STORY SEVEN: The Time Stones of Iretant
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em and you know it.
Author's Note: These are the characters you will be unfamiliar with.
Kalil: Aladdin & Jasmine's teenaged son who wouldn't mind some peace in Agrabah, but still can't back down from an adventure.
Almira: Aladdin and Jasmine's daughter who loves clothes and helping her older brother sneak out.
Celeste Nomad: A teenaged girl from the future who is stuck in Agrabah because of her selective memory loss.
Story 6 The Almuddi's creator tried to capture Aladdin, Cassim, and Kalil
THIS STORY IS SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN THE OTHERS SO IT'LL BE IN SHORT CHAPTERS
Chapter One: Unwanted
It was very rare that Celeste Nomad ever thought about who her parents were, where she came from, and how she was going to go back there. However, she had been living in Agrabah for six months when one night the teenaged girl awoke in her bed startled.
The bed was hers, as well as the room it sat in. Aladdin and Jasmine had allowed her to make it that way, rearranging the furniture and adding things so she could officially call it hers. Celeste loved her room. It over looked the city with a large window framed by plant life. She'd often curl up on her brightly cushioned couch-like bed and just stare at the people.
It was while she was people watching that Celeste saw a woman loose her child in a crowd. The woman was frantic, screaming the little boy's name and practically pushing people down to find him. Of course, Kal and Mira found the kid who had simply wandered off to look at something shiny, but in Agrabah anything could have happened from there...and I do mean ANYTHING.
The event was normal and not really noteworthy to Celeste. Then, when she closed her eyes that night, the first image that entered her mind was the relieved mother holding her little son. As Celeste fell asleep, the thought that flooded her mind was "What if someone is worried about me?"
Much like a someone suffering from a nightmare, Celeste jumped from her bed and into the hallway. Genie was in the throne room playing a midnight game of billiards with Carpet. "Genie," she whispered so as not to wake anyone, "Genie, I need to talk to someone."
Turning into Lampwick from Pinocchio, Genie took a long drag from a cigar and replied, "And what do I look like, a jack ass?" Instantly, donkey ears and a tail sprouted from his body. He he-hawed, "Oh, I want my mommy!"
Carpet slapped one of his tassels against his top edge, imitating a human touching their forehead, which Celeste was doing at that moment.
She sighed, "Maybe I better see if anyone else is awake."
Genie transformed back into his usual shape and offered the girl a sympathetic expression. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just..." Celeste heard loud, unhuman snoring coming from under the pool table. She bent over to find Iago and Abu fast asleep. She giggled and shook her head. "Never mind. Genie...I think I just had a bad dream." She gave the blue cheek a quick kiss and waved goodnight to carpet.
On her way back to her room, Celeste continually told herself that she was being paranoid. She couldn't even remember what year she came from, but it was obviously the future, therefore if she wasn't born yet meaning there was no one to worry about her.
When passing Aladdin and Jasmine's room she heard her name mentioned from one of the two rulers. Normally, Celeste did not eavesdrop, but normally people weren't talking about her so she made an exception.
"Celeste can't stay any longer," Aladdin gruffly told his wife, "Times are hard enough with our own children and all the problems in the city."
Jasmine made a thoughtful noise. "I think you're right; she's too much trouble. We better tell her soon. I think she's a little too attached to us."
"Poor kid," Al replied, "It's too bad she's so helpless. I'd hate to think what will happen to her out there on her own."
Celeste fell against the wall, her knees beginning to give way at the shock of their words. Helpless? Trouble? Where was all this coming from? Why hadn't anyone said anything earlier. If they didn't want her why didn't they just say so in the first place. Perhaps Kal or Mira would have an answer.
Mira wouldn't wake up. She muttered that Celeste was a pain and that she would talk to her in the morning. This was nothing new. The princess tended to be grumpy without sleep.
Prince Kal was already awake, sitting up in bed reading. Celeste didn't even bother giving fair warning before she entered. She was too upset to knock.
He couldn't help jumping out of bed from surprise. "Hey! Is something wrong, Celeste?"
She realized that she had barged in and blushed. "Sorry. I just..." She glanced at the scroll he had been reading. Suddenly, her anger was overtaken by curiosity. "Mail come?"
"Oh." Kal picked up the paper, rolling and concealing it in his hands. He tried to act nonchalant. "It's from Lady Kamilah. Remember, we met her when that kyclops attacked..."
"I didn't know you kept in contact with her," Celeste said with interest, "What has she been up to? What did she write?" For a moment, she thought the problems of a twit like Lady Kamilah may cheer her up.
Kalil continued to crumple the scroll in his hands. "She was just helping me with something. It's nothing, Celeste."
The statement hit her. "Helping you with something...I didn't know you had any problems?" Kal usually confided in her the same way she confided in Genie and the animals. Feeling tension grow and beginning again to hear Aladdin and Jasmine's words in her head, she forced a smile. As the girl made a playful grab for the paper. "What sort of problems?"
Kal jumped away as if Celeste was a leper. "None of your business!" he snapped. He tried to apologize, but the girl shied away.
"Sorry I bothered you," she muttered and removed herself from the room.
Out in the garden, Celeste threw rocks into the fountain. No, she wasn't skipping stones, she was lifting the largest rocks she could find and dunking them into water. She was alone in a palace full of people. No one even wanted her around and somewhere in time was a family searching for her, but she couldn't' reach them.
"Having problems, my dear?" a voice purred.
Celeste turned to face a tall, slender woman's form. In the moonlight she could make out the Egyptian style she wore and the straight black hair that brushed her shoulders. Also visible was the woman's brown fur, whiskers, and pointed ears. Her eyes glinted with a smile.
"Don't be afraid," the cat woman told her. She had a smooth voice that seemed to be laughing every confused expression on the teenaged girl's face. "I came to help you. You are from another time, correct. I happen to know the exact location of the Stones of Iretant."
"I read about those in Jafar's Lair," Celeste excitedly.
The woman rose an eyebrow. "Been practicing magic, have you?"
"Just dabbling a little," Celeste defended, "And I thought the Time Stones were jut a myth. There can't possibly be a single object powerful enough to rearrange time. Genie told me so."
"You're going to believe that blue windbag. If he cared about sending you home he would have done it by now." The lady smiled revealing the dainty pointed teeth. "They won't help you, but I know for a fact that there is a man and a woman centuries from now looking for their daughter."
Celeste thought about what she was saying and the words of her so-called friends stung her heart. "I'll bite. What do you want from me?"
The cat chuckled. "How very clever. Yes, there is something I want. I'm a treasure collector."
"Let me guess. You want Carpet or maybe Genie's lamp. The palace is full of strange artifacts."
"Hardly. There three items I want. The jeweled dagger belonging to Cassim. Secondly, Prince Kalil owns a crystal sphere that makes objects look bigger when you look through it. Lastly, is a small pillow of Aladdin's..."
"I get it," Celeste cut in, "The dagger was given to Cassim by his brother, Ali Baba, the last time they saw each other thirty years ago. Kal's crystal was a gift from his childhood friend, Prince Babkak of Carthzan. And Aladdin's pillow was made for him by his mother when he was a baby. These are all sentimental treasures you're collecting."
The woman faded away, her smirk remaining like a Cheshire Cat's grin. "Just consider my offer. I'll be here."
It was very tempting, but the teen felt she needed to give all the people a second chance. What if everything was just a misunderstanding? Trudging along slowly, Celeste began to re-enter the palace when she noticed everyone sitting in the throne room. Why they were all still awake was a mystery. She concealed herself in the curtains, deciding that it was too late not to eavesdrop now. Besides, listening in was sort of fun.
Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie were presenting evidence to the others. "She's always asking questions and watching the guards."
"What about all that magic from Jafar's lair she's been reading? How can we possibly trust someone who practices that man's spells."
Mira also spoke. Celeste was sure her best friend would defend her. Instead, the princess said, "She frightens me sometimes."
Kal was the last to talk. "I think the only thing we can do is lock her away until we know the truth of why she's here."
Iago chimed in with a scoff. "Did she actually think we'd fall for that amnesia thing?! Puleeze!" Abu nodded in agreement.
Lock her away! Celeste didn't want to be locked in anywhere. They didn't trust her. They had never trusted her. All this time, the royal family had been pretending to care when really all they were doing was waiting for her to attack them.
Stumbling through the dim hallways back to her chamber, Celeste dug out the futuristic clothes they had found her in. She didn't want to leave with anything that she hadn't come with. She'd hate to be not only untrustworthy, but a thief as well!
Then again, maybe a thief was exactly what she wanted to be. Celeste gave the offer of the strange creature she'd just met a second thought. So what if Aladdin lost a pillow. Even if he did notice, she'd be home again with people who really loved her.
So, the teenaged girl collected the three items and returned to the garden. The woman with the cat face held out her fur covered hand, the sharp claws eagerly awaiting the prizes. "So, we have a deal."
Celeste was crying by this time. She took one final glance at the palace. "They don't want me." She wiped away her crying like it was nothing more than a smudge on her nose. Giving the items to the woman, Celeste held her head high as she left the palace of Agrabah behind her.
__________________
WATCH FOR Chapter Two: Iretant
Celeste begins her quest for the Time Stones and her dispearance is noticed by our heroes in Agrabah.
***POLL TIME: Tell me your opinion. Do you want to see Kal and Celeste get together? I have three votes thus far - two for and one against. Whatever your choice either tell me in your review or (if you don't want others to see your preference on this topic) e-mail me. My address is MaxVaughn@juno.com. Thanks. Your feedback is a big help.***
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em and you know it.
Author's Note: These are the characters you will be unfamiliar with.
Kalil: Aladdin & Jasmine's teenaged son who wouldn't mind some peace in Agrabah, but still can't back down from an adventure.
Almira: Aladdin and Jasmine's daughter who loves clothes and helping her older brother sneak out.
Celeste Nomad: A teenaged girl from the future who is stuck in Agrabah because of her selective memory loss.
Story 6 The Almuddi's creator tried to capture Aladdin, Cassim, and Kalil
THIS STORY IS SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN THE OTHERS SO IT'LL BE IN SHORT CHAPTERS
Chapter One: Unwanted
It was very rare that Celeste Nomad ever thought about who her parents were, where she came from, and how she was going to go back there. However, she had been living in Agrabah for six months when one night the teenaged girl awoke in her bed startled.
The bed was hers, as well as the room it sat in. Aladdin and Jasmine had allowed her to make it that way, rearranging the furniture and adding things so she could officially call it hers. Celeste loved her room. It over looked the city with a large window framed by plant life. She'd often curl up on her brightly cushioned couch-like bed and just stare at the people.
It was while she was people watching that Celeste saw a woman loose her child in a crowd. The woman was frantic, screaming the little boy's name and practically pushing people down to find him. Of course, Kal and Mira found the kid who had simply wandered off to look at something shiny, but in Agrabah anything could have happened from there...and I do mean ANYTHING.
The event was normal and not really noteworthy to Celeste. Then, when she closed her eyes that night, the first image that entered her mind was the relieved mother holding her little son. As Celeste fell asleep, the thought that flooded her mind was "What if someone is worried about me?"
Much like a someone suffering from a nightmare, Celeste jumped from her bed and into the hallway. Genie was in the throne room playing a midnight game of billiards with Carpet. "Genie," she whispered so as not to wake anyone, "Genie, I need to talk to someone."
Turning into Lampwick from Pinocchio, Genie took a long drag from a cigar and replied, "And what do I look like, a jack ass?" Instantly, donkey ears and a tail sprouted from his body. He he-hawed, "Oh, I want my mommy!"
Carpet slapped one of his tassels against his top edge, imitating a human touching their forehead, which Celeste was doing at that moment.
She sighed, "Maybe I better see if anyone else is awake."
Genie transformed back into his usual shape and offered the girl a sympathetic expression. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just..." Celeste heard loud, unhuman snoring coming from under the pool table. She bent over to find Iago and Abu fast asleep. She giggled and shook her head. "Never mind. Genie...I think I just had a bad dream." She gave the blue cheek a quick kiss and waved goodnight to carpet.
On her way back to her room, Celeste continually told herself that she was being paranoid. She couldn't even remember what year she came from, but it was obviously the future, therefore if she wasn't born yet meaning there was no one to worry about her.
When passing Aladdin and Jasmine's room she heard her name mentioned from one of the two rulers. Normally, Celeste did not eavesdrop, but normally people weren't talking about her so she made an exception.
"Celeste can't stay any longer," Aladdin gruffly told his wife, "Times are hard enough with our own children and all the problems in the city."
Jasmine made a thoughtful noise. "I think you're right; she's too much trouble. We better tell her soon. I think she's a little too attached to us."
"Poor kid," Al replied, "It's too bad she's so helpless. I'd hate to think what will happen to her out there on her own."
Celeste fell against the wall, her knees beginning to give way at the shock of their words. Helpless? Trouble? Where was all this coming from? Why hadn't anyone said anything earlier. If they didn't want her why didn't they just say so in the first place. Perhaps Kal or Mira would have an answer.
Mira wouldn't wake up. She muttered that Celeste was a pain and that she would talk to her in the morning. This was nothing new. The princess tended to be grumpy without sleep.
Prince Kal was already awake, sitting up in bed reading. Celeste didn't even bother giving fair warning before she entered. She was too upset to knock.
He couldn't help jumping out of bed from surprise. "Hey! Is something wrong, Celeste?"
She realized that she had barged in and blushed. "Sorry. I just..." She glanced at the scroll he had been reading. Suddenly, her anger was overtaken by curiosity. "Mail come?"
"Oh." Kal picked up the paper, rolling and concealing it in his hands. He tried to act nonchalant. "It's from Lady Kamilah. Remember, we met her when that kyclops attacked..."
"I didn't know you kept in contact with her," Celeste said with interest, "What has she been up to? What did she write?" For a moment, she thought the problems of a twit like Lady Kamilah may cheer her up.
Kalil continued to crumple the scroll in his hands. "She was just helping me with something. It's nothing, Celeste."
The statement hit her. "Helping you with something...I didn't know you had any problems?" Kal usually confided in her the same way she confided in Genie and the animals. Feeling tension grow and beginning again to hear Aladdin and Jasmine's words in her head, she forced a smile. As the girl made a playful grab for the paper. "What sort of problems?"
Kal jumped away as if Celeste was a leper. "None of your business!" he snapped. He tried to apologize, but the girl shied away.
"Sorry I bothered you," she muttered and removed herself from the room.
Out in the garden, Celeste threw rocks into the fountain. No, she wasn't skipping stones, she was lifting the largest rocks she could find and dunking them into water. She was alone in a palace full of people. No one even wanted her around and somewhere in time was a family searching for her, but she couldn't' reach them.
"Having problems, my dear?" a voice purred.
Celeste turned to face a tall, slender woman's form. In the moonlight she could make out the Egyptian style she wore and the straight black hair that brushed her shoulders. Also visible was the woman's brown fur, whiskers, and pointed ears. Her eyes glinted with a smile.
"Don't be afraid," the cat woman told her. She had a smooth voice that seemed to be laughing every confused expression on the teenaged girl's face. "I came to help you. You are from another time, correct. I happen to know the exact location of the Stones of Iretant."
"I read about those in Jafar's Lair," Celeste excitedly.
The woman rose an eyebrow. "Been practicing magic, have you?"
"Just dabbling a little," Celeste defended, "And I thought the Time Stones were jut a myth. There can't possibly be a single object powerful enough to rearrange time. Genie told me so."
"You're going to believe that blue windbag. If he cared about sending you home he would have done it by now." The lady smiled revealing the dainty pointed teeth. "They won't help you, but I know for a fact that there is a man and a woman centuries from now looking for their daughter."
Celeste thought about what she was saying and the words of her so-called friends stung her heart. "I'll bite. What do you want from me?"
The cat chuckled. "How very clever. Yes, there is something I want. I'm a treasure collector."
"Let me guess. You want Carpet or maybe Genie's lamp. The palace is full of strange artifacts."
"Hardly. There three items I want. The jeweled dagger belonging to Cassim. Secondly, Prince Kalil owns a crystal sphere that makes objects look bigger when you look through it. Lastly, is a small pillow of Aladdin's..."
"I get it," Celeste cut in, "The dagger was given to Cassim by his brother, Ali Baba, the last time they saw each other thirty years ago. Kal's crystal was a gift from his childhood friend, Prince Babkak of Carthzan. And Aladdin's pillow was made for him by his mother when he was a baby. These are all sentimental treasures you're collecting."
The woman faded away, her smirk remaining like a Cheshire Cat's grin. "Just consider my offer. I'll be here."
It was very tempting, but the teen felt she needed to give all the people a second chance. What if everything was just a misunderstanding? Trudging along slowly, Celeste began to re-enter the palace when she noticed everyone sitting in the throne room. Why they were all still awake was a mystery. She concealed herself in the curtains, deciding that it was too late not to eavesdrop now. Besides, listening in was sort of fun.
Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie were presenting evidence to the others. "She's always asking questions and watching the guards."
"What about all that magic from Jafar's lair she's been reading? How can we possibly trust someone who practices that man's spells."
Mira also spoke. Celeste was sure her best friend would defend her. Instead, the princess said, "She frightens me sometimes."
Kal was the last to talk. "I think the only thing we can do is lock her away until we know the truth of why she's here."
Iago chimed in with a scoff. "Did she actually think we'd fall for that amnesia thing?! Puleeze!" Abu nodded in agreement.
Lock her away! Celeste didn't want to be locked in anywhere. They didn't trust her. They had never trusted her. All this time, the royal family had been pretending to care when really all they were doing was waiting for her to attack them.
Stumbling through the dim hallways back to her chamber, Celeste dug out the futuristic clothes they had found her in. She didn't want to leave with anything that she hadn't come with. She'd hate to be not only untrustworthy, but a thief as well!
Then again, maybe a thief was exactly what she wanted to be. Celeste gave the offer of the strange creature she'd just met a second thought. So what if Aladdin lost a pillow. Even if he did notice, she'd be home again with people who really loved her.
So, the teenaged girl collected the three items and returned to the garden. The woman with the cat face held out her fur covered hand, the sharp claws eagerly awaiting the prizes. "So, we have a deal."
Celeste was crying by this time. She took one final glance at the palace. "They don't want me." She wiped away her crying like it was nothing more than a smudge on her nose. Giving the items to the woman, Celeste held her head high as she left the palace of Agrabah behind her.
__________________
WATCH FOR Chapter Two: Iretant
Celeste begins her quest for the Time Stones and her dispearance is noticed by our heroes in Agrabah.
***POLL TIME: Tell me your opinion. Do you want to see Kal and Celeste get together? I have three votes thus far - two for and one against. Whatever your choice either tell me in your review or (if you don't want others to see your preference on this topic) e-mail me. My address is MaxVaughn@juno.com. Thanks. Your feedback is a big help.***