Chapter 11: Shock and Circumstance

Aladdin, Arzin, Miza, Abu and Carpet were not far out from the outskirts of Gloloria when they realized they were in trouble. Miza was the first to realize they were being followed, not just from hearing the distant, yet incoherent voice behind them, but having eyes on the flying hooded figure that came after them like a Grim Reaper over the starry sky.

"Prince Aladdin, the thief's chasing us!" she said, pointing quickly behind them.

Aladdin looked over his shoulder, his eyes wide with surprise. "You've gotta be kidding me! He can fly?!"

Abu's mouth dropped open - at first soundless, then he began screeching in a panic.

Arzin was less impressed, more annoyed. "Seems he's spending a large amount of magical power just to keep up with us. Can't hear everything he's saying because he's too far away, but it won't be long before he catches up."

"Wouldn't doubt he's complaining about being tricked. We can't let him follow us to town as is or everyone will be in danger." Aladdin's eyes scanned the stretch of desert and cliffs just outside the city nearby. "Carpet, veer left, towards the cliffs."

"What are we gonna do?" Miza said, and Aladdin couldn't help but feel a pinch of guilt at the fear in the girl's voice. But he definitely had a Plan B already figured out. He'd been hoping he wouldn't have to use it.

"Don't really have a choice about what to do next, but at least we can get it going." Aladdin reached inside his cloak, handing Miza the scrolls of Saztou. "Miza, I'm gonna ask that you hold onto these until you see your father, keep them hidden. Can you give them to him?"

Miza appeared surprised at first, but her lip jutted out in a disapproving pout. "Why not Aladdin?"

He shook his head. "Because if the thief catches up with me, I don't want these to fall into his hands. And better that your father has them than anyone else. Can you promise me that you'll give them to him when you go back to Gloloria, no matter what happens?"

Miza didn't hesitate, nodding eagerly. "Miza will do it!"

"Good. Arzin," Aladdin said, turning his attention to the man who equally seemed surprised by Aladdin's note to the girl. "Not that I wouldn't think you'd do this, but can you look after Miza, make sure she's safe with the scrolls?"

Arzin snorted, his tone shifting between sarcastic and serious. "I can manage that, your highness. Not that I need you to tell me to protect my own niece and the relics of my home. What are you planning?"

"Buying some more time. The main person that thief cares about hurting is me. He'll hurt anyone in the way of that, which is why I need you guys to get back to Gloloria in one piece." He turned to Abu, who looked at him with such a pained expression that Aladdin almost regretted having to tell the monkey his part in the plan. And it didn't involve Abu traveling with him. "Abu, once Carpet arrives in town and drops you off, I need you to tell Genie everything that's happened so far. I planned on doing it before but...well, he's gonna be mad at me either way. I had my reasons." He couldn't keep his voice from breaking slightly on the last note, but he recovered quickly.

"Aladdin..." Abu said, his lip quivering.

Aladdin shook his head. "If the plan goes as it should, I'll be back before you know it. We also might be able to figure out who the thief really is. Genie can follow Carpet's lead once he knows. Last thing - Carpet," Aladdin paused as Carpet's knobs perked up. "I need you to meet at the place we agreed upon earlier. There's a hidden path along the cliffs that leads inland - going towards Remi's archive. I'll go as far as I can along the path underground, until I reach the surface. If you don't see me after a while, we'll meet halfway. It's a looping path with a few branch points, but there's only one real way to go. I've had some time to learn the way this afternoon from the other end. If Genie comes with you, lead him to me."

Carpet gave a short salute with his knobs, showing he understood. By this time, the magic thief was closing the distance on Carpet's lead. His booming, distorted voice became clear to all of them as he caught up.

"I will not stop until I destroy you, boy! You will rue the day you tried to trick me!"

"Technically I already tricked him. Just pointed out his lie before he discovered mine," Aladdin said under his breath. He shifted his attention to the group around him, his friends - new and old. Arzin didn't readily show it, but Aladdin had a feeling that the man was worried about what would happen to all of them. Aladdin had a hard time keeping his own nerves at bay, but he did it anyway. "You guys ready to go? Know what to do?"

Arzin and Miza silently nodded. Abu gave a half-hearted screech of approval. Aladdin's hand ran over a part of Carpet's surface, before he gave the order that would separate them. "Carpet, take us to the cliffs and let me drop off. Don't stop until you get to Gloloria, no matter what happens."

Carpet obeyed, quickly flying to where he was over a safe part of the cliff, where Aladdin leapt without hesitation. Even with the surface being safe, it was a long way down. His cape fluttered around him as he fell towards the ledge, the light of the moon illuminating his descent.

"Aladdin!" Miza cried out in horror at first. She was surprised when the Prince landed smoothly, kneeling on the rocky ledge of the cliff as he landed. Then he stood, turning and giving the group a quick salute.

"Don't worry, Miza. He's good," Arzin said. "I expected less, but he's proven me wrong before. We need to focus on doing our parts. Hope he knows what he's in for. He'll need that knowledge and luck he can gather."

Abu screeched that Aladdin usually made good on his promises unless something went very wrong. He then turned to Carpet with a declaration of "Let's move!" before the magic rug sped off to town.

Aziz was not happy about being outwitted by Aladdin yet again. Nothing had gone to plan that night in the first true test that the thief has banked on. The "thief's game" was - indeed - a practice he'd observed himself many times in his travels, including Agrabah. Of course, this was before Aziz had met Aladdin - before the young thief had joined him, Minos, Fatima, and Abu in their small band. Of course, Aladdin's time with the group had been short lived when Minos, Fatima, and Aziz were trapped in the Destiny Stone. Abu had joined the boy, and the rest was - well - a much more sore history than he cared to retread.

He wasn't sure how Aladdin figured out the extent of his control - but he hadn't realized that those weren't the only things that Aladdin had tricked him on. When he realized the scrolls were fake, he used every bit of magic he had in anger to speed after the group.

His present form looked like a large, ghoulish monster speeding through the skies that moonlit night. He was using too much power, too much at a time when it was closer to dawn than dusk. But he wanted Aladdin to pay for the night's events. If he didn't kill the prince outright, he'd come as close as he could get until he could think of another plan.

Aziz saw the moment Carpet veered from the path to Gloloria, taking a detour towards the cliffs. At first he wondered what the rug was doing, until he saw Aladdin drop off towards the cliffs. He realized he still had a chance to salvage the night's failures.

"Oh, you think you're getting away from me while possessing the real scrolls? You play a losing game, street rat," he snapped. "If I have to pluck them from your corpse before day breaks, so be it."

Aziz hesitated a moment, wondering if he should - out of sheer spite - knock Aladdin's friends from the sky using a flurry of lightning magic. He'd learned a few spells from Saztou's magic scroll from the first time he stole it from Remi. He opted to return the scroll he'd stolen to the archivist in order to ensnare Aladdin in the "game."

His plan was shortlived as Aziz realized Aladdin aimed a bow and arrow at him, taken from the boy's cape. Last resort of offense, Aziz thought. Have to say I'm impressed with his forethought. He barely managed to dodge Aladdin's attacks in time, the momentum of his magic spell giving him too much speed to easily control.

A blessing and a curse, since Aladdin had to run to avoid a wild blast of magic that Aziz let off before he crashed into the side of the cliff. The blast shook the cliff, nearly sending Aladdin tumbling off the edge to his doom. The prince recovered, his hands finding the edge of the cliff to grab at the last moment. But the bow and quiver of two arrows tumbled long and down to the sands below. At least to Aziz's perception, that meant Aladdin was now completely defenseless.

"Seriously, you've gotta be kidding," Aziz heard Aladdin say, before the prince managed to pull himself up over the cliff and get to his feet. When Aladdin saw Aziz pull himself from the cliff, he ran in the opposite direction.

"Where do you think you're going, Aladdin?!" Aziz taunted, his tone sly as he leaned into the prince's name. "You can't run away from me."

Aladdin only picked up speed along the path, and Aziz realized the boy was running towards what looked like a hidden pathway. Oh, this is new, he thought. Perhaps he'll lead me to a place where I can get the scrolls more easily.

Aziz would be the hunter following the rat, at least until he could come up with a trap to ensnare him. Then he'd claim his prize.

If there was anything that was keeping him from the magic thief's clutches, it was Aladdin's speed. He would count on that to get him where he needed to until he could meet up with Carpet, possibly Genie too. He wondered if the others would join them. The path was a long stretch. He'd been running for a while at this point, but managed to keep at a steady pace.

Hope you're on your way, Carpet. Could use a little boost right now, Aladdin thought. He knew where he needed to go, just a matter of keeping his distance.

Judging with how quickly the magic thief was picking up the pace, Aladdin knew that would be a challenge. You might be quick, but I'm still faster than you.

"I'll catch up with you eventually, street rat!" the thief shouted, his booming voice echoing through the path. "Those scrolls will be mine!"

So he thinks I still have the scrolls. Good. Aladdin felt a small bit of relief that he'd managed to keep that lie going. But his relief was shortlived when he heard something behind him. A rushing sound, like someone taking a...long breath? He startled when the solid floor at his feet started shaking, cracking into branching splinters, then crumbled away. Aladdin yelled as he started to fall, but managed to grab onto some nearby vines which he clutched like his life depended on it.

Technically it did, since there was nothing remaining beneath his feet to speak of. He gasped at the depth of the darkness he saw beneath him, looking away quickly to keep his head from spinning.

"Looks like you're hanging by a thread there," the magic thief taunted. Aladdin felt his heart catch in his throat at the dark figure as he lingered - rather, hovered - over the empty floor. But Aladdin's fear was shortlived, as it turned into drive to get as far away as he could. The vines were strong, both in durability and how easily he could grab them. He used his body to swing on the vines from one to the next, like a certain monkey he could think of in the moment. Aladdin went through multiple ones at a rate that didn't just surprise the thief, but himself.

Guess the adrenaline rush is paying off. Then again, maybe it's the motivation of not falling when there's nothing to catch me. If Abu were here, he'd be cheering me on for sure. Aladdin managed to make it to solid ground on the other side of the newly made chiasm. From that point, he didn't stop to turn to see how quickly the thief was catching up, he bolted down the path as fast as his legs to carry him.

As he ran, he couldn't help but wonder why the breath magic he'd heard coming from the thief was so familiar. Something at it pinched at his memory, like an itch he couldn't scratch. I know it, but I can't remember where it's from. Who did I know that would have that kind of power, one that knew me as a street rat?

Before he could make a connection, a loud buzzing sound rang to the right of his ear. Something zipped past him, which he barely dodged for impact as it broke a part of the wall that he barely passed.

Lightning magic. Aladdin realized that he definitely didn't want to get hit by anything like that. He picked up his speed as much as he could, but he could tell the thief was catching up.

"If you would only hold still!" the thief snapped, releasing another lighting blast that barely missed Aladdin along the path ahead.

When it seemed the thief was struggling to summon another blast of magic, Aladdin took the moment to keep his momentum going. He quickly realized, after reaching a turn in the cave, that he'd gone the wrong way. Great, wasn't paying enough attention to where I was running. Think fast, where do I go next?

He knew the general area of where he was; he'd navigated it earlier that day. But the late hour, his fatigue, and the murderous intent of the magic thief behind him made it all the more urgent that he needed to find his way forward and fast.

One of these paths leads to a dead end, and the other goes over and through, back to the main path I need to reach town. I have to figure out a way to get past him, Aladdin thought.

He closed his eyes briefly as he leaned against the wall, a crevice fitting for a makeshift hiding place. Aladdin realized his lack of rest had caught up with him. Did he have enough time? How close was the thief?

Aladdin placed one of his shaking hands over his mouth and nose, as if to quiet his own ragged breaths. He stood as still as the stones, allowed himself the moment to calm down. Maybe the thief would pass by; that would give him an opening to act. He could hear something on the path beyond where he stood but it was hard to see.

"Where are you, Aladdin? I know you're here." The thief's voice vibrated with a sharpness that chilled the prince. Aladdin felt a rush of cold down his spine. Aside from the thief, something else in the area where he stood shifted, made him realize he wasn't alone.

The thing that brushed against his right arm almost made him call out with surprise, but he realized quickly that the figure beside him wasn't a foe, but a friend.

"Carpet?" He whispered as he uncovered his mouth. He could barely see one of Carpet's knobs give him a thumbs up sign. "Man, I'm glad to see you. Where's Genie?"

"FOUND YOU!" the magic thief shouted, just as waves of lightning magic filled the area in which they stood. Aladdin grunted as one of the bolts of magic grazed him on the side of his right arm, searing his skin with a small - yet painful - burn. The powerful blast also caused part of Aladdin's cloak to catch fire. Even with his injury, Aladdin made quick work of removing the tattered cloak, throwing it backward squarely into the face of the thief as it burned.

The thief howled in panic and pain, none too happy to have something on fire thrown in his face. It gave enough distraction for Aladdin to board Carpet, even while clutching his injured arm. "Now, Carpet. Go!"

"You tricked me again! You never had the scrolls to begin with!" Aladdin heard the thief behind him shout.

"Never said I did! That's your problem!" Aladdin shouted back, though he realized the thief now was chasing after them again. They were very close to getting out of the pathway and back to Gloloria.

"If we can manage to get out of this next turn...Carpet!" Aladdin's tone shifted to one of panic as he realized the magic thief appeared in front of them so suddenly that Carpet had to swerve to avoid colliding with the thief. But the movement gave the thief a clear shot to hit them with his magic. Aladdin's eyes went wide as the buzz of lightning crackled in his ears, light blinding him as the magic blast went off.

Carpet took the full force of the magic blast by angling himself upright, much like a shield. The sudden motion made Aladdin lose his balance, throwing him to the ground below. Pain shot up his back as he landed with a hard thud.

When his vision cleared and the light subsided, Aladdin realized that Carpet had completely disappeared.

"Carpet? Carpet!" His eyes scanned the area, but he could only find the thief, who simply stared back at Aladdin, with an amused tilt of his head. Aladdin raised himself on his elbows to prop himself up from the ground, but he didn't have the strength to stand. "What did you do to him?"

"I sent him back to my lair, don't worry." The thief had an amused tone in his voice. "I bet you worried that my magic destroyed him. That was very tempting, but I still have work for you to do."

Aladdin started to argue, but the thief held up one of his gloved hands, palm facing forward, silencing him.

"If you want to see your Carpet again, preferably without his threads ripped into multitudes, I suggest you listen very carefully. I wanted to give you retrieving the scrolls again as your next task, but I remembered that these games prohibit giving the same task twice in any consideration." The thief chuckled with amusement. "If we're going to play by the rules, then we'll play by the rules. Punishments for cheating included." Aladdin knew the thief's last statement was a dig at him for the trick he pulled off. And it was clear the threat of "punishment" was one-sided.

Before the magic thief could say more, voices from not far away cut through the conversation. Aladdin realized that they were not far at all, along one of the offshoot paths that were just beyond the entrance to the hidden passage, leading to Gloloria's mainland.

"Aladdin! Aladdin!" Abu screeched in a panic.

"I wish Carpet hadn't left us behind, we were so close to catching up." Jasmine followed. Aladdin could hear from her voice how tired she sounded, and he felt a guilty knot at the pit of his stomach twist at her words. But the discomfort grew further at the next voice he heard.

"Rug-man probably couldn't wait for us because he knew Al was in trouble," Genie said. "Definitely heard something ahead of us too just now. We must be close."

Aladdin started to call out to them, but felt an invisible, vice grip at his throat as the magic thief closed his open hand into a fist in front of him, his glove surrounded by an aura of green light. It was the same type of magic Arzin had used when under the thief's influence. So much for originality, Aladdin thought, even was he struggled against the magic attack.

"Looks like we'll have to discuss our game terms another time. Why not take a day to rest, your highness?" Aladdin thought it was odd the thief shifted from calling him "street rat" one moment and by his royal honorific the next. Both had the same tone of mocking him. "I'll be visiting your nightmares in the day after next. Shouldn't be long in choosing someone else from Gloloria to use as another bargaining chip, but I'll let you guess who that will be. Expect also that I'll be telling you the new rules at that point. Until then, farewell, Aladdin."

The thief released the invisible magic grip from Aladdin's neck just before he could pass out. Aladdin slumped back to the ground, gasping and coughing as the thief quickly disappeared in a puff of dark smoke.

Can't believe he got away, we were so close, Aladdin thought. He lay on his back on the ground, staring up at the rocky ceiling of the hidden passage as he recovered. His chest rose and fell quickly with every breath. It was hard to think of much of anything - the late hour and Carpet's capture being two things that weighed heavy on his mind.

Aladdin knew - much to his chagrin - that the game the thief had started in motion was far from over.