Chapter Twenty-nine: Final Battle Against the Serpent

Aladdin almost laughed when he saw the troublesome parrot return to its natural size. He didn't know what occurred to make that happen, but he thanked Allah that it did.

Carpet put in a fresh burst of speed, easily catching up with Iago. Yet before he or Jasmine were within reach, Abu leaped up and forced the parrot to release Genie. For a heart-stopping moment, Abu lost hold of the lamp before catching it once again. Carpet swept round perfectly for Aladdin to grab hold of Abu and sweep him onto Carpet.

"Now to get out of here," Aladdin said as they flew away from the palace.

"To the borders of Agrabah or into Ababwa?" Jasmine asked, still grasping Carpet's tassels from earlier.

"Either will be good," he answered.

Carpet trembled underneath them.

"What is it?" Jasmine asked.

Abu rapidly chattered.

Aladdin's heart sank. "If I understood that correctly," he said slowly, "a barrier has been laid. I don't know if it just limits Carpet's power, or if it will keep us trapped in the city."

"Only one way to find out," Jasmine said determinedly. A shiver of magic swept over them, but nothing happened. The princess growled. "We'll go as far as we can and find shelter somewhere. We'll muster a rebellion if need be. A covert rescue mission to get Baba and the rest out."

"Strategist," Aladdin noted with an absent nod. "I like that. Probably could have used you on a couple misadventures in the past."

"I won't ask you to risk yourself," Jasmine said, voice and face as hard as any general's.

"I would consider it my honor and privilege to fight alongside you for your kingdom," Aladdin said giving her hand a squeeze. "The armies of Ababwa, such as they are, are at your disposal."

Jasmine glanced at him, a slightly amused gleam in her eye. "Why do I get the impression your military has much to be desired?"

"We haven't seen war for centuries, a downside of a Family Genie," Aladdin said. "And while I have done my best to see that training has been increased and improved, the soldiers are untested."

"Agrabah will accept any allies," Jasmine told him.

"And I have good intelligence that if you just give your people a choice, they will join your cause without question," Aladdin said.

"At least I have an inside street rat," she said impishly.

"Ready to help anyway I can," he answered. The sudden loss of sunlight made him look up. "We may want to hurry a bit more or find a place to land soon. A storm's brewing and I doubt that there's anything natural about it."

"Find an alley," Jasmine said, passing the tassels over to him.

"On it," he said. "There should be a good hideout not even a minute from here." But it turned out that they didn't even have a minute.

A sucking tunnel of air dropped from the sky, coming directly after them. It was all they could do to keep from flying off. By some miracle Carpet caught the corner of a tall tower. "The lamp!" Jasmine cried.

"Genie!" Aladdin shouted as a blur of parrot caught the brass prison and shot to the palace. He struggled to hang on, to keep Jasmine from flying away. His scream joined Jasmine's as Carpet lost its grip, just before it caught hold of some scaffolding. He looked up in time to see a tear forming in Carpet's thick weave. "No," he breathed. The tear grew almost instantly, slicing Carpet's upper border off. "Carpet!" he shouted.

Carpet unraveled beneath them as they were cast to the whirlwind. And with each fraying strand, Aladdin felt the magic, the life, draining from the tapestry. But there was no time to mourn his friend as they neared the palace and could hear Jafar's roar as he summoned them through the windstorm.

Aladdin barely caught sight of their collapsed allies as he and Jasmine spiraled through the air before crashing to the courtyard floor just beyond the former fountain. He forced himself to think, to plan some way out of this. There was a reason he managed to survive on the streets. Jafar wanted a street rat, then he would get a street rat.

Finally, catching his breath, he pushed himself upright. Iago was just flying in. Much too far for him to make it in time.

An unexpected, almost animalistic cry ripped through the air as a great sheet flew up like a net and scooped the parrot and its cargo from the sky. Dalia pulled the veil into a sack-like cage even as fear froze her face.

"No!" Jafar cried.

Dalia screamed as she just barely dove out of his grasp.

Aladdin grabbed a stray spear as he ran, vaulting himself over in just enough time to block Jafar's next attempt. "Get the lamp!" he shouted over his shoulder.

Dalia bashed her veil on the ground, eliciting a squawk from the trapped bird. She then dug inside and pulled out the lamp. "Mozenrath!"

The lamp skittered and grated loudly across the tile. Barely out of the corner of his eye, Aladdin saw his brother snatch the container up.

"Xerxes!" Mozenrath cried. "To the tigress!"

"What!?" Jafar shouted.

Aladdin found himself sprawled on his back, his breath again knocked out of him. He twisted round, trying to figure out what happened. His eyes searched frantically. Where was the lamp? Where was Genie?


Jasmine searched round the courtyard from behind the fountain. One moment, Mozenrath had the lamp and then it had passed from his hands into thin air. She jumped as the lamp suddenly appeared in her lap. Jasmine stood to her feet, as she rubbed hurriedly. Exactly how much rubbing did it take for Genie to respond? Apparently not too much as a wisp of blue peeked out.

Genie zipped out. "Wow!" he shouted. "Three new masters within the span of a week. That has got to be a record."

"Mostly trying to buy time," Jasmine said. "I have no practice in making wishes."

"Well, probably most important right now is that I can't kill anybody," Genie said.

"Somewhat unfortunate," Jasmine noted. "How about containment and healing?"

"Those are possibilities," Genie said. "Just keep in mind that the deal is in the details. At least that's how Khaleel puts it."

"Yeah, Aladdin mentioned that," she said.

"Shehrabad mouse!" Jafar shouted. "Your time is up!"

"No!" Dalia cried.

Jasmine gasped as her friend leaped into her, not even realizing that Dalia had been heading her way. A wave of magic overtook the both of them.

"Jasmine!" "Dalia!" Aladdin and Khaleel shouted overtop each other. But, their voices sounded warped.

Jasmine could hear hers and Dalia's breathing echo strangely. She looked up and around them. Perfectly smooth glass curved up over them from a dull brass floor. Just as her eyes reached the peak of the ceiling, dry, desert sand fell, stinging her eyes and entering her mouth. She coughed, ducking as she rolled away.

"An hourglass," Dalia said, terror threatening to swallow her voice as she looked up near the edge. "He means to bury us."

Jasmine's heart went out to her friend. Death by sand was a nightmare of Dalia's, ever since one of her brothers disappeared during a horrid sandstorm.

"Not if we break free," Jasmine said, infusing as much calm and confidence into her voice as she could. She pulled a dagger free from her hair, handing it to her friend. She then tugged the last one out for herself. "Attack the glass, try to break it," she said.

Dalia nodded and set to work, even if she looked half-dazed from fright.

Jasmine fought to keep herself calm as the sand was already starting up her ankles. She wasn't sure if this would work. But she could make sure Dalia got out. Just under her breath as she attacked the glass she said, "I wish for Dalia to be out of this hourglass and safe from Jafar's wrath."

"Hm, technically two," Genie murmured, suddenly appearing on the other side of the glass. "But same idea so can count as one."

Dalia screamed as she was whipped out and now stood opposite Jasmine on the other side. "Jasmine!"

"I had to get you out, Dalia," Jasmine said as she continued to attack the glass.

"Then I'll help from this side," Dalia said.

"Grab the lamp first," Jasmine said.

She nodded and scooped up the lamp, just before Iago claimed it again.

Genie flicked the parrot away with a giant hand. "I've been wanting to do that all day," he said. "And master number four of the week. Be specific with your words."

"I wish for Khaleel's arm to be healed," Dalia said immediately. "I wish Mozenrath's magic to be restored. I wish for Jasmine's father to be protected from Jafar."

Jasmine froze, staring at her friend as Genie blinked in shock.

"Wow," Genie said. "Short, sweet, and to the point."

"At least two of my brothers insisted I be literal and specific with my words or else they'd ruin things," Dalia said.

"Well, healing, restoration, and protection coming right up," Genie said. "Just keep hold of the lamp for now, huh?"

"Of course," Dalia said.

Jasmine focused back on her current task. She would be of little help until she broke free.


Aladdin growled when Jafar trapped Jasmine and Dalia in the giant hourglass. That snake would not get away with that. He swung the spear at Jafar. It went limp like a wilted grass blade.

"Look out!" Mozenrath ploughed into him, the both of them just barely missing a shard of magic. His brother gasped as something like sand fell on Aladdin's shoulder.

Aladdin looked up to see the magic-restricting collar gone.

A feral gleam took over Mozenrath's eyes to match his sly smile. "Jafar wanted the Lord of the Black Sands, now he'll get him." He stood to his feet, opening a pouch at his waist. A wave of his gloved hand and sand poured out to whirl around Jafar. "From one sorcerer to another, Jafar!" he shouted. "Let's see how you handle a level playing field."

Aladdin took the distraction that Mozenrath offered whether intentional or not to race over to the Sultan and Khaleel. He quickly untied their hands. "Are you two okay?" he asked.

"I've been better, but fine for the moment," the Sultan said.

"Surprisingly, yeah," Khaleel said, flexing one of his arms. "I'm almost sure my arm was at least cracked." He looked over to the hourglass.

Aladdin followed his gaze to see that Dalia now stood outside, bringing a dagger down repeatedly on the glass as Jasmine did much the same from inside. Genie hovered beside them, wringing his hands.

"I think one of our girls is responsible," Khaleel said.

The Sultan pointedly cleared his throat. "One of them is my daughter and the other is like a sister to her. Besides, shouldn't we be making plans for if this wizard duel goes badly?"

"Right," Aladdin said. "First we need to see you to safety, your Majesty."

The Sultan scowled at him. "I may be old, boy, but I still have some fight left in me."

"Look out!" Khaleel cried, just before a magic bolt shot into the Sultan. Or would have if it hadn't dissolved into some invisible shield.

The Sultan recovered quickly, before Aladdin and Khaleel. "I'm your shield," he declared. "Now, fastest way to defeat Jafar?"

"Maybe not the fastest way, but the only way to potentially even the odds," Aladdin said. "I need to reclaim the lamp and free Genie."

"Are you remembering the potential threat of Ajed al-Geraic?" Khaleel asked.

"Ah, thank you," Aladdin said as the three of them started over to the hourglass. He grabbed a sword from an unconscious soldier they passed. "I knew there was something I had forgotten."

"Huh-uh," Khaleel said with a shudder. "Threat of a muktaar? No way am I forgetting that."

"A what?" the Sultan asked.

"We'll explain later," Aladdin said.

Mozenrath screamed before the sound cut off.

Aladdin whirled around. "No!" Jafar had turned his brother into a statue of rough sandstone.

"Get the lamp," Khaleel ordered. "I'll handle this."

Aladdin forced himself to turn away, start running to the hourglass. Tears stung his eyes at Khaleel's strangled cry. He felt the magic blasts that the Sultan blocked from the both of them. The prince yelped as a wall of fire shot up before them at least four feet high.

Dalia screamed.

"Fire in the hold!" Genie shouted, donning a bulky black coat with steel and bright yellow stripes and an oddly shaped, hard hat. A cord with a metal spout was also in his hands. Water flew from the spout, dousing much of the fire.

Aladdin could now see that part of Dalia's dress had been burned.

The handmaid looked terrified, almost ready to collapse. But she pulled herself together and turned back to attacking the glass that was slowly cracking.

Aladdin started forward again, turning when the Sultan cried out.

The Sultan was surrounded by jagged spears. There was no way anyone could touch them without getting hurt. The Sultan looked at Aladdin with eyes that forbid any argument. "Free my daughter and end this madness."

Aladdin nodded. He started running again. "Dalia! Jasmine! Stand back!"

Dalia scampered to the side as Jasmine scrambled up the mound that almost covered her waist.

Aladdin raised the sword and swung it down and across. But it never touched the glass. An invisible hand grabbed him round the waist and pulled him away. "Jasmine!"


Jasmine jabbed her dagger into the glass above her, thanking Allah when it pierced and held. She levered herself up, hoping to find some purchase on the sand. But it was too soft and yielding, still settling into its final resting place.

She panted as she rested her head against her arms. It was stifling in here. The trapped air was tainted with finer grains of sand, making it dirty. It was also turning stale. She had desperately hoped that Aladdin would provide the promising rescue. Now, she needed to pull herself together and return to the task of rescuing herself.

Just as she angled the dagger to allow her to drop, she splashed (splashed?!) into freezing cold water. The cold stole her breath as her feet slipped on the bottom. She panicked as water poured into her mouth, stung her nose and eyes. She hit bottom. That helped her head clear. She could still stand. So long as the water was the same height as the sand, she could breathe if she just stood up.

She pulled her feet under her and straightened up. She spluttered and coughed as her lungs heaved for the air they craved. She leaned against the glass wall, slowly catching her breath.

"Jasmine! Jasmine!" Dalia's frantic cries and poundings reached her ears. Dalia stared in at her, tears in her eyes as she pounded on the glass with both fists.

"I'm alright," Jasmine called hoarsely. She forced herself to straighten fully. The water reached a little above her navel, and was still coming down. Now she wondered with Aladdin why she had never been given swimming lessons with the ocean practically at their front door. Of course Jafar would take advantage of that. "We need to break the glass," she told Dalia. "If we can do it below the water level, the water pressure will help us."

She looked down at her empty hands. She must have dropped her dagger in her momentary panic. She searched the water, but the surface was too turbulent to see down below. She steeled herself, took a few deep breaths, sucked in a lungful of air, and then, keeping a hand on the wall to keep herself oriented, she lowered herself into the water again.

It took less than a moment to find her dagger and scoop it up. Returning to the surface wasn't as bad as the first time. The water lapped at her ribcage. She saw Dalia working just below her, jabbing at the glass wall, possibly working on one of the cracks they'd made already.

Jasmine made a quick decision. She lashed out at the glass before her. The water was rising rapidly, and even with the water applying pressure to the cracks and any hole they might make, it would take far too long to get out. She needed a source of fresh air, and as the water crept up her chest, she knew she needed a breathing hole soon.


Aladdin thought his heart stopped when Jasmine's prison shifted from sand to water. Then it swelled with relief and pride as she recovered and handled things beautifully under the circumstances. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to devote his full attention to her at the moment.

Khaleel stood bound to a pole with chains, the manacles far heavier than needed. He was currently trying to kill Jafar through eye daggers alone. Too bad that never actually worked.

Aladdin found himself on his knees, trapped in a half-suffocating hold.

"Fool," Jafar said in a too familiar, silky, persuasive voice. "You thought that you and your friends could defeat the most powerful being on earth. As the old man said, 'You should have left Agrabah when you had the chance.'"

Aladdin controlled his breathing, forced his mind to slow. Strange how when he was forced to be still in situations like this, his mind felt free to strategize the actual victory.

"Without the genie, you are nothing." At that moment, Iago snatched the lamp from Dalia. She cried out before after turning an apologetic face to Genie, she continued her battle against the weeping glass.

Genie placed an understanding hand on her shoulder before he dutifully and mournfully floated closer to Jafar.

"I told you before to think bigger," Jafar said, bringing recollection of that hot sand dune. "You could have been the most powerful man in the room. But now, I hold the lamp. I hold the power."

And in that short moment, the whole plan clicked into place.

Aladdin took in as deep a breath as he could. "You can't find what you're looking for in that lamp, Jafar," he said calmly. "I've tried and failed before, and so will you."

"You think so," Jafar almost taunted. "But I am Sultan! I am the greatest sorcerer the world has ever seen! I will create an empire that history can't ignore. I can destroy cities. I can destroy kingdoms." His rancid breath hit Aladdin's neck and ear. "And I can destroy you."

Aladdin clenched his hands, refusing to show fear or revulsion before his enemy. "True," he conceded as Jafar paced round to stand in front of him. "But, who made you a sultan? Who made you a sorcerer? There will always be some thing, some man, some being more powerful than you."

Khaleel was shaking his head, trying to figure out what Aladdin was doing.

Genie started to look even more worried.

"Genie gave you your power," Aladdin continued, "and he can take it away."

"Al, what are you doing? Why are you dragging me into this?" Genie asked nervously.

"He serves me!" Jafar shouted, like a child protesting their claim to a toy.

"For now," Aladdin said. "But you'll never have more power than the genie." He groaned as the invisible fist tightened, stealing his breath. "You said it yourself," he forced out. "'You're either the most powerful in the room, or you're nothing.'"

He vaguely saw Khaleel catch on, an approving smile just twitching at his lips.

Aladdin forced the last of his air out to pound the final nail in. "You will always be second." Black spots danced before his eyes.

"Second?" the parrot squawked. "Second!"

"Second?" Jafar demanded.

Aladdin gasped, nearly collapsing as he was finally free to breathe.

"Only second?" Jafar challenged. "He serves me!"

As Jafar moved away, almost pacing, Aladdin looked over to Jasmine and Dalia.

Both had managed to break through. Dalia had nearly three holes gushing water. Jasmine continued to chip away at her hole, making it bigger as the water lapped at her chin. But it would only be a matter of a minute or less before the narrowed curvature of the glass caused her head to go under.

"I will make sure no one will ever say these words again!" Jafar said angrily, snatching up the lamp.

Khaleel winked at the prince as Aladdin fought to hide a smile. Sometimes it was just too easy to play people.

However, Genie wasn't liking where this was going. "Look the kid's crazy," Genie said with a nervous chuckle. "A little bit of oxygen depravation. Too much phantom squeezing."

"Genie!" Jafar shouted, rubbing the lamp. "For my final wish, I wish to be the most powerful being in the universe, more powerful than you!"

Genie's eyes darted between Jafar and Aladdin, cringing.

"A lot of gray area in that wish," Khaleel commented casually, raising an eyebrow.

Only then did Genie catch on. It was an understanding that Aladdin had gotten at least once from most of the genies he met. There were no other beings more powerful than genies, aside from Allah and his armies, and genies were commanded to never touch them. Only the occasional exception being some form of protection wish.

"Well," Genie said with a shrug, "your wish is my command." Then with a combination of lightning and whirling magic clouds, Jafar was surrounded as he laughed maniacally.


Author's Note: Okay, technically, I could have actually finished the entire confrontation. But I just felt that it was getting super long already, and so that's why I cut off here.

A quick note to Neal Daniels: I am sorry to say that I have not had a chance to watch the Broadway Aladdin, or listen to its soundtrack. But I can assure you, that if I had, I most certainly would have been referencing the Broadway production as well.

From the start, I wanted to blend the animated and live action final battle. And then, when I was looking at some trivia, I discovered that Disney had originally intended for Jasmine to try cutting through the glass with her tiara's jewel. Thus why I ensured that Jasmine had some durable weapons at her disposal. ;-) You will also notice that I am allowing more characters to have a chance to make wishes. One of those "plotholes" that I have seen people point out that I had never thought about before.

And yes, I gave Dalia a chance to shine. That is maybe the one disappointment in the live action. Dalia practically disappears during the final battle until Jafar pulls her in as hostage/prisoner. So, I had to give her even the briefest moment of action.

So, how did you enjoy this blending of the two versions with additions of my own? Do you think that we've made "checkmate"? Or do you think Aladdin just made a huge mistake? Let me know what you think. Until next time.