Kingdom Hearts
Ch. 71
Agrabah
Tiki Island
On the desert sands a lone man wandered through the landscape carrying nothing but a small jar of water hanging by his side and the clothes on his back. He wore a blue tunic covering his face. The young man explored the desert with nothing around for miles but sand and rocks in the distance. He walked atop a sand dune to look across the area as if nothing was new. When he placed his feet on top, he noticed he stepped on something. The man looked down to see a small object buried in the sand. He knelt down to wrap his finger around the handle pulling the object out of the sand. In his hand was the magic lamp lost in this vast desert. He stood up as sand fell from the object. The man removed his veil revealing himself as a young Jafar of the past. He examined the lamp almost making out a language written on the item but was smudged by the sand. Jafar cursorily caused him to rub the sand off the item to get a better look.
The lamp began moving on its own rumbling in Jafar's hands. Feeling this Jafar dropped the lamp on the ground in fear. He backed away taking out his knife in defense. The lamp moved on the ground sporadically like a panicked rodent. Fireworks shot out of the item before a blue giant poured out of the lamp with smoke and fire. The giant towered in front of Jafar almost making the sky turn dark. His great shadow stretched over Jafar down the sandy dunes. "Yeeow. Wooh," he shouted waving his arms whimsically. "I thought I'd never get out of there."
He tilted his head while pounding his right ear causing sand to come out of the other. He looked to the blue sky before bringing out a microphone. "Now who is the lucky winner this afternoon?" Genie turned around to see Jafar fall to his feet letting go of the knife. "And there he is."
Genie transformed into a reporter next to Jafar holding a microphone to the young man. "And tell me sir how's it feel to be the luckiest person in the world? Please, tell us your name."
Jafar answered stuttering back, "J-Jafar."
Genie stepped back, "Jafar what an original name. I don't think I've ever had a master whose name started with a J."
"Wait I'm your master. And you. You're a genie. That means I get three wishes," Jafar concluded.
Genie swirled around turning back to normal. "You bet. Should I explain the 411."
"No. I know the rules. Only three wishes. No wishing for more wishes. No wishing to kill people or bring them back from the dead. And no falling in love with anybody else. I heard it in a story once." Jafar said confidently.
"Ah you did your homework. Someone's seems educated about the supernatural let alone believing in it. That's how you get ahead in this world. Now my master before nightfall. We have no time to waste. What is it you want most?" Genie said poking Jafar's nose.
Jafar thought over it. The possibilities were nearly limitless. He could wish to rediscover Zerzura. He could show up the people of Agrabah. But deep down he knew there was only one wish he could ask for. Happy that he was given this privilege, Jafar spoke loudly to the Genie. "My first wish is to have a device to traverse to other worlds."
Genie shouted, "Seriously we're going beyond the borders. No one's ever asked me to do that. Granted most people are unaware of this fact. Did you all finally figure it out. How long have I been gone? 500 years. 600. Aw well your wish is my command master." Genie transformed to an old woman in a rocking chair knitting a piece a fabric. "In a moment sunny boy. I'll have it done in a gippy," he said as an old lady. In 10 seconds flat he knitted a beautiful purple carpet with gold images on it.
The scenario transformed again taking place inside a castle. The Genie appeared as Dr. Frankenstein placing the carpet on a table like the monster. "Igor. Pull the switch!" he shouted.
Another Genie clone with a hunchback responded, "Yes master." He pulled the switch causing electricity to run its course through the carpet. A loud clash of lighting could be heard outside. Frankenstein Genie shouted as the electrical volt traversed through the fabric. The fabric began floating a bit in the air. The hunchback flipped the switch off ceasing the experiment. Electricity stopped coursing through the carpet leaving it up in the air.
The carpet then began to move around as it was living. It flew off the table flying around showing signs of emotion and thought. Seeing this the Frankenstein Genie screeched out ecstatic, "It's Alive! It's Alive!" Other Genie clones came around trying to hold the Frankenstein Genie by the arms. "It's alive! Oh, I've done it. Oh now I know how it is to be god," he said hysterically as the clones tugged on his shirt.
The scenario faded as Genie went back to his normal self. The carpet he had crafted was moving and even floating. It lifted itself up in the air and seemed to have obtained a personality. It flew over to Jafar swirling around his waist. "A magic carpet!" Jafar said in amazement.
"Yep, what we've got here is a true magic carpet with the ability to traverse to other worlds. Just sit right atop it like a stead as the carpet takes you to your next destination," Genie explained. Jafar clenched the lamp feeling the soft fabric with his other hand. It lowered down letting him sit upon it.
He sat down closing his eyes and whispered, "Take me to another world." The Carpet fulfilled Jafar's wish lifting off flying towards the sky. Jafar's heart trembled grasping the rim of the fabric as he finally achieved the very thing he desired ever since he was a child. The blue sky faded when they continued to ascend. It seemed like the sky turned to night quickly when the Carpet ascended past the atmosphere. Jafar looked back as he exited the world. An orb of magic energy surrounded the Carpet shielded him from the darkness around them. Jafar left Agrabah behind with it seemingly become smaller and smaller as he went on. But he did not look back "Never in my life would I have known how small my world really was."
He looked to the stars as he pointed to a random light. "Take me there," he commanded. The Carpet flew in the direction of Jafar's hand.
Genie exited the lamp again flying behind the Carpet grabbing the end. "Now hang on to your turban man. Cause this wish is a rush order." Genie shot off with the Carpet closing in on the nearest world.
Nearly going at the speed of light. The Carpet made its way to the new world in a matter of minutes. It slowed down letting Jafar set his sights on the new world. He was left speechless as the new world was covered in blue water. The thing he wished for more than anything. The Carpet flew towards the planet entering the atmosphere. It descended to the surface with no land in sight. Jafar looked down to see an ocean of water beneath him. He commanded the Carpet to get close enough to the ocean. He lowered his hand feeling the vast water he only imagined rush between his fingers.
"Not every day I see something bluer than me. Besides the sky of course," Genie said. The Carpet made its way to a patch of land that's a part of a series of islands.
It lowered itself on the sandy beach of the small piece of land. Jafar continued to witness the islands alien appearance. The sand of the beach was familiar to him, but he saw a vast jungle with strange plants populating it. To him it looked like a vast oasis apart of a sea of life. Genie appeared in front of him. "Well that was a doozy of a first wish. It will be hard to top it for the second one. Any ideas?"
Jafar was too busy looking at the new land as he responded without much emotion. "I'll make it another time I want to see this." Jafar ran off into the jungle focused on the exotic wilderness.
Genie shrank back to human size putting on an explorer's uniform. "Eh might as well make the most out of it. Carpet lets go exploring." Genie ran off after Jafar with the Carpet in tow.
Jafar couldn't get enough of what he was seeing. Giant trees covered with moss and other planets. He saw fruits hanging from the trees and insects perched on the trunks. He noticed creatures of different species he's never seen before fly through the trees eating the fruits. Furry squirrel like animals and monkeys that swung through the trees. He saw hummingbirds drink from exotic flowers. Each new thing inspiring him to keep moving forward. "I must see everything. There must be people living here." he thought. In a faint distance he heard singing and music. Music like nothing ever played in Agrabah. Jafar ran off towards the sound as the all-powerful Genie and Carpet easily keep up with him.
Jafar ran through the trees brushing the plants aside following the music as it got louder and louder. Jafar came across a wide crater shaped area. The area was surrounded by tall blocky trees giving the impression they were in a room. A wooden fountain sprang in the middle of the jungle room changing its colors momentary. Jafar was astonished setting his sights on the creatures singing. Genie and the Carpet came after him looking up at the trees. The singing was not performed by native people. But by talking birds.
Exotic birds flew through the trees singing as if they could speak English. Many of different size and species. There were parrots, toucans, cranes, and many more. They sung in harmony while a select few played small wooden instruments next to a giant tiki statue with a big grin. The birds started to sing a new song with an exotic chorus together. A song to lift the heavens.
The Tiki Song
Ole! Ole! It's Showtime!
The boys in the back are called macaws
Because of their claws?
No, because they're macaws
And our fine feathered friend is a jolly toucan
And two can sound better than one toucan can
The bird of paradise is an elegant bird
It likes to be seen and it loves to be heard
Most little birdies will fly away
But the Tiki Room birds are here every day
Our show is delightful we hope you'll agree
We hope that it fills you with pleasure and glee
Because if we don't make you feel like that
We're gonna wind up on the lady's hat
Our magnificent production is yet to come
So strum the guitar and beat the drum
We've been hit and we know you adore us
So come on and join us in another chorus
The boys in the back are called macaws
Because of their claws?
No, because they're macaws
And our fine feathered friend is a jolly toucan
And two can sound better than one toucan can
The bird of paradise is an elegant bird
It likes to be seen and it loves to be heard
Most little birdies will fly away
But the Tiki Room birds are here every day
Our show is delightful we hope you'll agree
We hope that it fills you with pleasure and glee
Because if we don't make you feel like that
We're gonna wind up on the lady's hat
The birds finished singing when the chorus faded out. The humorous Genie was so impressed. He created an audience of Genie clones to applaud the birds. Jafar found himself also sitting in a makeshift table with the Carpet giving a toast to the performance. The birds took notice not bowing but staring intently at the audience. Their eyes gave off a sense of fear and confusion. One drummer dropped his drumsticks and then the entire crew screamed and flocked in the air. They cawed and wailed flying as far away as they could.
"Wait don't go," Jafar yelled running forth. "I just wanted to talk with you." But it was too late the birds were gone leaving only several feathers behind. A hole in the treetops let light shine down on Jafar. Genie and the Carpet came behind him. "You know I'm guessing they never seen a human before let alone a Genie. They probably were just startled," Genie said.
Jafar remained silent before asking, "Genie how many worlds are out there?"
Genie took on the role of a scholar with a chalk board behind him. He took some chalk and performed some calculations. "Let's see now. Divide by the square root of the speed of light. And multiply by pi. And I'd say nearly infinite."
"Then there are so many more worlds out there. More to explore and see. Ones far different with new species and people. Wells there's no time to waste. Carpet prepare to lift off," Jafar pointed towards the Carpet commanding it.
Unknown to them nearby behind a tree a small red bird who never left the area overheard them. He gulped clenching a small broom near him. "Other worlds?" he thought. The bird clenched his beak watching as Jafar mounted the Carpet. The young bird overcame his fear of the strangers and flew out to them. "WAIT!" he shouted with an ear shattering voice. The bird flew directly at Jafar landing on his lap. "What the!" Jafar proclaimed.
Genie came over with a magnifying glass surveying the bird, "Well it appears to be a talking red macaw."
"I'm a parrot," he corrected getting up. "Listen you guys I know this is sudden being we just met and all. But can I come with you?"
"Huh, you want to come with us?" Jafar twitched.
The red parrot explained, "Well you see I always wanted to find a new place to live as I'm not really of any use here. Unlike most birds I can't sing. Singing is a tradition and even a rite of passage."
The parrot remembers back to his youth. Singing for the first time and getting rejected. "In order to find a mate one bird must sing in order to find true love. But as you can imagine it hasn't been so hot for me. Not only have I been booted out of the Tiki Island performances. I was given the disgraceful task of cleaning up after every show. And that's how I saw you. I know it's asking much but can you please bring me along on your journey. I don't want to live in place where I have no use. I wanna leave the nest if you know what I'm saying."
"I don't know master. He seems a bit shady I say we make him our lunch," Genie whispered in Jafar's ears changing into a cook's outfit. The young man stroked his beard looking up at the trees.
After thinking it over he decided, "Why not. As long as you behave yourself."
The parrot flew up to Jafar's face wrapping his wings around his neck. "Oh, thank you. Thank you," the parrot said kissing Jafar's chin.
Jafar removed the bird from his neck asking, "What is your name?"
"Name?" the parrot responded.
"Yes, your name. You know what you and others call yourself. Don't you have one?" Jafar asked.
The parrot responded, "I don't know how you do things where you come from. But here we identify others by the sound of our voices."
Jafar pondered, "I see the worlds cultures really do vary. Very well than I will give you a name. How about "Iago"?"
"Iago yes that was my Great Grandfathers name. It was very uncommon which appears to be a tradition in my family. But you can have it. A name distinct to you."
"Iago hmm. Sure, Iago it is. And you my good sir," Iago concluded.
Jafar pressed his hand to his chest. "Call me Jafar." He pointed to Genie saying, "This big blue fellow is the Genie."
"Big I'll have you know I've been losing a lot of weight recently." The Genie said ironically posing his body as flabs of fat hanged from his stomach.
Jafar placed his hand over the magic carpet. "This is Carpet. He'll help us get to another world."
The newly named Iago sat on the fabric besides Jafar looking up at him. "So, I just sit here, and we take off." After finishing his sentence, the Carpet blasts off into the sky with Iago screaming along with it.
The Carpet disappeared into the sky taking them to another world. Just as Jafar hoped the new world was something he was looking forward too. A world of sliver that he read about all those years ago. He saw the world covered in the white substance raining down from the sky.
The friends found themselves in an icy tundra no fit for people of the desert. The friends stood side by side frozen over with chattering teeth and frost nipped noses. The place Jafar always wanted to visit was completely uninhabitable. "Well this sucks," remarked Genie pretending to shiver for the sake of humor. They all immediately hopped on the Carpet and left without looking back..