Author's Note: Hi all, first new-ish Aladdin story in a little while and I've sat on this one for a bit, but wanted to post it since it was one I really enjoyed having the time to plan and pen. As always, Aladdin's characters are the property of their respective creators and owners. Original characters and story itself is mine. Just want to tell a fun story. Mirage gets another feature as villain here - I haven't had her in a story for a little while, so let's go with it, lol.
Story synopsis: When almost everyone in Agrabah suddenly wakes up one day with magical powers featuring individually unique abilities, it creates thrills, excitement, and wonder among the city. But as one of the few who didn't gain magic powers overnight, Aladdin - in the midst of being told his fears are baseless - goes on a journey to see what the cause of the event may be. What he finds may give a whole other definition to the phrase "be careful what you wish for."
Turn it Off
Chapter 01: Odd One Out
Present Day
Genie realized it was getting close to sunset and the mountain of worry at the pit of his stomach was growing larger by the minute. Aladdin was still nowhere to be seen and judging from the conversation they'd last had, they hadn't exactly parted on good terms. As it stood right now, Genie knew he'd been wrong. It had taken him a while to see it, though. Having semi-phenomenal power didn't always mean that you made the right decisions 100% of the time.
"Al! Al, come on," he called as he flew through the mostly empty streets of Agrabah. LIttle surprise that he would get no response. Even if Aladdin had been there, Genie guessed that Aladdin would have just kept walking without acknowledging him. But after everything that happened over the past few days, who could blame the kid?
It was then that Genie saw a familiar face - rather form, floating not too far in the streets of Agrabah. At the very least, Genie thought Aladdin would be with Carpet, and that would have made him worry less about the situation.
"Yo, Rug Man, how's it floating?" Genie thought he would opt for casual. But judging from the way Carpet stopped and folded his knobs in a disapproving stance, it seemed like Genie wasn't on good terms with the rug either.
Genie transformed into a snowman that shivered. "Brr, that's a cold reception. But all things considered, I know I screwed up. Where's Aladdin?"
At first, Carpet seemed to want to relent, but then he shook his nobs in a way that indicated he would not tell Genie anything.
"Aww, come on. If I at least promise that I will not do most of the talking this time, will you tell me? Even if you don't tell me, I get it."
Carpet seemed to think on this a moment. He made a few gestures that indicated he was imitating Aladdin and from the way Carpet mimicked a series of downcast motions, Genie was able to understand the rest.
Genie transformed back into his usual form, frowning. "So the kid isn't doing so well. That's kinda what I expected. I really need to talk to him. Well, talk with him and not at him. Just so we're being clear."
Carpet's reception to Genie warmed a little as his overall posture relaxed. He motioned to Genie, pointing upward and beyond towards where Aladdin's usual hiding place was.
"Ahh, best view of the city as usual. Figured he'd be there. Thanks." Genie flew upward, entering the space where Aladdin would usually enter his hiding space. Since Aladdin had been officially Prince of Agrabah for a while, his main living space was the Palace. But every once in a while, he retreated to his old hiding space from when he was living as a self-described street rat.
"Kiddo?" Gene began as he pulled back the curtain in one area of the room. Aladdin was there, lying on his makeshift bed. It looked like he could have been taking a late evening snooze as the sun set on the horizon overlooking the city and the palace.
But while Aladdin lay on his side, face buried in some pillows, the prince's response was pretty quick. Not even with any anger or fire in his tone, just a tired greeting. "Leave me alone, Genie."
"Sheesh, I expected a less than warm welcome but you're taking a page out of Carpet's playbook. Not quite as bad as Iago when he has a grudge, at least." Genie said with a wince. Aladdin didn't respond to that, nor did he make any move to face Genie. After a long silence, Genie sighed. "Guess I shouldn't be trying to joke about this. Aladdin, I'm sorry for the way I treated you earlier. I'm not here to lecture you, just want to talk."
"Rather not talk about anything right now. Have a long day tomorrow, so I need to sleep."
Genie's brows rose. "You wanna tell me where you're going or what you're doing?"
"Nope. Not your problem, since you already said there wasn't a problem in the first place. That I didn't know a good thing when I saw it. Basically what everyone else said, including Jasmine."
He realized those were references to very specific conversations, so much that Genie had to admit the jabs were a good ones. The prince had a way of punctuating things that didn't add up or were hypocritical. One could have said that Aladdin could have held a grudge from those comments alone, but Genie didn't think that was it. It felt like it came from a more painful place.
"Point taken. I might've exaggerated that part a little bit," Genie admitted, scratching his tuff of hair nervously with one hand. "Look, I said that without listening to what you had to say. That I definitely should not have done."
"I thought at the very least you would listen to me," Aladdin then sat up. He didn't look at Genie as his eyes turned towards the view of the Palace. He used his fingers to rake his hair away from his face. "But I'm not a magic being, so I guess I can't speak on matters that I have no knowledge of."
"You're really pulling out the quills with this one," Genie said, transforming into a porcupine.
"Don't throw what you can't take," Aladdin said, finally turning in his direction, one corner of his lip turning up into an almost smile. The prince looked as tired as he sounded from where Genie was floating. "Seriously though, if it makes you feel any better, I'll take the lamp with me."
Genie transformed back into his usual form, his expression a little more hopeful. "Does that mean you're coming back to the palace tonight? Or are going to tell me where you're going?"
"No to both. But if anything happens in a pinch, you'll be the first to know."
Genie smiled then, a little more relieved. "Fine by me. Still, really am sorry kiddo."
Aladdin nodded. "Thanks. I'll see you at the Palace sometime tomorrow. Night, Genie."
"Night, Al." Genie turned to leave, just as Carpet entered the area. Something told Genie to hold back a little before he completely left the two alone for the night. He transformed into a fly and found a perch a little beyond the curtain to see Aladdin look from where he sat to check if Genie was gone. Then the prince put his face in his hands and groaned. Carpet flew closer to him, using one of his knobs to pat Aladdin on the shoulder.
"It's been a rough couple of days, Carpet," Aladdin said, his voice muffled. "I believe Genie, I really do. I'm not mad at him, either. I'm mad at this whole mess. Wish I could just admit that I'm wrong if it would make things easier." He shifted to a position where his arms rested on his knees as he looked up at Carpet. "But this doesn't sit right with me at all. Everything's changed so quickly. Not to mention I definitely wasn't just seeing things."
Carpet nodded along, listening. Genie felt another twinge of regret. He really should have had this conversation with Aladdin. It was the one he was looking for that evening but Aladdin hadn't wanted to go that far. Still, he was glad to at least have something to go on.
"We'll leave just a little before dawn. That should give us time to explore what we saw before and if it has any connection to what's been happening in Agrabah. I know you went outside the city to check earlier, but you didn't see it again, did you?" Aladdin asked, frowning.
Carpet quickly shook his knobs, saying no.
Aladdin's shoulders and expression relaxed. "Okay, so we know for sure it only shows up during a certain part of the day. If we could go tonight, I'd do it, but I wanna keep my promise to Genie." Aladdin reached beneath a few of the pillows on his bed, pulling out the lamp and studying it as he held it in his hands. "At the same time, I don't really want to summon him tomorrow if something goes wrong where we are."
His comment surprised both Genie and Carpet. Carpet waived his knobs around in a way that indicated Aladdin's suggestion was a bad idea.
Aladdin quickly responded, somewhat stumbling over the words. "I-It's not for the reason you'd think. If something goes wrong at the Palace or in town while we're gone, I'd rather Genie be here. He's better equipped to fight against a lot of magic going wrong at once. And that's taking into consideration his semi-phenomenal power."
That seemed to put Carpet at ease, but Genie still had more questions. But he wouldn't be getting any more answers, he realized, as Aladdin put the lamp back where it once was and lay on his bed again. Carpet found a corner to settle in to rest, though Genie knew Carpet wouldn't be sleeping.
"Just wish it was more than the two of us going to figure this all out," Aladdin said, though it seemed like he wasn't talking to Carpet anymore, just voicing his thoughts.
Genie took the moment to fly out of the room then, heading back to the palace. One way or the other, he was going to try to convince the others that Aladdin's words weren't just something personal. What the prince and rug had found, he didn't know, but they all needed to find out and fast.
