Chapter 2 - Dinner and an Alliance
"So, Genie," Aladdin began, after he and Jasmine returned from their trip around the world later that night, "how does it feel to be free?"
"Seriously," the Genie replied as if he looked serious, before brightening and flexing, "I love it!"
Sprain! The Genie sprained his back a bit. He calmed down a bit.
"Okay," he continued, "maybe my powers aren't what they used to be. Let's say they're semi-phenomenal, nearly cosmic. But don't sell me short." On that, he shrunk to the size of a mouse, before regrowing to his original size. "I may be free, but I still have some magic in me." He appeared then in a magician's costume, performing a trick. "I can still do this!"
He pulled out a flower from his shirt pocket. It sucked his face clean off. He pulled it back out and put it back on.
"I hate to lose face in front of you guys," Genie continued. "Give me another chance."
He snapped back to Aladdin and Jasmine, about to perform the sawing-in-half trick.
"Who's first? I can do this."
Aladdin was about to pass. "Uh, Genie, we really have to go to…"
"Dinner," Jasmine realized. "We're late!"
"Oh," Genie moaned. "You two probably have a romantic dinner for two planned. You don't need a big blue lug gumming up the works."
"But, Genie," Aladdin offered.
"Three's a crowd," Genie declined. "You kids go on."
Jasmine had an idea.
"Genie," she began, "I would be honored if you'd join us for dinner."
"You would?" Genie brightened. He then gave everyone a hug, including Abu and Rajah, Jasmine's pet tiger. "Come on, everyone, get in here." He began his way into the palace. "Home cooking, let's go!"
Abu chattered in excitement, as Aladdin and Jasmine followed. They suddenly noticed Abu.
"Wait a minute, Abu," Jasmine halted. "Can you keep an eye on Iago?"
Abu moaned, crossing his arms, as if he didn't want to do it.
"Hurry up, Jasmine," Aladdin called. "Can't have the announcement if everyone isn't present."
"Coming," Jasmine replied before continuing her way.
Also, there's another event in this universe. A sort of side effect, if you will. In your universe, Abis Mal found Jafar's lamp in the well while cooling himself off. But in this universe, Mozenrath, a power-hungry sorcerer, was aware of the lamp, and scared Abis Mal and his band away.
"Master," a flying eel addressed Mozenrath, a young sorcerer wearing a gauntlet on his right hand. "What's so important about a silly oil lamp anyway?"
"It's no ordinary oil lamp, Xerxes," Mozenrath replied to the eel. "It's a magical lamp that was formed when an Agrabanian vizier wished to become an all-powerful genie."
The sorcerer succeeded in pulling the bucket up, and pulled the black lamp out.
"It still looks like an ordinary oil lamp to me," Xerxes replied.
Mozenrath rubbed the lamp. Colorful smoke spewed from out of the spout. Jafar's huge red genie appearance formed from the smoke as he cackled. Xerxes hid in fright behind a not-so-frightened Mozenrath.
"I am free," Jafar exclaimed in a loud booming voice, "free to exact vengeance upon he who has imprisoned me."
Jafar started on his way, but his glowing wrist bands prevented him from going further. He suddenly realized.
"It is the curse of the lamp," he continued, looking at his lamp, still held by Mozenrath. "All the power of the universe, and I am bound by the rules of the genie, which means I cannot kill that upstart Aladdin."
"Of course, you can't," Mozenrath replied. "No genie can kill anyone."
"And who might you be?" Jafar asked.
"I am Mozenrath," the young sorcerer replied. "I am the one who rubbed the lamp and summoned you, Jafar of Agrabah."
"You must have heard about me, boy."
"I heard that you tried to take over Agrabah as sultan, then as sorcerer, which I happen to be. Unfortunately, obtaining great magic from Destane came with a price."
Mozenrath removed his gauntlet to reveal his skeletal hand.
"I see," Jafar examined. "So, you may wish to have a new hand to replace the one you lost, correct?"
"I may," Mozenrath replied. "But that genie form of yours seems a bit overwhelming. So, I may have you grant that wish later."
"You're right, Mozenrath," Jafar agreed. "I suppose I am a bit too much for you."
With that, Jafar shrunk down to his previous sorcerer form.
"I trust you find my appearance less overwhelming now?" Jafar revealed.
"That's better," Mozenrath congratulated.
"Those three wishes you shall have are a minor formality," Jafar replied, rimming his snake staff. "But first, I must return to the palace. You shall take the lamp there for me."
"Very well," Mozenrath agreed. "Together, you and I will make a great team."
With that, Mozenrath replaced the gauntlet and shook Jafar's hand.
Xerxes felt a bit uneasy about this.
Author's Note: I know that Jonathan Brandis, who voiced Mozenrath in the Disney Afternoon TV series, is no longer around. So, like in that one episode, he should be voiced by Jeff Glenn Bennett.
