"And then what happened?" Shanti asked, eager to hear more.
The old man smiled, chuckling.
"Ah, patients, child," The old man said, raising but a single finger to her.
"A tale is not a tale if you only wish to hear only the parts you wish to."
Shanti quickly fell silent as she waited to hear the rest of the tale. The old man then smirked before continuing to tell her what came next.
Upon the princess presenting the cub to their father, the Maharaja, there was much worry of his daughter keeping it as a pet. For there was no animal that man feared the most then that of the tiger.
However it was that of his beloved Queen and their mother who swayed heart of the Maharaja. For it was her that spoke for the cub, proclaiming it to be a gift from the jungle itself.
And so it was to the kings word that allowed his daughter to keep the cub.
We now must be contempt to skip ahead nine years since the young princess Jasmine found the tiger's cub in the palace's courtyard. Though we could only come to imagine what adventures the princess had with Sangha and her two sisters in the palace.
Ten times have the rains come and gone over the mighty city of Agraba and the jungle itself. The tigress, Sangha lived within the walls of the palace with Jasmine and her two sisters. Although she was a full grown tigress before the three princesses were young woman. The four of them played the games of man's children day after day in the palace courtyard. Whenever they would play hide and seek, Sangha would usually hide amongst the flowers of the Palace Garden. For it was them that the cub had always loved.
Even as the young cub grew to be a beautiful tigress, it was the palace garden that she and Jasmine had spent most of their time. Though while they both enjoyed their time together, there persisted a longing for the home she had left behind. Peering up over the walls of the palace, Sangha had often wondered about her family back in the jungle. Of the family that she had been separated from.
Though it was not just her that desired what life of freedom which laid beyond the palace walls.
The life of a princess was not all that one would desire of it. Few knew that more then Princess Jasmine herself.
For she would be destined to marry a prince from a far off land as it was tradition for the kingdom. Never to know what life would be if one had the freedom to chose it.
"But I thought a princess could do whatever she want." Shanti said.
The old man chuckled, gripping the staff in both hands.
"I'm afraid that is not so, child," He insisted to her.
"Ruling a kingdom comes with much responsibilities. Traditions that must be honored and followed. Thus the freedom to chose is not something a princess can simple be given."
Shanti narrowed her eyes as she pondered what had been said. All her life, she had believed to be royal was a life of privilege and freedom. Where one could do whatever they please. But never has she ever know what responsibilities and traditions of which came with ruling a Kingdom.
"But even so, there are always those who would seek to have the throne for themselves." The old man proclaimed to the girl.
"But no one more so then the villain of this tale."
It is where our tale truly began. Outside the walls of the city of Agraba, deep within in the jungle. On a dark night at the edge of the ruins of a lost city. A place known to many as the Cold Lair. A place that once belonged to man. Of where lies the untold riches and relics. Cursed to all those who sought to take them for themselves.
Emerging from the jungle path, two men emerges on the backs of horses. As they came to the edge of the ruins, one of them stares with a grin that lusts for the treasure which lies within the ruins.
His name was Jafar.
And it was he who sought what treasures which lie within this city. Though not just any treasure. But one that had been said to bring all that he had desired.
"You are curtain it's here?" He asked, glancing back at the man behind him.
"I am most certain, Jafar," The man insisted with a nod of his head.
"The staff lies within that Temple."
The pointed ahead at the temple which stood embedder in the hill. Jafar turned back toward the temple with a sly grin. For so long he had searched for this lost city for so long. Seeing for a relic that would grant him such power. Power that would have made him grater then the Maharaja himself.
"At long last," he said.
"The scepter will be mine."
He stepped down off his horse as he slowly made his way down the path.
"Jafar, where are you going?" The man said as her got off his horse.
"To claim my dues." Jafar proclaimed to them.
The man followed Jafar down the path.
"But Jafar," The man said.
"The Treasure here is cursed. Even if you find the staff, it will bring you nothing but ruin and misery."
Jafar grabbed the man by the colour of his white shirt as he pulled him close.
"No more then what I shall do to you if you do not cease your chattering?" Jafar warned his lackey.
The man gulped upon hearing his masters words. Whatever words he might have said to warn Jafar of these ruins were the silenced. Giving only a nod to say he understood what was demanded of him.
"Yes, oh master." he said.
Jafar released his hold over the man, throwing him to the ground. He then turned and continued on his way toward the temple.
The entrance of the temple was dark as the Night itself. Though even more darker then that. Jafar stood before the temple entrance, peering into the darkness inside. He glanced back at his lackey, who was kneeling down over s small stick. He struck a flint together as he created a spark which fell upon the top of the stick, causing it to bloom into a flame. He then picked up the torch and held it up as it lighted the way.
The two then ventured into the temple, where they came into a large chamber filled with treasures of all kinds. What one may only guess to be a thousand pieces of gold and jewels, glistening from the light of the Torch. A sight that no man could ever have such a will to ever resist. Only rivaled by the beauty of that of a woman. Though as alluring as the treasure might have been, it was not enough to sway Jafar. All the treasure in the world was nothing compared to that of the staff of which he sought for.
His lackey glanced around the chamber, nervously. It was said that this guarded by that of white Cobra, who would plunge those who dared try to steal from the temple. He then heard a sudden hissing sound echo through the chamber, causing him to gasp and shudder. Rushing to the side of his master.
"J-Jafar..." he said, glancing up to him.
"I... I think we should hurry."
Only to have Jafar paid no mind to him. Peering ahead down the chamber, it was that he found the treasure of which he had been seeking. As the light of the torch bushed away the darkness to reveal a long gold staff in the shape of a cobra, laying upon an alter at the far end of the chamber. The sight of which caused him to erupt in laughter as his patients had come to be rewarded.
"Finally!" he said as he came forth to the alter.
"At long last, the Sceptre is mine."
Grabbing the scepter in both his hand he then raised it from the alter. The ruby eyes of the staff glowed red as he felt the magic course through him. He the laughed as the power he so long desired was finally his.
"It is mine," he proclaimed, raising the staff into the air.
"All mine!"
Once more, there was a sudden hissing sound. Jafar's Lackey glanced back in terror, swinging the torch back and forth to reveal what may be lurking nearby. But there was nothing that Torches light revealed then the treasures that filled the room. He then heard again. This time it was coming from where he faced forward.
And it was as he turned forward that Jafar's Lackey gazed with a frightful awe. As a looming shadow appeared over the man, casing him to drop the Torch of which he held.
Jafar lowered the staff as he then heard his Lackey scream for his life. He then turned back, where he was met by a large white cobra slithering over the body of the man it poisoned with it's venom. The cobra hissed at Jafar.
"Who daressss to ssssteal from thy lair," the white cobra said.
"Thy thief sssshall meet my fangsssss!"
But as the Cobra was poised to strike upon the one who intrude upon it's lair, Jafar raised it's staff to the white Cobra. The red rubies that served as the eyes flashed a bright light at the Cobra, causing the Snake to hiss as he faltered. Jafar grinned, seeing the so called Guardian of this lost treasure kneeling before him.
"Even the white Cobra bows before my power." He chuckles, with such confidence.
The Cobra glances back at the man. Once more it utters a hiss, as if it was about to strike once more. Only for Jafar to hold his staff to the snake, causing it to pause as it hissed back at him.
"Back, you overgrown worm," Jafar warned.
"Or shall I show you the wraith I can postil upon you."
Heeding to the man's warning, the white Cobra faltered as it slithered back.
"Foolisssh man," the Cobra hissed.
"The Sssstaff will only bring you death and misery."
Jafar chuckled at the Cobra's warning.
"On the contrary," He said, as he stepped down from the alter.
"This will ensure that I will be the new ruler of Agraba."
Jafar turned and made his way back toward the temple entrance. The Cobra turned back to the man as he took his leave.
"Beware the cursssse that will come upon you," the Cobra warned.
"The Curssssse ssssshall sssssstrike you down far worsssse then thy venom. Beware...Beware!"
Though the Cobra's words did not frighten Jafar. Paying no mind to the warning of which the Cobra uttered as he walked out through the entrance of the temple.
Jafar came out into the square of the city. He then paused, peering down at the staff he had taken.
"Finally," He said, peering into the red eyes of the Cobra staff.
"The throne of Agraba... shall be mine."
Jafar then uttered a laughter so conniving as the desires that drove him.