Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I just write about them. Nor do I the song "I'm Waiting for You".
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The new moon hovered above the slumbering populace of Agrabah, though in one dilapidated hovel, near the piers, the tenants were wide awake. Removing a brick from the loosely mortared floor, Dhandi knelt down and began to fold the Brittany blue shirt and the dark blue skirt very neatly. She glanced into the hole momentarily and, setting the skirt aside, reached her tiny, bandage-plastered hand in. She pulled out a tiny clay jar, a strand of shells of different sizes tied to a piece of twine, and a scroll of loosely rolled up paper.
Dhandi held up the strand of shells to the dimly burning oil lamp. Someone was supposed to have this one morning. He hadn't gotten it yet and she scolded herself for not bringing it with her when she saw him again briefly today. She sat the bauble back down and picked up the jar. She shook it, something softly rattled inside. She pried the cork off and, holding out her palm, let a tiny, green stale gumdrop roll onto her hand.
She liked this one, the day Eden and Genie came into her life as well as the discovery of the joys of pizza and gumdrops and that the both tasted pretty good together, that odd mix of sweetness and tartness along with spiciness that still mingled on her tongue. Dhandi had told Babkak about it one day, though she couldn't explain those rather scarce foods very well and it left the round boy scratching his head.
She dropped the gumdrop back in the jar and shoved the cork back in. Setting the jar back down and returned to folding the outfit. Pressing away the creases and wrinkles the best her fingers could do, she placed the dress into the hiding place. She looked around cautiously, like a thief hiding her gold. She peeked through the drab cream curtain behind her. Eden was talking to Genie, a serious look on her face.
They're probably talking about me, Dhandi thought, placing her hand on the scroll. They're probably still scared about what happened. I am.
Pulling the curtain closed, she picked up the scroll and unrolled it. Crayon and charcoal pictures of crude stick figures in orange, green, and sky-blue rested on the pages. Dhandi smiled as she looked at each picture- one of the orange and the green figures hovering over the sea of bluish-green scribbles and white triangles, another of that same orange figure being held by the sky-blue one. However, her smile slowly faded as she came upon the picture of the orange little figure with one of dark blue, a scribbled ball of orange and yellow hovering just about the pair.
Dhandi wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her brown coat as she crumpled up that picture with one hand.
"Dhandi," Eden's voice could be heard from the other side, "getting ready for bed?"
"Yeah," Dhandi sniffed, as she replaced the brick and picked up the bunches of paper. She stood up, blew out the oil lamp, and pass through the curtain.
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I'm waiting for you.
I kept my fire inside my ribs.
And I put my hand on my cheek
And counted by seconds your absence and you never came.
The whirlwind of scarves of reds, pinks, oranges, and violets swirled together as the luscious feminine figures twirled and shook, as rapidly as the music bid them. The onlookers clapped as the dancers executed tight and controlled moves with grace that would make the most poised gazelle seem like a clumsy cow. A roaring fire lit up the night, the stars twinkling brightly in the dark violet sky.
I wish - I wish I never fell in love.
I need to know if you are upset
Or if somebody else occupies your heart
From my hopelessness, you make me say.
The music began once more as the woman drew back her hand and slowly merged back into formation, circling an invisible point in the middle of the large intricately embroidered carpet. The women raised their hands slowly, their fingers lightly touching the ones across from their owners, all of them swaying to the soft beat of a drum. They twirled in the circle, their skirts swirling against their legs. The wind seemed to blow much cooler now, the fire crackling as their flames whip and writhe about.
The absence will continue forever
And I ask myself what did I gain
From my mistake.
Only you are my problem.
The tempo increased, the women springing up and trilling. Men joined in, dressed in darker, richer shades of the familiar hues. They contorted as they leapt, the music guiding their every erratic movement. The women twirled around their bodies suggestively, their partners suddenly lifting them up into the air. The airy fabric of their skirts fluttered.
A sole figure in dark blue danced around a woman in orange, placing his hand on her chest. He held her close, panicking his partner as she thrashed against him like a frightened bird against a cage. He pressed his sallow lips against hers, tears running down her tanned cheek. Muffled shrieks exit the woman's lips to the audience that doesn't bother to look up.
Then he stared straight out into the crowd, towards a child with messy hair and dressed in orange. The sickly pale face turned from the limp body of his partner, towards the child, a malevolent smirk appearing. The girl shivered as he approached closer. Her body froze, scared to make a move but her mind screaming "just don't sit there! RUN!" into her ear in deafening tones. The pale young man leaned down to her, smiling, cruel intentions hidden behind that grin. He placed his hand upon her left cheek, his fingers softly drumming against her temple.
She could feel something raking against her right cheek. Praying it was just his hand, she looked at the corner of her eye. To her horror, it was a skeleton's hand, worse of all it was his. She let out scream, the man undeterred however. He merely chuckled softly as he placed a kiss upon her cheek.
I wish - I wish I never fell in love.
I anguish on the hot part of the fire.
My brain is absent from concentration
With each breath I count your steps
But then the child turned and looked at his face, growing more intrigued by this young man in dark blue. She reached her hands up to his slender face and ran her fingers down his face, gingerly. The young girl tilted her chin up and placed a kiss upon his full lips. The young man returned it.
With each little letter I count your conversations with me
I am in this mood morning and night.
And they saw me and they said I have become insane.
Mozenrath's eyes opened like a pair of jaws. He panted as he shot up on his divan. His curly hair was the casualty of bed head and his sheets were soaked in sweat, though the breeze had brought in the usual cold desert night air. He shook his head as he mumbled incoherently and worriedly to himself. Several things had shocked the Lord of the Land of Black Sand in his existence; the most shocking had been the discovery of several frilly dresses in his closet that evening when he had returned. This had blown it away like a palm leaf in a sand storm.
The End.
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A/N: It has been a long journey for "All of Me". In the conception of the story, it was originally going to be an original character that Mozenrath was to prey upon. However, I noticed there had not been many fan fictions about Dhandi and Eden, particularly with them in a leading role (until I have read Michael Ferrier's "Serpentine", also had Mozenrath in it). Then came with the "Voldemort/Tom Riddle" device, resulting in the creation of Amir and thus allowing me to write dialogue between Mozenrath and Dhandi whilst in the possession stage without him going out of character and without running into plot holes. The "Hercules" crossover came later when I was formulating how Mozenrath was going to be resurrected. I had the idea of Dhandi "breathing life" into him since the beginning. Though the Persephone's Dawn is fictional, narcissi and daffodils have long been associated with immortality and rebirth. The idea for the golem was borrowed from "Inuyasha", but there are, in fact, actual instructions to creating a golem. There was originally a planned cameo by Aladdin and Jasmine and a funny scene where Mozenrath cops a feel from Jasmine, using Dhandi's body, but it was deemed unnecessary and that didn't add anything to the plot.
Thank you for all who have read and review. Special thanks go to Heather and everybody at Aladdin their support and assistance with character continuity.