Chapter 17: The Beginning and Ending of Trouble
My brother might be dead and I'm not too far behind him…
"A genie?" Manito repeated, eyes glittering like a mad man. The same look that haunted my nightmares. I groaned again, tasting blood from where Manito's men had kicked my face and busted my mouth, luckily not making me lose any teeth.
"Yeah." I managed to say, despite the ache in my ribs and my face. I wanted nothing more than to lie down somewhere and sleep for a while. I was already being held up by my arms, strung between two of Manito's bodyguards. The skin under my left eye was throbbing from the fist I had taken to the face and was slowly swelling so that I noticed it.
"Just keep watching. The short guy will set the lamp down. Its black."
Jafar was relishing the moment, sitting on the throne smugly. He was in charge now after all. Nobody stood in his way. Except Abis Mal and the thief had no idea how unlucky he was.
Jafar laughed loudly again and I winced at the sound. "Now that my revenge is complete there is one little matter left to resolve." He got up from the throne and Abis Mal grinned from ear to ear.
"Yes! The wish!" He said excitedly and I rolled my eyes. Manito chuckled and I jumped forgetting that he was there.
"You were telling the truth, my little Jinx. So you will get me that lamp." He turned to me and before I could say anything he grabbed my vest jerking me toward him. "Get that lamp and I'll make a deal with you. Here is the deal: you will continue to make me money being my Jinx and in doing so will get the luxurious life you've always wanted. Treated like a star. My main attraction."
"Sure, y-yeah." I said, hoping that Iago managed to get everyone out and he flew far from here. Jafar was confident that my brother was gone and so it must be true. No guards had came running in to say otherwise. At least maybe if I get that lamp...I could do something for Jasmine and the Sultan...get rid of Jafar for sure. But I had to get it, use it, and keep it from Manito all at the same time. Easier said than done.
His men launched me forward and I hit the ground near Manito's feet.
"Well. Don't just lay there, Jinx. Get a move on."
I scowled and managed to get to my feet, moving to slyly reenter the throne room and I hid behind a pillar. Breathing deeply, despite my painful ribs, I turned to watch and wait.
"Indeed." Jafar said and he turned around to face Abis Mal his eyes glowing red. Abis and I both shivered at that. "You will now wish me free of this wretched lamp!" He snarled holding the black lamp up.
"No!" Abis Mal yelled snatching the lamp back from Jafar's hands. If looks could kill Abis Mal would if died a hundred times over. "My wish! You got what you wanted. Now it's my turn!" He shouted childishly.
"But you don't need to waste your third wish." Jafar smoothly stated as he stroked his beard. "You want the sunken treasure of Kordumair? It's yours!" With that he zapped a large wrecked ship into the throne room. Gold coins spilled from the ship and Abis' eyes widened. The smell of ocean water and salt filled the air, so I knew it was genuine.
With wild laughter full of glee Abis took off running towards the ship. Jafar made a slightly disgusted face at the greedy thief.
"Get that lamp." Manito hissed in my ear, grabbing my shoulder. "And no double crossing me or I'll kill you."
"Okay. Okay." I said and pulled away, getting as far from him as I could. Maybe I could get it by snatching it out of Abis Mal's hands when he was busy in the gold coins. I ran from my spot and ducked behind the ship, narrowly avoiding being seen.
I peered around the corner of the ship and watched Abis Mal as he jumped and played in the gold like a kid getting a new toy.
Something caught my attention over my head, and I did a double take as the mermaid on the front of the ship moved its arm. Then I smiled. It was Genie, it had to be.
"Way to go, Iago." I muttered to myself.
I watched Genie's arm snake around trying to reach for the lamp, but the bumbling thief danced merrily out of the way in just the right time. Genie snapped his fingers and his arm disappeared.
Abis Mal came running back up towards the throne a greedy expression on his face.
"So does this mean I could have…more stuff?" He asked and Jafar gritted his teeth irritably. He then made a large red ruby appear on a golden stand.
"Ohh! I always wanted one of those!" He, to my surprise, set the lamp down to investigate. He lifted the ruby up and held it to his face lovingly. "Nice. More! More!"
I would have snickered if I hadn't been afraid that Jafar would hear me. The genie rolled his eyes and more treasures appeared about the room. I was watching the treasure fall so intently I almost missed the blue arm that stretched out in front of me towards the lamp. It missed the lamp thanks to a heavy gold statue that landed on him. As it pulled back, I patted it and it paused. Peering around the ship again, I looked for Genie and saw him peering out from behind a pillar.
I waved and he waved back before more peered at me. There was Genie, Jasmine, the Sultan, Abu, Carpet, and…Al. He grinned at me and I grinned back.
"Al…" I said and then ducked back behind the ship as Jafar moved closer.
"Now," He said catching my attention again. "If that is obscenely excessive enough perhaps you'd like to grant my freedom." Abis Mal looked up.
"Huh, what? Oh, yeah your freedom, sure, sure." He muttered distractedly and he went over and to the lamp. I swallowed nervously.
"I wish for Jafar to be…" I shut my eyes and held my hands over my ears so not to hear what he was going to say. "Wait…" Abis said slyly. "How do I know that all this won't disappear when I set you free?" Thank Allah he was so greedy! But unfortunately for him that only ticked Jafar off.
"The more pressing question is…how will you stay alive if you DON'T!" He snarled angrily before turning and starting away from him.
"But you said genies can't kill-you said that!" Abis Mal stuttered and I crept up behind him. it was now or never to get that lamp.
"You'd be surprised what you can live through." Jafar said. "What?" He shouted angrily, having seen me.
"Huh?"Abis looked over as my hand clenched around the lamp handle. "Hey!"
"I'll take that." I said and Abis frowned and started to whine.
"My lamp! Gimmie!"
"Oh, shut up!" I hollered as we tugged back and forth. I felt someone come up behind me, helping me tug and knew it was Al.
"The street rat still alive?" Jafar snarled and all three of us looked over to see him getting angry. "No!" We yelped as Jafar took aim and blasted us backwards in a wave of red magic that hit like a ton of bricks.
Al, Abis, and I landed on the balcony. When we stopped flying, we watched in alarm as the balcony started to crack and break apart beneath us.
"Al!"
He hung on to me as we tried to leap towards the throne room on the quickly falling pieces of balcony. We ended up toppling backward as the last few pieces fell and gravity took place. We plunged through the air, the motion stealing my scream of panic. I shut my eyes and then hit something soft, bouncing slightly.
Opening my eyes, I found myself looking at a chair shaped Genie.
"Genie!"
He smiled at me. "Hey, shorty." His smile faded and he tilted my head back with his fingers. "Kiddo..."
I pushed his hand away. "I'm okay, we've got bigger problems." I said. Genie looked like he wanted to say something else, but Al spoke up.
My brother engulfed me in a hug. "Rick, you got away. Jasmine told me about Manito."
"Um, well, not exactly...You see he's-" But I didn't get to finish because Carpet flew down to us with Jasmine onboard.
"Where's the lamp?" He asked and Jasmine pointed at a tree across from us. Abis hanging on a branch by the back of his pants. The lamp was sitting on the edge of another branch that was below him. As he struggled, he knocked the lamp off and it fell towards the ground.
We got onto Carpet and headed towards it. But before we could get there, Jafar burst from the ground and laughed loudly sending us flying back from the large gust. He was back in his terrifying genie form. Jasmine and Abu landed in some potted plants and I landed on the ground near Al and Genie.
"Ow." I winced, rubbing my ribs. "Not a good landing." Al and Genie looked at me in concern, but my eyes caught movement. "Al!"
He turned his head and gasped. Jasmine had taken the opportunity to run for the lamp.
Jafar sensed what was happening though and whipped around.
"Not so fast!" He snarled as he blasted at her. Luckily, she leapt out of the way in time. Beside me Al stood up smirking at Jafar.
"Give it up, Jafar. We're obviously too much for you to handle." He taunted and Jafar growled angrily.
"You! You are a fool to challenge me! I am all powerful!"
"Some all powerful, you can't even get rid of a lowly street rat!"
"A problem I mean to rectify right now!" He grabbed Al and lifted him off the ground.
"Aladdin!" Jaz and I yelled. Al struggled to get out of Jafar's grip and to my shock he started turning blue! Suddenly Genie appeared in Al's place.
"What!" Jafar said in shock.
"Got ya!" He winked at Jafar and then I spotted the real Al. He was headed towards the lamp. "Go Al!" Genie shouted and then Jafar tossed him away with a snarl. The azure genie hit the ground and remained unmoving.
"Oh, no! Genie!" I yelled and Jafar blasted at Al. I knew I had to go for the lamp too, it was probably my only chance. He hit Carpet and the poor rug was turned stiff so that he hit the ground and broke into many pieces. Al slammed onto the ground as I ran past him, sprinting toward the black lamp.
"No, you don't, you little street rat!" Jafar hissed as he saw me getting so close. I could get it, I had too. My fingers barely touched the sleek surface when a something large and solid slammed into my entire body. I flew across the ground, the world a blur, and hit palace wall face first and hard enough to jar me. I moaned and started to slide down the wall, my vision dancing. I could barely move.
I heard Jasmine scream, though it was like I was in a tunnel. Her voice echoed and faded. Slowly my eyes started to close as warm blood trickled down from my forehead and then I blacked out.
3rd POV:
Jasmine watched in horror as Alaric slid down the wall, leaving a trail of blood. He hit the ground face first and didn't move anymore. She then glared up at Jafar who was laughing loudly at the little crumpled body. Then he turned his attention to Aladdin, who had watched all this with mouth agape with shock, and was now trying to get the lamp again.
Jafar made the ground shoot up with Aladdin on it and the rest of the ground cracked open leaving only small little islands of ground floating in a river of lava. Jasmine fanned Genie unable to get to Alaric thanks to the large gap between them.
"Wake up Genie." She whispered frantically eyeing Aladdin, who was trying to stay afloat on one of the pieces of island. Aladdin yelped as he almost fell and keeping a tight grip with one hand tried to grasp the lamp as he floated by. A tower from the palace fell into the lava and it pushed Aladdin's island toward the lamp again. He tried to snatch it again but was out of reach. Jafar laughed loudly.
"Give it up boy!" He taunted and he zapped at the island Aladdin was on, making him slide down. "You shall never have my lamp and there is no one to save you now!"
"Hey Jafar!" called a loud familiar obnoxious voice. Iago growled and flew towards Jafar's head. "SHUT UUUUP!" Jafar ducked as the parrot flew at him.
"…Iago." Aladdin murmured and he watched as the parrot swooped down to snatch the lamp.
"TRATIOR!" Jafar snarled and he aimed at Iago. Just as the parrot had his talons around the black lamp and was about to toss it to Aladdin, Jafar's magic hit him in the back. Iago and the lamp hit the side of the lava pit and felt onto a rock below.
"No." Jasmine gasped and beside her Genie started to come back to consciousness. Jafar let out a loud laugh as Iago attempted weakly to shove the lamp off. His leg didn't reach, and he shut his eyes.
"Good help is so hard to find these days. Isn't it, Aladdin?" He laughed again and failed to notice when Iago opened his eyes again and aimed a hefty kick at the lamp. Jafar paid attention then as the loud clatter of his lamp rung in his ears.
"My lamp!" he shrieked and was too slow to stop it as it fell into the lava below. "No!" The lava rocks around them started to crack and the one Iago was on started to make him slide towards the boiling liquid.
"Iago!" Aladdin made a daring dive towards the parrot and scooped him into his arms as the rest of the rock crumpled and fell away. Then he turned and glared at Jafar who was withering in pain.
Genie quickly stretched himself out, literally, and Jasmine and Abu ran across to safety as the rock they had been on fell down. Now they turned to watch as Jafar screamed in pain. Aladdin scrambled up the lava pit wall as quickly as he could only to roll out of the way as the ground began to close.
"Ahhh!" Jafar screamed and then with a loud explosion he was gone. As the last of Jafar's magic disappeared the damage that had been done became undone. The sky turned blue once again, the palace restored, Carpet put back together, and all was well again.
But something wasn't right, and Genie was the first to spot it.
"Alaric?" He called.
Aladdin lifted his head, looking around.
"He was just there." Jasmine pointed at where Alaric had fallen. "He couldn't have gotten up on his own. He was so still..." She trailed off and Genie looked around.
"He's gone."
Aladdin frowned. "Manito...Rick was trying to tell me earlier. He didn't really get away." He glanced down at the parrot in his arms.
"Is he...?" Jasmine trailed off.
"I'm not sure, but I thought a genie couldn't kill anyone?" Aladdin murmured. Suddenly a cough had them all looking at Iago.
"You'd be surprised what you can live through." He gave another cough.
"All right!" Aladdin smiled down at the parrot.
"Oh, Iago!" Jasmine said and then they looked at Alaric. Iago pushed himself upright in Aladdin's arms and looked around.
"Where's the kid?" He demanded. "I came all the way back here for him. And he's not around?"
"It's not his fault, Iago." The young man said softly. "Jafar knocked him out...and Manito got him." The parrot grimaced.
"That kid...he vouched for me." He murmured.
"Jasmine, take Iago inside and check on your father. Genie and I are going after Rick."
I groaned as pain registered through my skull and forced my eyes opened. I stared in confusion at the wood above me before listening to the sounds around me. Men murmuring, a fire crackling, chains scraping... I jerked upright, gasping, and looked around me. I was in a cage.
The full moon was bright overhead, illuminating my predicament. I was in a wooden cage on wheels. It brought back my first memory of being in a similar cage...and I shuddered.
The Freak Show had arrived and everyone who was in the small village were there to see it's attractions. Men, women and children lined the streets hoping for a chance to walk around and see all the bizarre things that were among the Freak Show.
In one of the many cages that were set up in a large circle, a small boy of ten was inside curled into a small ball, trying to avoid the stick that was being jabbed at him from a fat, short man named Ahmed outside the cage.
"Come on," The fat man hissed lowly at the boy who was crouched in the corner. "Give us a good show or I'll beat ya black and blue." The blue eyed ten-year-old growled and Ahmed grinned showing off missing teeth. "That's a good little Jinx."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you The Jinx!" The crowd 'ooh'd' and 'ahh'd' as the curtains were pulled firmly back. The fat man stuck the stick back into the cage and hooked it under the boy's collar. Being jerked by his collar, the boy fell to his knees at the bars and people close to him cried out in shock as he bared his teeth.
"Don't worry, ladies and gents." Ahmed reassured the audience. "He can't harm you." He spotted a little boy trying to reach out and touch the boy in the cage and he quickly got in the way, a look of mystery on his face. "He cannot get you through the cage that is for sure, but just one touch and you too could have the…jinx." The crowd all stepped back and one person asked aloud:
"Is it contagious?"
"Could be." The man answered slyly and then he turned to give the boy in the cage a meaningful look. "But I'm sure ya don't want to find out."
"I don't believe there is such a thing called the jinx." Someone called out and he just grinned knowing that someone would call out like that.
"Oh, don't you? Well allow me to show what happens when you get the jinx." The short man slapped the stick against the cage, smacking Alaric's knuckles and making him growl. Taking a hold of a longer stick, this one with a silver headpiece on the end, he stuck it inside next the boy.
Having associated the silver headed cane with pain, the boy gave a shriek of fear, real fear, letting go of the stick and the people thought he had howled crazily. Whimpering and crying out in fear and pain, he started to jump around in the small confined space to avoid the cane.
"You see my friends? This boy is truly savage." The crowds all whispered amongst themselves as the boy examined his injuries in the corner of the cage. The crowds were amazed and some of them even laughed at him.
The short man led them to another cage and they left the boy alone.
"No...No, it's not real. I'm not here." I muttered to myself, reaching toward the bars. Sure enough, cold metal greeted my fingers. Not a dream then. I was really back here. No Al to help me now. I was on my own.
As I moved, something tugged at my neck and I felt a familiar weight. My fingers found the crude metal and I pushed back bile at the thought of wearing a collar once more.
"No!" I dug my fingers into the space between the collar and my neck and pulled hard. It didn't budge and I started to panic. "No, get it off! Get it off!" It seemed to tighten on me like magic and I grew more determined to get it off me. Panic rose in my chest and I clawed at it wildly, tears of frustration filling my eyes. I was stuck and the more I struggled the more it was becoming difficult to breathe.
"You won't be getting out of that any time soon, little Jinx." A voice said coldly, and I stopped tugging at the metal. Manito was leaning against the wood of another cage, a pipe hanging out of his mouth and the sickly smell of his sweet tobacco filled the air. A smell that made me want to get sick whenever I smelt it. I don't know what kind it was, but it was very different from what other people smoked and I had hoped to never smell it again.
"Where are we?"
"Halfway to our next city. Plenty of time to reacquaint you with your act."
"No." I said, shaking my head. "I won't do it."
"You didn't get the lamp, boy. You belong to me."
"Let me go." I said, frowning. "I'm not going to do what you say."
"I had a feeling you'd say that." He smiled at me so creepily that I knew that whatever it was he was planning had to be bad and I automatically scrambled back into the furthest corner. He took out a set of keys and I flinched at the sound of them.
The door opened with a creak and looked around frantically for any help.
"Now, let's see how many of my lessons you remember." Manito chuckled and nodded at someone I hadn't noticed before. "You remember Ahmed, don't you?"
The squatty man smiled at me. "Welcome back, little Jinx." I glared at him and he laughed. "Oho, got away for a while and got some spunk, eh?" He brandished a wicked looking rod. "I'll beat it out of you."
Manito patted the cage. "Do it until he passes out. I don't want him waking the others."
"Sure thing, boss."
The cruel master went away and I turned back to Ahmed.
"Now, you come out of there."
"No." I snapped.
The rod came down with a swish of air and I let out a strangled cry as it slapped into my already sore side.
"What was that?" He mocked and did it again on my other side.
"Stop!" I shouted at him and grabbed onto the stick. I jerked on it leading Ahmed to a tug of war.
"Give it here, you little devil!"
"Leave me alone!"
Ahmed, having more room to move, was able to force me forward by pulling harder than me. I fell forward with a yelp, landing on the hard wood below me and losing my grip on the cane. I was only given a chance suck in air when the cane came down on me once more.
Thwack!
I felt pain across my head and ducked down, but another blow came.
"You'd better get back to learning who is the boss, you little runt!" The man continued his assault upon my body striking me over and over until I couldn't fight back.
"Stop it!" A voice yelled and I barely heard it. "Don't hit him like that!"
"You've got it all wrong, mister." The man sneered at him and attempted to take the cane back. "He's a little monster."
"No, he's not. He's my brother."
I turned my face, blinking in the moonlight.
"Al..." I rasped. I was so tired...
Aladdin looked over at me, his eyes softening. "It's all right, Rick. We're here." I was confused for a moment about "we" until I saw a familiar blue hand, snag the back of Ahmed's vest and lift him off the ground.
Al turned with a glare.
"Where is Manito?" He demanded.
The man pointed at the large red tent across from us. As he did, the Freak Show master himself came out of it and I automatically winced.
"What is the holdup?" He snapped. "Why aren't you doing your job, Ahmed? I don't hear that boy submitting yet!"
The rotund man pointed at Aladdin who scowled. "This looney thinks that little Jinx is his brother."
"Oh? And what makes you think you have a claim on the boy?" The Freak Show owner frowned.
Aladdin smirked. "Show him, Genie."
"Gladly." The blue being smirked back, crackling his knuckles. Manito and Ahmed both shrieked. I wanted to watch, but my entire body ached, and I ended up closing my eyes.
"Alaric?" Someone said softly and I felt a hand on my face. "Hey, it's okay now."
I forced my eyes open. "Al...you found me."
He smiled, eyes watering. "Of course, I did. Let's go home, okay?"
"Sure...after I nap." My eyes started to close again.
"Think he might have a concussion." I heard Genie say. "It's why he wants to sleep. He hit his head pretty hard on that wall."
"Genie..." I muttered and opened my eyes again. He was looking down at me.
"Hey, shorty." He said, smiling sadly. "I'm sorry it took so long to find you."
"It's okay..."
Genie had to lift me out of the cage because I couldn't move my limbs. I was too sore and tired.
"Thanks, Genie." I said sincerely. "I'm awful tired."
"You're going to be okay, kiddo." He said softly as I shut my eyes. "We'll be home soon."
"You gonna sleep all day?"
"I would if you be quiet." I grumbled and dove back under the pillow. He landed on the pillow next to the one over my head and scoffed.
"Okay, well don't blame when you miss breakfast."
As if on cue my stomach growled, and I lifted my head to look at him.
"Okay, okay. I'm coming." I said and sat up dumping the pillow from my head onto his and he sputtered slapping at the cushion.
"Hey!"
I laughed and rolled out of the bed.
Al came in as I was fending off an attack from Iago.
"Iago, I said wake Rick for breakfast, not attack him."
"He started it!" The parrot exclaimed and I shrugged at Al who just laughed.
It had been several days since the defeat of Jafar and most of my injuries and Iago's were healed. Being stuck in a room together, where neither one of us could move without pain, we ended up talking and were on the verge of trusting each other better. Iago healed quicker than me though, but he stayed in the room with me anyhow. And now that I was officially freed from being bedridden, it was great to be able to get out of the room and I think Iago was eager too. He was flying ahead, dipping and diving high above us, stretching out his wings.
Al smiled down at me. "Feeling better?"
"I'm still a little sore." I admitted, rubbing my still bandaged ribs. "But the healer says, that by next week I'll be able to run and move without pressure."
"That's great!"
Iago landed on my shoulder as we approached the dining hall.
"Alaric!" Jasmine beamed as I entered. She moved from her spot at the table to hug me gently and I tried and failed not to flush. Iago snickered and I thumped him when the princess turned to look at Al.
The Sultan looked up at our voices. "Good morning, my boy. So glad to see you up and about."
"Glad to see something other than my own walls." I smiled at him and came to sit at the table. I saw Abu and Carpet at the table too and glanced around. "Where's Genie?"
A puff of blue smoke emerged from the center of the table and there was Genie with an apron and a large white hat on.
"Who wants waffles!?"
"Sure, it smells good. But what is it?" I asked and he turned to me with a bright smile.
"Well allow me to introduce you to the warm, syrupy deliciousness!"
I sat beside Iago in the throne room. We were hanging around in there after dinner, lounging around.
"…And, so the bird lived happily ever after. Wallowing in luxury as Aladdin's palace pal." Iago concluded lying back on the pillows. He was telling his version of what happened after I got knocked out.
"You know somehow I doubt anybody would believe that version." Genie muttered in my ear and I started snickering.
Iago eyed us irritably before folding his wings across his chest and pouting. I poked him in the stomach, and he moved away still angry until I tickled him and with a smile, he swatted my hand away.
"And now my dear boy," The Sultan addressed Al. "Or should I say my new vizier?"
"Oh, say it!" Iago squawked by my ear. We both looked at Al expectantly.
"Sultan, I'm very honored but-"
"But!" Iago screeched and he flew towards Aladdin. "What but? But is such a strong word!" He landed on Aladdin's shoulder, knocking Abu off in the process. The little monkey hit the floor with a thud and scowled angrily.
'Why I oughtta!' He started to jump up to fight but Carpet lifted him up off the ground.
"I can't be your vizier." Al finished and Iago frowned. With a growl of frustration, he launched himself at the Sultan and grabbed him by the vest.
"Sultan, the boy's talking crazy talk!" He shouted. "Don't listen!" Finding no answer in the Sultan he flew into Al's face. "What more do you want!"
"The world." Al stated simply and Iago's eyes widened.
"Look, personally I'm with you kid but let's take this one step at a time." Genie had enough and grabbed him with one hand and zapped his beak closed, dropping him onto the pillow next to me. I stifled a laugh and the parrot rolled his eyes, moving to get the bandages from off his beak.
"I mean, I want to see the world." Aladdin told the Sultan. "I don't want to stay in the palace. There's too much to do, too much to see."
I could see Al's point. There would be plenty of time before he would have to rule the city. Taking his time to explore might actually be beneficial.
"Hey, what about your girlfriend?" Iago asked gesturing at Jasmine. "Do you think this lovely princess is going to wait around here? Ahhh!" Rajah took the opportunity to swat him into the ground and there he lay under the tiger's paw.
"I most certainly will not!" Jaz said smiling at Al. She went over and they held hands, looking out at the city.
"There ya see?" I heard Iago mutter from under Rajah.
"I'm going to see the world too." Jasmine added, smiling brightly. I jumped as Iago appeared in front of me.
"Alright that's it! The madness is spreading!" He growled and tried to find someone less 'crazy'. "Crazy talk! Why do I keep getting hooked up with these warped people! Shouldn't somebody ask what the brave parrot wants to do!"
I laughed and then Genie poked me.
"What about you, short stuff? Don't you want to see the world?" I shrugged.
"I dunno I kinda like it here."
"There! That is the smart one of the group!" Iago shouted satisfactorily and landed beside me. Genie rolled his eyes as I snorted.
"You just like it because I said I wanted to stay here."
"Yeah. So?"
I turned to Genie. "I'd like to one day, but I'm pretty satisfied exploring close to home right now." He nodded at me.
"Sounds like a plan, kiddo."
Aladdin turned around. "Hey, Rick. I want to show you something."
"Okay." I got up and followed him out the door. "What is it?"
"You'll see." He said with a shrug. "I'm not sure what you'll think of it."
"Oh." I shrugged, slightly suspicious about why he was taking me down a different hallway than we usually go. "Never been all the way down this hallway before."
Al didn't say anything, and I stopped walking. "Come on, Rick."
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Don't be a chicken." He teased. "Come on."
Sighing, I followed after him. "Why don't you just tell me what you want me to look at? What is it anyway?"
He stopped walking and I bounced into him. "Hey! What's the big idea?"
"Well go ahead and look." He pointed at a door. It seemed ordinary. "Unless you're...scared."
"I'm not scared." I said automatically and curiosity piqued, I couldn't help but reach for the handle without much thought.
I pushed open the door and peered in. "It's dark. What am I supposed to be looking at?"
"Go all the way in." Al rolled his eyes.
"Okay, now I'm suspicious."
"Paranoid."
Scowling, I stomped into the dark and turned to face him, thrusting my arms out. "There ya happy?! There's nothing in here."
"SURPRISE!"
I jumped and spun around as the lights came on.
It was the largest art room I had ever seen and there were a few of my paintings were hanging and framed. There were several different sized easels in the back of the room, near a balcony that I realized meant that I could paint or draw in the sunlight if I wanted. There were a couple of tables that was overflowed with an assortment rainbow of colored pencils, paint, and other materials for me to use.
Shocked, I looked at the group standing in the middle of the room with proud, happy looks. Al, Jas, the Sultan, Carpet, Iago, and Abu were smiling at me.
"Is all this for me?" I asked in confusion and Al nodded.
"Of course, it is. It's not everyday you have a birthday."
I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly. "Well, gee everybody...I don't know-"
"Happy Birthday, kiddo!"
A large green colored cake was thrust under my nose. Written across it, in blue, were the words 'Happy Birthday, Rick!'. Eleven candles adorned the cake. I didn't really understand it, but I figured it was each one for my age.
"What's the matter, my boy?" The Sultan asked.
"It's just...no one's ever thrown me a party before." I said and Genie sat the cake down, taking my shoulders.
"You mean a lot to us, shorty."
"Even after everything?" I asked quietly, wanting to believe it, but part of me was doubtful.
"Nothing about that changes how we feel about you." Jasmine said, coming to hug me. "We love you, Alaric." I felt tears sting my eyes, because no one had said that to me in a very long time. I hugged her back tightly.
"Thank you."
Al, Carpet, the Sultan and Genie joined the hug and I felt overwhelmed by the amount of attention. The good kind of attention.
"Hey, are we going to stand around here all night? Or are we going to eat this cake?"
I laughed and Al muttered under his breath at Iago as I pulled back.
"Make a wish." Genie beamed, holding the cake once more this time the candles were lit.
I tried to inform him that I didn't want anything, but he declared that it was a tradition to do so. So, I blew the candles out, wishing that the good feeling I had would last forever. The feeling of being loved, I never wanted it to go away.
I eased out the door so not to disturb Iago and Carpet, who were sleeping peacefully. I was about to head into the library for a book to help me get my mind off of my nightmare, when something caught my eye.
Genie floated by, heading out to the garden. Curiously, I followed and found him sitting on the fountain.
"Can't sleep either?" I asked and he turned his head, looking at me in surprise.
"What are you doing up, short man?"
I sighed and sat next to him. "Had another nightmare and I didn't want to wake Iago or Carpet, so I went to get a book out of the library, but saw you come out here. What are you doing up?"
Genie glanced back up at the stars overhead. "I was just thinking and looking at the stars."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"You've had masters before Al...were any of them like Jafar?"
He shook his head. "No one's like Jafar. I've had some bad apples, but overall no. why do you ask?"
"Well, I'm sure you've seen some bad things...How do you sleep?"
Genie slung an arm around me, and I felt comfortable enough to let him. It was nice. "Well, kiddo, sometimes you just have to try to think of all the good things before you sleep."
"I'm glad you came back, Genie. I was worried you wouldn't."
"You're a good kid, Rick. I meant it when I said, there aren't any other kids like you out there. There aren't."
"Crazy you mean?"
"No!" He snorted and shook his head at me when he saw me smiling. "Smart and brave like you." He ruffled my hair. "You're one of a kind, kiddo. And I'm happy to be back too."
"Did I wake you when I left?" I asked, slipping back inside my room. Iago was sitting on the balcony railing.
"No, was just thinking."
"So, what are you going to do?" I asked, moving to sit on the railing and he gave me a confused look. "I mean you've been told what to do all your life and…now you're free. You can go and see things you might have wanted to see. Or go far away from here. Whatever you wanted to do."
Iago shrugged. "Well…" He said slowly. "I don't suppose I have anywhere to go right this minute. I guess I could stay a little while."
I couldn't help but smile. "That would be great. This is your home too, Iago. It always has been."
"Don't get sappy on me kid." He rolled his eyes, but I could tell he was smiling.
Iago yawned then and stretched his wings. "Time to hit the sack again. What were you doing up anyway?"
"Nightmare." I shrugged. "Genie said to think of something happy or nice before I sleep."
"Good night, kid."
"Night, Iago."
"Hey, kid."
I turned my head to look at him.
"Thanks for...believing in me and all that."
I smiled and got back into bed, yawning. "Anytime, Iago. What are friends for?" I asked and drifted off to sleep as Carpet patted me, hoping to dream of many new adventures.
Review?
