Chapter 18: Reunion of the Sweet and Bitter

Abu was the first to fall through the portal - startling everyone who stood in Remi's archive at the time. Iago had been in the middle of decorating the archive with streamers and balloons made by Genie's magic. Genie and Carpet hadn't been back for very long in Gloloria. In a surprise to both Remi and Iago, the two appeared out of a blue shimmering light that transported them in the archive. When Iago said that they were preparing for a hero's welcome, Genie gave Iago and Remi enough party favors and decorations to fit a Palace room.

Genie only had enough time to ask where Aladdin and the others were before Abu showed up.

Iago grinned as he flew to perch on Genie's shoulder. "See, what'd I tell ya? Nothin' to worry about. If you guys got free, and the monkey's already here, we can start the party!"

Genie frowned. "Not quite - we're still missing a Prince and Princess of Agrabah. Don't think there can be any celebrating without them."

Abu suddenly started to screech frantically while pointing at the portal opening above their heads. Genie's eyes went wide with panic as a giant boulder came hurdling down into the room, but he used his magic to turn the dangerous falling object into several falling daisies, which scattered across the room like confetti. One landed on Iago's nose, making him sneeze three times in a row.

"Whew!" Abu said, wiping his brow with a paw.

"No kidding, monkey boy. Close call if I ever saw it. Wonder who sent that thing flying in here? They were definitely violating safety hazards."

Abu had been about to answer him, but the portal began to flicker, as if to close. Iago quickly left Genie's shoulder when he saw what the semi-phenomenal being was about to do. Genie stretched his body upwards to meet the portal's opening, his feet remaining on the archive's floor, while the rest of his upper body was rubbery and stretchy, including his arms and hands. He used his hands to hold the portal open, though it took him some effort to work against the forces compelling it to close.

"Something tells me that I'll need to hold this thing open a little longer," Genie said with a grunt. "Strong spell too. This is actually well crafted for a basic spell from a non semi-phenomenal being. I should know."

"It's definitely one of Ezele's potion spells. I've seen it working before," Remi said. "He got the method to make it from one of Saztou's magic books." At the mention, the archivist's eyes widened. "Wait, Ezele mentioned he gave Aladdin some vials to use before he went to the lighthouse. That means..."

"They're on the other end!" Iago finished. "Can you guys give me any credit for being right?"

"Uh huh!" Abu gave a thumbs up gesture with his paw to Iago.

Iago frowned, narrowing his eyes. "Anyone besides the monkey?"

A familiar voice screamed from above them. "Jasmine!"

"That's Al." Genie looked down at Carpet from a distance. "On your left, Rug-Man. Something tells me he's gonna need someone to catch him when he gets out of this thing and I'm a little too busy keeping this thing open."

Carpet gave a short salute, positioning himself under the wide part of the portal Genie wasn't holding. It wasn't long before Aladdin came falling through the portal, landing with a soft thud against Carpet's surface. It took a moment for the prince to register what happened, but his voice didn't hide his relief when he recognized his friends.

"Carpet, Genie, you guys are okay!"

Genie grinned a little, but he was clearly struggling against the open portal, so it came across as a grimace. "Yeah, I figured once Rug Man and I got back here that you guys were able to stop the thief or figure out who he was."

Genie was surprised when Aladdin's expression turned into one of panic. "No, we're not quite done with the thief yet. Is there any way that you can keep that portal open? Maybe even open it from the other side again?"

Genie poked his head through the shimmering portal a moment, before returning and looking down at Aladdin. "Did the top part close while you fell?"

"Yeah, Jasmine's stuck with Aziz on the other side."

"Uh, forgive me for questioning your royal royalness," Iago said. "You sure you didn't get your head dunked underwater too long to make that stretch? Pretty sure Aziz was banished to the skies a while back. He's toast. We're talkin' about the thief."

Aladdin frowned at the bird, knowing that Iago was referring to his soaked hair and clothes. But his attention quickly turned to Remi when the archivist looked pale. A mere touch at that moment would've likely sent Remi falling to the ground.

"Aziz..." Remi began, choking on the words. "That's him. That's the monster who attacked me! I remember everything now. He said his name was Aziz."

Iago's beak dropped open. "Wait, what?!"

Genie looked equally shocked and horrified. Aladdin could see Carpet trembling beneath him.

Abu looked between all of them, confirming Aladdin's earlier words. "Aziz. Thief."

Genie rolled his eyes, sighing heavily. "Oh boy. Should have figured that 'cause he went on about 'destiny' so much."

"You didn't know?" Aladdin asked.

"Not until you mentioned it, kiddo. Felt like a fog in my head that just cleared out. Carpet and I had our own problems being trapped in the thief's lair. But that's a story for another time if you gotta get to Jas." Genie winced, grunted as his hands struggled against the force of the portal's rim.

"Genie!" Aladdin's expression turned to concern.

"Don't worry. Despite what it looks like, I'm good. But as you can see, I can't exactly hold this open and take the time to find the way you came through. I'd end up zapping portals and ending up in a different place than you were, probably. This simple spell wasn't meant for much. Things going in and out one way quickly, without disrupting the cosmos. If I keep fighting it, let's just say I can't guarantee what will happen. I don't want to be in a position where I can't keep you kids safe."

"What can I do?" Aladdin asked.

"Take Rug-Man into the portal and find the way you came in. You should be able to tell as soon as you approach it. Carpet's gonna have to be the only one who can open it though. Magic beings only can do that. Once it opens, you'll have a limited amount of time to get the Princess and get back here."

"Right. Got it." Aladdin ran his hand along Carpet's surface. To the magic rug, Aladdin's voice sounded tired, but determined. "Guess we'll have to go even faster than we're used to. Ready, Carpet?"

Carpet didn't need to be told twice. At the motion, he lurched upward, with Aladdin having to firm his grip on his rim.

Abu screeched for them to stop just as Aladdin and Carpet disappeared through the portal. Genie, on the other hand, noticed the monkey's urgency. "Why'd you try to stop them?"

Then Genie felt the remnants of it in the air around him. It almost made him lose his grip on one part of the portal. Dark magic. Aladdin had something in his possession that was really dangerous. Genie wasn't sure what it was, but Abu seemed to know.

"Key, key!"

Remi's brow lifted. "Aladdin had a key? To what?"

Genie frowned. "Whatever it was, hope Al holds onto it until we can figure out what it is. But it's definitely nothing good."

"You know, Princess," Aziz sneered as he finished using his magic to put out the flames of his now completely blackened tunic. "You and Aladdin have much more in common than I thought. That makes the both of you having tried to leave me to a firey demise. But both of you failed."

Jasmine took two steps backward, her eyes scanning the underground passage for something to defend herself with or lunge behind quickly in case Aziz attacked her. Unfortunately, she couldn't see very well. The moon outside was the only source of light in immediate view. Well, that apart from the way that Aziz's eyes glowed yellow as he approached her.

Where was his magic power coming from? He was so much stronger than Jasmine remembered. Aladdin had mentioned it before, but it didn't seem as obvious to her as in that moment.

"I thought that I would make you a widow by destroying Aladdin once and for all," Aziz said. "But I think it will be far more interesting to have Aladdin return to Agrabah and explain to the Sultan why his daughter was found dead on the shores of Gloloria. I wonder if your father will have your husband executed for failing to protect you."

Jasmine took another few steps back. I don't have any choice but to run, she thought. But I could really use a distraction right now to throw him off.

Even as Aziz took a long breath to aim his magic attack at her, the man-turned-monster abruptly started coughing the moment they heard the familiar voice a short distance away. At the same time, a shimmering blue light came from not far behind Jasmine.

"Leave her alone, Aziz!"

Jasmine looked over her shoulder to see Aladdin on Carpet. "Aladdin! How did you...?"

Aladdin shook his head. "There's no time, princess. Run to the portal! Hurry!"

Jasmine didn't waste a beat as she ran towards them. But Aziz seemed to ready another magic attack. Aladdin's eyes widened as he realized what Aziz was going to do. A plan formed in his mind, but he'd have to be really quick about it. The sack with the key still remained at his side this whole time.

If Aziz really wanted it, Aladdin figured he'd let him have it.

"Carpet, move me over Aziz as quick as you can, then rush back to the portal."

Carpet seemed unsure, until Aladdin ran his hand over Carpet's rim. "You can do it. Let's move."

Carpet rushed forward, taking Aziz again by surprise. Aziz's focus moved away from Jasmine to try to attack Aladdin, but missed with both magic attacks.

"Hold still so that I can destroy you!" Aziz said.

"You sure you want to destroy this?" Aladdin said, pulling out the key and holding it up so that it reflected a glint of the moonlight outside the underground passage.

Aziz's eyes widened. "Give it here, street rat!"

Aladdin snorted. "Fine, here you go!" Without another word, Aladdin threw the key back in the sack. But instead of dropping it to where Aziz could catch the sack, Aladdin turned it over so that the sack would fall right over Aziz's face, making him unable to either see or use his breath magic. It wasn't clear whether the key was still in the sack or had dropped soundlessly to the sands, but Aladdin figured he'd let Aziz figure it out.

"No! You tricked me! Get this off!"

Aladdin flew back on Carpet to Jasmine, who waited for him by the portal, which flickered in warning. Jasmine looked at him with concern, holding his arm gently as they boarded Carpet over the portal.

"Aladdin, that thing you held up...wasn't it important? Was it okay just to give it to him?"

Aladdin shook his head. "Doesn't matter. You're more important. Come on, we don't have much time."

Just before Aladdin, Jasmine, and Carpet flew into the disappearing portal, Aziz shouted words that made Jasmine's nerves stand on end, echoing a bitter promise. "You don't have far to run, I'll find you eventually. And when I do, I'll kill you, Aladdin. I'LL KILL YOU."

"Yep, that was definitely Aziz," Genie remarked as Aladdin, Jasmine, and Carpet flew through the portal. Genie let the portal go quickly as soon as he knew they were safely in the archive. Carpet floated to the floor, allowing Aladdin and Jasmine to step off.

"Can he follow us here?" Jasmine asked.

Genie shook his head. "Nah, it closed on his end before he could get through."

Aladdin's eyes turned to the ceiling, as if he were watching the portal that was once there. "But he knows in general where we are. Not a great sign. Plus, he has the thing he wants, and I know it's bad."

Genie stiffened. "I'm guessing whatever he had you get out of the lighthouse before it fell apart, you gave back to him to get Jasmine out?"

Aladdin's brow raised. "Yeah. How did you know?"

Genie shrugged. "Monkey boy over here gave me the short version while you guys were gone. You didn't hear him as you were going out, but he was trying to stop you. Something about a key."

Jasmine looked alarmed, turning to Aladdin. "I knew it. Aladdin, you shouldn't have done..."

Aladdin shook his head, his tone firm. "No. What's done is done. I'd do it again if I had the chance. Wouldn't you say the same about pushing me into the portal before?"

Jasmine opened her mouth to speak but found no words. Aladdin realized his message came out the wrong way almost immediately, having sharpness where there wasn't any. He held up his hands.

"I-I meant to say that I know you did that to protect me. And thank you for it."

Jasmine sighed, but Aladdin relaxed as she smiled. She embraced him, threading her fingers through his wet hair as they kissed. He returned her embrace gratefully.

"Oh give me a break," Iago said, rolling his eyes. Abu, Genie, and Carpet only looked on with admiration.

Remi looked dreamily at the couple. "Man, I wish I had a special relationship like that." Iago briefly gave the archivist a side-eye glance, but Remi only grinned back.

As Aladdin and Jasmine pulled apart, Aladdin visibly grimaced, his hand holding his side. One of his wounds had opened up, partially staining a section of his wet tunic with blood. Jasmine's relief turned to worry.

It was only then that they realized the extent of Aladdin's injuries. Remi looked alarmed, and Abu - and even Iago - couldn't hide their own worries. Genie was the first to voice what all of them thought aloud. "KId, Aziz did that to you?"

Aladdin groaned, not from the pain of his wounds but realizing he had a lot to catch them up on. So much had happened that day; it'd been far too long and his legs were ready to give out under him. His hands held the sides of his arms. "Yeah, it's a long story."

Jasmine turned to Remi. "Do you have any bandages and medicine we could use?"

Remi stood to attention. "Sure, and there are beds that you all can rest in for the night. Wouldn't want you to go all the way back to Tani's inn since it's so late. Please, come this way."

They all followed Remi to the living quarters of the archive, grateful that at least the immediate danger was over. And that they were all reunited again.

Aziz couldn't believe his rotten luck. He'd had the opportunity to both destroy Aladdin and Jasmine and somehow missed doing both. But something else enraged him even more. Aladdin had presented the key in the underground passage for his sight, thrown it in the sack that he shortly dropped over Aziz's head.

But the key was nowhere to be found. He couldn't feel the tendrils of its dark magic, which would lead him to the source he needed. Aziz scoured the underground passage, but there was no key. Frustrated and having exhausted his allotment of power, he returned to the makeshift lair he'd created to rethink his strategy.

That had been his plan the whole time, but he wanted to draw out his revenge on Aladdin as much as possible. The brat had been more resourceful than he'd expected, despite some close calls. And Aladdin had figured him out over such a stupid, stupid mistake.

"What to do now? Testing Aladdin in his nightmares would be too predictable a move at this point. Ensnaring him in another thief's game impossible now. Hmm." Aziz felt no need to disguise himself anymore. Aladdin had called his bluff in the moment. But even if he couldn't manipulate Aladdin to do his whims, he could always get someone else to do the dirty work. Someone close to the prince.

The details of the plan unfolded steadily in his mind. He grinned at the thought. If Aladdin were foolish enough to stand in the way of that plan, then it wouldn't be by his hand that the prince would die, but someone far more...intimate.

"Tomorrow, then," Aziz said with a nod. "Enjoy your rest while you can, you and your friends alike, street rat. It'll be the last peaceful sleep you have."

"Think that's the last one," Jasmine said as she placed the last bandage on Aladdin's skin. They sat in their own sleeping quarters for the evening, sectioned off from the regular archive. The last time that any of them had been there, Aladdin had been recovering from the battle with the Deathseeker.

Remi had already fallen asleep in his own room, adjacent to theirs. Iago and Abu were curled up sleeping on one of the beds in the same row. Carpet was sleeping on the floor. Genie had stepped out, checking on people in the town to see if things were okay there. For the first time in a while, they'd had a break, and Aladdin was glad for it.

"How are you feeling now?" Jasmine asked.

"Better than before," Aladdin answered honestly. "Still, you didn't have to do all that for me, Jasmine."

"Hey, I wanted to. I can already tell you're better off with Ezele's medicine working and some new clothes to show for it."

Aladdin grinned. "It took a few tries for me to convince Genie I didn't need fancy clothes to sleep in. You'd think he was trying to get me to impress the dignitaries in another kingdom."

But even as he said the words, his mind drifted in another direction, his smile fading quickly.

"Still thinking about Aziz's threat?" Jasmine guessed. Aladdin had to give her credit. It wasn't like he had anything to hide anymore, and the encounter from earlier weighed heavy in his mind.

"I'm wondering what he needed that key for. He can threaten me as much as he wants, I don't care about that 'cause I know he's just trying to get under my skin." He met her gaze, swallowing against the lump in his throat. "But I have a feeling the key he had opens something really bad, Jasmine. Not just something to hurt me, but all of us - everyone in Gloloria. Saztou wouldn't have kept it in a hidden room in the lighthouse if he wanted someone to find it."

"If the key belonged to Saztou, maybe we can find out something in the morning about it from Remi in the archive. There has to be some notes about it if it's important. You remember what it looks like?"

Aladdin nodded. "Yeah, definitely, it's a little hard to forget. And you're right - that might be a good place to start even if we don't have it with us. Genie could probably try to find something about it too. If we can figure out what the key goes to before Aziz acts on it, we might be able to find out what he's planning."

At that moment, Carpet appeared to stir, having heard part of the conversation that the prince and princess were in. Carpet slowly floated over to where the two sat. He seemed a little sheepish.

Jasmine grimaced. "Sorry, Carpet, we didn't mean to wake you."

"I still don't understand how he's able to sleep," Aladdin admitted, the corner of his lip turning up. But as Carpet motioned one of his knobs to Aladdin, he realized Carpet was trying to get his attention. "What's wrong?"

Aladdin noticed Carpet was hiding something behind him with his other knob. He quickly dropped the object into Aladdin's hand before flying back to his corner of the room, as if he were a big kid who would be scolded for returning something he took without permission. As Aladdin opened his palm to see what it was, he gasped.

"Is that the key?" Jasmine asked - staring in wonder. "It's beautifully made."

"Beautiful in a creepy way, more or less." Aladdin turned his attention to Carpet. "How did you get it from Aziz?"

Carpet made a series of motions in mid air, which Jasmine quickly picked up on. "He says when you dropped the sack onto Aziz's head, it came tumbling out and he caught it with one of his back knobs on the way down as you guys flew past. It never had a chance to hit the ground."

"Look at you picking up on Abu's and my old thief habits," Aladdin teased. "Smooth and slick."

Carpet bowed at his middle as if receiving imaginary applause, which made both the prince and princess laugh.

"Still, makes me feel better now that Aziz doesn't have his claws on this." Aladdin weighed the key in his palm. It still sent a chill up his spine holding it, the magic wrapped around him like a ice cold blanket instead of a warm one, before it gradually faded.

"Hopefully he doesn't find out we have it anytime soon," Jasmine said. "We'll keep it safe."

Aladdin clutched the key in his hand. "If keeping it safe means keeping it as far away from whatever he's planning, that works for me. Tomorrow, we're unlocking the secrets to it."