Chapter Twenty-five: Rising Serpent

Jasmine drew great steadying breaths as she stood before the doors of the receiving room. Some terrified servants had come, crying that Jafar had returned and demanded to be seen formally.

Baba stood squarely in front of the great double doors, ready to signal the soldiers to draw them open. Hakim stood to his right, as Captain and most trusted protector. Mozenrath had been granted permission to stand at Baba's left, to guard against any magic Jafar may wield. Jasmine followed behind Mozenrath, Dalia on her left and Khaleel on her right. And behind them all were at least a dozen soldiers. Others were poised to enter through side passages once Baba entered.

Baba nodded to the soldiers at the door.

The soldiers opened the doors with only the quiet groan of the weighted wood and gold.

Inside Jafar sat upon the first landing of the shallow steps as though it were a throne. Two of his personal guards flanked him, hands on their swords.

Baba led the way, Jasmine and the others following barely a step afterwards. "Jafar," Baba said, "you should have left Agrabah while you had the chance."

"Why leave when the city belongs to me now?" the traitor asked, even as Hakim's guards came through the doors, lining up along the walls.

"It's over, Jafar," Baba said.

"Over for you," Iago squawked from Jafar's shoulder as Jafar stood to his feet. Only then did Jasmine notice something in his hands. It almost blended into the front of his robes, but it appeared to be a dull, brass lamp.

"I have endured your spineless incompetence for long enough now," Jafar said, descending the stairs.

"Hakim," Baba commanded, sweeping an arm towards Jafar.

Hakim hadn't taken two steps when Jafar rubbed the lamp. A blue smoke floated out, coalescing into a large blue man with bracelets of solid brass, a red sash, a drooping top knot, and a face so heartbrokenly resigned, Jasmine's heart reached out to him.

"Oh, no," Khaleel breathed.

"Genie!" Jafar commanded, never once looking at the sad form. "For my first wish: I wish to be Sultan of Agrabah."

"What?" Baba gasped.

Genie's entire form drooped. "Yes, Master." He wove his hands through the air as Jasmine stared in silent horror. Blue smoke with flashes of lightning-like magic started to appear, some reached for Jafar, transforming his robes, others remained, forming a small thundercloud. Genie released a cry of exertion, before the thundercloud swept over everything, nearly knocking them back.

Jasmine barely bit back a scream. How had this happened? A quick look to Mozenrath and she saw that even he was powerless against Genie's magic. Where was Aladdin? Surely he would have a solution to this.

Aladdin raced through the streets, taking to the roofs for the most part to reach the palace. His heart stuck in his throat as he caught sight of Genie's magic breaking through. He forced himself to keep from sinking to his knees as he saw the very structure and stonework subtly take on a darker, more sinister appearance.

"Genie, I am so sorry," he said as he continued his race to the palace. He had to get the lamp back. He would use his final wish and stop this madness.

He barely saw movement out the corner of his eye before something ploughed into the back of his knees. He cried out as he fell back. He gasped as he recognized: "Carpet!"

Abu chittered happily.

"Come on," Aladdin said. "We need to get in without being seen." He prayed that they would make it in time.

A final burst of magic and it was done. Jasmine breathed heavily as she took in the darker room, the cobra motifs, the dark throne upon the stairs, Baba's ceremonial turban replaced by a white skullcap. Genie swirled like water down a funnel into his lamp as the final details of Jafar's costume fell into place. There had to be a way to stop this. This couldn't be real.

Rajah growled beside her, apparently not fond of the changes either. He'd always shared Jasmine's dislike of Jafar.

"Hakim," Baba said, calling the captain's attention to him once more.

"Hakim!" Jafar interrupted, stealing the captain away. "You obey the Sultan. So you obey me now."

Hakim turned back to them, uncertainty in his eyes. A battle within himself.

"You know the law, Hakim," Jafar commanded.

Jasmine held her breath as she watched the man she'd known all her life struggle momentarily. Then, he slightly bowed his head in apology. "No," she breathed.

Hakim turned, beating his breastplate. "My Sultan!" he addressed Jafar.

"My Sultan!" all the soldiers echoed.

"Sultan?" Mozenrath scoffed loudly. "You're a pretender, Jafar! Magic gave you the throne, and magic will take it away." A great ball of energy formed between his hands.

"Hakim!" Jafar shouted.

Hakim backhanded the Wizard Lord, sending the noble to the ground, his magic dissipating.

"Ensure he can't do that again," Jafar ordered. "Then marshal an army to invade Shehrabad."

"Shehrabad?" Baba gasped, just as Jasmine started, "You cannot—"

"I think we have heard enough from you, Princess!" Jafar snapped. "It is time you started doing what you should have done all along: stay silent. Guards! Remove her!"

Jasmine took an involuntary step back as the guards surged toward her.

Rajah growled at the men rushing her.

Dalia moved to defend her but a guard pulled her up short by her arm.

Khaleel turned, pulling a sharp, curved dagger from his waist, threatening the guards that weren't scared by Rajah. A guard slipped up beside him, slicing a flat hand downward onto the valet's sword arm. Khaleel cried out, dropping his dagger as three guards brought him to his knees and bound him.

"Khaleel!" Dalia cried.

"No!" Mozenrath shouted, only to be struck across the mouth as guards continued to shackle him hand and foot.

Jasmine whirled from one desperate sound to the next, her heart lodged in her throat. Each cry of distress aggravated Rajah more, his filed claws coming out now as he remained as the only defense. But what could she do? What could anyone do?

Jafar's voice cut through the chaos, sharp yet hatefully calm, "Control that cat, if you know what's good for you."

Jasmine turned to Rajah, the former cub her mother had given her just a month before her death. She couldn't lose him. She forced herself to project a calm as she reached out a hand to the giant cat. "Rajah," she called, the calm she didn't completely feel soaking the name.

The tiger growled, continuing his defense.

She added steel to her voice. "Rajah!" Seeing she had caught his attention she softened her voice again, "Rajah."

He turned, trust and confusion in his luminous, golden eyes.

"It's alright," she told him, gesturing him back to her side, back to Dalia's side. She turned back to Jafar. She hated the self-satisfied smile on his face. The smug triumph as he finally got his way with her.

A guard grabbed her arm with a firm grip. Aside from the initial sting of skin striking skin, it wasn't painful. At least she could respect that from her "handlers."

"Don't touch her!" Baba shouted, causing Rajah to growl again.

"Baba," she said. She tried to convey with her eyes that everything was going to be okay. Even though everything inside her felt as though it was dying. Then she was led away, a second guard taking her other arm.

She faintly heard Dalia pulling free and rushing forward. "Khaleel?"

"I'm alright," Khaleel said, breathing heavily. "A bit of time and I'll be just fine."

Yes, Dalia needed a chance to focus on something that she could do, instead of worrying about something she had no control over.

Jasmine controlled her breathing even as tears burned the back of her eyes. She refused to give Jafar that satisfaction.

"Life will be kinder to you, Princess, once you understand it is better for you to be seen and not heard."

"We heard enough from you, Princess! Stay silent!"

She shook herself, trying to shake off the holds of the two guards. But they remained firm. She breathed deeply. This was how Jafar had always wanted it. For her to adhere to Stone Age old traditions of women staying silent. Just a pretty ornament to dangle before guests. A prize to be won.

But that wasn't her. That wasn't Jasmine.

So Jasmine may never be Sultan. But she would still stand up for her people.

"Happy to know my brother didn't become entranced by a damsel in distress," Mozenrath said.

Jasmine turned, fully expecting to see the wizard standing behind her. He wasn't.

Mozenrath stood stoically as guards fastened an iron collar about his neck. He didn't even look her direction as his voice entered her head again. "So, what are you going to do now, Princess of Agrabah?"

I won't let him silence me, she answered, turning back around again. I refuse to tremble before him.

"He offers you only broken wings and a cage," Mozenrath challenged.

I refuse to lay down and die! I will take those wings and burn across the sky. The very sands will echo with my cries.

"He tries to suffocate you."

I'll still breathe. I won't go speechless. I refuse!

Mozenrath chuckled. "Jafar sees you as a mere girl, a meek mouse. But he doesn't know what I have observed: the strongest women I've known aren't human. No, they are storms with skin. Now, choose a course of action, and let the storm rage."

Jasmine took a deep breath through her nose. Yes, she was a storm. A storm fueled by the injustices laid upon her people. Fueled by the greed that would feed off of her people. "Hakim!" she shouted. She wrenched herself around, breaking the guards' holds. She looked across the fountain that was now only a knot of giant, black, iron snakes, through the closing doors. Past Baba who was fighting to reach her. To the boy she knew growing up. "Hakim!"

Hakim turned, waiting.

"Take her away!" Jafar shouted.

Hakim held up a hand before gesturing to either side with a finger.

Jasmine felt the guards on either side of her step away. She started forward, walking tall and strong as she spoke. "You were just a boy, when your father came to work the grounds." She could still see him, the boy that Mother allowed her to play bandits and heroes with until her death. "But you have risen up to be our most trusted soldier. As a man, I know you to be both loyal and just." He had grown so serious and responsible as he passed from child to man at thirteen. From the start, he pledged his loyalty to Baba. She had heard reports of his actions of justice and mercy to the people of Agrabah.

She took a deep breath. "But now you have to choose," she challenged. "Duty isn't always honor. Our greatest challenge isn't speaking up against our enemies. But defying those whose approval we seek the most." She wasn't blind. She had seen how Hakim had looked up to the vizier, a man barely older than himself who had risen up from nothing. If only they had seen from the start who Jafar truly was. "Jafar is not worthy of your admiration nor your sacrifice."

The vile snake interrupted, "I wish nothing but glory for the kingdom of Agrabah."

"No," Jasmine said turning to him, anger seething. "You seek glory for yourself. And you would win it off the backs of my people!" That would never happen. Even if she must run into hiding and lead a rebellion. Jafar wouldn't use her people as pawns to gain glory and power. Never!

She turned back to one of her oldest friends. They were only a few yards apart now, allowing her to drop her voice in volume but not intensity. "Hakim, these men, they will follow where you lead. But it's up to you. Will you stand silent while Jafar destroys our beloved kingdom, or will you do what is right and stand with the people of Agrabah?"

Tears continued to sting her eyes as Hakim stood silent, making his choice. She prayed that he hadn't changed from the compassionate boy she'd known. That he still loved their people, the very ones who created Agrabah more than any mortar and stone. For the briefest moment, she feared she was wrong.

Then, Hakim shifted towards her. He tapped his breastplate in quiet but sincere allegiance. "My princess," he said with a bow. He turned to Baba, repeating the gesture, the bow slightly deeper. "Forgive me, my sultan."

She could sense Mozenrath's impressed approval. "I will certainly be proud to call you sister," the wizard said quietly.

"Hakim," Jafar said, disappointment soaking his voice.

Hakim turned. "Guards, arrest the vizier!" he ordered, his voice hard.

As the guards moved forward and Jafar's soldiers moved to defend him, Iago squawked. "Rub the lamp."

"So this is how it will be?" Jafar asked, rubbing the lamp and summoning Genie again. "Not even the title of Sultan will wake the herd from their sleep. I should have known."

Jasmine saw Hakim's attention flick to the despondent, blue slave before returning to Jafar. She felt her heart crack for Genie. There had to be some way to free him, to get him away from Jafar. Wasn't there?

"If you won't bow before a sultan," Jafar said, "you will cower before a sorcerer. Genie! I wish to become the most powerful sorcerer there is!"

"Genie, you can't!" Mozenrath cried.

Genie turned the saddest eyes on Mozenrath. "I have no choice. I must obey my master."

Jasmine braced herself. If Mozenrath was concerned, this must be really bad.

Aladdin crept through the palace halls. It had taken a little longer than he wished to navigate, but finally they were just outside the reception hall.

"If you won't bow before a sultan, you will cower before a sorcerer," Jafar's voice could just barely be heard. "Genie! I wish to become the most powerful sorcerer there is!"

Mozenrath cut in, "Genie, you can't!"

"I have no choice," Genie said. "I must obey my master."

Aladdin peered through the door. Genie listlessly waved his hands about, transforming Jafar's robes. He shuddered as a king cobra slithered from beneath the throne to rise and rest in Jafar's hand as a new staff.

Where was the lamp? He needed to find the lamp.

Carpet started to follow him.

He quickly stopped it, holding a finger to his lips before gesturing to stay back. He couldn't risk Jafar seeing all his tricks. He looked out again. There! On the arm of the throne. Now to wait for just the right moment.

"This could be fun," the parrot squawked.

"Hakim," Jafar said quietly, smoothly. "I had such big plans for you."

Okay, there was a story in that. He'd have to find out what happened once Jafar was beaten.

"But now," Jafar continued, "you are no longer of any use to me."

Genie caught sight of him as Aladdin edged further in, both to see what was happening and waiting for the right moment to grab the lamp. A second Genie appeared at Aladdin's back. "You can't go out there!" he whisper-shouted. "He'll have you for sushi."

"Hey, I'm also a part-time street rat," Aladdin whispered back. "I got this. And as soon as I have the lamp, I'm wishing you free. I should have done that immediately after we confronted Jafar in the first place."

"Perhaps," Jafar said, "your men would like to follow you to the dungeon."

Aladdin looked out again, just in time to see Hakim draw his sword. He jolted when Hakim and his men all vanished.

Rajah leaped forward, clearly intent on slashing the traitorous vizier to ribbons. But he also vanished.

It was time to end this. It was only Jasmine, her father, Dalia, Khaleel, and Mozenrath with Jafar now. And both Mozenrath and Khaleel were restrained. It had already gone too far when Jafar had made his first wish.

Aladdin leapt forward. Jafar was at least ten feet away with his back to the throne. He could grab the lamp. One quick rub to claim his mastery of it, then he would free Genie. But he didn't count on one thing: the thrice accursed parrot.

"Prince Ali!"

Aladdin gasped as he was frozen in place, his hand inches from the lamp. Try as he might, he couldn't move forward. He looked up at Genie. "I'm sorry," he mouthed.

"Well, if it isn't our Prince Ali," Jafar said casually. "Or should I say," a burst of magic and Aladdin fell to his knees between Jafar and his friends, "Aladdin?"

"Ali!" Mozenrath called, starting forward. He collapsed with a cry as magic transformed his bindings.

Aladdin had seen those sort of shackles enough times, had even attempted to secure them on Mozenrath himself once when they were in a life or death struggle. Those bonds drained out every ounce of magic from their victim until the chains were removed.

"Kid!" Khaleel struggled to his feet before a magic blow snapped him back. He fell silent and motionless to the floor.

"Khaleel!" Aladdin cried, barely overtop of Dalia.

"Oh, you're worried about him? Never fear, I have too many plans for him to kill him just yet," Jafar said. "But why would a lying street rat, an imposter, care for the well-being of a puppet?"

"Khaleel is no puppet," Aladdin said, barely taking in his street rat rags. "He is my best friend, the closest thing to a father I had after my own father abandoned my mother and me."

"And he failed to teach you the value of honesty," Jafar said.

"I never said I was a street rat," Aladdin said. "You made that assumption as soon as you saw me. You never thought that a royal would willingly mingle with their subjects. I tried to tell you earlier, Jafar. I am not who you think I am."

"And yet, you already know that being a royal won't save you now. I can't allow 'Ababwa' to come and attack my kingdom, now can I? You're insignificant," Jafar said, "an irritation I no longer need to tolerate once I ensure your agonizing death by banishing you to the End of the Earth."

Aladdin heard the staff come down an instant before biting cold winds whipped around him.

"No!" Jasmine cried, starting forward but stopped by her father.

Aladdin screamed as bits of sharp, freezing ice bit into his skin. The swirling wind was a burning cold that set his nerves on fire. He felt himself flying to some distant place, so much more painful than Carpet's transportation magic. Then everything was still. Dark. And so very cold.

Author's Note: Oh, no. What's going to happen now? Things aren't looking too good.

Genie screeches onto the scene: Why!? Why are you doing this?! I was starting to think I could trust you!

Princess, removing her hands from her ears: I'm following the familiar movie plot. Hopefully those who are familiar with my other works know that I wouldn't let bad guys win so easily. Also, notice: (she points at the description where status would show up) It is not finished yet. There is still time for things to turn around.

Genie scowls before turning in a curled up pout: Still not happy with you.

Princess: And I am sure that there is at least one or two of my readers who will share your feelings. But I won't know unless you hop into the little box below and share.

Now, I really wanted to somehow use Jasmine's song "Speechless." It is my absolute favorite in the live action, and the scene directly following her song is just so powerful. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to have Jasmine actually sing the song in my semi-realistic setting. Hopefully you could pick up the lyrics I managed to weave in. I also wove in a phrase that I've seen floating around pinterest and different fandoms. Can you see it? I have no idea of it's source, but I thought it fit so perfectly.

Oo, and all the rest of this sorry mess. Ouch. While I may have vaguely considered using more of the animated version and "Prince Ali Reprise," it just would not have worked in order to get Jasmine's song and her challenge to Hakim into the story. There's another point where I may be using more of the animated, but my mouth is sealed.

Genie growled: Oh, I would like to seal more than just your mouth.

Princess: Hey, no need to be mean. (Sighing, she hugs the big blue guy.) The only way I could put you through this is because I know I'd be making sure to get you out of there.

Genie slumps a bit: Really?

Princess: Really. I hate sad endings, and at this point, it would be a sad ending. Now, I would be interested in hearing what the readers think will happen. What about you?

Genie brightens a bit: Oo. Like, how will Al get back to Agrabah? Will Khaleel or Mozenrath be able to bring Jafar down even before Al gets back? (He gasps, eyes going wide.) Might Khaleel disregard his unease about actually making a genie wish himself?

Princess shrugs: We'll have to wait for those answers as the chapters come. So, dear readers, please, share your theories as to what will happen next. I don't care if it might even sound crazy. I would love to hear what you think might happen next. This is fanfiction after all. See you all next time.