Chapter 12: The Big Secret
I woke up to Al shaking my shoulder. "We're almost home."
Yawning, I sat up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. "Good, I'm hungry." Abu chattered next to me, rubbing his stomach, and Al laughed.
"Is that all you two think about?"
"What else is there?" I smirked and he laughed again as Abu nodded eagerly.
The golden tops of the palace shone brightly in the morning sunlight as we flew closer to the city.
We arrived around breakfast time and the city was just starting to get busy. Al and I each took a sack preparing to spread the treasure around to the poor people that really needed it. Abu pouted and jumped onto my treasure sack holding it closed.
"No, no!" He chattered shaking his head.
"Abu!" Al scolded. "We aren't the ones who need this money." Abu sulked and let go of the sack, going to sit at the edge of Carpet dejectedly. Shaking my head with a grin at his attitude, I started to drop the treasure onto the ground. Below us many people waved happily and I saw a small family hugging with joy at the gold at their feet. Doing this made me feel good.
"Don't worry, Abu. I'm not throwing everything." Al said and Abu perked up.
"You're not?" I asked and he shook his head, holding the jeweled flower.
"This is for Jasmine." 'Oh' I mouthed and Abu huffed, folding his arms across his chest.
"I think she'll like it." I said and Al grinned. Then he eyed me.
"Have your nightmares been better?"
I shrugged. "Not as many as before." I had been having bad dreams a lot lately. About the Freak Show. But now even Jafar raided my dreams too. Al frowned.
"What is it about that time of year?"
Again, I shrugged. "I don't know. I don't have those kinds of nightmares any other time." It was true. Other nightmares were the usual stuff, monsters, falling...the normal sort. These though...they were memories.
We fell into contemplative silence as Carpet flew us over the palace walls and up to Jasmine's balcony, scattering a few pigeons. There we leapt off.
A low growling caught our attention and slowly we pivoted to see Rajah standing there. He growled at Al.
"Whoa! Easy there, Rajah. You know me. Aladdin?"
I snickered as Rajah leapt at Al and started to lick him. Al laughed and shoved at the tiger.
"Okay, Rajah, okay. I missed you too."
Rajah finally let Al get up and then he nudged me. I laughed and he purred into my legs.
"Hey how come you didn't get attacked?" Al asked and I grinned.
"Guess I'm just more likeable." He rolled his eyes and then stood up straight, fixing his clothes.
"So, how do I look?"
"I think you look fine." A feminine voice said from behind us before I could answer. Al and I looked over to see Jasmine come out of her room, smiling at us.
"Jasmine!" Al said and he went up to her.
"Where were you? I missed you."
"I had to…pick up a few things." He showed her the jeweled flower. "This is for you."
She beamed widely, looking more radiant that ever. "Oh, Aladdin, it's lovely!"
'It's lovely!' Abu mocked and I rolled as he batted his eyelashes.
Jasmine then gave him a kiss. Blech!
"It must have cost a fortune." She continued.
"Ah no, it was a steal!" Al wiggled his eyebrows at me from over Jasmine's shoulder. I rolled my eyes and went past them out the door, before more mushy stuff happened. I made my way down the hall to my room and shut the door. The Sultan had given Al and I separate rooms so that we could come and go as he pleased without worrying of waking the other. I sighed when I got into my room and reluctantly headed to my closet.
"Alaric, father is making a very important tomorrow night." Jaz had told me yesterday afternoon. "I want you to look your best alright?"
"Sure." I had told her and she hadn't noticed the tone of my voice.
It wasn't that I didn't like wearing the princely attire, it just wasn't me. Besides Jaz was constantly making me try new outfits and giggling over them. So I really didn't like wearing the fancy shmancy stuff. Plus some of it was way to frilly for my taste.
After I put on the outfit Genie had made for me a felt another pang of loneliness hit me. With a sigh I straightened my clothes in the mirror.
I opened my door to find Al there.
"Hey, I figured you'd be sleeping a bit more."
"Nah, actually I was going to walk around the marketplace a bit. Can I go?"
Al nodded. "Sure. Take Abu with you. He's already started fighting with Rajah."
I rolled my eyes and the little monkey appeared, leaping onto my shoulder.
"Don't you know better than to aggravate a predator?" Abu just chattered, grinning sheepishly. I ended up laughing and he smiled widely. Al snorted.
"Go on and don't be long." He shooed us out the door and Abu ran ahead of me.
I went down the steps, pausing when I reached Razoul. He eyed my attire and I shrugged.
"Dinner party."
He snorted at me before going back to ignoring me.
"Don't forget to let me back in like last time." I scowled and he actually smiled at that. "I'll kick your butt!"
He rolled his eyes. "Don't get into trouble."
"Who me? Or him?" I pointed at Abu and the guard muttered something under his breath. We passed him and went out of the palace gates.
"Well, Abu, shall we go see what the common folk are doing today?" I said in a snooty tone and he upturned his nose, chattering at me. I ended up laughing and we continued through the marketplace. "We should have enough time to look around before dinner."
Al and I often walked about here when we got bored, but it wasn't for very long. Anytime I got to spend out here was great, so I took the opportunity happily. As Abut and I went through the crowded streets something caught my attention.
"Kid…" I stopped walking at the entrance to a non-crowded alleyway. Looking down at my feet I saw…Iago! The parrot was looking up at me pitifully, lying in the sand like all the strength had gone out of him. He was a little on the scrawny side and had dirt all over him.
"Finally…got free…of…Jafar." He choked out pathetically.
Abu chattered angrily from my shoulder, pointing at the parrot and giving his best glare.
"Iago, what are you doing here?" I demanded.
"Where are you? Getting dark…hold me…"
I moved forward, done with his dramatics and made to pick him up. Iago dropped the act very quickly then and flew up in my face indignantly.
"Hey, I meant gentle-like!" He snarled as feathers flew everywhere.
"You can't fool us you rat with wings!" I yelled and I launched myself at him.
"No, wait I'm serious!" He shouted flying just out reach. "I was under Jafar's power! He mesmerized me with the snake staff, just like the Sultan."
"He did not!" I scoffed and Iago glared at me. "You weren't under him when you spit grapes and crackers at me!"
"Well you deserved it!" He shot out and then realized that his fake-cover was blown again.
"Did not!" Iago screeched as I launched myself at him again and he flew off. I let my anger get the best of me and I chased him. Abu thought he'd attempt to catch him as he flew past a stall, but unfortunately Iago swooped out of the way. As we followed him around the corner Iago and I slammed into something large and bounced off falling onto the ground. I shoved Iago away irritably and looked up to see Abis Mal and his troupe glaring down at us.
"You…look familiar." Abis stately smartly.
"It's Aladdin's friend." The rest of the thieves stated in board undertone unison.
"Where? It is?" Abis said in confusion looking around crazily.
I smacked my forehead.
"And this is your leader?" I asked them. They shrugged.
"It's a living." One answered.
"I knew that." Abis stated before looking back at us. "Hurt him! Hurt him and his monkey and his bird too!" Abis snarled. I stood up and began to back away. I hit a bunch of barrels when I backed up too far, elbowing Iago in the face accidently, and knocked a barrels loose and onto the two thieves that had cornered me. Meanwhile Iago had tried to hide in one of the fallen barrels but it ended up getting smashed. He popped up in time to see a thief standing over him.
"Treacherous, parrot!" The thief hissed and raised a dagger. Iago screamed.
"Hey, I'm not with him!" He shouted as the dagger came down. I couldn't help but grab him and give him a sling out the way. He landed out of harm's way beside Abu on a nearby stall, staring wide-eyed at me. I wasn't sure what came over me, but I had to help him.
The men started to surround me again, but I knocked some of them out of the way with a pole from a broken stand nearby and made an escape.
I looked over at the animals to check on them and saw to my amusement, Abis Mal standing above them holding a fish. Almost as if it were heavy he toppled over with a groan and hit the stall, smashing it to bits. But what was really funny was that Abu had shoved Iago in front of him and jumped off, leaving him there on the stall as Abis Mal hit the stand. I turned around still snickering at Abis Mal's fall and found myself face to face with a burly thief.
"Uh-oh." He grinned and lifted me off my feet by my shirt. My feet dangling in the air as he shook me.
"Got you now." He hissed and I punched him in the jaw.
"Got you too!" He dropped me, but unfortunately there was nowhere for me to go. The thieves surrounded me and caught my arms. I struggled to get away, wishing Al had come with me. Or even Razoul at this point. Suddenly a loud cry filled the air and I looked over to see Abis Mal flying towards me. He hit the thieves knocking them off of me and they all landed on a wagon of eggs.
"And I got more where that came from!" Iago hollered from above us and Abu leapt onto my shoulder. We exchanged looks. I watched Iago curiously. He saved me? Maybe I was right about that bird and he did want a friend. I wondered if wasn't as bad as he acted.
"Oh, go away." Abis grumbled at the vendor who was screaming about his ruined eggs.
"What is the trouble here?" Razoul demanded, coming to loom over the fat thief and his compadres. He noticed me standing nearby and I moved in front of Iago, hiding him from view before the guard could notice him. He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously before turning back to the thief.
"It is that thief Abis Mal." Fazal stated.
Moving quickly, one of the thieves took hold of the reins and made the horse run, the cart of ruined eggs and stupid thieves flying through the marketplace. Razoul, Fazal and the vendor chased after him.
"Jerks." Iago stated as he came and landed on a stall next to us.
"Um, thanks for your help. " I said and Iago looked up at me. Abu jumped onto the stall too, looking at Iago distrustfully. "You saved me."
Iago paused for a minute. "I did?" Then I saw the wheels turning in his head. Oh, here we go. "Oh yeah of course I saved you! it's my nature. I'm always rescuing things. Cats, babies, kids like you, always rescuing." He bragged smugly. That was until Abu took his turban off and slammed it over Iago's head.
"Hey, what's going on?" he squawked from inside the hat. "Is this any way to treat your rescuer? You owe my pal." Iago continued. "I saved your life."
"Don't, Abu." I said stopping the monkey from bashing Iago. As much as I didn't want too, I couldn't help but feel that Iago needed help.
"He's right. Besides what harm could it do? I can't leave him out here."
Abu chattered at me, making a gesture at the palace.
"Al will understand and I'll see that the Sultan gives him a fair hearing."
Iago's beak literally hit the stall. So, maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all, but I couldn't deny that there was something different about Iago and I intended to find out what it was.
"Are you wacko? You can't take me to the Sultan!"
"Just calm down, Iago. I want to help you, not kill you." I told him, rolling my eyes. "I know you don't trust me, especially since we got off on the wrong foot earlier. I'm sorry I chased you."
He shrugged. "Happens."
"No, really, I-I lost my temper." I frowned looking away. "I thought you might have had Jafar with you."
He shook his head. "Ditched him. He was getting on my nerves. I look out for myself now. I don't need anybody."
I nodded in understanding. "Yeah, well...I'm going to help you to the best of my ability. Everyone deserves a second chance. And if you want to go off on your own afterwards I'll understand. But I thought you might want the chance to not be on Agrabah's most wanted list."
Iago snorted. "I still think this a bad idea. He'll end up throwing you and your brother out too."
"That's why I'm not telling Al just yet. If I get in trouble, it'll be just me." I cleared my throat apologetically. "I can't exactly walk into the palace with you though." He narrowed his eyes.
"Just what exactly does that mean?"
I held up my turban.
"You better not suffocate me." He grumbled.
A few minutes later we were in the garden and I was closing Iago inside a cage. I had decided to put Iago safely away in the cage to keep him from running…er flying off. He wasn't not happy needless to say.
"What's the big idea!?" He shouted and I frowned at his tone. Iago gripped the cage bars and looked at me like I was crazy.
"Shh." I said and looked around for my brother to appear or a guard for that matter. "Look, I told you. If they find you before I've told them, they won't listen to us. They'll assume you flew here on your own and...I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
"What about Aladdin?"
I paused. "I don't want to lie to him, but I need to talk to him and the Sultan. Might be better to do it while they are together. Less yelling I hope."
"The Sultan!?"
"Don't worry. I'll talk to him and Al, soften them up a little."
"Are you kiddin'? He hates me! And so does Aladdin."
"And you wonder why?" I asked mockingly before sighing. "You have to give them a chance just like they have to give you a chance. Otherwise this won't work."
"And what about the princess?" Iago continued and this time I flinched.
"Uh...I-I don't know. I don't want to lie to her either. Especially since she and Al have been getting closer and everything..." I toed the ground, before frowning. "I just need to make sure Jasmine and Al doesn't see you until I've get them…prepared."
"Gotten us prepared for what?" Jasmine called, making me yelp. I leapt in front of Iago blocking him from view. Not that I wanted to protect him or anything, but she might have him killed and I didn't want that to happen. Al was looking at me in amusement.
"Talking to yourself?"
"Uh, yeah...I was mentally preparing myself for telling you guys about the stain on Abu's brand-new vest." I lied and Al inspected the little monkey's vest. Abu looked at me in confusion, but I pressed a finger to my lips. Luckily only he saw me do that. It wasn't a very convincing lie, I knew it. Al and Jaz knew it too.
"I don't see a stain." She commented and Al nodded.
"yeah, where is it?"
"Oh, um. Abu and I were eating some fruit. I thought he had made a mess. Must've rubbed off somewhere." I said giving a very cheesy smile, and Al nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, he does eat messily."
"See, no harm done." I said a little too loudly. "Off to dinner! Wouldn't want to the keep the Sultan waiting." I tried to shove them ahead of me and Al turned around.
"Rick? What's going on?"
"Nothing." I told him. "I'm just eager for dinner."
He rolled his eyes.
Jasmine gave me a curious look. She's always quick on the uptake. "You aren't…hiding anything from us are you? A secret?"
"S-s-s-secret?" I laughed nervously, then shook my head. "No, of course not. I don't have any secrets." Al, I could see was thinking it was me being jittery about the whole Freak Show thing. As long as he thought that, the secret of Iago was safe. And I could tell that Jasmine thought it was about Al getting his news from the Sultan.
This was becoming a bigger mess than I thought.
All at once the ground started shaking and water from the fountain shot up into the air in a whirlpool. I gasped and hid behind Carpet who had suddenly appeared.
"Yee-haw!" Something yelled and I cautiously peered over the top of Carpet. We looked up at the top of the water to see a familiar blue figure standing at the top. He was wearing a flowery shirt, a large strange looking hat and a pair of tinted glasses and he was holding bunch of bags. I grinned widely as Carpet hopped excitedly beside me. Genie was back! He poofed down in front of Al and Jaz.
"He's big, he's blue, and he's back!" He announced and Al and Jaz rushed forward to hug him. I couldn't budge, I was too excited. As they hugged him, Genie turned a beet red from head to toe.
"Ooooh, ah, hoo! Watch the sunburn!" They stepped back in shock and then Genie grinned.
"Kidding!" He hollered, turning back to normal. He got down between Al and Jaz. "Did ya miss me? Be honest." Then he looked around. "There's someone missing? Where's short man?"
"Hey, Genie!" I waved and Carpet hopped up and down excitedly from next to me. The big blue guy rushed over to me and pulled me into a hug. I didn't mind it so much, I felt relieved that he had come back.
"You came back."
"I promised, didn't I?" He smiled and ruffled my hair.
"I missed you!" I said and he laughed.
"I missed you too, shorty. Have you been keeping out of trouble?"
"Who me?" I smirked. "I'm the good one."
Al rolled his eyes as Genie snickered. Jasmine hid a giggle.
"Did you have fun?" I looked up at him.
"Tons! I'll have to tell you all about it." Then he got up next to Abu. "Take these, my good mammal." He said in a snooty voice before handing the small monkey large suitcases. Abu fell off Al's shoulder under all the weight. "Careful there heavy." He said too late and I laughed.
"I got stuff for everybody!" He announced and he handed things out to everyone. To Jasmine he handed a strange looking bear statue, to Al a large hat, Abu steaming food and a hat and small flag, to Carpet he gave a small statue of a girl with a grass skirt. He gave the girl a little shove and she started shaking her hips.
"Oooo, she dances!" He said and then he handed me a wooden box. I peeked inside and beamed.
"This is great!" I showed it to Al and Jasmine. It was a set of paint. The colors were brighter and I could tell the texture of them were different. "Thanks, Genie."
"No problem, kiddo."
Al leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Genie's eyes lit up and I frowned. What was going on? He caught my suspicious frown and ruffled my hair. They're hiding something. I narrowed my eyes at him, but he only grinned at me.
"So, Genie," Al said loudly gaining his attention. "You've seen the whole world already?" Genie split into four smaller figure and sang:
"It's a small world after all!" I laughed even though I was still partially mad. Then he tossed his arms around all our shoulders. "But Agrabah has something that no other place in the world has."
"Like what?" I asked and he grinned down at me widely. Suddenly he turned into a large firework and putting us on his back shot off into the sky.
"YOU GUYS!" I held onto Jasmine's middle tightly as we flew through the air. Genie started singing.
I parachuted down into the Taj Mahal
Genie exploded and we dropped down gently as he acted as he broke our fall. We then landed in a strange looking thing and Genie grabbed the front and took off running.
I rode a rollerbladed all along the great Great Wall
A giant Genie now stood beside a weird looking building and as he leaned on it, it started to fall. Luckily, he caught it before it fell on us.
I even made the famous Leaning Tower fall
But who was with me through it all?
Nobody!
The Moscow Circus hired me to fly trapeze
All of us were now on a tightrope trying to stay on as Genie juggled while balancing on a one wheel thing.
On Mount Olympus ran a race with Hercules
It's easy when you're chased by Killer Bees
To escape the bees, Genie poofed us under water. Genie had a fish tail! I grinned at Al and he smiled back.
Who said 'geshundhiet when I sneezed? Achoo!
So now I'm home
Home again with you
Genie got us out of the water then. I shook my head spraying Al and Jaz with water when I did. Al glared at me and I only grinned innocently as Jasmine giggled into her hand. Genie popped up as a sun then and dried us.
You chase the clouds away whenever I am blue
(You're always blue)
Al and I said at the same time.
Land of the pyramids I highly recommend
Genie made us turn into Egyptian statues.
There is nothing in the world quite like a friend
Genie turned into an Indian Man.
Slept like a babe in Bombay on a bed of nails
He poofed into Al's hand and as a small belly dancer he danced about. I laughed loudly as Al rolled his eyes and Jasmine giggled.
Moroccans loved my daring dance of seven veils
I single-handedly I even saved the whale
And no one was there to hear my tales
Genie made us pop up in strange clothing and he sang as he held an instrument.
In Acapulco, joined a mariachi band
He turned into an old man floating down a wild river.
Rode the ragin' rapids down the Rio Grande
Genie poofed us into a large basket with a balloon on top. I ran over and leaned over the side to look and Al tugged me back with a shake of his head. I stuck my tongue out.
Flew in an air balloon but when I tried to land
Nobody laughed or lent a hand
We busted through the bottom of the basket and fell down towards the ground. Genie caught us in a large net.
Without the Amazon's just a trickle
Geniepoked at my arm with a fish and I laughed.
Without you the Sahara's not so hot
Water dropped on our heads and we looked up to see Genie in the shape of a faucet
Without you Niagara Falls is just a leaky faucet
Genie popped up as a snooty looking guy.
The QE2 is just some yacht
Now we were on a boat sailing in the sky as we headed towards the palace.
So now I'm home
Home again it's clear
Genie brought the boat around and stopped it above the balcony. Al, Jaz and I slid down the anchor rope on the side landing on the ground. Genie popped up beside us.
All I ever wanted
Seems to be right here
He beamed down at me and I grinned back.
I've traveled East and West
And now I'm back again
Genie took his tail and roped us towards him.
And there's nothing in the world quite like a friend
There's nothing in the world
Al and I sang together. I had a sneaking suspicion that Genie made me do that.
Nothing in the whole wide world
Jasmine sang and then we all sang together.
There's nothing in the world quite like a friend
Nothing in the whole wide world
Genie concluded as he popped us back into the garden at the end of the song. I noticed that it was now dark. Genie sighed and propped his arm on the top of my head. I laughed and tried to get out from underneath him as I almost fell from his weight.
"So, Genie, how does it feel to be free?" Al asked.
"Seriously?" He asked in a strange tone. I thought he was disappointed and then he grinned widely. Faker. "I LOVE IT!" He jumped into the air in excitement and suddenly a loud crack was heard and we all flinched as he doubled over holding his back.
"Okay…so maybe my powers aren't what they used to be." He popped between me and Al. "Let's just say they're semi-cosmic nearly phenomenal." Then he shrank and we looked down at him. "But don't sell me short." I laughed and then held my foot above his head playfully. He moved out of the way and popped back to normal.
"I may be free, but I still got some magic in me. I can still do this!" He popped into fancy clothes and pulled a flower out of his hat, satisfactorily. Without a warning the flower lurched forward and attached to his face. I jumped when he finally got free. He had no face!
"Whoa!" He exclaimed and he then dug around in the flower. He pulled something up and slapped it to his face. When he dropped his hand he had his face back and he grinned nervously.
"Hate to lose face in front of you guys. Give me another chance." I laughed and he winked at me. Then he conjured a long box and a saw.
"Okay who's first? I can do this." I raised my hand and Al shoved it back down. I scowled at him and Genie looked disappointed.
"You don't think I can do it?" Genie asked and I glared at Al.
"Now see what you did?" I hissed at him and he rolled his eyes.
"Actually, Genie, we need to get to-"
"Dinner!" Jasmine gasped. "We're late!"
"Oh, you probably have some romantic dinner for two planned. You don't want some big blue lug gumming up the works." Genie said sadly.
"Genie, I would be honored if you would join us for dinner." Jaz said and I beamed at her. Genie got excited.
"You would?"
"Of course it wouldn't be fun without you." I added. He grinned bigger and ruffled my hair.
"Ah, c'mon all of ya! Get in here!" He said pulling us into hugs. Abu protested loudly and I laughed. When he released us, he took off with a skip in the air towards the palace.
"I'm cookin' let's go!" As Al and Jaz started off, I paused suddenly and grabbed at Abu.
"Not you Abu." I hissed. "You have to guard Iago."
Abu chattered lowly and I sighed. "I know he's not going anywhere, but is anyone sees him before I can explain why he's here then it would be pointless." The monkey looked unhappy. "I'm sorry, Abu. I promise to bring you and Iago back a lot of food, okay? You know the cooks give me extra." He perked up a bit at that and ran to cage.
I looked back at Iago once and saw to my amusement that Abu was teasing him through the bars. Iago swatted at him and tried to bite his fingers. I grinned knowing he'd be okay out here with Abu and ran to keep up. I wasn't sure what to expect out of Iago, but half of me wanted to believe something good was in him.
"C'mon slowpoke, what's keepin' ya?" Genie asked popping up in front of me.
"Uh, nothing." I began and he raised an eyebrow. "Well, something…I'll tell you about it later." He looked at me again and then shrugged, tossing an arm around my shoulders. I was glad he was back.
"I really missed you." I said and he hugged me closer.
"Me too kiddo. Me too."
Al was waiting for us. "Where's Abu?"
"Eh, he's not hungry. But you know he'll show up eventually."
Al laughed. "Yeah, well c'mon everyone is waiting."
As we headed inside, a sense of guilt and nervousness dropped heavy into my stomach. Hopefully I wouldn't have to keep the secret of Iago for long.
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