Chapter 9: The Hostile Takeover
"Jasmine?"
"Ali, where have you been?" She asked and she went down towards Aladdin who was waiting nervously at the foot of the stairs. He met my eyes and sadness flickered across his face. I looked away. I didn't want to look at him anymore.
"There's something I have to tell you." He started to say, but Jasmine was hurrying down to him.
She took his arm. "The whole kingdom has turned up for father's announcement." She pulled him up the steps and started to straighten him up.
"No! But Jasmine, please listen to me!" She ignored him and kissed him briefly.
"Good luck." She said giving him a shove out of the curtain. I heard the crowd give a wild cheer. Slowly I edged towards the stairs. Now would be a good time to exit…
Jasmine turned and I froze. "Come on, Farid." She grabbed my hand and I shook my head.
"No, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Oh, come on!" She pulled us out onto the balcony and I tried to hide behind her but she pulled me along shoving me beside Al. He gave me a glance and I moved away from him, causing him to wince.
"Alaric, I-"
"Don't." I said quietly. "You were right." He opened and closed his mouth, a frown appearing. Jasmine looked at us curiously.
Suddenly the sky started to darken and the clouds began to swirl above us. What was happening? The tower above us broke off with a loud crack and we all ducked as it passed over us.
"Whoa!" Aladdin yelped and I looked around wildly.
"Al?"
"I don't know." He answered and pushed me next to Jasmine and the Sultan.
"Bless my soul…" The short ruler said, looking around nervously. Suddenly he was lifted into the air, a magical stream surrounding him. "What is this? What is going on?" His clothes began disappearing and he was soon left in his underwear. Loud cackling came from behind us and we whirled around following the magical traveling clothing. The clothes went and wrapped around the tall figure and I shrank behind Al. Jafar grinned wickedly at us, bedecked in the Sultan's attire.
"Jafar, you vile betrayer!" The Sultan yelled once he regained his speechless voice.
Jafar smirked at us and Iago flew in to land on his shoulder. "That's Sultan vile betrayer to you!" He squawked.
"Shut up you feather duster!" I yelled at the parrot. He only grinned evilly at me.
Jafar spread his arms out in victory. "I am the sultan now!" He declared and Al frowned.
"Oh yeah? Well, we'll just see about that!"
I grinned at Jafar as Al flipped his turban off. Genie would help us…I think. He might still be mad. I turned towards Al and he met my eyes in horror. "The lamp." I gasped. He had left it in our room! Oh we were in trouble now and it was thanks to my bad luck!
"I-I'm sorry, Al." I said and he shook his head at me, a frown on his face.
"No. It wasn't you. It was-"
"Finders keepers, Abooboo!" Jafar taunted gesturing at something behind him. I let out a sound that was sort of like a squeak unfortunately and instinctively took a step back. It was Genie. Or at least it looked like him. This genie was darker and looked more sinister. It scared me.
The giant evil Genie leaned down and lifted the palace off the ground with expressionless eyes. Al whistled for Carpet and flew up to try and talk to the big blue guy, but I knew that it was too late for us to do anything. He belonged to Jafar now.
"Genie, don't!" I called out and he looked at me and then to Al sadly.
"Sorry kids, I've got a new master now."
I looked at Al who swallowed. In front of me Jafar was taunting the royals.
"Jafar, I order you to stop!" The Sultan said bravely, but Jafar merely smirked.
"Ah, but there's a new order now. My order." He corrected. "Finally you will bow to me!"
Jasmine stepped forward, eyes flashing with defiance. "We will never bow to you!" She yelled fiercely.
"Yeah, you can't make us!" I shouted feeling braver than I felt.
"Why am I not surprised!" Iago rolled his eyes.
I shook my head. "Don't be like this, Iago!"
"Shut up, princey!" He mocked and I scowled.
"At least I'm not wearing a stupid hat, you talking chicken!" I retorted and he tried to come at me, but Jafar held him back. So Iago settled for blowing a raspberry.
The evil Vizier glared at us all. "If you will not bow before a sultan, then you will cower before a sorcerer! Genie!" He commanded and I saw the blue guy wince. I felt bad immediately. "My second wish! I wish to be the most powerful sorcerer in the world!" Jafar hollered and I looked up Genie.
"Genie, stop!" Al yelled and tried to keep him from using his powers. It was no use. Genie covered his eyes and zapped Jafar. We looked to see him change into his normal look, but with a more wicked design. He gripped his newly returned staff and smirked at us.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, a warm Agrabah welcome for Sorcerer Jafar!" Iago announced and I was too shocked to argue with him. Jafar's gaze locked on us and Jasmine tried to shield me from view. I felt another hit of guilt punch my stomach. She wouldn't be protecting me if she knew whose fault this was.
"Now where were we? Ah, yes abject humiliation!" Jafar zapped us, incasing us in a red magical force, and I felt myself kneel on the ground and then bend into a bowing position. I heard a roar and managed to raise my head. Rajah came charging at him to protect his master, but Jafar was quick on the uptake.
"Down boy!" He shouted and zapped the poor cat. Rajah shrank into a tiger cub and gave a pitiful 'meow' of confusion. "Oh, princess." Jafar called out in a sing song voice. "There's someone I'm dying to introduce you too." Instantly the Sultan and I were released from the bowing. I helped the Sultan up and we looked over to see Jafar holding Jasmine's chin up with his staff. She was still incased in a red glow.
"Jafar get your hands off her!" Al yelled, flying down on Carpet.
Prince Ali!
Yes it is he
But not as you know him.
Jafar whirled around and zapped him. He was pulled off of Carpet and made to land painfully on the ground.
Read my lips and come to grips with reality
With a wave of his staff, Jafar brought Jasmine and Aladdin closer together.
So meet a blast from your past
Jafar grabbed Jasmine's arm, freeing her from the magical trapping, but Al was still caught. He leaned over and pressed his face next to hers and she struggled to get away.
Whose lies were too good to last
Say hello to your precious. Prince. Ali!
Jafar blasted Al with each word and made him return to his street rat attire.
"Or should we say, Aladdin?" The parrot said cheekily.
Jasmine gasped. The Sultan looked at us in shock and I looked away from his gaze.
"Ali?" Jasmine said, looking him up and down in confusion. Al ran up to her and held her hands.
"Jasmine, I tried to tell you but I'm just-" Jafar cut in with more hideous singing, pushing Al away from Jasmine, and I resisted the urge to cover my ears.
So Ali turns out to be merely Aladdin
He zapped Abu back to normal too when the elephant came charging at him. Now a monkey once more, he landed on the ground in shock. Jasmine's eyes widened. Just a con?
Need I go on?
Take it from me
Jafar hung Al and Abu upside down in front of his face and I swallowed. What was crazy going to do now?
His personality flaws
Give me adequate cause
He slapped Al across the face with a wide grin and then he lifted his staff. Al and Abu were hurtled towards an abandoned tower.
"No, Aladdin!" I cried out, but Jasmine held me back as my brother disappeared from view. Oh, why did I have to yell at him? Why did I let my bad luck get us into this? I should have left long ago.
To send him packing on a one way trip
So his prospects take a terminal dip
His acids frozen, the venue chosen
Is the ends of the earth, whooppeee!
So long!
"Buh-bye, see ya!" Iago shrieked as Jafar used his staff like a club and made the tower shoot off into the sky. I shook my head.
"No." I said numbly. I felt Jasmine trying to pull me over to her, but I couldn't move. Al was gone.
Ex-Prince Ali!
Jafar loomed over us, his maniacal laughter echoing around us. I glanced up at Genie and he met my gaze with regret. Then he looked away and I knew then that Al really wasn't coming back. I looked at the ground in shame. My only family was gone and I was alone. My jinx had once again struck.
I felt something hit my chest and I flew back against the wall.
"Farid!" Jasmine called out before faltering, and I looked down and swallowed. I was back in my street rat clothes.
Jafar chuckled. "Well now, isn't this interesting? A lowly street rat pretending to be a prince." I couldn't look at Jasmine or the Sultan. "It seems that you didn't earn your eternal reward." My eyes snapped back up to look at the man sharply.
"It was you!" I yelled, using the wall to get to my feet once more. "You were the one who set us up! You put us in the dungeon and then tried to kill us!"
Jasmine gasped. Realizing that Jafar had fooled her into thinking we were gone for good.
"I knew you were the smart one." He smirked and then looked me up and down. "Or perhaps not." I scowled at him. "Now, what to do first?" He mused and Jasmine pulled her father closer to her. She looked at me as if trying to get me to come over to her, but I didn't deserve the comfort she would give.
"Make a few slaves, perhaps?" Genie watched me from behind Jafar. His eyes searching my face and I looked away.
"How dare you!" Jasmine spat. I looked back over at her. She was scowling at him and Jafar's upper lip curled. "You are not in charge here!" The sorcerer merely smirked.
"I beg to differ, princess." He said smoothly. "I've got the power." Genie winced behind him. Next to me the Sultan bristled indignantly.
"Jafar, you-you-"
"Oh, geez haven't we went through this already!" Iago squawked. "Yes, yes vile betrayer blah, blah, blah!" Finally I snapped from my trance of self-hate.
"Oh, can it Iago!"
Iago growled from Jafar's shoulder and the sorcerer seemed amused by us.
"Shut up, little princey!" He sneered.
"Cracker lover!" I retorted and he hissed at me.
"Streetrat!"
"Stupid turkey!"
"Dumb, ugly kid!"
"Enough." Jafar said closing Iago's beak. "Iago, don't you think this streetrat needs to relearn where his place is?" I scowled at the sorcerer as the bird cackled with laughter. I glared at him.
"That's a good one, Jafar! Make him stand on his head for an hour!" I bit back the retort that bubbled up. Mangy parrot!
"And you my sweet," Jafar purred at Jasmine and I felt a gag rising up. "Shall be my personal slave." She gasped and then the Sultan blanched.
"You won't get away with this!"
"Oh, I assure you I already have." His eyes narrowed and we were taken into the palace by the guards. I didn't fight them.
A few hours later the palace had been turned into what Jafar demanded. He wasted no time in making everything to his own design. Everything that was once blue and purple was now red and black. The elephant headed throne was now a wicked cobra head in mid-hiss. So basically a lot of scary stuff. Half the royal treasury was out in the middle of the floor and that greedy bird made sure it was next to him. Iago the Vizier had demanded it.
As for the people, Princess Jasmine was now chained to Jafar's throne forced to serve the evil sorcerer. And of course her normal blue attire was now red. The poor friendly Sultan was now in a puppet outfit being force-fed crackers by the psychotic parrot. And me? Well, lucky me, I was the entertainment.
"Now, street rat." Jafar smirked and I flinched. Couldn't he just leave me alone for one second? I had already been made to stand on my head for an hour and my arms hurt and shook when I moved. I had done well for the first half, but then by the end I hadn't been able to keep still.
"You have been treasonous."
I swallowed. Was he going to behead me? Not that I didn't deserve it, but I did want to live.
"Normally, you would be beheaded for such a thing." I heard Jasmine suck in a breath behind me. "However, I am willing to let you live."
I raised my head to see him staring at me. I suppose I'm to be grateful. I bowed to him. "Thank you, Sultan." I felt bile rise up in my throat and when I looked up again I found him and Iago both smirking at me.
"You do learn." He mocked and I held my tongue. I wanted to yell at him so bad.
Jafar had given me several rules and every time I had messed up or wouldn't do as he asked I was punished for it. Jafar had taken great pleasure in letting Razoul flog the living daylights out of me when that happened. My back was sore from all the beatings. He never broke skin, but I felt the burning marks each time I moved. Not to mention that he let the guards do whatever they wanted to me as soon as we had arrived in the palace. Razoul hadn't looked as if he had enjoyed it as much as I had thought he would. In fact none of the guards did, but they couldn't deny Jafar. Now my entire body ached.
"You must be punished however."
"Jafar, leave him be! You've done enough!" Jasmine cried and I looked at her.
"Your father would do the same, princess." Jafar mocked and she scowled at him.
"My father would never harm a child." She snapped.
I shifted. Why was she defending me? She shouldn't. I didn't deserve it. I glanced at Iago and even he looked uncomfortable.
"Let's just make him clean the floor or something." He stated. "Like all over the palace."
Jafar tapped his chin. "Hmm, an intriguing idea. He can clean out the dungeons as well." The evil Sultan stood up. "Come Iago." Iago landed on his shoulder, giving me another look before the sorcerer left.
I sighed with relief that they were gone and slumped against the cool marble floor. I was exhausted and starving. I had gotten way too attached to eating in the palace and the pangs of hunger hurt worse than any punishment Jafar gave out. And I was tired from all the stunts he kept making me do, so I doubted I could even try to lift food to my mouth if there was any.
I tried to get up, but my legs gave out and I fell back to the floor. "Alaric!" I felt two pairs of cool hands on me and recoiled. I opened my eyes, surprised that I had even shut them and found Jasmine and Genie looking at me in concern. Each of them holding me upright and I flailed, breaking away from them. I hit the floor again and shook my head when Genie attempted to help me back up.
"Don't." I said and sort of felt bad, but at the moment my brain was telling me not to accept their help. Genie seemed to realize what was going on and shook his head at Jasmine when she tried to step closer.
"Alaric, are you all right?" Jasmine asked worriedly. I had told her my real name when she had asked for it earlier. I don't know why she bothered to ask, but I was too exhausted to argue. The Sultan looked at us sadly.
"Don't worry about me. I've been through worse." I managed to smile at her, but she wasn't amused. In fact she looked troubled. "Don't get upset, your highness. You shouldn't be worried about me." She frowned.
"Well, I am." She said and looked at Genie who nodded. She left my side and Genie supported my limp body. I couldn't even lift a finger right then. "Here." I forced my eyes open again and Jasmine was holding a cup of water. I shook my head, but she frowned. "You need it." I sighed and let her give me small sips.
"Thank you, your highness."
"I told you to call me, Jasmine." She smiled and I smiled back tiredly.
"Your lip is bleeding." She said quietly and I touched it gingerly. Blood coated my fingers. I was sure my face looked a mess. Some of those guards had really big hands.
"Just a little." I sighed and closed my eyes briefly. "It'll stop soon." When I opened them, I jumped at the sudden proximity of Genie. He looked saddened by my reaction.
"Guess you're mad at me." He murmured. I shook my head.
"Why would I be mad at you? You should be mad at me." He looked at me funnily. "I'm a jinx."
"You're a what?"
"I'm a jinx, Genie." I glared at the ground. "I didn't tell you before. I guess I should have." Jasmine moved closer.
"Who told you that?" She demanded.
"Everyone I've ever met." I told her and her face softened. "And I'm sorry that you all got dragged into it."
She shook her head. "I don't believe that."
"I don't either." I heard the angry note in Genie's voice and I met his gaze as he tilted my chin up. "You're not a jinx." With some effort, I pushed his hand away from me.
"It's true. All this stuff? You not getting free? Al being sent off? Getting trapped in the Cave of Wonders? Never would have happened if I hadn't been there to make things worse for Al."
Genie frowned. "Kiddo, things happen for a lot of reasons and you are not one of them. I've seen bad luck things before, short man, and you're not one. I promise."
"How do you know? Everyone's told me that. Including Al." Genie and Jasmine looked taken aback.
"Ah, kiddo, Al wouldn't say that."
I nodded. "He did. He finally got tired of all my bad luck. Now he's gone and I can't even say I'm sorry." I sighed.
Jasmine took my hand and I let her. "Alaric, I don't know why he said it, but I know Aladdin would never say that to you and mean it." I looked up at her and she smiled at me.
"He was going to pretend to move back to his palace." Genie said and she looked at him. I scowled.
"Do you have to tell her that?"
Genie ignored me. "He was going to send letters back and forth to pretend that he was home."
Jasmine looked at me. "It was just so you wouldn't find out he wasn't a prince." I informed her quickly. "I didn't want anything to happen to him and I was afraid of what would happen if you found out he wasn't. Carpet was going to go back and forth."
"And Aladdin would be here and you would be back on the streets."
I nodded. "It's where I belong."
"Why didn't you both tell me who you were?"
"Al should have nad I should have too, but…Al didn't because he was afraid that you wouldn't speak to him. He just wanted to see you again and being a streetrat, well…He was afraid he'd never see you again." She smiled sadly. "And the reason I didn't tell you was because I was hoping that he would. I didn't really think the whole charade would last for me anyhow. I mean…Al deserves all this and I don't."
Jasmine frowned, but didn't respond. I could hear Iago loudly complaining outside and I pushed myself up. "They're coming back."
"Al's smart he'll come back." Genie whispered to me and went back over to his place by Jafar's throne. Jasmine gave me one last look before going back to her place and I managed to get over Iago's pedestal and settle down next to it.
The parrot flew in alone and landed on his large pillow, wigging down onto it. He eyed me and I ignored him. Until something wet hit my face. Disgusted I wiped my face to find a cracker. I looked at Iago and he howled with laughter. I turned away from him and then he finally stopped laughing. He was stuffing his face with grapes now and I rolled my eyes.
"Ya know," he said rather slyly. I turned to look at him. "I am the Grand Vizier now."
"Good for you." I rolled my eyes and he grinned.
"And I could, you know, help ya out." I arched an eyebrow at him.
"What?"
"Yeah, see you be a good little slave boy and maybe I'll let you move up the social ladder." I frowned now.
"No."
Iago looked at me like I was crazy. "Come on, kid. It's a perfect opportunity!"
"Why are you offering?"
"I dunno," He said and then he got an uncomfortable look about him. "Just felt like it." He said rather quickly, but I caught it.
"You want to be my friend, don't you?"
"No!" He said rather loudly and I smirked.
"Uh-huh, sure you don't."
"I don't! Forget I said anything!" He turned around and I grinned at him.
"Iago, we can be friends. You just have to ditch the psycho."
He looked at me. "Jafar and I are friends."
"I wouldn't make you play the dumb parrot. Or feed you crackers. I wouldn't be mean to you."
"He doesn't make me do it. And he's never mean to me."
"So he wouldn't have gotten mad if you spoke out? And he wouldn't get mad of you didn't do what he said?"
He shifted. "No…"
I smirked. "Liar."
"Shut up!"
Jafar came back in and Iago gave me a glare before soaring over to the Sultan.
"Puppet ruler what a cracker? Here's your cracker! Shove them all right down your throat! Here have lots!" The parrot cackled as he shoved a handful of crackers down the poor old man's throat causing him to choke. I shook my head. Iago didn't have to act evil. He just did anyway.
"Stop it, Jafar leave him alone!" Jasmine cried out and Jafar lifted a hand. I watched Iago as he made to stop. He didn't look happy at all. He caught my smug grin and defiantly shoved another wingful into the Sultan's mouth to try and prove me wrong.
"Don't say a word." He snapped at me when he returned and I just grinned widely.
"It pains me to see you reduced to this, Jasmine." Jafar drawled and my attention went back to him. He was leering at her as she flicked a piece of apple off her face. And I thought Abu was a messy eater. "A beautiful desert bloom such as yourself should be on the arm of the most powerful man in the world." Jasmine's chains disappeared and Jafar held a golden tiara out to her. "What do you say my dear? Why with you as my queen-"
"Never!" He was cut off by wine suddenly tossed in his face and I snorted. Jasmine grinned smugly and set the glass back down. Alright, princess!
Jafar growled. "I teach you some respect!" He snarled suddenly and Jasmine fell back as he lifted a hand to her. He suddenly paused and stiffened, a sly grin coming slowly across his snaky face. "No…" He said and he looked over his shoulder.
"Genie," Genie winced as his name slithered out of the man's mouth. "I have decided to make my final wish." I was suddenly worried about what he was going to say. "I wish for Princess Jasmine to fall desperately in love with me." She gasped. I wasn't worried anymore I knew Genie couldn't do that. But Jafar didn't and that worried me.
"Ah, master-there are a few agenda's, some quid pro quos-" Genie was cut off suddenly by Jafar grabbing him by the beard.
"Don't talk back to me you big blue lout!" He snarled and I glared at the sorcerer. How dare he be mean to Genie! "You'll do as I order you do, slave!"
"Jafar…" Jasmine suddenly spoke. We all turned to see her standing there. She ran a hand seductively down her body after she placed the golden tiara upon her head. "I never realized how incredibly handsome you are." Huh? Had she gone crazy? Genie's jaw dropped, literally.
Jafar got a wild look in his eyes and he tugged on Genie's goatee making his lower jaw suddenly spin upwards. "That's better." He said and then he started towards Jasmine. "Now, pussycat, tell me more about myself." Yuck. Jasmine what's wrong with you? I looked at Genie to see if he knew. But he was looking just as confused. He met my eyes and shrugged.
"You're tall, well dressed…" And on and on she went as he approached her. I got bored and slightly sickened, so I turned back to Genie and saw he was looking behind him. I looked to see what he was looking at and froze. Aladdin was sliding down the large curtains, shushing Genie as he went. Behind him, Abu followed. They were okay! I caught Abu's gaze and showed him my ankle. He nodded and started over to me.
Iago was too busy stuffing his face to notice Abu crawling up towards me. Silently he picked at the locks and then I was free. Quietly we snuck past the greedy loud-mouth. We made it to where Al and Genie were. Al saw me and tears filled my eyes. I ran and hugged him. He hugged me back, whispering he was sorry in my ear.
"I'm sorry, Al. I didn't mean it." I said and he shushed me.
"It's not your fault. I should've listened to you, little brother." He glanced at Jafar and then back at me. "Stay here out of sight. This could be dangerous."
"Okay." I nodded and he took off slowly towards the lamp. Genie winked at me before going back to where Jafar wouldn't be suspicious. Al snuck closer and was about to reach the lamp when Iago spotted my brother.
"Jaf-" He was about to shout when Abu tackled him. Ha! But there wrestling soon got carried away. They knocked over the fruit bowl. Jafar stiffened and was about to turn when Jasmine grabbed him and planted a kiss right on his lips! I gagged.
"Eww." Abu and Iago said at the same time. Both animals sharing the same disgusted look.
"That was…You!" Jafar shouted whirling around to face Al. He must have seen his reflection in the tiara. Jasmine and I both gasped. "How many times do I have to kill you boy!" I gulped as Jafar raised his staff and zapped at Al. Jasmine grabbed the staff and tried to distract him, but he tossed her aside. Al tackled Jafar then as he turned.
"Get the lamp!" Al shouted at Jasmine. She ran towards the lamp and almost made it if Jafar hadn't finally tossed my brother off. He zapped Jasmine.
"Ah, ah, ah. Princess your time is up!" Jasmine was zapped into an hourglass.
"Jasmine!" Al yelled as sand started to fall on her.
"Ooo, nice shot Jaf-" Iago started and then Abu knocked him out.
"Way to go!" I said and Abu gave me two thumbs up with a grin. Then he went for the lamp. And just as he was about to reach for it…
"Don't toy with me!" Jafar laughed and he zapped him.
"Abu!" Al and I yelled as the little monkey clattered to the floor as a toy. Carpet then took action. But once again Jafar was ready.
"Things are unraveling faster boys!" He shouted and he made Carpet unravel. "Get the point!" he shouted and a ring of swords fell trapping Al inside. Something in me snapped.
I ran towards Jafar and caught him off guard, tackling him. I got a punch in before he smacked me backwards. He gripped me by the throat and lifted me off my feet.
"You jerk!" I choked out.
"I deal with you later, you little rat!" He hissed and he slammed me into a pillar. While I was trying to get my head to stop spinning. I looked down to see ropes wrapped around me holding me up off the floor and attached to the pillar.
"Fit to be tied, boy?" Jafar asked mockingly as I looked up and glared at him.
"Enough of the puns, what are you obsessed?!"
"Leave him alone, Jafar!" Al shouted and Jafar turned back around. Al had a sword pulled from the ground and was making his way over.
"I'm just getting warmed up!" The sorcerer hissed blowing fire around Al trapping in within the ring of it.
"Are you afraid to fight me yourself you cowardly snake?" Al challenged and Jafar got an evil look about him the look sent chills down my spine.
"A snake am I? Perhaps you'd like to see how snake-like I can be?" Jafar started to rise from the ground and I gasped in fear as he started to transform. Fear froze me as Jafar let out a large hiss.
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