Chapter 12: Slippery Slopes

"All that and it feels like we're right back where we started. Just slightly different circumstances," Aladdin said as Jasmine sat next to him. She held his hand with one of hers under the table, showing solidarity after a long recounting of events. It wasn't everything, but enough to get the princess up to speed on Carpet's capture.

They were both waiting for their meal that evening at Tani's diner. It appeared that everyone in Gloloria was on edge after a long night and early morning. Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, and Abu slept in for most of that morning and afternoon. Iago had been the only one who didn't, but even he was on edge once he'd learned what happened to Carpet. He didn't stick around for the details, though.

"I wouldn't say that. What you did saved Abu, Arzin, and Miza. That counts for so much," said Jasmine. "It may not seem like it, but everyone in Gloloria is grateful."

Aladdin shook his head. "There's still the thief making good on his promise - taking someone else captive as part of the game. I don't have the first clue of who that might be. If I did, I'd be able to warn everyone to be on guard. Better that than being in the dark about it."

"Ezele said everyone can do what they can until we figure something else out. Do you remember anything about the thief? Some clue to guess who he is and why he'd do this?"

Aladdin was silent for a long moment. Jasmine could tell that he was really thinking back on his encounters with the thief. "There were things I noticed that felt familiar, but nothing that distinguished him. He keeps himself cloaked from head to toe all the time. The magic he uses to amplify his voice throws me off. No doubt he's intentionally hiding who he is. I keep thinking back to when Abu and I might've known him, but I can't place it." He smiled a little sheepishly then, but Jasmine could tell he was trying to hold back from wincing. "Had more enemies than friends back then. Least until we met you guys."

She smiled back at him. "I'll bet you did," she teased, but she saw Aladdin's mood shift, his smile fading to something more serious. "I know you're worried, Aladdin, but you'll figure it out. You've played these kind of 'games' before, right?"

Aladdin let out a long groan at the memory, closing his eyes a moment before he spoke again. "Don't like to be reminded of it. It's a little more thrilling when you see these things play out than being a part of them, especially when they're harmless. But people have gotten hurt in them, even killed. Before the game with the thief, the games I was a part of were no exception in how dangerous they were. I got into one intentionally and the other I was tricked into, like this last time. Barely managed to survive them both."

"Was Abu with you then?" Jasmine asked.

"For one of them, yeah. Thinking about it now, the way I treated him back then wasn't different than the way I treated you guys in this magic thief's game. I didn't want him to get involved because I knew if he tried, the guy I was playing against would hurt him." He sighed, meeting Jasmine's eyes then and squeezing her hand. "I'm sorry, Jasmine - about everything. There's not much more I can tell you. Part of it are things I don't know, and others I can't say because they might violate the rules the thief has me under. But I owe all of you an apology for the way I acted before."

"I know why you did what you did," she said. "You don't need to apologize to me, but you might want to talk to Genie."

"You think he's still mad at me?"

Jasmine raised a brow, surprised. "I wasn't under the impression that he was, just worried. He said he was going to be at the archive looking out for Remi this evening. I would catch up with him there - tell him the same details you told me. I think he'd understand, maybe even more than me since he knew what the games were before I did." Jasmine realized something in that moment that felt much like Genie suddenly having an idea for a spell - a spark from the conversation that sent the wheels in her head turning. Aladdin definitely noticed, waiting for her to explain as he raised one silent brow.

"You said that you've played these kinds of games before. Maybe one of the thieves you were playing against back then could be the thief that's after you now. Since they lost, they could be looking for revenge."

Aladdin looked away, gently drawing away from her and releasing her hand. Jasmine noticed in the way he reacted that definitely made it seem like he was considering the possibility, but there was something else more heavy in the thought. Aladdin's answer came quickly, definitively when he spoke again. "No, that's definitely not possible."

"Why?"

"I know for a fact that the thieves I played against were addicted to the thrill of the games. They never got out of them after they played me." He finally met her gaze then, his expression a little more hard - angered by the memory. "Never got out alive, that is. One of the thieves I played against...I saw him lose and die in another game. The other I knew from word of mouth he didn't make it out. He had a younger sister - street rat like me - that he left behind who was bitter about the whole thing."

Jasmine felt like the air had been sucked out of the fully bustling diner, leaving her speechless for a long moment. "Oh, Aladdin. That's horrifying."

Aladdin rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, his voice quiet in the noise of the dining area around them. "It was a bad deal, all of it."

"Dinner's ready!" Tani's chipper voice interrupted them then, as she carried full plates of food to the table. "Glad to see you two chatting up a storm. How's the arm, your highness?"

Aladdin flexed his bandaged arm - the one that had been magically singed by the thief - managing a small grin to the older woman. "Not too bad. Thanks for checking in, Tani. Ezele's medicine is working well, from what I can tell."

She leaned in close between the two of them, making sure that Aladdin and Jasmine heard her beyond the bustle and banter of the restaurant. "You both know I worry about you two. Your group as well. I know you're having a hard time with your friend being in the clutches of that fiend, but you let me know if there's anything I can do. I don't care much for this 'thief' running around - I worry about it much like everyone else does. But I don't want to stick my nose where it doesn't belong. Not unless you want me to."

"We appreciate your help, Tani, and everyone else's in town," Jasmine said. "I'm sorry that this whole thing with the thief is bringing up bad memories. Experiences too."

"We promise to get to the bottom of it, no matter what," Aladdin said. "We don't want anyone else to go missing either."

"Glad to hear it. But before you get to work, at least get some food in yourselves. And proper sleep tonight." She waved to them both as she went to tend to another pair of guests - specifically Iago and Abu as they asked for their third round of plates.

"Whoa, guess those two are going for more. Some things really don't change," Aladdin said as he turned back to Jasmine.

"I can understand Abu's appetite. He probably hasn't had a big meal since he was with the thief."

Aladdin's expression turned more sad then. Jasmine instantly regretted bringing it up. "Yeah. I know he was sleeping the whole time, but the fact he went through all that's gotta be tough. On his stomach among other things."

"Does he remember anything before being captured?"

Aladdin shrugged as he ate a few bites of his meal. "Told me he doesn't remember much. He remembers Arzin trying to help him before, though."

"Have you talked to Arzin since we came back?"

"No, but definitely planning on it."

She nodded as she began to eat. "Let's hope that nothing else happens tonight."

After they finished at the diner, Jasmine returned to the inn after walking with Aladdin. They parted with a kiss before Aladdin left for the archive to meet Remi and Genie. He made sure to take Abu with him, who eagerly agreed to come with. The monkey didn't admit it, but Aladdin could tell that Abu was having a hard time falling asleep. It made sense he'd want to do something rather than lay around or have a generally irate Iago bother him.

Per a town meeting earlier that evening, everyone in Gloloria agreed to travel in pairs with the threat of the thief still looming. Aladdin made a brief detour to the Deathseeker's memorial in the more inland part of town, away from the beach.

Abu sighed heavily as he watched Aladdin look over the memorial for a long while. Aladdin had much the same sentiment, which he voiced aloud. "I get it Abu. It's hard to believe. At least we can say that no more names are gonna be carved onto this stone, for sure. Remi won't have any more work ahead of him here. It's hard to believe the Deathseeker did all of this to the town for generations. Longer than we've been around."

The two of them looked in silence at the memorial for a few moments longer before they moved on. Aladdin appeared to slow his pace, which made Abu wonder aloud why, as the prince was deep in thought.

"Sorry Abu, just have a lot on my mind, you know? Bad enough that Carpet's captured. As long as we don't know who the thief's going after next, it's gonna bug me. I don't want anyone else getting hurt. It was bad enough with you, Arzin and Miza getting caught into it."

"Oh no!" Abu screeched.

"If Genie's at the archive with Remi, maybe we can try to figure it out before the thief gets any ideas. It's easier to tell who the thief's not gonna target."

At that, the monkey tilted his head in confusion. "Huh?"

Aladdin shrugged. "It's easy once you think about it and know the rules. I know it's been a while, but goes back to the Rule of Multiples in the Thief's Game. If you use something - or someone - as a bargain in part of a game with the same players, you can't use them again. I know I won't be captured because I'm one of the players. You, Arzin, and Miza won't be targets anymore for the game, because you were already a part. Same players, different rules, but also different stakes."

"Whew!" Abu wiped at his brow in relief.

"But that means everyone else is fair game. Wish I knew where to start guessing." Even as Aladdin bowed his head and closed his eyes, Abu patted him on the shoulder. That made Aladdin feel a little more at ease, as he looked up at his friend with a smile.

"Thanks pal. Really glad you're safe now. But we gotta figure out a way to get Carpet back and prevent the thief from hurting anyone else. Let's keep going."

Just before they reached the archive, they heard a terrified yell.

"Someone help!"

Abu's fur stood up like a static shock had hit him. He had a terrified look even as Aladdin's expression was determined. "Come on. They're not too far away from us." Neither of them recognized the source of the call since it was so immediate and brief.

It didn't take long for Aladdin to realize he wasn't the only one searching for the origin of the voice. Because of how dark it was in the overcast of shrubs paired against the low light of the moon, Aladdin nearly collided into Arzin. Abu was so stunned that he leapt down the back of Aladdin's shirt, before he realized who it was and frowned.

"Whoa! Arzin?" Aladdin's eyes widened as he stepped back. "Do you know who that was just now?"

Arzin had been running but appeared willing to catch his breath momentarily as he recovered, stepping back from Aladdin with a hard set to his jaw. "Remi. He was running from the magic thief."

Abu's jaw dropped. "What?"

Arzin didn't appear to be in the mood for conversation, focusing his attention solely on Aladdin. "You can take the monkey to the archive and try to figure where your big blue friend went, but I'm going after them."

Aladdin only managed to grasp Arzin's words before he took off running. "Wait, where IS Genie? Hey!" When it was clear he wouldn't answer, Aladdin turned to Abu. "As much as I want to do what he's suggesting, I'd rather follow him, Abu. Just because Arzin's not a pawn in the game anymore doesn't mean the thief won't hurt him."

"Okay!" Abu agreed.

"Thanks pal. Let's go." Abu leapt from Aladdin's shoulder, running ahead of Aladdin to show him the way through the darkness and to a path where they both could see. Aladdin tried to search for where Arzin had run to, but it appeared he was well ahead of them.

Remi's yell chilled Aladdin's core. "Stay away from me! Leave me alone!" The prince tried to find the direction of Remi's voice, but it was hard to focus. He finally saw something move out of the corner of his eye. A shadow surrounded by dark smoke, leaving behind tendrils that hovered in the air and faded quickly. A mix of tattered cloaks. Heavy boots. No distinguishable form to speak of to identify him.

Definitely the thief. But the thief's attention wasn't on Aladdin, instead focused on chasing something a distance ahead of them in the moonlight. Aladdin wasn't able to make out Remi's form distinctly, but he saw something fall to the ground. The thief crushed it under his feet.

Remi's glasses.

"Abu, this way!" Aladdin called, just before he took after the thief. The distance between Aladdin and the thief was about the same as the thief and Remi. It wouldn't be long before they reached the cliffs just before the open stretch of desert beyond the outskirts of town. Soon Remi would have nowhere else to run, if he kept at this same place.

Aladdin realized - with horror - that the thief was planning the same attack as the thief had done with Aladdin once before. It filled him with a sick sense of deja vu. He's going to push Remi off the cliff! I can't let that happen.

Abu managed to run ahead of Aladdin then, using his speed to leap on the side of a tree, then leap right into the face of the masked thief. He used his claws to swipe at the thief's mask and cloak, making the magic thief howl with pain.

Remi realized then that he wasn't being chased anymore, stopping just before he reached the edge of the cliff. Aladdin was able to catch up to him. "Remi, you okay?"

Remi's eyes widened, and he blinked twice at the sound of Aladdin's voice. "Is that you Prince Aladdin? Sorry, can't see well in the darkness and my glasses fell off."

"Yeah, it's me. I saw you being chased. Arzin did too. Not sure where he went." Before Aladdin could take a few steps to Remi, he heard the growl of the magic thief and Abu's frantic screeching, which made the prince turn his attention to directly behind him. He saw the thief holding Abu's collar by one hand. He couldn't see the thief in the shadows of the shrubs and trees, but he could definitely tell from part of the mask that Abu had ripped off with his claws that the thief wasn't human. It made a shiver run down his spine at the contrast between the thief's narrow eyes and the small glint of moonlight that shined over them.

"I've had enough of you, you stupid monkey! You were never good at following directions," the thief growled. Aladdin wasn't sure what the thief meant by that, but he realized it was a big clue. Before Aladdin could stop him, the thief flung Abu with moderate strength to the side, like tossing a ragdoll. Abu hit the ground hard with a pained screech.

"Abu! NO!" Aladdin shouted, turning his attention to the thief. "You monster..."

The thief laughed. "I've just about had enough with you too, street rat. Do not interfere. You won't stop me from continuing the game. And I'm starting with the lad beyond you." Aladdin realized quickly what the thief was about to do as he raised his gloved hand, but the prince was faster to react this time. He threw every bit of speed and strength he could to tackle the thief to the ground. It didn't stop the lightning blast from going off, but Aladdin knew from the angle it wouldn't hit Remi.

Unfortunately, he didn't expect the force of the magic blast would land near Remi's feet, causing the ground around where the archivist stood to crumble.

"Aladdin!" Remi screamed. Remi wasn't able to jump to safety as he teetered on the unsteady earth, close to the cliff's edge. The earth beneath his feet raised up and out, threatening to give way. It knocked Remi off balance, nearly causing him to fall, but he managed to stay standing, even as the ground gave way around him.

"Remi, hang on!" Aladdin shouted, managing to get to his feet. He saw the moment that Remi fell over the cliff, but he managed to slide close to the edge and grab Remi with one of his hands gripping the archivist's. To Aladdin's chagrin, he'd reached for Remi's hand with his "bad" arm. He had a firm grip on Remi, but he had no way of pulling the archivist to safety with how close to the edge he was, not on his own. While Ezele's medicine's had helped Aladdin feel little pain before, the strain in his arm made the pain feel fresh and sharp.

"You can't hold me like this, your highness," Remi said weakly. "Please...just..."

"Don't even say it," Aladdin said through gritted teeth. "I am not letting you go."

At what couldn't have been a better time, Aladdin heard a familiar voice near his side. "I can get his other hand. We'll pull him to safety."

"Arzin?!" Remi said with surprise.

Arzin didn't say much, angling himself not too far from Aladdin to grab Remi's other arm. It took a few tries for Remi to reach Arzin's hand, but he was able to get a firm, steady grip. That helped some of the pressure Aladdin felt. Aladdin nodded in Arzin's direction.

"On two," Aladdin prompted. "One...two!" They pulled Remi up at the same time, just before another section of the cliff broke off. All three of them scrambled backward to safety. The area where Aladdin had been collapsed as well. Aladdin knew if he'd been there too much longer, he would have fallen to his death right along with Remi. Carpet wouldn't have been able to catch him, not this time. He was very aware of how lucky he'd been before.

The three of them struggled to breathe and take in the moment. Remi lay on the ground, closing his eyes while uttering a relieved sigh. Aladdin sat on the ground next to where Remi lay on his left side, with Arzin sitting on the archivist's right.

"That was way too close," Remi said, breaking the silence between them. "Thank you both."

"Don't mention it," Aladdin said, turning his attention from Remi to Arzin. "Thanks for your help, Arzin."

"Don't need either of your thanks, but I'll accept it." That was as much as Aladdin expected for a response, but he wasn't offended. Arzin angled his head over to where the thief had been. "Looks like the thief got away. Saw him disappear just as you went for Remi."

"He what?" Aladdin followed the direction of where Arzin pointed. "Oh no, Abu." Aladdin rose to his feet quickly, running towards the area where the thief and Abu had been. Abu was still there. The monkey lay on his back, groaning and complaining with a series of "ow"s in tow. It made the prince relieved that his friend was okay, for the moment.

Aladdin started to reach for the monkey to scoop him up. Abu's eyes widened then, the monkey started frantically screeching and pointing behind the prince. It was only then Aladdin realized something was behind him, ready to attack. Before Aladdin registered the thief, he was startled by another, very familiar yell that erupted from the trees The figure collided into the magic thief with a force that sent them both spiraling to the ground.

"YAY! That was an EPIC tackle!" Genie said with a big grin on his face as he jumped to his feet, doing a small victory dance.

"Glad to see you, Genie," Aladdin said, breathing a sigh of relief, which quickly changed to disbelief as he realized the situation. "Wait, where were you until just now?!"

Genie put an arm around Aladdin's shoulders as he pointed an accusatory finger at the magic thief laying on the ground, groaning. "THIS guy here tricked me. I tell you Al, never let him out of your sight if you can help it. He's a sneaky little whippersnapper with his fancy magic tricks." Genie transformed himself into a little old lady who stretched, with a few bones audibly cracking into place that made both Aladdin and Abu cringe. "These bones aren't what they used to be, neither is my searching capacity." He quickly changed back to his normal form. "Do you want the short or long version of this story?"

"Short version," Aladdin said quickly, though he secretly wondered how long the opposite version of that story would go for.

Genie cracked his knuckles as he began. "So, this thief thinks he's a wise guy and freaked out Remi by standing outside of the archive earlier. Remi didn't take it too well, but I told him I'd go outside and search for the thief. I told Remi to stay inside with Arzin, who just so happened to be there at the time. That didn't go so well because the thief had me thinking he was going in the opposite direction, towards town. I didn't want him to hurt you, Jasmine, Iago or Abu, so I followed him out that way. Turns out I was only following one of his shadows. And then I heard Remi scream and realized I'd been tricked without the treat. Get all that?"

"Yeah, I think so." Aladdin said with a heavy sigh. "But still...Genie! He's gone again!" Aladdin realized that the thief had disappeared just after Genie's story, lingering tendrils of dark mist hanging in the hair to indicate where he'd been. They looked around several more moments, but it was clear that the thief wasn't coming back in the moment.

Genie groaned. "See what I mean? There you go, proved my point. He's more slippery than a banana." He helped Abu to Aladdin's shoulder. "Sorry, monkey boy, I mean the bad kind, not the good kind."

"I know, I know," Abu said, licking his paws and smoothing parts of his fur that were sticking on end and messy.

Genie smiled a little, but his expression shifted as gave the prince his full attention. "You okay, Al?"

Aladdin brushed off the sleeves of his tunic. He winced from the pain in his arm. "I will be. More worried about Remi and Arzin, though. All of us had a rough time before you arrived."

"Don't doubt it. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that thief's trying to avoid me whenever possible. Maybe I should stick with you kids a while. Make sure he doesn't try anything else."

"Makes sense. Genie, I..." Aladdin found he wanted to say so much in the moment, but he didn't know where to start. The apology was on his tongue, but the weight of it felt heavy without context. He knew he had to say it, but there was no "short version" to the game he was playing.

Genie's concern turned to worry. "What's wrong, kiddo?"

Aladdin realized it wasn't the time to get into it, as he saw Arzin and Remi approaching them. "Let's get back to the archive. We'll catch up there."