Chapter 24: Summoned

"Genie! Aladdin fell off Carpet!" Miza's voice might as well have been an alarm to everyone around her, including the semi-phenomenal being that was a distance ahead of them. None of them had realized that Carpet lagged a good distance behind them until it was too late. Several of the villagers, riding in groups on their make-shift magic carpets, pointed as they saw Aladdin fall and heard Jasmine scream.

"Whoa, everybody stop!" Genie's voice made all the magic second-rate flying carpets stop in place. "Got a prince to rescue, BRB."

None of them knew what "BRB" stood for, but Genie figured they'd get it as he rushed to catch Aladdin. While he wasn't able to catch the prince before he scraped through several branches of trees near the edge of the cliffs, he was able to catch Aladdin before he hit a large rock bed. Genie didn't want to think about what the result of that would have been. It was bad enough that Aladdin looked like he was struggling with something that Genie couldn't place as he held the prince in his arms.

He found a safe place on the ground, holding Aladdin upright with his arms as they sat on a nearby sand dune. "Kid?"

Aladdin slowly opened his eyes, but he was struggling to breathe. "Genie, I...we..."

"Slow it down. You've gotta focus. Breathe. Focus on me."

Aladdin struggled to speak through his teeth. His body trembled like he couldn't get warm enough. "Trying. Something's..."

Genie could tell that Aladdin was fighting against something. He couldn't sense any immediate danger around them, but that didn't mean Aladdin wasn't affected by anything nearby. (Semi-phenomenal limitations and all that jazz.) He wished he knew how to help. Aladdin seemed desperate to speak, urgent even, but he kept struggling between staying awake and the pain that shot through him. His body shivered, like he was cold and couldn't get warm even if he tried.

"Aladdin, stay with me," Genie said, his voice more urgent. "What are you trying to say?"

The prince looked up at Genie as he managed to whisper a few words that struck the semi-phenomenal being cold. "We d-didn't stop it. N-Not at all."

Genie's eyes went wide. "You mean...?" Genie trailed off as Aladdin lost the battle to stay awake, his breath staggered before he passed out in Genie's arms.

"How is it they were both struck with the Deathseeker's illness?" Arzin's words cut through the room as a group of them stood in Ezele's medic station. Ezele was busy preparing a few vials of medicine as quick as he could. Remi leaned against a wall, looking at the ground because he couldn't meet anyone's gaze. He was too afraid of betraying his own sadness from the turn of events. One moment the town had been ready to celebrate the return of the missing villagers and the heroes returning. The next moment, two of those heroes had appeared on the verge of Death's door.

Arzin hadn't been addressing anyone in particular, but Genie's face betrayed a guilt that surprised both Jasmine and Iago even as they stood outside of the treatment rooms where Abu and Aladdin were resting. He didn't appear eager to voice his thoughts on the matter though. To Remi, it looked like Genie was afraid of saying something he wasn't 100% sure on. Maybe even afraid of making the tension in the room worse.

"We don't know for certain," Ezele said, not looking up from his work. "But I'll have to admit the symptoms are very similar. I'm preparing medicine just in case. It will take a bit more time. Please forgive me."

"Take what time you need, Ezele," Jasmine said. "Is there anything we can do to help you?"

Ezele shook his head. "No, I have all the materials we need. If you'd like, you're welcome to stay in the guest rooms here instead of at the inn. I'm sure my mother will understand. But I have to ask that you keep your distance from Aladdin and Abu, as we don't know what malady has struck either of them."

Iago was perched on Jasmine's shoulder, looking like he wanted to vomit. "Are we gonna get sick too?"

Carpet had been laying on the floor near Jasmine's feet, but he perked up in a panic.

"It isn't likely." Ezele's words made Carpet do a swiping motion with his knobs, as if he were wiping away sweat. "If we're discussing the Deathseeker's illness specifically, this isn't the normal pattern. Usually that was inflicted upon those the Deathseeker injured in some way. Bites from its limbs, scratches from its talons and spikes. Aladdin and Abu had no visible injuries other than bruises. Aladdin's wounds were a little more serious considering where he fell from Carpet. Fortunate it wasn't worse since Genie got to him in time."

"Best to keep an eye out anyway," Arzin followed, one of his hands unwittingly hovering over his stomach before he let it return to his side. Jasmine remembered that Arzin had nearly died from being attacked by the Deathseeker many years before, which allowed him to fall under its influence in more ways than one. It had left him with a terrible scar, one he'd shown Aladdin at one point. In some cruel turns, Arzin had even mocked the fact that Aladdin had no visible scars or injuries to show off from his dangerous encounters or pursuits near death. It had been a strange thing to gloat about at the time, but Jasmine also realized that - even under the influence of the Deathseeker - Arzin had been acknowledging the pain he'd gone through. She felt bad for him, even in that moment.

Ezele thought for a moment in silence before looking over his shoulder at Genie from his work table. "Genie, when you faced off against Aziz, you were all in the cave at the same time. You said you destroyed the cursed treasure box as planned, but what happened after? Aladdin had said he'd explain, but...you know."

Genie perked up. He seemed eager to tell the story of how they defeated Aziz, even making sure to note that Aziz had definitely not been destroyed, but sent back to the star he came from. "And as for the treasure box, well, it kinda imploded...no, exploded in a ball of fire. Had to shield the monkey and Al from much of that blast." Carpet looked up at Genie then, giving what appeared to be another side eye glance. Genie winced. "You're still mad at me about that, huh Rug Man?"

"Aladdin and Abu looked like they came out of that fine, though," Jasmine said, frowning. "Nothing happened with them until we were almost back to town. If it was magic related, or even burns from the fire itself, wouldn't it have affected Genie and Carpet too?"

Arzin appeared to connect something in the story before any of them did. "Think more simply, your highness. Where there's fire, there's smoke."

A long silence passed through the room as they all realized what happened. But none of them looked as horrified as Genie, who went several shades paler in less than a minute.

Iago was a little more blunt to state the obvious. "So, Blue Boy here and Carpet didn't get sick because they didn't breathe in any of the draft of magic smoke. Wonder Kid and the monkey though...yikes. That explains why none of us got sick. Guess that means we're in the clear."

"It's my fault." Genie stared ahead of him, not looking at anything or anyone in particular. It took him a long moment to speak again. "Al had the pitch perfect plan and that one thing...that one other thing that I could have protected them from. I didn't even think of that." Genie looked so removed from the whole room that even Remi could feel his disbelief and guilt second-hand.

"Genie, no," Jasmine looked towards him with concern. "You couldn't have known."

Iago looked like he'd rather be anywhere else as he cringed, but he went on with the thought that was burning - figuratively - in his own mind. "I hate to be the one to 'well, actually' this, but it kinda is on him considering he was supposed to take them out of that fireball situation a lot sooner."

Ezele turned around then, stopping his work to look among the group. "I don't think its wise to point fingers at anyone for blame. The kind of dark magic that came from that treasure box had a profound amount of power. Even a small amount of exposure to that smoke would have an effect on any being, magic or not. Genie likely was compromised by it based on how the proximity of being near those objects affected him. It wasn't that he didn't think of it, but likely the magic made it hard for him to consider the possibility. He was likely hurting and clouded for judgment. He acted in the moment for what was necessary."

"Not an excuse. I blew it. Because of that, they actually might..." Genie shook his head, not able to finish the thought. Both Jasmine and Remi noticed that Genie's emotions seemed to flip from one extreme to the next. First it seemed like he was completely numb with grief. But the anger that overtook him - the way his brow furrowed and mouth drew into a hard line - there wasn't any mistaking it. The color in his form turned from pale to a deeper blue than he was on a normal basis. His tone was bitter. "Let me go make myself useful. I can't help Al or Abu standing around here. If Al was right...then I can't leave any stone unturned. And I won't stop until I find out."

That confused everyone in the room, especially Jasmine. "Wait, Genie, what do you mean? Did Aladdin tell you something before...Genie!" Jasmine realized that he hadn't heard her when he suddenly vanished from the room, leaving them all standing in silence. When it was finally broken, Remi mustered what little courage he had to ask the question in his mind.

"I don't suppose Genie told anyone what Aladdin said before he passed out?"

Ezele shook his head. "Think he was more concerned about getting Aladdin and Abu back to town."

Jasmine nervously ran her fingers through the end of her hair. "I don't want Genie doing something careless or blaming himself for what happened. I'm going to go search for him."

"Princess, wait a minute," Remi said, stopping her just before she could leave. "Think I know where Genie went. I'm going back there myself."

Jasmine looked at him, frowning before she realized what he meant. "The archive!"

"Yes, best place in town to get information," the archivist grinned sheepishly as he pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. "He's probably trying to learn what he can. Please take the time to rest, you and your comrades both; you've been through enough. I can talk to him. It's the least I can do."

Arzin snorted, folding his arms across his chest as he appeared to relax where he stood against the wall. "Remi's our resident night owl. He'd stay awake from now until midday tomorrow if it means finding a piece of information he's searching for."

Jasmine shook her head. "I don't want to inconvenience you."

"It's not a problem, promise," Remi said. "Besides, I know you want to stay as near Prince Aladdin and Abu as you can tonight. Tomorrow, we can all talk about next steps of what we need to do based on what we know.

"Remi has a very sound plan," Ezele agreed. "I'll keep working on treatments through tonight. And I'll certainly let you know if either of their conditions change."

"Welp, that's my cue to get some shut eye," Iago yawned loudly before retreating into one of the guest rooms beyond, leaving everyone to retreat to their tasks. Ezele looked over his shoulder once more at Remi, mouthing a thank you before turning back to his work.

Remi hoped that he wouldn't let any of them down.

"Nope, not that one." Remi arrived with Carpet at the archive not a moment too soon, as he heard Genie speaking to himself while flipping through combinations of books and scrolls. Admittedly, Remi was annoyed because he had a very distinct organization system he stuck to. Genie was making a mess. But Remi realized that was the least of his current worries.

"Genie, can we talk a moment?"

Genie appeared to be reading through three different books at once. "Nope, got too much reading to do before the night's over."

Remi frowned. "Is there something specific you're looking for? I can pull what records I know are here." Remi was surprised to see that Genie was holding three different books with three sets of hands turning the pages furiously. A lone extra hand reached behind where Remi stood to grab a mug of coffee. It made Remi jump because he wasn't expecting it.

"Nope, I'm good. It'll be faster if I just work like this. I'll be through the entire archive before you know it. So you can stay out of it."

At the abrupt dismissal, Remi felt his face flush from the nape of his neck to the top of his forehead. With a courage that he wasn't sure he had in him, Remi marched up to Genie to the point where he was standing just in front of the semi-phenomenal being. (Not that Genie noticed...yet.) HIs fists were at his sides, his chest puffed out. He knew he didn't want to yell at Genie, that wasn't the point. But he had more than enough to say.

"Genie, you are in the archive of MY home, reading materials that I know backwards and forwards from memory. If there's something specific you're looking for, and it's meant to help Aladdin and Abu, you need to tell me. Otherwise, you're...using materials that you don't have any permission to use!"

Genie stopped what he was doing, enough to lower the book from in front of his face. Remi saw the disbelief in his expression. "Are you trying to say that if I don't tell you what I'm looking for, you're going to ban me from using the archive?"

"Yes, exactly!" Remi folded his arms across his chest, glaring at the semi-phenomenal being with what he hoped was an intimidating look, a symbol of authority. All the more surprising when he saw Genie's shoulders fall, his head drooping down. Genie gave up the fight quicker than Remi was expecting.

"Fine. Not that I wanted to get the others in a panic before I knew for sure, but I guess I can tell you. Al was struggling to tell me something important and I think he was trying to say we didn't stop Aziz from summoning the Deathseeker. Whether it was the original demon sky god or another version entirely, I'm not sure."

Remi found it hard to speak in his shock. "W-wait, really?! How do you know that?"

"That's the problem; I don't. Was hoping I'd find something here in Saztou's notes about the possibility of the Deathseeker being revived if it were destroyed."

Remi felt bad for how defeated Genie looked in the moment. "Hate to break it to you, but I already can tell you that you won't find anything like that. Before, when we were looking for information about the key - I knew there was a possibility we would find something based on it being a magical object. But Saztou only mused about how the Deathseeker could be destroyed, not anything on it being summoned again."

"Figures. Still, if Al wasn't referring to that possibility, then I don't know what he could've meant otherwise. Feel like I'm useless."

Remi shook his head. "Not at all. I think Prince Aladdin would be grateful you're trying. Anything else that you wanna search for?"

"No, I don't think there's...wait a minute." Something sparked in Genie's expression. "I'm going about this wrong. May not be a direct reference, but maybe there's a vague one. See if you can pull everything that you can on mist spells and exceptions."

Remi's smile was wide and genuine. "Sure thing."

Pity. I'm inviting you to be a part of this. Why do you struggle against me? Why not give in?

He didn't like being told what to do, but that wasn't the only answer. He was trying everything he could to stop it from seeping further into his body, his mind, his heart, every part of him. It had him by the throat and only let him have enough air to answer the question. It was clear after a moment that he would not answer it, no matter how much it threatened him.

You are trying my patience, human.

You can't make me hurt anyone. I don't want to. I'd rather. I'd rather.

You would rather perish, is that correct? That can be arranged.

He felt another shock go through him. At this point, he'd been through so many waves of this that it wasn't anything new. Not to the point where he was numb to it. It hurt, but he knew if any part of him gave in, it would take hold.

Aladdin, I know your mind doesn't wish to do my bidding. Such is a futile effort. However, your being can be subject to my control. I invite you to return to my newfound lair. I shall summon you this time tomorrow night. Your body will return to me for the sole purpose of your demise, regardless of your will. Once I am able to consume your essence, you'll watch all in Gloloria fall, through my own vision. Say your farewells before that happens.

If you dare.

Aladdin sat upright with a start, taking a shuddering breath before he could finally relax. Like the nightmares he'd had before, it left him unsettled. The feeling that he wasn't the only one in his own body, the way it felt like his bones were breaking or the tips of daggers were stabbing in places along his skin. It didn't stop until the moment he woke.

I remember what I told Genie; I was so sure at the time. But I still don't know. Was it just a cruel dream? Aladdin's mind raced with many questions.

As the haze of the nightmare faded, he realized where he was. It wasn't Tani's inn, sure, but it made him feel better to know he was back in Gloloria. He looked to the side of his bed to see Abu in a nearby basket bed in his line of vision. The monkey still looked like he was in an unsettled sleep, probably not unlike his own. His feet appeared to be kicking something away in the midst of the nightmare he was in.

"Oh Abu. You too?" He started to reach out his hand towards the monkey, since the basket bed was on a table not too far from his own. When the door to his room suddenly creaked open, he drew back.

"You're awake." Ezele looked as surprised as Aladdin felt as he approached the prince. " I'll admit you came out of the spell sooner than I anticipated. Gave you a bit of the medicine I prepared earlier."

To Aladdin, this felt like deja-vu. One of the times he was attacked by the Deathseeker - thrown into the sea and left for dead - it was Ezele who treated him. That had been the first time they met. They were both trapped in an underwater otherworld until Genie was able to rescue them. "Thank you Ezele. Not sure what you gave me, but looks like it worked."

Ezele smiled, but Aladdin noticed that it didn't reach his eyes. The medic was troubled by something, but seemed to hold back in his words. "Everyone was worried. You both took ill so suddenly."

Aladdin exhaled slowly as he watched Ezele take a small amount of medicine on a spoon and feed it to Abu. "No kidding. Was anyone else sick like us?"

Ezele shook his head. "We've determined the means by which you both became ill, we're still not certain of the 'what'." When Ezele explained the effects of the magic smoke in the cave to him, Aladdin thought it made sense. He was worried about Abu. Why hadn't the monkey come out of it yet? Were the details of his nightmare were true? What did it mean when it had told him that he would be 'summoned'? Aladdin remembered how the Deathseeker had the power to control those who were under its influence as Vessels - beings that could do its bidding. But he hadn't fallen to its influence back then; he was sure he wouldn't be subject to its manipulations even if it had returned.

They had stopped it, right?

Aladdin wasn't sure anymore, not at all. His hands balled into fists over the sheets of his bed. "Where's Genie now? I really need to talk to him."

"He's at the archive with Remi. Said something about...wait, your highness!" Aladdin had gotten out of the bed, quickly making his way to the door of the room. "You're not in any condition to be going out like that."

"Sorry, but I have to. I'll be back as soon as I can. Please look after Abu for me." Aladdin only barely got the words out before he turned and left the clinic as quickly as he could. He ran through town without looking back, intending to go all the way out towards the archive. He realized, though, that he'd left the lamp at Tani's inn. It would make more sense to have Genie come to him, rather than the other way around.

It was the middle of the night, he realized, closer to morning, but still dark. The moon shone broadly over the water, a starlit, calm night in the aftermath of much chaos. It made sense that most of the town was at home, sleeping. All of the rescued townspeople were likely exhausted from being captured by Aziz. If it had been like any of their other adventures, this would have been a night they would have celebrated a victory over an old enemy. Celebrated helping the town out of a crisis. Instead, Aladdin worried that they were in trouble all over again.

By the time he reached his room at the inn, Aladdin realized he didn't have as much energy as he thought he had. He made it to the doorway of his room before a wave of dizziness hit him. He had to lean against the frame, holding one hand against the side of his head as it throbbed. The other hand he held over his chest as if to calm his racing heartbeat. The smoke must have gotten to me more than I thought. I can't just wait around on this, though. Not if what I know is true and something might happen tomorrow. Every moment has to count. We have to figure this out.

He sat on the bed, taking the lamp from its perch and rubbing the side of it, like usual. But nothing happened.

His brow furrowed. "Oh come on, Genie. Don't tell me you're busy. Not now." He rubbed more furiously a second time. Still no response. When he managed to rub for the third time, it finally reacted, glowing brightly before a familiar trail of blue smoke emerged from it. Genie appeared, but the semi-phenomenal being had his back turned to where Aladdin sat on the edge of his bed. Aladdin winced a little at the sound of Genie's unusually gruff voice. It was clear that he was upset, though over what, Aladdin couldn't say.

"Okay, guys - listen. I'm in the middle of some very, VERY important research. I was just finding out some stuff about exceptions to long contained magic and the history of Gloloria, and..."

"Genie, slow down." Aladdin said. "Wouldn't have rubbed the lamp in the first place if it wasn't important. Didn't mean to interrupt you. I wasn't aware you were into something this late."

Genie turned so quickly, looking at Aladdin with such concern that it caught him off guard. "Aladdin? Are you serious?" Aladdin realized just how serious the moment was when Genie suddenly hugged him. If he hadn't been sitting on the bed, Aladdin might've been knocked to the ground with the sudden tackle. It didn't hurt, mostly felt like hugging a gigantic blue marshmallow pillow.

His heart lurched as he heard Genie's voice waver in a whisper. "I'm sorry, kiddo. I'm so very sorry." Aladdin couldn't see his face, but it sounded like Genie was holding back tears.

"H-hey," Aladdin returned the embrace a moment before gently pulling back. "Don't worry about it, nothing to apologize for. Been through too many scrapes before now to lose out. You know this just as well as I do. My luck hasn't ran out yet." He smiled, hoping to ease his friend's worries a little. "Looks like Ezele's treatment worked on me. Abu's taking a little longer to get out of the spell. Hoping he comes out of it soon."

Aladdin expected some expression of relief on his friend's face, but Genie looked more horrified. His stomach twisted at Genie's question. "So, guessing Ezele didn't get a chance to tell you what he treated you with?"

"The medicine? No, ran out looking for you before he could." Guilt flooded through him at the thought as he rubbed the back of his neck and winced. "Probably shouldn't have done that. Figure the others are worried about me."

At the moment he said it, a familiar voice from in the hall beyond the room called out. "Your highness, are you in there?"

"Here, Miss Tani," Aladdin said, slowly standing to approach the doorway as he saw the elder woman approach with a relieved expression. The door had been left slightly ajar. "Genie's with me. I'm good."

"Thank goodness. You gave us a fright, young man." Tani looked over her shoulder then, speaking to someone just out of view. "I thought I heard him come in. He's here, in one piece thankfully."

Aladdin knew well enough to expect the person who appeared from beyond the door, throwing her arms around him and kissing him so deeply it left him breathless. At least the Princess of Agrabah was not mad at him for leaving. If anything, she was so relieved when they pulled apart it warmed his heart a little.

"I'm so glad you're awake. Abu woke not long after you left so it took us a little while to find you."

"Are you serious? Is he...?" Jasmine put a finger to Aladdin's lips before he could say much more.

"He's fine, a little woozy from waking up. He was more worried about finding you, but Ezele convinced him to stay behind in the clinic while we went to search for where you went. I didn't think you'd get as far as the archive, but I thought you'd come to the inn."

"I feel insanely terrible for bringing down the mood of the reunion party," Genie said, his shoulders slumping. "But Al, I'm guessing you rubbed the lamp probably for the same reasons I was doing research over at the archive with Remi. Also explains the sickness you and the monkey had."

Aladdin grimaced, realizing that everything he'd feared was the reality after all. "The Deathseeker's returned, hasn't it?"

Genie nodded slowly, even as he looked between how Jasmine, Aladdin, and a somewhat eavesdropping Tani had visibly paled. "The scariest part of all of this isn't how it got back. Remi and I could guess from what we learned in Saztou's research on contained magic used for summoning and Gloloria's magic history attracting sorcerers and the like. That's not counting everything that's in that hidden realm that Ezele has the key to now. It was a teensy possibility that just so happened to go wrong. Yours truly should've seen it, even if it was messing with me." He pointed to himself as he looked genuinely sad. Aladdin felt bad for how Genie continued to take the blame, though it wasn't his fault at all.

Jasmine found her voice in the moment. "If the fact that it's returned isn't scary enough, then what is?"

Genie took a long shaky breath. "It's already here. We just don't know where it is."