Chapter 06 - Training Wheels

Abu yawned, stretching his limbs over his head the next morning when he realized Genie had called a meeting for all of them. By them - the attendees included Aladdin, Jasmine, Iago, Carpet, and Rajah.

Rajah looked like he'd had the most sleep of the bunch, but while he remained quiet, his stern look was very much like the tiger he'd once been when displeased at the current state of events. Iago was awake, but also annoyed that he was up earlier that morning than he'd wanted to be. Carpet yawned, but otherwise didn't say much as he waited patiently near where Aladdin and Jasmine sat. Abu looked like he'd had the least amount of sleep of the group, his elbows rested on his knees while his chin rested in his hands.

"Okay everyone! Looks like we're all here. Sultan doesn't need to be at this meeting, but I'm sure Al and Jas can catch him up later. But I have some big news!"

"This better be good," Iago adjusted the feathered turban over his hair, some of the dark red strands peeking out. "Before Blue Boy says much else: does anyone else here feel awkward about suddenly having facial hair? I keep scratching my beard every now and again."

Carpet signed with his hands. "I don't have a beard. Or facial hair."

"You're too young, so you don't count," Iago grumbled. "At least since you appear to be a kid, anyway."

"I don't have them either," Abu said.

"Was I talkin' to you?!" Iago gave Abu a side eye glance. "I specifically stated my question about 'suddenly having facial hair'. If you don't have facial hair, it doesn't apply to you!"

"Then by process of elimination, Iago," Rajah said gruffly. "You would mean me. And no, I don't feel awkward about it. I feel awkward about other things, but a beard feels like the most insignificant detail we're dealing with right now."

Iago's eyes turned toward the ceiling of the room. "I regret asking the question."

Jasmine playfully used a hand to stroke the underside of Aladdin's chin. "Some of you might end up with it sooner than you expect. Just a matter of time."

Aladdin drew back with a laugh. "Stop Jasmine, that tickles."

Genie wiggled his eyebrows. "At least a few of us have a sense of humor about it. I'm not new to the beard club, Iago, but I can tell you, scratching the chin is a habit once you start, it's very hard to stop. Usually us bearded folk have that problem." At the time he said this his hand was teasing his own beard. Once he realized he was doing it, Genie stopped and made himself sit on his hands for emphasis. "Anyway. Good news! This transformation spell is reversible. I know that much from my research last night."

"Good, but we need to know the 'when' and 'how,'" Abu said. "You told us last night that there might be a time limit before things are permanent."

"Time limit?" Iago and Rajah registered equal expressions of shock on their faces. Carpet looked wide-eyed at Genie. They hadn't heard this conversation. Aladdin and Jasmine both knew, but they still had equal expressions of concern.

"So for that thought," Genie said carefully to Abu. "I know I said last night at the time I talked to you and Jas that I was worried about the time limit on the spell. I haven't found one matching the particular incantation I read for you guys. Would be more worried about it if you were feeling side effects since this is day 2 of you all being human. You aren't feeling any kind of weird things, are you?" Genie transformed into a doctor with a lab coat. "Like headache, dizziness, fever, upset stomach..."

Carpet shook his head, signing with his hands. "I feel fine. Nothing weird except adjusting to walking around using my feet." He flexed his golden booted toes for emphasis.

Iago sighed. "Nothin' weird but just bein' in a different body."

Abu shook his head. "Nothing for me. I don't feel sick."

"I don't feel afflicted with any particular malady," Rajah said.

Genie transformed back into his usual form, grinning. "That's really good guys. That means we're in the clear for now, with this being the second day. But if that changes, you let us know. It would be pretty easy to tell with a spell like this, honestly."

"Should we be worried?" Aladdin asked seriously.

"I would worry more about getting these guys adjusted to the whole 'being human' thing for now. The other part of what I wanted to tell you all is that I know, for certain, the cure for this spell isn't an incantation. No spoken spells or words in reverse. For how old this spell is, something physical that has to be made to cure it. I can't determine whether its a potion or a trinket or something else. Still researching."

"So in other words, you've got nothin' for a cure," Iago said flatly.

"Like I said, my formerly feathered friend," Genie said, wiggling his brows. "Work in progress. Now that I have it narrowed down, it's only a matter of time. I'll get you guys back to your usuals, no problem!"

Abu sighed. "I hope so. Thank you Genie. By the way, Jasmine told me what you meant. Sorry for freaking out on you last night."

Genie shrugged. "Understandable, kid. Yesterday was a rough day. Just wanted to make sure you knew how complicated things were. Not that I don't appreciate the help."

"Ugh, is our meeting done now? I wanna go back to bed." Iago yawned and Abu followed him with the same not long after.

Aladdin looked between them. "Not sure if this is a thing to bring up now rather than later, but since we're here, might as well go for it. " The prince earned everyone's attention then. "If you guys are comfortable, maybe we should all take a visit to the Marketplace. I know you may not be used to interacting there. And by interacting, I don't mean wares suddenly going missing from merchant stands." Aladdin gave a side-eye glance at both Abu and Iago. Their faces had perked up at the mention of the Marketplace, but fell at Aladdin's follow up.

"I think that's a great idea, Aladdin. Especially since I know Carpet and Rajah aren't used to speaking to people directly," said Jasmine.

Rajah looked slightly uncomfortable. "Admittedly, I haven't left the Palace to walk about Agrabah casually compared to those two." He pointed in Iago and Abu's direction.

"Well that's not a problem. I know being a tiger didn't make it easy for people to come up to you, Rajah. But I can show you my hiding place, the Marketplace, and some other parts of town since you're not used to seeing them. Matter of fact," Aladdin looked among the group. "Why don't we do this? Jasmine, if you're up for it, we can alternate between Palace and Marketplace things to get everyone adjusted over the next few days."

Jasmine nodded. "I would be okay with that. Did you want to start today?"

"Guys? Will do if you're up for it." Aladdin asked. He hoped they were all okay with the idea.

Iago, Abu, Rajah, and Carpet all nodded.

"Okay. Rajah and Abu - you guys are with me. I'm going to the Marketplace to run some errands." Aladdin stopped short of saying everything that was entailed with the errands beyond the usual. Aladdin knew that Abu would be okay orienting Rajah if he had to step away. And by step away - he meant trying to see if he could find any information on Nefir's whereabouts at the Thieves Den. It was a plan he'd thought of the night before.

"That means Carpet and Iago are with me," Jasmine said. "There are a number of things we can do around the Palace today. If Iago can stay awake."

Carpet's expression was a wide grin.

Iago looked relieved. "At least I'm stayin' close to home. That way if we call it an early day from human training, I can just crawl back to bed."

Genie looked among all of them with appreciation. "Thanks guys. I'll keep searching for the cure. Al, Jas, if you guys wanna meet up with me to report on how things go today, I'll let you know if I find anything."

Aladdin nodded, feeling like they all had something to work towards, thought it was hard to know how it would turn out.

Rajah, Aladdin, and Abu were easily the center of attention when they reached the Marketplace. The former tiger did not seem to take the attention well, from what Aladdin could observe.

"Rajah, you've gotta relax," Abu said, his brow furrowed. "You're way too stiff. If you keep walking like that, you'll fall flat on your face. And if you do that, it's gonna take both Aladdin and me to pick you up from the ground."

"I'm not used to any of this," Rajah muttered. "Why is everyone staring at us? Is it my clothes? Do they hate me?"

"Rajah, it's okay. Nothing's wrong with you," Aladdin said. "Think they might be noticing us because they've never seen someone as tall as you are. Not among the usual locals anyway." It was true that they had a fair share of spectators, but not every head was turned. Most of the groups watching them walk through the city were young street rats who were in awe of Rajah, eyes wide and silently comparing the height differences between him, Aladdin and Abu.

"So they are looking at me. I am not an object of spectation and I have no desire to be," Rajah's voice came out as a quiet snarl. Quiet, but loud enough to send some of the kids running away. Realizing his effect, Rajah looked momentarily shocked, then guilty.

"Sometimes you have to know when to let things roll off your shoulders," Abu said with a wince. When Rajah looked at him, confused, Abu clarified. "Don't take their attention as something to be offended by. It's not as serious as you think."

"That is easy for you to say, since you became human a day ago like me," Rajah said, more quiet, but with enough firmness and fury to punctuate his point.

"Yeah, but I'm used to being in the city streets with Aladdin more," Abu said. "Believe me when I say that I had the same anxiety yesterday when the two of us were walking to the Palace. I was afraid someone would catch me trying to walk on all fours and laugh."

"You were?" Rajah's expression softened.

"Sure. Felt like I was overthinking everything. Aladdin was the one who told me it was okay, that it was an adjustment."

Rajah looked between both Aladdin and Abu. "But how do I rid myself of this feeling like I'm somehow an imposter? Like I'm not human enough despite my appearance?"

Abu went quiet, looking uncomfortable. From the look he gave Aladdin, the former monkey wasn't sure how to answer that question.

"I don't think it's the same experience, but," Aladdin began. "I remember the first time I met Jasmine and wanting so badly to impress her that I asked Genie to make me a prince for one of my wishes."

Abu raised a brow and smirked at Aladdin. He knew exactly where this conversation was headed, and it was a trip down memory lane. Rajah just listened as Aladdin kept talking.

"Wasn't actually a Prince in title then, of course. Lied about that and I shouldn't have. But Jasmine noticed me for being...me. Already had all the qualities of what I thought a prince was and should be. Didn't realize that until after the fact. Guess what I'm trying to say is that you already have qualities in you that are very much like being human that aren't as complicated as the vision you have in your head. Being a prince is more a role and title, I know, but being human isn't like that. The imposter part is you trying to think of it as a role rather than being. You have to give yourself space to learn the parts you're not familiar with as well as recognize the ones that you already do. You'll be where you need to be eventually."

"Haven't thought about it like that before. Makes sense," Abu said.

Rajah was a little more relaxed. "I believe I can understand that, since it matches what I remember her telling me a few times. Very well. I'll take heed of that advice."

Aladdin grinned. "All right. Let's take a tour and talk to some merchants then."

Carpet ended up with a face covered in frosting. The idea of him, Jasmine, and Iago going to the Palace kitchens to make deserts together had actually been Iago's prompting, but Genie's suggestion. (The bird was motivated by hunger.)

While the former magic rug used his tongue to lick some of the frosting from his lips, Jasmine was quick to get a damp towel and wipe his entire face afterward. "Carpet, you can't expect to finish preparing anything if it's going to end up someplace other than the food itself!" the princess said, laughing.

Iago groaned. "I just wanted to have some baked treats and be done with the whole thing, lickety split."

"You're getting used to having fingers instead of claws and wings, Iago. At least you've got most of it right so far. Carpet's...not used to having much of a body at all."

When they heard Carpet's stomach growl, both Jasmine and Iago shared a look. Carpet looked between them, his cheeks flushing.

"Doesn't stop the kid from bein' hungry, apparently," Iago said. "He didn't have a mouth or stomach before, and he's already got an appetite."

"Well, I think we've done enough to be able to start eating what we've made. Nice job, both of you. That went really well." She silently thanked Genie for giving them some recipes to start with. Most of the food was already arranged on a nearby table for the three of them to eat. It was a matter of minor clean up before they could sit down.

But Jasmine didn't realize until the last minute that Carpet was reaching for one of the cooking pieces that was still quite hot. "Wait, Carpet, don't! That one's..."

Too late, she realized, as Carpet's unprotected hand gripped it. It immediately clattered to the floor as he dropped it. Carpet dropped to his knees, holding his injured hand with the other one.

Iago finched. "Man, that's gonna leave a scar. He outta know better than touching hot stuff. As many times as he's gotten burned by fire magic." Jasmine didn't pay the former parrot much attention as she helped Carpet tend to the burn on his hand.

"He didn't know that piece was still too hot to clean up. It wasn't obvious. And it's not as if he had his own usual fabric to buffer the burn. It's okay, Carpet. I've got you." But even after she was able to put medicine and a bandage on his injured palm, it didn't stop the tears that kept falling down Carpet's face.

Iago sighed. "Think I might've lost my appetite."

Carpet was only able to use one of his hands to sign at that moment, as he took a seat near the table with their plates of food. "Everything was going so well. I ruined the moment. I'm so sorry, Princess."

"No you didn't. Please don't think that." She rubbed the top of Carpet's head. Carpet's hair had been pulled back and away while he was helping them prepare the food. Jasmine looked over her shoulder, giving Iago a sharp look. "Iago, you're not helping."

"I'm just bein' honest! Crying kids make me queasy."

Jasmine sighed, realizing she was pretty much on her own to help console Carpet. "Come on, let me take you back to your room so you can rest. I'll bring the treats we made to you so you can eat them. Or actually..." She looked over her shoulder again. "Iago, would you be so kind as to load all of the dishes on that serving cart and bring Carpet's food to him? And while you're at it, you can take my dishes to my room and yours to your own. Better of you to do something than stand around saying how 'not hungry' you are at present."

Iago opened his mouth to protest, but realized it was a lost argument before it began. His response was more of a reluctant mutter than strong protest. "Guess since I'm on the way. Fine."

As Jasmine helped lead a sniffling Carpet out into the hallway, she wondered how Aladdin was faring with both Rajah and Abu. Hopefully they weren't having too much trouble. And even if they were, she hoped they would be able to turn things around.

It was a shame, especially since both Iago and Carpet, otherwise, were adjusting really well to being human with the things they'd been able to do that day. Then again, Jasmine thought, humans aren't free of flaws.

Aladdin, Abu, and Rajah had a long afternoon into the evening going through the Marketplace, seeing some familiar spaces and places in and outside the city. By the time they reached Aladdin's hiding place, Abu and Rajah had been so tired that it made sense to let them sleep.

Wonder how Jasmine and the others are doing in the Palace, he thought to himself as he placed a few pillows under Abu's head and a blanket over the monkey's curled up form on the floor. Hopefully it isn't too hard for Carpet and Iago to adjust, whatever they're doing.

Rajah was sleeping in the space where Aladdin would normally be, his long, large frame finding a space to fit despite everything. The blanket was a little too small covering him, but Rajah didn't seem to mind. And Aladdin didn't mind him having the space. He wasn't tired.

But Aladdin was conflicted about whether he should leave them like this. It was close to nightfall. If he was going to the Thieves Den to listen for information about Nefir being in town, or even the rumors about the tome, he'd have to do it before it became too late. Otherwise, it would have to be a trip for tomorrow. And he had no errands to run in town tomorrow to explain to Jasmine and Genie what he wanted to do.

Might as well. I'm just observing and won't be gone long. If I find something important, then I can report back and worry about explaining later. Aladdin found a cloak to mask his appearance, pulling the hood over his face. He turned back to his friends, making sure they were okay.

"I'm gonna find out what I can apart from Genie. I know you guys would rather be back to the way you were," he said aloud, though Aladdin knew they were too deep in sleep to hear him. "But for what it's worth, you're pretty good at being human. Flaws and all. That should count for something."