Kingdom Hearts

Ch. 66

Agrabah

Broken Promises

Aladdin ran from the group disappearing out of sight. His padded his feet on the soft grass. Donald and Goofy followed him despite his attempts to keep a distance. He was faster than them, but they were able to keep pace. They watched him run up next to some bushes and trees. He stopped in his tracks giving Donald and Goofy time to catch up. They ran up behind him looking over the bush.

Aladdin was standing and looking at the lamp in his hand. "Gee, what's wrong?" asked Goofy with a puzzling look.

"It's nothing," he replied examining the lamp.

"You know when someone says it's nothing. It usually means something is going on," said Donald waving his finger in the air.

Aladdin grasped the lamp. "I really want to impress Jasmine. But if she knew that all the worth I have is this lamp. She'll reject me."

"What, that's ridiculous. You saved her from Jafar remember," said Donald.

"Uh no, you guys saved her from Jafar. Sora's the one who held him off. You guys are the ones who fought the Immortals. All I just did was hold her hand."

Goofy spoke, "Well that there has to be worth something. Everybody needs a helping hand now and again."

Aladdin felt annoyed, "That's not what I meant."

"Oh Al, love is a beautiful yet timely affair," Genie said exiting from the lamp. "I'm sure Jasmine loves you just the way you are. Just be yourself. Be stylish. Be charming. Be a star," the Genie said morphing into Will Smith.

"Yeah, that's anything but me," Aladdin said shrugging the Genie off. "Jasmine will probably go to Sora in the end."

Hearing this remark Donald and Goofy gave a quick glance at each other and laughed. "Sora and a Princess, yeah right," Goofy laughed.

"Sora would eat the entire Palaces food supply in a few weeks. He's more of a hassle if anything," Donald quirked.

"Besides Sora and the rest of us can't stay here too long," Goofy said.

"Wait your leaving?" Aladdin asked.

"Of course, wanderers can't stay in one place. After our business here is done. We're going to be high tailing it out of here. After that we'll go back on a journey to find our friends." Goofy declared.

"Oh that's fine, I guess. Who are you looking for?" he asked.

Goofy answered, "Why our dear friend Kin-gg."

Donald grabbed Goofy's snout silencing him. "That's not important. But what is important is that a promise is a promise. We said we'll do everything in our power to help you and we intend to keep it. We're with you till the end."

The word "promise" began to irritate Genie. He turned away whispering to himself. "A promise is a promise yeah right." Those words brought an back old memory he'd like to forget. Encouraging him to return to the lamp out of sight.

"Um Genie," Aladdin asked. The lamp suddenly went silent. Aladdin put it away before turning around. He joined Donald and Goofy and the three went back to the pool with the others.

Aladdin looked forward seeing Jasmine. They followed after her. Tarzan and Abu were still sleeping soundly by themselves.

Back by the pond Tarzan still slept soundly. As Abu was the first to awake. The tiny brown monkey yawned and stretched his arms. He got up and climbed a banana tree near the pool. He indulged himself with a banana peeling off its skin. Tarzan also began to stir as if someone was walking towards him. The ape man got up rubbing his eye to clear his vision. Abu looked ahead seeing someone was approaching Tarzan from behind. The site of the figure caused fear to spike in the monkey. Abu screeched loudly pointing behind Tarzan.

Tarzan was able to translate the screech as, "Behind you. Watch out!" Upon realizing what the monkey said it was too late. A strong leg came around smacking Tarzan in the face. The ape man's body was launched in the direction of the waterfall. His body flew through the falling water striking the rocks behind it. The woman who attacked landed on her feet after kicking him.

It was the Immortal Dust who had followed them. She smirked at him. "Time for round two," she replied. The ape man fell into the water catching his body with his hands. He quickly returned to his feet raising his head above the falling waters. The water rushed over his long lush hair and face like a stone in the rain. When he looked forward, he didn't see anyone.

Water was in his eyes as Dust leaped at him from the side. She kicked him in the chin knocking him down again. "You are not running away again. Not till we finish this." Energy coursed through Tarzan's arm as the two clashed causing the water to part from their bodies. Abu looked on in fear as the two duked it out. The monkey suddenly feared for Aladdin and ran off to warn him.

Sora continued eating as Aladdin took Jasmine away from the others. They ran behind a tall tree a bit away from the berry bushes. "Um Jasmine," he spoke in a nervous voice.

"Yes, Aladdin?" she responded.

"Are you happy here?" he asked.

"Huh, I don't understand?" Jasmine asked.

"Well I mean are you happy here with me," he said again blushing. Well after all these past few years I'd be happy almost anywhere," she said looking around.

"No, I mean do you think you'll be happy with me here," Aladdin unable to look at Jasmine face first.

Jasmine felt a bit uneasy about this. "You mean be with you?" she said turning to him.

"Listen you're a Princess and I'm just a street rat. I think maybe you deserve someone better." Aladdin turned his eyes away from here in shame. The Princess got up close to him and grabbed his cheeks positioning his face eye to eye with hers. She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "I haven't been truly happy since I met you. You've done so much for me. And there is nothing I can do to repay you accept with love."

"You really mean that?" Aladdin asked humbly.

"I don't know. I just know ever since I first met you. I've never known a man so nice to me before. You gave me a chance to be free. To be happy. That is all I've ever wanted." Jasmine began to get emotional. Aladdin embraced her as they felt each other's bodies. They collapsed as the two caressed the others skin and hair. The world around them became numb to them as if they were the only two people in the world.

Unbeknownst to them Sora, Donald, and Goofy were watching from a distance. Sora was still digging into an apple. "Aw how cute," said Goofy.

"They're like a match made in heaven," said Donald peeking behind the bush.

Sora swallowed some apple chunks and smiled. "I wonder if there are any papou fruits around."

"What. Papou Fruits?" asked Donald.

"It's nothing. It's just in my home world. Couples eat it because it signifies an unbreakable bond between them, and their destinies become intertwined. Married couples always eat it at their weddings.

Goofy stirred, "Aw, how romantic. But it sounds to me like that fruit is native to your world only Sora. Cause I've never heard of such a thing."

Sora stepped away finishing the apple. "Hey, do you two have any special people back—kk," Sora immediately stopped talking. Donald and Goofy's mouth gaped open as a magic beam blasted through Sora's chest. The young keyblade wielder fell over. His body was burnt and injured. "SORA!"

Donald and Goofy shouted. From behind Kurt and Zisa ran out from the bushes and ambushed Donald and Goofy in the back.

Aladdin heard the commotion and opened his eyes. He set Jasmine to her feet looking to find his friends in danger. "Donald! Goofy!" shouted Aladdin.

"Oh no please no. Not again," Jasmine said fearful.

Aladdin brought out his swords planning to aid them. But hordes of bandit heartless appeared surrounding them. Jasmine fell to her knees freaking out. "You monsters. Just leave Jasmine alone!" he took out his swords and decapitated a bandit heartless.

Several Power Wilds pounced on him. Aladdin got out of the way but one got close enough to touch him but didn't land a hit. It ripped his shirt knocking the magic lamp on the ground. "Oh no!" Aladdin said feeling his ripped vest. He tried to reach for the magic lamp.

Jasmine then screamed as Bandit heartless began to overwhelm her. Aladdin hesitated as he had to make a choice. The decision seemed simple to him. Choosing Jasmine over the lamp. He took his swords slicing the bandits in half. He helped Jasmine on her feet then looked over to the lamp to grab it. But it was not there. A Power Wild took the lamp in its hands running off with it.

"Genie no!" Aladdin shouted. The heartless ran over next to a man entering the scene. The monkey heartless handed the object to him. Donald and Goofy were struggling to fight Kurt and Zisa as Sora had fallen. The young boy tried to get up but his body ached from the blast. He managed to see the man that shot him. Jafar grinned evilly at the boy hovering in midair.

The man smiled at them. Donald and Goofy were startled by this realization. So much so they were distracted enough for Kurt and Zisa to finish them off. Zisa used gravity magic to force Donald down. Kurt uppercuted Goofy's shield in the air before slicing his stomach. Both fell over because of their enemies attacks.

"That's what you get for messing with us," Zisa said sticking his snake like tongue at them.

"You guys" Aladdin yelled.

"Aladdin watch out," Jasmine screamed. A bandit heartless sneaked around the boy and stabbed him in the side. The thief fell to his knees covering his wound. Jasmine almost began to scream. But instead her limbs glowed green till the Immortal Dust appeared. Moving like she was shot out of a cannon the woman used her leg to hit Jasmine in the face pushing her backwards toward Jafar. Jasmine fell down on her back near the feet of her previous captor. The man stood over her with a stale face. But he did not say a word.

Jasmine was fearful of the man. Though she laid before him she closes her eyes refusing to see his face. Sora saw the lamp in Jafar's hand. He began moving his body over to him. Sora even tried yelling at him, "Don't you dare take that from Aladdin." He instantly got up bringing out his keyblade.

Jafar turned to the boy holding the lamp up. "This object you speak of. This lamp. Is it really that important?" he said sarcastically.

"Sora stop," Aladdin shouted to him.

Sora realized what he means. "If Jafar learns about the Genie it's all over for us."

Jafar looked around and laughed. "I can't believe you actually found it. No wonder you were all able to escape from my clutches so easily. Using the power of this lamp you were able to obtain or accomplish anything. You made this place and used it to evade my forces. But now that I have it. And can use it as I please."

Jasmine looked up confused, "That lamp, that's."

"Yes, my dear child. The lamp holding the power of the Genie. The same Genie that crafted the city of Agrabah. The same Genie summoned by the first Sultan all those generations ago. The same Genie who taught our people the art of water making. For every person who wields the lamp obtains three wishes. And now it belongs to me again."

"Again?" Aladdin looked confused. Sora also was dumbfounded.

"Tell me how did you obtain the golden bug from my courters. There's no way you could have stolen it. Someone must have given it to you. So who was it?"

Aladdin struggled atop the grassy pasture looking up to see Iago hiding behind the tree leaves. Their eyes linked. Aladdin gulped and answered back, "You'll have to kill me first." He got up despite his wounds. He charged at Jafar with his swords allowing the men's weapons to clash. Jafar held off Aladdin's attack with his cobra staff. Dust came behind him and kicked Aladdin right in the spot where he was stabbed. He gouged out in pain falling to his knees.

"Aladdin hold on!" Sora said preparing to assist his friend. But Kurt and Zisa blocked him. They ran in front of him barring the boy from moving forward. "Jafar, you said you knew Genie," he yelled at them.

Jafar laughed. "Now you're getting it." Jafar rubbed the lamp summoning the wonderful Genie.

Genie appeared in the vein of a pizza shop employee holding a telephone up to his ear. "Hello this is Lampions Wishes. We bring the most wonderful desires to life in town. Give us your order and will deliver your wish within twenty minutes or it's free." Genie said in a deep Brooklyn accent.

"Hello Genie," Jafar said amusingly.

Hearing the man's voice. The Genie dropped character turning towards the man with his lamp. Genie shuddered. "You. J-Jafar," he said softly.

"Long time no see old friend. How's the business?" Jafar asked sarcastically.

"Of all the masters I've liked to reunite with. You wouldn't even make the list." Genie yelled.

"You shouldn't speak like that to your good friend. It's been nine years," Jafar said grinning.

"Previous master?" Donald and Goofy muttered from the ground.

"Wait if he was your old master then," Sora spoke surprised to hear this revelation.

"The magic lamp just like from my story book. It all makes sense now," Jasmine said finally looking up at Jafar.

"Oh my old friend. You aren't still mad at me for breaking that promise all those years ago," Jafar said arrogantly.

Genie floated over Jafar with an angry face. "You promised you'd set me free. And to top it all off you locked me away in that god forsaken cave so no one could ever find me. We were friends and you betrayed me. I made you what you are, and you dashed my hopes. I can't forgive myself for trusting you. I thought I'd never get out of there. You were a good person when we met. But that witch corrupted you."

Jafar cocked an eyebrow, "Witch? Maleficent had nothing to do with it. All she did was reveal to me the truth about the darkness. The truth that darkness is the greatest power in this world or any other." Darkness eroded around Jafar like a nasty stench. His eyes remained clear as events of the past came back into fruition.

-32 Years Ago-

On the desert sands a lone man wandered through the landscapes with nothing but a small jar of water and the clothes on his back. He wore a blue tunic covering his face. He carried a small dagger and wore all blue clothes. The young man explored the desert with nothing around for miles. He walked atop a sand dune till he stepped on something. The man looked down to see a small object in the sand. He knelt down to pick it up. In his hand was the magic lamp lost in this vast desert. The man removed his veil revealing himself as a young Jafar of the past. He examined the lamp before rubbing the sand off. The small ornament then began to shake.