Mozenrath had his usual smirk when Aladdin came rushing through the heavy, ornate double doors of his throne room on his Carpet. Mozenrath hadn't been expecting him, but what incredible timing he had to burst in when he was sitting on his throne. Aladdin's fist clenched in Mozenrath's mantle. Dragging him closer to Aladdin's face. "Is there a problem, Street Rat?" Mozenrath saw a few of his shambling mamluks begin to move towards Aladdin from out of the corner of his eyes to protect their master, but Mozenrath held his gauntleted hand up. Mentally commanding them to halt, until he deemed it necessary to do otherwise. The otherwise silent throne room was filled with the sound of creaking, uneasy bones, waiting to strike.

Aladdin ignored the mamluks. "What did you do, Mozenrath!?" His voice was raised, but he didn't yell. He knew Mozenrath well enough to know he took great pleasure in situations like these, even without his constant smirking. Even when getting caught could spell Mozenrath's execution.

Sometimes Aladdin wondered if he had a death wish.

"I didn't do anything," he lied, feigning innocence with a sarcastic tone. "Aside from researching various magical, and cursed items. As well as experimenting with a few spells." Mozenrath enjoyed the dynamic quite a bit; the audacity of Aladdin manhandling him when he had his gauntlet on. The audacity of doing so in front of his army of mamluks. The audacity of him thinking he has the situation under control. Fool.

"What spells!?"

"I would much prefer to show you, but… alas, now is not the time."

"When is the time!?" Aladdin growled through gritted teeth.

Mozenrath glanced up, looking nowhere in particular, as if he were calculating something in his head. He then looked back at Aladdin, and smiled. "Another 10 years or so. Come back 10 years from today, and you'll find out. Provided you're not dead yet, of course." His smile turned into a smirk. "Or maybe I could raise you as a mamluk if you're oh so curious…"

That struck a nerve.

Mozenrath could see the fire in Aladdin's eyes, as well as his nostrils flaring in and out. He probably thought he could, and would. Aladdin was right on both accounts. "My… struck a nerve, did I? You don't like the thought of being my undead servant?" Mozenrath asked, his smirk growing. It was a pity, though… Because he certainly liked the idea.

"I know you're involved with this somehow," Aladdin continued, dragging Mozenrath even closer to his face so their noses were almost touching. Mozenrath could even feel his hot breath against his face.

"I don't even know what 'this' is." This time he was telling the truth. He did have another plan in the making, but that was just that. A plan in the making. It was too early to execute any of the phases yet. The Street Rat shouldn't even be there for until at least another week.

"Don't play stupid! You know damn well that you're the only one who can control black sand, Lord of the Black Sand," Aladdin spat his title at him as if it were an insult.

Mozenrath rolled his eyes. He was starting to get bored with this, and had no desire to be potentially spat at with spittle. He swatted him away as if he were a fly with his gauntlet. Aladdin, and his Carpet easily recovered. While Mozenrath rested his cheek in his left hand. "Come now, Aladdin. If I really were at fault, wouldn't I want to gloat over it?" It was a character flaw Mozenrath recognised in himself. Even when he tries to stay focused on his mission, he just can't help himself. It could've also possibly been why so many of his would-be conquests on Agrabah ended up failing.

"Maybe you've finally learned to keep quiet about your plans," Aladdin replied. Which prompted a glare from Mozenrath. It was one thing for Mozenrath to be introspective about himself, but it was another to have the Street Rat point out his flaws to him.

Aladdin could see his upper lip curl up in irritation. "You're barking up the wrong tree, Street Rat."

"Then explain the black sand!" The Carpet itched closer.

Mozenrath dropped his arm to the armrest. "What about the black sand!?"

"Why is it in Agrabah!?"

Mozenrath's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth slightly agape for a second. Then he rolled his eyes, and shook his head. He stood up from his throne. While Aladdin, and Carpet backed off a little. Unsure of what he was about to do. "You said there's black sand in Agrabah?" Mozenrath asked flatly.

"Uh… yeah." Now Aladdin wasn't so sure that Mozenrath was involved, at all.

"Where?"

"Uh… in the centre of the marketplace."

"When?"

"It's still there, Mozenrath."

"When?" Mozenrath was starting to get impatient, and the gauntlet reacted. Faint black-blue energy surrounding it. The constant pulsating quickened. His hand twitched at the sheer power at his fingertips. He had half a mind of blasting him right then, and there.

Aladdin eyed Mozenrath's hand. "Genie thinks it might've shown up last night."

"Oh, your Genie?" The energy dissipated. Aladdin could see that Mozenrath's face brightened at the mention of Genie. Mozenrath elegantly walked down the steps that led up to his throne to Aladdin and his Carpet, not breaking eye-contact. Smirking. "And why didn't you take him with you, if you really did think I was at fault?" He could've used another break from months' worth of devising more plans for the djinn. This plan, especially. That would definitely free up some time for him to actually conquer the Seven Deserts. He would've been very appreciative.

Aladdin narrowed his eyes at him. "He's my Genie, Mozenrath. You're not getting your hands on him."

He would. Eventually. Even if it was the last thing he'll do. "My dear Aladdin, you wouldn't survive an encounter with me without the Genie. Soon to be my Genie. I recommend that both of you get used to both ideas." Mozenrath then spun on his heel, and gestured for them to follow. "Come."

Aladdin and Carpet looked at each other, unsure if it were a trap or not. It would be in character for Mozenrath to walk them into a trap, but Aladdin now had a hunch that Mozenrath really wasn't at fault this time. But still… after all those times he kidnapped, and tried to kill him, Jasmine, and his friends, as well as trying to absorb his Genie, or outrightly enslave him… Even if he wasn't behind it, Aladdin still didn't trust him. But… if he is willing to help, that would mean he's not totally bad, right? If he helps Agrabah this one time, could he possibly be convinced or persuaded to leave it alone? It was a longshot, he knew. But Aladdin didn't think it was outside of the realm of possibilities. Although, there's also the chance that Mozenrath just wants to exact revenge on the one using his sand, and that's it.

There was also the chance that he'll use this opportunity to capture Genie…

There's only one way to find out. He sighed, and nodded at Carpet, hopping off to follow Mozenrath down the hallway. Carpet flew cautiously behind Aladdin.

After what seemed like a maze of dark, cold marble, and dimly lit corridors, they finally entered one of Mozenrath's studies. The room looked familiar, so Aladdin glanced up. Sure enough, a few of the wooden rafters were broken. He looked around, but didn't see the thirdacc mural anymore. Though Aladdin doubted Mozenrath had gotten rid of it. He didn't seem like the type to give up on a creature like that. Not when other kingdoms in the Seven Deserts were magical.

"Remember when Iago sicked the thirdacc on you, Moze?" Aladdin eyed him carefully, watching how he would react to him mentioning the thirdacc. Trying to see if he'd give any indication on where the mural was.

Mozenath immediately stopped what he was doing, and turned to glare at Aladdin. "Choose your next words carefully, Street Rat." The black-blue energy of what would be used to scry through was unfinished, a small, black floating ball of fiery energy that flickered faint black lighting every so often.

Maybe he shouldn't have said that… Aladdin glanced between the unstable energy, and Mozenrath. He scratched the back of his head nervously. "Heh… heh… heh… I… uh… was just reminiscing. Good ol' times, huh?"

Mozenrath scoffed at him, then returned his attention to stabilising the fiery energy.

Aladdin sighed, his arm dropping to his side. He frowned a little when he glanced over to the long wooden table to his far left. The table had various books open to different pages, along with what he could only assume were alchemical ingredients being preserved in jars, and vials of different sizes. Then he noticed small, gold sigils that were somewhat difficult to look at. His frown deepened, and returned his attention to Mozenrath's back. Even if he wasn't behind the black sand in Agrabah, he was definitely up to something.

He always felt on edge whenever Mozenrath moved his right hand. Especially when it's gauntleted. He also just didn't understand it. He was sure it was an obsession, but… surely Mozenrath would've stopped before it got that far. He shook his head. Obviously not. Knowing what lies beneath the gauntlet, and how his hand got to such a state. Did he even know what would happen the first time he put it on? Does he have any other areas on his body that are exactly like his right arm, or at least becoming like it? He didn't want to think about it. But he couldn't help but think about it now that he saw Mozenrath using magic. Aladdin supposed that was because his life wasn't in any immediate danger.

At least he hoped it wasn't in any immediate danger.

But still… There had to be something else at play for him to want to constantly use the gauntlet, despite knowing what it's doing to him. Something big.

Or maybe the gauntlet is just too addicting?

Or maybe it's both.

Aladdin felt kind of sorry for him, though. If he would just spend a fraction of the time, and energy he spends on hatching world domination schemes on something productive like, say, diplomacy, then he could end up having allies helping him search for a way to extend his life. But then again, even if he did go that route, Aladdin was sure Mozenrath would give up the charade to conquer the kingdoms eventually.

This time Mozenrath narrowed his eyes from over his shoulder at Aladdin. "I can feel your eyes on me, Street Rat. What is it?"

"Oh, uh… no… nothing. I was just wondering what happened to the mural." He half lied, then glanced around. "I mean, this is the room where I collared it, right?" He knew he was right.

He could've sworn he heard Mozenrath curse him under his breath. "Honestly, Aladdin, would you believe me if I were to tell you?"

Good point. "Alright… I'll drop it."

Mozenrath returned his attention to the black-blue energy he would be scrying through, and told Aladdin to come closer.

He did so.

"Now… Let's see what happened in Agrabah's marketplace last night, shall we?"