Chapter Twenty-four: To Free or Not Free a Genie

Aladdin fought the urge to pace. Why did he feel so restless? He never felt restless after they defeated a villain. Why did he feel like their troubles had only started instead of ending?

Jasmine sat with her father in an alcove as Mozenrath gave the Sultan an examination. Rajah had joined them, laying at Dalia's and Jasmine's feet. Dalia calmly stroked Rajah's head as she sat just beyond arms reach of the princess. Everything was well. Everything was fine. So why did he feel on edge?

"Aladdin?" Khaleel murmured.

"Something doesn't feel right," Aladdin confessed in a low voice. "I know what just happened, but it doesn't feel like the end. I know that every victory doesn't need to have a great battle before it. And yet . . .."

"It feels a little too easy," Khaleel finished. "He has to have an ace up his sleeve."

"I may never fully understand that expression," Aladdin said. "But he definitely gave up too easily. Why didn't he 'out' me as a common street rat? That is the only conclusion he could have come to after what happened this morning."

Khaleel nodded, but before he could speak—

"Prince Ali," the Sultan said.

Aladdin stepped forward, entering the invisible barrier created by the arrangement of benches Agrabah's Royal Family and Dalia occupied. He gave a slight bow, Khaleel just behind him. "Your Majesty," Ali said. "I pray you have recovered."

"Indeed," the Sultan answered. "And your brother has assured us that with the staff destroyed, there should be no ill aftereffects."

Mozenrath offered a bow, placing a hand over his heart. "I would hate to leave a hopeful ally with weakened defenses when I can be of service," he said gallantly.

The Sultan nodded deeply before turning his attention to Aladdin once again. "Prince Ali, I must apologize," he said.

"I assure you there is no need, Your Majesty," Ali said. "Not only were you relying on information you believed to be a reliable source but you were also held sway by a very powerful hypnosis. The most powerful I have personally come across in years. I hold none of your words against you."

The Sultan smiled. "And I can assure you," he said, "your honor and integrity will never again be questioned here in Agrabah."

Ali slightly bowed, opening his mouth to speak when his host continued.

"A more noble and sincere young man has never graced the chambers of this palace," the Sultan said. "I would be honored to call you my son."

Aladdin rocked a little on his feet. While he had eventually hoped for that, he hadn't been expecting it now.

The Sultan then added, turning to Jasmine as she beamed and blushed beside him, "If that were something anyone wanted."

"Baba," she murmured, embarrassed.

"Your Majesty," Aladdin said, "while I am greatly honored and sincerely hope to further pursue that possibility, if the Princess so wishes it. I feel that I must tell you the full truth of a matter."

"Please," the Sultan said, gesturing for him to be seated.

Aladdin sat on another padded bench, opposite Dalia and Rajah. "When I entered Agrabah just yesterday, it wasn't the first time I came," he confessed. "I came to Agrabah three months ago, disguised as a street rat." He held up a hand to stave off the Sultan's protest of the title. "It's what most beggars are called, Your Majesty. Sometimes, it is one of the kinder names the poor are given.

"I always make it a point to first visit a city as one of its poorest because my mother taught me that I should never be happier than my least happy subject."

The Sultan nodded in understanding, as though the words were familiar.

"I'll confess," Aladdin continued, "I almost despaired for Agrabah and the reflection I was seeing of the Royal House upon its streets. While I was just managing to scrape by, there were others who were worse off than I was. I saw guards on nearly every corner, both those wearing the uniform of the King's appointed, and the uniform of another that I didn't know."

"Jafar's guards, Baba," Jasmine said softly.

"Then, the day before I was to reunite with Khaleel," Aladdin said, "I met someone who gave me hope that things could change for the better of Agrabah. I saw a noblewoman, dressed in the humble, though still rich, gown of a handmaid giving two starving children bread." He half-smiled, giving the princess a knowing look. "And then immediately needing rescuing since she was sadly unaware of how the market worked."

Jasmine blushed, boldly meeting his eye. "I don't suppose that is something you're going to let me live down is it?" she asked.

"Not every day I get to rescue a beautiful handmaiden," he answered.

"So, you were not alone in the market," the Sultan said. "Nor was it merely a representative to the prince that you met." He smiled at his daughter with twinkling eyes.

Jasmine slightly bowed her head. "At the time, I wasn't sure whether I had met the prince or his representative. But, yes, once I was rescued from my mistake," she met Aladdin's eyes again, "I was no longer alone."

The Sultan turned back to Aladdin. "It would seem I am in your debt for making sure my daughter returned safely to the palace."

Aladdin ducked his head. "There was a bit of excitement before then, and we stopped by my home to catch our breath for a few minutes. It was there, as we talked that I started to learn that, perhaps there was a chance of Agrabah being freed from the poverty that plagued its streets. Although, it wouldn't be until later that night I received confirmation that the 'handmaid' I met was actually the princess."

"I'm almost afraid to ask how you saw through us," Jasmine said.

Aladdin winced on her behalf. "Princess, a blind man could have seen through that embarrassment."

"If I may be so bold?" Khaleel offered. At the Sultan's nod, he said, "The first time Prince Ali and I switched places was pretty bad too."

"Admittedly, we were probably worse than you two," Aladdin said.

Jasmine and Dalia exchanged looks, expressions seemingly torn between amusement and horrified embarrassment.

"I am hoping to hear details from both of these events," Mozenrath said.

"Much later, Mozenrath," Aladdin said. "Anyway, after learning that the princess at least wished to help her people, I started leaving, hoping to meet her the following night and tell her everything about me. But I was detained by guards on Jafar's orders.

"Roughly midday the next day, in the middle of the desert Jafar essentially hired me to retrieve a magical artifact for him. Since it wasn't the first time I'd done something like this—"

"Though the first time on his own," Khaleel threw in.

"I had Abu with me and he was enough."

"A monkey that you could squeeze into a sewing basket," Khaleel said. "So reassuring."

"And Khaleel has now made it his purpose in life to harass me about going solo for the foreseeable future," Aladdin said. "Long story short, I got the artifact, confirmed my suspicions that Jafar wished to use it for evil purposes, and got trapped with the artifact."

"And what would this artifact be?" the Sultan asked.

"A genie's magic lamp," Aladdin answered. "With Genie's help, Abu and I escaped our prison-tomb and reunited with Khaleel. Ever since then, we have prepared for the grand entrance you witnessed and made tentative plans of how to deal with Jafar."

"We did not necessarily count on Jafar recognizing Ali," Khaleel said. "Most of the time, people only see what they are influenced to see. Street rat or prince. It's rare in our experience for someone to make the connection."

"Unfortunately," Aladdin said, "Jafar now has it backwards. Unless I am mistaken, Jafar interprets the fact that I'm still alive as confirmation that I am the street rat that has 'his' genie."

"When you were truly a prince disguised as a street rat," the Sultan said. "But why would he come to this conclusion?"

"When he attempted to kill me," Aladdin said, "it was in such a way that if I died, according to him, I was indeed Prince Ali of Ababwa. But if I escaped, it was because I had a genie who was able to rescue me, thus making me the poor street rat, Aladdin."

"Why are you telling me all this?" the Sultan asked.

"Because something tells me that we haven't won yet," Aladdin said. "Based on prior experience, Jafar gave up too easily. He also knows that the Genie that he wants is now in Agrabah instead of trapped in some collapsed cave."

"So it's still too dangerous to free Genie then?" Jasmine asked.

Aladdin sighed. "I don't know," he answered honestly.

"Free the genie?" the Sultan asked.

"I make it a point of granting the wish of every genie I meet," Aladdin answered. "Nearly a hundred percent of the time, it's some form of freedom. But at this point, I'm just not sure which scenario is most beneficial: a genie at full strength but tied to his lamp, or a genie with lesser powers yet no longer in danger of being enslaved."

"What if you asked him?" Dalia asked. She almost immediately ducked her head. "My apologies if out of turn."

"No," Aladdin said. "But, what do you mean by that?"

Dalia straightened again, meeting his gaze. "What if you were to explain the situation to Genie? Ask him what he believes would be best?"

Jasmine was nodding. "This is a question concerning his freedom," she pointed out. "I believe that he should have the right to have a say in the matter."

Aladdin smiled as he considered it. Oh, if he wasn't engaged to his princess before the year was out, he just might have to have Khaleel beat him upside the head. Jasmine was amazing. Jasmine and Dalia together were amazing. If there was the possibility of Dalia (or Dalia and Khaleel) staying around, he would have to see about getting her on his personal council.

"I'll speak with him," Aladdin decided. "He could very well have an idea of how to ensure Jafar's defeat."

"Or he could be a wholly selfish creature and demand that you free him regardless of consequences," Mozenrath said.

Aladdin rolled his eyes. "You really need to get a more positive outlook on the world, Moz."

Mozenrath scowled. "And it wouldn't hurt you to not go through life like a naïve child."

Aladdin raised a single eyebrow in skepticism. "Considering our history, and my history aside from what I share with you, I am not sure how to answer that. Not unless it would lead you to calling me a petulant child." He stood up. "Your Majesty, if you will allow me, I will be stepping out for a short time."

"Of course," the Sultan said. "Just be sure to return for the noon meal." His eyes twinkled. "I am sure that Jasmine and her handmaid have plans of great beauty."

Jasmine ducked her head again, an unsuccessful attempt to hide a pleasing blush. "Baba."

Aladdin grinned as he bowed. "I wouldn't dream of missing it." With a slight motion of his hand, Khaleel followed him out of the room. Out of hearing, he said, "I'll go out, into the city for a bit. I feel it may be a bit safer. We have no knowledge of any allies Jafar may have had in the palace."

"The same could be said for the city itself," Khaleel said, passing the lamp into his possession once again.

Aladdin shook his head. "Despite everything, the people are loyal to their Sultan and his family, if for no other reason than for their love of the late queen. I'll be back before noon."

Wrapped in a plain, brown cloak, Aladdin slipped through the streets. As he came across beggars, he dropped a coin or two in their bowls. Abu chittered on his shoulder, keeping an eye on their surroundings. If it wasn't for the fact that he needed to speak to Genie as soon as possible, he would have sought out Oma to give her the gift he had prepared in gratitude for her. But he needed to get to his little home away from home.

Abu chattered a question.

"We need privacy, Abu," he said quietly, "away from anyone who could have been following Jafar."

They passed through hanging linens, golden banners that swayed gently in the subtle wind. Aladdin waved one aside as a dark, hooded figure brushed roughly past him, knocking the prince slightly off-balance.

"Whoa, careful there," he said lightly. It wasn't the first time someone had stumbled into him, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. He looked back momentarily, just to be sure the man was okay.

The fellow seemed to be alright. A little stooped over, but alright.

Aladdin continued through the streets to his little home. He pulled the lever for the steps and climbed up to the tumbled down minaret. Nothing had changed since he was last here, aside from a stray tea glass and that Mother's lute had been retrieved. He perched a moment on a crumbling windowsill.

What should he say to Genie? What could he say without sounding as though he was going back on his word? How should they plan to handle Jafar if this indeed wasn't the end of things?

Well, the only way to start getting answers was to summon Genie and talk to him about the situation. He reached into his satchel. His heart dropped. He dug through it, turning his full attention to the bag. The lamp was nowhere to be found. The lamp was missing. Genie was missing.

The briefest glimpse of a cold, hate-filled face flashed through his mind amid fluttered golden-yellow fabric. "I was once like you: A common thief."

Aladdin stumbled back, barely catching himself from falling. Why hadn't he considered it? He should have thought like a street rat. He should have listened to Khaleel. But now?

Genie flew out of the lamp as someone rubbed it, summoning him. "Yo, Al! How did the duel . . . go?"

The man standing beneath him wasn't Al. This man stared at him in surprise that was quickly turning into gleeful malice. His hair was almost shaved to his scalp with a closely trimmed beard. This man was no prince.

When Genie first met Al, even though the boy had been dressed in rags and covered head to toe in dust and dirt, he could tell the boy had the heart and makings of a prince.

This man in front of him was twisted, his heart clouded and hard as obsidian. This wasn't a prince, a promising sultan. This was a usurper, a promising tyrant.

Author's Note: Okay, I am officially hiding behind this wall to avoid any rotten fruit, vegetables, or more dangerous objects. The genie-napping was going to happen sometime, simply because that's how most Aladdin stories go. Even as far back as the tales that inspired Disney. At least we didn't hear Iago congratulating himself.

Anyway. Aladdin has told the Sultan everything and everyone is now on the same page. Well, at least we were going to be and now Genie is out of the loop.

So, guesses as to what happens next? Think our heroes still stand a chance?