Kingdom Hearts
Ch. 59
Agrabah
Escape the Tavern
The world of the desert soon began to light up as night turned to day. The moment light reflected off the buildings of Agrabah its citizens awoke with it. When the sand rooster crows atop perches of the city wall the market place opens for business. Men begin leaving their homes commuting to work while their wives stayed home tending to chores. The woman made breakfast for their childern usually handing them bundles of rice. The kids grabbed hold of their pencils made for school. Their Mother's opened the front door setting the childern on their way. They all ran down the streets to their districts local elementary.
The kids ran by several men escorting a donkey carrying fabric on its back. The older men were on their way to the market place passing the closed tavern. Behind the business was the shack where the employees slept soundly.
Inside the building Sora was sleeping without a care in the world on top of a bunk bed with Nura underneath him. He snored a bit causing some of the surrounding girls to stir. Especially Nura slowly coming too opening her eyes a bit. She heard the door in the bedroom suddenly slam open. Jameelah walked in thumping the tip of her cane on the ground, "Alright ladies. Time to wake up. The business opens in two hours. Wash up and get dressed. Make sure you eat a balanced breakfast. Let's go ladies. UP UP UP!"
The girls all woke hearing their leader's quips throwing their bodies out of bed. They rushed out of place standing in front of their beds like military trainees. Sora in contrast slept through everything still snoring faintly. He just rolled around in his bed pulling the blanket over his shoulders. Jameelah noticed Sora's heavy sleeping habits and commanded, "Penni will you please wake up the new girl."
The 7-foot-tall woman came over to Sora's bed grasping the wooden railings. She shook it violently knocking Sora off the bed and on to the ground. Sora despite Penni's attempts still slept soundly curling into a ball on the hard-stone floor.
All the girls just stood around him watching the events play out. Jameelah marched over to the boy slamming her cane near his neck. She knelt down and screamed into the boy's ear "Wake up. Your worthless ingrate!" Despite Jameelah's loud voice Sora did not budge. She raised her hand smacking him up screaming, "I said wake up! You need to eat and bathe now or you'll be late!"
Sora slowly opened his eyes with a bruised face uttering, "Did someone say "EAT?"
Jameelah cursed at the boy angrily. With her free hand she grasped his white shirt throwing his body out the door angrily, "Go get ready dummy!"
The girls all looked out the window some with confused faces others were more amused. Sora rolled down the courtyard getting very dirty. He landed on his back looking up towards the cloudless blue sky. He sat up brushing dirt out of his spikey hair. Jameelah directed the girls to the next shack over pointing to the marble-built structure. The girls headed off in single file towards the building.
The structure was a special bath house built specifically for the girls to use. It stood at the edge of the backlot away from the Tavern. It was built with two sections. A changing room and a bathing room. Inside all the girls began to enter the first room. It was a long corridor with baskets laid out on the floor. The door leading to the bath was at the other end of the room. The fifteen girls all walked down the line beginning to undress putting their clothes in the small baskets.
They each grabbed their own basket and put their clothing in it. Nura pulled off her shirt and put it into the basket. Her sister Nadia was next to her also getting undressed in a similar manner.
Sora made his way in after them coming up next to her taking his shirt off as well. Everyone was preoccupied and did not notice him. He causally began to speak with Nura who was busy undressing. She assumed he was another girl, so she continued to take off her clothes. Nura dropped her pants throwing it into her basket. Sora spoke with little modesty, "So how was your first time working here at the Tavern?"
"Oh, my first time was quite nerve racking. Let me tell you," she said turning to him finally realizing there was a boy next to her. Her face blushed red like a tomato realizing who's she talking too. She was butt naked right next to Sora. Nura remained speechless as Sora stared at her naked body.
"What's with your face? It's stark red. You okay?" he asked quite concerned. Nura screamed lowering her body wrapping her arms around her legs. The other girls caught notice finally seeing that there was a boy in the room. Most of the girls were completely undressed as Sora stood their casually not bothered by his or their presence. "Let me tell you. It's been a long time since I had a normal bath with other people. Just like back home. Donald says most places don't do mixed bathing."
He pulled down his pants placing them in the clothes basket. He was now naked like everyone else. Sora was undeterred by his state remaining calm while scratching his lip. "You know. You're all very beautiful," he said ignorantly.
Nura realized that now she was point blank in front of his naked crotch. She stumbled on the ground falling to her back. Her hands were placed to her side and her legs were a bit apart. With a loud yell, she screamed along with every other girl in the bath house. They all tried to cover their bodies with clothes if not their hands.
Jameelah made her way in the shack shouting, "What the heck is going on here?" She looked over to see Sora's naked butt standing in the middle of the crowd.
Jameelah threw a tantrum and began hitting Sora with her wooden cane screaming at him, "WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT TRYING ANYTHING FUNNY!"
"This isn't funny at all. I just thought that people bathe together in Agrabah. This is normal where I come from." Sora tried to explain covering his head.
She continued to beat him to a pulp with the girls watching. "Let me tell you these girls are pure virgins and they will not be deflowered by any man until they find their one true love. No man will take away their purity until after they make their vows. Especially not to the likes of you. Now I don't give a crap what kind of backwards tribe you are from, but we are not going to make accommodations to you."
Sora screamed as every swing got harder and harder. She then grabbed him by the ear and threw his naked body towards the dirt outside. His face and chest slid on the gravel scratching up his skin. "You can wait here till they're all done before you can take a bath. And don't even think about peeping. Cause I'll be standing guard," shouted Jameelah with red eyes of fire throwing his clothes towards him. She pulled off the wooden covering over her cane revealing her sharp sword to him. She closed the door swiftly and loudly.
In the baths, the girls all began to help each other bathe in the water. Nura's eyes were swirling from the previous experience. Nada shook her shoulder trying to get her attention. "Nura you okay?" she humbly asked her sister.
Talhiah placed her arms at the side of the bath getting relaxed. She spoke out to the other girls confidently "She's probably enthralled so much seeing a man naked for the first time and up so close. It looked like she got an eye full. And so did he."
Abia cut in moving forward, "Talhiah, don't say things like that."
Talhiah set her head back. "This isn't new for me though. This was the second time I saw a naked man's body. Why it was just two nights ago when I saw my first glimpse of a man's figure."
Baraka splashed some water with her hand upset, "Talhiah! You didn't."
The girl smirked remarking, "Don't worry it's not what you think. I didn't show him anything it was a chance encounter. When I was out the other night. I decided to rest up by the drain outside the bath house. You know the one that pours water from above into a fountain. Anyway, something falls out of the drain splashing in the water. I turned around and a man rises out of the small pool completely naked. I just remember sitting in front of a young man. He noticed me and screamed. He immediately covered himself with his hands and ran off into the streets butt naked. It was the most glorious yet brief moment of my life."
Oma remarked to Tahliah's story saying, "Geez your such a pervert sometimes."
"Please I'm still a virgin like the rest of you. And I don't plan on giving it to just anyone. But my future husband better have a body like the man I saw. That's all I can say," Tahliah spoke before submerging her head underwater.
Nura's head was still spinning after looking at Sora.
Outside Sora got up reverting to siting Indian style after putting his clothes on. He used the other hand to rub his ear. Sora turned back towards the boardwalk to see Goofy there watching. He was pushing a cart with bowls of oat meal on them. "Good morning," he said to his friend waving his hand. Goofy was also not bothered nor questioned Sora's appearance. He just smiled causally.
"Yo," Sora waved back. After getting Sora's reply Goofy went on his way entering the dining hall. Sora remained in his position waiting patiently till the girls were done. Over time the door finally opened and the girls now fully dressed came out. They seemed bothered talking to themselves. Some glanced at Sora with contempt other looked away embarrassed. Sora could make out a few phrases they were speaking to each other.
"He saw us." "I feel so dirty." "Pervert." "I'll never be married."
Jameelah came out after the other girls departed. She slid the wooden cover over the sword reverting it back to a cane. "The bath is free now," she said with an angry glare.
"Ha ha sorry," he said rubbing the back of his head.
Jameelah freaked out running over to him. She lifted her foot kicking him and yelling "WELL SORRY'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH! We're opening in an hour. You'd better be ready, bathed, and fed by then or I'll KILL YOU!"
Sora heeded Jameelah's advice rising to his feet. He dashed into the bath house quickly. He was in such a hurry he forgot to close the door behind him. "You'd better scrub fast. If you don't. You'll miss breakfast," she shouted at him.
The other girls watched Jameelah as she rubbed her scalp. She turned to them shouting at them, "Don't stand there. Breakfast is ready. But we have something to discuss so hurry up."
"Jasmine," she called. The Princess came out concealed in a brown veil hiding her face. Jameelah led the girls in the dining room seeing Goofy had already set the table. He saluted her like a military officer stating, "Breakfast is served."
She forced Goofy outside shouting, "Don't come in here till I tell you so." The old proprietor shut the door leaving Goofy alone.
Goofy scratched his forehead saying, "Hm, how rude."
The girls were all seated with bowls of rice in front of them. Jasmine was by Jameelah's side. The old widow raised her hand to Jasmine telling her, "Jasmine you can remove your veil now."
The Princess did as she was told revealing her face to them. Her brown cloak fell to the ground showing her Princess attire to all the woman. The girls all looked unsurprised even the small Zafirah.
From the shadows in the corner of the room, the former Immortal Dust appeared with her body appearing from sand. "Dust your back," one of the girls said.
"Ladies we need to discuss something important," Dust said to the group.
The elder went on to explain their situation to the girls. They all remained silent till she was done speaking. Each girl had something to say regarding the current events.
"They're really coming," said the first Abia.
"I knew the late Queen was a harem girl, but I didn't know she worked here," said the second Baraka.
"I should have guessed the Queen and you worked together when you were younger Ma'am," said the third Oma to Jameelah.
"But what are we to do about the Immortals?" proclaimed the forth Jemima.
"Together we would stand a chance against one of them. But against all of them. They're the most powerful warriors in the land," said the fifth Nada.
"By Allah, this is so over whelming," said the sixth Nura with her hands shaking.
"We have concocted a plan to help the Princess escape Jafar forever. But we need your cooperation," asked Dust.
"What about a Princess escaping?" asked the sixteenth Sora quietly walking in behind Jameelah.
"But is it true what happens if Jafar finds the Keyhole," said the seventh Hadya.
"Did someone say something about a keyhole. I'm looking for a keyhole," said the sixteenth Sora.
"If this keyhole is so important. There must be a key to lock it up right?" said the eighth Nowa.
"I have a key," said the sixteenth Sora bringing out his keyblade.
"Even after all this. You insist that we locate a lowly street rat. How will he help us?" asked the ninth Maysa.
"I know a street rat," said the sixteenth Sora.
"Yeah I mean how many Aladdin's are there in the city. Where'd we even start looking," said the tenth Penni.
"You talking about my good friend Aladdin," said the sixteenth Sora placing the keyblade over his shoulders.
"Still how will we smuggle the Princess out of here. There's heartless everywhere," said the eleventh Melek.
"We'll find a way if we must," said the twelfth Sadira.
"Still even if we get her out of the city. What will Jafar do? He's only a truly tyrannical ruler when he's angry. He'll most likely take out his wrath on everyone in Agrabah," said the thirteenth Talihah.
"I'll kick his ass before he does any harm," said the sixteenth Sora.
"No that won't work. We'd have to get through his Immortals and an army of heartless to boot," said the fourteenth Karima.
"We'll kick all their asses and then kick Jafars ass," declared the sixteenth Sora.
"No, we must insure the Princess's safety. We must find a way for her to escape. That should be our priority," said the fifteenth Zafirah.
"No, I can't just abandon my kingdom," said Jasmine slamming her hands on the table.
"Jasmine please," said Jameelah hovering her hands over Jasmine's shoulders.
"No, I'm done hiding. Jafar is not of royal blood. He has no right to sit on my ancestor's throne. And this girl is right," she said pointing to Sora. "If we want to stop this and save Agrabah. We must defeat Jafar. Because if we don't the entire world could be put into jeopardy. This is the only option. We overthrow Jafar or all hope is lost. So no more running or we will never be truly free," Jasmine spoke confidently.
"She's right. And I know I'm asking a lot of you girls, but we must find a way to seize Jafar from his throne. Remember you can't tell anyone what we just said especially that Sora and those other two men. What were their names, Goofy and Jiminy?" said Jameelah stepping forward.
"There's a problem Ma'am. I've already heard everything," said the sixteenth Sora. Jameelah looked behind finally noticing him as well as the rest of the girls.
"YOU WERE HERE THE WHOLE TIME!" they all shouted.
Back near the front two figures appeared knocking on the side door leading to the employee area. Jiminy Cricket was close by heading down the wooden path connected to the tavern and heard the knocks. He hopped over landing on the door handle letting them in. The door slid open revealing two figures in front of him. The Immortals Dust and Kurt stood before him. They looked down at the cricket asking, "Is Jameelah here at the moment?"
Jiminy nodded, "Yes she's with the girls getting ready for work."
"Thank you," Dust said. The two then entered into the backyard.
"Hey, wait you can't just barge in here. At least let me announce your presence to the boss," Jiminy said to the two individuals. But they ignored him walking on. Jiminy hopped after them, "Hey wait don't go."
Back in the dining room Jameelah and the girls surrounded Sora raising their weapons toward him. Penni put him in a choke hold lifting him off the ground. Jameelah revealed her sword confronting him. "You were sent here to spy on us. I should have known. No man whose broke would ever be dumb enough to buy the most expensive item on the menu."
The girls all brought out their weapons huddling around him like the day before. "Listen, I ain't no spy. I'm just looking for someone," he said calmly.
"Silence pervert. Don't talk back like that," said Nura now appearing threating with shady eyes.
Jameelah came to him staring at Sora, "How did you get in here? Weren't you bathing?"
Sora answered, "Yeah, but I didn't want to miss breakfast. So I rushed a bit."
He grabbed a bowl of rice from the table and began eating it. Despite Sora being lifted off the ground with everyone watching. "I'd never miss a meal."
They all shouted again, "ARE YOU SERIOUS? YOUR DOING IT AGAIN!"
Jasmine spoke out, "Jameelah I don't think he's one of them. He's—"
Jameelah silenced the Princess. "Stay back Jasmine. If we let him live, he'll surely tell our secret."
Sora caught wind of what they said. "Wait a minute your Jasmine," he pointed to her.
"Uh duh didn't Jafar tell you what she looked like when he sent you," Oma growled at him.
"I had considered it but I didn't want to assume. I thought maybe you were a different Princess. I've been looking all over for you." Sora grabbed Penni's hands tilting his back to press his feet on the ground. With one thrust he threw Penni off him launching her to the other end of the room. Penni's back slammed into the wall creating a small crack.
Sora jumped into the air away from the other harem girls. He landed near Jasmine speaking directly to her, "Wait till Aladdin and the others find out that you've been here all along. They're going to feel really dumb now that I found you first."
"You know Aladdin?" asked Jasmine crossing her legs.
"Of course I do. He was here yesterday. Remember it was the group who asked for me. You know the guy in baggy shorts who cosplays like a monkey. With a fez and everything. He was with another ape man, a duck and blue skinned guy with an awesome mustache," Sora said twirling an imaginary mustache on his face as an example.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?" they all shouted again.
"Huh, yes he doesn't wear shoes. But he wore a fez like his monkey. And he did have baggy shorts. And he dressed like his-!" Jasmine thought back to Aladdin and Abu remembering they both wear the same fez and vest. The realization swept through Jasmine like a tidal wave. She expressed the internal eureka shouting, "OH MY GOSH! I've fallen in love with a man who gets his fashion sense from a monkey!"
"WHAT THE PRINCESS HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH A MONKEY MAN!" the harem girls shouted in sync.
Jameelah suddenly felt weak after hearing this revelation. She had to sit down on a chair lamenting, "Oh, my dear what would your Mother think?"
Jasmine came to Jameelah, "No it's not what you think he just dresses like a monkey. He doesn't act like one. I promise." Jasmine then thought to herself, "Well that does make it slightly better. But not by much.
The door then opened with Goofy peeking his head in, "Uh Ma'am. Someone's here to see you. They say it's urgent."
Jameelah yelled at him bitter, "Can't you see I'm having a serious moment. Tell them to get lost."
Goofy quickly shut the door turning to the two visitors. "She told me to tell you to get lost," he said bluntly.
"Dang, she's usually a respectable old lady. Goofy, is it? Tell her who we are. And that we are members of the Immortals," Kurt told him waving his hand.
"But Sora, you said you know Aladdin. Can you take me too him?" asked Jasmine happily.
"Sure, you should have told me sooner who you were, then I'd already would have taken you to him. Let's get Goofy and Jiminy before seeing him." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the door.
"HOW WOULD I HAVE KNOWN TO TELL YOU? I'M IN HIDING!" Jasmine yelled at Sora.
"Wait princess," said Dust using her sand powers to move over the table next to her.
"Sorry it looks like I have to call in a sick day. I'll pay you back one day. I promise," Sora said to Jameelah.
"What no. YOU IDIOT. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!" shouted the old lady.
He dragged Jasmine to the door kicking it open. The other girls shouted to him not to take her just yet. Abia held up Jasmine's brown garments trying to get her to wear it. He dashed out the door shouting out, "Hey Goofy. I found the Princess Aladdin was looking for. Let's get going."
"You don't have to yell I'm right next to you," said Goofy covering his ears standing outside the door. Sora pulled Jasmine outside into the backyard.
"Wait Sora I should cover up firs-s," Jasmine stopped mid-sentence seeing the two figures in front on her. Jameelah came out slamming her cane on Sora's head.
"You dolt. We don't want anyone to know the Princess is h-h," Jameelah also stopped mid-sentence.
Goofy went on saying, "Yes Ma'am these two nice gents wished to speak to you. They call themselves The Immortals."
Jasmine's heart dropped laying eyes on these two so suddenly. "Y-you," she said grasping Sora's wrist tightly stepping back.
"Hm, you know each other?" Sora said looking back and forth. Kurt summoned his swords saying, "Well that was easy. Jafar was right that this girl would run to the place her Mother grew up. Too bad we didn't know which harem then we'd have searched here first."
A brush of sand burst through the doors like a gust of wind blinding everyone. The sands grew rapidly till Sora and Jasmine were flown off their feet flying over the Immortal's heads. They landed on the patch of ground across the backyard. The former Dust came out turning her arms into blades. With both her arms she struck her blades against the Immortals. Dust dodged using her belly dancing technique while Kurt deflected it with his blades. "Princess go and run now," she shouted pushing Kurt back.
Dust flipped in the air with her left legs veins glowing. She aimed for Sora falling towards the ground like a missile. Jasmine grabbed Sora pulling him to the side. Dust crashed in the flower garden nearly destroying it. Battered flower petals danced in the wind when Dust unearthed the ground beneath her. Jasmine and Sora were still on the ground recovering. Dust came out from the smoke walking non-charlatanry. She lifted her glowing leg preparing to kick them while they were on the ground.
But Goofy appeared in front of them holding his weapon. Using his shield, he blocked the Immortals attack. Dust's legs pressed against Goofy's shield trying to overpower him.
"Goofy!" shouted Sora relieved.
"Now I don't know who you all are. But I can't let you hurt my friend. Or my other friends girlfriend," Goofy declared. Dust removed her leg trying to kick him some more but Goofy blocked every attack with his weapon.
"Jasmine who're these guys and why do they want to beat us into the dirt?" Sora yelled back.
"They're two of The Immortals. They work for Jafar and want to bring me back to him," Jasmine said getting on her feet.
Kurt decapitated the veiled woman as her fallen head turned to sand. The swordsman realized his attempts were fruitless, so he turned around and lunged at Goofy's blind side. He aimed for Goofy's neck but Sora got in his way. He brought out his keyblade pushing Kurt's swords away. "I don't know who you are and now I don't think I want too. Anybody who sides with a man like that is a bad guy no matter what," Sora declared pointing his weapon at his foe.
Kurt was astonished. "A keyblade," he said out loud. This also caught Dust's attention getting her to stop attacking.
"A keyblade?" the other girls said all coming out witnessing the fight.
"Is it true?" Dust said reforming her body from sand.
"You bet. You're looking at the real deal Sora's the keyblade master for reals," proclaimed Goofy.
Kurt seemed a bit adjusted. "Jafar mentioned someone like you was out there. But even he didn't predict you'd arrive here of all places. No doubt you're here for the Keyhole. No matter. It's located somewhere in the Palace and you'll never live long enough to find it."
"The Keyhole is in the Palace. Really?" Sora replied.
Everybody paused then fell to the ground except Sora and Kurt. "WHAT!" they all shouted.
Dust got up screaming at him "You moron now he knows where to look. Do us all a favor and keep your mouth shut in front of our enemies."
She shook her head, "No matter. Kurt is right though. You're not going to live long enough to find it. Jafar will be victorious over you keyblade wielder." She prepared to start another barrage of attacks. But one of the harem girls stopped her. The berserker Oma slammed her body into the Immortal throwing her off in a distance.
"You talk about that monster Jafar one more time and then you'll really see me angry. Energy similar to Tarzan's prevailed over her body. The other harem girls came out to help using their own unique weapons and abilities.
"Traitors. You all wish to stand against the Sultan. You should have just handed Jasmine over. I'm sure Jafar would reward you greatly," Dust shouted getting into a fighting stance.
"Not a chance these girls are all honorable woman. They'd never stoop so low as to rat out a friend," proclaimed Jameelah.
"I guess you're the one who was filling their heads with this so-called honor. But the question is are they willing to die for it?" Dust ringed at Jameelah.
Dust got up raising her leg again. "Sora, I think we better skedaddle on out of here," Goofy suggested.
Jameelah looked at Sora's keyblade gripping her staff. "That boy. He really wields such a weapon. Maybe it was all fated to happen." She shouted calling to him. "Please take care of Jasmine. Promise you'll not let anything happen to her."
Sora nodded at Jameelah guarding Princess Jasmine. "Hayda now," Jameelah shouted. Hayda and her sisters appeared on the roof with black fabric covering their noses and mouths. They took out smoke bombs from their satchels throwing them on the ground. A blast of smoke blew into the area blinding everyone.
"What how's that supposed to help," coughed Sora not being able to see. But one of the sisters appeared next to him grabbing him by the hand leading him through smoke. She brought him to the employee entrance leading to the streets.
"Run," she whispered in his ear. Sora felt the hard ground against his bare feet stepping into the street. Jasmine and Goofy were behind him led by the other two sisters.
In the streets passersby's looked at them wondering what's going on. People stopped to watch the commotion. Sora grabbed Jasmine's wrist again taking her away from the tavern. He led her down the street with Goofy in tow. The passerby's just watched them questioning what had just happened. After they got a bit of distance away from the Tavern. They heard a loud thump hit the ground. Goofy looked behind him to see Dust is following them. She used her skills to propel off the buildings at alarming speeds. "Guys she's on our tail," Goofy warned.
"Just don't stop moving forward," Sora shouted leading Jasmine down the path.
The Princess nodded refusing to look back as the three dashed through the streets of Agrabah.