Chapter 09: Old Habits

For the first time in as many nights, Aladdin had a dreamless sleep. It wasn't a restful one for him, considering the events of the day before. It took him a moment to realize when he woke up that Abu wasn't curled up on the edge of his pillow by his head. His hand had reached up to smooth the fur on the monkey's back - only to grip at nothing but air.

Aladdin groaned as he sat up, muttering his thoughts just beneath breaths. "I promise I'll find some way to get you back, Abu. Arzin as well. Just haven't figured it out yet. I don't wanna play the thief's game, but I have no idea who he is. Not even to guess."

While Aladdin thought of the usual suspects - Mozenrath, Mirage, Abis Mal and Haroud, Nefir to name a few - none of them came to mind to hatch a plan like this one. And for the magic thief to mention a "thief's game" at all, let alone with knowing Abu, Aladdin reasoned that the person behind the disguise was someone who had known him a long time. A time where he had more enemies than friends. That didn't sit well with him at all.

A knock at his bedroom door startled him from his thoughts. Tani spoke on the other end of the closed door. "Prince Aladdin, are you awake? Figured I'd get you going since your friends let me know that you needed a wake up call. They're waiting for you at the diner this morning."

"Thanks, I'll meet up with them in a bit," he said.

"Are you feeling better? I know those bruises weren't a walk in the park, but the medicine should have helped overnight."

Aladdin had almost forgotten about the bandages on his arms and side. Tani had helped patch up his injuries - minor as they were - after the group had returned to Gloloria. Miza returned to Ezele and Yirya's care, though she had said little since they parted ways. Aladdin thought it was best that Miza stay as far away from this "game" as possible. It was bad enough knowing that her uncle was under the influence of the magic thief - particularly in the form of a hideous monster that wielded magic. Worse, Aladdin knew he would be under close watch from Arzin during the events of the "game." He wasn't quite sure what that would look like yet, since the terms just started.

"Seems like they're looking better this morning," Aladdin said as he checked one of the areas on his arm beneath the bandage. It wasn't completely gone, but definitely the bruises' darkness had faded overnight.

"Glad to hear it. I'll tell the others you're on the way."

"Thanks Tani. I appreciate it."

"Take care of yourself, your highness." He heard Tani's footsteps move away from the door, then prepared himself for the day ahead.

Jasmine gave Iago a side-eye glance from her seat next to the bird at the diner counter, though it had been Genie who asked the question moments before. Iago hadn't minced words responding to Genie's concerns about Aladdin. Then again, she hadn't had the chance to weigh in yet.

"Of course the parrot has his suspicions," Genie muttered. "But I wanted to know what Jasmine thought about it. Princess?"

Jasmine shook her head. "We need to see what he says, Genie. Support him any way that we can."

Genie nodded. "That's about as much as what I thought you'd say, but it's hard not to worry about the kid."

"How is it that you two keep putting this kinda stuff in the kid's hands all the time?" Iago said as he stuffed a large branch of grapes in his mouth. "There's no way that he didn't make some kinda deal with the thief and Arzin. He would've come out with a lot more than bruises otherwise."

"Aladdin's both lucky and resourceful - but again, I think we need to talk to him before deciding anything after what we learned last night," Jasmine said, folding her arms across her chest. She looked over where Genie sat in the seat across from where Iago ate, her eyes finding Aladdin behind them as he entered the diner. She waved to him, to which he smiled and approached them.

"Hey guys, Tani said you were waiting for me. Sorry I'm late."

Iago rolled his eyes. "While you guys catch up on serious stuff with the monkey and monster man, I'm gonna go lounge on the beach. Somebody's gotta keep this trip goin' as a REAL vacation."

As Iago flew away, leaving his empty plates behind, Aladdin's brow furrowed. "What's with him?"

Genie sighed. "I think that's his way of saying that he's worried about Abu without getting involved in the hard parts. Can't say he feels the same way about Arzin though. Seems to have it out for the guy."

Aladdin shook his head. "I don't think there's any way of convincing him otherwise at this point. Hope he'll figure it out eventually." Aladdin folded his arms across his chest, lost in thought a moment. He didn't even notice Tani put a full plate of food in front of him until Jasmine gently nudged him.

"You should eat something before we talk," she said.

Aladdin shook his head as he pulled his plate closer in front of him. "Not much else to say other than what I did last night. The thief isn't going to do anything to let Abu or Arzin go until he gets the scroll. That's the short of it."

Genie shared a look with Jasmine before his next words. "That's the short, but what's the long?"

Aladdin paused, his spoon stopping short of his mouth as he frowned before looking at Genie. "What do you mean by that?"

"Al, I hate to state the obvious, but I get the feeling you're not telling us everything."

A long silence passed between the three of them. Aladdin put the uneaten spoon of food back on his plate. Jasmine could tell that Aladdin was struggling with something in his mind, but she couldn't place where his thoughts were.

Aladdin broke the silence. "If you have to know, I'm in a thief's game. That should say plenty."

Genie's eyes went wide with horror, while Jasmine frowned. "A Thief's Game? What is that?"

Genie winced. "It's not good, Jas. Really not a game at all, it's a verbal contract between thieves. Meaning Al did walk into a trap last night."

"Not that I would have known that to begin with," Aladdin said, his tone sharp. "So if you know what it is, you know I can't say more than what I've already told you. It's not because I'm being dishonest. Or did you think that I was lying about it?"

"Aladdin, Genie's not accusing you, we're just worried and want to know what's going on. What's this about exactly?"

Aladdin let out a long, shaky breath before turning his attention to Jasmine. His brow furrowed with concern. "It makes sense that you wouldn't know, having grown up in the palace. When someone evokes a game between thieves, it's a specific reference, not just any random game. It usually involves a wager - a task for a trade, sometimes one or many."

Genie agreed with a nod. "Yeah, the thing that's traded is usually high stakes and obvious. Sometimes the trade's for rare treasure, but sometimes it's even more risky than that. Like...actually keeping your head or someone else's intact." Genie demonstrated a brief motion, using his finger to draw across his neck as if imitating the blade of a sword. HIs head separated from his body, falling into Genie's hands before he reattached it as Aladdin and Jasmine cringed at the example.

Jasmine's eyes widened with recognition. "Wait, are you saying that the wager in this game...?"

"Is Abu's life? Yeah," Aladdin's frown deepened. "Not only that, Arzin's part of the bargaining chip too, though it's not as obvious. The thief evoked the game before I knew what he wanted. I can't refuse it either, having been a thief myself. Goes back to the days I was in the Thieves Den in Agrabah. I haven't played many of them, but if you're a thief that values your life and others, you go with it. You don't have a choice."

"And the thief is only asking for Remi's scroll?" Jasmine asked.

Aladdin didn't answer her question as he started to eat a few bites of his meal, though Jasmine noticed his gaze wasn't looking directly at her, but around the diner, as if he expected someone observing their conversation.

Genie noticed and followed up. "It's not so much that he doesn't want to answer you, Jas. He can't reveal all the terms of the game he's under. Someone's making sure he sticks to his end of it. Could be watching us right now." Genie's expression grew more serious as he broke the silence. He angled himself in his seat to force the prince to look at him. "Al, who's doing this? I'm telling you that I"m good at sniffing out the bad guys, just say the word." He transformed into a dog with a nose that nudged into Aladdin's side. "I'll sniff them out before they even know what's coming to them."

Aladdin used his hand to gently move Genie away from him. "As much as I appreciate you wanting to help Genie, I need you to stay out of it. If there's something more that I can tell you, I will, definitely. For sure. But for now, what I need to do first is find Remi." Genie transformed quickly back into his usual self, sulking a little as Aladdin returned to topic. "You guys haven't seen him this morning, have you?"

Jasmine thought a moment before she responded. "Think he's already at the archive last I checked. It's the first day he's gone back there fully without a group acting as his bodyguards. Makes sense you would want to ask about the scroll there."

Aladdin nodded as he looked between both of them. "Yeah, don't see the point in delaying. He's got a right to know what's going on, not like I'm trying to take it off his hands like the thief did. Just hate the context of how I'm asking for it."

Genie noted Aladdin's sadness over the terms, frowning with the same sentiments in mind. "I understand why Remi needs to know, since he's part of the trade off. But there's gotta be another way other than just handing over the scroll to the bad guy. This isn't like you, kid."

Jasmine interrupted before Aladdin could respond. "Wait, the thief told Aladdin that he had two nights to bring the scroll to him. You're not planning on doing anything tonight, right?"

Aladdin hesitated only a moment before answering. "If there's another way to figure out how to get Abu and Arzin back, I'd rather take the time to come up with a plan. Work part of the terms of the game and then figure another way out of it, if possible."

Genie's expression brightened. "I knew it! That's my buddy." Genie looped an arm around Aladdin while the prince looked slightly uncomfortable. "So what's the next step, you're gonna go covert style, take the scroll in and have Jasmine and I take him down after? Iago and Carpet can come in with the assist and get Abu in the mayhem. We still have to work on Evil Arzin, but we can bring him on our team later." Genie used his magic to transform their outfits into basketball uniforms. While Jasmine and Aladdin looked at their new attires with awe and confusion, Genie twirled a basketball on the edge of his index finger. "I'll show them what good sportsmanship looks like, once we wipe the floor with them."

"No, Genie," Aladdin said, breaking the illusion as his voice grew sharp. "Abu and Arzin could die, we can't afford to mess up since we don't know anything about the thief. If this magic thief knew enough about me to evoke a thief's game, then this is someone who's known me a long time. And they are NOT my friend. I need you guys to stay out of it, at least for now."

"But Al..."

Aladdin abruptly stood from his seat. He didn't shout, but his voice was firm with resolve. "Stay out of it. I'm not saying it again." He turned to Jasmine. "I'll meet up with you after I talk to Remi."

Just as quickly as he'd entered the diner, Aladdin left, leaving his barely touched food behind. Jasmine didn't know what to say, but it was even more rare - she noted - that Genie would be stunned to silence himself.

Aladdin had told as much of the truth to Jasmine and Genie as he could manage, but there was a big lie that weighed on his mind and heart as he approached the archive that late morning. He wasn't going to wait a day to work a plan - he planned on doing what he needed to that night. And he had to quickly figure out how to end the game before anyone else in the village - whether his friends or Gloloria's citizens - could be involved.

"Oh, Prince Aladdin! I didn't expect to see you this early," Remi said cheerfully as Aladdin stepped into the archive.

"Hey Remi. Was wondering if you had a chance to talk. There's something important I have to ask - a favor."

Remi could tell from Aladdin's tone how serious it was. His light mood quickly faded to concern. "Oh no. Something happened, didn't it? Something involving the thief?"

Aladdin nodded, then explained everything he could manage about the situation. When he finished, Remi looked so sick that Aladdin was afraid he would pass out.

"The fact that the thief would use that as leverage for the two of them...that's horrible, too cruel. Of course I'll give it to you, no questions asked. At least we have the other scroll of magic remedies if something happens to this one. Just hate it's been levied this way."

Aladdin took the scroll carefully in his hands after Remi pulled it from the shelf and held it out to him. "I promise I'll protect it. And goes without saying I'll find a way to get Arzin back to normal."

"I know you will. Just be careful, your highness. Bad enough I was the point where all this started."

Aladdin felt gutted by the guilt in Remi's voice. "Don't worry. Let us know if you remember anything about the thief. That might help us figure out who he is and why he's doing all this."

Aladdin was quick to leave the archive, but made sure to stay long enough to ensure Remi's safety. Even as he boarded Carpet, he had the distinct feeling that someone was watching them.

He didn't have to look around to know who it was, because he knew that the "game" was very much on. Arzin was keeping his part of the bargain, keeping out of sight at the same time. If anyone did see his appearance, Aladdin figured they'd freak out worse than Iago did. Neither of them could afford the attention.

Aladdin went through the rest of the day, keeping as low of a profile as he could. Genie avoided him for much of the afternoon, which made a knot of guilt twist in the prince's gut. He hadn't meant to hurt his friend. But if Arzin had any suspicions about Aladdin collaborating with Genie, he knew Abu would be in trouble.

Aladdin pretended to go to his inn room around the same time as everyone else. He waited until the moon was high in the sky before he left, making sure that Genie, Jasmine and Iago were all asleep.

For the plan to work, he - at the very least - needed Carpet's help. He whistled lightly, getting the magic rug's attention. Iago was sound asleep, snoring in his own perch as Carpet followed Aladdin out of the inn.

"It's a risk, but I'm planning to get Arzin and Abu out tonight without involving the others. I don't want this game to go on at all." Aladdin said as they left the inn. He couldn't keep the nerves out of his voice, as much as he tried. "Will you help me? There are a few things I have to do before we go out that way."

Carpet appeared hesitant at first, but then he shook his knobs excitedly, positioning himself to let Aladdin ride him.

Aladdin's shoulders relaxed. Neither Arzin nor the thief had said he couldn't have a magic friend helping him. Particularly one who was good at keeping secrets. "Thanks Carpet. Let's go."

Aladdin had been sure to don a cloak around him, carrying the scroll Remi gave him within the cloak's pocket. He knew what he was looking for - the scrolls Saztou penned containing the magic remedies had distinct markings that distinguished them from other scrolls. It was a matter of looking for the twin in Ezele's possession.

Aladdin's senses as a thief had never dulled, not even after he'd stopped. While he had updated Ezele on Arzin and Abu being captured by the magic thief, Aladdin had been in the home of the mystic medic taking note of the locations of everything, including where Saztou's scroll might be located. Aladdin recalled Ezele telling him about the scroll and his use of it.

"Remi has one copy, but I keep the other with me. You would be surprised of the number of strangers we've helped needing a curse or two lifted from them. It's an advantage of being taught the ways that magic can help others," Ezele said, his voice yielding some sadness at the thought. "I never met Saztou, but his lessons are a part of what I do to help Gloloria, especially in the aftermath of the Deathseeker. I can't thank you enough for saving my life, Aladdin. I mean that."

Recalling Ezele's words created an ache in Aladdin's heart, especially knowing what he had to do that night. He wished he could have asked Ezele outright, told him the truth.

As Aladdin landed near Ezele's home with Carpet, he kept hidden in the shadows, kneeling near a set of crates full of supplies.

"Wait here, Carpet. I'll give you the signal, just like we planned, okay?"

Carpet gave him a thumbs up as Aladdin moved towards an open window, and into Ezele's study. It was one corner of Ezele's home, something added on for Ezele to have as a quiet area to review cures, explore remedies, even appeared to be something of a lab where he could make mixtures together. It reminded him of a much cleaner, more organized space than Jafar's old lair in the basement of Agrabah's Palace. Of course, it was smaller than the room of the Palace, given Ezele's more modest living.

Aladdin looked around the room, his body hugging the corner of a wall, though the area was quiet. No doubt Ezele, Yirya, and Miza were asleep. He wasn't sure what he would do if he woke them, if they caught him. Would they be able to trust him again, despite what Aladdin had done to help them during the Deathseeker's reign? But he also wondered - if Arzin still had eyes on him - what it would mean if he failed.

He hated that his mind ran with these thoughts, a distraction he didn't need in the moment.

Breathe, Al - you're doing this for good reasons. Not like you aren't planning to return them once you're done. Don't let it get to you.

He found the area he was searching for, saw a few scrolls that Ezele had for reference. But it didn't take him long to find what he was looking for. The scroll was an exact duplicate of the one he had at his side - an easy fit in his cloak. He took care to slip it from its occupied space to his side, the scroll edges clicking softly together. He arranged the area to make it seem like nothing was missing, covering any traces of disarray.

If nothing else, Aladdin was careful about covering his tracks. He knew what could be said about old habits.

But no sooner than he'd finished than he heard a noise from beyond the room, around the corner from where he worked. There wasn't an easy space for him to hide, so he crouched down near a shelf where Ezele stored vials and other mixing jars.

It wasn't long before he was staring at Miza, standing a distance away from him in the darkness. She carried a small lamp light that illuminated the area in which she walked. Her back was turned to where he hid. He covered his mouth with his left hand, cautious to not make any noise as she searched the room.

"Miza? Is that you?" Aladdin heard Ezele's voice from the other room. He closed his eyes, cursing his misfortune in his mind. He'd been careless.

"Miza was just looking for Papa. Couldn't sleep." She walked past the area Aladdin hid, even as he opened his eyes, not daring to move.

"You know better than to enter my study without me. There are complicated potions and other things that would be dangerous to break there, particularly wandering about in the dark like that."

"Sorry Papa," she said softly. Aladdin felt his stomach twist at the guilt in her voice.

"It's all right. Come now, I'll tell you a story to help you sleep." Aladdin saw the moment that Ezele appeared into view, nodding to Miza and motioning her to follow him. The medic disappeared around the corner. But just before Miza followed him, she looked back over her shoulder one last time.

That moment, Aladdin knew she saw him in the darkness. At first, she was surprised to see him, even as the hood of his cloak had slipped off the top of his head in his rush to hide. Her eyes were wide, mouth parted as if to speak. But instead of saying anything, she closed her mouth quickly, putting a finger to her lips. He returned her response with a smile and mimic of the same gesture before she disappeared, the light of her lamp leaving the area and leaving him in darkness again.

He'd been lucky. Even as he left through the window, giving Carpet the silent signal to pick him up, he knew he couldn't afford to make a mistake like that again. Even if Miza's silent support was something he could count on, this time.

At least he hoped so.

Miza wasn't sure why Aladdin had been in her father's study, only considering that it may have been he was looking for something that would be helpful. That much she could figure out. She might be a kid, but she knew that from the events earlier that day, Aladdin was trying his best to find a way to rescue his monkey friend and her uncle. She trusted him, as she did his friends.

But she wondered why he didn't ask her father directly, and why he'd snuck in so late at night. Miza had already been awake because she couldn't sleep. She didn't discover Aladdin because she heard anything he did, but she wanted to see if her father was awake. First place she thought of her father being was the study. She knew her father was awake, but had walked in the wrong direction. Seeing Aladdin had been an accident, a surprising one, but not unpleasant. She'd keep his secret, regardless.

She kept thinking about the monster her uncle had turned into earlier that day. Though Aladdin had told her father and mother the situation and promised to keep Miza out of it, Miza wasn't happy about not being able to do anything to help. She felt like she had when the Deathseeker had once ravaged Gloloria, back before Aladdin and his friends had defeated the former sky god turned sea demon.

She wanted to do something to help Aladdin and his friends, but didn't know where to start.

As she started to drift to sleep, she thought she heard a tap near her window, saw a shadow dart in the distance. She knew it wasn't human, but for a moment, she thought she heard a familiar screech.

"Abu?" Miza was wide awake now. Quickly, she made a move to stand on a chair, crawl out of her window and leapt down to the ground outside. She looked quickly around the area, trying to be quiet to make sure her parents didn't hear her. She didn't want to get in trouble.

Had Abu somehow escaped? Did Aladdin not know? She needed to find out for herself.

As she turned the corner of the home near a group of nearby crates, however, a much larger, non-human shadow startled her. Something that definitely wasn't a monkey.

Before she could scream, a cloud of magic surrounded her, making her cough before she slumped to the ground.

"I'm sorry, little one," the creepy voice said just before she fell asleep. "But I actually need your help for a little bit, as part of a friendly wager. I promise that you'll be able to sleep through the whole thing. You won't even remember this."