The Lamp and the Ring

by Smartist

Aladdin is one of the unfortunate many that are barely getting by in Agrabah. Jasmine is of the prized few that are holed up in the palace, away from the misery and poverty of the city below, but she feels trapped and longs to see her people. Shadows lurk behind every corner, mysteries plague the city, and it all comes down to the strange lamp and the cursed ring.

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The sky looked dark enough to swallow the world whole. If he looked closely, he could make out the golden tips of Agrabah's palace. He flinched.

He remembered how he had dreamed of living under the roof of the palace, with servants bowing to his command and rich meals four times a day, gold jewelry adorning his arms. Now, his stomach twisted in fear with even the mere thought.

He didn't want to go back to Agrabah. Some of his darkest memories were there. But he had made a promise, and he would risk everything to keep it. His heart strained to see his wife's face again, the laugh lines around her eyes, the satin of her skin, the shimmer of her dark eyes.

He dreamed of seeing her again, taking her somewhere safe. She would bring their child with them, though he knew that his child would be far older.

"Come on. You need to hurry if you want to arrive by dawn." The woman, his guide, was pacing impatiently, her footsteps raising clouds of sand. "I may just raise the price if I'm forced to wait longer for you."

"Alright, Elisha," he said. He forced his aching legs to move. Their camels had vanished a few nights ago, and the two of them, he and Elisha, had walked the kilometers to Agrabah. They were many days later than expected, and he already had to pay her extra for the days.

He'd had no idea how to make it back to Agrabah, but then he had met Elisha, who was making her way there anyway. She was smuggling outlawed substances to Agrabah, but she was the only one he could find that wouldn't charge him ridiculous amounts to guide him there safely. She was a trained fighter, and was able to protect them from bandits, who were numerous. They had already encountered three groups of them, all three of which Elisha had disarmed and left lying in the dust.

"The more you rest, the longer it will take to get to Agrabah," she said, like she had been saying frequently for the past few days.

"I know," he said, careful to keep his tone neutral. For all he knew, she may leave him hear, vulnerable and broke. If she wanted to, she could steal all his money right then and there. He didn't know why she didn't.

He hoisted his pack, and the two of them walked into the night, closer and closer to the massive city glowing in the distance.