The True Story of Jafar
Chapter One
By: DangerMouse, The Great Immortal
A large, blue boat sailed through the room. A talking boat.
"And then the crew of the mighty Titanic saw an iceberg! You don't see many icebergs in Agrabah, but it's like a big block of ice," said the boat as it turned into a large block of ice, then turned back into a boat, "And then... uh, well, hmmm..." The boat turned into a blue genie, who zipped over to the corner to mutter to himself, "Gee, this isn't as happy of a story as I thought it would be..."
The genie looked as though he might sprain something, he was concentrating so hard. A young man dressed in a resplendent white royal uniform laughed.
"Don't worry Genie," he said with a smile, as he looked in the ornate wooden crib, which was the current center of attention, "Little Jalan is practically asleep anyway."
"I guess your right Al," replied Genie with a small frown on his face. "I really got to go back over my fairy tales."
Aladdin laughed again. At that moment a palace guard walked into the room.
"Prince Aladdin, sir, the Sultan requests you at dinner, if your child is now asleep, that is," said the guard, bowing deeply.
"Sure, on my way. Come on Genie. We can't keep the Ambassadors from Julagi waiting."
"Right Al!" The Genie zipped back over to the crib. "Next time, I'll tell you all about how your Dad defeated the evil Jafar!" and with that, he popped out of the room.
Unnoticed by all, a small figure fluttered out of the dark rafters in the large, spacious room. The figure landed lightly on the side of the crib. He stretched his neck and flapped his wings a number of times before settling in a comfortable position. The figure "humphed" loudly.
"Yeah, right. Like that stupid blob of magic could ever get a story right." The figure sighed softly as he looked at the child in the crib. "Nobody knows the truth. Nobody except your own Uncle Iago here." The red parrot looked across the room and out the window, his eyes glittering with the full moon's light and it wasn't because of sand in his eyes. Another sigh racked his small, red-feathered body. He looked at the baby again, who was staring at him intently.
"But maybe it's time someone else knew. After all," he said with a cynical smile, "you do have his name." The bird shook his head. "And it wasn't his fault. None of it was. Anyway, who are you going to tell, kid? No one, at least, not for a few years yet."
Iago's eyes temporarily lost their focus as he allowed himself to be wrapped up in the misty past. "Now I don't know everything, and I'm not much of a story teller. But I'll do my best. This all takes place years before you were born, years before your mom and dad ever met..."
* * * * *
15 years earlier...
A solemn figure walked the near empty streets of the Agrabanian market place. His white robes dragged along the ground, getting filthy, but he paid it no heed. He drew his arm across his eyes, brushing away the tears that stung them. His sad state was not out of place this day. Those who were in the market place stood in small groups, most crying, speaking in sad tones. It seemed as though all of Agrabah was crying that day.
The Sultana was dead.
In the end, the wasting illness had left her too weak to move and he knew she was in great pain. Yet, a smile never left her face, as she was the one who did all the comforting. The Sultana hated to see her husband so sad and her daughter was simply confused, not understanding why her mother couldn't run, sing, and play anymore. Her last hours were spent close to her family and their friend, the Sultan's most trusted advisor, Jalan the Sorcerer. Jalan had spent the last few days easing her pain with herbs and potions, knowing the end was near. Once the ordeal was over, he had spent his time comforting the family and handling some of the paperwork that had built up. But the mood had grown too oppressive. He was tired of being the strong one. With that, he had murmured a few strange archaic words and had found himself walking outside of the palace.
Jalan stopped in his musings, and slumped against the wall of one of the nearby buildings. He brushed some of the sand off of his robes and looked into the cloud filled sky. It looked as though the annual rainstorm would start soon. It was usually a joyous time for the desert kingdom, normally followed by a wild festival. This year, there would be no festival. Only a funeral procession and a number of ambassadors arriving to say their regrets and offer their condolences. Jalan breathed a sigh and continued on his walk through the market place. He shuddered involuntarily. It was like a ghost town.
"POLLY WANT A CRACKER!"
Jalan jumped nearly a foot in the air, shocked as the loud screeching voice cut the silence like a knife. He looked around for the source of the noise. A smile made its way across his face - the first smile he'd had in a long time.
Sitting in a rusted, degraded birdcage was a filthy red parrot. The cage was a little too small for the bird, so he was unable to prune himself. That didn't break his spirit though. Once he had sighted Jalan, he continued to chirp and sing and call for food. Jalan leaned over to get a closer look.
"Why hello there. Aren't you a handsome, intelligent creature!" Jalan pulled out a cracker and fed the hungry bird, which chirped happily and mimicked him in return.
"AWK! Why hello there aren't you a handsome intelligent creature AWK!" Jalan smiled. He liked the animal already. A man walked out of a tent near the stall where the bird hung, anger on his face.
"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP YOU STUPID BIRD!" he bellowed angrily.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid..." replied the bird. Jalan couldn't help but laugh out loud. It felt so good to laugh again. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he turned to the merchant.
"What is your price for this bird?" he asked, a smile still spread across his face.
The merchant looked at him is shock for a moment before replying. "You're telling me you actually want this piece of vermin? I was going to feed him to my dog."
"I assure you I am quite serious. What is the price?"
"Well," mused the merchant, taking off his hat and rubbing his bald head, "I guess you can have him for... two shackles?"
"Deal," replied the wizard, pushing the money into the merchant's hand. He picked up the cage and held it at eye level. "Well, little friend, how would you feel about becoming a familiar for me, hmmm?"
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid... AWK! Polly want a cracker!" replied the bird.
"I thought you would," laughed the wizard with a smile. They reached the palace walls just as the first few drops of rain hit the ground.
* * * * *
One year later...
"I don't know about this, Jalan," murmured Iago as he watched his master shuffle around the underground laboratory he called home. "I mean, this whole thing seems really dangerous. I've never been big on hunting renegade wizards."
"Oh, come on, Iago! Where's your sense of adventure?" called the wizard from the secret room he had just entered, "Besides, we won't only be hunting down that treacherous Utander. I honestly doubt we'll find him at all. We'll be at the 500th Semi-Annual Magic Convention ™. Why, it's an opportunity of a lifetime for you. There's going to be lots of other familiars there for you to talk to. Maybe you'll make a friend!"
The parrot rolled his eyes before speaking.
"Great. How many wizards do you think pick parrots as their familiars?"
"Well, I think it's popular among the Pirate Wizards this year."
"And how many of those exist?"
"Well..." replied Jalan as he came back into the main room, "...not many. But still, it should be fun anyway. Although I will need to tell my friends to keep their cats at bay..."
"Veerrrry funny, Jalan. Maybe you should have become a stand-up comic instead."
Jalan chuckled as he walked over to the small glowing light source on the table. As he held up the jar, Iago could tell it contained something very icky. He looked at it closely, but reeled away in shock shortly after realizing it was looking back. Iago decided to look at the nice, plain wall instead.
"Excellent," exclaimed Jalan, "The Trintabulen has grown very well. I can fetch a fare trade for the stuff this guy excretes!" He shoved the jar into a large pack that contained a number of other equally icky things. Hefting it on his back, he turned to look at his familiar.
"Go on ahead, Iago. Before we depart, we must bid our employer farewell."
"Very true," murmured the bird, "From the sounds of this trip, I don't think we'll be coming back alive."
* * * * *
Somewhere, the darkness stirred.
The shadow waited. It could wait. It had waited a long time. Soon, one that was worthy, yet not fully developed, would come and make it whole.
It had only but to wait.
* * * * * *
Jalan yanked on a golden cord that was well hidden in the dark passage. A once invisible door swung inward silently, leading into a large, empty storage room. It was covered in at least an inch of dust. Jalan murmured softly under his breath and levitated slowly off the ground so as not to disturb a single grain of sand. He wanted no mark of his passing. Floating quickly across the room, he gently pushed open the door that led out, causing the secret door to slam shut with a definite "thump." Jalan stepped silently out of the air and into the hallway, carefully closing the door behind him. He sighed softly and nodded in satisfaction.
"Seems like an awful lot of work just to leave the lab."
Jalan shot a disapproving glare at his familiar.
"You shouldn't talk like that in public, Iago," he chastised, "and it's good to practice discretion, which is something you have obviously yet to master."
"So sue me. Are we just about ready to leave on this suicide mission?"
"We aren't going to die, Iago," replied Jalan, as he patiently held out his arm. Iago flew over and landed in his place on Jalan's shoulder.
The mage began to walk swiftly down the hallway, towards the throne room. Suddenly, he felt something slam into his legs, knocking him backwards. Iago flew off his shoulder onto an expensive looking vase and assumed his don't-look-at-me-I'm-just-a-dumb-bird expression. A guard came running around the corner.
"Awk! Discretion! Awk!"
Jalan took a moment to glare at his familiar before looking to see what had hit him. A smile made its way across his face as he helped the small, struggling figure off the ground.
"Good morning Princess. Exercising?"
The young royal laughed and brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face.
"Not really Jalan. Just giving the guards a hard time." She smiled impishly at the chuckling mage before ducking behind his legs.
"Princess Jasmine!" growled the guard as he rushed up to Jalan, "You must return to your room and get ready for the ambassador's arrival this very instant!"
The Princess, still hiding behind Jalan, leaned out and stuck her tongue out at the guard.
"No way, Rasoul! The minute I get stuffed into that fancy outfit, I won't be allowed out of it for days!"
"Princess, please! Your father insists!" The guard looked to be near tears. Jalan sighed and came to his rescue. After all, the shouting match occurring around him was delaying his departure. He turned to the Princess and got down on one knee.
"You know," he said softly, picking a piece of fluff out of her hair, "the Ribsun Ambassador has a girl about your age. I believe she is coming along. The two of you will get along fine and I'm certain that she is just as unhappy about dressing up. I have a feeling that once the formalities are out of the way, you both can run around and play together. But first, you have to get in those stuffy, fancy clothes, okay?"
Jasmine sighed and threw her arms around Jalan's neck.
"Okay. Have a good trip Jalan. Hurry back!" Once she released Jalan from her vise-like hug, she turned and sprinted down the hallway towards her room. Rasoul took of his hat and ran his hand through his thinning hair.
"Why does she always listen to you, Jalan? I've been trying to reason with her most of the morning!" exclaimed the worn guard. Jalan just laughed.
"Rasoul, I am the oldest of seven children. I also happen to be the only son. Believe me, I know how to deal with little girls."
"I feel sorry for you if you grew up with six of those," replied the guard, jerking his thumb in the direction of the vanished Princess. He put his hat back on and started to walk away.
"Have a good time at your convention. Try not to bring back anything... icky."
Jalan rolled his eyes heavenward.
"None of you are ever going to let me live down that time I accidentally brought an Al-Muddy home, are you?"
Rasoul merely laughed and slapped the mage on the back as he walked away (nearly knocking him over). Iago shook his head and flew back onto Jalan's shoulder.
"Al-Muddy?" he asked curiously.
"Relative of the Mudblup," answered the mage.
"Ah."
The two walked in silence the rest of the way. It was an unspoken rule that a sorcerer's familiar speak to no one but their master and other mages. It was easier than having people ask boring and tedious questions, like "Why is your pet sentient?" and "My, how ever did you train your pet to do that?" and so on. Of course, every familiar resents being called a "pet." They are far more than that. When a mage creates a familiar, it is not just giving "intellectual thought" to a dumb animal. Rather, the mage is investing it with an "animal spirit." Highly different. The animal not only gains conscious thought, but also a great many powers. No, a fellow mage would be a fool to call another's familiar a "pet."
They arrived quickly at the throne room. The Sultan was pacing back and forth. He was always nervous before an important diplomatic meeting, especially when his most-trusted advisor was going to be absent. He looked up as the mage walked in, desperation in his eyes.
"Please tell me you've decided not to go," pleaded the Sultan.
"I'm sorry, my liege," replied the sorcerer. "I truly am. But I have no choice but to attend this convention. I did tell you of it long ago..."
"Of course, of course," sighed the Sultan, "I would never dream of forcing you to stay, Jalan. I am only nervous. Are you sure the tactic we devised will work?"
"I am certain. I have known the Ribsun ambassador for a long time, and I know how he thinks." The mage rested his hand on the Sultan's shoulder. "Do not worry, my friend. All will work out."
"Thank you Jalan. You always put my mind at ease." The Sultan reached in to his robe and pulled out a cracker. "Here you go, pretty Polly. A snack for your trip." Iago took the cracker and ate it quickly. Jalan smiled.
"Well, I am off," Jalan said with a smile, hoisting his pack on to his back.
"Yes, yes, Jalan. Have a good time. Oh, and don't bring home anything..."
"Yes, icky. I know. I remember." The exasperated mage gave one more fond wave as he and his parrot left the throne room.
"What a great pet bird he has," murmured the Sultan, walking to his throne.
To be continued...
Copyright S. Califf, Feb. 2000