. The people were bustling and laughing, setting up boards for tables and benches, hanging banners and brilliantly colored swathes of cloth. The decorating flowed through the streets right up to the gates of the palace where the greatest and most extravagant decorating was taking place. "We've always celebrated outside the palace walls, even though a great number of the viziers and upper nobles hate it," Aladdin said.

Jasmine smiled, joy and longing filling her. She so wanted to be part of a celebration like that again.

They were now sweeping over the darker palace. Jasmine was startled to see Dhandi on a balcony being held by a woman.

"A couple of the former genies are strong in magic," Aladdin said. "They can create portals and travel from place to place. I had one of them bring Dhandi back home. I couldn't allow Eden to worry about her any longer."

Jasmine shook her head in wonder. "How many surprises do you have hidden?" she asked.

"I don't know," Aladdin answered with a shrug and roguish grin. "None of them are surprises to me."

Jasmine chuckled despite herself even as Aladdin caught Carpet's tassels again.

"There is another place I want to show you," he said. They were then flying over a beautiful river that sliced through the desert like shimmering ribbon. Palm trees dotted the edges as well as low bushes and grass. "Mother would always take me here. She said that it was not only where she and Father first met, but also where she last saw him." He released a breath, showing a sad smile. "I think that she had always hoped that he would come back here. He just never did."

Jasmine touched his shoulder, lightly squeezing. "We can discover the truth of what happened to your father," she said. "I'm not sure how, but we'll find a way."

Aladdin's smile turned hopeful. Then he shed that burden away like an old robe. "So, do you have a place you'd like to see now?"

Jasmine grinned. "I have a couple places I've always wanted to see." She grasped Carpet's tassels and thought about the grand trade oasis that she'd only ever read about. It was just on the edge of Agrabah, along an inland border. It was also said that this particular oasis fed a river that flowed down to Agrabah's western border.

The silver river transformed into the wider spring of the trading post. She looked about in wonder as Carpet just skimmed the water. Golden fireflies danced around them as they flew past tall palm trees.

"This is amazing," Aladdin said.

"Like a new world," Jasmine said. This was part of her kingdom. A thriving oasis, lined with her merchants and people, trading merchandise that her subjects had crafted and labored over. Pride bubbled up within her, even as a hint of sorrow tainted it. She wanted to know more of this place. She wanted to actually experience it. But for now, she would be content by actually seeing it. She had a feeling that even just a friendship with Aladdin would open up a thousand possible opportunities of visiting and adventures.

"Is that what I think it is?" Aladdin asked, breaking into her thoughts.

She looked up ahead. Her heart leaped into her throat. A waterfall. She couldn't recall any of her maps indicating a waterfall. What could this mean? Was this the wrong place? Would they be alright?

Aladdin laughed, catching Carpet's side. "Let's ride it!"

"What?!" Jasmine cried.

"If it's dangerous, I'll wish us somewhere else," Aladdin said, adjusting his hold to Carpet's tassels. "Come on, it'll be fun."

Jasmine caught his arm. "I have no intentions of flying off," she said, even though really she was half-terrified.

Then they were over the edge. Her eyes snapped shut as they fell over the side.

"Don't close your eyes," Aladdin said. "You're missing it."

She peeked out against the rushing wind. She would have gasped if her breath hadn't been stolen. They flew down into a small jungle just before the wide, wide ocean. Under the white moon, everything was a beautiful blue and silver. Then they were rushing on along the coast. "We'll have to come back," she said. "There are too many things to see."

"I'll look forward to it," Aladdin said, grinning.

Carpet tapped her shoulder, bringing her attention to the right. Below them dolphins sped through the water, leaping up to greet them.

Jasmine leaned forward to better see them as they flew above. Were dolphins truly as playful and friendly as books said? "Have you ever played with dolphins before?" she asked.

"No, but I've always wanted to," Aladdin answered. "You?"

"I don't even know how to swim," Jasmine said.

Aladdin sharply turned to look at her as though the greatest crime had been committed. "Okay, we are going to have to remedy that in the future," he said. "You live beside the sea! How can you not know how to swim? Ababwa is landlocked and Mother and Khaleel still made sure I knew how to swim."

"Maybe they knew how much trouble you would get into," Jasmine suggested impishly.

Aladdin stared as though slapped before laughing. "Probably too true. But seriously. Why were you never taught?"

"How many princesses actually get to venture beyond their palace walls?" Jasmine returned, half-resigned. "Just how many manage to leave land for the sea?"

He shook his head. "Now, I am serious. Unless we discover a long-buried fear of water, you are getting swimming lessons. It's a matter of basic survival."

"How many times did it save your life?" Jasmine asked, curious but wondering if she really wanted to know the details.

"At least three or four times," Aladdin answered. "But the stories can wait for another time, when tales of adventures are being shared around a fire or around a fresh brew of tea."

Jasmine smiled, appreciating the unspoken promises of this wasn't a one-night thing. Swimming lessons, stories to be shared in the future, intentions of returning to fully explore what they'd passed through. All of them silently promised at least a close friendship if not something more.

Author's Note: And there is my version of the most iconic magical date I know of. I decided to make up some magic lore for carpet, mostly because I've seen so many folks criticize the "Whole New World" sequence. It's a magic carpet, use some imagination. So I basically gave Carpet the ability to teleport. Nothing flashy, just plain and simple.

Again I tried to weave in elements of the song, even if I didn't actually have Jasmine and Aladdin singing. Hope you also enjoyed hearing more about some courting/proposal traditions. :-) And, bit of trivia, when Aladdin hopped off the balcony and onto Carpet was where I beat NaNoWriMo for this story.

I love Dalia and Khaleel together. That scene in the movie was so perfect. Not to mention Jasmine being as excited for Dalia as Dalia was. :-)

So, the night's not done yet. Any theories about what more could happen? Do you think Aladdin will tell Jasmine everything? Only some? Nothing? Looking forward to hearing from you.

Oh, and for any interested, I beat the NaNoWriMo challenge! Over 50,000 words and counting. The story is within about the final quarter of the episode, about the time Sherlock dives into his Mind Palace to figure out H.O.U.N.D. Liberty, Indiana. So, between the final scenes from the episode and some extra bits I thought of, I'm suspecting just another 10,000 to 20,000 more words are needed to finish it up. Though admittedly, depending on how strongly Sherlock, John, and company are talking, I may take a little break after today. The unfortunate aftereffect of at 50,000 word challenge: Brain needs a break. But a very real possibility that I will finish the story up before I return to The Two Hobbits. That or I'll alternate for a bit.